Sneaking Out

Chapter 09

We looked up just to see Ciarra and she doesn’t look so happy upon seeing the two of us together. I don’t know why she’s so pissed with me when we just met. I hadn’t even done anything wrong to her. Is it because she saw me inside her room without her knowledge? Or she just doesn’t feel me at all?

“What are you doing with the outsider?” she repeated as she folded her arms under her chest, lifting a brow on me.

“It’s Cali, not outsider. I have a name,” I told her sharply. “And is it bad to grab lunch with Hunter? I don’t think going out with him is a crime.”

“I am not talking to you. I am talking to Hunter,” she responded , now giving me a sharp glare. I rolled my eyes at her.

“Riiight. Talking to Hunter when you’re looking at me. Do I look like Hunter?” I said sarcastically.

Hunter seemed like he felt the tension arising between me and Ciarra because he suddenly stepped in our conversation and changed the topic, just even before Ciarra responded to my statement.

“Enough about that, Ciarra. What are you doing here? You rarely go to a cafe, right?” Hunter asked.

“Well, I was just going home when I saw the two of you. So I thought of paying a visit and checking out on why are you two together,” she said.

“You made it sound like hanging out with Cali was a bad thing,” Hunter said. “Anyway. Cali said that she wanted to join AMCO so I’m thinking of training and testing her, to see if she’s suitable to become an AMCO officer.”

Ciarra looked surprised and suddenly, she flashed a sour reaction. I knew that she’s not going to agree with Hunter. I mean, she’ve always made me feel that she doesn’t want me to be here that’s why I am no longer surprise if she object about me joining AMCO.

“No. I am not allowing that girl to join AMCO,” she said firmly. “We only want the strongest, not the clumsiest.”

I knew it. Her words annoyed me. A lot. That’s why I couldn’t help it but to fight back. Yes, I’ve been locked up inside our mansion our whole life, but I am not a scaredy cat who’d submit when someone’s trying to stomp on me. I am not a pushover who could be pushed just like that.

“Don’t underestimate me, Ciarra,” I started. “If you’re concluding that I am clumsiest, then why don’t we fight so I can prove you wrong?”

Hunter looked surprised and so was Ciarra. Ciarra narrowed her eyes on me and placed a hand on your hip.

“You really want to die early, don’t you? You don’t have any experience in fighting yet, you’re trying to challenge me? That’s funny,” she pointed out.

“That’s why I’m going to train,” I told her. She remained silent for a while, as if she’s thinking about something. But in the end, she didn’t agree and walked out on us just like that. I clenched my fist really tight, feeling super annoyed. I was so mad that I almost slammed the table, but thankfully, I was able to resist the urge to do so. I just took a breath and slowly exhaled.

“You okay?” Hunter asked with a concerned look on his face.

“Yeah, thanks,” I responded. Ciarra is the least of my priority now. I am really worried about what happened to my dad. I have to find a way to get to the land. I know that no one’s going to allow me, that's why I made up my mind to sneak out. I’ll just be careful so I won’t be busted. I can’t be caught even before I make it to the land. “Anyway, let’s finish the food. I want to go back home and take a break.” Of course, taking a break is a total lie. I want to go back to the land so I could find a way to sneak out.

“Alright then,” Hunter agreed and we started eating silently until we’re finished. As soon as we’re done, we walked together back to the headquarters. As soon as we entered, we saw the first squad all gathered up – Tessa, Jake, Gail and Santiago. They looked surprised upon seeing the two of us walking together.

“So, you two already met!” Tessa said.

“Yes, we did. We hang out for a while to get to know each other really well,” he said. “So, why are you gathered around here?”

Their faces turned serious. “We detected a group of infecteds up the land, and I’m planning to go up so I could also check the situation.”

Upon hearing that, an idea suddenly clicked inside my mind. It wasn’t the safest idea, but I have to do this. Time is running and I can’t spend any more time worrying and wondering where my father is right now. I have to go on the land by myself. That’s why I decided to follow Tessa and wait for her ‘til she rode their submarine.

“When are you going?” Hunter asked.

“Tonight, I’m flying with our flying submarine,” she said. “I have some preparations to make. Besides, night time is when they are most active. If we could gather everyone, then we can just throw a fire grenade to burn them.” Tessa explained.

“Alright. Just be careful and always stay sharp” Hunter said.

“Yes, like we always do,” Tessa responded. “I’m going up alone”

***

As planned, I decided to secretly follow Tessa wherever she goes. I’m surprised that she hadn’t seen me yet because a warrior is supposed to have a very sharp instinct, right? Maybe I’m just really good at following people around and at hiding.

Then I found myself standing in front of their training room. I hid, making sure that she wouldn't notice me. It was a training room filled with dummies and those dummies looked like zombies and they looked really real. Tessa pulled out two guns and slipped both in the gun holder belt that was wrapped around her waist. Then she clicked a switch and as soon as she did, the dummies started to move and attack her just like a real person.

Tessa drew her guns and started shooting them as she tried to avoid their attacks. She looked terrifying when she’s in action, especially when she kept on cursing those dummies angrily. She looked so angry and all she wanted was to end all the remaining infected. After a while, she stopped and then switched off the dummies.

“I’m going on a break, but I’ll be right back here in a minute” I heard her murmur. Then she walked away and when she’s out of sight, I went in and picked up one gun and pointed it at the dummies. I pulled the trigger and started shooting them one by one. I am no expert and this is the first time I used a gun. That's why even though the dummies aren’t moving, I missed some shots. When I heard footsteps coming my way, I made it as my cue to leave the training room and hid.

And those footsteps belong to Tessa who’s now preparing her ammos. “Alright, it’s time to go up the land,” I heard her mutter.

“And it’s time for me to sneak out with her,” I said inside my mind. I know that I’m not trained by Hunter yet, but I was so worried, eager and desperate to find my father. Sometimes, we have to take the biggest risk. Alright, let’s do this!