CODIE: Revenant Protocol

BEFORE THE PROTOCOL

"Stop adding tension Baron, mag trabaho ka nga." Tulak nito sa kaibigan. Kinunutan lang siya nito ng noo bago tumingin sa cellphone na umiilaw.

"Marco's waiting for you outside later. He said he couldn't reach you."

At the mention of their pistol coach, Codie slumped. "Pagod na ako. Maybe I should give up on the Olympics this year." Thinking if she should escape to her father and go to do her Medical student duty with her twin.

Baron leaned forward. "So, should we just give this up?" Codie didn't answer. Instead, she picked up the chart and left to finish her task, forcing herself to focus without receiving any good messages from her sister.

Hours passed in a blur of rounds and paperwork. The chatter in the ward faded, but the news about Zone 9 kept replaying in her mind like static she couldn't turn off. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart jumped but it was never Connie.

By the time Codie slipped out for a break, her nerves were raw. She found Marco waiting at a small restaurant across the street, waving as if everything were normal.

"Nice eye bags. Very structured," he teased the moment she sat down.

Codie forced a laugh, though her mind was still in the hospital she still immediately raised her eyebrow and looked at the glass of coke that he pushed toward her, she didn't know but that coke is suspicious for her.

"Is this a treat? We are supposed to diet this month." Codie asked Marco to drink the coke anyway. Hindi siya sinagot ni Marco na pinanood lang siya habang umiinom na para bang malalim ang iniisip.

"So what's the call?' Codie asked without noticing that her glass was already empty and started to eat her pasta. Marco cleared his throat, erasing the tension of his body that made Codie frown.

He looked more tired than her.

"Anong problema?"

"Wala, Anyways. Do you want to stop being an athlete for a while?" Natigil si Codie sa pagkain at tinaasan ng kilay si Marco.

"This is our last chance under the university." So there is no way she would stop.

"Alam ko yan ang iniisip mo." Marco said and slid a brown envelope across the table.

"The dean wants you long-term. Even if you graduate you can still represent MBMU. You can freeze your life as an athlete and return after you graduate."

Codie blinked. "So...I can take a break from my other career?" Marco gave her another glass of juice after he noticed that she already emptied her glass.

Then replied.

"Exactly," Marco said.

Baron's words from earlier echoed in her head. Should we give this up? Before Marco could add something, Codie's phone buzzed from the emergency call.

She ran fast back to the hospital, hindi pa siya nakakarating sa emergency area, nakaramdam na siya ng kirot sa ulo niya, she thought it was nothing and tempted to run again but before she can even sprint fast, her vision darkend.

"What's wrong with me?" No one can answer her before everything around her turns black.

She woke hours later to hushed voices and the sting of antiseptic. Her father sat at her side, face tight with worry. Marco hovered near the window. Across the room, Baron hunched over paperwork, dark circles under his eyes.

"What... happened?" Codie rasped.

Her father's tone was sharp, covering his fear. "Pagod lang. Wala kang kain, wala kang tulog. Gawain ba ng atleta 'yan?"

Marco forced a smile. "Happy birthday."

"Happy birthday," Baron echoed, not looking up.

Codie frowned. "I've been asleep since Friday..."

"Lucky you," Baron muttered. "Doc. Cleo is missing since the Zone 9 news, Doc. Gomez said because his family is living at Zone 9 and now you leave me with all this paperwork. Residents are grilling me alive, Codie. I need your help."

Zone 9. The reminder pierced through her fog. Connie.

"Dad... how's Connie?" she asked, voice tight. "Zone 9?"

Her father's jaw hardened. "They're out of reach."

"The Zone 9 news are not good this day, Kung nag aalala ka ay bisitahin natin kapatid mo kahit sa border lang Codi-" Before Baron can even finished his words Codie's dad stopped him.

"No! You will not go their Codie." He angrily shouted na ikinagulat ng mag kaibigan natigil si Baron sa ginagawa at nilingon ang tatay ng kaibigan.

"Relax tito, I am just suggesting."

Before Codie could react, Baron's phone buzzed. His face drained of color as he read.

"The bombing's started in Zone 9," he whispered, then louder, voice shaking. "The news said, unknown creatures almost broke through!"

The world collapsed around her. Regret hit immediately, she should never have let her go in there with their mom.

"Try to call her again."

The news about Zone 9 was filled with speculation. No confirmation, only whispers and hidden truths. Yet Codie felt there was something deeper, something the media refused to show.

Her phone buzzed again, flashing a red emergency broadcast.

"Evacuation orders remain in effect. All citizens are advised to stay indoors and avoid the perimeter. Stay away from Zone 9."

She stared at the screen until her reflection blurred, a cold dread rising through her chest.

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HyacinthsPen