34 Cheer Up (1/2)

1:51 PM – City Mall Bacoor Rooftop, South Wing

Ange was feeling better as the members of the group try to pacify her. However, she was still far from her unruly self. It did not take long for the others to realize that no matter if the Biters were alive or not, they would need to fight and kill them to survive. Like how it was in the movies, no one knew if there would be a cure or not and for heck's sake, they did not even know if it really was a sickness or not.

Still, it did not change the fact the Ange had to kill her friends that turned and she was feeling down because of that. Paula sat beside Ange just stroking her back without saying anything else. There was very little to say anymore and Paula could understand her friend's feelings. She just needed time to recover from it.

The men were on standby. They already finished securing the places in the rooftop that needed barricading. Now, they are only having their guards up in case something unexpected happened. These men even prepared makeshift weapons with the things they can find here. With iron pipes as base, they attached and welded blades cut out from smaller metal sheets they found. They then sharpened the edges and pointed parts using an angle grinder.

Calvin was holding to a spear, Fernan and Joseph both had a machete and Bernard had an axe. They also made weapons for the girls which are all smaller machetes. It was not because they are females or because of gender discrimination but because they ran out of materials. Even Ange was not given a makeshift weapon and had to keep the baseball bat Mark lent her.

It wasn't really the best weapons but at least better that having nothing.

While everyone was minding their own business, Mei suddenly stood up and walked towards the central area of the rooftop for unknown reasons. They all watched her in wonder. Paula had the idea why she suddenly went that way though. It was like what happened earlier.

Before Mei could even reach the central area, a man in a sci-fi looking sports armor appeared. The man seemed to be surprised to see Mei walking towards his direction. The man took off his helmet revealing his unkempt hair and average looking face. The man smiled at Mei.

”Mei'er, how do you even know that I'm coming?”

”I don't know, Gege. I just feel it somehow.”

Mark did not know how to reply to that. It was not like that he did not know that she was walking towards him already.

”Alright, let's go back.”

”Un.”

The two went back to the group but of course, Mei remained hiding behind Mark as the men were also nearby.

The group stared at Mark who just returned. The clean pieces of sports armor that he wore earlier were now stained with blood. His face looked drained, as it seemed that he spent a lot of energy. He had another sports duffel bag that hung on his back and aside from his machete that was in his left hand, his right hand carried a fire axe.

When he arrived, Mark saw Ange who was slumped on her chair and Paula who was patting her back.

'It really happened huh?'

Bernard went in front of Mark and handed him his notebook. Mark received the notebook and looked at the old man.

”You have questions right?”

”Not just me, we all do. But first, I'll say I learned a lot reading your notes there. It looked like that you've preparing for a zombie apocalypse to happen for a long time.”

Mark bitterly smiled.

”Not really. It's just a hobby of mine. Who knows that something like this would actually happen?”

”That's true.”

Mark then moved to one of the vacant seats and Mei handed him a bottle of soda.

”Thank you.”

He put the things he was carrying down beside the chair he sat on before receiving the bottle of soda and gulped half of the soda in the bottle in one go.

Mark then face the people in front of him who wore inquisitive expressions.

”Go ahead and ask your questions. Geez, why do I always have to be the one on the hot seat?”

He grumbled making the rest of the group besides Ange wore bitter smiles. They could not help it. After all, this was the second time that this happened.

Going straight to the topic, Bernard asked.

”It's about what you had written about the Biters.”

”Well, I knew it would be that. You guys want to know if they are really alive. Right?”

Everyone nodded. Ange also raised her face and looked at Mark.

”Unfortunately, they really are alive.”

”Do you have any proof?”

It was Joseph who asked. Mark was starting to think that this guy really liked to cut in between conversations of other people. Still, he answered.

”I do. I caught a Biter and an Eater and checked it myself. It was after I entered the emergency exit there in the west wing earlier.”

”What did you find out?”

”Simple. The Biter I caught, her heart is still beating. I also checked the Eater but it doesn't have one, it's not even breathing. I don't understand how the bodies of the Eaters work. Anyways, the Biter I caught is still alive so the others should also be.”

The members of the group started contemplating after hearing what Mark said. He also saw Ange droop her head. She really looked sad.

”Anyways, what's with those weapons?”

Mark asked as he noticed the makeshift weapons everyone had. If he had to say, he was impressed by the idea.The weapons they made did not look bad either.

”It was Calvin's idea.”

Bernard answered his question.