90 An Insidious Plan (1/2)
Day 3 – 12:00 NN – Bacoor City Police Command Center 3rd Floor, Molino Boulevard, Bayanan, Bacoor City, Cavite
Madam Lanie and Chief Mallari just went out of the room Mark and the three girls were staying. The two wore bitter face after learning everything from Mark.
After Mark rested enough, he asked the nurse taking care of Charmaine to call the two and tell them the things the government disclosed back in the mall. He also summarized a bit of his encounter with the military and what happened at the mall. Still, he did not tell everything. He hid things like he had a Satellite Phone and he could contact the military based at the Bay City. There was no point in telling this to them right now.
Actually, it was not that there was really no point but he just did not want to be pestered about when would the rescue arrive and stuff like that. More than that, this phone was personally given to him by Angeline. It was not a government property for them to demand its use.
The two leaders would be the ones to inform the other survivors about the situation. They also told Mark that they were already preparing to leave this place.
At this moment, Mark could hear a lot of gunshots from outside the window. The bodyguards and the police along with other able people were moving to procure some of the government vehicles outside. Once enough vehicles were gathered, everyone would hurry up and leave this place.
Mark and Abbygale's fight at the City Hall rooftop opened the eyes of the people here. This place was not safe at all. Unless they had the ability and skills like the two displayed at the rooftop, they would not survive just by staying at this flimsy and small building.
In the room, Mark was also preparing his things. Abbygale on the other hand was taking a nap using Charmaine's lap as a pillow. The full usage of her abilities at the rooftop drained the little girl a lot.
TOK! TOK!
Two knocks sounded at the door and it opened. It was the nurse who was taking care of Charmaine. Apparently, after the doctors and nurses were rescued, they divided to work on treating the injured survivors. On the other hand, this nurse was assigned to solely take care of Charmaine.
The nurse was holding two small bags. He handed one of the bags to Mark.
”Here are the medicines you wanted.”
”Alright.”
Mark took the bag and bundled it with the things he will bring back. In the bag were Charmaine's insulin shots and other medicine of common illness like cold and fever. As for the painkillers and other stuff, he had a lot of stock back in the vehicle so he did not ask for more.
After giving the bag of medicine to Mark, the nurse sat beside Charmaine and the two women started chatting with each other.
”Mr. Mark…”
The nurse called out to him.
”Just Mark is fine. Adding mister to my name gives me cringes.”
”Okay then, Mark. Is Charm's proposal for me before still valid? I know I did not give my answer earlier but.”
”You want to come with us?”
Charmaine interjected with a happy face.
”Yes. I decided to come with you if possible.”
The nurse answered Charmaine's question before turning at Mark. After all, he was the one with the final say.
”It's fine if Charm wants you to go with us. Still, what changed your mind?”
Mark was curious. The nurse inhaled and exhaled deeply before answering.
”I'll be frank. Your fight at the rooftop shook me. I know Madam Lanie said that we are going to a safer place but I doubt that the place is really safe. So I thought that going with your group would be safer.”
She looked straight at Mark and continued.
”I know that I'm being presumptuous but in exchange for the protection I will get, I'll work hard for anything I can do. Even if you wanted something like my body I won-”
”WAIT! Wait. Stop. You're going the wrong way.”
Mark stopped her with a darkened face. Charmaine also hurriedly spoke with a flushed face.
”Yeah. What are you saying? Don't tell me you fell in love with Big Brother…”
Charmaine's voice trailed off as she received a stern stare from her Big Brother.
With a serious face, the nurse replied.
”I didn't. I'm not falling in love or something like that. I just know that I needed to give something as exchange and all I have is myself and nothing else.”
”Don't tell me, you're that kind of woman?”
”I'M NOT!”
Mark stared at the nurse and sensed her emotions. She was actually not that willing to say or do it but she was determined to give up everything she had as long as she could live.
”Geez. Alright.”
He decided to accept the nurse's determination or rather, desperation.
”Big Brother?! Don't tell me…”
”What kind of dirty things are you thinking about? Can you use some bleach to cleanse your brain a bit?”
”Guu…”
With that, Charmaine became quiet.
Looking back at the nurse, Mark spoke once more.
”I'll let you come with us and you will fulfill what you just said except the last one.”
Hearing that, the nurse felt relieved and somehow insulted at the same time. She was relieved that she did not need to resort to giving up her body but felt insulted since she seemed to not have any charm on Mark's eyes. She was still a woman. Even if she was not beautiful, her looks was still above average. But to Mark, she seemed to be just an ugly woman.
Then she came to a realization and she voiced it out subconsciously.
”Are you impotent?”
COUGH! COUGH!
Mark choked on his saliva because of what he just heard.
”Where the hell did that come from? I'm perfectly normal!”
It seemed that Abbygale was disturbed from her nap because of the noise they were making. She slowly opened her eyes and rubbed it. The little girl then stood up and walked towards her Papa.
”Papa is angry?”
Mark patted her head.
”I'm not.”
The little girl nodded and sat on his lap without asking him. Everyone was speechless after that though. It was because Abbygale started glaring at the nurse without anyone knowing why. The little girl just sat on his lap while staring at the nurse without saying anything.
Abbygale's glare made the nurse shiver inside. It was as if the little girl was telling her not to bully her Papa.
Mark on the other hand sighed.
'Why is it harder to talk to women nowadays? It was even harder than killing a dozen infected.'
With that, the room finally became quiet. Mark continued with his work while Abbygale sat on his lap staring at the nurse. The nurse on the other hand did not try to move or talk under the little girl's watch. To the side, Charmaine could only smile bitterly.
The little girl was actually scarier than the father…
Fifteen minutes later, Chief Mallari came in to tell them that the vehicles were ready and they could leave anytime. It was faster than he anticipated. With that as the signal, Mark called on his radio.
”Mei'er, are you there?”
”Gege. Are we going to fetch you already?”
It was an immediate reply and even the subject for the call was not needed to be discussed. Mei's voice even sounded happy.
”Yeah. Are you watching what is happening?”
”We are.”
”Alright, tell Odel to drive here already. The evacuation will start.”
”Okay!”