Chapter 13: Dreaming you
Static sound of the radio.
"To...all.pl..."
*Bam!*
{News: To all the citizens of Netherville."}
"There it is fixed," Tom said proudly after he slammed the radio.
"Make it louder," I said while crossing both her arms and lean her back on the chair.
Inside the huge building of the plantation, the place where Erin and the others use to sleep before, it now becomes the main office of their group, the Procuratio-Exi.
{News: People suddenly started collapsing and when they awake they don't have pupils, their body motion still irregular, they don't have any sign of basic human communications and they began attacking people. The whole country was put to the national state alarm. All are advised to stay in their home. The government...*static...*plan... rescue...go to ship...*static..."}
Everyone stared at the radio that only producing now a long static sound.
Tom tried to shake and tap it but it doesn't produce any sounds anymore.
"Damn! And it was broken to the most important part." Fred said while rubbing his hair.
"Um. guys, I really don't understand why all of you are so fixated on the radio thing. The internet is still working duh." They all look at Liza who is waving her phone.
"Ah. right." Fred said as he brought out his phone and search everything that is happening.
"Erin, Guys look!" Liza came to my side and soon Tom and Fred also went to see her.
Carlo just stays in his seat. While I stared at Liza's phone.
"Oh no! Someone already won the one billion dollars lottery!" Tom said with a horrified voice.
"Not that idiot! But wait someone already wins?" Liza tried to also look at the pop-up article that Tom saw.
I just roll her eyes.
"Ehem. What are you trying to show us first Liza?" I interrupted their dilly-dally.
"Idiot," Carlo exclaimed which is just ignored by Liza.
"Ah. right. It is about the ship! The government in partnership with the Ino-tech has launched three huge ships at the harbor! And it is well guarded by the military. The government was telling the survivors to head to the harbor."
Before I could open his mouth, Carlo beat her by speaking first.
"We will not go on that ship. It's a trap."
"Huh? Are you nuts, what do you mean by the trap? It has our government and even the military" Liza said.
*kring* I answered her phone.
"Grandpaps! How are you?! I've been calling you...Glad that you're ok...Where are you?... I see...We will go there...Please stay safe..."
"It's grandpaps? How is he?" Fred inquired.
"He's at the harbor and already on board in one of the ships," I said.
"That is not good," Carlo said with his face full of worry and seriousness
" Can you just tell us what's on your head, Carlo? You made things so difficult" It's Fred
"Okay listen, I know it sounds like a conspiracy theory but when we look deep there's something wrong. Yes, this is our government who try their best to save the country but did you ever think that there are no zombies in that place? That's impossible maybe most of them are hiding in the basement and waiting for the night to arise. Look when the ships start to operate they don't have the place to run. Everything around them is water. For sure all people who already in the ships are going to be in danger." Carlo said.
"Sh*t you have the point. If ever that happen for sure the zombies were increasing" One of the men asking this question.
"Hmmm. As of now, we need to observe first and take a lot of information as soon as possible. Liza, can you check when will the ships depart from the harbor?" Liza scrolled her phone.
"Ow sure, based on the internet, they will depart on Saturday Morning. And now is Thursday so we almost have two days to prepare" Liza said while searching on her phone to gain more information.
"Okay good. I think that's enough time. Half of the members of Procuration-exi be prepared. We have the mission that we need to take." Fernando said, who is leaning on the wall.
"Roger that" All of his men saluted at him, and started to adhere to his words.
............................................
I'm on the top balcony of this building. seeing these dancing calm trees and hearing those birds chirping. This place somewhat changes now. Peaceful and quiet. But thinking that the world is now in turmoil. And just where are you Lucas right now? Why did you suddenly disappear during this kind of chaos? And Grandpaps, I hope you're safe too in the ship and hope that Carlo's words mean nothing. My mind and heart are crowded with worry, even sipping this hot coffee in my hand doesn't calm down a bit of it, which usually works before.
*Boom!*
An explosion?
Without any thought, I immediately run as fast as I can. I see some Procuratio-exi members, look shocked and the other people had fear visible in their eyes. The explosion came outside of the gate. There's a huge smoke that spreading.
I made my way out to check things.
"What happened? Ehem." I hear Liza's voice on my back. I cover my nose with my handkerchief, to not inhale any of the dust and smoke.
"Please be calm. We gonna solve this, it's just an explosion there are no zombies here." Fernando met us at the entrance of the gate, he then ordered one of his men to open the gate. He leads the way.
We follow him, along with his ten men following behind us. They're wearing their FR F2 sniper rifle.
As the smoke clear, we saw a smoking car, that hit one of the trees near the gate. Some of Fernando's men already sprinkled the car with a fire extinguisher.
One of his men run in our direction and saluted. "Boss, we found no one inside, but we found this box. It is made with stainless steel, that's why it got not burnt."
Fernando picks it up carefully and observes, he notices some letter marks under it, he looks closer to read it.
"ERIN". He looked at me then. " I think this is for you." I receive the box and indeed there is my name written beneath it.
Erin carefully opens the small box, and she is surprised to see the words "From Lucas" etched under the lid cap. But this seems some sort of device. Once she opened the lead there is only a small screen, with a number keypad.
"That looks familiar," Carlo said while his hand is on his chin. "Aha! That box belongs to Lucas. I see him holding that box when we're in the shop buying rings for his proposal for you Eren, but now it looks somewhat weird at the same time"
"It seems, we can only open this by inputting some password," I said as somewhat my grip o the box becomes firmer after hearing Carlo's remarks.
"Oh wait! I see this in every movie I've watched. Erin thinks of those dates that look significant for the both of you." Liza's said with sureness in her voice. "OMG! I can't imagine what's on the inside of that box. But why Lucas send that to you in that burnt car? Instead of himself? How did he even do that? Hmm, that's confusing."
"I don't know Liza," I think those days that significant for both of us. I try the date when he proposed to me but it didn't open. I try my birthday and his birthday but there is no progress.
'Tsss. What the f*ck you want Lucas? Are you toying with us? Why don't you just show up and tell me what the hell is going on?'
After so much trial and error and turn it upside-down, then I see something weird on the back of this box. There's... There's a small hole beside my name. I just thought it is some sort of dots. But a light glimmer within it I look at it with my one eye closed. I see numbers written in silver color!!!
"19, 10, 09, 20"
I tried the combinations The box opened and everyone who surrounded me looks excited and confused.
"It opens! What's on the inside Eren?" Fred said.
I was able to pull it upward now, but my heart starts to beat fast, my hands are now shaking and my eyes open widely. I cover my mouth using my hands. I dropped the box in shock,
"What the f*ck is this?" Carlo picks it up, anger is clearly visible on his face.
I saw the ring, that is the ring when I proposed to him. And it was attached to a severed finger. And I think this finger is Lucas.
"There seems a small piece of paper folded under it, Erin." Carlo, carefully pick the piece of paper with no emotions on his face.
Fernando tap my back.
"Are you okay? Do you want me to read that for you?"
"No, I'm okay I can do this on my own," I said trying to find the energy to grab the letter to Carlo.
There are fresh bloodstains on it. But I still unfolded it.
It is some sort of poem, very typical of Lucas, who loves to write poems.
{DREAMING YOU:
Under the night sky, I can feel the cold wind.
Out of nowhere wishing on the star, you're my twin.
The half of me that I've been looking for so long.
And now, I'm listening to my favorite song.
I feel this inner eagerness to meet you halfway.
I know there are challenges but I will pray.
There are many messy thoughts in my head right now.
I want to know more about you, can you allow?
Embracing this feeling made me in love in life.
Thinking being together made my soul in fire.
I can see my life now in a different view.
And now I'm in the middle of the
Tears suddenly flow on my cheeks. 'Why Lucas? Why? What are you trying to imply with this? Why did you leave me with so many unspoken words? Is this some sort of you, saying goodbye?
Why? f*ck this all whys and now you made me more confused. I don't know Lucas, I don't know what you want me to do? You're alright, right? My mind went to the severed finger.
A dead body or not, I'm going to find you whatever it takes, even in my last breath. I won't let myself die without any answers. I can't control now my emotions.
"Wait, what's on the inside of that box?" I hear one of the members of procuratio-exi.
"We will change our plan, we will go to the ship tomorrow," I snatched the box from Carlo and walk away.
My mind is a mess. I don't care what other people think right now. And leave them be.
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The rest of the group watched the retreating figure of Erin. So many things are happening at once that they too are confused.
Liza tried to follow Erin, but Carlo stops her. "Let her have a moment for herself, that's the best thing we could do for now,"
"Arggghh! That Lucas idiot!" Liza kicks the burnt car only for her to wince in pain.
"Damn!"
"There's more from the box," Carlo said as he brought out a small transparent sachet, with five small blue capsules on it. He completely ignored Liza.
Fernando grabs those capsules that Carlo handed to him "I think this is not just a simple capsule if that comes to that box. We're gonna take it into our laboratory to study this. Een, can I get your permission for this?"
Carlo don' know if he's going to agree but this is not his field anymore. "You could what you want with it, but tell us the results immediately."
"Of course"
" All of you go to your own duty now. Marco call Dr. Cassio and set the time for our meeting we have something that needs to do." one of his men salute Carlo
"Roger that sir!"
"Let us also went inside, staying more outside the gate is far more dangerous," Fernando said, which adhered.
On their way, Fred who is quiet all the time whispered to his brother.
"Is everything becoming much worst?" worry filled his voice.
"Everything is already worst, to begin with, but I know we could survive this. After all, we even survive the hellish days in this plantation." Tom said trying to cheer his brother.
"I hope so..." Fred looks down.
"And the other thing is I believe on those people too and her," night dreaming you.
Hoping that one day, the dream becomes a reality.}
"Yeah right," Fred also looks at the people in front. Where Liza is arguing with Carlo and his mind flashes with Erin's confident face when the time they escape from the farm.