[W E E K S A F T E R EPI]

"What the fuck..."

Napalingon kaming lahat sa likuran namin nang marinig ang tawa ni Aziel. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakita.

Confettis are falling on now kneeling Azi, while he is laughing like a psycho there!

Kaagad kaming tumakbo papunta sa direksyon niya. Finlay is still tearing up and when he reached his brother's location, he gave him a punch on his face.

"That's for being a jerk!"

"Hey, I didn't know that that thing won't blast with fire." He chuckled and give his brother a pat on his head. "Did you really cried for me?"

"Of course! Are you dumbass?" Finlay was about to punch him again but Azi stopped it and gave him a hug.

"I won't die, brother." He smirked. "Black grass don't die."

Napatingin naman ako sa pader na noon ay unti-unting umuuga. My eyes went wide when I saw the gate slowly opening.

"Tingnan niyo!" Excited kong itinuro sa kanila ang gate. Nanlaki din ang mga mata nila at sabay-sabay kaming tumakbo.

Wala lang sa'min ang madulas at mabasang lupa habang tinatakbo ang gate. Hindi siya gan'ong kalaki at sa tingin ko'y intended lang siya para makapasok ang isang truck.

Nanlaki din ang mata namin nang makitang may zombies na tumatakbo sa direksyon namin. With nothing but eagerness to save our selves, we ran faster.

Tinatalo ng tunog na ginagawa ng mga zombie ang tunog na ginagawa ng ulan. Their broke voices lingered inside my head and fueled me to run more.

Nang makapasok kaming lahat, kaagad hinila pababa ni Azi ang lever na nakita namin kasabay ng unti-unting pagbaba ng tarangkahan.

Nang tuluyan nang sasara, may isang zombie ang sinubukang lumusot pailalim pero huli na dahil tuluyan nang lumapag sa lupa ang gate na naging sanhi ng pagkadurog ng ulo niya. Its blood and brain pieces scattered on the ground which made us step back.

We did it.

We succeeded!

Napaupo kaming anim sa sahig habang hinahabol ang hininga. Unti-unti, tumila ang ulan. Parang hinintay lang kami nitong makapasok sa loob para tumila siya.

Lumunok ako ng laway at tiningnan sila. Their faces expresses a light emotion. As if they just survived a fatal disaster.

Which is true.

We survived. After series of running, chasing our lives, and fighting, I can say that somehow, we survived.

Somehow, because I know, something more dangerous is waiting for us behind these walls.

Or, baka masyado ko lang nadala ang mga nababasa ko sa books kaya ganito na ako mag-isip.

As the sunrays touched my skin, I felt comfort. Tumayo ako at napagdesisyunang tingnan kung anong meron.

My mouth went agape with the scenery.

I expected white buildings and futuristic gadgets here. Floating vehicles, a pure-glass building and a great laboratory but I am wrong.

What I saw...is far from what I expected.

Isa itong siyudad, na napapalibutan ng sementong bakod.

"Just what the fuck did we entered?" Azi's annoyed voice broke the silence.

"But this is where the drone goes! I am sure of my skill!" Finlay's defensive voice followed.

Sa totoo lang, maayos pa ang city na 'to. Maayos ang mga building, walang sirang kalsada. Walang umuusok na mga sasakyan.

Ganito ang bayan bago ang pandemiya. Ganito ang bayan...bago ang apocalypse.

"Hindi kaya..."

"Congratulations for making this far, survivors. You've reached the quarantine area."

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang bigla na lang may lumabas na babae mula sa kung saan. Color blue ito at mukhang hologram lamang dahil nagf-flicker pa ito minsan.

"Ano? Hindi ba 'to 'yung headquarters ng mga pasimuno ng kaganapan?"

"Sorry, but that place don't exist." She even smiled at us, still not blinking.

Her face is pretty but because it was my first time seeing a holographic human, it kinda scares me too, at the same time, amaze.

"We let you follow those drones we sent so you can find this quarantine. If we tried to save you individually, we'll end up all as a monster."

A deep voice came from the woman. Mukhang lalaki ang nagsasalita. Kumunot pa rin ang noo ko pero pinili ko na lang na manahimik.

"Welcome to the Safe, survivors."

And with that, she disappeared from our sight like a ghost. Napabuntong-hininga ako at napamasahe sa noo ko.

So, all this time, mali ang iniisip namin na may tao sa likod nito? Ang mga drone na 'yun ay para sundan namin at makarating sa lugar na 'to?

The drones were intended to save us from apocalypse, and it will not lead us to the villains.

Because in the first place, there are none.

There is no villain.

Masyado ko lang pinabongga ang kuwento.

"Gago?"

Napatawa na lang ako ng sarkastiko sa mga bagay-bagay na nangyayari. Naiwan ding nakatanga ang mga kasamahan ko, mukhang hindi din makapaniwala sa nangyari.

"Pinagloloko ba nila tayo?"

"Hindi."

Muntik pa akong mapamura nang bigla na lang may magsalita sa likuran namin. Kaagad kaming humarap at nakita ang lalaking sa tingin ko ay nasa thirty na. Nakasuot ito ng maayos at plantsadong suit. May mga tao sa likod niya na noon ay naka-personal protective equipment.

"This place is intended to be an evacuation for those who experienced natural disasters. A project of Nyasaaa, which was approved by the president." He looked at us all. "But this apocalypse happened. Don't worry, you're not alone here." He smiled.

Lumingon kami sa paligid at nakitang may iilang tao nga na nanonood sa'min!

Some of them expresses a welcoming aura and it made me smile a bit. These are the people who fought for their lives.

"Again, congratulations, survivors." He bowed his head and dismissed us.

I licked my lower lip as I stared at the new world we found. Sa taas ng bakod na ito, malabong makapasok pa ang mga zombie.

Naglakad pa kami palibot sa lugar na ito. Hindi siya gan'on kalawak dahil mula dito, malabo man ay makikita pa rin ang kabilang bakod.

But it is enough to accommodate thousand of people.

I can hear some birds chirping. There are also dogs playing around with kids.

Some people are chit-chatting also. Maluwag ang mga pakiramdam nila at alam kong kahit papaano ay ligtas na sila.

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ba kami magtatagal dito, o hanggang kailan magiging ganito ang mundo.

Walang mga sasakyan dito, kahit na mahahalata mong moderno naman ang paligid.

"This is life." Finlay smiled while trying to sniff the wind which made me chuckle.

"A new life, indeed."

We all laugh but stopped when we felt the ground shake a little.

Nagsalitan kaming lahat ng tingin, nagtatanong ang mga mata kung pare-pareho kaming naramdaman 'yun.

"Earthquake?" I asked them, eyes widen.

Pero bakit palakas nang palakas kada segundo? This is probably an earthquake, but something caused this, and I am sure it is not natural.

Nagsimulang kumalabog ang dibdib ko habang tinitingnan din kung paano mag-panic ang mga tao sa paligid. Some are screaming.

"Tatakbo tayo kapag sinabi ko."

Kasabay ng pagdagundong ng lupa ay ang pagdagundong ng puso ko. Napalunok ako ng laway.

"Isa..."

What's happening?

"Dalawa..."

I thought we're already safe?

"Tatlo..."

Screams. People screamed.

"Takbo!"

As we drag our feet to run away, I heard something boomed, kasabay ng nakaka-awang sigawan ng mga tao.

Ayokong lumingon.

Pero huli na ang lahat.

Pagkalingon ko, nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang nawasak ang pader at nagsimulang pumasok ang mga higanteng doble ang laki sa malaking zombie na nakalaban namin!

"Putangina..."

The end comes after us.

- E N D OF S E A S O N 1-