Chapter 1

"Hold on!"

Patricia immediately halted. Alam kong naramdaman niya rin ang ang nararamdaman ko at agad kaming naghiwalay para magtago sa likuran ng dalawang poste.

She pulled her hand gun out and I also did the same.

"Ready?" I mouthed and she nodded.

Sabay kaming lumabas at itinutok ang mga baril namin sa—

"A rabbit?" Sarkastikong tanong ni Patricia saka kami natawa.

"Akala ko kung ano na," dagdag ko rin saka ibinalik ang baril ko sa lalagyan nito.

"It's because you're always so cautioned, Sai," she chuckled.

"Yeah whatever!" I rolled my eyes and turned around.

"Are we just going to leave this poor thing here?" Patricia asked and I shook my head.

"That thing may contain the virus, Pat," I reminded. "But you have the choice tho."

After that, I walked away, never in mind whether she'll follow me or not.

I drew a deep sigh when I reached the exit of this abandoned mall. I looked from side to side to check if there's any sign of them and thankfully, there's none.

"Pat? Do you wanna come or what?" I shouted.

"Yeah-yeah!" She intoned, I could hear her stamping firmly on the floor.

"So? Where do we go next?" She asked and I shrugged.

Wala kasi akong ideya talaga. It's been a week now since wala nang nagpapakitang zombie and I don't have any idea why!

"You still got that walkie-talkie?" Tumango siya at dinukot ito sa kanyang bulsa.

"Good. Then let's split up for a while," sabi ko. "Let's meet here, 3 PM sharp. Don't be late or you'll get it this time."

I shot her a glare and she grinned. It's because she's always late whenever we set a specific time for meet-ups. Ten to fifteen minutes kota ko sa babaeng 'to bago siya dumating.

Geez! I just don't know how her watch works.

"THREE. P.M. SHARP," I repeated, emphasizing every word.

"Oo na! Three p.m. sharp!" Tumango-tango pa siya saka isinet ang relo niya.

"Good! Be careful then," sabi ko sabay dukot sa tatlong syringe sa bulsa ko saka ito ibinigay sa kanya.

Those were antidotes I made to kill that good-for-nothing virus but it's still not complete yet. It will only work for those people who got infected with the virus within a minute. Kapag sumobra na diyan, the antidote will already destroy the nervous system of the infected.

Sa madaling sabi, kapag nakagat ka ng zombie for more than a minute tapos in-inject mo pa 'yong syringe, para ka nalang ding nagpakamatay.

"Paano ka?" Patricia asked in hesitation.

"Pat, you know me so don't worry," I secured with a smile and she nodded before taking them.

"Mag-ingat ka rin, ha? Call me if you're in danger," sabi niya at tumango naman ako.

We went on with our separate ways and as usual, pupunta ulit ako sa dati kong tambayan—my old school.

It's been three years now since that incident happened.

I caress the hand railings, brushing the dust away. I looked forward and stared at those old buildings which used to be so crowded.

I gripped on the railings when I remembered that day—the day when… my whole life changed.

"Ouch! Dad, it hurts!" I winced when dad pulled me by the arm.

"Alex! What are you doing?"

Mom yelled and tried pulling me away from dad's grip pero nagmatigas ito't iniwasiwas ang pagkakahawak ni mommy sa akin.

Umiiyak na ako pero patuloy parin akong hinihila ni daddy hanggang sa makarating kami sa labas. Agad niyang binuksan ang kotse saka ako itinulak papasok.

"Alex! You've already gone too far!" Nakita kong hinila siya ni mommy kaya natigilan ito. "Una si Drake tapos ngayon si Sai?! JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!"

Humahagolgol na si mommy habang pinaghahampas si daddy sa dibdib.

"STOP IT ALREADY, SAMANTHA!" Sigaw ni dad saka niya hinigit si mommy sa magkabilang braso. "I'm sure this time, it will work!"

"Will work?" Mom scoffed. "How sure are you, Lex? That's what you told me before you killed our son! Now do you expect me to beli—ugh!"

Nanlaki mga mata ko nang sampalin ni daddy si mommy at sa sobrang lakas nito, natumba siya at nawalan ng malay.

"S-Samantha! I-I didn't mean to…" dad stuttered looking at mom.

"Mommy!" Sigaw ko saka lumabas ng kotse at nilapitan siya. "Mom? Are you okay—"

Natigilan ako nang may mahawakan akong basa sa likuran ng ulo ni mommy.

Dahan-dahan ko itong tinignan at nanginig ang mga kamay ko nang malaman ko kung ano ito.

"I-it's blood," utal kong sabi habang dahan-dahang tinignan si mommy. "M-mommy?"

My hands were shaking as I slowly cupped her cheeks and tapped it to wake her up.

"M-mom?" I swilled. "Mom, gumising po kayo. Mommy! Mommy naman, eh!"

Sunod-sunod na tumulo ang mga luha ko. Hindi na kasi siya gumigising pa.

"S-Samantha… hon?" Lumapit si daddy saka niya niyakap si mommy. "H-hon?" He tapped her face for a couple of times pero hindi na talaga gumising si mommy.

"Ate? Anong nangyari kay mommy?"

Napatingala ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Aubrey. She's my four-year-old little sister. As if in a cue, agad akong tumayo saka siya nilapitan at binuhat saka tumakbo papalayo.

I heard dad shouting pero hindi ako tumigil sa pagtakbo.

So, he's the one who killed kuya Drake? So, sino ang isusunod niya? Ako? Tapos sunod si Aubrey?!

Panay buhos lang ang mga luha ko hanggang sa mapadpad kami ng kapatid ko sa bilihan ng mga isda.

"Ale! Ale! Tulungan niyo po kami," hagulgol kong sabi sa isang tindera.

"Bakit ileng? Anong nangyari sayo?" Kinakabahan niyang tanong.

"May humahabol po kasi sa amin! Papatayin niya po kami!"

Kita kong nagulat ang lahat ng nakarinig sa amin at base sa nga expresyon ng mukha nila, mukhang wala ni isa sa kanila ang may planong tulungan kami.

"Ate? Why are we running away?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Aubrey pero 'di ko alam ang isasagot ko.

I can't just tell her that our brother is dead and as well as our mother at lalong-lalo nang hindi ko kayang sabihin sa kanyang si daddy ang pumatay sa kanila. She's still too young!

"W-we're playing hide and seek with daddy," I lied.

"Then why are you crying?" Tanong nito at sasagot na sana ako nang may biglang pumutok kaya nagkagulo ang lahat.

"Sai… Aubrey? Where are you my princesses?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni daddy kaya agad kong binuhat si Aubrey patago sa likuran ng isang napakalaking ice box.

"Aubrey? Keep quiet okay?" Sabi ko buti nalang at tumango siya.

"Si daddy pala taya?" Nakangiti niyang sabi saka tinakpan bibig niya.

"Aubrey? Baby? Where are you? Is ate Sai with you right now?" Tanong ni daddy. His voice went closer and closer.

"Aubrey? I'll give you a present if you bring me ate Sai," napalunok ako sa sunod niyang sinabi.

Aubrey is fond with presents so as crazy as it is, biglang kumaripas ng labas si Aubrey.

"AUBREY!" Sigaw ko.

"Ate is here, dad!" Masaya niyang sigaw saka ako itinuro.

"Oh… she is?" Rinig kong sabi ni dad kaya wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ang muling buhatin si Aubrey saka tumakbo ng sobrang bilis.

"Ate?! Why are we running? Daddy already saw us!" Giit nito kaya wala na akong choice kundi ang sabihin sa kanya.

"Kuya Drake and mommy is dead, Aub!" Untad ko. "And daddy killed them—ugh!"

I gasped and winced the moment I fell down the ground with Aubrey.

"Ughhh!" I groaned when I felt so much pain in my leg. He did shot me!

"Ate! Ate! Are you okay?" Kinakabahang tanong ng kapatid ko saka ako nilapitan.

"AUBREY, RUN!" Sigaw ko nang makita ko si daddy na naglalakad papalapit sa amin.

"But ate you're hurt!"

"Aubrey… I SAID RUN!"

She shook her head and was about to take a look at my wound when another bang was heard and liquid spilled on my face. The next thing I knew is that my little sister is already lying on the ground with a bullet buried on her chest.

My body shivered.

"Aubrey…" bulong ko saka siya inalog. "Aubrey! Wake up!"

Blood oozed out from her chest as she released her last breath.

"Look what you made me do!" Rinig kong sigaw ni daddy mula sa likuran pero nawalan na ako ng ganang tumakbo o matakot pa.

The fact that my brother, my mom and my sister is already dead, I already had no reasons to live.

Dad brought me to their laboratory after that and started their experiment. I saw a lot of captives inside that stupid laboratory including my brother but it seems like their experiment failed which cost their lives and some turned into zombies.

They injected some sort of a virus on me and fortunately, I didn't die or turned like one of those walking dead but instead, I became immune.

Pero bago pa sila makakuha ng sample mula sa akin, nakatakas na ako. One of dad's companion helped me. I broke out of that place and hid myself hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayang kumalat na pala ang virus at isa-isa ng naging zombie ang mga taong nakatira sa islang tinitirhan namin.

I can say that it's my fault. I should have helped them manufacture a cure against the virus but the fact that my dad was with them, then I better leave everything like this. I know him. He won't just go out, helping people when he killed lots already.

Yes, invincible ako sa virus kaya hindi ako nag-aalala kung makagat man ako o ano, ang inaalala ko lang ay ang makain ng buhay.

Muli akong namuntong-hininga saka na bumaba. Sobrang aliwalas dito sa loob and looks safe. Wala naman kasi akong nararamdaman na kahit ano, eh.

"Don't move!" I stopped when a cold metal brushed against the back of my head. "Give me everything you got there!" She growled.

Binunot ko ang dalawang hand gun ko sa lalagyan ng magkabila kong hita saka ko ito binitawan. Sunod ko namang binunot ang dalawang dagger sa likuran ko at sabay din itong binitawan.

"That's it?!" Bulyaw niya.

"Mukha bang may naiwan pa? Pakikapkap nalang kung 'di ka naniniwala," walang gana kong sabi saka ko itinaas ang dalawa kong kamay.

"Damn! You're worthless!"

She hissed and picked my weapon up so I had the chance to grab her hand and took her gun. I swiftly faced her and aimed the gun with my right hand. She was also fast and she was able to pull another gun from her back and aimed it to me.

Halos magkasabay lang kami kaya napangisi ako.

This girl looks like she's just around my age. Good to know that someone like her still survives this place.

"You're fast!" I complemented.

"You, too," nakangisi niya ring sabi.

I shrugged and tossed her gun back. Agad naman niya itong sinalo. Yumuko ako't pinulot ang isa kong dagger.

"You can have the rest. Just spare me this," sabi ko saka agad na tumalikod.

"Wait!" Napatigil ako saka siya muling nilingon.

"Yes?" Tanong ko.

"Uhm… are you with someone?"

I simply shook my head and continued walking but then she followed me.

"Then maybe you can join us?" Pumihit siya sa akin kaya napataas ako ng kilay.

"I don't want a team, missy," I answered casually saka ko pa binilisan ang lakad ko pero mukhang seryoso siya sa pagpilit sa akin at patuloy niya parin akong sinusundan.

"I'm sorry for what I did," sabi niya pa. Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako saka tumigil sa paglalakad para harapin siya.

"Look..." I paused for her name.

"It's Almeinah," sabi naman niya.

"Okay look, Al. You see, I really don't like teaming up with other people. Madadagdagan lang ang iisipin ko and I'm with my friend. Sorry if I lied. Siya lang, okay na ako at least isa lang ang aalahanin ko."

"But you don't have to worry about us…" she also stopped for my name.

"Sai."

"Oh, but seriously. You don't have to worry about us, Sai," she insisted. "We're skilled. We can take care of ourselves."

I groaned and threw my dagger rightwards where I saw a zombie coming. The dagger dug through the zombie's head and immediately fell down the ground.

"Wow!" She whispered when she saw what I did.

"Still my answer is no," I said then continued walking.

I knelt down beside the zombie and pulled my dagger then walked away. Hindi naman niya na ako hinabol after that.

"WATCH OUT!"

Rinig kong sigaw ng kung sino saka ko sunod na narinig ang mabibilis na yapak. Agad akong tumalikod at nakita ko ang isang zombie na mabilis na tumatakbo papalapit sa akin mula sa madilim na bahagi ng pasilyo.

Hindi agad ako nakagalaw at sobrang lapit na niya. Ibinigay ko nga rin pala ang baril ko sa babaeng 'yon so most likely, hihintayin ko nalang siya at dagger lang ang meron ako ngayon.

I braced myself for the attack when a guy, with a minted hair, appeared in front of me, cutting that zombie into half.

"You're too pretty just to die like that, miss," panimula nito saka ako nilingon.

"Kuya!" I glanced back and saw Almeinah running towards us.

"I told you, Sai. Team up with us already! I bet we all have the same mission here," she beamed. I sighed and bitterly nodded or else she will only keep on bugging me.

I looked back at this mint-haired guy and he's smiling.

"Thanks," I said and he nodded.

We headed downstairs afterwards. Nauna na si Almeinah sa van kuno nila para sabihan ang iba nilang kasama about sa akin habang kami naman ng lalaking nagpakilalang Tao ay nandito pa sa second floor ng school.

The walls were broken down so we're basically watching those zombies outside.

"Wow," I sarcastically applauded when he missed his shot for the nth time around. "You're holding it wrong!"

He rolled his eyes skywards and attempted to hit the other one in the middle but then again, he failed.

"That's it! I give up," he hissed and hand me back the gun. "Kill them by yourself with that stupid thing and I'll kill them my way."

I scowled and took the gun. I only saw him pulling his precious katana out of its precious scabbard.

"Don't tell me papatayin mo silang lahat gamit 'yan?" I asked, raising my brows, and he nodded in response.

"You're kidding," I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Para mo nalang ring sinabi sa akin na magpapakamatay ka."

He twitched his lips and shot me a glare.

"Talking as if like you already saw me fight, ah?" He asked, positioning the blade horizontally.

"Then would you mind showing me an example?" Paghahamon ko at mukhang hindi naman siya nabahala.

"It would be a great pleasure, miss." He plastered a smirk and I gasped when he suddenly leaped down. We're literally at the second floor of an old abandoned building so I really thought he's already dead but to my surprise, he's still alive and kicking.

I was like wow when I saw him cutting those zombies into half without even inserting a little bit of effort.

I see~ so he prefers fighting in a short combat unlike me, I'm used with long ones since I'm using guns for shooting and definitely not for stabbing.

I took my hand gun and aimed at the two incoming mad zombies. They're those kind of zombies who can run fast but will only show up during evening since they can't stand under the heat of the sun.

"Bull's eye!" I whispered with a smirk when I hit those two in the center head. "Hey, Tao!"

I called and he glanced at me. He's still in the middle of the fight and as much as I don't want to ruin his moment but hello? If I won't inform him then we'll surely turn into one of those walking dead. I still wanna live thank you very much!

"Yeah?" He asked and slashed the last one in sight. "You're impressive, all right?! But I do think that we have to go. Mad zombies will be here any minute from now."

He turned towards the setting sun, taking a piece of cloth from his pocket, and wiped the blood on his blade before inserting it back in the scabbard.

"That's what I also had in mind," he said and looked back at me.

I used the stairs to climb down til the first floor. Hindi ko naman kasi kayang tumalon mula sa ikalawang palapag, salamat nalang po. Ewan ko nga lang kung paano niya ginawa 'yun. I'm just really impressed!

And to answer all of your confusions, we're obviously in an old abandoned place and yes, it's a town where zombies are lurking. Yes! We're trapped in this place. Another yes, humans are obviously rare in here. And finally, another yes… we're in an island where the virus is.

Why am I still here? Why are still people here? Why are we still here? Same question, same answer.

We're still here because we have the same mission and that's too kill the man behind all of these… my dad.

_____
[A/N] Ewan ko kung matatawa ba ako or what. Mag susulat nalang siguro ako ng humor at mukhang doon lang ako magaling, hindi naman sa pagmamayabang. Charot! Hahaha sana supportahan niyo rin po ang iba ko pang EXO FF's.