Day 239 - Sunday - 1.30 PM
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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.
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Then, we heard a scream. Dev.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We looked at each other-exhausted, alert. More cautious now.
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Ajay stood before the fallen rotten. And then... he did something none of us expected.
He apologized.
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He said, "I'm sorry... I hold the cure in my hands, but still... I killed you."
His voice cracked with guilt.
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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."
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We all nodded. Quiet. Heavy. But stronger.
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---
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A few hours later, we saw it-the hospital. Just like Mr. Amar described.
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Tall walls surrounded it, topped with sharpened wooden spikes. We followed his instructions exactly-hands up, white flag waving, and voices calling for help.
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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?"
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We told them everything. Our journey. Raya. The cure. At first, they were skeptical-until we proved it.
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There were a few rottens outside the east gate. We captured them, cured them.
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Silence.
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Then... shock. Joy. Hope.
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Major Prakash shook Professor Joe's hand tightly. "You've brought light into a broken world."
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But while the others celebrated, I was somewhere else.
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My eyes searched the crowd. My heartbeat louder than the cheers.
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Where was Valli?
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Ajay noticed. He placed his hand on my leg and said with a soft grin, "Stop being nervous, bro."
Even Kohila nodded.
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Professor Joe stepped forward and showed the Major Valli's photo. He explained how this entire journey started-with her.
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The Major looked at me, then at the photo, and nodded slowly.
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"She's a brave one," he said. "She left with a rebel squad two days ago to help a family near the Malacca Planetarium."
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He explained further. The team she joined was called Last Flame. Six of them:
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Azrul, the soldier and leader
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Gajan, the firefighter
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Harjit, a zookeeper
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Shilpa, a nurse
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Ling, a mechanic
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...and Valli, the girl who lived in my heart
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They volunteered to patrol dangerous areas, saving lives even if it meant risking their own. They were legends in this colony.
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The Major smiled. "She'll return before sunset."
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Pride and fear tangled inside me. I respected her courage. But I couldn't lie-I was scared.
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---
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Day 239 - Sunday - 7.15 PM
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I sat beside the main gate, staring at the horizon. K-Zhaii was with me.
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"Bro," he sighed. "You need to chill."
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But I couldn't. Every fifteen minutes, I asked the watchtower guard for updates. Eventually, the guard snapped, "Bro, give it a break!"
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I laughed awkwardly.
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That's when a girl approached. She carried a small box.
"Are you... Pugazh?" she asked.
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I nodded.
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"I'm Shantini," she said. "Valli's close friend."
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She placed the box in my hands and said something that made my soul float.
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"She's in love with you."
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I stared at her.
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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."
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I stood still. Frozen.
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"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."
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Tears welled up in my eyes. My heart exploded in happiness.
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For a few seconds... I wasn't in this world anymore.
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Just as my soul returned from that dreamscape, the watchtower guy raised his binoculars. He shouted-
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"Here! They come!"
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My heartbeat surged.
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I stood up.
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My eyes locked onto the horizon.
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I hoped-no, I believed-she was among them.
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and then Add to home screen.