Cosmic Dawn (Where Monsters Rise)

CHASE RAMADA

The night had fallen, and we had been driving down the road for what felt like half an hour now, all of us cramped inside a van. This was all part of the plan we carefully laid out earlier in the morning.

Like everything else in this chaotic world, events were moving at a dizzying speed. Just yesterday, it was my birthday, and now once again, we were treading the thin line between survival and death.

Tahimik ang loob ng van maliban sa mahinang ugong ng makina at ang paminsan-minsang kaluskos ng mga gamit namin. Nakatingin ako sa bintana, pinagmamasdan ang dilim sa labas na parang walang hanggan, broken only by faint outlines of trees and abandoned cars.

My hands tightened around the edge of the seat, knuckles turning pale as my anxiety settled in.

"Chase, you're so quiet," Gelo's voice broke through my thoughts as I felt his hand gently wrap around mine. "Still thinking about it?"

I nodded, glancing before shifting my gaze back to the dark road ahead. We were seated at the back of the van. Ate Naomi, Rayne, the baby, and Talia occupied the middle row, while Ellie, Maximus, and Cleon sat closer to the front. Salvino was at the wheel, his eyes locked on the dimly lit path.

"I'm sorry, I just can't help it," I muttered, my voice trembling. "I've grown so attached to all of you, and I'm scared of what might happen to us."

"It's normal to feel that way, Chase," he said softly, his hand gently rubbing my back. "But you need to hold yourself together. You know we have to be stronger during times like this, alright?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of fear inside me. For them, I needed to be strong. For us, I had to believe we could survive.

"Malapit na tayo."

Napatingin kaming lahat sa bintana nang marinig namin si Salvino. Nasa paikot na kalsada na kami, at mula rito, natatanaw na namin ang dambuhalang building ng Skyline Mall. Halos hindi ko kayang tiisin ang ibang nakikita ko; nasusunog na ang ilang mga building, at maraming lasog-lasog na katawan ang nakakalat sa kalsada.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baril ko at muling tiningnan ang mga kasama ko. Nang dumapo ang tingin ko sa baby ni Ate Naomi na nakabalot sa pinunit na kumot sa mga bisig ni Rayne, naramdaman ko ang sakit sa dibdib ko.

He was silent, staring at the roof of the car, his eyes distant as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. His expression broke me, and I felt this lump in my throat. He didn't deserve this. He's just a baby, yet here he was, caught in this nightmare of survival, just to stay alive.

When we arrived in front of the Skyline Mall, the vehicle stopped, signaling that we were already here. We all exchanged glances, an overwhelming silence filled the air, making everything feel heavier.

"We need to stay alert at all times. We'll go first. Ate Naomi, Rayne, and Talia, you'll be in the middle. You handle the kids. Ellie, Maximus, Gelo, and Chase, you'll be our shield in case anything goes wrong." turan ni Salvino, tumango naman kami.

"Putang-ina..." Cleon cut him off. Napatingin kami sa tinitingnan niya.

Nang tingnan ko ang tinitingnan niya, I was really shocked by what I saw.

Zombies were rushing toward us now, ang itsura nila ay malayo na sa mga nakakasalamuha namin. Kitang-kita na ngayon kung paano silang magdumugan at mag-unahan.

They were coming to kill us all!

Dahil doon, mabilis at natatarantang pinihit ni Salvino ang manibela paatras. We were fucking escaping, but I was really scared for our lives! Sa sobrang liksi at bilis nila, malapit na malapit na sila sa amin agad. Mabuti na lang talaga at mahusay mag-drive si Salvino dahil nagawa niyang ipihit agad ang van para iwasan sila.