5. Second Chance To Live

Albert and his four friends returned to the apartment after the sky turned dark. Albert was carrying a bag of food he had picked up from the city mall.

A man named Percy was injured on his arm. A wolf had attacked him while they were at the mall getting meat.

"We found a more intact building on the side of the road, close to the mall," Franky explained as he took off his shoes in the main room. His foot looks sprained.

"We found a better place than any place on the island," Jess added, giving the five a curious look.

"Jess and this kid got their answers from the mainland," Kourtney explained as she tended to Percy's wounds, who winced in pain.

"Are you serious?" Albert looked at David and Jess.

"Yeah, they told us to go to the airport. They'll pick us up by plane to take us to the mainland."

Franky stared in disbelief. "What if it turns out that they're just bad guys setting us up?"

Jack, the skillful archer, nodded in agreement. "I've heard about the scientists' crazy experiments before the apocalypse. The monsters may be part of their experiment to destroy the earth with the motive of reducing the human population and leaving only the special people. They could be using us as their experiment."

"Great theory," said David. "But they said they managed to gather all the survivors on the mainland within two days."

"That's impossible," said Franky and Jack.

"Don't believe them." Franky smiled bitterly.

"Just forget about them, and let's live on this island peacefully."

"And wait for the beasts to eat us?" asked Albert, making everyone turn their attention to him.

"This is our chance to reach the mainland, a place with more facilities for survival. We can't stay here forever and survive with what we have left. At the very least, we can go to the mainland. It doesn't matter if they are evil or good. If they're evil, we'll escape; if they're good, that's even better," Albert explained.

No one argued Albert's opinion. They finally decided to trust the person who wanted to take them to the mainland.

"So, when are we leaving?" asked Franky in a rather annoyed tone.

"They told us to arrive at the airport tomorrow morning."

Percy had finished his treatment and spoke up, "That's impossible. We're quite far from the airport. It takes overnight to walk."

"Does that mean we'll start our journey this evening?" Kourtney asked for confirmation.

"I guess, yeah. We need to be ready now."

Franky stared in disbelief. "Well then, leave me here because I can't walk that far with these damn legs."

Everyone stared at Franky's dislocated leg.

"Can anyone correct the position of his leg bones?" asked Albert while looking at everyone there.

"Danny, can you?" Albert looked at the skinny man sitting next to Percy.

"I'll fix it."

Albert sighed. "All right, I'll give it a try."

"Yeah, Dad. You fixed my dog bone once," Jess interrupted.

Albert squatted down in front of Franky's foot. He stared at the reddened ankle. His lips grimaced.

"Watch out, Albert, it's not a dog's neck," Franky said as Albert massaged his leg.

A scream echoed down the street as Albert corrected Franky's leg. Everyone winced at Franky's expression of pain.

Kourtney immediately covered Franky's leg with a makeshift cloth.

"Sorry, Franky, to be able to do that, I have to imagine your leg as a dog's neck," Albert said, making Franky look annoyed.

"Okay, guys. We better get ready."

David didn't know what he needed to prepare except his body. His chest felt better but still hurt when he moved.

Percy was busy preparing the long rifle, and Danny sharpened the arrows. Kourtney and Jess stuffed food and medicine into bags.

"Hey, take this!" Albert threw a small rifle. David caught it. "It's loaded with bullets. Be careful!"

Of all the guns they had, David's was the smallest.

David glanced at the flying curtains. The wind blowing from the window gave David goosebumps. He turned his head and saw dry leaves flying outside.

David peered out the window. The night birds in flight were frozen in the sky. This was the same condition he had seen when the monster was hunting.

"Guys!" David shouted with his hands clenched tensely.

Albert, who realized the same thing, stopped his activities. Staring in disbelief at the strong wind outside.

"Close all doors and windows!" Albert ordered, making David hurriedly pull up the window and lock it. Just as he was about to close the curtains, a shadow appeared on the street, a black shadow that was so big and floated like dew. The shadow was getting closer. David pulled the curtains and ran to the center of the room.

Kourtney locked the door. Right after everyone gathered in the center of the room, the wind outside turned so big that it blew away even heavy objects.

A heavy object hit the glass and shattered it. Jess screamed in terror as she clung to her father.

"Basement, now!" Albert shouted to his friends.

They ran towards the basement. Before leaving, David grabbed the radio to tell Vicky they might be late.

"Come on, idiot!" shouted Franky as David crossed the room and arrived at the cracked wall.

The black shadows were becoming more and more visible around the window. David hurriedly followed Franky to the basement. Right after they arrived at the stairs, falling objects were heard. The main room must have been destroyed.

David pulled open the basement window. His breathing stopped when he realized he was in the middle of darkness. He almost fainted had Franky not shaken him.

"Are you okay, kid?" asked Franky, making David shake.

They step up the stairs in the darkness. David tried to get the light out of his hand. Before he could do so, the light came from ahead of him.

Albert's entire body was glowing like a neon. The light was a little dim, but it was enough to make David feel better.

They arrived at the bottom of the basement, wet with groundwater. The walls had cracked. David didn't understand what made them so sure to hide in a stuffy place like this. A door in the corner of the room caught David's attention.

"I thought the black shadow was that of an elephant," Danny said, neutralizing his labored breathing.

"I didn't expect the monster to come back." Franky held his chest.

"We won't be able to get out now." Jess stared in fear.

"What if the monster turns out to be looking for me? I'm the only one who doesn't know my skills like you guys," Franky said.

"And me," Kourtney continued.

"Look, whatever that monster is doing out there, it's none of our business while we're safe here," Albert explained, trying to calm his friends down.

"How are we going to get to the airport?" asked David anxiously.

"After the monster leaves this place."

"We won't have enough time," Percy argued.

"We won't walk."

Jess stared in surprise. "You mean we'll use the car?"

"Yeah."

Jack sighed wearily. "Actually, we don't need to be afraid that using a car will attract the attention of wild animals. There are more dangerous than them, those monsters."

"Yeah, the problem is, where will we find an intact, usable car?" Albert interrupted.

"You see that as a problem?" asked Percy in a smug tone. "I'm a mechanic."

"Okay, we'll start our journey after the monster is gone."