CHAPTER 4: BASILISK AND CERBERUS
1237 Words
No one could have anticipated that their enemies would be more than just a virus. Unknown creatures, poised to conquer humanity, now loomed on the horizon.
“What are we going to do now? Should we send this USB to the government?” George asked, his voice filled with urgency.
“No, George,” Linda replied firmly. “If they find out about these creatures, it will only cause more panic. People are already overwhelmed by the virus. We need to figure out how Dr. Oscar Vergara communicated with other scientists before making any decisions.”
George paused the video and pointed at the screen. “Look, this is Dr. Vergara. He must have been present during the collapse of the Pyramid of Giza and possibly carried the virus back with him.”
“I know another survivor,” Ronel said thoughtfully. “His name is Dr. Roy Panelo. He was a high school friend of mine. If anyone might have insights into this, it would be him. But given the situation, I’m not sure if he’s still alive or if he carried the virus back with him.”
The room fell silent as they absorbed the gravity of their situation.
“Are we going to leave them like this?” Linda asked, her voice tinged with concern. “For now, let’s make sure this place is secure. Sooner or later, people might need a new refuge and forcefully break in. This place seems like a perfect hideout for us, and it looks like they have enough food and water to last us a month.”
“I agree,” Ralph said. “We need to focus on our survival first. The experts will work on finding a cure. They must be working on it as we speak.”
Aime spoke up, her voice resolute. “We should also take care of the Vergara family’s remains. It’s the least we can do for them. We need sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to dissolve their bodies. The process takes about three hours.”
Ronel frowned. “Isn’t that a strong chemical? I doubt they have such solutions here, but we should check. There might be something we can use.”
George nodded. “Let’s search the lab and the rest of the house. We need to make this place as secure and livable as possible. Once we find the chemicals, we can take care of the bodies and then focus on our own survival.
They set to work, searching through the laboratory and house. They found that the lab was well-stocked with various chemicals, including sodium hydroxide. With the necessary supplies in hand, they set up the dissolution process and made sure to handle everything with care.
While they waited for the bodies to dissolve, they fortified the house and organized their supplies. The large house, now a temporary sanctuary, offered them a sense of security and hope amid the chaos.
George knocked on the wall in the foreground where a miniature painting of the universe hung. After a few firm knocks, the painting shifted slightly, revealing a hidden scanner behind it. Intrigued, George took Dr. Oscar Vergara's thumb and placed it on the scanner. With a soft click, the wall began to move, slowly sliding open to reveal a hidden compartment.
“What kind of place is this...” George muttered, his eyes widening as the wall fully retracted, revealing a high-tech secret room.
The hidden room behind the wall revealed a fully equipped laboratory. It was stocked with a comprehensive range of scientific apparatus: safety goggles, beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks, Florence flasks, test tubes, tongs, racks, crucibles, funnels, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, droppers, pipettes, burets, ring stands, clamps, forceps, spatulas, scoopulas, thermometers, Bunsen burners, and balances.
“This is clearly a high-tech research lab,” George observed. “From the look of things, they were focused on studying cancer. Dr. Oscar Vergara must have been deeply involved in this research.”
Aime searched through the storage and found a container labeled “lye.” “I think this is what we need. It should be sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.”
“Yes, that’s it,” Aime said, holding up the container labeled “lye.” She turned to Ralph, who was still staring at Kevin’s body. “Ralph, you should head out now. We’ll manage here. Just bring us some water. I’m starting to feel the heat again.”
“Okay, Ate.”
“Ralph… take your time, alright?”
“I understand,” Ralph nodded, knowing she wanted him to stay away for a few hours.
George placed a reassuring hand on Aime’s shoulder. They donned masks and protective gear before starting to prepare the solution to dissolve the Vergara family’s bodies. Linda, unable to bear the scene, retreated to the top floor. Meanwhile, Ronel fiddled with the computer, keeping his eyes shut and turning away to avoid the smell of the melting bodies. He also wore a mask to shield himself from the odor.
Aime steeled herself, determined to stay strong and focused. She knew there was no room for weakness. She was the reason they were all infected, and she had to be brave for her family’s sake.
“I can do this. I can do this,” she whispered to herself, drawing strength from her resolve.
UNDERNEATH THE PYRAMID OF GAZA
Below the Pyramid of Gaza, a chilling growl echoed, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it. The immense noise seemed to reverberate through the ground, a reminder of the monstrous creatures lurking beneath. Basilisk and Cerberus, colossal entities of terror, rumbled and shifted, their stomachs opening to release smaller, yet equally fearsome, versions of themselves. These human-sized monsters were slowly clawing their way out, ready to unleash chaos upon humanity.
In the midst of this turmoil, Aime watched George, who stood at the edge of the swimming pool, his gaze fixed intently on the water. The depth of his thoughts was evident; his worry for Ingrid weighed heavily on him. Ingrid, who was like family, was a constant concern for George. He sighed deeply, then removed his boots to dip his feet into the cool water.
Aime approached and mimicked his actions, letting her feet soak in the pool. She spoke softly to herself, “I hope this is just a nightmare. Maybe everything will be normal when I wake up.” She glanced over at her brother. “Ate Ingrid is brave. She’ll be okay, Kuya.”
George let out another heavy sigh, lying down on the concrete with his feet still submerged. “Are we being punished?”
Aime looked up at the sky, her eyes searching for answers. “Yes, it feels like a punishment. If this isn’t one, then I don’t know what is. If only I had known this would happen, I would have followed Mom and Dad. I wouldn’t have been a burden. I’m sorry, Kuya George. This is all my fault,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
George turned to her, his voice gentle but firm. “No one blames you for what happened. We’re family, and no matter what, we’ll face it together. Stop blaming yourself.”
Aime nodded through her tears and lay down beside George. “I’m glad I have you as my family. Goodnight, Big Brother.”
George offered a reassuring smile. “Goodnight.”
- Writer
