112 The Unknown (1/2)
Day 4 – 7:52 AM – Firenze Townhouse Complex Subdivision, La Joya St., Buhay na Tubig, Imus, Cavite
Mark took out a notepad and prepared to write important details about their plans. Especially, it would be better to take note of the places they needed to check and arrange those places from nearest to furthest. In that way, they would be able to do a linear search instead of going back and forth when they did not need to do so.
Unfortunately or fortunately, Mei, Abbygale, Odelina and Melissa were only here for the sake of discussion. Mei hand no plans to search for her family obviously and for Abbygale, she had no family to search anymore. Melissa on the other hand, both her parents were working abroad and there was no way for her to search for them. Moreover, her close friends live Manila and other places far away. As for Odelina, her parents were already dead and her husband's parents and siblings were from abroad too. Odelina's only sister was also living with her in-laws abroad.
Their discussion went smooth. The other members wanted to search for their families if possible. It was good that Ann and Carlo were actually neighbors so going to their place to search for their families could be done in one go. It was also the reason how the unreliable looking Ann was able to enter and work at Carlo's family's business.
As for the two sisters, Charmaine and Cielo, their father, half-brother and step-mother also lived at Manila making the search for them pretty much impossible at the moment or maybe, even in the future.
”By the way, where is Elsa?”
Mark asked while looking at the two women.
Elsa was the oldest among them siblings. She was also one of the people closest to Mark like a sibling similar to Charmaine and Carlo. However, he had no idea where she was and his only lead was her younger sisters.
”About that, Big Sis went to Mall of Asia for a date with Erwin.”
Cielo replied. Apparently, when Charmaine went to the City Hall early in the morning, Elsa was still at home so she did not know where their older sister was.
”Hmm…”
Mark tapped his chin hearing that. Mall of Asia was located within the Bay City which was now made into an evacuation settlement by the military. He then remembered something and subconsciously tapped on his belt. However, he did not find what he wanted to get.
”Gege, the phone is inside the car. I charged it yesterday when you collapsed.”
Mei said after seeing Mark's actions.
”I see, Mei'er can you get the phone. Maybe we can ask Angeline. They should have a list of their refugees, right?”
”Yes.”
Mei stood up and made her way to the garage under everyone's confused gazes. They were confused as to why the two suddenly mentioned about phones when the phone services were already down since the morning of the first day the apocalypse commenced. After all, the only ones who knew about the Satellite Phone Paula gave Mark were only Odelina and her two children.
”Bro, why are you talking about phones? The service is already down.”
Carlo voiced out making everyone nod.
”The phone I'm talking about is a Satellite Phone directly connected to the military communication line.”
”What?!”
Everyone was surprised.
”Then, Bro, you can contact the military?”
”We can only contact the group in Bay City.”
Mark stated.
”Then Big Brother, isn't it possible to ask them for rescue? Especially for the people we needed to look for.”
Charmaine asked.
”You better not count on them.”
Mark shook his head and continued.
”If the military move out to evacuate people, they won't be able to prioritize and end up saving every survivor they come in contact with. Unless the person they needed to search for is a famous scientist or someone with expertise or probably a high ranking politician, that case will happen. If we rely on them, we won't know when they would be able to find your families. When it comes to worse, they would not be able to. Furthermore, the military manpower in Bay City right now is severely lacking. It even took them too long just to pick up the survivors at the City Mall we were in before because of their lack of people.”
Mark stated the facts he was able to think of which was highly likely to happen.
With that, they finally understood the circumstances. Also if Mark did rely on the military before, then, all of them who are here right now would not be here in the first place. If the worse situation even came, they would already be dead already and would have no chance to even sit here.
Because of this fact, they all became thankful of Mark who went off away from the possibility of going to a safer place just to find them. The same case also went for Sundra, Melissa and Ann who was not in Mark's list in the first place. Even though it could be said that they were here on the whim or because they wanted to stay, it was no lie to say that they were also saved by Mark.
At this time, Mei finally returned with an odd looking phone, because of its overly large antenna, on her hand.
”Gege, here.”
Mei sat back beside Mark and handed the phone.
”Thanks.”
Mark then started browsing on the phone looking for the number Paula saved in it. After pressing the call button, Mark waited for the other line to answer.
After about ten seconds, the line finally connected.
”Hello? Mark?”
A familiar female voice answered the phone. It was not Angeline however but Paula who answered.
”Paula?”
”Yes, it's me. Why did you only call now?”
Paula sounded aggrieved.
”I had a lot going on at my side. By the way, where is Angeline, I have something to ask her.”
”That's…”
Paula paused with a sad tone.