✔Dating the Undead [Books 1&2]

DUODETRIGINTA

It was the crack of dawn.

The deafening noise of the crickets subsided as the sky barely let out a new streak of hue. Pero binagabag ng tunog ng pagtakbo nina Levi at Algea ang kapayapaan ng paligid. They kept running to who-knows-where. Pagod na si Levi, ngunit alam niyang kung hihinto sila, posibleng sa kulungan ng ESO ang bagsak niya. What more if they saw he was running away with a zombie? Sa pagkakaalam niya, malamang sa mga oras na ito ay nakapaglathala na ng wanted posters ang admin ng research compound.

O baka mailalagay na naman sa headlines ang pangalan niya. This time, with the unmistakable words: "LEVITHIAN JAMES---WANTED FOR KILLING ESO HEAD SCIENTIST, DR. BENITEZ" (See on page 2 for full article, see on page 3 for details of the reward)

Levi sighed. Paniguradong kamumuhian siya nina Einstein dahil sa nangyaring kamalasan na 'to. He wanted to be feature on the news again as a genius----not a criminal!

Criminal.

'Tsk.. Paano ba naging ganito ang takbo ng buhay ko?!' Naiinis niya pa ring tanong sa kanyang sarili. Pero iisa lang ang naiisip niyang dahilan: Ethan Pascua. The personification of a bastard! Ngayon pa lang, magpaplano na siya ng mga paraan para makaganti sa kanya.

"Levi, saan ba tayo pupunta?! We need a place to rest!"

Algea's voice pulled him out of his murderous thoughts. 'Oh, right..' Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid. They were at the outskirts of Eastwood. Mukhang wala na silang ibang mapagtataguan.

Hinawakan ni Levi ang kamay ni Algea at hinila siya papasok sa masukal na gubat. Wala halos liwanag ang pumapasok dito at natatakpan ng matataas na puno ang kalangitan. They need to find a place to stay until the commotion subsides. More so, Levi needed to find a way to clear his name and prove his innocence.

Tumigil sila sa pagtakbo.

They were safe..for now.

Hingal na hingal na sumandal sa isang puno ang binata at naupo sa lupa. Pinunasan niya ang kanyang salamin na ngayon ay nadumihan na nang tuluyan. Of course, there are better things to worry about than his glasses, but he doesn't give a shit. Nanghihina niyang kinuha ang bote ng mineral water sa kanyang bag at nilagok ang laman nito.

When his eyes averted to Algea, he noticed the way she weakly leaned on a nearby trunk. Para bang nahihirapan siyang balansehin ang katawan niya. Algea even had a hand over her chest.

Kumunot ang noo ni Levi. Soon, he found himself walking towards her.

"Are you okay?"

The girl rolled her eyes, "If you call nearly dying as being 'okay', then yes." Sarcasm dripped in her voice.

Levi's eyes narrowed. Did she just say 'nearly dying'? Baka naman nagkamali lang siya ng dinig.

"You're joking..right?"

Umiwas ng tingin si Algea. "I wish I am."

Levithian James hurriedly neared her and held her arms. Pinagmasdan niya ang itim na mga ugat sa kanyang braso. Nang sinipat niya ito, para bang magkakakonekta ang mga ito. Nakaramdam siya ng kaba. 'What's happening to Algea?', his fingers gently traced the black veins that branched back to her chest.

Walang angal na hinayaan ni Algea na buksan ni Levi ang botones ng suot niyang blouse.

Levi gritted his teeth in terror when he saw the black veins accumulating at the center of Algea's chest..sa tapat ng kanyang puso.

"A-Algea.."

This doesn't look good. At all.

Para bang bumibigay na ang katawan ni Algea. And now that Levi had gave attention to it, napansin niyang tila hindi na halos humihinga ang dalaga. Shallow breaths. And her skin felt colder than before. Nang pagmasdan niya ang mga kamay ng dalaga, napaiwas siya ng tingin nang makitang nabubulok na ang kanyang mga daliri. On her pale skin, kita na rin pag-iiba ng kulay ng ilang bahagi ng kanyang balat dulot ng paulit-ulit na injections at tests. At that moment, Levi concluded a theory that he never wanted to...

Algea is dying.

Mapait na ngumiti si Algea. Her warm hazel eyes caught his bothered ones. Marahan siyang tumawa at nagsalita,

"Sa susunod na Undas, dalawin mo 'ko ha? Gusto kong dalhan mo ako ng mga bulaklak..kahit ipatong mo na lang sa lapida ko, ayos lang."

Hindi kumibo si Levi. Napabuntong-hininga si Algea.

"Magtatampo talaga ako sa'yo kung hindi mo pupuntahan. Kahit pagtirikan mo na lang ako ng kandila-----"

"Shut up."

But Algea still smiled. It was as if she didn't mind dying. It was as if she's now accepting her fate..

And it frustrated Levi. 'Nababaliw na ba ang babaeng 'to? Akala ko ba ayaw niya pang mamatay?' Nakuha pa talaga niyang ngumiti despite the fact that she's dying!

She's crazy, he concluded.

"Shut up.." Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao. He couldn't look at her. And somehow, guilt made its way to his system. Nakakalason pala talaga ang pakiramdam nito. "..d-don't give up yet. Hindi ka pa pwedeng mamatay!"

"Why?"

Levi couldn't form any words. Bakit nga ba? For all he cares, Algea could just die right here, right now. It would even lessen his burden. Wala na siyang iintindihin. Napahinga nang malalim si Levi. Overthinking really does causes mental devastation.

"Are you two done with the drama? Or should I wait until Einstein rises from his grave?"

Someone spoke. Both Levi and Algea whipped their heads upwards. Nanlisik ang mga mata ni Levi nang makita ang hudas na si Ethan Pascua. The boy was sitting on a giant tree branch while smirking at them. Iwinasiwas ni Ethan ang hawak na baril. Levi had to muster all the control he had left to sustain his anger.

"Is that the gun you used to kill Dr. Benitez?"

Ethan grinned. "This? Nah. Itinago ko sa kwarto mo ang baril na yun.."

To say that Levi was furious is an understatement. His mental gears processed Ethan's words, 'So, he's framing me up?!'. Lalong sumiklab ang galit ng binata. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"

Pero kalmado pa rin ang ekspresyon ng lalaking prenteng nakaupo sa itaas ng puno. "I'll take that as a compliment. Anyway, this is the gun that I'm going to use---" Binalingan niya ang dalagang kasama ni Levi. When his eyes met Levi's confused ones again, Ethan's crazed smile widened, "----to get you out of the way."

"W-What are you----!?"

"Si Ms. Castillo ang kailangan ko, Levithian. Now, if you want to do this the hard way, it's fine with me. Run, run, run! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Umalingawngaw sa buong kagubatan ang pagtawa ni Ethan. Walang pagdadalawang-isip na tumakbo papalayo sina Levi at Algea. Right now, they were like a prey being chased by the predator. Anong kailangan niya kay Algea?! Levi's mind was clouded with confusion and questions. Kung anuman ang mga nangyayari ngayon, hindi na niya ito nagugustuhan.

And the most bothering noise aside from Ethan's demonic laughter, is how he shouted words that Levi never thought he would encounter, not from the likes of Ethan Pascua,

"YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE PROJECT BETA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

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