*BZZZ! BZZZ!*
Alvarez woke up, drenched in sweat, his phone buzzing violently beside him.
He had just woken up from a dream of some sort. At least that's what he thought it was. He couldn't remember the details. Just a blur and a hollow voice, and yet, his heart, ache.
"A dream?"He thought.
That has to be a dream. What even was it? Damn it, I've already forgotten.
He reached for his phone to silence, what he had thought was an alarm before realizing that it wasn't an alarm at all, it was an earthquake warning message:
"NDRRMC: (5:33AM, 12Apr25) A Magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Pasay City 7:36PM this morning. Aftershocks are expected."
"7.8 Magnitude, Holy shit?"
He worryingly told himself.
I hope everyone's okay. This will definitely be in the news. Oh well, I've woken up earlier than usual.
He stood up to grab himself a glass of water from a water dispenser, and he began drinking.
Oh that's better..
Still half asleep, He opened his phone again, mindlessly checking notifications, until one message caught his eye, a message from "Hannah Martinez".
He blinked.
Hannah who?
The name does sound familiar, but i could vaguely remember which from. I rarely get messages from anyone, let alone from a girl.
He couldn't stop his head from making up ideas about what the message could be about.
Was she an old friend? No way, I don't think i ever considered a girl, as a friend. Then is she interested in me?
Curiosity won and he clicked it.
The message read:
" Hey illagan right? I'm hannah from highschool, yk, your class president from
Grade 9-Laura? we're organizing a reunion this April, just tell me if you'll attend 🤍 "
Alvarez stared at the message with annoyance. His expression darkening.
She couldn't even spell my surname right.
It's "Ilagan", idiot.
Grade 9.. i could barely remember a damn thing from there. Reunion for what? These types of people piss me off.
He left the message on "read", and went on with his day.
After prepping his clothes for work, He headed into the shower. The water cascaded over him, briefly washing away the weight of everything.
So nice...
As he continue to shower he began to wonder what life would be if only he had just stick to his original plan and pursued content creation. If only he had the determination.
Should i have gone for it?
His chest tightened.
I had so many ideas about the content i wanted to make. But i waited, waited too long and now?
He sighed
Now I'm just a guy chasing paychecks, hustling to survive, all for the hope that tomorrow will be different.
But as these thoughts linger, he knew it wasn't worth worrying about what already happened. He has responsibilities now.
Yet deep inside, a voice whispered:
It's not too late, is it?
He soon stepped out, wrapped himself in a towel, and caught a glimpse of his stomach in the mirror. "Fuck.."He muttered, while poking it.
I should really cut down on unhealthy stuff and exercise more often. I'd get fat in no time if i continue this eating habit.
He checked the clock on his phone again. It's 7:45AM. He bolted out the door and waited by the street curb for a jeepney.
"Come on.. come on... I can't be late"
None stopped. They were all packed. Frustrated he hailed a taxi. This was his last option, since taxi drivers usually charge higher. As the taxi weave through the traffic that only got worse every corner, He began impatiently tapping his foot.
"Shittt, shittt, shitttt"
My manager wouldn't care if there was traffic. He never did. He'd punish me regardless. That self important assholenever cared about anyone "lower than him".
Even though his life is honestly no better than ours, he makes just a bit more than we do, yet he still views himself superior simply because of his position.
Time was running out so he pulled out his wallet to check.
Inside, was all 500 Peso Bills.
NO FUCKING WAY!
COME ON!
...
I've got no choice.
"Boss, I'll get off here!"
He pulled out a 500 peso bill and gave it to the driver before running off to the train station.
Driver: Lucky me *chuckles*
Alvarez, frantically began looking for the train station
Where the hell is that station again?
Where's that damn—ah there!
He entered, tapped in, dodged a group of students and crammed inside a train that was already there, just before the doors slid shut.
It smelled of nothing, but body odor.
Finally, after awhile, a seat next to him became available and he slid into it.
Finally...
Just as he let's out a sigh of relief, the train entered a tunnel, and then it happened .
*Screeeeeeechhhhh—THUNK.*
The lights flicker.
The train halted. People stumbled.
Passengers:
"What just happened?"
"Is something going on?"
"What the hell?"
"Is there an emergency?"
"Why did did it stop?"
"Hey what's with this?"
Then—
A distant explosion rocked the train.
Glass vibrated.
Panic spread like wild fire.
Before anything can happen next, a glowing interface lights up in Alvarez's eyes:
| [SYSTEM] INITIALIZING |
It was hovering off thin air, clean and futuristic.
Like a game menu but in real life.
Alvarez blinked. Looked around.
No one else reacted to it.
No one else saw it.
A message pops up:
| OBJECTIVE: Survive |
What the actual fuck?
Am i hallucinating?
Am i dreaming?
Then out of nowhere, the train was split vertically in the middle. Literally.
Metal groaned as sparks flew.
The doors hissed open, and people screamed, bolting out in panic.
I couldn't move. I couldn't believe what i was seeing. What the fuck is happening?
He began hearing screams, as he looked outside of the train, there they were.
Monsters.
Hideous, towering, fanged abominations, crawling through the tunnels shadow.
Ripping to anything in their path.
Devouring passengers in the most graphic way imaginable.
*AHHHHHH!!!!!*
..No, this can't be real.
Disaster Warning Sirens wailed like a demon's cry. He snapped back to what is now "Reality", his body moving purely on instinct.
Adrenaline kicked in.
He ran. Fast.
After what seemed like eternity.
He arrived at the next station.
Panting heavily, barely able to breathe.
It was quiet. Dead silence.
Outside...ruin.
Collapsed buildings.
Burning cars.
Destruction.
There were blood everywhere.
As his body shaked.
Every part of his body hurts.
His lungs burned.
Then he hears it.
Someone crying in the distance.
He peeked out.
A young girl, crying, sitting in the middle of the road.
A monster appeared, rummaging through the ruins. It turns towards her. Slowly approaching. Maw opening wide.
Alvarez's eyes widen. His body still in a state of shock.
As if his body just moved on its own, he ran out to confront the monster.
Shouting:
"Hey you right there, you piece of shit! What are you doing coward! Preying on little girls? PEDOPHILE! How pathetic. You ugly bastard, why not be a man and fight me one on one! Are you scared huh?!"
His voice, shaking.
What the fuck am i doing?
The creature, turned to look at Alvarez, both staring at each other for an uncomfortable amount of time.
Then it looks back at the young girl.
Ready for it's meal.
Shit, I need to distract it..
Alvarez picked up a piece of rock and threw it at the monster.
*BONK*
The creature froze.
Did it work?
The monster began to slowly turn it's head back to Alvarez. Staring at him with deadly eyes.
Alvarez began to nervously sweat, his heart pounding.
I messed up.
*ROARRRRR!*
The monster, enraged, lunges forward and–
----TO BE CONTINUED...----