Verson University: School of Doctors

Chapter 2- The Letter

Chapter 2- The Letter

"I'm coming home, okay? I'm safe don't worry," sabi ko sa walkie-talkie and went towards my motorcycle. The walkie-talkie buzzed and I heard my mom's voice again.

"The boys are coming to get you," sagot niya. I arched my eyebrows and pursed my lips in disapproval.

"No, I can go home alo—ugh!"

Natumba ako at nabitawan ang walkie-talkie nang may biglang humampas ng baseball bat sa likuran ko. Bigla akong nahilo at napaubo ng dugo.

"Samantha? Anak!" I heard my mom shouted through the device. I tried reaching the walkie-talkie but it was out of my grasp. I heard my mom panicked but no soothing words escaped from my lips. Nahirapan akong magsalita.

I heard a movement from my back and I instinctively rolled away when the attacker tried to hit me with his bat again. Mabilis akong tumayo at akmang tatamaan ulit ako nang mahawakan ko ang bat at inagaw iyon sa kaniya.

"Who the fvck are yo—" naputol ang aking pagsasalita nang makita kung sino siya. Hindi ko siya kilala, but he looks awful. Alam kong wala siya sa sariling pag-iisip niya at alam kong di ko siya kayang saktan kasi biktima lang rin siya.

He's infected. There are unhealed wounds on his skin and face and his eyes are red. He looks so aggressive and ready to attack me, like he wants to eat me after starving for weeks.

Hindi ako nagsalita. He keeps on murmuring inaudible words like he's chanting a local ritual but I know better. He's asking for help. I've encountered a lot of infected when I was researching and I know I shouldn't say a word. Words trigger them. Voices confuse them.

He started taking a step towards me. I would have hit him with his bat pero ayokong saktan siya so I ran away from him. Mabilis kong pinaandar ang motor ngunit sa kasawiang palad ay hindi umandar ang motor. I tried several times ngunit hindi pa rin ako nakakaalis.

"Sht," mura ko nang makitang may kasama na siyang tatlong infected. Wala akong ibang choice kundi bumaba ng motor at tumakbo ulit.

Ngunit nang tatakbo na sana ako, hinarangan ako ng isa pang infected. Muntik na niyang mahila ang buhok ko mabuti na lang at mabilis kong naiwas ang ulo ko at kahit labag sa loob ay sinipa ko siya. The other infected victims went towards me and I found myself running again.

My eyes widen in horror nang makitang nasa dulo na ako ng sementeryo and I got nowhere to run. Hinihingal ako at kinakabahan at babalik sana sa pinanggalingan upang harapin na lang sila nang may biglang humila sa akin patago sa mga damuhan.

"Sino ka—" naputol ang aking pagsasalita nang takpan niya ang aking bibig. I struggled to get away pero hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa akin.

"They have a great sense of hearing, please tone down," bulong niya sa akin. Isa siyang lalaki. I don't know if I should be relieved na hindi siya infected o mangamba dahil baka isa siyang tauhan ng Verzalias Org.

I hear the murmurs of the infected nearby. I held my breath and I felt the man trying to breathe slowly. I can feel his warm touch on my arms. I wanted to move, but I won't risk my life with a single movement.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas at umalis na ang mga infected. Agad kong itinulak ang lalaki at itinutok sa kaniya ang kahoy na napulot ko sa damuhan.

"Who are you?" I asked. I examined his face. He has a brown complexion, and his hair is a bit curly. His eyes are black, and his nose seems too perfect, pinkish lips, and a jawline everyone is dying to have. Nakasuot siya ng glasses and he looks a little aloof.

Hinawakan niya ang kahoy at mabilis na inagaw sa akin saka tumayo at pinagpagan ang suot na pants. Instead of answering my question, he threw another question.