Sixth Run

In the room where Liam is, his heart has always been tense and scared. In the time that had passed, a lot of people came in and out of the store. He doesn’t know if those people still wanted to go inside the room where he is since the storage room is there and it’s still full of food. That’s why his heart is always tense.

He didn’t know if the people coming in had weapons or not, and he was afraid that they'd do something to him or kill him at worst.

The week passed in a blur, and the room became Liam’s refuge and, at the same time, his prison.

He sat on the sofa, staring at the door as if it would open when he stared at it. When there’s a noise outside, it gives him hope that it's already Lucas and his family. The air inside the room is a mix of anxiety and abandonment. He knows that Lucas isn’t the type of person who will abandon someone, but a knot in his heart couldn’t help but tighten even his stomach. The weight of the thought that he was abandoned felt so heavy that it pressed against his chest.

Lucas and his wife, as well as his daughter, are close to Liam. He had been in his house not just once or twice, but many times. Since the day he came out to them, they have welcomed him with a warm smile. This made him feel at ease whenever he was with them.

As Liam replayed Lucas’s promise in his mind, he tried to hold onto the hope of his old man’s friend that he would return with Shina and their daughter. However, as the days dragged on, he couldn’t help but feel doubt in his heart. It crept him out, but he still held onto that.

“Where are they?” Liam muttered to himself.

His voice was barely audible, and since he is the only one in the room, no one will answer it. Even so, even if he has someone to be with this time, there’s no way that person could answer him.

Since the store has just been supplied a day before things turn wrong, the whole storage room of the convenience store is full of food. The food in the islands has been looted, and there’s only food in the storage room left inside the room he was in. The foods in there, thankfully, are all canned goods and bottled water.

For some reason, even though he felt anxious, Liam could still feel thankful that he has food and doesn’t have to worry about it.

With each passing day, his worries even deeperened. The shadows and growls outside made him feel even more anxious, as the eerie feelings still lingered in the whole store. Not only that, the feelings of worry for his family and Lucas and his family still made him feel as if he’s going to choke.

Liam couldn’t help but think about it. He didn’t know if he had to just continue and wait for Lucas and his family or start to venture outside cautiously. Liam shivered when he heard the unsettling sounds coming from the outside of the store. Since he had been there since the day happened, he didn’t know what it was like outside. All he could tell was that those zombies were there, waiting for their next victim, and it was only based on the sounds Liam could hear from the inside.

As the suffocating air inside the room makes Liam feel more like he wants to go outside, as the light starts to flicker and it feels like the electricity is starting to go out, not only that, but the zombies outside the store are still roaming around. The days have been blurred for Liam, and the feeling of abandonment is starting to become even more certain. The hope he had once been holding on to is now starting to burst like a bubble in the air.

Liam sat down on the chair, becoming more and more depressed. The despair he felt was like wanting to kill him.

The television is flickering, now displaying only static lines. When combined with the eerie growl from the outside, the air inside the room became even heavier.

Liam glanced around the room; the once-familiar space felt like a prison to him. He is now certain that Lucas has abandoned him. He couldn’t shake the thought of nagging Lucas, and even though he wanted to cuss him out, he couldn’t. After all, he didn’t even know what really happened to him. However, he could tell that he was abandoned by the man he trusted, the person whom he had been with at work for a long time.

“Why would he leave me here?” Liam whispered.

However, the silence in the room makes him feel like the silence is mocking him for believing his manager. His interaction with Lucas had played in his mind, searching for clues that might explain why Lucas abandoned him. Doubt and frustration started to eat him. The isolation even amplified the fears he felt inside.

Liam clenched his hand into his fist as he fought back the urge to go out and got ahead with his emotion. He’s always been like this. Whenever his emotions have gotten over his rationality, he has always been acting without thinking. The anguish, betrayal, and anger started to haunt him and made him feel even more scared.

He wanted to go out and find his family. He wanted to go out because he wouldn't be able to do anything if he just sat here, waiting for someone to save him. He had to save his family. If they are still safe, then it’s better. If not, then it’s okay; he’ll do something to make them safe, and the people won't hurt them even if they’re already zombies.

That’s right, Liam; he had to go out and save them. Since Lucas won't be back anymore, I might as well go and try to go out as well.

However, he needed a plan; he couldn’t go out without a plan.

Two weeks later,.

Liam has been locked up in the room for two weeks. After waiting for his friend to come and pick him up with his wife and daughter, who, in reality, abandoned him. And a week to prepare himself to go out and find his family.

The television channel has been gone; however, even with the static little sound, it makes Liam feel like he isn’t alone. Thus, he let it open and heard the noise from the television. At night, whenever he heard a growl and scratches on the walls from the outside, he woke up to reality. That’s right, everything wasn’t the same anymore. He isn’t the same anymore.

The despair that comes from worries and loneliness pushes him to the brink. He was once a lively yet quite college student, and now he is not even near what he was before things turned out like this.

The decision he made feels surreal, but he is determined to go out of this store and find his siblings. After all, he wouldn’t let them experience what he had just experienced. They are more important to him than the others.

Liam looked out the window. The once familiar streets of Eldo had become a nightmare for everyone. Those mindless figures that roam around without a proper direction—those mindless people who either broke a foot, an arm, or had a chunk of flesh missing in their body—looking at them makes one’s hair up.

Then he saw a lone figure outside. His heart pounded, and he could hear it. The figure lurched towards him, which made him feel even more scared. He had been in this room for two weeks, and he couldn’t help but feel anxiety from being alone.

He couldn’t stay locked up any longer.

Gathering the makeshift weapon he made, a few canned goods, and determination born out of frustration, Liam moved out of the room and looked around. Every step he took was light, and he was afraid to get the attention of those undead outside. One of the glasses was broken, and Liam thought that it was the one that was broken by the looters.

The groans grew louder as a group of mindless figures emerged from the dark when they heard Liam’s noise inside the store. He hasn’t gotten out of the store; he just slumbed the baseball bat that the owner hung inside the store, and he put nails on it. He swung it to the mindless people inside the store, and it caused noise that made those mindless figures outside start to go in his direction.

In a desperate moment, Liam held the baseball bat with nails on the end of it tightly. His heart is pounding even more as those creatures start to go in using the broken glass on the left side of the store. With a deep breath, Liam started to swing the makeshift weapon he made and engage himself in the chaotic center of those undead. His figure is like a man dancing in the middle of those mindless figures.

With his movement, the mindless figure became even more aggressive. However, for some reason, they didn’t only go in his direction but in other directions as well. Liam could tell that there were other people out there as well, but he had no time to look for them or see them. After all, he didn’t know what kind of person that was. All he needs to do right now is to focus and try to get out of the store.

As one of the creatures lunged onto him, he was startled. It was so sudden that he didn’t know what to do. If he swung his baseball bat at that creature, the one in front of him would definitely lunge into him. He didn’t know what to do, and panic started to take over.

However, Liam was shocked when another bat swung in the direction of the creature, who jumped to lunge into him. Liam was shocked. When he finally realized what had happened, he looked at the person in front of him.

The stranger moved with grace, and by just watching, Liam could tell that this person wasn’t as simple as he thought. For some reason, Liam felt a little at ease. The danger subsided a little when there’s no more mindless creature to linger in the store anymore. The strange turned to look at him, their eyes locking for the first time.

Liam calmed himself. As a gay man, he had been eager to see this kind of man. The man in front of him is the man he is looking for! However, he himself tried to calm himself. He doesn’t want this man to get scared, and instead of helping him, he will run away.

“Stay close and keep quiet,” the stranger said, his voice low and steady.

Liam almost shivered with his voice. It was as if he wanted to hear it all the time. It was good in the ear and felt like the voice of the stranger was trying to lure him.

Heck, he didn’t want this man to be scared. Thus, he keeps reminding himself not to do something excessive. Also, he should not let this stranger know that he is gay. After all, he didn’t know him. What if he’s a homophobic person? Then he’ll surely die at this time.

Liam catches his breath and nods his head in gratitude. Of course, he isn’t that stupid or dumb to go and make some noise. He’s not asking for those mindless creatures to go and eat him. He wanted to get eaten, but not this kind of food.

“Who are you?” Liam asked, panting.

The stranger glanced at him first. “Brandon,” he replied. His gaze left Liam and he started to scan the surroundings. “Have you been here alone? For how long? You shouldn’t be here out alone.” He then turned to face Liam. “Come with me if you want to live,” he added.

Liam frowned. He knows that this person in front of him is indeed good-looking; he is his type. However, he has no idea who it is. He didn’t know what kind of person he was.

Seeing the hesitation in Liam’s eyes, he couldn’t blame him. After all, with the things happening right now, who would have trusted anyone whom they just met? Even though he looks okay and can make someone feel safe, those who are betrayed or abandoned won't be able to come with him.

“Look, I get it.” Brandon stepped towards Liam and stopped in front of him. “This place is a nightmare, and being alone isn’t an option,” Brandon said, his tone full of earnestness. “I’m not here to hurt you, and we will stick together if we want to survive this mess.”

Liam clutched his makeshift weapon and hesitated. The fear in his eyes was visible. However, there’s a hint of curiosity as well. Considering Brandon’s words, he is right. Especially when he could tell that the handsome person in front of him could be his prospective ally.

Brandon took a step closer again, lowering his weapon. “My name is Brandon, and I’ve been in the city for three weeks before these things happen. I am a military commander.” He then took out his badge and ID. “You don’t have to worry about me. Trust me, it’s better to have someone watch your back.”

Liam stared at Brandon’s ID and badge, then looked into Brandon’s eyes. The silence hung in the air for a moment before Brandon continued to convince Liam.

“I was a commander of the special forces before all of this. A month ago, I received a mission, and I had been here in Eldo for three weeks, and sh*t happened. My priority right now is surviving, and I have tried to save those who are able to survive. That means finding others and sticking together. Was it alright?”

Liam didn’t speak. He knew that Brandon had shared his past, and he wanted to as well. But with the abandonment, it was difficult for him to trust. However, in order to survive, he took a deep breath.

Brandon then sighed. “Alright, I’ll tell you something. I tracked you for a reason, William. I know who you are, but you don’t know me. We stand a better chance together,” he added. His words were unwavering.

If it weren’t for the things that Brandon said, he'd definitely go hypnotized with Brandon’s eyes. He knows him.

“Who did you—”

“It was because of your sister; don’t worry. Since your sister did something, of course, everyone in a higher position knows their family member. So, you don’t have to worry. And these things, for what I believe, aren’t your sister’s fault.”

Liam bit his lips. This is the first time that not only he but also his siblings believe that his sister is innocent and that it wasn’t her fault.

Liam is uncertain; he felt a glimmer of trust in the person in front of him, but he doesn’t want to. The idea of facing reality is hard, but it is also hard to trust the person you just met.

After a moment of contemplation, Liam only nodded his head. He silently acknowledged the fragile alliance he had with the person in front of him. He is uncertain, but he doesn’t want to be in this place alone.

He wanted to leave.

He has to go and find his family.