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Dead Bodies

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YEAR 2098

I can't stop running, and I'm losing my breath. I looked behind me, making sure no one had followed me.

Buildings and cars that are rusted, decayed, abandoned, and crumbling surround me, and plants almost completely cover the damaged structures.

Now that I am the only person left alive from the terrible virus that has claimed many lives around the world. It all started with an exploded nuclear plant in Russia, and some of those who lived near it died.

But for some inexplicable reason, they came back to life after being buried for a few days. And that's when the chaos started, and it quickly spread until humanity was completely wiped off the map.

All the places are ruined and abandoned. Wala ni isang natirang matibay matapos ang malaking sakuna sa sangkatauhan.

Wala nang gumagalaw sa mundong 'to liban na lang sa akin at sa mga patay na bangkay na waring buhay.

They were chasing me earlier.

The survival skills and techniques I have learned have been acquired during the past four years as a survivor in this dystopian time.

The means of communication have disappeared. Internet? Signal reception is broken, and even the power source is out.

Tanging sa mga ilog at kakahuyan lamang ang tanging mapagkukuhanan ng pagkain at tubig nang ligtas.

All land animals were wiped out. Only marine and flying animals survived.

Pero bukod sa hindi katanggap-tanggap na pangyayaring 'to, may ilan akong napansing pagbabago sa klima at sa aking paligid.

The sunlight doesn't hurt my skin as much anymore, and the land is healthier because there are many vegetables and fruits growing around the forest.

Now that I'm the only one left alive, I have to be especially alert because I can be attacked by living corpses that I call dead bodies.

I never thought that this kind of phenomenon would happen. Which I used to only see in movies and shows.

Sobrang tahimik ng paligid at tanging ang ingay lamang ng yabag ng aking sapatos ang tangi kong naririnig. Nakakabingi ang ingay. Wala kang makausap kundi ang sarili mo lamang.

Kasalukuyan akong naglalakad ngayon sa isang daan dito sa New York na hindi ko alam kung saan.

I've been walking the streets for a few days. And for reasons unknown to me, I can't figure out how I ended up here. I just woke up in New York and only had a few memories.

Nakakalungkot lang dahil hanggang ngayon ay naiisip ko pa rin na may mga taong naglalakad sa aking paligid lulan ng aking pangungulila.

I miss the people walking down every street looking at their super-high-tech phones.

In a single snap, humanity was erased and replaced by a dead bodies.

I stopped walking for a moment when I felt something shaking where I was walking. I became more alert and unexpectedly noticed the mass of dead corpses ahead.

My fear was heightened by the fact that it ran fast, unlike the zombies in The Walking Dead.

"Shit! Nandito na naman sila!" I said it to myself and started running again. I don't know how they can track me when it's not obvious that I smell like a person.

Even though I hadn't completely moved away from my seat earlier, I just noticed that they were only about fifteen meters away from me.

I took the bumpy road down.

There is no stopping running.

I was short of breath, and my chest was beating very hard. I probably feel like I'm going to die today.

"Ano bang nangyayari? Bakit ang bibilis nila kumpara dati," I thought to myself, especially after I observed that they moved faster than they did yesterday.

I stopped when I realized something.

The road I'm walking on is broken. The next one is a cliff, and there is a long distance between it and the next road. I'm sure it was caused by last year's severe earthquake.

Napasabunot na lang ako sa aking ulo nang mapagtanto na wala na akong matakbuhan ngayon na napapaligiran na ako ng mga dead bodies.

I looked in front of me and noticed a deep crack. It was very dark below, and when I looked behind me, mas lalo akong nanlumo nang mapansin na sobrang lapit na nila sa p'westo ko.

My hands were shaking as I looked for a way to escape, but I lost hope when I couldn't find one.

Unless I kill myself...

"You will never taste me, you dead bodies. You will starve to death together!" I shouted and let myself be blown away by the wind as I jumped off the cliff.

I just closed my eyes.

"Goodbye!" I shouted.

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I opened my eyes, and my reflection in the glass in front of me appeared.

The first thing I noticed was the machine above my head and the wires connected to my helmet that seemed to be experimenting on me.

"Anong nangyayari? Bakit ako nandito?"

I was about to take off my helmet when a woman entered the room where I was staying.

She was wearing a lab gown, and from what I could see, it was a scientist.

She smiled. "How's your trip to New York?" she asked, which made me confused.

"Huh? Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?"

"Survivor #189, Mell Melo Labita Supposed to be a student, 22-year-old. Memory retrieval!"

The moment the woman mentioned that, I felt strange about myself. It's like something came into my mind that I can't explain.

It was only after this that many events registered in my mind, and only then did I realize everything.

I carefully removed my helmet from my head and looked at the woman, who was now smiling at me.

"Have a pleasant day, Ms. Lina. This is S189 reporting, na'am! In New York country. Dead bodies evolve more. They run faster than before! No survivors found!" I said it with all my might, causing her smile to grow even wider.

"Good to know, Mell! Take a rest, and the next place you will go is the country of China!"

This is us! This is me!

I let myself be killed by dead bodies to study them.

The organization sends me to different corners of the country to study and find survivors in the country I will visit.

"Copy, Madam!" I saluted the woman, and she left before me.

Nagtungo ako sa aking likuran at hinawi ang pulang kurtina.

Sumambulat sa akin ang hilera ng androids kamukha ko na nasa loob ng parang aquarium.

Everything looks human, but inside it is run by a machine.

Ipapadala ang mga android sa ibang bansa at nakasilid sa isang capsule. Sa ganitong paraan, mas payapa ang paggawa namin sa aming research with my team.

Earlier, the robot was connected to my helmet. Everything the robot sees will be recorded here and, in the laboratory, where the investigation will be done.

We aim to find survivors, if there are any. As long as possible, we will find a cure for those bitten by the dead bodies.

It's not too late. Planet Earth still has hope.

And I will make sure that I am the key to bringing back the way we used to live.

I hope we succeed.

Project Live!

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