Planet Earth: Dead

Home Sweet Home

As we drove down the road, it started to get dark. Zombies were everywhere, and as we passed, they tried to chase us down, but they were too slow.

Carmela had just awoken from her nap. The air is deafeningly quiet, until Carmela breaks the silence.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Carmela asked.

"First, because I'm starving, and there's nothing to talk about," I explained.

"Oh, you should have asked; we have food in the back," she said.

"Let's include it in the deal; we're already close to the location; once we arrive, I'll have whatever ration you have in the back," I said.

"Okay, no problem," she said.

There was a brief silence before Carmela spoke again.

"I used to work in the sales department of a truck company," she explained, looking out the window.

"Then I met Merlin. He was so sweet and kind. We started dating and became official after only a few weeks. Merlin was my boss. He promoted me to become his assistant. He gave me things I never asked for, but I appreciate everything. I knew it was his way of expressing love," Carmela continued.

I didn't respond, but I kept listening while concentrating on the road.

"My sister hated me for it. She said Merlin just wants my body, but I defended him and told her that he isn't like that. Until the apocalypse started. For the past three months, he suddenly changed. He believes it's the end of the world, so everyday he forced himself to me. And when I tried to resist one time, it was the first time that he hit me in the face. Ever since then, he's been hurting me more and more every time I resist," she says, her eyes welling up with tears.

Carmela wipes her tears away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any drama," she apologized.

As we got closer to her sister's house, I slowed down and pulled over not far away. I noticed several dead bodies on the road. Their heads are shattered; it appears that they were killed recently.

"You might want to hire me when these things are all over," I said.

"Hire you for what?" she asked.

"I'm a mercenary, and people hire me to assassinate their enemies," I explained.

"I guess that explains your skills then," she said, adding, "I don't want bloodshed, but I'll think about it. Thanks for listening."

I nodded and continued scanning the area.

"Wait, my sister's house is over there; why did you stop here?" she asked, confused.

"How long has your sister been there?" I asked.

"Hmm, well, she's been there since before the pandemic began, why do you ask?" she replied.

"When was the last time you spoke with her?" I asked, still looking around the neighborhood.

"The last time we talked was before we were caught by Merlin's people; what's wrong?" she replied, looking around.

"I believe we're walking into a trap once we enter those gates," I say, referring to their house's gates.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Stay here," I instructed as I carefully exited the truck.

I duck and peer beneath the truck.

When I saw a beeping red tracker , I knew I was right.

We were being followed, and Merlin had to be in the house waiting for us.

I returned to the truck and pulled a pistol from my bag, which I handed to Carmela.

"We got tracked. Merlin must be there already. I want you to go inside and pretend you're not aware. Use my pistol if there's any trouble," I said.

"I don't know how to shoot a gun!" she exclaimed, terrified.

"Unlock the trigger, aim, and shoot," I said, grabbing the gun and making a demonstration but not firing it.

The gun was then returned to Carmela.

"How about you and the others?" she asked.

"I work best in the shadows; I'll let them know what's going on, then I'll follow you, but Merlin must think you're alone; I'll attack from behind," I assured her.

Carmela appears unsure of what to do, but she agrees and goes ahead with the plan.

She then walks over to their gate and opens it. After a few seconds, I hear a man's voice screaming with rage.

I exited the truck slowly and walked carefully behind it. When I opened the back door of the truck, I saw the rest of the group puzzled about what had happened.

"Are we there yet?" Billy asked as he rises from his seat.

I responded to Billy and described the situation.

"I need one of you to take the wheel," I explained.

"I got it," Billy said as he took a step forward.

"The rest, keep your eyes open and be on the lookout for any trouble," I advised.

"We can use the weapons from the chopper's package," Jax explained.

"I agree, I'll take this one," Shelley said, taking the pistol from the package.

"Who's there?" exclaimed a man's voice.

"Quiet," I said quietly as I crept beneath the truck and drew my dagger.

I took a quick peek outside to see who it was and noticed a man with a shotgun. He's either Merlin or one of his goons.

The man raised his shotgun as he slowly walked to the back of the truck, but I crawled outside quietly before he arrived. He doesn't notice I'm watching him from behind his back.

Then I grab his mouth, place my dagger on his neck, and drag him behind the truck.

"Trust me, you don't want to use that gun or I'll slit your throat; tell me who you are," I threatened in his ear.

"P-please don't kill me.. I'm with Merlin,"

As his entire body shook, the man spoke.

"And how many of you are in there?" I asked quietly.

"There are still eight of them inside, including M-Merlin," the man said, his voice shaking.

"Thank you," I said before slitting his throat.

His lifeless body falls to the ground, drenched in his own blood.

The other survivors were taken aback after witnessing a murder.

"Oh Lord," Lily exclaimed, stunned.

"Everyone take your position," I said as I walked away.

I began to approach the house cautiously, hiding in the shadows.

I hid behind a car as I got closer and scanned the area.

The two-story house is surrounded by walls and has a tree on its property and the only way in is through the gates.

There are currently two men standing inside the gate, both of whom are smoking and conversing. Also, I noticed someone peering out the window. I was thinking about how I could distract them when I noticed a swarm of zombies not far away. Maybe if I can get the zombies' attention, I can use them to distract the guards. Then I'll snipe the guards from a safe distance and rush through the gates.

I stepped out from behind the car and moved through the shadows. As I approach the zombie horde, one of them turns to look at me but then returns to its aimless walking.

I walked up to a van and sat in the driver's seat. A zombie is stuck with the seatbelt in the passenger seat. It hissed at me but did not act aggressively. It's almost as if it's greeting me.

I started wiring the van and got it to start. Then I started honking, and I grabbed the zombie's foot and used it to step on the gas. I stepped outside and returned to the shadows as soon as the van began to move toward the house.

The guards were about to close the gates as the van and the horde of zombies approached the house, but I sniped them from the shadows and their heads popped as their bodies fell lifeless.

The person peering out the window began firing at the zombies. But the undead persisted, and they are now on the verge of entering the gates.

I dashed towards the house, staying low and using the zombies as cover as I approached the sidewalk and entered the gates alongside other zombies who had already managed to enter.

The shooter from the windows didn't seem to notice. The zombies who made it in devoured the dead bodies of the guards.

More zombies began to pour in, swarming the front porch of the house. On the other hand, I moved away from the scene, attempting to find my way inside.

The zombies began slamming boarded-up doors and windows. As more shooters joined the fight, gunfire filled the air. Meanwhile, I discovered a way into the house through the bathroom window, which is too high for zombies to reach unless they jump.

I pushed open the door slightly and peered out. Outside this bathroom is the kitchen, and there are two men shooting zombies through the window.

With no one else around, I raised my sniper rifle and shot the two men who were completely unaware.

As their bodies fell to the ground, blood splattered on the floor.

I carefully exited the kitchen and entered the next room, which was the dining area. Unfinished food is on the table. They appear to have been interrupted while eating.

I peered into the next room and saw three men attempting to block the door with what appeared to be a massive cabinet.

As soon as they were finished, I stood up, stepped out of the shadows, raised my rifle, and shot one of them in the head. The other two were taken aback as I approached. They were about to raise their guns at me, but I shot both of them right away. The three men are now drenched in their own blood, their eyes wide open.

Now there is only one left, Merlin.

A gunshot was heard upstairs, followed by a scream of help.

Suddenly, there were voices upstairs that appeared to be arguing, followed by a man yelling and a slap. As I carefully made my way upstairs, I raised my sniper rifle, ready for whatever might happen.

I heard a different voice halfway up the stairs,

"STOP!" yelled what appeared to be a young lady.

"Oh! Who do we have here? I thought you're already dead!" exclaimed the man, who appears to be Merlin.

As I got closer to the situation, the exchange of words continued. I carefully peer inside, not revealing myself. Carmela was unconscious on the bed. The young lady with a red-black hair must be Carmela's sister, and the man must be Merlin.

"I've always knew you can't be trusted," the young lady said.

"It doesn't have to be like this, I can help you and your sister, you know it," Merlin said calmly as he moved closer to the young lady, his hands reaching for the pistol she raised at him.

"NO!" screamed the young lady as she pulled the trigger and shot Merlin on the shoulder.

"b***h!" Merlin screamed as he flew back from the gunshot, but he kept his balance and grabbed the pistol.

I dashed in, raised my rifle, and fired again, this time hitting Merlin in the cheek.

"Fuc-" Merlin gasped as he retreated.

I was about to pull the trigger again when the young lady raised her gun once more and fires at Merlin, sending the bullet straight to his skull as he falls back and crashes through the window.

As I was lowering my rifle, the young lady turned to face me, her pistol raised.

Her dark eyes, fair skin, flushed cheeks, and red-black hair were all eye-catching.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I brought your sister here," I replied.

"Take off your mask," she said.

I slowly removed my mask.

"Y-you're not one of them, are you?" she asked, perplexed.

"I would have killed you right away if I was," I stated emphatically.

"My name is Rory," I introduced myself.

"Adelaide, but you can call me Rex," she said as she lowered her gun.

As I heard glasses breaking, it appeared that zombies had already made their way downstairs.

"Stay here," I ordered as I dashed out of the room with my sniper rifle raised, putting on my mask and heading downstairs.

The zombies have already gotten in through the windows. As I aimed my rifle, I began shooting them one by one.

But the zombies kept coming, so I drew my dagger, crept through the shadows, and slaughtered them.

I hacked, stabbed, and slashed their heads. The blood was splattered all over the place. My ghillie suit and mask were also stained. My dagger is drenched in zombie blood.

Until, finally, the last of them collapses as I s***h its head.

I looked around to see if there was still a threat, but all that was left were dead bodies that I had massacred.

Rex walked downstairs while assisting her sister, Carmela, who was already awake.

All of a sudden, a vehicle appeared to collide with something outside and began beeping.

As I opened the front door, I led Rex and Carmela outside while slashing and stabbing the remaining zombies in the porch.

As soon as we stepped outside, Billy was waiting for us with the truck, smiling. When he arrived, he appears to have run into a zombie.

"I'm guessing Merlin fell through that window," Billy said.

Rex and Carmela got into the truck, and I took the passenger seat next to Billy.

"So where are we going?" Billy asked as he handed a sandwich.

"Home," I responded as I took the sandwich from his grasp.

"My wife and I are actually planning to return to our place in Bulacan. We are currently in Quezon City, so it's north from here. We have a factory over there. I'm pretty sure it's overrun, but we can clear it and fortify the place til' rescue arrives, hopefully," Billy said.

I didn't respond because I was too busy devouring the sandwich Billy had given me.

As Billy stepped on the gas and drove away, all I could think about was eating and getting enough rest. I'll go back to look for my sister once I've recovered.

But for now, this sandwich is just so damn good.