"Kid, we've got to keep moving," Isko urged, handing Elaine her bag of purchased goods and retrieving her dropped phone. She stood still, lost in her thoughts. Taking charge, Isko held onto the paper bag and kept her phone, planning to return it once they were out of danger.
"Kid!" he shouted, shaking Elaine's shoulder as panicked people ran past them in the mall. The tinnitus in her ears gradually subsided, her hearing transitioning from a high-pitched ringing to muffled sounds until it became normal.
Elaine gasped, snapping out of her shell-shocked state. "I—I shot him. I just killed a man. Am I going to get arrested?" she stammered, fumbling with her words.
Before Isko could respond, he noticed sick people closing in on them with violent intent. "We have no time for this," he said, grabbing Elaine's arm and forcing her to run.
Isko pulled Elaine along as they ran to the basement floor of the mall, joining the other fleeing people while the sick relentlessly chased them. He deemed the elevator too risky, fearing they might get trapped with an sick person, and the escalator was crowded with panicked mall-goers. Instead, they took the stairs.
They descended the stairs, lungs burning with each step, until they reached the basement floor where the exit opened into the mall's parking lot. Every breath was heavy with uncertainty, unsure if the next person they encountered would be sick or not.
In the confined space of the elevator, chaos erupted unexpectedly. A person, bitten and stricken with convulsions, collapsed amidst panicked passengers. In a frenzied blur, he lashed out, biting another unsuspecting traveler and spewing saliva into their mouth. What followed was a harrowing scene of desperation and survival. People, pressed together in the tight quarters, fought desperately to fend off the sick, their screams muffled by the suffocating air. Blood mixed with sweat as blows landed, bodies slammed against walls, and limbs thrashed in a primal struggle for life. It was a grim tableau of close-quarter combat where health swiftly gave way to sickness, and hope faltered in the absence of escape.
At the escalator, chaos ensued as the sick caught up with the fleeing crowd. People stumbled and fell, some tumbling down from higher steps, crashing to the ground of the lower floors. Limbs twisted, joints dislocated, bones snapped, and skulls collided with brutal impact. It was a scene of desperate flight turned into a harrowing descent of pain and injury.
When the elevator reached the basement floor, the doors opened to release the now-sick passengers, who immediately attacked the fleeing shoppers.
Meanwhile, Isko and Elaine ran to the parking lot area where people were rushing to get into their vehicles. Some didn't make it in time, and the sick caught up with them, ganging up on the healthy and biting them, their mouths overflowing with saliva.
The enclosed space of the parking lot was filled with the sounds of vehicle alarms going off, screams, and frantic footsteps.
"Help!"
A sick woman was seen dragging a man out of the driver’s seat of a car that had crashed into a post. She pulled his leg, causing his head to smack onto the floor and end up between the opening of the car door. The woman slammed the door repeatedly, concussing the man with each crushing blow. She then pulled his arm backward while his head remained stuck, biting him and passing the disease to him.
"Where are we going?" Elaine asked as they ran through the parking lot.
As they approached his Kawasaki Barako II motorcycle in the parking area, Isko declared decisively, "We're getting out of here." He swiftly hanged Elaine's bag of purchased items on the handlebars, fumbling briefly for his key, and inserting it in the ignition. "Wear this." Isko passed his helmet to Elaine.
Elaine put on the helmet as Isko released the stand and wheeled the motorcycle onto the parking lot road. He jumped on and tried to start it, stepping on the engine starter repeatedly, but the cold engine refused to turn over.
A sick person noticed them from a distance.
"Sir, we gotta hurry!" Elaine panicked as she saw the sick person approaching.
"Why won't you just start? For the love of—" Isko muttered, kicking the starter hard once more. Finally, the engine roared to life.
"Kid, hop on!" Isko revved the engine to heat it and maintain momentum.
As the sick person drew closer, Elaine jumped onto the back of the motorcycle at the last minute, causing the sick person to dive and miss, ending up on the floor. The sick person hissed in frustration as he watched them prepare to leave.
Isko held the clutch, shifted into first gear, and slowly released the clutch, gaining speed and riding away from the chaos. The sick person, standing back up, chased after them but quickly lost ground as the motorcycle sped towards the exit of the parking lot.
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Driving along Marcos Highway on the motorcycle, away from the mall, felt like a complete calm after all the commotion. The gust of air hit Isko and Elaine’s faces as they rode. The sun had already set, and dusk was settling in.
In the city of Marikina, they passed through Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue. The disease hadn’t escalated much there and was still on a small scale, making for a relatively peaceful ride. However, they occasionally encountered police checkpoints and places facing the disease emergency.
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"They were all turning sick back in the mall. It’s just like what happened to the department store clerk," Elaine started. "After losing consciousness, they became violent after being bitten by the sick or swallowing their saliva."
"I have no idea either—it’s like rabies but worse," Isko responded, comparing the spreading disease to rabies. "There was a student who mentioned a disease spreading lately. I didn’t know it was this severe."
"I never heard about it at all," Elaine said. "I was playing video games and streaming in my apartment before I came to the mall. I rarely watch the news."
"I tried listening to the radio, but there was no news about the spreading disease—none at all," Isko said in disappointment. "Then out of nowhere, things turned out like this."
"Do you think it will get worse and spread to more people in the city?" Elaine asked.
"Yes," Isko agreed.
"I hope the people at the mall get out safely," Elaine said, now that they had escaped.
Isko fell silent, feeling guilty for being unable to fulfill his duty as a security guard—securing the safety of every person in the mall.
"Hey, kid. Thanks for saving me back there," Isko said with a mixture of relief and gratitude, his voice slightly strained from the day's events.
Elaine remained silent, her mind still replaying the chaotic scenes from the mall. The rush of adrenaline had subsided, leaving a hollow feeling in her chest.
"If you hadn't done that, I might be one of those sick people already," Isko continued, trying to console her. "Don't dwell on it too much. Panganiban... I did what I could to help him, but the sickness was too far gone. He wasn't just bitten; he contracted the disease from the department store clerk and... turned violent."
Elaine nodded slightly, her thoughts racing with the memory of pulling the trigger and the consequences that followed. "But they're still people," she murmured, more to herself than to Isko. "I was terrified... the sick, attacking others, chasing them down... I couldn't just stand by."
Isko understood her turmoil. "I don't blame you," he said softly. "It's a situation none of us expected. I was afraid, too—afraid of failing to protect everyone and losing my job."
As they rode along Marcos Highway, the cool evening air enveloped them, offering a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere they had left behind. The city lights began to flicker on, casting a gentle glow over the road ahead.
"Where do you live? I'll drop you off," Isko offered, his voice breaking the silence.
Elaine hesitated for a moment before replying, "Do you know Balanti Elementary School? I live in an apartment near there, on Everlasting Street."
Isko nodded thoughtfully. "Balanti, in the barangay San Isidro at Cainta Annex, along Sumulong Highway to Katipunan Street, right?"
"Yes, exactly," Elaine confirmed.
"I know the area well. I used to drive a tricycle around here," Isko said with a hint of nostalgia. "In fact, I live in the same barangay."
Elaine managed a small smile, surprised by the connection. "Really? That's... comforting to know," she admitted quietly. "I didn't realize we were neighbors."
Isko guided the motorcycle smoothly through the familiar streets, the hum of the engine a reassuring presence. "That's where I'm headed," he said, his voice steadier now. "I live on Macopa Street, near the creek. Have you been there?"
Elaine shook her head slightly. "Not really... I don't usually venture far from my apartment," she confessed, feeling a pang of embarrassment.
As they continued their journey, the lights of the city seemed to embrace them, offering a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos that had unfolded. Each passing moment brought them closer to safety, their shared silence filled with unspoken understanding and the quiet reassurance of companionship in uncertain times.
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Arriving in front of an apartment building on Balanti's Everlasting Street, Elaine dismounted from the motorcycle, her legs still trembling with fear. Isko took the paper bag off the handlebar and returned Elaine’s phone to her, its cracked screen a stark reminder of the chaos at the mall.
"You dropped these earlier," Isko said gently.
"Thank you," Elaine replied softly, noting the damage to her phone as she keep it in her pockets and retrieving the bag of purchased goods. "Here's your helmet as well." she took off the helmet of her head and returned it to Isko.
"Judging by what happened back at the mall, the disease is spreading fast. Things could get a lot worse. It's better if you pack your things," Isko suggested. "I'll do the same."
"I will," Elaine agreed quietly.
"You have a computer in your room, right?" Isko asked abruptly, taking out his cellphone.
"Yes, I do. Why do you ask?" Elaine inquired, curious.
"Great. Here’s my number," Isko said, showing his phone screen to Elaine. "I want you to message me if you find anything more about this disease or the situation online. We don’t have a television at home, so I’m counting on you—if you discover any information, please send it to me."
"Sure," Elaine replied, saving Isko's number in her contacts. She quickly sent him a message so he could save her number in return.
"Thank you. As for me, I’ll tune in to the radio," Isko said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead in relief. "I need to check on my family. I’ve been worried sick about them even before all this happened. Stay safe out here, kid."
As Isko prepared to leave and put on his helmet, he hesitated and looked back. "Hey, kid. I didn’t catch your name—what was it again?"
"Elaine," she introduced herself.
"Thank you again for saving me, Elaine. Because of you, I have a chance to see my family," Isko nodded gratefully before driving his motorcycle back onto the street.
Left alone outside the apartment building, Elaine hurriedly climbed the stairs to her unit. She fumbled for her keys in her pocket, her hands still trembling, and finally unlocked the door.
Inside her apartment, cluttered with used clothing, accumulated trash, and a sink full of dirty dishes, Elaine found solace. Anime, video game, and movie posters adorned the walls, while dusty figurines stood on her computer desk—a chaotic but cherished sanctuary for a messy NEET.
She carefully set down the bag of products she had bought at the mall, then sat on the floor against the door. Removing her glasses, Elaine began to break down, tears streaming down her face as the weight of the day’s events overwhelmed her.
"This is why I never want to go outside," she sobbed softly, wiping her tears away. "Every time I interact with society, something bad always happens."
Covering her ears with her hands, the tinnitus returned, a haunting reminder of the gunshot and the traumatic act she had committed at the mall—the revolver she had picked up, the security guard she had unintentionally killed.