"Haah...haah…." How long have we been running? 5 minutes? Perhaps even more than that? I glanced around my surroundings while I still held on Itzel's hand. More and more buildings were on fire besides the school.
The people screamed at the top of their lungs, while children were crying for their parents to comfort them. Cars honked repetitively with anxiety with the urge to escape. But the fires prevented them from even opening their doors.
Many soon decided to get out of their vehicle and pursued their way by leg. Some decided to shatter glass, glittered on the floor with stains of blood. The people cried.
The sight of seeing this made me want to cry as well and escape immediately. But I need to hold in longer.
Both me and Itzel gasp for oxygen, I was surprised I still had it in me but Itzel….it doesn't seem she doesn't have the urge to continue forward.
"L-lina…haaa….I-I can't….." It was tough for her. That weak physic of hers is fragile for a girl like her, she wasn't athletic like me, at least not too much, however regardless of her already developed body she can't run more than she could already.
I bit my lips in frustration and opened my mouth, "We're heading towards the police station."
I didn't know why I hadn't realized it sooner, but in this type of scenario, taking cover at the police station is a safe option instead of hiding in our own houses.
The military base is the most exceptional choice to go, however, the position and the distance we're located is extremely great.
And, with the chaos we are currently in makes it extremely difficult to exchange locations with the amount of traffic that blocked the roads in rampage.
For now, the police station.
While they may not have as much artillery as the military, they're still armed with weapons. Whatever the case is, I believe that it is better to take shelter there.
'I just hope there's still enough room for us.' In case the police can't accept any more people in their base, then I'm going to have Lisa at least stay with them. Even if I have to use force.
I dragged Lisa with me towards the station. She didn't resist.
Again, I saw a park vehicle blocking the roads with people rapaged with each other. They were blocking the entrance towards the station!
"Move you son-of-a-bitch! I'm supposed to be in there!
"Ha, you're supposed to be in there? I have a wife who's 6 months pregnant with my child! My child! How dare you try to pressure us to leave! Don't you have any shame!?"
"Child this child that blah blah, I don't give shits, in a situation like this one would always fight for their survival. Like you're any different from me! We're just trying to survive!"
Twack! Bang!
"Honey!"
"S-stop!"
"Get out of here!!"
"Move, move! Outta my way!!"
The scenes of other humans fighting for each other, behalf of their survival, was a disturbance. As a teenager who knew nothing about the tactics of survival and the battles between men, opened my eyes towards a terrible world.
I couldn't bear it, and focused on what's my object. I yanked Itzel's arm so she would not get lost, and charged our way towards the station in front. It shouldn't take much longer.
"We're almost there, Itzel, just a bit more!" I looked back, she slouched and fell. Catching her at the right moment I looked at her. I couldn't help but curse under my mouth. "Itzel, Itzel, shoot…."
I guess all that running made her collapse in exhaustion. I don't have time to comfort her at the moment. Instead, with all my strength I placed on my arms, I lifted her up onto my back and continued towards our destination.
I clenched my teeth, the sweat the fire engulfed this whole place made it harder to carry Itzel. I need to bear it just a bit.
With each step I took, I breathed with a heavy panted. "Haaah…!"
I could see several police officers ahead of me. Behind them are the gates inside the station. A smile emerged on my face. Finally….
They noticed our presence, but they didn't seem very happy. They looked…unconcerning towards me and Itzel. I don't like this feeling I'm having in my stomach.
"Halt." One of them commanded. "What's your purpose being here?"
Purpose? What's he referring to? "What do you mean by that? I'm obviously looking for a safe place to hide. She's with me."
The officer looks at me then at Itzel. "I'm sorry, at the moment we are not accepting anymore people to pass the night. You're on your own."
A vein appeared on my head as I retorted. "Pardon? But you guys are police officers who protect and serve the community! Denying our help is against the policy to help the people! You can't reject our offering!"
They shook his head. "Trust me, I like to help but take a look around. Everything that you're seeing was caused by one man."
I raised an eyebrow. "....Man?"
The chaos that blocked our voices wasn't very good. Multiple people were bringing their fights close towards us. One of the officers had to quickly push them away and threatened them with their gun if they came any closer.
The fire that engulfed multiple places was extremely frustrating. It's making me sweat bullets.
BOOM!
One of the cars, caught on fire, let out an explosive causing the fire to spread even more. Fire fell like leaves that caught onto many things. The officer didn't face the scene but his eyes said otherwise. "We should get inside the gates."
The officers immediately opened the gates and both me and the officer were inside but hadn't gone inside the station. His eyes turned to me.
"Where was I? Right, the suspect wasn't ideally identified. Based on multiple people giving us descriptions, the causes of this first started at Napa Junior/Senior High School." He crossed his arms with his gun placed in one of his hands. "Now that I'm thinking about it, you girls came from that direction."
He continued talking but I couldn't concentrate on what he said. I just blankly stared into the atmosphere subconsciously about the reality before me. A man? This all started because of one man? How? That's absurd to think, that can't be right….then what about the sky?
The officer stopped and looked at us with pity. "I'm sorry but we're not accepting anymore people to hide. We don't have enough weapons to fight off against these monsters. And half of our ammunition is at its peak of being used completely."
He shook his head, feeling sympathy. But I could at least try to convince him.
"Then at least take Itzel. Please! I don't care what happens to me, but I just want her to be safe, p-please…." Bursting into tears, the officer held onto me. He looked at his colleagues and I guess they shook their heads, refusing to let anyone in.
"....We'll take her in. As a police officer, I can't just deny one's safety. I know I've been a bit hesitant early, but you girls are too young to be experiencing a situation like this." He takes Itzel off my back and signals his colleagues to keep an eye. Only he and Itzel entered inside the station.
As for myself, I walked outside the gates while they opened.
I know that I'll be alone for a while but at least Itzel is safe for the time being. I wiped my sobbing tears. The gates fully opened and began walking in my own direction. From now on, I guess I'll be lonely for a while.
Before I was far away from the station, someone placed their hands on my shoulder. My reaction was quick and faced on who it was. Fortunately, it was one of colleagues of the previous officer.
"You're going to need this." Displayed on his hand was a handgun. I was a bit surprised by his action.
"I don't know how to use a gun." I replied in embarrassment. I never touched a weapon in my life, judging by his reaction, he wants me to just take it. I kindly rejected the offer but he insisted.
"Trust me, you are going to need this a lot. The world as you know is long gone. Every action you do will be based on your survival, either be killed at the hands of some lunatic or just some random civilian. Believe me, it's best that you take this gun." He gestures his hand at me to quickly take it.
"B-bu–" He forcely takes my hand and places the gun onto my palm.
"And one more thing." Takes out a backpack I didn't notice and hands it to me. "These were orders from Ellis, the one officer you'd just talked to. I have no part in this but I was given orders to hand you these things."
He turns his back away from me and returns at the gates. "It's best that you never heard of this place. FYI, be careful where you place your fingers on the trigger. It's loaded." His voice ranged in my ears. He then remained in his position at the gate and kept a watch.
I glanced at the gun in my hand. Never in my whole life had I ever needed to touch a weapon. As a child, I never intended to even hold one in the first place.
'He could've at least informed me about the basics at least…'
I felt my muscles twitch in an ironic way. I carefully gripped my gun in a more comfortable way, then away from the gates and walked towards my own destination.
Who knows for how long. Will it take days, weeks, months or perhaps years? I don't have an answer for that but I do know one thing. I'll always have those close with me all the time.
How will Itzel react to my disappearance? Will she break down once more? Will she try to flee and try to search me? Will she become depressed? Get upset? Will she try to use the time to become the best version of herself? Would she begin to be able to overcome her fears?
'How do the years go by?'
***
2nd day.
My situation towards this new world wasn't great. I've encountered disturbing things, but this is just awful.
In front of me, I'm experiencing the sight of a horrible adult bullying a little kid. I don't know the situation that happened between them, but I don't stand on kids being bullied by adults.
"That weapon you have, kid. Let's trade it for something else eh?"
"N-no! You were going to beat me because I didn't want to give it to you!"
"Tsk, tsk, children these days, playing with guns y'know. Such times have long disappeared. In fact it's illegal for a child to possess such a dangerous weapon. So why don't you pass it to me~"
The boy shook his head timidly. Judging by the man's face, the kid seemed to trigger something within him, probably upset, and charged at the boy regardless of him holding a gun. With incredible speed, he grabs the kid's gun then the child.
"I told you, it's too dangerous to be holding a gun like that. Hm?" The boy resisted as he tried freeing himself. He kicks and punches and even bites but it was futile.
"Let me go! Aah!"
"My what a very obnoxious child you are."
I was mad at the scene. The boy struggled to free himself but that man is only taunting him. HIs face emerged with a smile reaching the cover of his ears.
I was about to go after the poor boy but I stopped. Do I step in? What if there's more of him? What if this is a trap and the boy is only part of the scheme? What if this isn't a scheme? Wouldn't the boy actually die? Wouldn't it be my fault for overthinking too much?
This is frustrating.
"For your insolent behavior, I'm going to pass judgment on you, child." He lifts up the weapon he stole from the poor boy. The boy who once ran his mouth shuts up just as the man shoves gunpoint inside his mouth. "Oh may the heavens bless this world!"
I revealed myself and charged at him.
Bwam!
"Khu, ah!"
"....You….are not going to kill this boy!" I wasn't able to break the distance but surely I at least was able to save this kid.
My interference wasn't strong enough to push him further more, he still stands in front of us with both feet.
"…Another child. Are you interfering with God's sacrifice? You dare!?"
'This guy's crazy….' Is he on drugs? He needs medical care immediately.
He covers his face with his hand. "Such insolent this world processes….in order to create a perfect world, all necessary disgusting beings that set foot on this planet should perish! Children are the source of devilish in this world!!"
With one arm, he lifts it at us. "Let me case judgment above you all…."
It was then….
Rumble! Rumble!
'Why's the floor shaking?!' The ground shook with intense force that felt ripping the earths apart.
Boom, boom, ka-boom!
The ground cracked open. With thousands of small crumbles of gravel, they all launched towards me and the boy.
'Shoot!' I immediately dodged out of the way along with the child held in my arms. I rolled on the ground, I think I peeled off some of my skin…
I quickly got up and started running away from that man. I'm no fighter but I know a few thing or two when it comes towards a battle you cannot win. That option is to run!
I breathe heavily. It seems a bit easier to run now than before. But the kid I'm holding on lowered most of my speed.
"Kid, can you tell me if he's still following us!" I promptly asked. The child's head peaked above my shoulder, he tapped.
"–!" I dodged towards the side without leaving my hand out of the boy's head and out a groan. Thousands of pure hard gravel was struck at my previous location.
My face twitched into a nervous smile. "Haa…"
My arms twitch in panic. But it wasn't over, the number of gravel that was on the ground released even more smaller gravel, resembling the sizes of silt.
I shriek. Still having my hand in place, I use the other to block my face.
Pew, pew, Pew!
"Ack!" Within each passing millisecond, a few gravel pierced my body in and out. The boy, what about the child?!
"Kid, you alright?!" I heard no response. Is he still alive? I couldn't think properly with all the pain I'm accumulating with each blow.
'Please be safe…..' With little strength I had, given that I've wasted, I ducked myself behind rubbles.
Fmmmm!!
They may be small gravel, but it can surely tear throughout anything it gets in its way!
Pew, fmmm!
"Kyaaa!" It was excruciating. It didn't matter whether I hid or not. It pierced right through me.
I continued to move. While at it, I patted the child. "Kid, you okay?"
No answer. The only sounds that we're available of were the sounds of gravel piercing through and through screaming.
Paranoid, I bit my lips. "…..hey"
I lifted the boy from my shoulder with both arms. What I saw made me want to puke in horror. My arms shaken with disbelief. "Oh god….pu—"
The boy who I just rescued moments ago, was dead as multiple gaps of holes were in his head, almost completely severing his entire face.