Z: In The Heart of the Queen City

Epilogue- In the Eyes of Martin De Wolff

Epilogue

In the Eyes of Martin De Wolff

Martin woke up with a heavy heart.

Truth was, he didn't feel like waking up. He had a dream about her that night, if sleeping always meant he would see her then he was willing to give it all up.

The early morning sun hit his face as he got up. He stared out his window, he was still stuck in the sleepy camp in Amstelveen, Amsterdam. The camp was heavily armed and zombie proof. It had been 5 months since he was in the Philippines. In Martin's previous life, he would have only gotten up at 7AM if coach called them for practice. But this was different, he never knew if he could ever play football again. He didn't even know if he could be his old self again.

“Goedemorgen,” It was his mother Tessa. She was at his door and holding a cup of coffee. The aroma filled the room. Martin hid under the blankets when she sat on the foot of the bed, “Not in the mood for breakfast?” She asked him. “Nee” Martin answered her frowning to himself. In camp they had food, water, medicine and electricity. First world countries like Netherlands were lucky, the camps looked like mini urban cities separated from the world by a big wall. EXIT picked certain cities to host the camps, where they can keep a close eye on the population. When he heard his mother finally leave and shut the door, he turned around.

EXIT did this to them, Martin had hated those blokes although he could never show this or he could risk getting killed.

Martin was in his bunk bed, he finally stood up and took a few steps to the mirror. This was a far cry from his old room, he always felt the walls were closing in on him. Hanging by the lampshade was a heart shaped necklace with the infinity symbol around it. Cheezy as it was, he smiled when remembered her again. Then a pang of guilt hit him hard, he wished he had given it to to her instead maybe then she could have been alive and well.

“Oh Emma.” It had been a joy meeting her, Martin remembered blissfully. She was brave as shit and she made all of them look like fools for giving up at certain times. She never left his mind since the plane took him back to Amsterdam. She was still with him in memory when he hugged his stepmother and sister goodbye as they left to be on their own camps. He could see her face when he watched Elise look at him as if he was the one who killed her.

“Did you shoot her? Did you kill her?” Elise screamed at him. He nodded to her as a lie, of course because he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even after Emma had repeatedly asked him to do so. They blew up the Queen City, Emma was gone now at least she didn't have to suffer anymore.

Martin's stomach rumbled, he wasn't eating right. He had lost his dad and a girl who meant something to him. She was like his old friend, like they had known each other for years he admired her in so many ways. Funny how saving each others lives could build a special connection between two people. Then a knock in the door, “Martin! Come down. There is someone here to see you.” His mother said. By someone she probably meant a psychologist. He had been seeing one for over a month now it was a necessity for all survivors so they probably wouldn't have crazy thoughts and go against the order. She was a nice Dutch woman named Dr. Lidewisj. Although she spoke soothingly there was something about her that Martin didn't like. Most likely, it had a lot to do with the symbol she had hung in that little office of hers.

“Yes, I'm coming!” He shouted back grabbing a gray sweater and a pair of jeans. Martin took one look at the necklace and shove it in his pocket. I miss you little girl. He thought sadly.

When Martin made his way downstairs he was surprised to see a young Asian man in a thick leather coat standing in the entrance of his tiny kitchen. The whole place was already a luxury for other people, in exchange for his life and keeping quiet from what transpired EXIT offered him one of the finest homes in Netherlands. The young man was just about his age, or maybe a year younger but he definitely was taller than Martin, he had broad shoulders and tanned skin. “Hi Martin.” He said extending a hand while Martin's mother looked curiously from the living room. “I think we've met before, back in Cebu...” Then Martin cut him off. “What does EXIT want from me? I thought we've established the fact that I was no longer going to get involved if I kept my mouth shut.” He asked feeling his temper rise and cheeks redden. The young man moved closer and lowered his voice, “This isn't about EXIT.” He whispered. “My name is Kendall Cho, I'm here under the order of Lieutenant Lauron Gibb.” When he said this, Martin laughed. He actually laughed. He never trusted EXIT the minute he found out about them, they were supposed to be some organization that were paid by the big countries to control the deadly Z virus that began in Hong Kong. But he knew, he knew the truth. EXIT was a bunch of psycho freaks bent on global terrorism. He knew what the abbreviation meant, EXIT stood for Exterminating International Territories. He saw this when they were brought to the camp 5 months ago. When Karen, Jaycee, Elise and himself bargained for their lives so they could return home.