Chapter 16

"I'm coming home, just wait a little longer. Kuya will be back soon!" I thought to myself.

I was running my way back from a rundown pharmacy. I was carrying some fever medicine, few snack bars, and a couple of distilled water bottles in my backpack. I was in a hurry to return to the orphanage for one of the kids I'm looking after. But on my way back, I stumbled upon a herd of zombies. Quezon City is a densely populated city so a crowd of those monsters are almost unavoidable. I took a sharp turn to avoid them but it was too late as the herd started to tail after me. I panicked and run as fast as my legs can. But being hungry, thirsty, and tired won't let me go anywhere far. As I ran, I started to see a group of people from afar. I can't tell if they were zombies or not but either way they'll be bad news. But then I heard one of them shout at me.

"Get down!"

I quickly got down on the hot asphalt. Immediately there was gunfire. I protected my head with my arms. I stayed down until things quieted down. Then I heard footsteps coming towards me. I quickly got up and ran away. I know they just saved me but trusting adults lead me to danger more than safety.

"Hey wait!"

It sounded like a woman. I heard rapid footsteps behind me. I didn't look back, I kept running away. But before I knew it, the person chasing me had caught my bag.

"Just wait a minute!"

I would have taken the backpack off but I needed its contents for the kids.

"Please let me go! I barely have anything with me!" I pleaded.

"Relax, boy, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm here to help." said the woman who caught hold of my bag.

Help... she's here to help... that's what she said.

I slowly turn to look at her. She's shorter than I am but definitely older. Her body was thick and mascular. Her hair was short and the underside was shaven. She looked haggard and parts of her clothes were grimy and bloody. But upon looking at her face, she doesn't look that menacing. Maybe because she's distressed?

"Hey there, my name's Pheene Ogram. I'm a soldier expander, together with me is my team. We're here to eliminate zombies and rescue survivors. Are you al..."

Before she could finish what she was saying, as soon as I heard the word "rescue" I began begging her.

"Please, help me and the kids especially Kelly! She's burning with fever, please save her!"

"Kids? Where?"

"In the orphanage, they're waiting for me!"

"Alright, calm down. Lead us there and we will treat Kelly, then we'll take the kids to a safe place."

I had no other choice, the woman whom called herself Pheene seemed trustworthy. After all she and her group saved me. I can't keep protecting the kids on my own, especially Kelly.

I lead them to the orphanage. When we arrived there, I froze. The door was open. I was certain I closed that before I left. I quickly run to the orphanage to help the kids. As soon as I arrive at the door, a zombie leapt at me. But before it came to hurt me, I felt someone pull me away. And then like lightning she appeared in front of me. Pheene Ogram bashed the zombie's head in one strike using a metal baseball bat.

"Are you ok? Were you hurt?" asked the person that pulled me away.

I looked at the person and found it was another woman. But unlike Pheene, she was tall and slender. She was pretty but probably the same age as Pheene.

And then, two men came forward. They have guns but they didn't used it. They charged in along with Pheene. They killed all the zombies on sight.

"Thanks for leading us here, we'll take care of the rest. Etil you should take him to the bus." said Ms. Pheene.

"Wait! They won't  come with you if they don't see me!" I protested.

Ms. Pheene just blinked and smugly smiled, "Alright but stay close."

There were four of them and they surrounded me. We walked around the orphanage. I told them where the children are possibly hiding. While walking, I'm hoping that they're all still alive.

A few paces later, the halls are starting to get noisy. And the smell of rotting flesh is wafting through the air. And then at the turn, we stopped. Ms. Pheene peered at the corner and faced us again.

"There's a group of em crowding outside the door. Danin, Etil, your up."

The taller woman and the man with thick muscular body nodded. They held on their big guns and walks in the turn. Ms. Pheene and the other guy stayed on guard.

Ms. Pheene leaned her hand on my shoulder. She looked at me with reassuring smile. We waited until gunfire stopped. We then walked towards the closed door at the end of the hallway. I knocked on the closed door.

"Kuya's back and I brought help with me."

There was a clicking sound and the door slightly open.

"It's me Jarren, don't be scared," I smiled.

The door quickly burst open. 2 boys and one girl lounged at me. They were all crying.

"Kuyaaaaaa!!" cried the boy with a dirtied white shirt.

"Kuya we were so scared!" cried the girl.

I patted their heads in acknowledgement. I looked at the door again and there came a boy a couple years younger than me carrying the sick Kelly in his arms. He looked very tired. This boy is Jarren, I left him incharge when I went out to scavenge.

"How's Kelly?"

"Still burning with fever."

"What happened here?"

"The zombies got in not long after you left. But don't worry, no one was hurt. I was able to bring everyone here in the safe room."

"You did a great job, Jarren. I'll take Kelly, you're tired."

Jarren didn't protest, he transferred the little girl in my arms.

"Kelly?"

"Kuya..." tears started streaming down her face.

"Shhh, we're safe now. Help has arrived."

I turn to look at the adults. They nodded and they escorted us out of the orphanage. When we came out, there was more zombies outside. The kids and I hesitated to leave when we saw the herd waiting for us outside. The three of the adults held their big guns up.

"Can you kids run?" Ms. Pheene asked.

All of us froze, we couldn't answer.

"No matter. You there, Jarren right? Carry the girl, and you boys I'll carry you."

Ms. Pheene proceed to carry the two boys on her shoulders. Jarren carried the little girl on his back.

"Ready? Let's go!" Ms. Pheene ordered.

The three adults started firing and running to clear a path. Ms. Pheene bolted and told us to run. Jarren and followed the adults. But both Jarren and I can't keep up with them. Especially Ms. Pheene who's carrying two kids. She seems to be the strongest of their group.

"Shit!" Ms. Pheene cursed. "Larn! Etil, help these boys!"

The tall woman and the slender man slowed down. The tall woman helped me by taking Kelly in her free arm. The slender man carried the little girl on his back. With the weight decreased, Jarren and I were able to run faster.

"You two, stay in between us! We're almost there!" said Ms. Pheene.

From afar I see a group of armed people carrying the same big guns. Upon seeing us, they raised their weapons and aimed. They waited for us to run past them before shooting the charging zombies down. Behind the line of soldiers are two busses filled with survivors. Me and the kids are now safe.