The plague was in full swing after that indicator warning signal burst its annoyance. Everything seemed in slow motion at first while Keisha and Jaden ran away from peril. It was even now ear splitting – even the covering of one’s ears would not protect the tympanums from tearing apart as of the clamor generated by firing artillery and mortars.

The runaways had triggered their adrenaline as they flashed through the alleyways until they would reach the cavity between the metropolis’s dead end and an unscathed forest. It’s moderately distant from the pandemonium happening there: here was in peace and in harmony.

They finally entered the hushed bushes and the swaying trees. As they went deeper into the woods, Keisha abruptly felt that there were people following them. Carefully, she drew out the pistol that her father handed to her before they fled from the city. The bushes moved alarmingly that she already suspected that there were humans hiding in here. Her eyes moved to a direction where she saw a mortal head watching them how they meander into this nowhere. Jaden hid behind Keisha’s back while holding a transistor for him to cry for help just in case they were going to be chased by lunatics. Keisha became motionless, not being able to move a muscle for a while – getting herself and her attentiveness ready for another sprint. She was definitely sluggish in running away, although she’s a petite girl in appearance supposedly be running away as swift as a hare; no wonder she was tense on her strategy as of now.

She whispered to his brother while making sure that no man would attack them, “Jaden, I need you to run as fast as you can, okay? Find the rest of our friends by switching channels on your radio.” Handed the firearm to Jaden with a cold hand, she said, “Hold my precious pistol for me, ight? And make sure that you will never look back.”

As the teener handed the firearm to her comrade, she gave an outbreath of futility as she lured out her portable dagger given by her best friend.

“How about you? Aren’t you gonna come and find them with me?”, Worriedly, her brother uttered, not being able to hold the firearm properly in his hands.

Keisha knelt down in front of her brother though still kept her eyes focused on their surroundings until the plan executed.

“I will see you there. But for now, you need to head there on your own. I can’t run at a fast pace as you do. So instead, I am just gonna walk carefully until I would reach you.”

A racket came in filling their auricles from behind the greeneries, somebody’s on patrol around the woods all along. Keisha stood up from the parched parcel then pushed Jaden to flee away. Kinsmen — particularly Filipino Teenage lads — were the ones who were on patrol. One came out from the trees and the desolate lady realized that these men were not just random folks, but some people that she has known for a long period.

“Iyaz?”

The man in suit and tie, namely Iyaz Kenji Dimaunawa, was one of Keisha’s history causes; he was this girl’s ex-boyfriend. He was holding a taser within his hand and was placing a cracked grin on his woman-like lips.

“You are late once again, Ms. Vista. The party has started but hasn’t ended yet. We are still recruiting for new partygoers. And if you want to, we are absolutely open, ‘specially if it’s you. Well, what do you say?”

Keisha scoffed at the young lad as if he’s a threat to everyone, “Don’t count me in your foolishness, Iyaz! We are done and you know that! And please, just stop smothering me. Or else-“

She was cut by Iyaz’s sarcastic laughter, “Or else what? You’ll stab me with your cute little vorpal blade?”

Keisha imitated the same laughter from Iyaz as she readied herself for another sprint, “No… I’ll just run.”

She dashed though she bears in mind that she was not going to make it. As she ran away, she picked up her walkie-talkie to make a signal to whoever person that might save her. The transistor was already low in power but still could make a call for a few minutes.

As she ran, she pointed the transistor at her mouth for her to speak, “To whom can hear this message, I am being hunted by insane people!” She gasped for her breath then spoke once again, “And they are planning to do something inhumane. SOS bitches! I’m gonna die if no one comes quickly. KC out!”

She slid through a heap of leaves wherein she could do a concealment, in order to hide herself from her stupid ex-boyfriend. Not any further she could run, and decided to hide instead of running. Well, it’s no use anyways, she would still get herself apprehended even if she ran; being short-legged and the one who dearth fortitude.

*Meanwhile*

Jaden kept on interchanging frequencies until he found one that his sister’s crew often used. A feedback came in from the radio’s speakers and his eyes glistened in optimism that somebody could finally hear his plea.

“If anyone hears me at this hour, I am calling for help. My sister is in danger and she needs help from the hunters patrolling inside this forest.

“Can *fzzt!* you please *fzzt!* state your name?”

Jaden’s voice grew hopeful as somebody from the other side heard him, “I am Jaden, Keisha’s younger brother. I am lost in the middle of the woods where there are lots of ferns around.”

“Jaden?! This is Zhackary, your sister’s friend. Please stay right where you are. Shino is now on his way there and Jeffery and I will rescue Keisha.” A man named Zhackary said with a tone of concern after hearing about Keisha’s wild goose chase.

“I’m scared… What if she’s been captured?”, the young man cried, worrisome.

Zhackary’s voice turned heroic as he spoke, “I will make sure that we’ll find her, alright? I won’t let anything bad happen to your sister, you know that.”