"Why won't it-!!!"

*Thud thud*

Jayden is complaining about his toothache and started slamming his face on the truck container wall. 4th day living in Barete Park. They stop giving us missions because of the new prowling undead which is the reason for the death of soldiers yesterday, they will have research for their weaknesses and strength. It's a good thing we got a lot of food for the past 2 days.

Glenn starts to have a headache and needs to take rest. None of us know how to help him.

"Why won't one of us go to the soldiers and ask to get taught for medical training?" Jayden said

"I'll go" Kristy replied

He went out to find an army medical tent. We stayed, just finding and thinking about what to do.

"I'll take a walk around guys" I said to the 2

I went out and started walking. The air in Barete Park was thick with a strange mix of hope and despair. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter, their faces etched with weariness, their eyes searching for any sign of danger. Civilians huddled in makeshift shelters, their expressions a blend of fear and resilience.

The world had changed, but life went on, a fragile dance between survival and oblivion. Soldiers with guns on their arms went past me, ready to shoot whenever there's danger.

*Thud*

"Heavy Breathing"

There was a girl who came out of the adoption building, slamming the door and started running away

"Iris! Where are you going!?" A guy from the adoption center came out and yelled

Iris.... Familiar name..... Iris... Iris... Why is it familiar.... Who is she again?... A childhood friend? Someone I know? Iris.... Ivano.... The name Iris made me remember the name Ivano..... Iris... Ivano.

"What's her name?"

"Iris Invine

.... No..... Iris Invine daughter of Ivano Skyfire.... Wait a minute..... She's the one we will be looking for. We promised to take her and take care of him because her grandma is dying and no will take her.

I looked up looking for her, she's gone. I started running in the direction she went. My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic rhythm echoing the urgency that pulsed through my veins. Iris Invine, Ivano Skyfire's daughter. The girl we promised to help. But she was running, and the question in my mind was the same: Why?

I started running, my footsteps pounding on the cracked pavement, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I didn't know where she was going, but I had to find her. I had to make sure she was safe.

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The park was alive with a cacophony of sounds. The distant rumble of a truck, the chatter of soldiers, the mournful cries of children, the constant thrum of a world in chaos. But my focus was singular: Iris.

I scanned the faces of the people, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Her bright blue eyes, her unruly brown hair, her slender frame. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to try. I had to find her.

I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the concerned glances, the murmurs of concern. My mind was focused, my purpose clear. I had to find Iris. I had to keep my promise. I had to help her.

I followed the trail of her footsteps, the prints of her worn shoes barely visible on the dust-covered ground. I noticed that she had been running, her steps quick and desperate. She was running from something.

My heart sank. What could she be running from? Was it the undead? Or something worse?

I pushed through a group of soldiers, their eyes hardened with the experience of a world gone mad. They were on edge, their hands resting on the grips of their weapons, ready for any threat. I didn't stop, I didn't look back. I couldn't afford to hesitate.

My eyes caught a flicker of movement, a flash of blue amidst the drab landscape. I followed it, my heart pounding. It was Iris.

She was running, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear. She went to a turn in a alleyway.

"Iris!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with urgency.

She didn't stop. She didn't even look back. She just kept running, her steps quickening as she approached the edge of the world.

I ran faster, my legs burning, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I had to reach her before she reached the wall. I had to stop her. I had to make sure she was safe.

I stumbled, my feet catching on a loose piece of concrete. But I caught myself, regaining my balance. I couldn't stop. Not now.

Just as she reached the edge, just as she was about to jump over the wired fence, I reached her.

"Iris! Stop!" I shouted, my voice hoarse, my hand outstretched.

She froze, her eyes wide with fear. She turned, her face a mixture of defiance and desperation.

"Leave me alone!" She shouted, her voice trembling. "I don't need your help!"

"Iris," I said, my voice calm, reassuring,

"I'm not going to leave you. I promised your father I'd take care of you."

"My father? You know my father?" she asked

"Y-yes, we saw him-"

"Saw him where!?" She cutted me

I took out her photo and her father's dog tag. She just looked at it.

"Where is he!" She yelled

I scratched my head, readying myself to say it.

"He is... Dead"

Her face is full of shock, tears coming out of her eyes.

"You killed him right!? Like how you get this things from him?" She said

"Wait no, no"

"You killed him! And now you're here to kill me too?" What did we do to you!?"

"I didn't! How do we even know your name why would he say it!? Just look, we saw him bit by one of this in the arm back in Great Adam City. What only he requested for us is to find you, take you, and then take care of you." I replied

"You're young, how can you even be my parent? How can you even take care of me?" She asked

"I know I'm young but just... Let's just say we are brothers and sisters okay? You have nowhere to go right? He said about the condition of your grandmother. I promise we will take care of you, we have food, a lot of food"

"We?"

"I also have friends and my sister who came here in this city. Just follow me and we will get this sorted out?"

I waited for her to nod, she nodded.

"Follow me, we are living in a truck. We will find your own mattress and blanket for you to sleep on tonight" I said

We started walking, I was taking the lead. Questions went to my mind.

"Why did you run away from the adoption center?" I asked

"I... When this outbreak came. People in my neighborhood ran to the adoption center to hide. It's a good thing this area was well protected until people there started harassing me, forcing me to use my body to get food when we ran out of food so I just ran away. They never said that the military is giving away food, they kept it as a secret" she replied

Okay then, I have no comment about that. We just continued walking back to the truck. We arrived, we also met Kristy with medical kits and bags on her entering the truck.

"We are here, don't worry. My friends are good people, we have a lot of foods, maybe chips if you want or candies" I said to her

We went to the entrance container and entered. Jayden and the others have confusion on their face.

"Wait, isn't she.... Iris?" Jane said

I nodded, their eyes lit up.

"Oh... Uhhh, hi there, my name is Kristy. I am sorry for what happened to your father" Kristy said

They introduced themselves except Glenn who still has a headache and is taking a rest. Jayden introduced Glenn to Iris.

"Jane, go cook for Iris, she's hungry" I said to Jane

Jane nodded and start to get the grill

"W-w-ait"

I put my hand on her shoulder

"Don't worry, your stomach has been growling while we are coming here. And don't be shy, she's my sister" I said to Iris

"How about cook us all? I'm kind of hungry too" Jayden said to Jane

Jane went outside the container and prepared the meat. I went to Kristy.

"So, how did the lesson go?" I asked her

"They taught me a lot, they even gave me these free medical kits after the lesson" she replied

She took out something from the kit and woke up Glenn. He gave Glenn a pill and made him drink water, and let him sleep.

"Hey doctor, can you take off my hurting teeth?" Jayden said to Kristy

"I am not a dentist and they didn't teach me that, just go find a dentist out there. I know how irritating a toothache is" Kristy replied

"Okey"

Jayden went out and started to find a medical tent. I looked at Iris, just sitting on the floor staring at the wall, having nothing to do. Wonder what we can do to earn her trust?