Copyright © 2013 by Dell Anne Eresmas
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages embodied in critical articles or in a review.
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Previously on EFTBP
My eyes felt lighter now. I don’t know if I could open it, but I'll try anyway. Brightness welcomed me as soon as I opened my eyes causing me to close it again. Slowly, I started opening it once again. I adjusted my visions against the intense light, causing me to moan in frustration. It slowly cleared until everything looked visible. I peered beside me and saw Sandra leaning her head on my arm.
She was here all the time?
I slowly lifted my hand towards her and pushed a strand of her hair away from her face.
Beautiful
Her red lips was slightly parted, creating a heavenly sound. Her eyelashes were dark and long, while her cheeks was pinkish due to the warm temperature. Admiring her everywhere, she began to stir.
I didn't look away. I just couldn't.
She sat up and yawned. She did not notice me being awake and the intense gaze I was giving her. She sleepishly looked to my way and stumbled on her seat. Her eyes widened in realization as she finally saw me.
"Nate?"
I smiled at her while my hands dishevelled her hair.
"Sandra"
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"Breck, could you please pass me some of that broth?" Casey asked during dinner. Breck nodded and passed it to her direction.
"Thanks!" she smiled cheerfully.
They smiled and continued on eating. They were eating in the middle of the dining room that has a long wooded table. 12 chairs were situated around it.
"I'm glad Nate's awake. It took him days to recover" Michelle broke the silence first. Some nodded and agreed.
"Yeah"
"Ahuh"
"It"s a relief"
"Cool"
After that, the room went silent. They haven't had a proper meal ever since those corpses arrived, but now finally! Homemade food taste like heaven!
"So, how many are you guys?" Samuel asked, feeling comfortable.
"More like 15, I think. Right Paul?" Michelle asked.
"Yeah, including Sandra and Nate. They're not here for the time being" Paul added on.
"Oh. So, Sandra and Nate are.... together?" Sam asked, interested. Some looked at him amused for asking that kind of question. That was personal and to think, he was just new here.
"No. They're just close. Sandra thinks she owes Nate for saving her life many times, so she volunteered to take care of him" Michelle said, giving him her best smiles.
"What happened to her, if I may ask?" Sam continued on.
"Nothing! Corpse just attacked her or something. Nothing to talk about" Shimmer said, uncomfortably. She looked down and played on her food. Everyone looked at her, puzzled, but no one dared to ask her. She was acting different since this Sam came along.
"Is that so?" Sam grabbed his glass and drank from it while smirking at Shimmer in amusement. Shimmer looked up and down when she realized Sam's interrogating gaze. There was something in his gaze that allowed her to squirm uncomfortably on her chair. Her fingers fidgeted, making her nervousness more obvious. Spoon and forks resounded around the room as gulps followed suit. They were really enjoying their meal.
"Excuse me. I'm not feeling well" Sandra loudly-whispered. She stood up and left for her room. Sam noticed her disturbed appearance and chuckled silently to himself.
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-Breck's P.O.V-
'Something is off about him' The voice inside me said and I immediately agreed. I felt the same way. There's something about him that really bug us off. Every time he talks, the inner voice inside me cringed.
'I really know him, but I can't remember. You need to figure it out. No, WE need to figure it out' My inner voice said.
'I know, but how? He’s dangerous, I could feel it' I answered.
'I know. But no matter what, we really need to before someone’s hurt'
Before someone is hurt? I thought to myself.
'Do you feel it?' I asked the voice.
'Yes, strongly. If he’s here, something will happen. Don't doubt me'
'No, I don't doubt you. Let’s just keep our eyes open'
The inner voice didn't answer back. He must have been thingking deeply.I took this opportunity to mind my own thoughts and shut the inner voice out. Looking ahead of me, I observed Sam while he ate. He was smirking at someone. I followed his gaze and found Shimmer - being uncomfortable. Shimmer was bothered by it a lot and no one noticed it except me, I think. She kept her gaze below - fiddling her fingers against each other. I gritted my teeth and balled my fist - annoyed at Sam. He was pretty much enjoying this.
Not for long, Shimmer stood up and excused herself. As she walked pass my chair, her face was in dismay. I could see fresh tears in her eyes - beginning to form.
'She feels the same about Sam' My inner voice finally decided to talk!
'I know. I saw it and you are right.We need to get him out of here"
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Sam walked along the dimmed hallways. Michael took this as an opportunity to talk to him. He leaned against the wall and waited for Sam to arrive.
"What?" Sam snapped at him, pissed off when he notice Michael's presence. He was a failure at his sight. Michael grabbed his shirt and pinned him against the wall.
"What do you think you're doing in here? You're planning something aren't you?" Michael said, gritting his teeth. Sam shoved his hand away from him and changed the scene upside down; he was now pinning Michael against the wall.
"What? Scared that I might do something to hurt them? Well you didn't follow my orders Mich. What did you expect? I will do it myself and don't you dare butt in" He spit the words out and shoved Michael away.
"If you touch one of them, I’ll kill you" Michael spat back. Sam smirked at him. He continued to stare at Michael and grimaced.
"I would love to kill you too"
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"Sandra! I told you to place your hands properly and please stop moving! How can you shoot your target if you kept on fidgeting?" Michael exclaimed as he trained Sandra to use his sniper shuffle.
Sandra groaned in frustration when she didn't get it.
"We've been training for a day now and I clearly don't get it. Knife is so much easier!" She shouted in annoyance. Mich face-palmed, controlling his anger. 'What did I get myself into?' he thought.
"How come I aim properly when I'm using a knife?! Why not in this stupid sniper of yours! Oh I know, it’s because of this stupid eyepiece that I can’t shoot well! Why does this gun have an eyepiece?! It’s a piece of a cake with so much toppings that makes it more frustrating! Can't we just use a gun without this stupid, annoying and ugly eyepiece?!" She bubbled, waving her hands annoyingly in frustration, and stomped her feet dramatically.
Michael rolled his eyes at her 'bratiness' (If that's even a word) and decided to have his plan B. An idea appeared in his mind and he immediately stood up. He raised his palm towards Sandra to shut her mouth off.
"What?" She furrowed her brows.
"If you can’t use an eyepiece, you can use a gun!" Exclaimed Michael with his biggest grin.
"ahmm, I am using a gun..." She paused, looking at the weapon and continued "with a stupid eyepiece"
Mich rolled his eyes for the hundredth time already and frowned.
"Really? Are you really this stupid?"
"Hey I’m not!" She defended herself like a kid does when they were caught lying. Michael shrugged her response and continued with his plan.
"Do you remember the gun that you used against the 'all black' guys?" He explained simply for her to understand immediately.
"ahuh" Sandra nodded and urged him to go on.
"Well that's the gun I meant, dickwad" He hit her head like a big brother does to his little sister and started laughing.
"Ouch! What was that for?" She shouted as her hands went to her now injured head, thanks to Michael.But of course it was not that hard. Sandra just added a little bit flavoring on her acting skills.
"For being a dickwad"
"Is that even a word, dickwad?" She retorted.
"Oh God! Which planet did you come from?"
"I’ve heard that question twice already! Stop it!"
Michael continued laughing and burst out more-if that was even possible-but he did anyway until his eyes cried out with tears.
"It’s not funny. IM NOT FUNNY!" she glared at him, exasperated by his bullies.
He laughed continually until he noticed it-a presence behind her. He stopped laughing and looked over her shoulders.
Samuel
Michael took a glimpse and glared at him. He gritted his teeth and balled his fist. Sandra noticed it and looked behind her.
"You okay?" She asked, worry was etched on her face when she found out no one was there-behind her.
He took a deep breath and relaxed. He shrugged his shoulders and gave her his sincere smile.
"Yeah. Carry on"
Sandra sighed but nodded anyway.
"Which planet are you from again?" He teased back.
"Unbelievably annoying! Dickwad!" She folded her arms together and pouted.
"Oh, Miss planet is learning!" He chuckled and dishevelled her hair.
And that continued on until they finished the training.
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"Hey" Sandra smiled towards Nate who was calmly lying on his bed. He peered to her direction and grinned.
"Hey"
Being contagious that he is, Sandra can't help herself from smiling back.
"I brought you your medicine"
He sat up and leaned comfortably. A grunt escaped his lips as his muscles contracted. Sandra ran to his side almost immediately and helped him up. She touched his arms and guided him to the pillows. Nate looked at her and said his thanks. Sandra looked back and was caught within his gaze. Heat flowed through their veins as the room temperature dropped dramatically-making them more uncomfortable. Sandra woke up from her trance and pulled back but Nate never did look away. They both breathed rapidly as their pulses palpitated. They stayed silent for a moment, not one of them tried to utter a single word.
By this time, Nate realized she was the one who touched him between his dreams. The thing he felt just moments ago was uniformed to what he felt before. He wanted to talk, but no words seems to escape his mouth.
"Excuse me" Sandra finally managed to break the silence between them. She turned and started for the door.Nate looked at her retreating back as she left. He can't stop her, can he? He shrugged those feelings away and thought of Sandra's stead. She needs time to figure it out but Nate, on the other hand, knew what he felt for her and won't stop for whatever the reasons are.
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*Knocks
No answer
*Knocks
Still, no answer.
Breck was sure Shimmer was now in her room. She left just moments ago. Standing outside her room, knocking, he was nervous as hell. He didn't know what to say or how to open up the topic about Sam.
'Go in' The inner voice urged.
'No I can't, she might be changing or sleeping' Breck answered anxiously.
'Just do it' The voice pushed.
Breck slowly placed his hand over the knob and turned it. The door creaked opened and he entered.
"Shimmer?"
The lights were off, making him more anxious by the minute. Breck adjusted his visions and went in farther. He looked around, but she wasn't there. He felt her bed against his palms and it was still warm. She must have left before I came. He thought.
Taking a few steps, he slowly walked towards the bathroom to check. The carpet was soft against his shoes, leaving no sound at all upon walking.
tap tap tap
He stopped and listened intently. It sounded like drops of water. It resonated all over the tiled room and the door was ajar so he pushed it open. Shimmer was on the floor, lying with closed eyes. He immediately ran towards her and shook her shoulders.
"Shimmer! Shimmer! Oh sh*t"
She didn't budge and didn't respond. He placed his hand around her waist, while the other was placed at the back of her neck. Pulling her against his chest, he slowly brought her on top of her bed. He checked her pulses and temperature and sure enough, she was having a fever. He stood up-to warn the others-but she stopped him with her hands. He looked down at her and frowned. Her eyes were bloodshot.
"Please, don't tell anyone" after she said those words, she collapsed back to her bed.
'Oh boy, what did I get myself into?'
'Shut it. She needs your help'
'I'm not even a doctor!'
'Just get her a cold compress, you know, that's what they normally do when someone has a fever'
'Fine. You're really a headache'
'You owe me'
'Yeah. yeah. Let's just get started'
'Good'
He went to the kitchen and grabbed some ice inside the container. He grabbed a towel and went back to her side. When he realized her fever was at high temperature, he ran back towards the kitchen and took Michelle's aid kit. He grabbed some acetaminophen and let Shimmer drank it.
'I think this would do. So, what am I supposed to do next?' He asked his inner voice.
silence
'Oh great. You’re shutting your mouth right now?'
silence
He groaned in frustration and started working on it anyway. He grabbed the towel and soaked it with cold water. He took her temperature once again and frowned deeper. It was 40°. Pretty damn high. The meds didn't effect right away so he lay her down for rest and placed the towel on her forehead. She stirred for a moment and breathed contently after it.
Hours later
He fell asleep beside her bed and woke up when he felt someone poking his cheeks. He opened his eyes and was surprised; she was now kneeling beside him. Her eyes were now calm and collected. He looked deeper and realized she had an amazing ocean blue eyes that slowly calmed his heart.
"Thanks for taking care of me" She whispered.
"i-its fine" He stuttered.
'Oh. Looks who's being a lover boy' His inner voice teased.
'Oh so now, you talk? Shut up' Breck retorted.
Shimmer stood up and sat on her bed, still facing him. She looked away and started fidgeting uncomfortably.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" she finally asked him.
"Yes. I was supposed to discuss it with you, but, you were not in good state" Breck answered back.
"Yeah. Let's just discuss it now"
She looked into his eyes and Breck blushed slightly. He couldn't stand the intensity of her stare. He sighed to himself knowing that it was dark-making it impossible for her to see his reaction.
'Yeah, but she saw it' The inner voice interjected.
'Just shut up!' Breck warned.
"Since those corpse started, as a memory, all I could remember is the symbol of Milantro. I don't know why, but I couldn't even remember the faces of my family-especially their names. But somehow, the symbol never leaves my mind. Every detail is vivid" Sandra started.
Breck sat straight and listened intently. She looked at him and he urged her to continue.
"I have this weird feeling that occurs in me when I see people related to Milantro. Last time, we fought against their soldiers and I was in a state where every part of me was shut off. I felt like I was being controlled. Controlled to sit back and do nothing. The same thing goes for Sam, he bugs me like really seriously. I think he's part of the Milantro and I need to take him away from us"
Breck was dumbfounded of what he heard. He felt the same except for the part 'controlled'. Somehow, Sam has a way of revealing the worst of him.
'Same thing, man!' The inner voice answered.
"I feel the same about him" Breck confessed.
They stayed silent for a sec, trying to process their thoughts.
"I don't know why it's only us who can feel it. I really want to know. I can't keep myself away from the truth. I need to know it before I die a-and before I'm eaten by those fucking corpses" Sandra mumbled.
"No, you won't die and won't let those corpses eat you. We need to figure things out Sandra" Breck said. Holding her hand in his.
"We?" she asked-surprised.
"Yeah, were together in this" He softy told her. With every part of him, he meant it.
She looked at him with furrowed brows, as if she couldn't believe it. Someone was actually helping her!
"Thank you"
She said truthfully at him and he nodded.
'Stop. It's annoying. Let’s just go and start figuring things out. That will be MORE interesting than this'
I rolled my eyes annoyingly at my inner twin and snapped.
'SHUT UP'
And that's when a loud bang from the other room was heard. Shimmer and Breck exchanged looks-with eyes widened.
"Whose room is-" Breck panicked but was cut off when Sandra shouted.
"Sandra!" She let go of his hand and ran for the other room. Breck didn't lose any second, he followed suit.
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-Sandra's P.O.V-
After that awkward moment, I went back to my room-feeling entirely confused by what happened.
I locked the door behind me and searched for the lights. My fingers brushed against it and pushed it. The lights turned on making everything visible. My eyes looked ahead of me and landed on someone.
"Hello Sandra"
My fears from all those years haunted me back. I stood there, panicking. When everything finally sink in, I abruptly ran towards the door. He was so fast because he was already behind me. Before I could react, he hit me on the head and I lost consciousness.
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To Be Continued....
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