12.45 PM

I thrusted myself forward, my legs kicking up so quickly to the point that they looked like they were spinning. Veronica had already begun running, but Jennifer had collapsed into a squatting position, letting out a terrified scream as I could tell she was mentally breaking down. As I approached her, I slowed my sprint, reaching my arm down towards hers.

Seeing that she wasn't planning on getting up herself anytime soon, I grabbed onto her right hand, pulling her up as I dragged her along with me. If I hadn't done so, she wasn't gonna be screaming no longer. We fled down the street, looking out for the next turn to go around Jennifer's apartment building. We had to get to my car as soon as possible, before the aliens would catch up to us.

At that point of time, every traumatic event from the day had been thrown out of my mind. The innocent people being crushed by the overturning car. The apartment resident being impaled. The stranger falling through the fire escape and bleeding to death.

And Enrique being slain.

I was putting all of energy into my running. I could feel Jennifer pulling me behind a little, as if she wanted to just stop. But I knew best that we couldn't. We all had to survive, and even if someone wanted to just collapse back down and wait for their demise, I wouldn't leave them behind, especially not Jennifer.

We then turned again, curving around the shorter side of the apartment block. The aliens were getting close to us, but only one seemed to be putting us in imminent danger. They were all pursuing us at different speeds, and the one at the front was the most vicious and violent, its bloodlust evident in its attempts to claw at us while we dashed.

We squeezed through the narrow sidewalk between the cars and the exterior of the apartment building. We maintained our speed pretty well, slowing down only slightly to ensure that we wouldn't trip on something on the tight walkway. I grabbed out my car keys, pointing it at my vehicle as I unlocked it ahead of time.

Meanwhile, the alien in the lead of chasing us began smashing the walls forcefully. It was getting so close that I could feel the powdered remains of the smashed bricks from the walls coating my hair. As soon as we reached the parking lot that my car was at, I pulled the front and rear car doors open, shoving Jennifer into the backseat and closing the door. I then slipped myself into the driver's seat nimbly, shutting the door just before the lead alien could slip its pincers into the car.

As I turned on the car engine however, the alien smashed its way through the side window on my door. It was clear to see that they weren't ready to give up just yet. The slender creature stretched its scaley arms into the vehicle, waving it around erratically as it tried to scratch me. To save myself and in turn, everybody in the car, I stomped on the accelerator, thrusting the car forward. I heard the alien's arm snap as it retracted out from the car, allowing us to escape safely.

Even as we drove away, the creatures went after us ceaselessly. None of them were quick enough to match the speed of my still-accelerating vehicle, however, causing them to gradually go out of sight. Eventually, they has become dots far in the background, as I assumed that they had given up already.

I laid my head back in relief, letting out a heavy sigh as I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. As soon as I opened them, I glanced at the front mirror, focusing on Veronica. She had placed her hand on ber mouth in silence, as tears flowed down her face. Just as I heard some hyperventilation, I adjusted the mirror to face Jennifer. At first, I watched quietly as she grabbed onto my car seat, bawling loudly as she choked on her tears.

Not long after, she had gone into a full panic mode. I didn't know if it was an anxiety attack or something, but I knew I had to do something. I myself was intensely shaken by Enrique's sudden death. But as usual, I had to "be a man" about it and show nothing. After all, it was probably for the best, seeing how it wouldn't help Jennifer for me to cry along with her.

"It's okay, Jen. Just take some slow deep breaths and calm down. It's all okay," I comforted her in an attempt to slow her agitated breathing. However, she didn't respond in the best way.

"No... it's not!" she yelled abruptly, causing me to almost want to plug my ears with my fingers. Nevertheless, I had to keep them on the wheels and focus on driving. "It's not okay that your friend was killed by those emotionless creatures. Do you even feel any misery?"

"O-of course I do..." I stuttered, stupefied by her question. "He was my closest friend. Just because eyes aren't being waterfalls right now doesn't mean that I don't feel the pain."

"Then you should know that all of this is not okay! Not even close!" Jennifer continued her argument in a provocative tone. "I... I just wanted a peaceful life. After my mum left me for Alan, I thought that maybe I'd have nice, quiet days. I didn't give two shits to think about what the two were doing in their extravagant penthouse in New York, living their lavish lives. Every now and then, I'd secretly wish for something to come to me; a lover, my mum, or even a friend to join me as a roommate. But not these damn aliens that want to kill me, all devoid of any emotion!"

"Jen, you're not alone in this. We all don't exactly have complete families right now. Hell, some of us might not even have any. Even Enrique didn't. And you're right; one of the only ones who are here for us are those aliens, here to kill us. But don't forget that you've also got Veronica and I here, alright?"

Jennifer didn't respond at first. I had expected her to retaliate back at first, as she was already in such a catatonic state. Instead, she continued to breathe quickly and deeply in silence, moving her head along rhythmically. However, I could tell that my words were taking effect on her anxiety, and her breathing slowed over time and became quieter. Before long, any sounds she was making, if she had made any at all, had become inaudible.

She let go of my seat, as I felt it bounce back ever so slightly. She slammed herself back against the backseat, wiping the tears off her eyes with her right hand. I noticed her torn skirt, which she dried her hand with. It probably had been ruined sometime when she was running and kicking her legs vigorously with us earlier on.

She sniffled a little, grabbing a tissue or two from the box I had placed unsecured behind the handbrake. She wiped her eyes, then her nose, as the awkward silence went on. It wasn't quite too comfortable of a situation, however, so I decided to make the moment a little less dull. "You okay now?" I asked, shattering the silence.

"Yeah, better," Jennifer admitted. "Thanks for the encouragement. I know it won't bring my old life back to me, but at least I've got some will to live on through this predicament."

As soon as she finished her statement, the situation was resolved. I was still a little perturbed by her revealing that she had become suicidal earlier on. I finally understood why she had just collapsed to the ground and waited for the alien creatures to come and get her. She was ready to give it all up.

Nonetheless, what had passed had passed. I had already convinced to persevere and have the drive to survive the immoral attack that the aliens had declared on us. We weren't going to advance if we kept on harbouring negativity. The only way that we were going to progress on living and fleeing from or seeking refuge in the city was to focus on the moment and the moments to come.

That was exactly what I had done to get over my past. How to move on after my mum's passing, and subsequently, my dad's. If I hadn't, I would have ended up just like Jennifer just moments ago. Hopeless. Broken. Devoid of emotion. It would have just been a path to suicide. But I didn't, thanks to Enrique.

Back when I was in juvie, he worked as a volunteer correctional officer due to a shortage of workers. Of all of the staff there, he was the only one I felt who truly cared for me. He didn't just work and do the bare minimum. None of the other officers were as empathetic and compassionate as him.

He was an eye-opener—teaching me to stop blaming myself for my mother's death, telling me that it wasn't my fault that my she had gotten into an accident just because my fall had made her rush home. He showed me that I didn't cause my father's death, and that he was already waiting for that cardiac arrest with his history of alcohol abuse.

I really wished that I could have thanked him for everything that he did for me, even after juvie. I wished that his goodbye wouldn't have had been in the form of shedding a tear for a brief moment that I couldn't even embrace. But just as he had taught me to move on if it would hinder my thoughts and actions at the moment, I had to apply it and put his death behind me for a moment. I thought that if maybe, just maybe, we could get out of the city, we would prepare a funeral and tribute ceremony in honour of everything he had done for me and Little Village. To have a true farewell.

"So, where to now?" I questioned, releasing the pressure I had been putting on the gas pedal as turned to Veronica.

However, that question could be answered later. And Veronica understood that. I frowned, not able to take in why she was stretching her eyes widely. "Are you okay?" I asked, wondering if she had entered a state somewhat like rigor mortis, just as Jennifer had done so earlier on.

"Look out!" she screamed in fear, her jaw finally dropping as she made a sound. I turned back to face the road swiftly, watching as a herd of aliens ahead of us gathered around a group of people, attacking them cruelly as they forcefully dug their pincers into the innocent people. Instinctively, I pulled the handbrake, taking the car to a sudden halt.

I flicked off the headlights so that the aliens wouldn't head for us immediately. It worked, as they continued with their horrifying attack on the people at the sidewalk. However, I wasn't going to let that go on. I grabbed up my rifle, laying it on the hood of the car through the broken windshield.

I took aim at the hoard of aliens, focusing on the head of one of them first. Positioning my eye right at the scope, I steadied my hand as I stabilised my sigh on the first alien. Keeping in mind that I was holding an automatic rifle, I had switched to its automatic mode, getting ready to shoot alien after alien. As I laid my finger on the trigger, I prepared to feel the recoil of the gun vibrating through my body.

And as soon as I latched my finger onto it, the gun went off as expected, sending bullets flying towards the nasty six-legged creatures. Most of them missed, but those that didn't managed to get a shot at an alien each. None of them happened to hit the innocent victims on the ground below, all thanks to my gun preparation back in Valour's training facility in New York.

After much chaotic firing, I let go of the trigger, ceasing the firearm from releasing anymore bullets. The smoke from the gun clouded up my view slightly, but it was clear enough to see that there was still something moving in the distance. Eventually, it approached us with an abrupt prance at the car, which wasn't a surprise to me.

I held onto the trigger once more, firing somewhat blindly through the cloudy air. After multiple shots, I let go again, relaxing my fingers. Afterwards, I only heard two sounds—the noise of bullet shells colliding with the hood of the car and sliding down onto the road, and the sound of a being collapsing to the ground.

Not long after, the smoke in the air dispersed, revealing the alien that I had shot lying flat in front of my dented car boot. I then looked further ahead, noticing several presumably dead creatures lying on the ground, a pool of their crimson blood swarming around them. I also witnessed a teenage girl shaking her two adults and a child rigorously, who I assumed to be her family members.

I turned to Veronica, my face displaying much affliction. The scene in front of me was so tragic that I felt so attached to it. It almost reminded me of the time where I had to stare at my mother's lifeless body on the road after she was hit by the car. However, I very well knew that it was no time to mourn over my own past. If I wasn't to get out there and help that kid, she'd have no future.

I signalled to Veronica to leave the car with me and go help the traumatised teenager. She agreed, pulling her car door open even before I could open mine. I didn't request for Jennifer to follow us, though, because she seemed startled enough by what had happened back at her apartment already. Nonetheless, she still got out will us, following behind warily as we approached the girl.

I lowered my gun, holding it by my side so that I wouldn't frighten her when she saw me coming over. However, I still kept the gun mode on semi-automatic, so that I would be ready to fire if needed at any time. Veronica walked by my side, with Jennifer lagging behind slightly. After some time, the girl noticed us coming over. Instead of being intimidated, however, she seemed to be desperate.

"Please help my brother! He's still alive, but he's losing a lot of blood," she cried out as she gestured at us to assist her. She looked back down at her brother, her crestfallen looks hidden by her hair once again. "Cliff! Please, you have to stay awake!"

Her brother blinked rapidly, struggling to keep his eyes open. He breathed raggedly, taking in gulps of air at intermittent intervals. He clutched tightly onto his largest wound, where he had been losing the most blood from. The fabric around the hole curled as he gripped onto it, while his sister covered his hand with hers. "Tara... I... I'm so tired. I just want to... sleep..."

"No, y-you can't. Not yet," she stammered anxiously. "I... I-I promise, if you stay awake, I'll let you s-s-sleep as much as you want after we get home. You can sleep the whole day at home, or in school too. Just, please, endure this and keep awake for me. If you don't, you... y-you might never wake up again."

"You... know I'm going... going to... sleep anyway..." her brother refuted, his voice interrupted by himself coughing out blood. "I'll go meet... ma and pa... now. T-thanks... for being the best jie jie in the world, Tara," he uttered some words for the last time.

"No, no, no!" Tara screamed, going quiet after a few seconds of doing so and gasping rapidly with much force. The noise she had made could have attracted some nearby aliens, but I didn't stop her. She had every right to mourn her young brother's death no matter the situation. And I was armed and ready to shoot down whoever tried to interrupt the sorrowful moment.

Veronica and I looked down at the two children, placing our hands together at the front of our waist, staying in silence. Veronica looked down directly at her feet as a tear plunged and bounced off the tip of her shoe. Meanwhile, I kept my head up, looking out for any potential dangers. However, the true, primary reason why I wasn't looking down was probably because I didn't want to. I didn't want to bring back the trauma from my mum's death. I know that I had said that I had gotten over it, which I had done so.

But a moment like this could bring it all back.

The girl continued begging for his brother to continue talking. Unfortunately, he didn't. With that, he stopped blinking, his eyes remaining opened. His hand let go from his open wound, dropping to the ground as blood oozed out more rapidly from it. It made no difference either way, at that point, though.

He was gone.