john arnold florentino was a good man. so he didn’t know what he had done to deserve this kind of crappy life.

“florentino,” his companion whispered. “ayos ka lang ba? (are you okay?)”

florentino looked at his bleeding arm. one of the undead had bit him. undead. that was the term used by mark jimenez, just before running out on them. the first time he saw the kid’s face, he knew something was up. mark jimenez knows what these creatures are.

he believed that mark jimenez knows where the undead are coming from.

“florentino?”

”kailangan nating mag-report kay chief. (we have to report to the chief.)” florentino managed to gasp out. he was having trouble speaking. breathing, even. “kailangan nating masabi na may kinalaman si mark jimenez. at kung ano talaga ang mga nilalang na ito. (tell him about mark jimenez’s involvement—and what these creatures really are.)”

he tried to stand up, but fell back down. florentino couldn’t understand how one bite could affect him this way. their two other companions went down bravely. they went down with guns still a-blazing.

”florentino, baka kailangan magpahinga na muna tayo. maghanap ng ligtas na lugar. (florentino, maybe we should rest first. find some place safe.”

there is nowhere safe, florentino thought. not anymore. they have to make their report now. before it’s too late.

”tara na. (let’s go.)” florentino grabbed at his companion’s shoulder, hoisting himself up to a standing position. he succeeded this time around, but he felt the world spin around him.

his companion. for some reason, florentino could no longer remember what his companion’s name was. his companion was taking him to the direction of their vehicle. they have to make a report.

florentino could feel his life ebbing away. he lost hold of his companion’s shoulder. he fell into a heap.

”mag-report ka sa headquarters. (report to headquarters.)”

those were the last words that came out of his mouth.

- - -

sergio esteban looked at his colleague’s broken form. he was the only one left. it was time to make the report.

he fished out a cellular phone from a hidden pocket inside his jacket, dialed a number he had committed to memory.

“it’s done.” he said on the mouthpiece. “your son is on the run.”

“job well done,” a deep voice said on the other side of the conversation. sergio smiled. he could hear the smile on his boss’s face. he was intuitive like that.

sergio started walking for his car, one hand nesting comfortably on his gun. he had been trained to fight the undead. now all he had to do was get into his car and drive to the nearest atm machine. thank goodness those machines still worked.

as he inserted the car keys on the door’s lock, he felt something heavy land on his shoulder. sergio turned, just in time to see florentino sink his teeth into his arm.

“no!”