Chapter 5: Leaving the City Behind
Mon had made his decision. The chaos of Manila was too close, too dangerous. The gates had opened in the city, and with it, the monsters and the uncertainty of the new world. He needed to get away from the epicenter of it all, find somewhere safer, and figure out his next move.
The first thing he did was gather all his belongings. There wasn't much—just the few things he had accumulated over the years in his small apartment—but each item felt like a piece of his past life. He couldn't afford to leave anything behind.
Using his Dimensional Gate, he stored everything he could: clothes, some old photos, tools, and even the few keepsakes he had left. Mon didn't know what he might need in the future, but at least this way, he had options. The Dimensional Gate was his lifeline now—his key to surviving this new world.
Once everything was stored, Mon took one last look at his apartment. The world outside was changing fast, and the life he once knew was slipping away. With a deep breath, he turned and walked out.
---
Mon revved the engine of his black Yamaha Mio MXi, the familiar hum of the motorbike offering a strange sense of comfort amid the turmoil. It was the one possession he could truly rely on. It wasn't much, but it was his way out.
The streets were eerily quiet as Mon rode through the city. The occasional shout or distant growl reminded him of how dangerous things had become. It was impossible to ignore the signs of destruction all around him—cars overturned, buildings burned, and abandoned shops scattered like forgotten memories.
He sped through the main roads, the city's skyline fading in his rearview mirror. His destination was clear: Camarin. His family lived there. If there was anywhere that was safe, it would be in the quiet outskirts, away from the dense population of Manila.
As he made his way out of the city, Mon couldn't help but think of his family. His parents, his siblings. He hadn't seen them in months, caught up in the grind of daily life. But now, with everything that had happened, the urgency to find them had grown.
---
The ride took hours, and Mon's muscles were sore from the constant grip of the handlebars. But he pushed on. He couldn't afford to stop. His thoughts were on his family, on what might have happened to them.
He finally reached Camarin, the familiar streets of his childhood now under the shadow of the disaster that had taken over the world. The quiet neighborhood was now a ghost town. Empty streets, no signs of life—just the occasional car abandoned on the side of the road.
Mon's heart raced as he neared his family's house. Was anyone still here? Were they okay?
He turned the corner and saw the familiar house. It was still standing, but everything else felt wrong. The silence was deafening. He parked the motorcycle in the driveway, not bothering to shut off the engine just yet. He needed to check the place—make sure it was safe.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Mon stepped off the bike and walked toward the front door. His hand hovered over the doorknob, but before he could open it, a voice called from behind him.
"Mon!"
Mon spun around, and there, standing at the edge of the yard, was his brother bert . The relief that flooded through him was overwhelming, but it was also mixed with confusion. His brother looked tired—worn out—but alive.
"Mon, thank God you're here!" His brother's voice cracked, and for a moment, Mon didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
His family was here. They were safe—at least, for now. But the road ahead was still uncertain.
---
The reunion was brief. Mon's brother told him about the evacuation to the province, about the safe haven they had found on the outskirts. They had been preparing for a worst-case scenario, and when the gates appeared, they left Manila as quickly as possible.
"Mon," his brother said, "You're not safe here. It's not just the monsters… it's the people too. People have started to panic. The government's no longer in control. It's a mess."
Mon nodded grimly. He had seen it firsthand in the city—the fear in people's eyes, the chaos on the streets. He had to stay with his family, at least until he figured out what to do next.
---
With the safety of his family ensured, Mon knew he could finally start to think clearly. There was a new world out there now, and he had no choice but to navigate it. His Dimensional Gate would help him, but only if he used it wisely.
The next step was to learn more about the gates, the monsters, and how his skills worked. But for now, he was glad to be with family, far from the dangers of Manila.