Hush in The Bush

Too Early To Rise

As far as I could remember, I didn’t give birth to her just to let her perish in my limbs. I am the witness to it. I never signed with the gods for this.

“Catheryne we have to leave…” A woman from my back pulled me slowly from the ground as I held the lifeless body of my child. Her voice cracked together with mine, locked to where she’s lying with no signs of life. No, I can still save her. I have to. She’s the only person I got now. She’s my everything, but seeing her like this had turned me out to losing it all.

I glimpsed at the door and I noticed the man who took his life already out of guilt and hopelessness. He’s the person who resides a few blocks from our house and got a small eatery. He had killed himself using his own gun and now his body lies, eyes frozen to shock. He couldn’t deal with the current situation and wanted to end it simply. It is chaotic. The sounds of wailing people, scratches of vehicles in panic and the bloodcurdling scenery where most of us were turning to lose our own conscience and gone berserk, have filled the area. No one had anticipated it to happen. We didn’t pray for it to become noisy and unstill.

The signal had been broken and communication was cut off.

“Catheryne. T-there’s no use. S-she's dead.” She convinced me.

Her words struck deeper than the wound I am feeling right now. No words could totally describe it. My poor baby’s life had been seized from her without my approval. The heavens weight more, clenching my soul to slumber. As my body embraced the coldness, I shook my head multiple times, trying to persuade my own that it was just a bad dream. All I want is to see her grow, even if our lives are just average.

No! She can’t be. She’s too young to die. She still has her goals to be filled with laughter and good memories. Those words lingered as if I am listening to the same music over the radio. Broken and old. The crease of her eyes have turned grey already and her tiny fingers who used to hold me went pale. The flower is so beautiful, but it was peril by the truth. I held and embraced her tight. The smell of crimson blood nagged me but I didn’t care. I just want her back and we could go anywhere she wants.

“S-she's…not dead, Tunny. Atarah is not dead.” I sobbingly muttered.

“We have to move out or else we can’t make it to the evacuation area. They are closing the gates and the bridge will collapse soon. It will be bombed. They just gave us two hours.” She grasped for my hand but I refused to leave, glued myself on the surface and shrugged her off. I made her with no choice but to leave me. Tunny my sister, had to do it even if it’s against her will. She needs to survive. My stubbornness would kill me for this, but I want to be with Atarah for a while. She took her things and I gave her some medicines from the box. Lastly, a soft kiss was laid on my forehead. Goodbye, Tunny. I slowly hummed her favorite lullaby and caressed her innocent face on my chest. Atarah is sleeping soundlessly; no worries and cares.

A small vibration from the ground was abruptly sounding from a distance. Little by little it became subtle. There was something rumbling beneath us. Something massive and chilling. All of a sudden a mass of enormous bushes sprung on to take a stand and gradually scattered itself around the house, slowly making it as its own and anew subsistence. Its roots were coming in my direction, moving like slithers. Some of them started to swathe themselves around Atarah’s slender limbs, but I cut them off with a small dagger that I grabbed from my pocket. Our dog had escaped and is nowhere to be found. I just hope she’s alright too.

What is happening?

In a sluggish tick of the clock, the bushes escalated into barriers and exposed their blooms, similar to those with sunflowers. They have these yellow pollen sacks at their middles. All of the sacks suddenly burst and hundreds of pollens like thin specks of dust exploded around us, blurring my vision. There was something uncommon with those. I started to feel nauseous and my heart was ponderously accelerating its beat. I was burning inside as I covered my nose with my other arm. I gasped at Atarah, and was stunned by what I’d seen – it was the Devil’s doing.

The child had totally become a lifeless host and the bushes have already concealed her entire body. But what terrified me the most was the single flower that blossomed inside the child and came out in her mouth, opening it wide like she’s screaming that it hurts and she needs help. The flower was looking at me, as if it has its own consciousness and was aware of my presence. I couldn’t talk, nor move any parts of my body. I heard someone grasping for air. I looked back and saw someone, a different person from the figure of my daughter. She was grinning and her eyes were being plucked by those twigs and now shallowed. Blood was bubbling rapidly from her mouth. She locked her gaze upon me and witnessed how frightened I am.

“This is all your fault, Mother. I should have let you die with me.” She laughed hard and made the flower on her mouth burst just like how the others made.

“T-this is a misunderstanding. Y-You got it all wrong…W-wait-”

___

I was woken up from my nap by the deep overly bold squeals from Isabela. She’s taunting with the others outside already. Her vigorous voice had let me know that she’s having a lot of fun. What’s the catch? I focused on my gear and inhaled slowly as I wiped the sweat that trickled down. It was just a dream, an insensitive and cursed one. I rubbed my head and dealt with the unexpected throb I got, pounding hard like it was a concert of drums. I looked at the alarm clock ticking by on the desk beside my bed. What a usual day for me to deal with. It’s still four-thirty to make the sunrise. I got two hours to flourish and clear my thoughts. My shirt was soaked in my own water, especially my back. I changed it instantly as I don’t want to get myself a cough, then I decided to go outside to get some air and relaxed. Tugging my hair into a ponytail, I grabbed my jacket and went to the hallway.

As what I’d expected there were members on guard, watching everything from their positions. I observed one of those watch houses and saw a different unanticipated scenery. I didn’t know people could still have time to make out these months. I couldn’t blame her since there’s no television to watch or even sports to play. I guessed they also need to save themselves from getting bored and just do it instead.

Glancing over the couple, I recognized the man, it was Captain Robertson. I was sure of it and the spot is just a few meters from his office too. Also, it’s not even new to us since we know him for being like that. I didn’t have the chance to take a glimpse of the woman he’s with, because she was facing the other side, enjoying the crescent moon and turned me into looking at her back instead. Both of them are naked as if they were ravished wolves who are hungry for mating. They turned on the lamp which made me see what they were doing, but they still could have tried loosing the curtains for them not to be exposed. They were loving the moment as they tried to keep those noises. My cheeks burnt red and I felt uncomfortable, deciding to give them some privacy instead.

To my right, I saw Isabela and two girls and a man surrounding the black table. They are having their chitchat in that dark corner, before the washroom. They are joking around. The three were under her troops. Chips were laid for them to eat. Liquors are banned in the base, so they couldn’t have some shots and rather have a jar of water.

I shifted my attention to the ground from the third floor where I was standing and saw Dr. George who was busy arranging the dead ones which are covered with blankets on the surface. I don’t want to think much as if they would rise and grab them Is he up all night? They were marked from one to ten and some were left blank. He was attentively checking their pulses and dark greyed drawn eyes. I couldn’t see clearly on what he's up to and chose to come forth rushing to his place to closer. My curiosity is keeping me from being dozy somehow. He’s been filled by his loaded works, not to mention he had thinned himself.

Later on, I noticed him taking down his notes on his black leathered journal, sealed with thin strings. His face was obviously displaying how exhausted he was. He was clutching at his side, blubbering random things in luminous under moon light, pointing something in different directions. He recognized my presence, clearing his throat to utter. Then, closed his journal and put it to his side. His shoes were stepping on the dried blood and the smell was pungent.

"What are you doing early in this morning?” I huskily said and progressed to him as I scratched my back. It was far much colder staying outside with these corpses lying freely from their past doings. Are they having time above or beneath us? Either way, I don’t mind at all. Their parts where their mouths are located have elevated the clothes and it was obvious that the flowers have sprung.

"Doing examinations. I was well aware of the risk of having them near to us, but this time it would be an opportunity to have them checked. I was already studying last month on how we can examine those who already passed without leading ourselves in danger. I realized the growth of those bushes varies from time to time. Their pollinations would likely be active during 8 pm to 12 midnight. That would be the time that all of us would be in a threat, so we might as well avoid that certain moment every day. As I check these a while ago, I recognized some of the flowers are still alive inside these hosts and will probably take them as their own bountiful fertilizers, skin to bones, until they would mature and burst." George stretched out his arms and moved his waist.

"I hate being a doctor, sometimes. But, well, I might be the chosen one for us to cure everyone. You should get my name and this pretty face of mine on a billboard." He winked.

"I'll be looking forward to that, then. By the way, are the bushes still growing?" I looked around us and see the massive enlargements of that thing, especially from the distance. So they've got those heights now, huh.

“Have you tried getting one of its flowers before the sack pops out?" I asked him out once again, rubbing my hands to warm.

"Yes. I've done that a couple of times already, but I failed. During my tests, most of them would wilt. Some will last during a few stages, then die too. I just have to get a certain part of it that will become our main target. You do know that those things got their own minds and motives. They're protecting their flowers. They're just bushes, but they’re like moving according to their will. I wouldn't be shocked if someday there are different species lurking around this world we have and just tell how messed up our government was just before this had happened."

"You're right. But we should also be aware of its origin and how it gets itself to this." He said and played his pen around his fingers.

"Are there any individuals living beyond the north side?" I shifted the topic.

"I think so. That's the only place we still didn’t have some information because of the high density of mosses and fertility of the land, which are advantages for the bushes. To think, you have got yourself into a fight with that woman, I think she belonged to a turf that's still unrecognizable, yet doing their stuff together with the dark shadows."

"Yeah. Never trust those who live in obscurity. They might be quite good as enemies that we already know, maybe far better than the others." I sighed and looked at the watch house where the couple had their time. The lamp was already off, except for the spotlight outside used for watching. I guessed they got into c****x already.

“Would you mind holding this part for me?” He queried and snatched a scalpel from his pockets.

I held one of the subjects’ arms and let him s***h a part of it, making the wound bearable. The fresh blood was flowing and the tender muscle was showing off a bit. It wasn’t a deep wound, but it would let us see clearly some parts of it. Dr. Coublewich asked for some blood and a part of the skin and placed them carefully in a tube.

“This would be enough for now. Thank you for your help, Catheryne.” He turned around and laid the thing inside his case.

“The pleasure is mine.” I smiled and tugged my jacket “Are they going to be buried tomorrow?”

“They aren’t. They’ll be burned somehow. They were kept in the basement for some days now, and I think the pollens are slowly growing inside their bodies and will eventually grow outside them after they got those needed nutrients. Also, we don’t have enough space to continue to bury those. Still, we need to get rid of them.”

“Catheryne, why are you awake at this time? Shouldn’t you get more hours of sleep since you have run fast? Do you want some pain relievers?" He added and was still focused on those dead bodies.

“My rest isn’t that good than what I expected and I don’t need pain killers for now doctor. Still got those cramps, but I can deal with it.” I kicked a small pebble, making it stumbled to a dead body. “Were you having those nightmares again?”

“Yes. But it’s fine. I can handle them.” I gave him a pat on his back and headed towards the entrance. “I’m heading back to my room to get some rest. Thanks for the time.”

“Yeah. Make sure you’ll use an hour to sleep.”

I left him to continue. Despite of the cold weather, the heat we felt from watching those was stronger. The moon is slowly fading and the mighty sun is lowly showing in return as the morning subsided. These days will surely be wrenched and as they came, we’ll certainly get that thing again.

This time I will not fail.

I savoured the sheets and let myself fall to slumber once, when a knock on the door kept nagging my silence. Since when did someone decide to budge this early? I slumped my hands on my face in frustration. I stared over it, hoping that it would just pass, but the shadow didn’t even move from its spot. A sigh came forth, giving me no choice but to hook with it. I deliberately scuttled, almost dragging myself to open.

“Cath.” I heard her speak.

As soon as I unlocked it, she instantly dashed inside like a thief seeking for a temporary refuge. “Really? At this time?” I confirmed, scratching my skull in irritation.

“I-I’m sorry. I really wanted to ask you if you can come over. I just got a call that Dad’s state got worsened. I want to visit him at least. Maybe an hour or just a minute will do.” She panicked.

I held her on the shoulders, making her to focus. “We can’t go there. We both know that.”

“B-But, I guessed they will try to consider our situation, for us to take a trip there. It’s just a few miles from here. We can go there by tomorrow’s evening or might consider right now-”

I directly cut her off, shaking her to the sides. “Isabela!” I hissed. Now the lamps from the other rooms have started to light. They surely have listened to my voice. “It’s so early and you just disturbed me. Even if we want to. Even if you’re the daughter of Mr. Vicoffs, we surely can’t go there without an official statement coming from the other captains. I’m sure your father is not also going to let you go there, knowing that he’s in no condition.”

“F-Fine. I’m sorry if I’m insisting. I-I was just shocked about the news…”

I rubbed her tensed shoulders and leaned my head on them. “Mr. Vicoffs is a strong man. I know he doesn’t want the team to worry about him also, I could say that he doesn’t intend his own daughter to be there especially when it might be contagious.”

Isabela exhaled a lot. “Can I sleep here? My room felt so lonely lately.” She hugged me as her lips pouted. I chuckled at her cuteness. Often, I would see her as my younger sister and of course, my companion. Isabela, most of her time, loved to hang out with me even if our tasks are different. She would precisely blubber things about her and John. Even if she wouldn’t say it, her actions seemed to show that she have those developing feelings for the young man. It’s quite to tell, since she continued to entertain him even if she already dumped his courtship.

Isabela extended her arms and embraced me more, before we went off to bed. I pulled the sheets to cover us up. As she stared over the canopy, she asked me a thing regarding my longing. “Do you think she’s still out there, waiting for you?”

The moon could see the guilt in my sight. Everyone had told me that it isn’t my fault that she had died, but I always found myself to take the blame. I was the one who held her, and a single ray of hope is all I need for me to convince my own that my daughter had not really ceased. There are fragments of memories that seemed not to connect with each other as if a puzzle has some missing pieces that needed to be found.

“Yes. I buried the kid. But I guessed my interest had killed me with my doubts, that I ended up digging it up again after a week, only to find out that she’s not there anymore. I bombarded her resting place, but the truth was revealed.”

“So, she’s one of them already?”

I don’t want to think like that, especially when it’s about Atarah, but the veracity had persuaded me that she is. I don’t want to get much high hopes that she’s still normal. I only crave to take her back to her latent place. There are presumptions that maybe she’s the one who took herself out from the ground or someone took her body. I just don’t know which part I should believe in.

“Let’s just hope she’s fine wherever she is now. That flower which came out from Atarah is beautiful like a sunflower, but it’s surely is deadly.” I spoke.

“I hope our Dr. George here will be able to finish his experiments and have some results.” Isabela stated and yawned. “I need some beauty sleep. Wake me up after an hour, best friend.” She uttered and turned to the other side, facing the wall.

“Okay. Let’s take an hour to forget everything…Or maybe not.”