CHAPTER II  

 

                       “Are you sure you can survive without weapons and only jerseys?” Daniel stood frozen in his track, not knowing who was the one talking to him but he know for sure that he is the single person walking through that sidewalk. It doesn't take him too long to turn around and figure out who it was. That person is no other than a competitor, the center and captain of the neighbor school's basketball team. Well known as Daniel's biggest opponent in the gymnasium but they wouldn't think of each other as completely bad enemies behind the scene.   “Chris? How the hell you come here?” he asked, ignoring the given unanswered question.   “Glad you're not calling me Chan again and how did I ended up here is not important at this timing, seriously. Follow me if you don't want to die less armed and less clothed,” said the other student wearing different school uniform whose name is Chris, or Chan as they have mentioned it. Guess the blue-silver haired guy already changed his jersey into a uniform. Daniel could have known that since they were used to hangout pretty often to ditch classes and practices.   “Let's go,”   Daniel, nonetheless, trail behind Chris as they proceed to go on for their desired path and not taking the risk to use the main road where other civillians are under attacked. But they have to keep it low as much as possible not to attract those sickness.   He couldn't take a chance to tell where are they heading to, but he send in the aware silence, trying not to ruin any plan and just bring himself a company during his journey to meet his family again. He has actually confirmed that the passage they are taking would lead them toward the direction of his house which is not standing way too far from his school.   Thank goodness, he thought.   Chris may have been his opponent when it comes to their game, but they share backgrounds and are targeting for the best friendship in town. They have usually escape their school route just to hang around the city, near the cyber, drinking soda by the convenience store, carrying on the troubles with neighborhoods, and causing the stress to their teachers.   They wouldn't have any idea if they could repeat those fun adventure outside the school together, with adults still alive and able to scold them, rebelliously tries not to pay for anything to the cashier, including janitors that would complain about their behaviors for messing around nonstop. Those moments was totally enjoyable to them but having a taste of it again might be highly impossible.   By the time he turn his gaze to borrow a little second of observation, looking at the dying people scattered on the floors, struggling to break free and being eaten alive. It is the most painful experience. They have their guts splashing out, bloods staining everywhere and almost painting several walls and grounds with the red liquids. The smell of deaths. He couldn't take it all and manage to concentrate back to Chris as they begin to jog faster due to the fact some might be chasing after them.   From there, he could finally perceive his precious home being halfway burned. His eyes widens at the sight of black covering the semi part of his house which is coming from the kitchen he assumed. They quickly head inside by barging through the slightly broken door and spot nothing but the body of his younger sister laying unconsciously on the carpeted floors; bleeding.   He is so sure clueless.    Tortured.   Depressed.   Dumbstruck.   “Stella? Stella!”   He snap out of his terrified shock to go after his sister, rotating her body around to reveal her front facade as he hold on to her and shake her way too much while crying out loud. He is sobbing to the point that it surprise Chris on the other side because he barely saw Daniel shed tears, except tears of joy when he won the competitions.   Beside, he could understand why. His nine-years-old sister died in a state of merciless nightmare. She had her jaw and mouth cracked, ripped skin and exposing a little bit of her skull. She got bitten. Daniel is being too focused on her face as Chris notices something strange with her twitching finger.   “Daniel... You need to stay away from her. Now!” Chris shouted, alarming the brunet.   Before Daniel could be questioning more, she wakes up with her eyes transforming into those deadly orbs. Nothing seems to be vital like her previous cheering self. She is growing intense when trying to eat her own brother, well, she is no longer his sister, that would be the reason why she would kill him. He got surprised and all he can do is pushing her by her chest in panicking.   He gasps as soon as Chris smash her head using his baseball bat that he carries around the whole time since he met Daniel. Probably he snatch that from their gymnasium store ro