"Where are we, boss?"
Without thinking, I opened my eyes and while my vision was still adjusting, I continued to hear the conversation between kuya and Xavier.
"I honestly don't know," kuya whispered in dismay. My vision cleared, so I sat up straight and massaged my aching neck.
"You're awake. Here drink it. Tsk. You're doing your 7 hours sleeping routine again," kuya commented on my sleep. He also handed me a mineral water and a canned dish. I took it and drank the water first. So I sleeps in 7 hours?
That's my sleep routine everyday to gain some energy and I didn't know that I would still be able to sleep that long since what happened today.
"I thought you know this place already, Kuya," I could hear the disappointment in my voice. It's not that I'm expecting him to immediately memorize every corner of Marikina but he stayed here for how many years. I put the canned food down first, I don't feel like eating.
"I know. But I don't know everything, don't worry lil sis we're not lost yet. This place looks familiar to me," he added.
Then he started driving slowly and looked around.
"I haven't been here yet but this place is also becoming familiar to me," Xavier also said.
I also imitated my two other companions, kuya Erros and Xavier who were now busy looking around.
While the two were sound asleep. Matt who was leaning on the glass of the van and Ali who was now next to Matt and was leaning on his friend's shoulder.
I also didn't think that kuya's face would be this serious and especially Xavier's. Because of Xavier's behavior- based on my observations- I thought I would also find him sound asleep next to his two other friends. But I'm wrong. I don't even know them yet.
"Now I know why it's looks familiar.." kuya whispered softly. We were driving even slower so I was given more opportunity to see what's outside.
The chaotic scenario was expected but you can immediately notice the many guns scattered and.. batons? wait.. I raised my gaze to what was written on the highest wall of the building, before I could even read it, kuya beat me to it and mentioned it.
"Marikina Police Station."
Kuya stopped the car. We became quiet like the silence outside the vehicle we were riding. There was no trace of the creatures we encountered earlier.
"Police station. So can we ask for help here?" Xavier asked innocently.
Xavier is right. The police are the ones who ensure the safety and peace of a place. We could ask them for help but where are they? Where are the police who should be helping those in need? Did they also become zombies? but why is it so quiet--
"That's what you deserve! You pests whatever creatures you are!" we heard from somewhere.
Our three gazes met and we all looked at the figure of a creature who was busy kicking whatever was below him.
I brought my face closer to the windshield and watched him while he was still busy with what he was doing.
Now I have a clear view of him. He's a man based on the shortness of his hair as well as his body. He was very angry and was kicking the zombie at his feet, his clothes and pants were full of blood. His skin color was just average, and what caught my attention the most was his somewhat long chin.
"Is that a zombie?" I heard Ali's voice from behind me who was still a bit hoarse.
I didn't notice that our two companions were also awake and were also looking at the creature who was still busy kicking the poor zombie.
"Stupid! Does a zombie curse huh?" kuya retorted. Here we go again.
"That's enough. Stop fighting for now, you're taking it too seriously ah," Xavier joked at the two. They rolled their eyes at each other before focusing their gaze outside again.
"You fcking son of a btches!" he cursed again and mercilessly kicked what was below him again.
"Why is he cursing so much? It's already dead oh!" Ali stated.
Ali probably also noticed that the creature was no longer moving and it was also disgusting to look at because its skull was about to be seen, its eyes were also somewhat out. I closed my eyes and immediately averted my gaze.
"We're going outside." I looked at kuya when he said that.
"Don't! That one might be a zombie!" Ali stopped us.
"I don't care about your fear, Mister. We need to get out because we will need the weapons that are outside or inside this police station," kuya answered.
Ali became quiet and he probably got kuya's point. We will really need weapons. My bow no longer has arrows, Xavier and Matt seem to be more used to guns. Kuya on the other hand is used to physical combat even without weapons. While Ali? No comment.
"Let's go," kuya said so we went out of the van one by one. I can feel the fear of my companions, even I can feel my knees trembling. I think I prefer seeing the enemies immediately, than now that we have no idea where they are in whatever corner. And what's worst is we don't have any idea or info about this station.
Just as we closed the door a creature wearing a police uniform suddenly attacked. It attacked on our side, so kuya voluntarily approached it and gently pushed me aside and then punched it hard in the face. When it fell to the floor, he quickly hit it with his baseball bat until it completely lost consciousness on the floor of the road.
I noticed the stranger looking at us and he was obviously shocked by what he saw. He was panting and his eyes were widened while currently looking at us.
"It looks like we surprised him,"
Xavier even said while he put his baseball bat on his shoulder and then leaned casually on the car.
But we were more surprised when he quickly ran to our place and it was like he saw a miracle.
"Sirs and Ma'am! Please take me with you. I have no one to ask for help," he pleaded to us and I stepped back in shock when he even kneeled in front of me.
I saw kuya stand up but he ignored the man who was still kneeling in front of me. Erros started to walked like he didn't see anyone but immediately stop when the man in front of me talk again.
"I know the ins and outs of this place!" he shouted loudly to kuya and quickly stood up.
It was like in a blink of an eye that kuya turned to him and approached him a little. While the four of us continued to watch their conversation. It's okay with me if we take him with us but I know kuya, he's a kind person to those who are kind too. And in his looks at the stranger, it's like he has doubts about him. I wonder why?
"Are you bitten?" kuya asked the man like a boss. The man shook his head as if the question only sank in to him now... or not..
"Bitin?.." he asked cluelessly.
"If you were bitten, stupid.." Ali's last word became a whisper so only the first one was understood by the man. I glared at Ali but he just ignored me. The latter nodded and even laughed.
"Ah, bit-ten? Bite? Me bitten? No! Even if I took down ten police, you won't see any scratches on my muscles noh!" he said arrogantly to us. He even raised the dirty sleeve of his t-shirt and was even showing off his skinny muscle so I heard Xavier laugh behind me.
"So your a criminal?" kuya asked him again.
I couldn't figure out what kuya's looks at the man meant. If he was insulting him because even though he knew that he didn't understand english, he was still using that language. Or he's just really used to the environment of his co-office meats so he still carries it even outside their building.
"Kriminal? No uy. I was just mistaken as a criminal. My friends are traitors because while I was sleeping, they suddenly threw the bread they stole from the other market at me! That's why I was imprisoned, then those ugly ones suddenly attacked! It's a good thing we were immediately released by the police. I almost got eaten by that one eh!" he said at length and even pointed to the zombie that he had been kicking since earlier. Based on what he was wearing, I can say that he was a detainee, he was a man and his face was also wrinkled.
"What do you think guys?" kuya turned to us. Xavier and Matt agreed to take the stranger with us but Ali just shook his head.
"He looks bad.." Ali complained.
But because he and kuya were fighting, he just ignored him and just nodded to the man. The latter was happy.
"You will come with us but with one condition. You will show us where we can find the weapons.. and the map.."
I looked at kuya with a frown. Map? There's a map here in this station?
"It's familiar to me like I said earlier. My co-worker who was imprisoned was brought here before. I saw a map of Marikina here that was attached to the wall but I can't remember which part of the station it was," he clarified to us.
So that's explain why. That map could help us in our journey. We don't know anything about Marikina except for kuya, and this is an opportunity to make everything easier, so we can also know what our path will be. It's better to be safe than sorry, right?
"Deal!" the man agreed. Before we could take our path, the man spoke again.
"I'm Drew by the way guys.. and Miss. Don't worry I know where the safe path is so we won't be seen by those drooling ugly ones. We'll enter at the back and not at the front because I'm sure they're still waiting for me there," Drew who introduced himself to us didn't stop talking.
It looks like there will be someone who will beat Xavier and Ali in being talkative and funny. He spoke like there is no threatening danger around us. But I would be more happy if he speak in a lower voice because he might called the attention of the zombies around us. If there is..
Before we entered the backdoor that still had blood, kuya whispered something to me before we completely continued inside.
"I don't trust that guy lil sis. It's better if you stay on our side to secure your safety, okay?" I heard him say before we enter.