114 Before Leaving Firenze (1/2)
Day 4 – 8:16 AM – Firenze Townhouse Complex Subdivision, La Joya St., Buhay na Tubig, Imus, Cavite
Mark was silently listening to Paula as she narrated what happened after their groups parted ways at the mall. The story took more than fifteen minutes but the people around Mark patiently waited why he listened on the phone. Looking at his solemn face, something serious might have happened. That was also the reason none of them tried to interrupt him either.
The news of Bernard and Calvin dying helplessly like that made him felt sour for several reasons. It would be a lie if he did not feel sad about it. Despite the fact that he did not know the two for long, knowing that people you knew and fought with died would make anyone feel bad. The bigger reason for his mood being down however were the several essential pieces of information he received from her story.
One of those was the existences the military called Unknown. He might be able to identify them whether they were Mutated Infected or Failed Mutator but the issue was not the kind of creature they were but the level of their strength and abilities. He could still remember the video he watched before where the military were fighting with a creature that came from the pilot cabin of a crashed airplane. Considering the description Paula made on the appearance of the creature, the two might be the same type or level of creature. Moreover, these creatures could appear everywhere. Just like what happened to Paula's group, they encountered that thing the moment they left the City Mall.
Another thing he could confirm was that the creature they encountered should be a high level Mutation Infected. It was because it was coming obviously targeting Paula like how he was being targeted by Mutated Infected upon seeing him. He also realized the reason why he was being targeted every time and during the time that he and Paula were in the same location back in the City Mall, Mutated Infected would appear before them and come after them without apparent reason. No, not only the Mutated but there were even instances that the Biters had appeared before them that it even felt like that the infected were spawning or teleporting around them.
What similarities did the two of them have? Both of them could be regarded as what many people called as Espers and both of them already had these abilities even before the outbreak. If that was really the case, then the Mutated Infected was aiming for them because of their abilities.
One more thing he realized was that the evolution could not only be triggered by forcing someone to surpass his limits like he did when he subdued Laelaps and by luck. It looked like that the evolution could also be triggered because of a person's intense emotions like what happened to Joseph. The idea of this gave some insights but it would need some confirmation to be done.
”Mark? Mark! Are you still there? Why are you not talking anymore?”
Mark heard Paula shouting from the other side of the line.
”Sorry about that, I just got something on my mind at the moment.”
”Geez, please, seriously listen to me while I'm talking.”
Paula sounded exasperated.
”Alright, alright. Anyway, is Angeline fine already?”
”She's out of danger but the doctors could not say when she will wake up. It's good that the Mutagen helped in her recovery during the time she got wounded or else, she might not have made it.”
”It's good then.”
Saying that, Mark's eyes landed on Mikio for some reason before he continued talking on the phone.
”By the way, is text messaging possible in this communication line? I haven't tried it yet.”
”I think it is. I saw Raf sending messages before.”
”Raf… He's Angeline's brother right?”
”He is.”
”Alright then, the reason I called is because I wanted to ask a favor.”
”What is it?”
”I wanted to check if some people I know were there at Bay City taking refuge. Is it possible?”
”It's obviously possible. Do you want me to take them in?”
Paula suggested.
”Can you? Well, it's not confirmed yet that there really are there but if it is the case then please. I'll send a message later with the names of people who are possibly there.”
”No problem.”
”Okay then, thanks. We'll be going there after we end our search here. Also, since you're going to do that, I'll tell you a tip.”
”What tip?”
Mark decided to warn Paula about their circumstances.
”Even though it's less likely to happen since you're inside a safe zone, don't try to show yourself in front of the Mutated Infected.”
”Why?”
”You have that ability right? The one you inherited from your mother. It seems people like us are being targeted by Mutated Infected.”
”People like us… Then are you too…”
”That's right.”
After that, Mark said a few more things to Paula before they ended the conversation.
”How is it?”
Charmaine asked as one of the reasons for the call was their older sister.
”I'll send a message first. But the person I talked to said that she will check if the names of the people I will send her are present there.”
Mark replied.
”Alright.”
Charmaine and Cielo looked like they wanted to know the result as early as possible but they could only wait.
Mark did not intend to say the bad news about Angeline, Bernard and Calvin to Odelina and Mei right now as he did not want to make the atmosphere even more down. Furthermore, with the two aside, the other people here did not know those three.
He then looked towards the Rosamie and her children.
”Mrs. Rosamie, what are your plans?”
”Why do you ask?”
Rosamie replied at his sudden question.
”Actually, if possible I want you three to join us.”
”Alright, I agree.”
Rosamie answered straightforwardly that all of them were surprised.
”Don't you need to think about it more or ask for any reason?”
”There's no need to.”
Rosamie replied with a smile. She then continued.
”Actually, if you did not ask, I'll be the one asking you to let us join your group. You're searching for people and I also wanted to search for my brother. Furthermore, it's not good for us to stay here.”
Rosamie then narrated the situation where her daughter saved the police who were entangled with the gang members.
”With what happened, I don't think that they would be able to protect my children and it would be the other way around. I know it sound selfish but I don't want to put the lives of other people on the hands of my children. They are just children and they don't deserve such responsibility.”