It had been several long minutes since Rio began waiting for Elaine to change. Leaning his back against the wall, he sighed, the minutes dragging on, his patience wearing thin. Eventually, the stillness became too much, and though he hesitated, not wanting to appear desperate to leave, he rapped his knuckles lightly against the door.
“Elaine, are you ready yet?” Rio’s voice was gentle but edged with concern.
“Just a sec!” came Elaine’s muffled reply.
Inside her room, Elaine had already finished dressing, but her heart ached as her eyes fell upon the computer she had to leave behind. That computer had been her constant companion, through lonely nights and aimless days. It held her world—the memories, the creations, the connections she couldn’t bear to lose. Determined to salvage what she could, she grabbed a one-terabyte flash drive, her hands trembling slightly, and plugged it into the system unit. With a heavy heart, she began copying everything she held dear—photos, personal documents, account details, game files, redistributables, and, most importantly, the development software she might need in the uncertain future.
The transfer bar inched forward agonizingly slow, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, the task completed, Elaine ejected the USB drive and powered down her computer, her fingers lingering on the switch, reluctant to say goodbye. With a deep breath, she pocketed the drive, shouldered her backpack, and walked to the door, casting one last wistful glance at the life she was leaving behind.
...
Elaine emerged into the living room, her attire a perfect fit for the chaotic world outside—a black pullover hoodie that hung slightly oversized on her frame. Tights paired with black shorts hugged her legs, while sturdy black boots completed the ensemble. It was exactly what Rio had suggested for their evacuation, practical yet understated.
Rio, waiting outside, glanced at her, his patience thinning. “What took you so long?”
“I had to save everything important from my computer,” Elaine replied, holding up the flash drive as proof before tucking it safely into her backpack.
“Smart,” Rio nodded, his tone distracted as he moved back to the table in the living room to gather his things. “Is everything ready? Didn't forget something?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Elaine stood awkwardly, hoping Rio would notice her outfit, but he seemed too preoccupied to take a second look. “So… how do I look?” she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Rio glanced up, his mind still on the task at hand. “It’s good. Those clothes should offer enough protection from whatever’s out there.” His response was practical, focused on survival rather than appearance.
But when he looked back at her, adjusting his windbreaker, he saw the way Elaine stood, her posture uncertain, her hand nervously adjusting her glasses. She was waiting, hoping for something more than just practical approval.
“You look… cute,” Rio blurted out, the word escaping before he could filter it. “And cozy,” he added quickly, trying to cover the awkwardness of the compliment.
Elaine’s face lit up at the word “cute,” a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Cute?” she echoed, a soft laugh escaping her.
“Yeah, I bet you hear that a lot from your stream audience though,” Rio mumbled, turning away to hide his embarrassment. He busied himself with his things, trying to downplay the compliment. “Anyway, wearing black makes sense. The infected probably have poor eyesight in the dark, so it’s practical.”
Elaine’s smile softened. “It’s different hearing it from you,” she said quietly, looking away as a blush crept into her cheeks.
Rio, feeling the tension ease slightly, noticed her long black hair cascading down her back. “You should probably tuck your hair into the hoodie,” he suggested.
Elaine frowned, confused. “Why?”
“The infected will grab anything they can. If they catch your hair while we’re running, it could be dangerous,” Rio explained, his tone serious.
The thought sent a shiver down Elaine’s spine, and she quickly followed his advice, tucking her hair into her hoodie until it fluffed out slightly at the back. “How about now?” she asked, adjusting the fabric around her neck.
“Better,” Rio nodded, grabbing his backpack from the chair.
...
Elaine’s hand absentmindedly brushed against her glasses, and suddenly she remembered the case. “Wait, I forgot something,” she said, dashing back to her bedroom.
"I knew it." Rio said, remembering his mom who often forget to bring things when she's about to go out.
She returned moments later, eyeglass case in hand, and noticed Rio’s bloody kitchen knife lying on the floor. She picked it up as well, figuring returning it to him might be for the best.
Meanwhile, Rio was in the kitchen, filling his tumbler with water from the refrigerator pitcher. “Do you have a tumbler? You should bring one. We’ll need it,” he suggested without looking up.
“I don’t have one,” Elaine admitted, her voice tinged with regret. “I rarely go outside, so I never thought I’d need one. I mostly use cups at home.”
Rio paused, then placed the filled tumbler into his backpack’s side pocket. “Looks like we’ll have to share then,” he said with a small, reassuring smile.
As they stood there, readying themselves for what was to come, Elaine took the chance to return something. “Oh, Rio, you left this in my room,” she said, handing him his weapon. “Here’s your knife.”
Rio took the bloody kitchen knife from her, his lips curling into a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks,” he said, holding the knife as if it were a lifeline. Then, a thought struck him. “That reminds me, you’re going to need a weapon too. Something to protect yourself.”
Elaine’s eyes darted around the kitchen, searching for anything that could serve as a weapon. But she rarely cooked, relying mostly on ready-to-eat meals, so there wasn’t much to choose from. Her gaze landed on a box cutter lying on the counter, the only sharp object she could find.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Will this do?” she asked, holding up the box cutter, her expression uncertain.
Rio looked at the box cutter and nodded. “Yeah, anything sharp will do. Just as long as it’s not a hair dryer,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
Elaine couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in the room easing just a bit. Despite the fear gnawing at her insides, Rio’s humor gave her a small boost of confidence.
----------------------------------------
Rio stood silently by the apartment’s front door, his hand resting on the doorknob. The weight of what lay beyond it pressed heavily on his chest, a gnawing fear he couldn’t shake. He had already faced the horrors of the infected once, and the thought of plunging back into that nightmare was enough to make his heart race. But he knew there was no choice—he had to get to the quarantine zone, and this time, he wouldn’t be alone.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice soft but steady, turning to look at Elaine.
Elaine took a deep breath, her steps hesitant as she approached the door. She couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes, but she nodded, trying to muster up some courage. “I’m a little scared,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Rio gave her a reassuring look, wanting to ease her fears. “It’s okay. I won’t leave you behind. I promised you that before, and I mean it.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “But before we go out there, there are some rules we need to follow. First, we run, hide, and climb. We don’t fight the infected unless we have no other choice. Second, you stay close to me—all the time. If you see something dangerous or spot an infected, call out. I’ll do the same. Third, if you need to rest, tell me right away so we can find a safe place. And if you need anything or if something’s wrong, don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll make use of whatever we find, like that bottle of soda we shared. Bottom line—we look out for each other. Are we clear?”
Elaine nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the tension. “Understood, party leader,” she said, her tone light, trying to inject some humor into the gravity of the situation.
Rio’s expression softened, though his eyes remained serious. “This isn’t a game, Elaine,” he reminded her gently, wanting to make sure she understood the danger. “It’s not going to be easy out there.”
Elaine’s smile faltered, and she laughed nervously. “I know, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to cope with this… uneasy feeling.”
Rio gave a small nod, understanding all too well. “I get it. I feel the same way.”
...
"I know this is a little bit too late to ask, but you never really said where you plan to go." Elaine brought up what their destination will be.
"Yes, you're right, I've never told you where we'd go." Rio scratched his head.
"I heard the quarantine zone is in North Luzon Expressway - E1? Though, I've never been there before, it sounds far from here. It could be impossible that we'll reach it in one day."
"Actually, I got our route in the offline map. We'll get there in approximately in four hours by foot. Considering the heavy traffic, the infected, and needed rest, it'll probably take longer than that." Rio rustle, getting his phone from his backpack. He turned on his phone and pressed the map app, showing the route in the map to Elaine.
Elaine leaned to analyze the map.
"Our next stop is Marikina City. We'll find a resting place there and then continue to the next city, that is Quezon." He zoomed in the picture,
"You're really came prepared, you even thought of downloading the map." Elaine was amazed, thinking evacuating with someone handful as him might not turn bad after all. "Hang on, let me do that as well... Home to NLEX - E1... " she brought her phone and started downloading the same route of the offline map.
"Knowing where to go is the first step in evacuating. Travelling outside without knowing where to go is a death wish." Rio kept back the phone in his backpack.
...
With the plan in place, Rio turned to Elaine, a determined look in his eyes. “Ready?” he asked, his hand resting on the doorknob, poised to turn it. He glanced back at her, waiting for her response.
Elaine took a deep breath, trying to steady the nervous flutter in her chest. The enormity of what they were about to do weighed heavily on her, but she nodded, her resolve hardening. “Ready,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear lurking beneath the surface.
Rio nodded in return, a quiet understanding passing between them. They were about to step into a world that had changed beyond recognition, a world teeming with danger and uncertainty. But they had each other, and that was something to hold onto.
With one last look at Elaine, Rio turned the doorknob, opening the door to whatever lay ahead. Together, they stepped out into the unknown, their hearts beating in unison, ready to face whatever horrors awaited them on the road to the quarantine zone.
Rio carefully opened the door, the creak of the hinges barely audible over the distant sounds of chaos outside. The moment he stepped out of the apartment, gripping the kitchen knife tightly in his hand, the reality of the situation hit him with full force. Elaine followed closely, clutching the box cutter, her breath shallow and quick.
As they stepped into the hallway, the night air greeted them—cold yet strangely warm, carrying the unmistakable scent of smoke and fear. The sounds of the outbreak grew louder, the distant cries and moans of the infected now terrifyingly clear. The second-floor hallway of the apartment building felt like a fragile barrier between them and the horrors outside, but that barrier was quickly fading.
They descended the stairs cautiously, every creak underfoot feeling like a warning. When they reached the apartment’s gate, Rio pushed it open, revealing a scene of panic and desperation. The street outside was flooded with people, all of them evacuees with backpacks, pushing and shoving in a frenzied attempt to escape.
“Rio…” Elaine whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to the sleeve of his windbreaker, her eyes wide with fear.
“Stay close,” Rio instructed, his voice steady despite the turmoil around them. He could feel her fear, but he knew he had to keep his own emotions in check.
They joined the flow of evacuees, running down Everlasting Street. The chaos was overwhelming—people were everywhere, their faces masks of terror as they fled in every direction. Rio’s eyes darted around, searching for a safe haven, a place they could use to navigate the neighborhood from above. He knew the streets were dangerous, and getting to higher ground was their best chance of survival.
The street was filled with the noise of panicked footsteps and desperate cries. A group of evacuees at the corner had resorted to brutal measures, beating infected people to death with makeshift weapons. The sound of metal and wood smashing into flesh echoed in the night, the infected’s agonized screams cutting through the air before they were silenced by a final, sickening blow. Blood pooled on the asphalt, glistening under the dim streetlights, painting a gruesome picture of survival at any cost.
Elaine’s heart pounded in her chest, the horrific scene around them almost too much to bear. But with Rio by her side, she felt a small measure of safety. He moved with purpose, scanning the street with a calm, calculating gaze, even though she knew he was just as anxious as she was. His composure gave her something to hold onto, a fragile lifeline in the midst of chaos.
Suddenly, Rio stopped, his eyes locking onto a two-story house in the distance. The house had a balcony, and the neighboring rooftops looked close enough to serve as a makeshift path—an elevated escape route away from the madness on the ground.
“You see that two-story house with the balcony?” Rio asked, his voice urgent but steady as his eyes locked onto their potential escape route.
“H—Huh? Where?” Elaine stammered, her vision slightly blurry as she fumbled to adjust her glasses, the chaos around them making it hard to focus.
“That one,” Rio said, pointing directly at the house. His voice carried a determined edge. “That’s our best shot. We can climb up to the roof and move from there. It’s safer than staying on the street.”
Elaine squinted, finally spotting the house Rio was talking about. “Oh!” she exclaimed, her heart racing as the reality of their situation sank in. “We’re going to break in?”
“Let’s go,” Rio said, not waiting for further discussion. He grabbed Elaine’s arm, his grip firm but reassuring, and began to run toward the house. The urgency in his movements left no room for hesitation.