4. Run

“System, map.” Suddenly, the map of the park was shown in front of him. 

Location: Rizal Park

Supplies: Food. Water. Medical Supplies. Weapons.

Zombies: 100+ and counting

Level: 1

Survivors: 20

August stopped moving. He looked around. He was already outside of the auditorium and saw some zombies walking mindlessly. Most of them were at level 1 only. But there were some that were higher. 

“Locate, Jude.”

Then, a figure of a man walking near the fountain. Just outside of the auditorium. August sighed. 

“This will really make me die,” he said. “System, knifed.” 

A knife came out of August's hand. He killed the zombies near him one by one without making any sound. Some were looking in his direction every time a zombie fell down. He would take it out in no time. 

“Ahh! Help!” 

August stopped when he heard Jude’s voice. He looked in his direction and saw that he was on the ground.

“Shit!” 

August ran toward him while stabbing the zombies in front of him. He saw that there was a zombie above Jude and was trying to bite him. When he looked to his side, he saw that there were some zombies that were already going in his direction. He ran as fast as he could until he got outside of the auditorium. And when he was in Jude’s position, He immediately stabs the zombie’s head. 

Jude immediately crawled away while breathing hard. “Putangina! Shit!” he cursed in many words while checking his body. When he saw that he didn’t have any bite marks, Jude let out a relieved sigh and looked at August. “You came?” 

August grabbed his shoulder and pulled him up. “We don’t have time!” He pulled Jude and they ran. “Here!” He gave the knife to Jude. “System, knife!” 

“How?” 

“Jude stabs them in their heads! The brain should be damaged!” 

Jude nodded and tightened his grip on the knife’s handle. And as they ran, they stabbed the zombies. That was what they did until they reached the garden. 

“Shit! More zombies!” August said. His chest was pounding already. Being surrounded by undead was never good. 

“We cannot do this forever!” Jude exclaimed. His breathing was labored already. He took a deep breath and loosened up the button in his polo. 

“This is what you wanted.” 

Jude grunted and stabbed the zombies nearing them. He shook his head. He was just worried about his family. He cannot let them go. 

“An establishment nearby is safe,” said the system in August’s head.

August looked around and saw a building near them. “NHCP,” he whispered. 

Location: Building

Supplies: Medical Supplies

Zombies: 0

Survivors: 10

“There!” 

August pointed to the NHCP building. They both immediately run there as the zombies were already nearing them. They climbed up the fence and successfully entered the ground. August caught his breath. The zombies were swarming at the fence and trying to grab them. 

“L-Let’s go inside!” said Jude. 

August wiped his sweat and stood up. He looked at the building. He blinked and saw that there were five figures behind the door. They went there and Jude tried opening it. 

“Help! Open this door!” 

August looked at the zombies. Some were already going in their direction. He shook his head when he saw some of the homeless families he slept with at the park were already zombies. 

“What happened to us?” he said. 

“Fuck! It’s not opening!” Jude exclaimed. 

August looked at the building. He saw that there were still figures behind the door. “We just needed a place to stop by. Then we will go away.” 

Jude looked at him. “Who are you talking with?” 

“There are people behind the door.” 

“How did you know?” Jude knocked again. He put his ear at the door and heard voices inside. His eyes widened. “Open this! Help us!” 

August looked behind him when he heard a creaking sound. “Shit! The gate will not hold on longer!” More zombies were coming in their direction. He stopped Jude from knocking at the door. “System! Where do we go?!” 

“Who are you talking with?!” Jude asked. But August didn’t answer him. 

They went to the back of the building. 

“There is another building,” said the system. “Zombies inside, ten.”

August looked at the next building. It was a small bank. He blinked and saw that there were zombies inside. They needed to climb two fences to get to the bank, and there were some zombies walking in the middle. It will be risky if they pursue going there.

“Where should we go?!” Jude asked. He was panicking already. 

August looked around. He saw the window on the second floor that was open. The figures were still near the door. They might be waiting for what will happen. His eyes widened when he saw a ladder residing on the ground. 

“There! Let’s use that.” 

The two of them took the ladder and put it near the window. Jude climbs the ladder first. August waited for Jude to reach the floor and held up below. The tension he was feeling was becoming intense. He could smell his sweat and blood mixing up in his body. August suddenly looked near the gate when he heard a loud sound. He let go of the ladder for a second to check it. His eyes widened when he saw that the gate was already down. 

“Puta!” 

August runs back to Jude. “They’re coming!” he exclaimed. 

“What? Climb now!” 

August climbs the ladder. He heard the growlings of the zombies nearing them. Not long ago, he saw some zombies were already going to his position. August climbed the ladder faster than he could. Luckily, he successfully entered and climbed before the zombie could reach him. He took a deep breath and fell to the floor. 

“Fuck! I thought we were going to die already!” Jude said.

August shook his head and forced himself to stand up. He saw that the ladder had already fallen down and some zombies were going after it. He shook his head. 

“We can’t stay here.”

“We can’t get out,” Jude said. 

“Because you were too impulsive!” 

Jude frowned at August. “What do you mean?” 

“You almost got us killed!” 

“Really?” Jude stood up. “Did I tell you to follow me?” 

August grunted and held up the window. But he turned around again when they heard that the door was slammed open. 

“This is your fault!” a woman said and pointed a gun at them. 

Jude and August raised their hands. August gulped.