Day 239 - Sunday - 1.30 PM
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEmJpYocAr
We reached an old estate house-abandoned, quiet, but strong enough to offer us a place to rest. After checking the perimeter, we sat down for lunch. The estate had a strange calmness that made even chewing feel loud.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFymAFPdXQ
Then, we heard a scream. Dev.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF7suMuhDT
We rushed outside. What we saw stunned us. Ajay stood there, panting. A rotten lay at his feet-stabbed through the head with the Keris we found earlier. Thank god, no one was hurt. Ajay looked shaken.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lFViGd7Du
He said softly, "This one must've been a mute... that's why we didn't hear it."
And the real shock? Cyclops-our trusted security system-didn't even detect it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zijM5KGkB
We ran to check the Cyclops system. There were supposed to be eight. But one... was dead. Probably damaged when Mr. Cheng shot at it during the drone incident.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0iAGZzVP0
We looked at each other-exhausted, alert. More cautious now.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOPzbgd580
Ajay stood before the fallen rotten. And then... he did something none of us expected.
He apologized.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXj4SgrIPQ
He said, "I'm sorry... I hold the cure in my hands, but still... I killed you."
His voice cracked with guilt.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogEh1eYkAe
K-Zhaii stepped forward. His eyes were stern, but his tone was firm. "Ajay, it wasn't your fault. If killing saves even one of us, then do it. This is survival. Don't forget that."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQp6m5Cxom
We all nodded. Quiet. Heavy. But stronger.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJksbcmT35
---
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2UfKXAT3l
A few hours later, we saw it-the hospital. Just like Mr. Amar described.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXIbOu6TFI
Tall walls surrounded it, topped with sharpened wooden spikes. We followed his instructions exactly-hands up, white flag waving, and voices calling for help.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWBRPJ20oA
Soon, the gates creaked open. A jeep rolled out with four armed people inside. One of them pointed a rifle at us and asked, "Who are you?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1qdxpmBRQ
Ajay and I stared at the red-haired man in the front seat.
"Anthony," we whispered together.
He was the guy Mr. Amar told us about.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg8oCzMcrI
I stepped forward, showed him the photo Amar gave us, and explained everything. One of the soldiers checked us carefully, then finally, they let us in.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37978H8F0Y
Inside was a whole new world-259 survivors, the biggest group we've seen. They were protected by a group of soldiers who called themselves The Stormbloods. Their leader? Major Prakash, a retired military man with eyes that had seen too much... but still held fire.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SEs1U10aR
We told them everything. Our journey. Raya. The cure. At first, they were skeptical-until we proved it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHeqi1WMch
There were a few rottens outside the east gate. We captured them, cured them.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk776SWWfVa
Silence.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm00WiVch1o
Then... shock. Joy. Hope.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZCbM9ad1W
Major Prakash shook Professor Joe's hand tightly. "You've brought light into a broken world."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATxjYS2kQj
But while the others celebrated, I was somewhere else.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lh9TbEaaj
My eyes searched the crowd. My heartbeat louder than the cheers.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhEWioZQaO
Where was Valli?
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RM57vNPWn
Ajay noticed. He placed his hand on my leg and said with a soft grin, "Stop being nervous, bro."
Even Kohila nodded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAmDRN2OYk
Professor Joe stepped forward and showed the Major Valli's photo. He explained how this entire journey started-with her.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhQIDgPZS5
The Major looked at me, then at the photo, and nodded slowly.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnF4qq1pCZ
"She's a brave one," he said. "She left with a rebel squad two days ago to help a family near the Malacca Planetarium."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBuj6cWaue
He explained further. The team she joined was called Last Flame. Six of them:
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PNGZq9Z3o
Azrul, the soldier and leader
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYltj6ASzU0
Gajan, the firefighter
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUtcxAx4BO
Harjit, a zookeeper
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7YBuqIA1n
Shilpa, a nurse
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5zjQR1iOW
Ling, a mechanic
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7I85QtGjd
...and Valli, the girl who lived in my heart
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz5JxO8Tu9
They volunteered to patrol dangerous areas, saving lives even if it meant risking their own. They were legends in this colony.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3LTbC08Vl
The Major smiled. "She'll return before sunset."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd91OsXZbGb
Pride and fear tangled inside me. I respected her courage. But I couldn't lie-I was scared.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHv26toamQ
---
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhI6d6rLAh
Day 239 - Sunday - 7.15 PM
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTDVbopxRq
I sat beside the main gate, staring at the horizon. K-Zhaii was with me.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOZjxv5dh0
"Bro," he sighed. "You need to chill."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1WKem32I3
But I couldn't. Every fifteen minutes, I asked the watchtower guard for updates. Eventually, the guard snapped, "Bro, give it a break!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs4xVpzV84
I laughed awkwardly.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmapmJdeBm
That's when a girl approached. She carried a small box.
"Are you... Pugazh?" she asked.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT264FTEQEs
I nodded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yZ7asVW5m
"I'm Shantini," she said. "Valli's close friend."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcquDrqVDzm
She placed the box in my hands and said something that made my soul float.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O2CAhknZm
"She's in love with you."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tOfxVFxRa
I stared at her.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnihC9IBcj
She continued, "She told me everything. The way you stood up to that Malay boy who teased her-that moment, she fell for you. And when you proposed during that video call, she was so happy she couldn't even speak. She bought a gift for you that day... she was on her way to meet you when the outbreak began."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxro1rplr32
I stood still. Frozen.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA0QyfbDAN
"She and her father were attacked by rottens. They had to turn back. After that, she and I ended up here. Her father died in battle. Since then, she's been protecting others like a warrior."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uARsHNb4e
Tears welled up in my eyes. My heart exploded in happiness.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5JIjPoqr6
For a few seconds... I wasn't in this world anymore.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah3CoTR40x
Just as my soul returned from that dreamscape, the watchtower guy raised his binoculars. He shouted-
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknFwM7EBQO
"Here! They come!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZk0wA6oGX
My heartbeat surged.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1JzAFXzqQ
I stood up.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeRnaEabe6
My eyes locked onto the horizon.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsNbpJCplo
I hoped-no, I believed-she was among them.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYuqcUqDIK
---
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQfOotWV3b
and then Add to home screen.