Not a moment to lose

The dreadful monster stood 10 feet tall, bigger than the average basketball player seen in various sports fest. His decaying muscles amplifies the horrid scenery, making myself gulp and puke out in terror. The bulky insides of the skin seems oozing out some greenish slimy figure, a mucus of some sort coming from the holes all over its body. Some weird mushrooms could also be seen sprouting almost anywhere the figure, shrivelling for its survival. "W-What is that?" I gulped from my seat, wanting to run away through instinct. Having nowhere to go, Quinn steps on the pedal and decided to back away from the beast as fast as the machine permits. The zombies from the breech decided to stop our tracks, barricading itself from the trunks of the car. They started smashing the windows, attempting to reach our side; slowly making progress. Distracted, we were forced to move forward, slipping off the tailing horde from each side of the automobile, greeting the mutated monster to its front. As soon as we strived charging in, the goliath crushes the flanks of the car using its strong built arms voided from life. It lifted our car and manages to take a strong grip, as he held us high.

Somehow, managing to avoid the nearest death scenario, me and Quinn escapes the car by traversing our way through the windows, falling from the ground butt first. Luckily, no serious damage was done; but the problem was the monster gazing at us with its pupils apart.

"FOOOD" its clamour brought shock waves from the surroundings, making the crumpled newspapers and some plastic bottles roll over from the force it had shown. Even the zombies were fazed from its horrible screech, swaying their balance, hence knocking them over.

We managed to stand our ground as we grasp each other tight, whilst holding on the nearby trunk. Fortunate enough, we remained focus on the upcoming moves that this giant has in store for us.

Regaining its composure, the hunky creature manages to catch sight from its surroundings, locking its eyes once again to mine. Of course, we were the only ones freshly available on the sight of the butcher. A zombie butcher, hunting its wild boars on the field.

Refusing its demand, Quinn stood up and began pulling my hand. "RUN, I'LL HOLD THEM OFF" Quinn desperately tries to pick me up the concrete ground.

"What about you?" I finally stood up and readied my feet, praying they can bring me back farther away from the sight, and luckily to my own home.

"You need to be alive first. Now, go" Quinn, picks up the handgun from her pocket, and began aiming for the creatures head. The extra zombies are partially scattered everywhere, making the situation more annoying as ever; dealing with the zombie boss while finishing its underlings.

The giant starts to move slowly towards our direction. The regular zombies, without moments to spare, began leaping from their ground, like a rabid animal.

"Hurry!" Quinn shouts for the last time.

"I am not leaving you here" I said, bravely while pulling a pistol of my own. Loaded, I aimed at the centre mass of the zombies rapidly approaching us.

One shot

Two shots

Three shots

Finally! It fell down, crawling in despair. I had managed to pierce to its spinal cord, obstructing its coordination. Well, I guess it was still alive judging from their current circumstances, they sure are undead organisms.

Quinn does the same thing, firing bullets one after another, making three infected tumble on the ground, unable to walk nor move. They can just drag themselves, crawling, like worms.

Still, the giant beast was still heading towards our way. Although slower than the human kind, it possess the speed much like from an adult who's reaching its peak.

"HUNGRY. FOOD. FLESH. MEAT" grumling, the large infected charges in, swinging its fist diagonally, aiming for the both of us.

Terror filled our guts, as we both froze from the powerful bash. Reality snaps me back, as I pushed Quinn from the side, taking the full punch from the enlarged zombie.

I flew from the nearby tree, not farther from our post. But the impact took a toll from my body, as I felt my consciousness fading away. All I could see was Quinn's inaudibly crying my name, desperately sprinting her way towards my immovable body. with tears from her eyes

I accepted my fate.

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Darkness fills my surrounding, as I stood at the unlit space, wondering where and who I was. Still unable to discern any real intentions, I tried walking my way towards a single direction; wherever my feet would take me. Have I been walking for hours? No, it can't be.I lost my sense of time, still wondering from the endless abyss.

Soon, after. I began hearing things. Fading voices which keeps alternating from high pitch to falsetto audio with the word "Grey" Grey? Is that my name? I must be Grey, am I? Who am I?

"Dr. Turner, the experiment may be complete"

"Finally, my son. My son is finally alive again!"Dad? Is that you?I remember this voice. I remember everything right now. That was my dad. That voice, I am not mistaken, it's from my dad. But, alive? Again? Am I dead? Was I dead? Right, virus spreading. I was knocked by a large zombie, protecting Quinn. Is she alright?Questions were thrown out, but seemingly no answers I have yet to receive.

"Master! Master"

Finally regaining the strength to open my eyes, I unravelled myself from the shackled cuffs of my humble slumber.

___________________________________________________________________________________

"Master! Master!" a lovely voice echoes through my ear. With all my might, I focused my remaining strength upon opening my eyes. A blurry figure greets my surrounding. A girl, short hair with her teary eyes, suddenly gives me a gentle hugs. I can feel the warm from this person's embrace. I can feel her heart pump rapidly from excitement and fear. I can feel the watery sensation produced from her eyes, flowing just beneath my cheeks.

"Quinn��" I gave her a response, weakly from the last ounce of my voice could muster.

"Thank goodness you're alive" she releases me from her brace, but still firmly gazes my eyes. A dazzling smile allured me from her face. Delight. I was delighted by this sudden events.

"Master. While you were out, I tried carrying you on my back and hoped for the best, I was about to run two kilometres towards our house, you know?" she accompanies her statement with a loud giggle. "Then…" she turns her back away from me, and pointed her fingers from the shadows of the room.

"Hey, I made some porridge! Glad to see you alive! You're a tough one, aren't you" a soldier, around 175 centimetres tall and a sturdy body fitted from his uniform, came greeting us with a bowl on his hands.

The mist that the pot was producing brought a sweet sensation through my nostrils that made my watery mouth cave in from hunger. A porridge that bewitches anyone. A deadly weapon, indeed.

His face gives off a serious appeal, yet holds a gentle charm. He was still wearing his hat, with his pairing fatigue, camouflage uniform. His broad shoulders was indeed the trophy of his constant exercise. A rifle could also be seen hanging from his back. An armed individual, ready for war, but we paid it no mind. He is our saviour after all

"The name's Henry Andres. I'm working for the Philippine army. My team was stationed here in manila and rescue as many survivors that we can. But sadly…" he looks at the porridge which was still freshly hot. His sad emotions blankets his serious expression, but still ended the topic and offered up his hand-made meal.

In consideration, i gave my appreciations and ate my fill. I asked Quinn to join me on my meal but she refuses my offer, saying she had already eaten just a while ago while nursing my sleeping body.

"How long was I out?" still munching the remains of my porridge, I was indeed curious of what had happened before passing out.

The solider sat on the bed from where I was lying, as he eats his meal.

"Well, I just heard a loud howl and last thing I knew, I saw a weird kid flying over a tree, hitting his face. I knew I couldn't take the ogre down, but I managed to attract its attention, and later on saving you guys in the process. That girl over there, Quinn, right? Nursed you for about three hours. She was constantly staring, wishing for the best" He replies, talking while his mouth's full. I too, was the same.

I looked at Quinn and gave her a smile.

"Where is this place?" I further asks for more details that the soldier holds.

"It's a random house I snuck in to. We made it our base. It's kinda comfortable around here, right?" as he savour's the aftertaste of the porridge, little by little, emptying his plate.

I wanted to ask the whereabouts of his companions, but...I chose not to. After all, he did dodge the bullet a while ago from the story of his patriots.

With a gloomy eyes once again, he stares at his porridge with dismay; regret, was the only word he could only think of. He was powerless, from the same monster who had attacked Grey and Quinn.

"I must say, you gathered a lot of reliefs here. Where's your stronghold?" regaining his composure, he stood up, placing his plate on the sink, as he casually throws a question. He also took mine, and gave him my thanks.

"Not far from here. We travelled by a car, two kilometres away to the store near the ogre (Author's notes: I guess that's what we're gonna call it now)" I said, as I laid my head once again on the soft tender pillow. Quinn offers help by doing the dishes but was gracefully rejected by Henry, giving him a thumbs up saying "You should take care of the child" with his glimmering smile"

"So, what's our plan now?" I asked, hoping for a bright future ahead of us. From my perspective, It is not a wise decision to stay here for any longer. The Ogre might be able to track down their current location, alongside his numerous army of the undead. Not to mention, other fiends that might show up, similar to the mutated goliath that they had all encountered. After all, Grey and Quinn has a family to return to; easing up their anxieties.

"Mister Henry, I'm sorry but we need to return to our home. My family's waiting for me there" I claimed. I returned his gaze, awaiting for his response.

"We built a shelter not far from here. We can take your whole family there" he stated.

"Shelter? Where? "I couldn't help but ask. My tone gave away my excitement and fear, but it was far more on the latter.

If a shelter would take place not far from here, is it 100% free from the overlying virus spreading on the wilderness? Assuming that a shelter really stands its ground, is it really fortified with the proper armoury ready for combat? Is the place secure? Protected? If a single person was brought in, contaminated with the said fungi virus, then another set of outbreak will soon spread and crush the hopes of the mere survivors gathered from the city.

"Master…" Quinn had been silently listening to our conversation. "What's your opinion about it, Quinn?" I asked her. I am a man of democracy. I wanted to hear another perspective from the people close to me.

"Master, I'm just a mere mai"

"Family" cutting her out. "You're my family. Your opinion matters to me and everyone." I gave her a slight nod with a matching smile.

"Understood. For me, I would say we should head for the shelter. Although our circumstances is indeed dangerous; seeking protection from the government, let alone superior weaponry would provide safer roof for everyone. Our goods will soon to expire, and given for…around a month, we might encounter starvation during this period." She expressed her claim, without stuttering. This was one of the rarest experience a person can feel from the serious part of Quinn, the shyest girl I've ever met.

"Either way we'll soon meet our end. Might as well ask for some protection from the military" it was a sound argument. Nevertheless,a risky gamble.

"My name's Grey. We'll be in your care from now on." I said, as I shook hands in the platoon leader Henry Andress.