Henry Andress: Mourn (final)

As the door slowly creaks in, we were greeted by a pair of kids cowering in fear at the front door.

I illuminate the mysterious figures standing at the ingress using the flash light instilled at the muzzle of my rifle

"Hey, are you kids alright?" I ask the little boy, who was quivering in fright from the guns directed at their direction.

I raise my hand and close them afterwards, indicating my team to lower their weapons. They were free from the infection, unharmed in any way. Well, that's what I've been hoping for.

"My name's Jayson, but my friends calls me Jayce. This is my younger sister, Lixia" the boy named Jayce spoke up whilst shivering from his might as he responded from my question. I inspect everything for obvious bites and wounds to avoid any signs of risk scattering the infection. But, then again, it was wiser to ask them themselves for further verification; as I was seeing no clear marks or whatsoever.

"Were you two bitten? Harmed? "asking them a series of questions to quicken up the pace, for the time spent will always be an essential.

The boy shook's his head, confirming the list of queries I had demanded. Luckily, those were the honest answers given to me, and thus everyone was safe and sound.

"Vincent, call the headquarters. Tell them we had found survivors, children, if you may add. ""Roger"

I ordered Vincent to heed my orders and immediately call for our office's aid to try and handle the situation smoothly. "Hello, this is HQ, who am I speaking to?" A voice replied seemingly curious of the sudden call. We had explained our current occurrence and our validated names as soldiers of a foreign country.

"I understand. We're currently barricading ourselves inside a mall called 'Super Mart' most of our soldiers are dispatched there, armed with sufficient weapons and resources. Please evacuate on the nearest shelter" the voice which came from the speaker of the phone hang up after the crucial message had been sent to us. We did asked for immediate help, but why wasn't anyone coming and pick us up? I checked my smartphone and searched for the maps installed by an application, which has always deemed pretty handy for the technologies in our current generation. Apparently, just a few blocks away would lead us to the 'Super Mart' mall that the voice had mentioned earlier.

"Do malls' holds the large amount of people there? If so…" Zack mutters, but was promptly cut off by Vincent"Then why would they build a stronghold where there can be any risks of infecting everyone inside an enclosed dome?"

The question was indeed good as mine.

"The only light bulb that comes in mind is that plenty of food could be shared between survivors and if I'm not mistaken from the events, the entrance door's was tightly shut by an emergency power surge which made them trapped but protected by strong walls that can fend off these rascals" I commented on the idea. I suspect that the military gradually took actions against the stream of events and brought choppers at their location. Aside from their glassy structure, the mall was perfect enough to fit in the mass population of hundreds of people; just a little bit cramp, but that's all. One thing's for sure is that a single zombie, which would had accidentally mixed up with the healthy ones will without a doubt meet their end.

As I ponder from the thought, whilst staring from my phone, I felt something tugging the ends of my fatigue uniform. It was the boy who had introduced awhile back deliberately catching my attention.

"M-my sister, she has a fever" with a worried look on his face, he weakly points out the direction towards his sister who was lying on the ground and was clearly showing signs of difficulty of breathing.Zack hurriedly crouch and offers the girl his water jug, allowing Lixia to drink from the small gap which the liquid flows unto. The water slides from Lixia's mouth , but still most of the liquid was drank and made her a little bit hydrated than before.

"Here, drink this pill" Zack mutters, as he rummages his hand across his bag. He then found a drug which was purely for 'feverish' circumstances, in case for these kind of situation would happen. He unwraps the drug and forcibly inserts it in the young girl's mouth. Jayce was bewildered from the sudden events but quietly observes throughout the scene. We wanted to help but he knows our desired intentions. "Your sister is in great hands" Vincent states. Zack is our medical man which complies with various activity to prevent further injuries in the team. He was specialised in drawing resourceful ingredients caught from the wild, if not, from his baggage, that can cure slight illnesses and other antidotes at his disposal. It was truly wonderful that this goofy guy happens to be an expert and managed to ease and comforted the little girl's feelings.

Zack then carried Lixia on to the soft bed and placed a wet towel on her forehead. He then wraps a blanket on her body and express's a bitter smile.

"It'll be alright" his soothing voice echoes in the room. It wasn't loud nor alarming, but rather it felt like a voice from a father tending to his lovely daughter.

"I didn't know you have this kind of side, ey Zack?" I teased him while smacking his head slightly using the knuckles of my hand, ruining the style of his hair. Jayce was smiling vigorously, seeing his sister slowly being healed from the aftermath.

"What happened?" Vincent asks the boy, ravaging the mood. I can't help but approve on his slightest comment. The rising of a human's temperature may lead to unprecedented symptom that the virus had brought, or so we thought.

"Lixia had been having this awful fever for going out on the rain. We played outside, but got scolded by our father by the time he got home" Jayce bashfully comments, as he digs his head towards the ground like an ostrich, well, metaphorically.

So the fever wasn't from the epidemic but rather from a natural occurrence due to her weak immune system.

"What's the plan, sire?" Vincent asks, ask we both gaze on the young girl being tend by Zack. The boy looks at my direction, hoping for an answer. An answer that he had wish to know sooner.

"We'll move out soon, if Lixia's temperature had been stable or else she'll just slow us down." I said. Upon my words, our team dispatched and barricades the whole house and scavenges for any supplies.

"Where's your mum and dad?" I ask Jayce who replaced Zack's position as an attendant to his sister.

"They all… turned" without turning his back around me, he answered in a soft and angered tone. Apparently, the zombie which was on the other side of the room was his dad who protected them from the onslaught of the horde. According to Jayce, his father had told them to stay in the bedroom and protected his sister, while the father fends off the zombies, bashing and grabbing them on the parallel side of the room. Unfortunately we…

"We killed your dad. I'm sorry" I honestly blurted out what had happened upon coming inside. It was… painful

Of course. His dad died on the hands of a man who later on saved him and his sister's illness. But, then again the rabid virus who plagued the city was the main culprit of the scene.

Upon understanding the atmosphere, I stood up and left the boy alongside his sleeping sister. He needed the alone time to muster up his courage for the upcoming events. He's mature. Mature enough to accept the death of his parents. His mother…was the first to get bitten and soon turned, and was one of the zombies his dad had to fend off to. It was a brutal fate that Jayce and Lixia had undergone. I found myself deeply touched and saddened upon hearing their story, but still, I needed to protect them. After all, the captain's responsibility lies for the whole team as well.

A week had passed and the sister's condition had finally lessened. It was indeed fortunate for them, and right now was the best time to head off against the undead. Despite the long week had passed, the hunt had just began.

From the weeks that had spent, Vincent and Zack were thoroughly patrolling the site of their routes and escapes, in case of anything happens. We were unable to step foot outside without letting the children tag along our tails. For the zombies, as we had studied, are sensitive with motions and hearing capabilities. These infected relies on the sensible sounds on its surrounding, thirst for blood and hunger from meat. By the time they had munched over certain individuals, the DNA virus will later on manifest on the person based on the site of the bite despite knocking the human 'dead' from the critical attack; and it could rapidly increase if the tension was multiplied. The current transformation if the zombie had infected either through forms of accidental liquid intake or directly bitten (and pierces inside the skin) will roughly take an hour or so, slowly infecting the individual; leaving him or her symptoms similar to one having a flu or rabies like characteristics. These test were clearly observed and strictly noticeable from patterns and such upon my team's discoveries. It wasn't the whole picture, but this knowledge will be sufficient. I prepared every possible equipment like a kitchen knife, a spare rope, a baseball bat, and even a frying pan just in case; actually, it was hastily took by Zack who was merrily saying "Let's slap this baby on those weird arse faces" enjoying himself from his monologue.

By the time we prep by, I ask the kids to do the same, and obediently did what I had told them to do. Their luggage composes of the additional snacks and packed goods we had them to carry to ease our bags.

"Should we let this kids armed or?" Vincent ask, holding on to his spare handgun on his hand, hidden from the children, but visible to my eyes.

I doubt that having those firearms on the hands of a 14 year old kid will prove useful for their mental mind. He's… still immature for the act of killing people in the time being.

"No. Let them have the baseball instead." I said in a brazen tone. Jayce was about to retort but was hushed by Zack who bickers him a smile.

The members of my team fully trusts my opinion, therefore wasn't questioned to avoid any rough arguable discussions. Vincent lets out a sigh and hid the handgun away from his pocket, still loaded with full magazine intact. I also check my current equipment but later to find out that at this point, my rifle was its peak at top shape. I loaded the magazines and prep for the upcoming war.

"Why won't we wrap our arms with tough materials? Maybe like, I don't know, magazines?" Zack voices out an opinion.

"Brilliant" I replied. It was indeed a great thing to come up with an idea. These zombies relies on their brute strength and piercing jaws to deal damage against living beings. By protecting our vulnerable spot, we can minimise the risk of getting affected by their razor sharp teeth at the very least.

We search the whole house and found dozens of magazines piled up in a drawer right where Jayce had pointed out for us. It was magazines that could be seen or given during flights inside a plane. Some were bought by her parents which was indicated at the title of the papers that says "How to cook different delicacies". Probably the possession of his mum's personal cook book.

We wrap ourselves with the remainder of the tough magazines and formed a miniature armour. The kids too had placed theirs.

"Kuya, what are we going to do? (kuya means brother in Filipino)" Jayson kneels down and hugs his sister tight.

"We'll be leaving this house and move on a safer place" He said, hiding the tears from his eyes, he shows a mundane smile.

"Okay, kuya!" Lixia giggles and hops along, tailing Jayson's back.

"Got a sweet sister you got there" I said, reloading my rifle once again, as we station ourselves on the back of the entrance door.

"Yeah. That's why I need to protect her. She's the only one I have" with a determine look, he gazes at the door, unfazed from the disaster we're in.

"I admire your bravery, kid" I said, as he tightly grips on the baseball bat Vincent had given him.

And with that, we opened the door and slowly made our way.

Our weaponry consists of rifles installed with its respectful silencers, which evaporates the zombies bone's without any unnecessary sounds. The entire neighbourhood was in shambles, as piled of dead bodies laid down on the setting. It was a scene that the children we're inappropriate to see and yet here they were, experiencing it first-hand. Are they even dead bodies to begin with or zombies which slumbers quietly, waiting for its prey?

Jayce and Lixia will be our centre that needed to be protected at all cost, accompanied by Vincent.

Zack will cover our breech

And like last time, I'll lead the front, guiding my comrades towards the shelter.

I had already memorised the map and its location. Our vigorous training was a bit terrible than the one's we're currently facing. Reminiscing the bicker past made my mind rot away from the unending suffering that our general had gave me. It was a troublesome feat, much worse than gobbling horse shit.

The location towards the shelter was just three kilometres ahead. It was a fare distance to be travelled by foot, but it poses grave dangers with these undead slowing down our way. We silently crouch and walk towards the backyard of abandoned houses, passing over lone cars and other numerous infected found in the main highway. It was swarming with the living dead, still we needed to push forward.

As push came to shove, we had encountered an unpassable hurdle, as the undead came marching over the route we need to venture in.

"Those, Shi… those things are stockpiled across the road." Vincent grunts, mistakenly clicks his tongue for the set of words he could've said with the children tagging along.

I've looked every notch and not a single alternative could be seen. The extreme right of the road is also vested with zombies roaming the narrowed streets. The left part's barricaded with trucks and cars that'll be close to impossible to sneak our way towards safety. It may be possible for the children, but to us grown men, our physique wouldn't fit the matter. There's also the risk of alerting the zombies with their growls if one of us gets spotted by them.

"We're charging straight in" I said.

"Isn't that suicide? It'll be cool slaying thousands of zombies but, captain…" Zack refutes, but definitely sound excited for the upcoming premier.

"We'll charge in stealthily. Don't make a sound. Hit them at the back and proceed steadily. Understood?" I ask everyone for their whole-hearted attention. They reluctantly agreed and responded with a nod. What else can we do but force our way in? It was the quickest and probably the safest thing that we could do against all odds. Thus, we took a deep breath and slowly headed north towards our goal.

Slowly like a toddler moving inside a room, we crouch our way furtively and managed to slip by dozens of zombies who were preoccupied with their meals they had left inside the wooden houses and its galvanised roofs. These unstable houses serves as a landmark for the Super Mart mall, which is roughly 1 kilometre away from our destination. Surely, luck was currently at our side, as we progress our way in the lean street of Herrera.

As if fate had managed to mock us, Zack alerted us, quietly tapping the shoulders of Vincent.

"Tango at our 6" he reported, whispering as his eyes are still glued on the zombie. It was a good thing that the individual haven't recognised us yet, and was still patrolling the passed by street. Misfortune had come in our way swiftly as another pair of infected greeted our north. These two had immediately spotted us and screeched a loud roar, echoing throughout the vicinity.

"RUN" I ordered everyone to shoot and run our way to the nearest house, if not, towards the mall we're all heading to. We need to push our way throughout the never ending swarm of zombies behind and towards our front.

The growl probably alerted the other walkers nearby, as a stampede miles away could be heard faintly through our ears. Loud indistinct squeals echoed like microphones, as we sprint our way towards the aisle which looked like unvested with zombies. We had managed to barge our way inside a wooden house, shutting the door from behind quietly as possible, avoiding any unnecessary noise.

From the looks of it, Lixia had been profusely breathing on the depths of her chest, cowering from all the running and fearsome zombies chasing us. She had also been gripped forcefully, for her own safety, by her brother, Jayce, following our pace of speed during the retreat.

"Lixia! Lixia! Hang on there." Jayce said in a worried tone, touching her cheeks, and wiping off her tears from the wavering young girl.

"K-Kuya, takot ako (big brother, I'm scared)" weeping from traumatising onslaught of the zombies.

Despite the occurrence, the cry from the child had alerted the nearby zombies, confused from the walls that covers us from within.

"Shh, they'll hear us" Vincent shushes everyone, as he moves closer from the walls and expects someone or something to be wandering around the parallel area.

"Hey, hey, little girl. It's going to be alright. Don't mind old pops right there. He looks scary but he really cares about us!" Zack's exclaims, calming down the lassie.

Lixia sniffs, pulling back her sadness away from the comfort of the older soldier, Zack. He flashes a wide grin much to a comedian, yet gentle in stature. "Okay…" She replies calmly, gripping her brother's hand once more. But alas, their personal time had been interrupted by a zombie who was around, lurking the realms of the house.

There was a zombie ahead, peculiar among the rest. The zombie guy, who had been glaring across them, has red scarlet eyes burning from his eyeballs, but no pupils could be seen. His skin was obliterated by who knows what, replaced by horrid dirt and decaying vines all over its body, as if the roots itself from an old wilted tree had been recalled back from the afterlife.

"You…don't…belong…here" The monster said, as he spouts his sinister voice intimidating Henry and his group.

"A zombie that can talk?!" Zack, bewildered from the infected, was shivering from the scene. Vincent and I returned the glare from the mysterious individual. "You don't look okay" I said, aiming my gun at the potential threat that lies ahead of us.

"Leave!" He shouted once again, which apprised the attention of the nearby horde, who were now banging from the door we had entered. The zombie in front of us was unique in every way. He has still maintained the ability to communicate. No matter what had consumed that unfortunate individual, greed or territory, it was splendid and terrifying from what awaits us.We asked the kids to crouch down and look for a safer place to hide. They had ran upstairs, which Zack had accompanied them. Without more words to discuss, they hurriedly dash from the stairs located at our right While me and Vincent holds off the line against their survival.

The stairs was crooked, barely able to stand firm at the weights of the three people. Zack was leading the way, attentive for any sudden encounters unforeseen. By the time they had reached the second floor, two zombies were growling towards the prey right off of their eyes.

Zack hurriedly pulls the trigger, shooting the two zombies on their centre mass resulting to their downfall.

"Let's go" Jack utters. This was the first time Jayce had seen Zack serious all of the sudden. He has this gentle aura that was appropriate for every youth younger from his generation. Seeing his deathly stare, focused on leading the way exerted such bravery and heroic might towards Zack which greatly admired. Even Lixia was agape from the accurate bullets shot by Zack himself, making her cheer the cutest hurrah.

Zack found a window at the end of the room, which seemingly a route for possible evacutation.

But that was the gravest mistake they had reached. A sole zombie, detached from its lower limb, was deceitfully lying on the table, unnoticed by these people. it was then, slowly crawling its way towards Lixia, who was ignorant from her surroundings.

The zombie's growl intensifies, alerting Zack to its presence; but alas, it was too late. The zombie attempts to gnaw the flesh of the little girl

"We have a plan, captain?" Vincent asks, as we both fire our rifles on the small fries who are simultaneously leaping towards us with all their might. Fortunately, the hideous boss-like zombie stood there like a post, observing our every movements. It was a gaze brought shivers to our spine, as we constantly push ourselves against the force of the infected. Despite our situation, I can't help but worry for Zack and the two children by his side.

"We need to bring that ugly bastard down" I commented, shifting my gaze at the numerous zombies relentlessly marching the house. Our bullets are mighty, but limited. "Keep 'em distracted. I'll be facing that guy over there. If you can, I'll buy time for your escape" I hold the most responsibility for my team. It'll be my life over others, a selfless thought indeed.

"You won't be dying anytime soon" Vincent grunts, still holding his fort; but this time, he was equipped with combat knives on the tip of his boots. Acrobatic fits the description, as Vincent head towards the crowd of zombie's mano a mano, flipping and twisting his body whilst slashing their limbs and necks from the ruthless blades.

I let out a smirk just beneath my mouth. Vincent is indeed the most powerful combatant amongst my peers. He was far more capable stopping hundreds of battalion, a one man army indeed with his trusty rifle.

I, on the other hand had problems left unsolved. It was a showdown between veterans. The spotlight had been shone towards the centre, awaiting the first move. The zombie was indeed intelligent. As a hunter and a predator, it was indeed cautious of its surrounding and the danger that lies within. It had been studying our every move, analysing at it seems.

I called the shot, firing consistent bullets all over its limbs, preventing its movements. It was the most rational thing to do. Success had shown right infront of me as the zombie fell to the ground, head first. Was it finally over?

The question ponders my mind, but quickly gave the answers. The vines weren't just a display, but rather weapons on his full control. The obsidian vines crawl in an alarming matter, ruining the designs of the concrete floor. I rolled myself on the left side of the other room, which seems to be the kitchen of the house. The vines didn't followed me here and moved at a single line. The plant retracted back to its master, seemingly attaching itself like natural limbs all over the zombie's body.

"Flesh….Food" it muttered, as he slowly makes its way towards me. I took a grenade and unravelled it immediately, afterwards throwing it precisely timed at its rubbish face. "GRENADE" I alarmed Vincent from the matter and hoped for his own safety.

The firing continued just like before, so no harmful results had happened from Vincent, I suppose. The zombie stood there, deceased, as his upper body blasted off into pieces, leaving the lower part tangled like a statue."VINCENT" I shouted once again, catching Vincent's attention who was outside of the house regrouping with the others.

It seems that the horde had diminished, but the threat was still there. I saw blood painted on the arms of both Lixia and Jayce, but paid it no mind. We steadily head our way towards our original destination, north of the city where the Super Mart lies.

We were now sprinting our way towards various streets with hundreds of zombies chasing our tail. Me and Jack was firing from behind and upfront, desperately making a way.

Roughly, we had reached half of the kilometre away from our destination. Just like the caller had mentioned, a tower stood tall far ahead with a big sign clearly catches every coming customer indicating "Super Market" at its entrance."There it is!" I said. With a tired look, they focused their line of sight towards the building, shining a glimmer of hope for our survival.

As I hurriedly turned my back against the swarm, Vincent who was hiding a grin had been impaled by the same vine we had encountered on the house. It had went straight to its chest, piercing his heart. Blood gushed our from his fatigue shirt, making Vincent himself vomits the excessive fluids from the shock of his body

The impaling vine transforms similar from a grappling hook, securing the body of the nearly dying Vincent. "Go. Just go, buddy" He utters. It was the last ounce of his strength and apart from everyone else, he had noticed the vine nearly approaching myself and… he intercepted it in the nick of time, saving me in the process.

I was…ashamed. I…

No words came from my mouth, as I see Vincent being pulled back by the monstrous vine.

"Eat this you fucker" those were the words Vincent mutters. Thus, concluded the scene with a large explosion from behind our back.

Me and Zack wouldn't dare waste the sacrifice Vincent had made and for that, we are indeed closer towards our destination. This city, compared from the one we had ran into, was free from any creepy crawlers. We haven't had the time to mourn from the death of our friend. We stopped in a nearby house to regain our strength and emotional distress from the disaster had happened.

Tears began flowing like a river, as I found myself embracing the regret in which I had gravely held responsible with

If only I had noticed another individual who was similar from the ones we killed

If only I had prevented the vine attack, then Vincent wouldn't have died

If only I was the one caught from the incident

Then maybe?

Those were the words circling in my mind and… depression came like a speeding bullet.

"Henry, we have a situation here" as if problems arise continuously, Zack snatches my attention and pulled me towards the children.

I saw Jayce who was nudging himself, appearing in pain from the arm he's constantly hugging. I touched Jayson's armed and it seems he was having an awful fever, ranging at 40 degrees Celsius. His right arm appears to be swollen whilst shivering similar to a shock.

"What happened" reality had hit me and right now, Vincent's sacrifice will be used accordingly. He had used his life to save ours, we will use that life and do the same for our citizens. For our people.

"He…he was bitten upstairs a while ago. He saved Lixia from a zombie whose limbs are torn apart. I'm sorry. It's my fault." Zack begins to cry and lowers his head. He was kneeling beside me asking for forgiveness.

"It was inevitable. We did our best. It's not your fault" I tried comforting him but to no avail. "Will my brother be okay?" Lixia asks, as she tugs the ends of my fatigue shirt, who was also about to cry.

"He…he…" I didn't have the strength to say it. How much time had passed since then? How long will he turn to one of them?

Looking at my watch, approximately 30 minutes had passed since Vincent had passed away.

Slowly, we can see similar symptoms from the zombies we had fought earlier from before.

"I'll deal with this… you handle Lixia" I let out a sad soft voice. Fortunately, Zack understood what I meant and dragged the crying Lixia desperately unravelling herself from the shackles of Zack. But, how could we? It was…

*Growl*

It appears he was consumed from the virus spreading inside his body. It's too late for him

I silently draw my pistol and aimed for his head. He's currently weak at the moment, but who knows what will happen if we let him loose? More casualties will pile up. What should I do?

It was a moral dilemma to save a child or euthanasia.

The moment before I had pulled the trigger, Jayson, whom I thought will turn immediately, stared and genuinely expresses a weak smile. "Take care…of my little sister….okay?"

"I will"

A silent gunshot had been released, and that

Was the bitter experience we had all have been through

------------------------Present time: still at Henry's perspective-------

I found myself frozen from the little teenager who was eagerly to join me at the shelter. He wasn't particularly unique but he was charismatic. He reminded me of someone.

Right

He reminds me of Jayson. He was just about his age, his height, his demeanour. A week had passed from the incident and we had settled in first here in this house. Zack and I had been waiting all this time to steel our resolves but our thoughts had played a dirty trick from each of our minds. I had volunteered myself to venture out once again and gather supplies on the nearby neighbourhood. Half kilometre away was still a great distance to be covered. And with a large group will be traversing towards the shelter involves large amounts of risks that needs to be reconsidered.

And so, I asked Zack and Lixia to travel the shelter alone, leaving me behind.

And that fate had brought me saving the boy named Grey and his maid, Quinn