Z: In The Heart of the Queen City

Chapter 8

I had a a promotion. Mr. Lansing handed me a plaque and everyone was clapping. Then I looked at the words written all over it.

ZOMBIE KILLER EXTRODANAIRE.I was shocked as I looked over to the audience, their faces began to rot and they were convulsing at same time. Ganging up to me as I dropped the plaque and it broke to a million pieces. There was Chris, Allen, Mila, Nicole and even Mr. Lansing all looking at me hungrily as the sweet juicy smell of my brains enticed their senses, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

And woke up to find that I was in a hospital ward.

My jeans were torn and the ugly road rash had cream all over it, I checked the tube next to me. Antiobiotic Cream. Then I saw that I was really in a hospital, I was in a white stretcher. Cebu Doctor's Hospital I read the sheets I lay on. I saw Martin next to me, he was sprawled in the couch chewing on what looked like a granola bar and Jaycee was eating hospital food as soon as he saw me wake up he offered a bite of his sandwich. I grimaced, “No thanks.” Martin looked at me, “Rule no. 1 of an apocalypse is that you can't choose your meals” He said in his Dutch accent. I went for the grapes, it was a little soggy, but I put it in my mouth anyway. “How did we get here?” I asked. “We climbed through the escape exits outside” Jaycee was pointing at the window. “Your friend's idea, pretty smart since we got medicines, food and water. Not to mention a change of clothes!” He was wearing a scrub suit. Martin had a new shirt on too, a clean black v neck. On the foot on the bed, clothes were laid on for me. I asked the boys if they could turn away so I could change, after I did we all ate in silence.

Martin was right, you can't choose your meals. The hospital food tasted bland and awful but it felt like heaven in my mouth as I felt my energy coming back. “Well, isn't someone going to say something first?” Martin said without looking at either of us. “How about we all get to know each other? It would be a great way to break the ice.” Jaycee said stuffing a mouthful of oatmeal in his mouth. “How could you eat so much?” Martin asked him. “I didn't have breakfast, I was late.” He replied.

“How long have we been in here?” I asked.

“You've been asleep for hours” Jaycee answered, then he motioned outside as the sun began to set. The only thing worse than zombies in the daylight are zombies in the night. We were at a freaking hospital too, the outbreak in this building must have been one of the worse ever since this was probably the first place the infected were rushed to.

“This is a newly renovated ward, we aren't too far up; just a couple of floors.” Martin told me as if he knew what I was thinking. “How do you even know that? We all know you aren't from here.” I said, Jaycee choked on the glass of water he was drinking. “I knew it! You look familiar, oh, oh, One Direction?” He said and Martin shot him a warning look. “Oh wait, are you a... Gosh, a singer? A tennis player?” I laughed, “Here's a clue, he's Dutch.” “I knew it, DJ! You play EDM music.” Jaycee said and we both laughed. “If you guys keep talking, you'll attract the zombies and maybe I won't be so nice to help you.” Martin looked at me when he said those words. He stood up and sat by the window still holding the rifle.

“Well, you still didn't answer my question.” I said folding my arms. “How do you know so much about the hospital? Or I don't know, why are you even here?”

“Does it still matter? It's the fucking apocalypse. We're going to end up shooting or making a feast out of each other at the very end so why bother with stories?” He answered arrogantly. “Or names for that matter.” Well, he was quite the brat. “Maybe you should just leave then.” I said making my voice sound as flat as possible. “Out there on the streets? I think we've all established the fact that I'm obviously from not around here.” Martin said staring at me straight in the eye. “So what exactly do you have in mind?” I asked him.

“You're going to get me across the bridge.” He took out a phone from his pocket, then showed us the location of the Mactan bridge. I opened my mouth to ask him why but he interrupted me.

“I mapped out the place here but of course battery isn't going to last forever. I need a party and you're a pretty good shooter.” Then Martin turned to Jaycee, “and he looks like he could lend a good arm too.” “Wait, what do you plan to do in the bridge?” I asked him, although I partly knew the answer to that question. “Lapu-Lapu City is under government protection, I don't know how or why but someone told me.” Martin said. I was bewildered and relieved at the same time, so the infection was concentrated in the city? That explains why my mother was safe and sound but how? Then it hit me.

“The bridge. They blocked the bridge, it separates the island from the city!.” I said

My heart was beating against my chest, that was the only way they could have controlled before it spread to the island. Martin blew a low whistle,“We need to get there, your government will help us I just know it.”

“How do you know they'll even let us in?” Jaycee asked. Good question, what if they placed Lapu-Lapu City under quarantine that they shut it out from the rest of the world to avoid any risks?

"I know, they let Janeth and Ulli in.” Martin said looking away this time.

I didn't bother to ask who Janeth was because Martin has continued speaking, “My step mom and stepsister .”He hadn't stopped staring outside. We didn't ask him where his father was, from the way he was talking it seemed like something tragic had happened. But it did fill in some blanks, like say for example, it answered why he was in the Philippines in the first place. Martin's father must have remarried and settled down here instead. I couldn't imagine the horror of coming to a foreign land and find yourself in the worst kind of nightmare ever. It was like a bad episode of Locked Up Abroad or something.

I did not want to press the issue, of course I didn't agree with his plan at least I couldn't commit to it fully. I had to find my freaking sister for crying out loud. I wanted to protest but Martin eyes started to droop and I was not in the mood to argue anymore.

“Well, we can't move now, can we?” I told him motioning towards the night sky. Martin retired in the couch nearby, “I call first dibs on this.” He said and lay down. Jaycee looked at me, “Hey Em, can I get the bed?” He said shooting me a puss n' boots look. I saw a comforter on the floor near Martin, “Okay Jayce. I guess you need to rest as much as I do.” I said managing a small smile after all, he had help me get this far. I quickly regretted this when I got to the comforter, it had small traces of blood on it and it smelled a bit like pee. I turned the comforter around to use the clean side but I could still smell the pee.

I saw Martin turn his head a bit, “We'll move at dawn.” I was already beginning to feel sleepy, even though I had just rested a while back. “Goodnight Emma.” Martin said his back turned on me. “How do you my name?” I asked sitting up a bit. “It's in your ID you nerd. You better take it off, wouldn’t want to get caught up in the sling or something.” He said yawning.I shifted back and took my ID off, well maybe our identity really didn't matter during the apocalypse because we were all just equals fighting for survival now.

I looked at my smiling ID picture for the last time then drifted to sleep praying I would wake up still human.