A month ago. 4 days after the breakout.
She managed to steal new clothes down the neighborhood and pulled on a new Zella out in the streets. She even had a cap on, so no one would recognize her that fast. Zella walked down the streets of the Telamur, went past the waiting shed from where she usually ride the bus to the diner, and sat down for a while. A huge television screen flashed the news, and the anchor's voice bombarded the streets.
"Zella Albert, a death convict for murdering her family, had escaped the Telamur's Penitentiary State for about 4 days now. The officials have investigated the holding cell from where they came from, and realized that they have escaped through a ventilation system duct towards the storage room of the prison."
They're going to publish the details? Maybe the prisoners might have an idea about it now, but Zella and the late Jaina isn't the one responsible for it. That tiny piece of paper right inside the hole was the one who helped them get out behind the bars. Zella and Jaina were just as skeptical as they were since the first day.
"They have discovered a secret tunnel at the back of the storage room, which lead to the rearview of the infirmary. The said suspects escaped through an ambulance car while the other two supposed-fugitives are now back inside the prison."
She wondered if they found Jaina's body already. Zella buried her down the ground, giving her a proper burial, and even lending her the 10 prayers she knew since she was a kid. She couldn't help but to remember the book she wrote… and if the bookstores still sell it after the author got convicted.
"Mr. Speak. Give me the courage to speak up about this unjust country." The tears rolled down her eyes. Zella wished she had the strength to walk up the highway and onto the borders of Calvorite. If she had to pretend like a beggar for a few days, and stuffed in her mouth with garbage, Zella would hold onto it.
As long as she lives, and the sun rises tomorrow, she'll be fine.
The bus pulled off in front of her, and she stared at the president's smiling face plastered on the side. She's pointing at a product, probably dairy, because Zella didn't recognize it as someone they once use at home.
"The police investigated from where the ambulance had gone and it made them surprised to see the dead prisoner lying down on the bed while the two is missing. The Telamur Hall and the head sector, Sam Grobes, together with the approval of Madam President Tina Yunis, they issued the silver notices to all convicts."
She stood up from the chair, and couldn't even last a second staring at the president's face. Zella stuffed in her hands inside the tight jacket, and continued her way.
"There are no leading clues as to where Zella Albert and Jaina Montenegro were staying."
…
As she walked at the trash can of the diner she used to serve with, Zella checked the corners of the street. No people around. She can dig inside the trash can for any spare cabbages or even chicken bones. But then, her stomach got sick every time she looked inside the plastic. A lot of flies swarmed the area, and it made her turn around.
Zella only had water for a few days. It was all stagnant, not at all pure.
She wanted some slices of food, but Zella doesn't have the time to keep up the sparing. She doesn't have the right to beg someone. Zella will be caught red-handed if she had done that.
Something caught her eye. It was a family walking down the street, holding bags of fried chicken from the diner, and getting ready to cross the pedestrian lane. The parents with two daughters… the same as her late family… Zella wished to have a normal Sunday with them, but it never happened. She kept on wishing, and it had gone stale.
She sighed, forgetting her stomach wanted to eat, and turn her heel around. Zella walked into the narrow street, probably leading to a deserted highway out of the Telamur. She knew the way, because she always thought she could leave Telamur behind.
As Zella found herself passing through a few houses, she heard a song.
Something she had lived up with in her childhood.
Zella didn't know that in every beat, her head was bobbing up slightly, too.
"And the reason is you…," she sang along the tune. Zella smiled a bit, lifting her mood up a little, and turn to a candy store. Zella doesn't have the money to buy a candy, but when she slipped her fingers inside the pockets, a 50 cent reached her palms.
Zella pulled it out. She sighed, observed the candy store, and eventually, bought a honeysuckle to energize her up a bit.
…
As she reached the abandoned border of Telamur and Calvorite, she wondered if someone had set a booby trap to catch her in. Zella made sure she isn't stepping on a pitting ground. No ropes attached to the tree, or even electrocution in the barbed wires. She checked the mold of the ground, and if it doesn't click, the mines were still inactive.
By now, they must need to activate it. But then, the head sector must have forgotten this section. No one really knew about it except her and her family. Isaiah Albert, her father, taught them the directions in case the war began. It's safe to be in Calvorite than in Telamur, but of course, that doesn't lessen the fact they're wearing Tempus Moneda.
Unless they know how to deactivate it, they're good to go. But the bad news is, they don't know how. By the time she has known how, her family is dead. So here she was: standing in front of the barbed wires, ready to step inside the Calvorite in a few moments.
She whispered, "Goodbye."
…
A month ago.
Randall was driving to the interstate to buy some beers for their party tonight. He was grooving along a The Weeknd's song 'Starboy' as Randall drove carefully down the highway. It's deserted, so he resorted to go full limit.
As he was about to step on the gas pedal to reach the last number on the speedometer, someone showed up in front of his car. A body flew in the air after her body slammed the tinted window cracked, and fell down on the road in a slam. Randall stepped on the brake with all of his might and swerved the steering wheel away, careful not to run the person over.
Randall leaned forward, threw himself back on the seat, and gasped.
What just happened? Randall stared at the steam coming out of the car's hood, and shifted his eyes to see the road. Only to find out the woman… is bleeding.