THE SURVIVAL OF HELENA UNIVERSITY (On-Going)

CHAPTER 3: DREAM

FRANZ

The moans of the undead echoed through the abandoned streets, a reminder of the world I once knew. The only light that came from a flickering solar lights outside the building, casting long, monstrous shadows. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins.

Years of Taekwondo training kicked in as I prepared myself for the fight. I could feel the rough pavement beneath my shoes, grounding me. My fists clenched at my sides, ready to strike. "Stay behind me," I ordered Roy and Allen, my voice barely more than a whisper.

As the zombies shuffled closer, their white eyes locked onto us, I fought against the wave of terror threatening to consume me. There were more of them than I'd anticipated, their grotesque forms a horrifying sight. But I couldn't afford to be scared. I had to fight.

With a deep breath, I launched myself forward, my body moving with a precision honed by years of martial arts training. A swift roundhouse kick to the head took down the first zombie, but there were more to deal with. The others followed my lead, using whatever skills they had to fight off the undead.

"Tangina, sa oras na malaman ko kung sino ang tangang nagsimula ng delubyong 'to mapapatay ko talaga ang walang hiyang 'yun!" rinig kong sabi ni Roy habang nakikipaglaban.

The fight was chaotic and brutal. The zombies were relentless, but we fought with a desperation that only those on the brink of death could muster. Each kick, each punch, was a small victory in a war that seemed unwinnable.

"Allen, behind you!" sigaw ko kay Allen nang makitang may aatake sa kanya sa likuran.

Naging alerto naman s'ya at agad na nahampas ang sumugod.

For what felt like hours, we fought. Slowly, we began to gain the upper hand. One by one, the zombies fell until finally, the last one collapsed to the floor.

Exhausted, I leaned against a wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I was bruised, but I was alive. We had survived.

But even as I caught my breath, I knew that this was just one fight in a war that was far from over.

"Ayos ka lang, Franz?" Tanong sa akin ni Roy.

"Yeah...Let's go now" anyaya ko sa kanila ni Allen na agad namang kumilos.

Masyadong malayo ang cafeteria rito sa building namin at siguradong bago pa kami makarating doon ay nalapa na kami.

"Sa music room, may nakaimbak doon na mga pagkain at inumin" ani ko na tinanguan ng dalawa kong kasama.

Nang malapit na kami sa hallway ay nakita namin ang mga zombie na mabagal kumilos at tila bulag.

Sinenyasan ko ang dalawa kong kasama na wag gagawa ng ingay at mauna nang pumasok sa loob na agad naman nilang nakuha.

Mabuti na lamang ay hindi nila kami napansin at maayos kaming nakapasok sa loob ng music room.

"Nand'yan sa stock room yung mga pagkain, get everything you can carry, ako na ang magbabantay dito sa labas"

Nang matapos silang kumuha ay walang ingay at marahan kaming naglakad palayo at pabalik sa rooftop. Mabuti na lang at hindi kami naramdaman ng mga infected sa hallway at maayos kaming nakabalik sa mga kasama naming babae sa rooftop.

Habang kumakain ay nagtanong si Darra.

"Ano ang na obserbahan n'yo sa kanila?"

"Hindi sila nakakakita sa gabi at tingin ko ay humihina rin ang kanilang mga senses sa gabi, ingay lang ang nagiging senyales nila para sumugod" sagot ko bago uminom ng tubig.

"We can't just stay here and wait for the rescue na hindi natin sigurado kung may darating ba" si Darra iyon.

"Then what are we gonna do?" Maika asked.

"Let's just stay here for the night and let's make a plan tomorrow" 'yun lang sagot ni Darra.

My thoughts won't let me sleep.

How's my grandma? Is she alright? Is she safe?

Please be safe, lola.

"How funny...kailan lang ay nasa classroom tayo at nag-aaral lang tapos biglang ito tayo ngayon pumapatay para mabuhay" I turned to Darra who's standing beside me.

Nakatanaw kami sa rooftop at pinapanood ang mga kapwa namin studyanteng infected na.

"Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na totoo lahat ng nangyayari. Umaasa pa rin ako na sana isang masamang panaginip lang lahat ng 'to" bulong ko, katamtaman lang para marinig n'ya.

"Sana nga, Franz. Sana nga" ramdam ko ang kawalan ng pag-asa sa kanyang boses.

"Let's get out of here together, Darra" I desperately said.

Malungkot s'yang ngumiti at tumango.

"Don't lose hope, we will survive this chaos" pagpapatatag ko sa kanya dahil unti-unti nang nawawalan ng pag-asa ang aming class president.

Maging ako ay unti-unti na ring nauupos ang aking pag-asa ngunit malakas ang paniniwala ko na makakayanan namin ito.

Sana talaga ay isang bangungot lang lahat ng ito.

Ngunit kahit anong hiling ko na sana ay panaginip lang lahat ng 'to ay pilit pa rin akong nasasampal ng katotohanan na nasa reyalidad kami at hindi bangungot.

We have to keep moving, keep surviving. Because in this new terrifying world, survival is the only thing that mattered.

A