CHAPTER 08 : AT THE END OF THE ROAD
1163 Words
They altogether searched for the stream they were talking about and Roes was right, they easily found the small watercourse of the stream and immediately tracked of where's the water coming from. It was only a matter of miles when they finally discovered the rocky area of the woods, the main body of the stream was enclosed in a small place at the center and fresh water was splashing down from it.
They all beamed in delight as they finally saw the water.
"All my life... I have never felt this unmeasurable delight!" Jin exclaimed running down towards the stream
The others followed calmly and found their own spot to drink. The water was very clear and cool and didn't hesitated to drink all the way, scooping the water with their bare hands and repeating the gesture for how many times until they've drunk enough.
"The wood was not bad enough if I must say, there's no dangerous wild animals as the rumored say." Mila said as she stood up
"... except for the infected."
Holshire was a respected but feared nature sanctuary around the region. It was infamous for its majestic wood that stretched out in each cardinal direction, and also for its mysterious beasts and hideous animals lurking in the deepest corner. Several deaths of hunters and tourists was confirmed but majority was still uncovered because they still haven't recovered the bodies inside this wood.
Some even said that animals aren't the only ones who's living inside this wood.
"What do you think will happen after we reached the gate? Will they quarantine us?" Jin asked as he splash some water on his face.
"Or more accurately, where are they taking us? Is there even a safe place outside? Is the Zombie apocalypse the real deal? I don't even know what happened to my family." Mila asked, expecting no answer as the others are also worried and for now, looks for their own safety.
"There are several circulating news in the academy in these recent week about the break of cases on different places in our country. Majority didn't believed and now..." Troy contemplated.
"Can it be stopped?" she asked
Troy stared back at her and pointed out the black box containing the antidote, "In the very least, we have that."
"Hey what if someone got infected among us? Will we use it?" Jin jokingly started
"Yes and if you were the one, we'll directly stab it on your head, straight down the brain." Mila retorted
"You're quite vulgar aren't ya Mila!" Jin defended back
They all lowly laughed. Happy times like this was rare, they were not friends before this. They were just classmates and strangers, no tight bond and just individuals having their own life. But things do happen, and such meetings were unpleasant.
"We should hurry up now that we've replenished." Troy suggested
"Aye aye captain!" Jin lively replied
Now that they've lost track on the road, they were directing their direction northwest again, seeking the road because they are not sure of how would things end up if they rely only on instinct.
They're quietly but observing the surrounding as they pass by,
The black box hanging on Roes shoulder were still intact even tough scratches were visible on the outside, it was securely closed without the sign of breaking.
"I can already see the road!" Troy exclaimed
"But let's just follow this track until we reach the gate and we must hurry!"
The wood was darker now that the light had heaved down from the direct sunlight of the sun who's gradually setting down on the west, and they can already feel the resident fog crawling in their feet, this place was high enough and the temperature drops down when the sun sets.
They were running hastily following the roads lead. The wind gushed down against their numbing cheeks and they no longer care for their loud steps, it's already evident from their current condition that they must prioritize to quickly reach the gate.
The first gate was the primary entrance towards the academy and to the woods.
But all of a sudden, an infected appeared on their left side and plunged towards Jin. They all stopped wide eyed.
The infected and Jin both fell down on the ground, Jin managed to defense himself not being bitten by pointing his elbow against it's upper neck so that it can't direct it's mouth on him, it was growling in hunger.
Troy gripped his sickle and was ready to cut it but Roes was faster, she took the rake and brutally slashed its head with it's sharp prongs. Black with a mix of red, who's most likely the human blood, gushed out from it, showering Jin from the ground.
She heavily exhaled as the body of the infected fell down and Jin was stucked in the ground from the shock, disgusting odors from the blood were coming together on his nose and some part of the flesh were stuck on his clothes.
"W-We need to hurry." Mila finally reminded, bracing herself telling that this would be something normal from now on.
Troy helped Jin who was still disgusted to the core "You okay?" he asked
Jin blankly stared at him and replied, "I thought I'm gonna die." he said
Troy just smiled and patted him. "Let's go. And we got to get away a little further, some infected must have been reached this part."
Now for what just happened, they ran without making much noise but their speed slow down. They can't risk any unnoticed danger anymore.
They are all eager to win the race of survival but Jin, compared from earlier was slowing down ten times from his speed before. He was clenching his chest and had the hard time breathing. The three ahead didn't noticed this changes in him.
"Wait..." he stopped and chased his breath, Roes who was nearest to him heard his incoherent low voice and also stopped having the two ahead ran without noticing them.
Roes got worried because Jin looked like he's in pain.
"Are you okay? Jin?" Roes awkwardly asked as she approached, "...are you out of breath? Should we rest for a bit?" she was not good at approaching people and always let Mila do the work but she's worried if Jin has asthma as observed on his intense breathing and the way he clench his chest.
Roes looked back but the two were already far, still haven't noticed that they were no longer behind them.
"Jin. We should sit a bit to have your breathing normalize." Roes placed her hands on the shoulders of Jin to guide him in sitting and in that process, Jin's intense breathing stopped as if he has shut down.
Roes got nervous, "H-Hey Jin?"
The guy was rooted in the spot and is not responding.
Roes felt her head ache again.
"J-Jin?"
In that call, Jin suddenly raised it's head in a flash.
....
- Writer
