104 Spending the Rest of the Nigh (1/2)
Day 4 – 1:42 AM – Firenze Townhouse Complex Subdivision, La Joya St., Buhay na Tubig, Imus Cavite
”Why don't you girls go back to sleep already?”
Mark said as he sat on the chair beside the dining table.
He sat there with a bowl of steaming hot soup and a plate of fries to the side on the table. Apparently, when Mei started to make a racket around the house trying to find him, Odelina moved to heat his share of soup and fries they had for dinner. She was a really convenient servant. There was no need to tell her what to do.
Despite there was the food in front of him, Mark could not start eating. It was because except for Cielo, the dog and the children, everyone else was present watching him. He did not really care whatever they wanted to do but it was still uncomfortable being watched while eating.
Still, no one left after he told them to go back to sleep. He decided to ignore them and started to eat.
”Gege, where did you go?”
”I just woke up and felt stiff so I decided to move around. I also surveyed the area along the way.”
Mark replied while waving his spoon in front of him.
”You should have woken me up.”
”Why should I? You need to sleep or you won't have energy tomorrow when we leave.”
”But…”
Mei looked down. She looked angry but she did not want to scold him for some reason.
*Flick!
”Guuu.”
Mei suddenly held her forehead with both hands. She had just been flicked on her forehead.
”If you want to say something, say it.”
”No. I…”
Mark sighed and shook his head slightly. Mei really did not dare to scold him no matter what, even though he was waiting for it. In the end, he just ruffled her head.
Around them, the other women were watching the scene with bitter smiles. The two had already created their own space ignoring the fact that they were still here.
”Master.”
Mark looked at Odelina after she called him.
”What?”
”You looked different for some reason.”
”Different? How?”
Mark looked confused.
”I don't know how to explain. It just felt like that.”
”Really? Maybe, it's because of the changes in my body after evolving again.”
Hearing his reason, Odelina nodded. It was the only possible reason to explain what she felt.
”By the way, did anything happen after I fell unconscious?”
Mark suddenly asked.
”Nothing much happened, Master, aside from attracting quite an amount of infected outside Citta Italia and Janette making a mess inside the car.”
”Making a mess… Ah, I see. Is that why you're inside the car earlier?”
”Yes. I just finished cleaning.”
Mark nodded, he understood what Odelina meant by saying that Janette made a mess.
”We should get an adult diaper for her.”
He said after swallowing a mouthful of the soup.
On the side however, the faces of the other women changed. How could he keep on eating while talking about disgusting stuff? Since Mark was unconscious, he did not experience it but the smell of feces that Janette excreted smelled awful specially in a closed environment.
Mark then looked at Charmaine.
”How is Cielo?”
Charmaine was surprised. She already knew that her Big Brother could detect people using their emotions but it was amazing experiencing it. No one had told him that Madam Lanie had already sent her younger sister to them and yet, he knew it. It also seemed that he knew that something happened to Cielo for him to ask that question.
To Mark's question, Charmaine looked downcast as she replied.
”Cielo is fine now but she had bruises all over her body and she seemed to have received trauma from what happened to her.”
”What happened?”
”Madam Lanie said that the inner area of the subdivision we live at was occupied by a gang syndicate after the outbreak. Cielo was caught by them along with other women. The police under Madam raided the place when most of them went out to get supplies and rescued the captured women.”
”No wonder…”
Mark muttered while thinking deeply.
”Is there something wrong?”
Melissa interjected as she noticed his unnatural behavior.
”Actually, when I went for a walk, I detected some men monitoring the area outside Firenze. If my guess is correct, it should be members of that gang syndicate.”
Everyone's expression changed. It seemed that the infected aside, there were other dangers around this place.
”Anyways, what is she doing here?”
Mark pointed at the short woman standing behind Melissa and Charmaine in silence.
”Big bro, Anna doesn't have anywhere to go so we let her stay with us.”
Mark looked at the woman who was apparently called Anna.
”Is that so? But we're leaving tomorrow, what are you going to do?”
”I-I… I don't know.”
Anna stammered to reply after being questioned like that too suddenly. She could not help but look down as she really felt that she had no idea what she would do.
”Big Bro, can't we bring her with us too?”
Charmaine interjected making Mark frown. Even if he wanted to fulfill his sister's request, the space within the vehicle was not too large. He also needed to find his other friends. If he just let anyone they encounter to come with them, the space in the vehicle would not be enough.
Seeing Mark not replying and just frowned, Charmaine looked down. Actually, Cielo also wanted to stay at this place. However, she knew that this place would not be safe either. Considering what she witnessed in the past few days, things would only get worse every passing day. The only place she could feel safe at the moment was beside her Big Brother. That is why she did not suggest anything about letting anyone stay behind.
Mark then sighed. He could feel and understand what Charmaine was thinking. He decided to grant her request one last time. If there was not enough space in the vehicle, they will just find another one. Looking at the circumstances, it would also be possible that he would end up bringing away the family and relatives of his friends. Finding another vehicle might be inevitable.
About Anna, he just needed to confirm something.
”Alright, this would be the last one Charm.”
Charmaine was surprised.
”Big Brother! Thank you!”
She said her gratitude with a wide smile before looking behind her.
”Quick! Thank my tolerant Big Brother!”
Charmaine pulled Anna forward.
”T-Thank you.”
Anna tensely thanked Mark.
”Anna right?”
Mark pointed his spoon at her.
”Yes!”