"So you're saying that you haven't seen your father since this whole thing happened?" Mike said while stacking wood in the hearth.
"Yes," Liam replied. "We're heading to the city."
"We're in the city, Liam."
"I mean the most urbanized area."
"How's our backyard anyway?" Mike raised his brows as he lit up the woods.
"Uninhabitable already." Liam put his hands forward, the spreading fire warming his skin up. "I thought the fire could attract the greymen."
"Oh, so you haven't known yet?"
"The what?"
"The greymen, as you name them, aren't active in the night."
Liam tilted his head at Mike. He might be wrong about the nonchalance of the greymen, but what Mike had just said was different. It sounded like it was safe to be out in the dark. He had also attended it, the silence during nighttime.
"Why?" he queried.
"No one knows, but we've seen how they leave the grounds when the sky grows dark," Mike explained. "Who's the guy with you anyway?"
"He's Rico and I just met him unexpectedly. He saved my life like thrice already."
"Have you ever seen my nephew?"
Liam shook his head. "After the chaos, I haven't heard from Ken and the others. I hope they're doing just fine."
"I'll join you guys into the depth of the city then. Ken might be anywhere in the area." Mike put the aluminum cups by the hearth. "O Liam, what a world we're living in."
"I know, right? Anyway, Uncle Mike, were you already here when the chaos began?"
"My ex-wife lives here. I mean lived . . . here."
"Was she . . ."
"Yeah, she was."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's fine, not your fault. Here." Mike handed Liam a tray of two hot coffee. "Share it with Rico."
Liam took the tray and stood up. "Thanks, Uncle Mike."
He walked past Hell, Cid, her face-tattooed boyfriend, and Clara, the gray-haired lady, who were discussing something concerning the doors and windows. He pursed his lips, preceding a cheap smile, at the other guy in red varsity jacket sitting on the first step of the staircase. He knew that the logo on his sleeve belonged to the other school participant in the interschool Arts meet. The guy just threw a statuesque stare upon him, so he proceeded to ascend the steps.
He arrived at the second floor and entered a room. Rico sat up as he put the tray on the small cabinet by the headboard.
He sat on the bedside and shrugged. "What?"
"Nothing." Rico grinned. "You've eaten yet?"
"How's your arm?"
"Still quite numb, but Miss Clara cleaned it up already."
Liam jounced his head. "You know you can go on your own way already, right?"
Rico bent his knees. "Do you know that Mike?"
"Yes, he's my friend's uncle-in-law. He said he'll accompany me to the center of the city."
"Oh, yeah? I'll come along with you still."
"Your choice though, but I'm very grateful for you because you saved my life multiple times, sir."
"Really? Didn't notice that."
Liam furrowed his brows, then jabbed Rico's chest with a gentle force. "I'm serious here, sir."
"It's nothing, really." Rico straightened up his back. "So, we're leaving tomorrow?"
Liam shrugged and wrinkled his forehead in agreement. They then spent time talking about Rico's late son. Liam also shared a little bit of information about Lyn and his sister. They then decided to join the other downstairs.
The night grew more tranquil and the cold air clouded up every windowpane around the seven people. They fiddled away some time having small, random talks before the pleasurable cozy warmth of the fireplace. They feasted on nothing but junk foods, ready-to-eat canned goods, and soda pops. Liam stood up and stepped backward, then sat by the guy in a red varsity jacket.
"Hey," he greeted, his eyes fixed on the lively dancing of the flames. "You're from that school, huh?"
The boy heaved a long sigh. "This is my twin brother's."
"Oh, okay."
"He died last night, you know."
Liam stared at the boy's deep irises. "My deep condolences, brother. How are you holding up?"
The guy rested his head on the bolster propped up against the glass table. "We fought before he flatlined, man. I feel like shit. I mean I am shit, yes."
Liam knew the feeling the guy had been having. When his mother and sister passed away, he, in a short time, blamed himself as well but later learned to just accept the decision of fate. He had been under the stormiest weather in those days, but his childhood friends rekindled his former self, waking his spirits up. He was sure that Lyn and his sister were already in Heaven and proud of him and so was the guy's twin brother, he thought.
He then patted the guy's knee and spoke, "Your brother is in peace now and I know he's still here with you, by you."
"That's actually kind of creepy, man, but thanks." The guy lowered his head. "I'm Jake, by the way."
"Yeah, Jake. Call me Liam."
"Sure."
"So," Cid started, "you're leaving for the center of the city tomorrow?"
"Yes, Cid," Mike replied. "I'll go with my nephew's friend and his other friend."
Hell buttoned up her sleeves. "What if we come along, guys?"
"That's literally a young inexperienced-by-the-current-happenings man you're going to be following, Mike," Cid said. "You saw that by how they entered this place."
Liam just sighed and closed his eyes. He felt like there was something in him Cid did not get a kick out of. He also thought that Cid was acting that way because he distrusted Rico and him.
"I'm not following him but trying to reunite with my nephew," Mike responded. "He's my responsibility, man, even if he's just an in-law. He's like a son already."
Hell slapped his ex-boyfriend's nape. "Can shut the hell up for a while? You didn't even contribute anything in the last run."
"I was fixing the second-story windows, Hell," Cid spat out.
"Oh, here these two go again." Clara sat between Hell and Cid. "Please, can you two get any more harrowing with each other?"
"Tell that to Hell."
"Cid, grow up."
"I literally put your name acro——"
"Make peace with—"
"I'll go with Liam too," Jake interrupted the two's little altercation.
"You sure with that, kid?" Mike asked, turning to the boy.
"I am." Jake put a cheap smile on his lips. "I won't overlook those last words Jace told me."
Clara beamed with her twinkling eyes. "That's one tough attitude kid, which is good for you. Jace will be so proud."
Jake widened his smile. Liam saw the silent joy in the boy's eyes. He was sort of proud even though he had never met Jace at all. He then grinned at the smiling Jake and bowed his head.
"I concur with the plan, boys." Clara removed her eyeglasses and wiped them with Cid's undershirt's hem. "I want to die on the road, not in this labyrinth of dollhouses."
Cid creased his forehead. "Miss Clara, don't say that."
Hell rolled her eyes while holding her laugh. "A more-virile-than-an-alpha-wolf man with his whole face inked not wanting the death of anybody? That's why I loved you."
Cid crossed his arms. "Cut it out, Hell."
Clara, Mike, and Jake grinned at the sight. Liam and Rico looked at each other, not knowing what reaction to show in front of the others.
"So you're with us, Cid?" Hell asked.
Cid sighed. "I don't like being alone so."
Hell applaud in silence. "Fixed, we're going on a suicide mission tomorrow."
"Hell," Mike let out.
"Sorry," Hell apologized.
"We'll need enough rest, guys." Mike gave everyone blankets. "We'll get out of this stinking hellhole soon."
Every one of them gathered nearer the hearth and formed a curved line before it, receiving the almost faint fervor the lit woods provided. After fixing their chosen areas, they all lay motionless, had the smallest of chats, and later drifted off to a cold slumber one by one, the sounds of the night bugs harmonizing with the silence of the surroundings.
Liam woke up to a crinkling sound. It was still rather dark outside, but he could see the thunderheads' casual smooth torrent across the sky. He got up from and off the frosty thick nylon sheet, then found Jake folding up a plastic bag. He stretched his arms upward and yawned. He rubbed his palms with militancy, then grinned at Jake.
"It's a quarter past four, Liam. You lay back under some warmth," Jake spoke up, a mist of breath escaping his mouth.
"Nah, I'm already powered enough." Liam cracked his neck. "The surface was nippier than ice anyway. What are you doing?"
"Oh, just, um, I know someplace before this village where we could get thicker threads."
"That's good."
Hell appeared behind them. "Hey, kids. What are we up to?"
Cid narrowed his eyes while sitting down on a stool. "Hell, stop treating things like a damn video game."
"What are you talking about?" Hell dragged Cid to the stairs. "Let's just prepare our bags. Miss Clara, please come with us."
"On my way, sweetie" Clara replied as she rolled up her blanket.
"You good, Liam?" Mike asked.
Liam nodded. "I am."
"Can you give me a hand with this, Rico?" Mike said as he took the matches.
Rico agreed and helped with the building of the fire. As they had their breakfast, Rico took out the map Liam had drawn and showed it to the others. They all agreed with the chosen route with ease and, when they were done warming up, they zipped their jackets up, put their bags on, and psyched themselves up.
The biting air met them as they left the house. Mike led the way through the maze of lonesome homes. The current form of the surroundings was evidence that Earth had long fallen into an abyssal pit — streets devoid of spirits and deafening silence. The air was bleaker than ever and the grayest of clouds seemed to have not a plan of parting for the morning light to pass through. The flesh was rotting hard and millions of pints of blood had stained the empty grounds. Trees were dancing, winds were singing, and the diversity of fauna had ruled the streets together with the greymen.
The team got out of the exurbia after almost an hour of walking and hiding at the same time. They stopped by a children's playground to have a quick lunch and chat. They got to know each other as greymen looked like to have a day off on clearing the streets. Hell was a painter and Cid was a tattoo artist. Clara was a special education teacher while Jake was a thirteenth grader just like Liam. Mike had a motor shop and Rico was a freelance photographer. Liam had a bit of fun knowing the people around him. He had not done some socialization since the beginning of Lesley's unjust actions, so it was a fresh, new start to gain experiences even amid the present disorganization of things.
They then all packed their stuff up and resumed walking through the route until they, at last, saw the canopy of the building tops of the central part of the city. Liam exhibited his inexplicable delight and anxiety with a heavy sigh. He then ceased to step, parting from the still-moving team.
Rico turned back and ran towards him in silence. "Are you good?"
"I'm just . . ." Liam shut his eyes close, "anxious that he's already—"
Rico cupped his cheeks with steel-cold palms. "We'll never know if we don't see it ourselves."
Liam nodded, then followed Rico's steps. They caught up with the team and, in just some minutes, they all walked over the invisible threshold of the asphalt jungle's range. Buildings were towering over each other, making stairways of rooftops. Their shadows clouded over the countless streets. Trash wandered the grounds as if they were tumbleweeds in the dry Wild West seen in films. There were small animals on the city floor while broken building windows harbored birds and lizards. Liam saw a deer to their right and shook his head. He hoped that the deer would stay still until they get past the street, which took place in success.
The team had roamed the vastness of the avenues until Jake's wristwatch hit half past four in the afternoon. They had their frequent rests and changes of the plan but still stuck together for safety. The surroundings began to darken and Liam got more worried about the possibility of his father having left the area when chaos sprang out or another one, but worse, Lesley could be long gone already.
He stiffened up his lips, then looked over the streets' horizon — no one was in the vicinity but their crew. They agreed with calling it a day, then searched for safe spots until they heard strange sounds in the distance together with some glowing light.
"Here," Jake whispered behind a building's outward wall.
The other followed him and they all ascend the tiled stairways until they hit the top story of the building. Tables and seats bordered the whole room and papers of curriculum vitae were on the floor. Everyone put their bags down and opened their flashlight to take dinner. Liam sat down on a desk chair and spun halfway, facing the thick windowpane.
Rico settled down on the floor before him. "Hey, Liam."
"Hi," Liam replied fast.
"Have you eaten?"
"I don't have the appetite."
Rico sat on the other chair beside him. "We'll find him."
"Or maybe we'll recover him."
Rico intertwined his hand with Liam's. "Don't say that."
Liam looked at their knotted hands, then closed his eyes, feeling the warmth Rico's palm gave off. They broke away from the contact when Cid uttered profanity with emphasis.
"The hell was that for, Cid?" Hell said.
"Guys, quick," Cid commanded. "Take a look at this shit."
The others went by him and looked down upon the source of the light. Just by a block, a big group of greymen was around a bonfire on the street. There were smaller greymen that appeared to be chasing each other and playing catch with some dogs, smiles plastered on their faces. The bigger greymen were roasting whole fowl meats as Liam could notice. They seemed to be talking to one another while eating cooked meat. There were dogs around them, sitting and waiting for the leftovers. The greymen did not have their mattocks with them and it piqued Liam's interest. They were like a normal community, making Liam's team frozen, all speechless.