Episode 1 - Dark Blood
Woke up with head injuries -- I think.
I know that because I can feel the lump on my forehead. It hurts when I touch it. I turned my gaze further and can only see white light from sunshine. I maybe lying beneath a window.
"Why the hell would they lock in a police officer?" I thought to myself.
I didn't yell out for help. I cannot remember anything aside from the medium-sized lump on my forehead. There may be "unfriendlies" outside. I have to peep first from the window.
I cautiously peeped from the window slit. It's a bright morning outside. I looked at my watch and it says 9 o'clock. I can see the highway from my view and I saw three cars which might have figured in an accident. The middle car was burnt beyond recognition and the other cars have their windows shattered. I can also see two gas pumps just a couple of feet from the window where I am standing. I maybe inside a gas station. But where are the attendants? I moved my gaze further. It was then that I saw bodies -- dead bodies! In my count there's about five dead bodies outside. What happened? Odd -- this highway is a busy road and by my recollection, it should have lots of cars in it by this time of day. The police instinct in me began to tingle. Something's afoot!
I took a short wire from my pocket. I always bring one during my shift, you wouldn't know when it'll come in handy -- like in this case. I picked the door lock and slowly opened the door, my gun raised at eye level. If there's trouble outside, I'd be the first to shoot.
The door creaked ominously as more sunshine enters the room. I panned my vision from left to right while gripping my gun promptly. Nothing. No people. Just silence. I can now see the whole highway. There are a lot of vehicles but they're not moving. Some got open doors. It's as if their drivers and passengers left in a hurry. Why? I looked back and saw I just came out from the mechanic's room. But no mechanic.
One thing's for sure -- the gas station is deserted. I checked the restrooms, the cashier's seat and the customer's lounge. No people.
I entered the 24-hour convenience store inside the station. Still no people. I can only hear the coffee vending machine humming. Good idea. I'll have some coffee while I figure out what's happening. I took one from the vendo and propped my ass on the seat. Took a sip from my coffee while my other hand searched for my e-cigarette inside my breast pocket. No e-cig. Where's my e-cig? I can't remember. So, I pulled out a Marlboro pack and a lighter from the display, and lighted one cigarette. I puffed. As i blew out smoke, things started to come back. Slowly, memories started to appear.
0117H last night.
It was an hour past midnight when our duty dispatch sergeant asked me to proceed at a gasoline station for a routine investigation. The station's cashier had complained of a mentally-deranged man causing trouble in their establishment, frightening customer's away. Their guard, she said, obviously cannot control the unidentified man. She also said the man had already injured two of their gasoline boys. Peanuts! I'll bring one Pro-Baton with me, whack the guy on his knees and presto, I'll cuff him and bring him in.
"Okay, sarge, I'm on it!"
I drove the police car around the block and arrived at the location in about 20 minutes. I was still engaging my hand brakes when I saw the female cashier running towards me... groaning! I pulled out my Pro-Baton and alighted from my vehicle. The female cashier was lunging at me, bloodied from the head down to her neck!
"HEY, EASY! This is the police, I'm here to help!"
She didn't stop! I moved backward and had my foot caught in the police car's fender. I fell down on my back! I am now lying on the pavement. I was about to stand up when the cashier suddenly jumped on top of me! The light from the lamp post shone on her face. I can see her face now. Her eyes are gray as a cat's. Her left ear is torn from her cheek and I can see dark blood oozing from the wound. Her skin is pale-white like chalk was smeared on her. Fear groped me. I can feel shock running down my spine. I froze in terror!
It was then that I realized she's probably sick. No, she's crazy! Am I just imagining it or did I just sense that she's trying to get a bite from me? As I try to push her back, I can see the "two injured gasoline boys" making a run towards me and the -- this female bitch, whatever she's called. I can hear the boys groaning! Are they all mad here?!
I mustered all my strength, summoned all guts and courage from inside of me! I have to survive this!
"I'm sorry, miss, but I have to get you off of me!"
I kicked hard on her stomach and it sent her flying away from me! I quickly stood up and held my Pro-Baton tight against me. She still made a lunge at me so I hit her hard on the body. She didn't stop. I hit her again! This time on the knees -- but she still moved towards me. I am starting to panic. I made a hard hit on her head. That stopped her! She fell on the pavement, not moving. My hands are now numbed over the blows I made, and before I can gather my thoughts, the two boys were already near me, hands reached out as if trying to pull me in. The taller one held me on my shirt and tried to bite me! I hit him with my Pro-Baton in the head! I learn quickly! Seeing the female cashier mighty strong for body hits, I have to hit them in the head. Hitting them in the head will stop them from attacking me! I gave the other boy a blow in the head.
"Now, there's three of them lying on the pavement."
But my trouble's far from over! The guard and a guy wearing a dirty t-shirt are heading towards me. They got blood on their clothes. They're "unfriendlies". I pulled out my pistol and fired at their bodies-- but that didn't stop them, they're still moving towards me! How can this be happening?
"The head, you've got to shoot 'em in the head!" I said to myself.
I dragged my sights onto their faces and fired! The guy wearing dirty clothes fell. I can see his brains splattered on the pavement. I fired again. This time at the guard's head. Blood spurted as he fell down.
Suddenly, there was silence. Deafening.
I holstered my pistol and took my radio from my waist. Whoa, no radio? Must've fell while I was grappling with the female bitch! I attempted to look for it on the ground when the street lights suddenly went off. It is now total darkness. I was about to search for my radio when I heard GROANS! Yes, groans much like the female bitch's, the gasoline boys' and the guard' and the guy wearing dirty clothes. Judging from the volume of the groans, THEY are many! I took a frenzy and ran inwards the station.
"I HAVE TO HIDE!"
I saw this little room and rammed my body inside. I shut the door and grappled for the lock. There is no lock!
"SHIT!"
I opened the door again, frisked the door knob and felt the lever. I pushed it down to lock-mode then quickly shut the door. Gave it a few tests and when I'm dead sure it's completely locked, I slowly walked backwards away from the door, going inner the small room.
"Control your breath, man, you're not sure if they can hear you or not."
I stood hard and firm. I strained my ears for any sounds. The groans are getting farther.
"tik-tak-tik-tak..." No need to get excited, it's just the clock, man!
"tik-tak-tik-tak.."
The groans go farther still. Until I can hear them no more. The bitches are gone!
I slowly turned the door knob. It didn't budge. I tried again. It will not budge. Aah, yes I remember I locked it from the outside. But I can't stay here and risk myself. They may come back! I took one deep breath and gave the door a big tug. I must've pulled hard it seemed to give a vibration from a shelf on top of the door -- something fell on my head. Hard! Felt fuzzy and numb. The room seems to get darker. I think I'm about to pass out....
PRESENT TIME
My coffee's almost done. I dropped my cigarette butt on the floor and gave it a smack from my foot. There may be more of those crazy people out there! I have to get back to the police station. I have to talk to my commander. We have to stop these people.
I approached my vehicle and boarded it. Turned the ignition on and heard the engine crank. I placed my gear to first shift and started to move out. My police car merged onto the highway and sped off. I felt the lump on my forehead. It still hurts.
"I think I'm having a headache."
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