Chapter 11

4 days passed since we started to reclaim the Horseshoe Drive street. We haven't started the process of building a wall for the man path nor the wall for the entrance of the street. However the gathering of materials and clearing houses for survivors or undead has begun. We even have specific roles now. The stronger ones that are capable of fighting are called the Arms, I am one of them and its our job to kill zombies and protect the small community we have here. The stronger and agile but don't fight are the Gatherers, as the name implies their job is gather or scavenge for stuff. The last but not the least are the In-Workers. They do the cooking, cleaning, and farming. I don't really know who's job is who's in the IW's because I barely interact with them. All I know their job is heavier than mine. My job is simply watch over my gatherer partner which is Maron. I really hate I had to be partnered with him, he always tries to do small talk with me. Often times I don't care but because of him being talkative, being partnered with him for 3 awful days he would always get attacked by zombies in houses we entered. Luckily I don't go too far from him or he would have his ass munched on. Only time he's never a burden is when he does his job.

I finally decided to get up from the couch, I'm starting to get used to this icky feeling whenever I wake up in the morning. I got up and started exercising to both lose these extra weight and build strength. While planking, I heard footsteps upstairs and saw Donny coming downstairs.

"Morning Pheene," Donny greeted.

"Morning!" I said with my teeth gritting.

For some reason, my brother Donny decided to do some sick joke. He sit on my back while I'm planking. I struggled to keep myself up under his weight added to mine. My entire body trembled until I couldn't keep myself up and flopped hard on the floor.

"Damn it Donny!"

He laughed and stood back up. He then head to the kitchen. I was left there in the living room resting on the floor. Few moments later my brother enters the master bedroom. He stopped at the doorway and wagged his hand at the scent of sweat. Enduring the unpleasant smell, he enters and wakes everyone up. One by one the rest of my family came out of the door and sits at the dining table.

I got up from the floor. I took a spoon from the kitchen, scooped a spoonful of rice and sauted sardine then shove it in my mouth. I then threw the spoon in the sink and I head up to my room. Before I climb the stairs, I stopped by the full size mirror. I looked at my form, spun around...damn, I'm starting to look like a chunky guy again. Thick arms, broad shoulders yet short height. I'm starting to look like Johny Bravo. Oh and hey, my belly is almost gone. After staring at myself, I decided to go up and take my towel.

I went up my room but before I entered, I saw the door to Donny's room ajar. I peaked in. I saw his son Mat and heavily pregnant wife Mari still sleeping soundly. I remembered saving them yesterday, it's one hell of a blood bath. Forcing my way through to their highly populated street without a car and just my best friend to watch my back during broad daylight. I was desperate to save them because of the compound they're living in was swarming with both zombie humans and animals. Their cry for help and taking on the risk to get them out of there was a suicide. But maybe because he's my brother, I didn't care and just dove in to danger. But when I returned, I was covered in blood. No one could approach me with my hands tightly holding on my kali and knife. After yesterday, I don't know how will everyone feel about me. I sighed, I went in to my room and grab my towel.

I went downstairs and head straight to the bathroom. I found my family still having their breakfast. Before I stepped inside the bathroom, I looked at my family briefly and...all my brothers are here but my sis. Etah's all the way to Pampanga with her daughter Shyle and husband Eris, I hope they're safe. After few moments of inner drama, I went inside the bathroom and took a bath.

After bathing and dressing, complete with my stuff I went out of the house. I walked my way to the basketball court where I found the five gatherers and Etil. She was just sitting in a monobloc chair. I sat next to her and waited for the rest of the Out-Workers.

"Have you and Aunt finally adapted in Borzalez House?" I tried to talk to Etil to pass the time.

"Yeah, and the toilet's pretty neat," she grinned.

We laughed upon her mention of toilet. Back in college when we were looking for an apartment to live close to university, the biggest thing we considered was the toilet. It has to be tall and has proper flush or else shitting would be an agony.

After maybe 20 minutes of waiting two of my brothers arrive, Frodery and Donny. I'm guessing Frod assigned Donny as an Arm too. Well he used to go to gym and practice bits of martial arts so I guess it made sense.

Frodery took on the leader role in our community. He gave out orders and roles. After he gave us our tasks, all of us OW's left and head out do our thing. When we left, the IW's arrive and gathered in the court. They too received their tasks from Frodery.

Maron and I went to Morrisville street, all the houses on the right side of the road is ours to scavenge while the on the left side is for Etil and her partner. For today we are to check the 2nd to the last house before the turn. The gate of the house was closed, there's a possibility that there are people still alive in this house. If that's the case then it'll be their lucky day...or worst, that'll depend on how they'll take it. I knocked on the gate and listened. I was just greeted with silence. I knocked again, still silent. I knocked the third time, still nothing. The house behind the gate is not visible, only visible thing is the second floor. But the curtains are keeping it hidden. I told Maron to go to my brother's and wait for me there. He nodded and ran back to the entrance of our street. We've done this before and was able to save another family who were on the brink of suicide. If there are people still alive in this house, I hope they're still sane.

I then began my climb. Before I lowered myself on the other side of the gate, I observed my surroundings. Everything seems clear. I checked the lock of the gate, properly closed. I have no idea who lives in this house so I cautiously got down the gate. I'm now inside the house perimeter. I unlocked the gate just in case I will need to make a run for it, I can just open it and run out. I slowly walked towards the door and I tried to turn the knob, it's locked. I checked around see if there's any way in, all windows were barred and the back door is also locked.

I knocked on the door and spoke, "Anybody home? If there's anyone there please come out, I'm here to help."

I leaned my ear on the door, nothing but silence. I stopped for a moment, I can try to enter but there are many possible things that can happen. I don't want to take any chances so I returned to where my brothers are. I told them about the house I just came from and Donny accompanied me. We return to the house and he was ready to break the door. I told him I'll do it because his body is still recovering from days of starvation. He didn't protest and just stepped aside. I pushed the door with my entire weight. Every push I hear the sound of wood cracking. After a few more jolt, the door gave in. The door swung open and the horrible stench exited and filled our nostrils.