After I was brought to safety, I glanced at the large number of people crowded inside, weeping and terrified by the tragic event that had affected us. Mr. Barry walked over and asked me with concern expressed on his face.
"You think you'll be okay, kid?"
I nodded, but deep down, I was far from okay. In less than an hour, in my twenty-three years of living on this earth, I had seen three deaths unfold before my eyes.
Did that really just happen?
I kept asking myself as I sat with my knees hugging my chest, surrounded by the noise of people grieving. That was when a question popped into my head. How would I possibly survive this?
I never considered myself a fighter or a leader. Such chaotic scenes were something I had only encountered in books, not in real life.
"Quick, get those people inside before those monsters eat them!"
"Dear Lord, I have never seen anything like this!"
"My wife and child are stranded out there!"
"Mommy, are we going to die?"
These were the voices I heard all around me. As the gravity of my situation sunk in, I felt helpless, alone, and afraid. That's when my thoughts turned to my family—my mom, my big brother Nino, and the rest of our big family.
The thought of something terrible happening to them was suffocating.
I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lost them! Losing my dad was enough, but never again did I want to go through that same pain!
Unlike my mom, my faith wasn't as strong. But for once more in my life, not since I lost my father, I clasped my hands in prayer, hoping for whoever heard me to deliver this wish of mine.
Please protect my family!
After I said this prayer, my eyes swept across the chaotic scene at the front door as men and women ushered people inside the building to safety.
That was when I spotted two familiar faces, Kimberly and Summer; both were torn up and sobbing as they entered.
Suddenly, an alarm blared, casting a red hue across the room and triggering a wave of panic.
A large red screen materialized in front of us.
{200/200 Safe Zone has reached maximum security. Access to entry is denied.}
The doors started to lock themselves as people rushed to get inside before they were locked outside.
"Wait!! Please let me inside!" I heard a voice I recognized shouting.
Curious, I walked over to the doors and peered outside. There, my boss, his round belly heaving, struggled to catch his breath, tears streaming down his face. His hand reached out toward the doors, seeking refuge.
As he reached for the handle, a sense of unease tightened its grip on him. The mob of desperate and angry people surrounded him, and their frantic attempts to pry the door open were met with no success.
Just then, a dark shadow loomed over them. It was the scary bird creature I had encountered before, but this time, it was accompanied by others of its kind.
I watched in horror as my boss's face contorted in terror, his nose running and snot dripping down, mirroring the expressions of the people around him. They all let out a scream before a bloodbath painted the doors.
The people inside cried or turned their heads at the gruesome sight, but I was too late. I watched one of those bird beasts chop my boss's head and rip it right off.
The world was ending.
A horde of man-eating beasts had descended upon us. I witnessed four gruesome deaths now. A flood of emotions and thoughts overwhelmed me as I felt myself about to fall into a panic attack.
Unable to cope, I decided to shut it all out. Collapsing onto the floor, I sought solace in the welcome embrace of darkness, finding it more comforting than the torment awaiting me outside.
—
Before anyone knew it, three weeks had passed since the apocalypse started.
Never before have I desired anything more than I did when my father passed away, to have the opportunity to turn back the hands of time and retract my words about wanting a grand adventure. I would do anything to return to my dull and predictable life.
The shelter wasn't a large building, which was why it was undergoing renovation to add more rooms. The place was mostly bare of furniture, and everyone was crowded into one large room with sleeping bags that were luckily found in the storage room and spread across the floor.
At least two hundred people were cramped inside this one big room, so of course, the atmosphere was suffocating. Everyone seemed to be on edge, their moods a mixture of fear, grief, and hopelessness.
Some canned food was still stored in the pantry, and vending machines were in one of the lounge rooms, which held off the hunger. However, after three weeks, the food supply finally began to expire, meaning people were starting to go hungry.
A putrid smell lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the dire situation. With water scarce, taking a proper shower had become a luxury of the past. People now resorted to hurried wash-ups in the bathroom sinks, but even that proved chaotic as everyone jostled for a turn.
"I'm telling you, we can't stay locked up here forever! The food in this place is running short. We are barely surviving!" shouted Mr. Barry, banging his fist against the table.
About a handful of us were crammed inside one of the unoccupied rooms. Since the apocalypse started, Mr. Barry has helped out many people around here, earning their respect and gratitude.
"Ha! And what do you suggest? That we go out in that hell hole and search for food?"
The one speaking with a stick up his ass was a man named Roger. Before the world descended into chaos, it was evident that Roger was a businessman. His tailored and once fancy suit, which showed signs of wear and tear, was proof of this theory.
Roger appeared to be middle-aged and was fairly attractive, but his constant sneering and habit of looking down on others made it difficult to appreciate his appearance. It was as if he believed he was not in the same situation as the rest of us.
Our three hand-picked leaders—Mr. Barry, James, and Roger—were the main people who took charge of things around here. James, a former hardware store clerk, was always friendly and kind to everyone.
The same couldn't be said for Roger. He was constantly snapping at other people and voicing his crazy beliefs that this whole thing was just a government experiment gone wrong.
He had repeatedly expressed his frustration about having to share food, emphasizing that if people wanted to eat, they should find a way to contribute or compensate. But how could anyone do that when we were stuck in the middle of an apocalypse?
Then, when talk of scavenging outside for food had come up once before, this twisted man suggested that women and children go out first—saying how the weakest should sacrifice themselves for the strong. Complete BS!
Yet, believe it or not, despite his twisted way of thinking, some believed in the nonsense he sprouted.
"How will we survive out there? None of us can fight those lurking monsters!" voiced one of the men.
"H-he's right! What can we do against those horrible monsters? Staying in here is what's kept us safe this whole time," said Summer, who felt reluctant at the idea of venturing outdoors while Kimberly attempted to console her. Like me, Mr. Barry selected the two of them to represent our group in this meeting.
While I completely trusted Mr. Barry, that man did have a point. Suppose we travel outside in search of food. Then what? It is impossible. We are weak and cannot fend off those monsters.
"That's not entirely true," Mr. Barry said as I pointed my eyes at him.
His face was serious. I stared at him, confused. The entire room watched in anticipation as his hand slowly reached into his pocket, and after a moment of suspense, he pulled out a familiar handheld device.
I was taken aback as the screen suddenly illuminated, casting a soft glow across his face.
Curious, I observed as he tapped his fingers purposefully against the screen.
A moment of silence passed before I was startled by the abrupt sight of a large ax weapon that materialized in Mr. Barry's hand.
I was utterly stunned by the sudden appearance of this weapon that seemed to manifest out of nowhere. Looking around the room, I knew I wasn't the only one with questions.
"There's a way we can survive," Mr. Barry declared with a piercing gaze.