As Isko went to the kitchen, he took a water container that had once been a soda bottle and was now repurposed, from the refrigerator. The cool air from the fridge wafted out, mingling with the comforting aromas of their home. He closed the refrigerator door with a soft thud and reached the utensil rack to get himself a small empty noodle plastic cup, pouring some water. The sound of the water filling the cup was soothing, a simple pleasure in the quiet of their kitchen.

"Say, ah," Lydia said playfully as she fed Lucia on the floor. The gentle laughter of their daughter filled the room, a melody of familial contentment.

Isko paused to take in the moment, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. The clink of Lydia's plate as she set it down, the soft gurgles of Lucia, and the rhythmic tick of the kitchen clock all contributed to a serene atmosphere. He took a sip from his cup, savoring the coolness of the water.

Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by a commotion outside their house—running footsteps and the panting voices of their neighbors across the street. The family froze in silence, the peacefulness of their meal abruptly replaced by tension.

"Hey, babe, did you hear that?" Lydia asked, her playful tone replaced by concern as she put down her plate after hearing the noises.

Isko looked at his family, concern etched on his face. He took a glimpse out the window, opening a small gap to see what was happening on the street.

With bloodshot eyes and a salivating mouth, the usually jovial face of Mang Efren, their neighbor who runs a nearby karinderya and has often helped Isko's family in times of need, appeared outside the window. He had shared drinks with Isko and singing karaoke all night. Now, infected with the virus, he screamed loudly when he caught sight of Isko peering through the gap. Isko's heart skipped a beat at the frightening sight.

Mang Efren smacked the window, the thin wooden frame shattering into splinters as he tried to break in.

Lydia panicked and screamed as Mang Efren hurled himself through the shattered window, stumbling briefly before regaining his footing. With aggressive intent, Mang Efren crashed into the house, charging toward Isko. Isko wrestled desperately with Mang Efren, struggling to restrain him in their intense struggle for control.

She tightly gripped Lucia's arm, pulling her closer in fear. Lucia, startled by the loud noises, her parents' frantic reactions, and the menacing presence of Mang Efren, began crying loudly in distress.

"Isko!" Lydia shouted in fear.

"It's Mang Efren, he's infected!" Isko shouted urgently, his voice strained as he struggled against Mang Efren's frenzied attacks. "Lydia, bring Lucia to our room, now!"

As Isko wrestled with Mang Efren, he felt the gravity of the situation sink in. His neighbor hissed, saliva dripping from his mouth. Isko pushed him away with all his strength, causing Mang Efren to lose his balance. Seizing the opportunity, Isko delivered a powerful punch to Mang Efren's face, staggering him further. Despite the guilt of hurting his friend, Isko knew he had to protect his family at all costs.

The heavy blow knocked Mang Efren to the floor, saliva splattering around him. Isko quickly grabbed the frying pan that Lydia had used earlier to cook scrambled eggs. With adrenaline coursing through him, he swung the pan and struck Mang Efren's head with a resounding thud. The impact rendered Mang Efren unconscious, sprawled on the kitchen floor.

"Leave my family alone!" Isko yelled, his voice filled with fury and fear.

After delivering a final blow, Isko dropped the pan, breathing heavily. He stood up and hurried to the bedroom where his family was hiding. His wife, Lydia, and their daughter, Lucia, were huddled in a corner, visibly shaken. Lydia shielded Lucia, using herself as cover.

"Baby, it's okay now," Isko reassured them, embracing them both. He kissed Lucia's forehead as she cried in fear. "It's okay."

"Are you hurt?" Lydia asked anxiously. "Did he—"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I'm fine—I knocked him out cold. But we need to pack up quickly. It's not safe here anymore," Isko said urgently.

Lucia wiped her tears as she saw her father return, and the earlier screams in the house had ceased. In the rush, Isko prepared their belongings: a single duffle bag for essentials, shared between him and Lydia, while Lydia gathered clothes and necessities from the closet. To retrieve the children's belongings from their room, Lydia was hesitant to go into the living room where their infected neighbor lay, so Isko went with her. They left Lucia in the bedroom to shield her from the disturbing sight.

"Lucia, stay here, okay? Mom and Dad are preparing for our little vacation," Lydia reassured her daughter calmly.

"Wow, really? Yay!" Lucia sniffled. "But what about Inggo? Is he coming with us on vacation too?"

"Your big brother will join us later; he's busy with school. For now, it's just the three of us," Lydia reassured Lucia, gently caressing her hair and wiping away her tears before they left.

They exited the bedroom quietly, carefully maneuvering around Mang Efren's unconscious body sprawled in the living room. Isko made his way to his son's room, gathering whatever belongings he could find and packing them into the duffle bag, while Lydia took charge of packing their daughter's essentials. Anna-Marie's adorable carrot backpack, filled with her school necessities, was swiftly emptied. From the closet, they selected crucial items—underwear, tops, bottoms, and jackets. Lydia ensured Anna-Marie's beloved stuffed rabbit was included, believing it would provide comfort during this unsettling time, along with some of her favorite nursery books, writing materials, and art supplies. Despite the looming threat of an outbreak, Lydia remained steadfast in prioritizing her daughter's education.

After gathering what they needed from their children's rooms and meeting back in the living room, Isko asked Lydia, "You got everything you need?"

"Yes," Lydia confirmed.

"Okay, let's get Lucia and leave."

Returning to their bedroom, they found Lucia waiting on the bed. Her eyes brightened as she saw her parents return with packed bags.

"Did you wait long, sweetie?" Lydia asked.

Lucia shook her head.

"I got Bun-Bun for you!" Lydia handed her daughter the stuffed rabbit and helped her into her jacket. "Bun-Bun is coming on vacation with us," she said warmly, smiling at Lucia.

"Bun-Bun!" Lucia hugged the toy tightly.

While Lydia comforted Lucia, Isko fastened his security guard belt around his waist, which held his gun, holster, spare first aid kit, and flashlight—essential gear for their safety. He retrieved an ammunition box from the closet and checked his gun, noting:

He had five bullets remaining in the chamber.

Isko retrieved the spent bullet casing from Elaine's earlier gunshot wound to Irene at the mall. After carefully reloading the chamber from his ammunition box, he secured it back into a small pouch on his belt.

"Lydia, Lucia, let's go," Isko said, holstering his gun and grabbing his motorcycle keys before slinging the duffle bag over his shoulder.

Lydia strapped on Lucia's backpack. "Isko, where are we going?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern and uncertainty.

Hearing his wife's question, Isko realized he didn't have a clear destination in mind, apart from the unknown evacuation centers yet to be announced. Looking at Lucia, a thought struck him. He remembered someone who could potentially offer them temporary refuge.

"I know someone who can help us. The young lady from the mall, she lives nearby in an apartment. She's helped me before. We can trust her, babe," Isko reassured Lydia, hoping to calm her fears.

"Okay, I hope she'll open her doors for our family," Lydia replied earnestly. "I want to properly thank her for saving you, too."

...

"Cover Lucia's eyes," Isko suggested to Lydia as they prepared to leave the bedroom, shielding their daughter from the sight of their unconscious, infected neighbor lying in the living room.

As the family left the bedroom, Isko led the way to the front door, carefully avoiding the unconscious man on the floor. He carried the duffle bag while Lydia carried Lucia, keeping her eyes covered. Feeling the rush of adrenaline as they fled their shattered home, they hurried to the motorcycle. Isko started the engine.

"Come on, babe," Isko urged Lydia to join him on the motorcycle.

Lydia settled Lucia between herself and Isko on the seat.

"All set?" Isko asked, pressing the clutch and preparing to accelerate.

"Yes, babe," Lydia confirmed. "Let's go."

As Isko shifted into gear, the motorcycle roared to life and accelerated. Meanwhile, Mang Efren regained consciousness in the living room. His bloodshot eyes widened, saliva dripping from his mouth as he stumbled outside, desperate to chase them. But it was too late—the family had already vanished into the night.

Isko drove them away from their home on Macopa Street, the cool night air brushing their faces. He navigated towards Elaine's apartment on Everlasting Street, within the same neighborhood of Balanti, determined to find safety for his family. Lucia found some amusement watching their shadows and the passing streetlights as they traveled through the neighborhood streets.