Chapter 4: Distress Call

Wailing screams echoed in the distance, making my heart skip a beat. Shadows seemed to lurk in every corner of the old buildings that lined up the road leading to our rendezvous. The orange hues of the streetlights made it even more eerie, reminding me of the flames and chaos I had to endure earlier.

I ran faster, but this only intensified the cold, crisp air slicing into my face like a thousand tiny daggers. Its pressure whips past through me, freezing my body in its grasp and draining the energy out of me.

A faint sound stopped me from running. I rummaged through my purse. My phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Shae's name. Hope surged through me as I answered the call.

"Shae! Are you okay? Where are you?"

I couldn't understand what she was saying. The volume of her voice was really low and choppy. I also think she couldn't hear me so I moved into a different spot.

"Can you understand me now?" I asked.

"Yes! Yes, oh my Gods!"

She's on a total breakdown right now. I could tell from her frantic voice.

"Where are you?"

"At the Quaint Quarter's restroom, hiding."

Quaint Quarters is an electric vehicle charging station that is almost one kilometer away from here. I might arrive there within ten minutes.

"Are others with you?" I asked.

"No ... we got separated during the riot. How 'bout Trixie? Is she still with you?"

"We got separated too when the explosions happened," I partially lied.

"Jane, I'm worried about them. You're the only one who returned my calls. What if they're already dead? What if they become one of them?"

I didn't know what to say. I didn't think I could tell her the truth - that Trixie's already dead. I can't.

My heart was beating relentlessly. I responded, "We're going to find them safe, just wait for me. I'm almost there. "

After I cut the call, I sat down, stunned. What have I just said?

A buzzing sound came inside from my sling bag again, so I opened it and saw my handkerchief glowing.

Trixie's phone...

I unwrapped the handkerchief from her phone and got overwhelmed with her phone notifications. She received them all at once. Her most recent ones were phone calls and text messages from her parents and sibling.

What was I supposed to do?

My stomach churned and twisted into knots as the phone rang again... It was her brother calling. I just let it ring a few times and ignored it.

The phone goes silent for a while, then notification rings pop up. He texted her ... my whole body went numb.

Kuya Tyler: Pa tried to save Ma.

Kuya Tyler: Ma turned.

Kuya Tyler: And then she bit Pa ...

Kuya Tyler: Trix, they're dead.

With a heavy heart, I rose to my feet and push myself forward. This is not the time to lose hope and courage. I still need to help my other friends and find a way to survive.

* * *

Silence settled over the Quaint Quarters as I approached its area.

I was about to inform Shae that I am already here when I noticed she hadn't even seen my last message yet. I bet her signal's being shitty again. I understand that our telecommunications in the highlands can be downright poor, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna ignore the fact that something's off.

And, have I ever been wrong? No, I was fucking right ... again.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw the human carcass on the ground.

The two corpses welcomed me in the driveway. Dark pools of blood bathe their stiff bodies as it flows through the EV charging pad, a chilling testament to the violence that had unfolded.

My eyes darted towards a lit-up convenience store. I could see traces of blood on the glass door. The blood didn't stop there, as they led me to the restrooms. I stopped in front of a body, lying on the stall wall while a broken bottle was jammed in its head.

This is the same bottle that Britt held earlier. She must have gave it to Shae before everything happened.

The stench of death and decay is enough to make me wanna puke again. I couldn't look at it any further, I just had to look away.

I crept toward the male's restroom. It was empty, and the light was still on. I left and went to the woman's restroom. There's a tainted, bloody sign that says not to open the door, which only added to the horror that I felt. I tried to turn the door knob, but it was locked.

I dialed Shae's number. It rang for a minute until it dropped. I dialed her number again and her ringtone echoed inside the restroom once more. She's still not picking it up.

When I pressed my ear against the door, I heard faint taps. They had no rhythm, but they kept pounding. I uttered her name, clinging to the flickering hope that she might still be alive, but the taps turned into clatters. Instead of her gentle voice, a low muffled groan responded.

It was in that moment that the truth crashed down on me like a tidal wave. Tears streamed down on my face as the reality of the situation engulfed me. There was nothing I could do to save her now.

Because the Shae I knew was already gone. She became one of those ruthless beasts who craves for blood and gore.

# # #

Footnotes:

• EV charging station is like a gas station from the future. EV means Electric Vehicle.

• An electric vehicle must park above the charging pad to regain its power. It is wireless, automatic, environmental friendly, and cost friendly.