Fourth Run

That morning, it was an ordinary morning, or at least the last ordinary morning that he could think of. William stood behind the counter while waiting for the customer. He’s been a Happy Convenience Store employee, and if he isn’t a student, he should already be a regular employee or even higher than that. However, William rejected them a few times.

When the morning started, he didn’t even feel weird. Although there’s a lot of news about assault right now, he wouldn’t have thought that things would go out of control and lead to what's happening right now. William is shocked, and it was hard for him to process. His fingers were just dancing across the cash register as the customers paid for their purchases.

However, right now, a chaotic scene is happening just outside the store.

“What in the world…” Liam mumbled to himself.

His eyes widen as his heart continues to pound faster, as if he just finished running. Outside the store, a group of people biting each other seems unnatural, and their movements—the movements of the people biting others—feel erratic. This made him feel more panicked, as he felt that things that happened right now were really out of control.

“Lucas! What do you think you’re doing?” Liam called out to the store manager, who was about to go out. “Get the hell over here!” he added.

Lucas, a man with graying hair, looked worried as he hurriedly went to Liam’s side. “What’s going on? Why is it happening? My wife, my kid… Liam, kid, I really need to go home.” His voice was full of horror, panic, and worries.

He is already in his thirties, but due to his living condition, he was married late. Right now, he and his wife have only been married for three years and were bestowed by the gods with a beautiful little girl who is just two years old.

Liam tried not to panic; he tried to get himself as calm as possible. He patted the manager’s shoulder as he said, “Your wife and daughter aren’t going out that much, right? You should go and call them right now. They must be at home, and if they are, you can warn them not to open their door no matter what happens, okay?” Looking into his manager’s eyes, Liam knew that he did not convince his manager; thus, he added, “Look.” He pointed his finger outside as his voice started to tremble with shock and fear. “Something is not right with these people. Those people… they are biting each other. If you go out, who knows who will bite you? So, for now, let’s stay here first.”

Liam took a deep breath. He tried to calm down, but was unable to do so. After all, this kind of thing that is happening right now isn’t just right. It was like he was making a move.

Movie…

That’s right! If these things are really real, then those things that are biting people are all zombies!

What the fuck, zombies!

Liam’s eyes widened as he processed what he just thought. He took a glance outside the store again and saw the things that happened outside. It was giving him surreal feelings.

“We need to lock up,” the manager said. “And we need to check on our families,” he added. His voice was still full of fear and determination.

He happened to come across his wife in his thirties, and he had a child in his thirties. For him, this kind of thing is nothing. He wanted his wife and daughter to be safe, even if he wasn’t that sure of himself.

Nodding in agreement, Liam grabbed the keys on the counter and headed to the store’s entrance. His heart was pounding, but luckily, the metal-like gate of the store is easy to take down, and with the help of the manager, even though they managed to attract the attention of those zombies, they completely covered up the entrance of the stall. Unless these zombies know how to bang themselves at the glass, they won't be able to enter the store.

However, both Liam and Manager Lucas did not even feel a little ease. Thus, they took down the other blindfold of the store, and this made the people outside unable to see what’s inside. The distant wails and growls, mixed with the unyielding screams of women and men, send shivers down their spines.

They were lucky that there weren't any other people inside the store when this happened. It saves them time. Also, even if they wanted to save some, they couldn’t. Who knows if they got bitten or scratched already? With them being highly alert, the two of them feel much more safe. After all, they knew each other.

“Call your family, Liam. Make sure they’re safe. I’ll call mine as well. I just hope my wife and my daughter did not go shopping today,” Lucas instructed, making a deep frown in his forehead.

With this kind of understanding, Liam nodded his head and grabbed his phone from his back. They both went to the authorized personnel room and called their families. As Liam dialed his older sister's number, his hands were trembling and his heart was pounding. He keeps on repeating in his mind that his sisters and brother are all okay. He couldn’t help but shake and tremble in worry as he gripped his phone tightly. His heart couldn’t feel at ease if he didn’t hear their voice or either one of them.

However, Liam was grabbed by reality. None of his siblings answered his call. Every one of them is in a busy mood.

“What the fuck… why don’t you guys answer my call? "He cursed, trying to stop his hand from trembling. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he repeatedly said.

Liam looked back and saw his manager jump and say, “Shina!” he exclaimed. Liam felt at ease a little. At least his manager was able to contact his wife. Right now, his manager is telling his wife about the things that happened outside the store and has warned him not to go outside. He told his wife that she should wait for him. He'll go and look for her.

Liam took his phone again, and his finger started to tap his siblings numbers. He tapped anxiously and waited for his sisters or his brother’s voice on the other end of the line. His heart grew even more anxious as he heard the sounds of chaos outside getting more and more intense. Since they already took down the blindfolds of the whole glass of the store, they couldn’t see what’s happening outside. Thus, it made him feel more worried.

“Come on, guys, pick up,” he muttered under his breath.

He bit his lips as he listened to the ringtone in his phone in one of his ears and listened to the conversation with his manager and his wife.

Liam’s call went directly to the voicemail once more. With that, a wave of anxiety crashed him over. He didn’t know what to do, and right one after another, he tried calling his other sister and then his brother many times, but none of the calls went through, and none of them were answered.

He started to tear up. He didn’t know what to do if something happened to his brother and sisters. They’ve been each other’s strength and pillar ever since their parents died; he has always been close with them, and he treasures them so much. But on the call he made, no one answered. It made him want to go out and find them. If it weren’t for the growl they heard outside, he'd run as fast as he could.

“No one’s picking up,” he said, full of fear and frustration, which betrayed his calm demeanor.

Lucas, who had just finished giving his wife, Shira, a warning and some advice, turned to Liam and heard what he said. “Maybe they’re just busy, or if this thing happening outside reaches them, maybe they’re already safe.”

Even though his manager’s words may seem to convince them, for Liam, as long as he does not hear his siblings voices, he will not be able to feel at ease.

The doubts and worries in his heart almost overwhelmed him, but gladly, he didn’t run outside. He took a deep breath, even though he felt depressed.

Alright, he’ll call them non-stop. Maybe they’ll receive how many missed calls he made and give his call back. This means nothing to Liam. For him, his family is important.