Midnight Cry

Four birds in one stone

"Okay... I'm near Shayne’s house." I was running and gasping at the same time and then I saw someone at the next street also running fast. Someone is following him...

The man grabbed him and then he bites his neck. The blood is dripping from the man's chin.

"Wait a minute... He's familiar... That guy..." I gasped.

The man leaves his victim lying on the ground.

I cannot move.

"That man is the missing patient at room 35!" I pointed at him.

I don't know what to do. The man disappeared. Will I be his next target?

What shall I do?!

I paused for a moment and closed my eyes.

"Lord please save me and my family. Save us. In Jesus name. Amen."

I opened my eyes as I was facing downwards. I saw a man's shoes.

I closed my eyes again and I started tearing up. If I die today, then I will see Papa. I will accept it no matter what. But then I heard a deep voice.

"What are you doing, Rease? Open your eyes it's me, Rick." The guy held my shoulder and shake me violently.

His hands wiped my tears. I am not sure if I am in heaven right now. I don't want to see that horrifying scene again. In fact, I don't want to see. Instead, I want to feel....

I just want to feel.

I opened my eyes.

I just want to know if what I feel is real.

I saw Rick. His face so close to mine. Both hands holding my face. I just couldn't say a thing.

No words came out. Just drops and drops of tears.

By instinct, my arms wrapped around his body. I hugged him...

"I'm scared..." I cried. "What shall I do? I'm so scared, Rick" My hug tightened as he pats my head.

"It's okay Rease, don't be scared. I'm here… It'll be alright. I need you to open your eyes." I loosen the hug and I faced him with eyes wide open. " Trust me Rease. Come with me. We need to go. Now."

He seems distracted by what's behind me. I looked behind and I saw...

Hundreds of people running towards us. They're not people....

They look familiar…

"Why are they running towards us, Rick?! What have you done?" I looked at Rick.

"I didn’t do anything. Don’t ask me, RUN!"

He pulled my hand and drag me.

“Mom! And Shayne!” I’m pulling Rick’s hand.

“Rease! We have to go, there’s not much time left!” I don’t know why every time Rick tells me what to do, I’d obey him.

We both ran as far as we can.

I was running out of breath. Literally as if there is something that struck down my heart. Is this really happening right now?

“What-- what are they?” I looked at Rick’s eyes while we’re running for our lives.

“You may call me crazy but, what I think we saw, are hundreds of zombies chasing us.” I felt my adrenaline rush.

We're being chased by Zombies!!!

Zombies that kills people! I don't get it. No, this couldn’t be. They don’t exist. They’re fictional character in the stories since we we’re kids! I had to admit I enjoy watching zombie movies. But, now that they’re real and this is not a movie anymore, I wish we we’re in a dream.

I saw an old lady from another street asking help but then it's too late. One of the zombies bit her neck. Blood rushes down her neck.

“It's all a dream, right? A very bad one.” Trying to convince myself that this isn’t real.

I cannot hear a thing. But I see everything in a flash. Blood everywhere. The color is distracting. I was scared... That's the only color I see. What are we going to do now? I am just waiting for it.

I mean death.

But then I saw Rick's hand holding mine. I see how determined he is to fight for our life. All of a sudden, I can hear again.

"Here, Rease. Use this." He gave me a gun.

"Where did you get this?! I... I don't know how to use ---Aaahhh." He shot the zombie at my back.

"Like that. Aim and shot! Haha"

"Why are you laughing at a time like this?! It’s not funny." Still examining how to use the gun.

"Kill them before they kill you. It's like a game, Rease." He held my hand with the gun and he pulled the trigger. I can feel his heavy breathing from his chest. We... We killed a zombie?! "But in this game," He reload the gun. "You only have one life, so, you need to protect yourself if you want to live."

Zombies aren't like vampires. The light won’t kill them. A bullet in the head will. But I think I don't have a choice but to shoot them. Fight them in a close combat then I’m dead. Killing is a sin but this is... This is just confusing. I aim the gun towards a zombie. God, forbid but this would be an exception. We don't have a choice but to kill you all, to protect ourselves. I pulled the trigger that forced me to lay in the ground. The bullet landed on the zombie's head. Rick saw it and he was shocked. He smiled at me. I think he was amazed. I don't really want to do this, I swear. All I can say is...

"I'm Sorry." I’m sorry for being overly dramatic.

"I'm sorry too Rease…"Rick grabbed my hand to help me get up. Why is he sorry?

"Why are you saying you're sorry, Rick?"

He didn't respond and the zombies are circling around us.

We're a dead meat. We're trapped!!

He tried to pull the trigger again but there's no bullet left. I am trying to know what he feels right now. Is he even scared? He laughs hard and I saw it in his face. Is he really a leader of a gang? Then he's a criminal to me. I am disgusted by this. Why am I even with him? I should've known! While I see his face, he seems serious. An eye of a criminal, you shouldn't look at. I cannot be with him. Whatever... I don't care if I die single and alone... I should get away from him before I become like him!

I was walking aback. Plotting to escape...

He is looking at me now.

"Rease, why are you looking at me like that?"

I ran towards the gap where there is no zombie and he followed me.

A huge explosion was held at the street near us and the zombies go to where it is.

We managed to escape the zombies but two of them are tagging along at the back.

"Rease! Wait for me!"

"Get away from me, Rick!" He grabbed my hand to stop me from running away. I am hurt by his grip. We get inside the abandoned warehouse. "Get off me!"

"What is your problem?!"

"I know that you're a criminal! You're a gang leader! Shayne’s right! You're trouble! When we're trapped, you're plotting to escape by yourself... You don't care about me, don't you?"

He gets off my hands.

"You're crazy, Rease..." He put his hands to his forehead like a mad man.

He looked straight at me.

He is threatening me, walking towards me.

My feet cannot go anywhere. It's a dead end. Walls and boxes everywhere.

He's inches from me as he trapped me with his arms touching the wall. I can't look at him straight now.

"I care... I still care." He whispered and he walked away from me.

I was about to tell something because I think it's not enough reason. but he walked towards me and he covered my lips so that I couldn’t speak a word.

"Someone's here." My heart beats fast and I think I want to cry.

Is it the end of our life?!

There is someone hiding behind the boxes.

They began showing up. There were four of them.

"We thought you're both zombies." A guy in a laboratory gown said. "Hi, I am Calvin. This is Rachel, Josh and Kean."