Chapter 1

It all started with one desire, one that caused immortality.

But in all of it, greed came causing only death.

For the last two years of my life, the impossible happened. First, my boyfriend and my dad died in a tragic accident so gruesome their bodies disappeared into ashes. We had to mourn for them with empty caskets. We had to bury them with memorabilia instead.

Second, My mom was grieving and I could say that she's losing it. All of her composure and all of her carefree attitude went out the window. She became protective and she started predicting things to happen. Indeed her stories—disturbing stories, ones you tell little naughty kids, turned out to be true.

And lastly, a year after my father died something drastic happened. Beings, mostly found in stories, became existent and they became somewhat uncontrollable. A war broke out, it started with simple attacks, but now it's spreading. A pandemic—a virus of some sort -- was spreading slowly along with the war to every part of the globe, starting from the United States, it's nowhere in our country—the Philippines.

"Bataan had fallen." Bataan, a province in the uppermost part of Luzon, was one of our defense strongholds. What the radio announced was our signal to evacuate the last remaining civilians in the lower provinces of Luzon-the upper portion of our country. Being an archipelago, one thing amazed me, our defenses held on to the best fight possible. But still, we succumbed. We can't fight vampires; one single bite can infect another human being. "Twenty -four hours evacuation for the remaining civilians to the Mindanao Shelter." The radio croaked. Vampire abilities are beyond our own. Strength, agility, and speed are their assets, while weapons and the military are our only barriers against them.

Fifty years ago the United Nations mandated that every nation should build a shelter that can house their entire population. It was in preparation for global disasters that had been hitting most of the Pacific countries. Politicians roared, but they lost the bout. Now the United Nations' efforts were rewarded. We had no choice but to evacuate all remaining humans to the shelters. With its fifteen kilometers thick wall, almost a million acres of land formed the biggest dome in every country. The Government had no choice but to ensure the survival of the few who hadn't been infected-bitten-by other infected humans.

"Franchette?" my Mom called from across the hallway of our house. "Where are you going?" I was busy preparing for a little run and a bit of Martial arts practice.

"Out Mom. I'm going to the Orphanage to set them up for EVAC." I said. Our family had been prepared for this event before it even happened. "I'll be back before you move out of the house."

"You know they move in the shades. And it's also still dark out there." She warned me, looking warily outside. She always had this haunted look on her face when it's dark and the sun isn't up on the horizon. She's been afraid of the dark, since dad's death.

"I'm still part of the military, Mom. And I've been trained to handle this...even worse things." I shrugged whilst putting my usual jacket on. "Worry about Jim. He can be a real pain in the butt." Strapping my backpack securely on my back, I glanced at myself in the mirror checking if I looked okay. She came near me shivering, and I gave her a brave face. "You'll be the first to leave. Dad made sure of that. Your escort will be here in an hour or so."

"I know, but you." with eyes glassy and tears building up, her voice shook as she spoke. "Why can't you stay with us?" she held my cheeks with both her hands. I know how she wanted me to stay. I was a miracle baby to both my parents. They had to wait for ten years before I was born. but then again a few years later, Jim popped out screaming and kicking. So much for being a miracle.

"Mom, I can't stop what the law declared." I shrugged.

Fifteen-year-olds were mandated by the government to serve the Army for three years as their last requirement for graduating from High School. Most of the teens don't survive training or they end up in Psychiatric Facilities. But no matter how harsh that law can be, it turned out to be beneficial now.

"Stop worrying about me Mom, at least if I die I'm serving my country." I grinned and hugged her.

" Don't ever think about dying!" She hugged me tighter. "Don't you dare die!"

I shrugged and chuckled. "I'm not a Major for nothing."

I kissed her right cheek and left our house with some supplies in my backpack. That would be the last time I'd be able to hold her that day. I'll be one of the last ones to leave our area as part of the military.

I jugged almost four kilometers to reach the orphanage. I was a volunteer, their martial arts teacher, and a babysitter if Alfonse needs to run an errand. That morning I helped them out mostly in getting ready for their pick up for the evacuation. I then checked the building perimeters, it's almost dawn, and some of the kids are still asleep.

A fun fact about this orphanage: it was a militia base. The security and most of the equipment were still functioning. It's well maintained by Queencie, one of my best friends and also a genius with a wicked talent for stealing boyfriends as she would say she is, but I doubted it. She has never had a boyfriend since forever.

I practiced for a bit with the punching bag on the second training hall which you can describe as a roofless room with four surrounding walls to provide privacy. We would occasionally camp there for star viewing projects. Well, if it's not raining. I swear to God, it's always raining in our town.

I tried steadying the punching bag after giving it a hard kick. I loved breaking a sweat and getting my muscles stretched out for the whole day grind. But then I remembered, all my towels had been tucked inside the box for the evacuation. "Oh, Shoot." I chastised myself. But like the all-knowing guy he is, Alfonse came in just in time to save my sweating butt, bearing a huge towel.

"Here, you can use this." He said, giving me the towel. He's been my classmate since elementary. "Thanks for the help." Unlike me, Alfonse was one of the privileged few who was able to skip the three-year training in the army due to his father's status and his medical condition-Asthma, which I doubt is still a hindrance now that he is well built and is a famous runner.

He now manages the orphanage with all the donations and his winnings which I can say is very handsome. A foot taller than me with his sun-kissed hair; I could say that he's a cookie for some ladies and the envy of men our age.

"Thanks! I needed that." I said taking the towel from him. "Mom got all my things packed up." I was soaked from my sweat. "I think she's rather excited to go to the shelter." I grinned at him.

"Tell me about it!" he shrugged. "The kids think of it more like a summer vacation than an Emergency." At that moment a military helicopter flew by. We both looked up to it crossing the sky above us. "So early." Murmuring, he looked at his watch all tensed up.

"Why do we have to be in this?" I couldn't hide the whining in my voice. "The US did this and now we're the ones suffering from their damn experiments."

"There's nothing we can do Fran." He said somewhat mournful. "One way or another our government is a bitch to them." He paused. "You heard the announcement right?" I nodded. "They've taken down Bataan, the only thing we have to do is to flee to the shelter."

"That's the thing I hate the most, Al." I looked pissed off. "What'll happen to the kids after we go there? Would they be taught to hold guns and fire them? Their innocence would be spoiled at such an early age."

Alfonse held my right shoulder. "I won't let them, Fran. They are our kids." He said protective of his family. I smiled at him and nodded. He has the charms of his father-our Governor, and the best thing about him, he knows how to keep his word.

An hour later I was getting ready to leave. "Everything is set. Your time to be in the EVAC CAMP is at noon." I informed him. "And I swear to wash and fold this towel you lend me."

Alfonse grinned at my remark. "Yup! Gotcha!" Alfonse said, setting his watch. "Take care, Fran."

"You too Al. Take care of the kids." I said starting to walk towards the orphanage's gate. "Call if you have any problems, we'll be here." Alfonse just grinned. "I'll send a whole battalion, I swear Al."

"Yeah, I know you would, Fran." He said laughing.