296 The Sudden Arrival of Unusual Creatures, Another Clue on the Source of the Contamination (1/2)
Day 44 – 10:28 AM – San Jose, Antipolo, Rizal
Mark finally learned about the most probable reason of the contamination. Any aircraft flying around the world crashed after the meteoroids exploded in the atmosphere forty-three days ago. That was because the sudden entrance of high concentration of Mutagen on earth hit them and turned the people aboard those aircrafts into infected monsters and other unsightly things. However, there were still some things that did not fall into place.
If the people aboard that plane were really the cause, why did it only happen now? Furthermore, the people here in this town seemed to have never encountered any infected people.
As Mark thought further, his eyes widened.
”Is it perhaps… related to that?”
”Sir, is there something wrong?”
Imee asked as she saw Mark's expression.
With her question, Mark turned back to her.
”It's nothing. Did you people check the area where the airplane crashed?”
”We didn't.” Imee shook her head. ”No one from our town would dare to venture inside that forest. We also don't know the exact location of the crash. All we could do was to send people to inform the authorities.”
Imee then fell silent. Those people, surely, no one managed to return. From her silence, it was likely that one of her loved ones were among them.
Soon, some steps could be heard from their side.
”Managed to sink it in?”
Mark spoke without looking. He knew who the person was in the first place.
”It's hard… but I can manage.”
The person replied. Her voice was wavering and sounded rough.
”Miss Jennivive, what happened?”
Imee asked as she looked at the teacher.
Her eyes were red and she seemed parched. It was obvious from her looks that she had just finished crying.
Seeing the teacher's state, Imee suddenly turned towards Mark.
”What did you people do?!”
Of course she would be suspicious. Aside from her sickness, Jennivive welcomed them fine. Now, something happened for sure from the current state of Jennivive.
”Imee, stop it. They didn't do anything bad.”
”Then why?”
”They just told the truth. The worst thing we could hear right now.”
Jennivive tried to smile but she was not able to.
”What truth…”
Imee was confused.
”You two better do that later.”
Mark interjected between the words of the two. When they looked at Mark's face from the side, they saw that his face was too serious as he stared at a certain direction. He then took out a pocket sized radio from his belt.
”Karlene, Edzel.”
From the second floor, Mark saw Edzel and Karlene stop what they were doing as they heard Mark's voice from the radio.
”Boss?”
”Mark? Why use the radio, you can just shout right?”
Two voices interjected one another from the radio Mark was holding.
”Make the children evacuate. We got company.”
”What?”
The two were surprised. One reason was because they suddenly have enemies at a strange time. According to the things they learned from Mark's base, feral evolved animals were more likely to attack during the night unless prey wandered near them during the day which was less likely to happen in places inhabited by people. Even though they were aggressive, they were not totally mindless. This early in the day and was about to approach noon was a very unusual time if the enemies were feral animals. From Jennivive's story, the only threat they had in this place was the number of animals that turned into monsters which for sure meant evolved animals.
Another thing that surprised the two was Mark's unusual serious tone as he told them about the threat. The two then heard Mark's admonishing tone.
”You two stop gawking around! The enemies this time is unusual to its better to retreat first!”
Hearing his shout, the two immediately moved. When the children learned that there were enemies coming, they immediately complied on evacuating. The younger children ran first towards the school while the older ones moved with Edzel and Karlene from behind.
”Sir Mark, what is going on?”
Jennivive asked. Hearing that enemies were coming, she could not believe it immediately. After all, there was no danger on sight even though they were on the second floor.
”Sir, are you sure about…”
Imee also tried to ask but she was not able to finish her words. Running from the northern side of the town, there were several horrendous looking creatures.
”No way…”
”My god…”
Imee and Jennivive could not help but gasp seeing those creatures.
Mark glanced at the two. From their expression, it seemed that this was not the first time for them to see such creatures. They seemed to be more surprised about the quantity and not the creatures itself.
”You encountered those creatures before?”
”Yes…”