Chapter 29 - Quiet Night

"WHAT?!! Khoohk!"

"Let me explain, Lionel. Khoohk."

"YES PLEASE! That would really help a lot!"

"The Tryffyds have changed they're attack strategy. Khoohk. In order to hunt prey, the Tryffyd flowers release its potent pollen and the wind carries it everywhere. Khooohk. We then breathe the contaminated air. Khoohk. The pollens enter our noses and lungs. Khoohk. When that happens, we'll slowly fall asleep and have dreams. Khoohk. That's what happened to you and to all the people around us! Khoohk! The pollens have hallucinogens and sleep-inducing effects! Khoohk! That's why we're wearing this oxygen mask Khoohk. To protect ourselves. Everything clear now? Khoohk."

Silence...

(Lionel's thoughts: So... Everything I've seen... Everything I've felt... is just an illusion...? Kaoru... The girl of my dreams... My first love... Is not real...? I... I fell in love with an illusion...? But that can't be! She smiled at me! And it was sincere! I saw it with my own two eyes! Everything was so clear! I held her hand! I felt it! It was soft and warm! Don't tell me that wasn't real! She's so kind to me! I've never felt so happy in my entire life... Elisa... You shouldn't have awakened me...)

"What would happen next...? Khoohk. If it's not stopped...? Khoohk."

"The people cannot eat or drink because they're sleeping and dreaming. Khooohk. They can't wake up. Khoohk. So, they'll slowly die. Khoohk. After that, the Tryffyds will evolve again in a very quick rate. Khoohk. They'll become the gigantic Tryffyd that I've said before. Khoohk. Then, they'll sense the dead bodies lying around and eat them up. Khoohk. It'll be much easier for them now because their food can never fight back anymore. Khoohk."

Silence...

"Uhmm... Elis, Khoohk, can I ask you a question? Khoohk."

"Sure. Khoohk."

"You're a girl, right...? Khoohk."

Silence...

"Are you teasing me? Khoohk."

"No! No! I'm just making sure! No! Uhmm... What I mean is, you're a girl! Khooohk! Girls do not and should not speak like that! Khoohk! Aren't you disgusted or scared or creeped out of everything you just said right now?! Khoohk! Khoohk!"

"No. Khoohk."

GAAASH!!! She's so weird!!!

"In these times, we need to be tough. Khoohk. We need to be strong, Lionel. Khoohk."

Silence...

I don't know what to say anymore.

"Is everything clear now, Lionel? Khoohk."

"Yeah... I guess... Khoohk."

"Good, Khoohk. Now, let's grab something to eat before we continue our discussion. Khoohk. I'm really hungry. Khoohk."

"Okay..."

As we walk towards the broken glass doors, I saw the Golem Knight that I've defeated.

"Amazing, isn't it? Khoohk."

"?"

"Sadly, it's destroyed. Khoohk. It's the most advanced animatronics in the world. Khoohk."

"..."

"That Knight Animatronics is a combination of robotics, hydraulics, and Gyroscopic Technology! It's so cool! Khooohk!"

"Oh... Khoohk."

"That's why this company, Khoohk, the Anima Corporation, Khoohk, is the best in the world! Khoohk! When it comes to movie special effects, Khoohk, 3D animation, Khoohk, animatronics, Khoohk, and even robotic programming to amusement rides, Khoohk! No one beats them! Khoohk! They're truly the best! That's why they got this skyscraper! Khoohk!"

"I see... Khoohk."

So this is the Iskaskrapah Mountain...

"I wonder how you got here and why is that robot knight destroyed? Khoohk."

"..."

I'll tell you someday.

======================================================

As we walk towards the nearest convenience store, I saw a lot of people scattered on the streets, all of them lying on the ground. I held my pipe-sword tightly. Gaaash... I'm really, really scared right now! It's like we're walking in a ghost town or a city with a deadly sickness and everyone just died. Gaaash... I can't stop thinking about zombies! I really don't know what to do if those people raised their heads and crawled full speed towards us! It's really late, and dark, and I just realized how quiet everything was. Normally, you can still hear traffic noises and chatter in this late night time, but everything is silent. Everything is still. Even the cats, dogs, birds, and insects are asleep, lying on the ground!

"Uhmm... Khoohk. Are you okay?"

"M-M-Me? Khoohk! Khoohk! I'm perfectly fine! Khoohk! Why did you ask? Khoohk!"

"You're perspiring and... Khoohk. Trembling... Khoohk."

"Oh, I'm fine! Khoohk! Khoohk! Don't worry about me! It's just cold tonight! Khoooohk!!"

"Yeah... Khoohk. It's quite windy. Khoohk."

The wind gently blew... You can really hear its sound going through the buildings and trees... That's how quiet the whole city is...

"Uhmm... Aren't we going to help these people...? Khoohk. We can put these masks on them... Khoohk."

"Yes, we can. Khoohk. But if we did, we cannot save them all. Khoohk. We have very limited time and there're so many of them. Khoohk. We don't even have enough oxygen tanks, masks, and manpower to do it. Khoohk. But don't worry. Khoohk. I'm still thinking of a way to save them. Khoohk."

Silence...

"Let's go inside, Lionel. Khoohk."

"Yeah..."

We gently opened the glass doors of a 24/7 convenience store. There are no customers. The only people around is the sleeping cashier in the counter, and the security guard beside the door. After seeing all the food and drinks displayed in the shelves, I just realized how hungry and thirsty I was. Gosh... I haven't eaten anything or drank even a drop of water for a whole day! That's why I feel so tired and weak! But... What about my breakfast...? Bacon and eggs...? Don't tell me...

"Hi there, sleeping cashier. Khoohk! Here's 50 Pesos for our food and drinks. Khoohk. Thank you! Khoohk."

Wow... She's very honest...

"Take anything you want Lionel!! Khoohk!!"

I take back what I said.

"Uhmm... Khoohk. If the air has pollen in it, Khoohk. How are we going to eat? Khoohk."

"I got that covered! Khoohk! So don't worry about it and grab some food! Khoohk!"

"Okay. Khoohk."

I got a box of pizza and two hotdogs in a bun. She picked lasagna and two burgers. We placed it all in a big box called "microwave oven" and pre-heated it. While waiting, we picked two big bottles of cold water.

"TING!!!"

"It's cooked! Khoohk!"

Wow... That's fast!

We picked our food out of the microwave oven.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

And sat below the tall glass box called "refrigerator".

"This is how we'll eat. Khoohk. We'll just open the doors of this refrigerator and viola! Khoohk! We can now eat our food!"

"That simple?! Khoohk!"

"Yes. Khoohk. You see, the cold air that comes from the refrigerator kills the pollen. Khoohk. So it's now safe to eat and breathe! Khoohk."

"Cool. Khoohk."

We then started to eat.

After five minutes...

"Gosh, I'm full!! I've never eaten so much food before!"

"It was good."

"What are you saying, Elis?! It's delicious!"

"Good enough."

"Aaah! What do you mean?!"

We closed the refrigerator doors and wore our oxygen masks on.

"Let's rest here for a while. Okay? Khoohk."

"No problem. Khoohk."

We sat on the bench beside the cashier.

Silence...

"By the way, what is that weird stick thing you're holding? Khoohk."

"It's my dextrose. Khoohk."

Dextrose?

"And that small vial with orange liquid is my medicine. Khoohk."

"Oh... Uhmm... Khoohk. Are you sick? Khoohk."

"Yes. Khoohk."

"Oh... Khoohk."

"I'm asthmatic. Khoohk. Caused by a chronic allergy to dust. Khoohk. That's why I have this dextrose, Khoohk, and oxygen tank around. Khoohk."

"..."

Silence...

"Don't worry, Elis. Khoohk."

"?"

"You're brave and very strong. Khoohk. You'll be fine in no time! Khoohk."

"I hope so... Khoohk."

Silence...

"Elis... of all the people out there... Why did you pick me? Khoohk."

She looked at me.

"?"

"You can help and save other people. Khoohk. Why choose me? Khoohk."

She smiled.

"I thought you were fine, Khoohk. Because you're the only one whose moving around. Khoohk. But I found out that you're the worst case there is. Khoohk. You're day-dreaming and sleep-walking and swinging that pipe sword all around with eyes wide open at the same time. Khoohk."

"Ha...?"

Silence...

"O - Kay... That's... very strange indeed... Khoohk."

"You bet. Khoohk."

Silence...

"Uhmm... This may sound weird to you but, Khoohk, could you please tell me everything you saw? Khoohk."

She laughed.

"Okay. Khoohk."

I have a bad feeling about this.