Two days feel like two years if you spend them tied to a chair. Luna finally untied Raka on the morning of the third day without a word, just pointing to the pile of clean clothes neatly folded on a wooden crate. Luna pointed to the emergency bathroom door in the corner of the room. After that, she returned to her guard post on the top floor of the tower, leaving Raka alone with Baginda, who was

The morning sun felt piercing in Raka's eyes. The air of the dead city felt cold and carried a faint, musty odor. This was the first time Raka had breathed outside air after almost a week of being locked up. "Okay, so what's the plan?" Raka asked hoarsely. His hands were still shaking and he had to tuck them into his jacket pockets to keep them from showing too much. Luna stopped in the middle of a deserted intersection. She pointed up at the rows of connected shophouse rooftops and then at herself. "You want to climb up to the roof?" Raka guessed. "A sniper position. Good idea. From there you can see the whole area." Luna nodded. Then she pointed to Baginda, then pointed to the middle of the wide road in front of them. "Baginda is bait?" Raka frowned. "Are you sure? He's tough, but—" Bagind

With very slow movements, Raka tried to tear a sachet from his bag. The plastic wrap was difficult to open. He pulled a little harder. It wouldn't open. Instead, it made a sound that, though quiet, sounded like an explosion to Raka's ears. Above him, the monster's chest movements stopped for a moment. Raka held his breath. His eyes were fixed on the creature. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the monster resumed its slow, rhythmic breathing. "Damn..." whispered Raka. He couldn't tear it open. He had to use his teeth. With great care, Raka lifted the sachet to his mouth. He bit down on the jagged edge of the sachet and pulled it off with the smoothest motion possible. The sachet was slightly open. Just enough to release the powder. Raka tilted the sachet, ready to pour the magic powder into his mouth.

"Oh no."Raka whispered after he froze at the sight of the approaching looters. He then took a step back and hid behind a sturdy concrete pillar, his heart starting to race again.'Five against two. What a terrible calculation,' he thought.Especially when one of the 'two' was himself who was at the peak of his uselessness."So, how is it, Sweet?"The leader of the looting gang stepped forward, twirling a rusty machete in his hand.His two greedy eyes were fixed on the bow compound on Luna's back."Give me the bow, and we'll be... gentle," he said again with a final word that sounded doubtful to both Raka and Luna.Luna didn't answer. She simply lowered her body, her knife gripped tightly, ready to pounce.However, she was surrounded. If she attacked one person, the other four would attack her from all directions."System," Raka whispered from behind his hiding place, his voice trembling. "Give me a tactical analysis. What's the percentage chance of us winning?"[System: Without your

"I think it's safe here," said Raka.They hid behind the rubble of a collapsed bus stop, not far from the construction site.The flying asphalt dust made Raka's eyes sting, but he refused to blink. His eyes then focused intently on Baginda, who was sitting on the ground, hissing softly in pain.Luna crouched in front of the mutant goose, her face as impassive as ever. She took out her hunting knife and ripped open the bottom of her black cargo pants.With quick and efficient movements, she made several clean sheets of cloth."How is it?" Raka asked hoarsely.The trembling in his hands from the effects of the caffeine sachet still lingered and it combined with the remnants of adrenaline.Luna didn't answer with a voice. She pointed to Baginda's leg which was still bleeding and then pointed to the small lead bullet lodged not far from the surface of the skin."So, the wound was superficial?" Raka guessed. "Thank goodness. Apparently, his tough skin saved him."Luna nodded once in respon