'Are they seriously acting like a bunch of cowards?' she consciously asked, irritated by the men who were ganging up against her.
But instead of giving in, the girl paid attention to her surroundings, having no hope of surviving the situation she got herself in without anyone to ask for help.
'No one can lend a hand to assist me in this matter so this better work or else...' her sister would be in great madness if she ever found out, so she had no other choice but to handle this alone.
"You barely have any time left. Pay me now or shall we settle this by signing a contract?" he grinned, looking down at the violent female who finally discovered her way out.
She fixed her gaze on the floor as she sighed in defeat before speedily leaping towards the electricity box, punching it carelessly.
The lights went off as everyone in the building fell in panic while the girl continued escaping through the vents, not knowing that her actions would cost the lives of many living beings, with no clue what is happening to their world all because of the past.
A mystery that has been unsolved for two entire decades.
============
From a not-so-far place within their country, there is a border that one must not cross, a place filled with anger, fear, and wickedness, an abandoned island that no one in their generation has explored... All the citizens have been trying to attain the latest technology to catch up with everyone else from other countries.
However, a much bigger issue has yet to be revealed to them.
The capital of their nation was mainly occupied with keeping its title as the most productive amongst the other capitals of the nearby countries but little did they know that none of this would matter once an outbreak occurred in the city, not a single soul has ever noticed the loss of updates in other regions.
Rissa continued crawling stealthily, searching for the very exit she needs in order to find her younger sister after the short blackout.
But as she went in further, she turned right then left, and right again before discovering a dead body that had just fallen from the upper vent level, she wondered why there'd be such a thing in a crowded busy place.
"That is disgusting! Even I can't commit such a crime..." she said.
She took a closer look and smelled a very obnoxious odor right around the corner, making her exit the vent without realizing that she would run into people.
Specifically the mall's security guards.
The people began talking among themselves as they became alarmed by the girl's presence, and since it used to be illegal to go through the vents, she was apprehended by the guards without a warning.
Blessy on the other hand was passing by at that very minute, she screamed at the top of her lungs as soon as she recognized the girl, and pushed through the crowd while exclaiming that she knew her.
"That crazy girl is my older sister, did she happen to cause trouble again?" the younger female lied to the people and security guards, telling them a made-up story about her sibling.
"Hear me out."
"That girl isn't in her right mind, please you cannot take her." she added after such a long explanation. "We're sorry, ma'am. You have used that story once before, there's no way we're letting her off again." the security guards scuffled as they respectfully dragged Rissa out of the building followed by Blessy.
"How many times do we have to remind you that the vents can be used in terms of emergency..?" the police officers stopped by the front entrance, paying another visit this week because the guards set off the alarm which can only be used when lawbreakers are found inside the mall.
"But still, this woman has been using it for personal reasons, she could be doing something illegal." they tried reasoning to avoid another suspension from their job.
But unluckily, the security guards were suspended for two days again, and they both took off their hats before leaving immediately.
The crowd dispersed once the police officers apologized for the false alarm, the girls were also given a warning because if they were caught in the vents the next time, they'd surely be banned from the mall.
"Riell Rossa, you better explain yourself. What were you doing in the vents again?"
Blessy confronted, stopping in her tracks before crossing her arms, and looking intensely at the older female. "I should be the one scolding you, why'd you call me crazy?" she shouted in anger.
"My pride is hurt." Rissa quickly changed the topic, hiding the fact that she couldn't pay her debts, and she successfully averted Blessy's attention from the vent issue, however, Blessy knew that her sister was also keeping a secret of her own just like herself, none of them admitted what they did wrong nor their problems.
The two girls walked together to the grocery market, buying the weekly necessities they might need just as how they agreed this morning. 'We've run out of juicy meat and choco bars...'
Blessy thought. "You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking!"
Rissa yelled in a whisper. "That's unhealthy."
She softly added and without a second thought, Blessy rolled her eyes at her older sister, expressing how devastated she felt concerning the temptation to satisfy her craving.
Nonetheless, they continued on their way to other food sections whilst playing the would you rather game. "Ackk! Not this again."
"Come on, just choose one." the older sibling urged her, she played deaf and didn't bother answering since she knew that either way, both of the choices could only make her feel sick instead of pleased. "What nonsense are you babbling about?" she unconsciously remarked at the older one, tired from all the romantic topics that Rissa talked about every single time.
"Since when did you become so mean?" they both moved on toward the condiment section, bickering and teasing each other every second.
Meanwhile, a pair of tall and fearless men discovered a broken bridge on the southern part leading to a mysteriously creepy island where a city that used to stand firm, now containing destroyed buildings, barricaded doorways in each of those structures but still standing, and absolutely desolated.
They stood on the edge of the bridge, thinking that it must have been caused by a strong earthquake, and while one of them was glancing at the smoky cliff where the bridge was built, the other caught sight of the inhabitants standing on the other side, they somehow felt relaxed, at first...
Until those mysterious figures became visible, they slowly took a step forward and as soon as the two of them did so, the unnatural dark creatures started attempting to get to the other side, that is when they realized, that place was cursed with all sorts of undead beings.
One of them was already running but the other fell inside a dump hole, and he was barely holding onto his dear life. "Help!" he called.
============
"Enough already." Blessy glared at her older sister, they both entered the line as they waited to pay for the items they planned on purchasing.
"I'm just curious if you have actually never dated before."
Rissa spoke as she pushed the cart, staring back at her sister. "I ain't interested in that aspect of life." the younger sibling commented while her older sister simply laughed it off.
"We'll see about that."
Blessy was fidgeting with the end of her jersey as they waited, she gazed at something in the distance right behind them, the girl checked if her sister was aware but seeing that she had no idea about the noises that were beginning to get louder.
She left her spot, and walked away from the other.
'I should stay low for a while, things could get serious.' she decided to go somewhere less crowded, contemplating what to do as there was a sudden ruckus around them, Blessy held onto her sleeve while carefully approaching the exit.
'It's finally happening!' her eyes noticed someone in need of help.
The boy was cornered by a monstrous-looking human, it was the first undead she saw on that day and probably wouldn't be the last.
"Please save me!" he screamed in pain yet Blessy didn't move an inch.
"I'm sorry but you'll eventually turn into one of them, and I can't risk that." she bluntly replied as she threw the small knife she hid in her sleeve, the boy died on the spot as Blessy's dagger landed on his forehead with his eyes widely opened, his head dropped instantly.
'I'm going to need more of these.'
Without wasting any second, Blessy ran out of the place, heading back to their dorm, neglecting her duty as a human being to save others.
"I am completely unarmed right now, I should just focus on getting everything I need before risking my life to save others, forgive me for ignoring your calls." she spoke.
'It's either they get bitten and die, or... They fully turn into one of them.' she analyzed the possibility.
The destruction and massive outbreak left everyone in shock and despair, not a single soul had any idea about what was happening in their city, everywhere lies the corpses of those who were once happily living their lives but now, it is all slowly falling apart.
Every minute, someone dies.
Rissa was confused for a moment when her sister was nowhere in sight, she brought all of the items they needed after paying for them and placed them aside to search for Blessy.
'The cellular connection is also starting to act all fuzzy, where could she have gone?' the older female wondered.
When all the lights turned off, Rissa lost her phone as she had a fear of the dark, fortunately, her blue eyes helped her find it as soon as possible, she used the flashlight but before she could even take a step back, someone had pushed her away to save her from an undead creature.
"Are you freaking kidding me..?" she commented, astonished by the person that saved her, he was having a bit of a struggle fighting off the creature so Rissa tried to save them as well without even realizing that it would risk her life yet again, someone saved her...
"Hide, you moron!" one yelled at her for being slow when their lives are being risked.
"Stay out of sight!"
"Thank you!" she unconsciously smiled at the person who saved her the first time, the people around had almost forgotten that their lives were in danger because of Rissa, her presence was easily noticed and so, the group of men led her inside the back room, making sure that she's safe since they sort of felt worried about her being naive in that crisis.
"It's totally different in real life, it is scarier than I thought." she said.
"KYA!" a screeching sound could be heard coming from the outside, all five of them inside that room had slightly flinched including Rissa being the only female, they kept themselves from making any noises to avoid getting involved in a clash with those deadly creatures.
"Don't move." said the person who was the nearest to the door, he looked at everyone else before walking towards the door.
Seeing as the doorknob is aggressively being held by someone from the outside, they all panicked for a brief moment before hearing a call from the other side.
One of their friends had drifted away from the group since the electricity was cut off, luckily, he managed to find his way back to them.
"You guys left me!" he shouted in panic, the ground began shaking and they all looked at one another right before heavy footsteps could be heard surrounding the room they were in, Rissa felt like it was time for her to help them in this case, she took the empty cart that was placed aside and pushed open the door.
'I was right! They already know where we are.' she motioned the others to follow her and gather as many items as they can to protect themselves from getting infected, meanwhile, Blessy was pulling down all of the curtains hung up in their dorm room, she was at home.
"I hope she's still breathing." the girl spoke.
It was noon when the ground started shaking, almost like an earthquake, however, that wasn't the reason. 'These things can still move even when you chop their bodies so...' she opened up her closet and flipped the cover at the back before it moved, showing her collection.
"My lovely armories!" Blessy excitedly squealed.
Knowing that their world is in distress, she stayed optimistic on the most nerve-wracking day of her life, not being able to foretell the future whether or not will they survive a day.
'It's my time to shine.' Blessy thought as she zipped up her hoodie after wrapping bandages around her wrists, she was doing some research before personally, attempting to scout the location. 'I know she has her own set as well.'
The girl rummaged through her sister's bedroom, trying to find where she hides her equipment since she is quite a violent person, she must have a secret place where she keeps her things.
"A hiding spot to hide all of her toys where I would likely not find them no matter how I try." Blessy said to herself, giving up, and then, she left the room...
"Everyone, please don't panic. It is only an outbreak, the government will handle it."
The speaker announced as a group of elderly evacuated the building outside.
'They are out of their mind.' Blessy thought as she looked out the window, the girl made sure that the balcony door was tightly shut before leaving the place, she locked the door and left a note there as well, heading to the rooftop.
'False hope to those who aren't fully aware of the past, the government caused it all.' Blessy speedily ran up the stairs as she tiptoed around, she also didn't forget to barricade the stairs starting from the fourth floor if ever the building had already been contaminated, she left a few pathways that only survivors could think of using as a way to enter the building and stay hidden.
'Hopefully, this thing wouldn't break!'
She expressed her deep concern as she tied the rope onto the fence near the edge, she could have used the ladder just right beside the spot where she tied the rope.
But instead, she decided to choose the dangerous one on her way out, preserving the ladder for the people who might need it more.
And in just a matter of time, the city was no longer filled with only humans and animals but also those mysterious deadly creatures from nowhere.
By 'nowhere' means the Southern part which none from their generation has ever thought to explore, a location filled with who knows what danger lies.
The only thing they could do for now is survive the massive outbreak.
It is life for themselves they need to value, protect, and use in order to stay alive.
There were plenty of structures that were still standing strong, the monstrous creatures had been towering over them, going under, and wouldn't leave a single corner uninfected by their blood. People could be seen and heard panicking as they attempted to hide from the sight of those but still, the living undead were able to climb up or even break down anything that they heard sounds coming from.
These deadly creatures can detect even the slightest sounds, and the smallest movements they could see, and are able to identify whether or not someone is weaker than they are.
Apparently, humans at this time aren't athletic enough nor do they have a strong immunity to fight back, resulting in a fast-paced spread of the infection.
Rissa has completely forgotten about her sister while she faced multiple conflicts with not only the living undead but with the people who survived around her. Everyone sacrificed another for their own sake just to keep away from those who mean harm to them.
"Dad!" a little girl called for help as she got cornered yet her father didn't bother helping her out, instead, he ran off as soon as he had the chance, on the other hand, Blessy arrived on the scene to lend her a hand. She managed to get through the entrance back inside the mall to find her sibling and survive together.
Meanwhile, Rissa was having trouble finding a way out along with everyone else who each climbed up the stairs or went back down for some reason...
No one knew what specifically happened and what caused the event currently happening not only in their city but also, in similar other places.
The city had lost a huge capacity of living citizens within the area in less than a day.
"Everyone, this way!" Rissa gathered her fellow survivors on their way up to the rooftop, however, as they set foot on the inner floor before the terrace, they witnessed the most terrifying sight they had seen in their whole lives.
Those living undead noticed large movements from the top of them and below them, so they all climbed up either within or on the outer side of the building.
Once again they were extremely distressed, not knowing what to do in this situation because they were cornered this time. 'Why did I?'
Rissa was having second thoughts as she remembered the vents, they were practically stuck in between the top floor on the stairs as the creatures slowly kept creeping in closer towards them, mercilessly finishing off every single one of those who could not turn into one of them.
She wasted no time and rummaged through the sides of the whole level floor, trying to find another way out of this situation.
'This is no time to fear them, I must save the people who saved me and search for Blessy on the way out.' she dragged the group of men with her and stayed out of the crowd while she looked around. "The vents." she whispered to them, she noticed something moving in the ceiling, and there lies a hidden route which is connected to the vents, they stacked up boxes and were able to deceive the other fellow survivors.
The teenagers observed the surroundings to make sure that they could leave quietly on their own since they were already aware of the fact that everyone else would not prioritize others over their safety. The group commonly thought that it would be better to leave them all behind than to have someone selfishly live freely after sacrificing those innocent ones around them.