Chapter 17

“It has now been declared as: Ground Zero.”

‘It has been exactly thirteen days after the “Raids” had happened in the areas around and within the Metro Manila area where most of the targeted establishments were either foreign owned or owned by high standing citizens with “Ground Zero” being at Downtown Block 616 formerly known as the Aseana business park which hosted businesses and residences for ASEAN and other East Asian countries who wanted to do business and or work inside the country. Other places that were hit by the raids were exclusive subdivisions in Makati, Quezon City, Pasig and Cubao areas, Gated villages in Lower Bulacan area and in Lower Antipolo. As of now the total number of injured innocent parties have been tallied at around 1,359 people with the number of deaths tallying at 57 making this the most violent terrorist attack in the National Capital Region.’

Pai was sitting atop his bed looking at the sky waiting for the Sun to arrive as it had been raining for the past few days now and he had been under a strict curfew for the past two weeks. He had not seen any of his friends in the last few days as school attendance had been poor as the school had allowed excused absences due to safety reasons as parents were still weary of sending their children outside the confines of their homes. Pai’s parents were no different as for the past weeks he had only been in school for a total of four days. He has no word from Denzo or Aida or even Neil. He was lucky enough to hang out with Casper the other day but other than that it was difficult for him to find anyone he could hangout with.

Pai’s family was one of the lucky ones that survived the raids unscathed. He had news from his homeroom teacher that almost half of his cluster was affected and one of those was Aida, whose brother got injured when his place of work was attacked that fateful night. Ever since then he never saw her, Nielsen on the other hand had disappeared off the grid, his social media was unresponsive and he was not replying to any of his messages. It was a complete blackout for him where all of the people he knew were out of reach as he finds himself looking out of the window in his room waiting for something good to happen, even if it’s just to see the warm rays of the sun touch his face again after days of heavy downpour. He also had difficulty falling asleep, but it wasn't because he was slowly developing insomnia from his isolation but from the loud whizzing noises he was hearing during the night. He couldn’t figure out what it was that he was hearing but he was sure he wasn’t the only one hearing them.

‘Pai?’ His mother greeted him as she peeked through his door. ‘I steamed some pork buns for our afternoon snack, you want some?’ She asked as Pai nodded, getting out of bed and down the stairs to meet his family sitting at the round table.

‘Botan stop playing with the lazy susan you're going to spill the pitcher’ His mom said as she reprimands his little sister who had just come home from school, still wearing her 4th grade uniform. ‘How come she gets to go to school and I don’t?’ Pai asked with a pouty expression.

‘Pai… we had talked about this, your sister’s school is just a couple of blocks away, she’s safe. Unlike Saint Rita’s in Makati where you have to travel miles just to get there.’

‘But she’s still here in six one six, isn’t it still dangerous?’ Pai argued as his mom just gave him a deep sigh. ‘Just eat your pork buns son, it’s just the hunger talking.’ She said.

Pai looked disappointed even though the pork buns looked warm and delicious in front of him. He just didn’t have the appetite to eat even if he wanted to. The only thing in his mind was seeing his friends again but even that was becoming a difficult ordeal. His mother gives him a worried stare as she sees him looking blankly at the food and was starting to get anxious as she had already seen his face like this before.

‘Don’t worry he’ll be fine.’ Her husband whispered, his hands firmly grasping her shoulders in assurance.

‘Can you tell?’ She asked.

‘I can, we’ve never seen him this relaxed before. He’s just missing his school. Let’s be glad at least for that.’ His father answered. Pai’s mom smiles knowing this and looks on at his eldest with a calm heart. ‘Yeah, this too shall pass…’ She whispered.

‘Look brother!’ Botan, his sister, said while holding up a piece of paper. On it is a drawing she made that afternoon in school. It was a picture of two purple flying saucers flying over their home and their family was looking out the window waving at it as it passed over their homes. ‘Look I got a 95 out of a hundred with my drawing! Look!’ She continued, trying to get her brother’s attention.

Pai looks at the picture with a disinterested expression. ‘What’s that supposed to be?’ He asked annoyingly. ‘It’s about the aliens that visit us every night.’ She said.

‘Aliens? What aliens?’

‘Don’t you hear them? The whooshy noises at night? I think they’re flying past us every night making sure we’re safe.’ Botan described.

‘Oh those…’ Pai answered after realizing what she meant. ‘Are you sure they’re aliens?’ He asked as his sister nods, taking a full bite out of her dumpling.

Pai had his eyebrows scrunched as he turned around to look at the television. The news about the raids were still running as he kept thinking deeper and deeper on the subject. He started to wonder whether or not these new incidents were connected to the raids, but only time can tell as he resigned his thoughts and goes back to eat the snacks his mother had provided for him. Although Pai couldn’t ignore that for some reason a feeling had ignited within him, a feeling of curiosity as once more he had found something to look forward to.

...

...

...

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‘Oh wow, and just for the low low price of 200 dollars US? What a bargain’ Neil said as he browsed on his computer. There was nothing more to do but kill time as he had been looking at his screen for the good part of the day and it caught his eye when the ad for backpack computer’s appeared to inform him of a sale. He quickly scrolls down to see the offers but scoffs at the selection of specs that were offered as there was nothing worthy enough for his needs as he looks at the computer powering his screen before shaking his head in dismay.

‘Assholes… charging double for something that a child can afford, heck it's not even that powerful.’ He responded as he continued to scroll down the page. ‘Let’s see which one here’s the closest.’

He scrolled further and further but with no result the only BPC he found that came close was around hundreds of dollars more than the first few products on sale which made him laugh out loud. ‘Hopefully no one gets suckered into this shit and just buy a laptop’ He said as he stands up and proceeds to shut down his computer system, which upon unplugging, neatly zips up into a backpack as he stuffs other wires and cases into it before swinging it up and around his back.

‘Oh hey Neil going out so late?’ A woman, who looked like she was in her late 20’s, greeted him as he left his room. ‘Hey Aster, yeah just have some errands to do.’ He replied.

‘Well good luck with your sister tho cuz she’s in a bad mood right now.’

‘Another asswipe client?’

‘Yeah…’

Neil silently creeps down the stairs as he hears the shouting coming from where her sister would be as he peeks from the railing to see the commotion happening up from where he stood.

‘I told you we have a money down policy here and still you keep giving out services without pay!’

‘But he’s been a long time patron and--’

‘And what?! You trusted him??’

‘I..’

‘Annie you fucking did! Again! Do you know what I’m about to do to you?!’

‘Please Big Sis don’t I promise I’ll…’

‘You always promise! Always! And still you keep making these stupid mistakes!’

‘Yikes…’

Neil said while he tiptoes across the room, hoping to slip out of the back door.

‘Neilsen!’ A loud terrifying shout had beamed itself towards the boy's eardrums that sent chills down his spine. Usually this would be game over for Neil as there was no escaping his sisters wrath but tonight was different, as he wasn’t going to let anyone disturb his plans.

‘WHERE ARE YOU GOING?’

Neil froze as a natural reaction to his sister’s call but he quickly dispatches his nerves and looks back at her, his eyes dead set on getting his way at this moment.

‘Out…’ He said calmly.

‘Out? Did you check the time? It’s fucking late!!’

‘I know! I’ll be back alright. Goddamn…’ Neil responds, his feet struggling to move forward even though his brain already told them to move.

‘Oh you’ll be back Neil! Goodluck getting back in!’

‘Whatever!’

‘Don’t you dare open tha--’

He slams the door slams behind him. And upon closing there was silence, a feeling of freedom swiftly overcame him as step by step he marched into the night. It was 10pm on his watch and the air outside was cold. Thankfully, Neil lives in a busy community just east of the metro so he had no trouble finding a ride away from his place as he now made his way towards his destination.

Block Six One Six.

…

…

--knock--knock--

--knock--knock--knock--

--knock--knock--knock--knock--

'WHAT?!’

Aida was already about to go to sleep when she heard someone knocking loudly on her door. It was one of the things she had gotten used to after deciding to live alone because of tensions within their family home, where she used to live with her parents, along with five of her brothers and sisters. It took her over three months to get used to the vulnerability of being alone in a new place but after a year of living on her own she had significantly toughened up and was surprised that she was enjoying it; except for moments like this where a random stranger would knock in the middle of the night.

‘It’s Neil! Didn't you get my text?’

‘No Go Away!’

‘Aida please it’s important.’ Neil begged but he was only met by silence. He tried knocking a couple more times but there was no response. He takes in a deep sigh before picking up his backpack as he walks away in low spirits. All of a sudden his plans were being thrown away piece by piece and he was starting to wonder that maybe fate had wanted him to stay put. ‘I should’ve seen the signs’ He thought as he remembered the scene at home thinking it was fate’s way of telling him not to push through, but before any sign of hope had left him, a call suddenly came through his phone.

‘What do you want?!’

‘Oh umm… Aida… umm I know it’s a bit sudden… and I was unsure to ask because of your brother… but… I-- I was gonna ask you to come with me tonight.’ Neil answered, flustered at the notion of Aida’s suddenly calling him.

‘Where?!’

‘Uptown 616’ He answered nervously, as he hoped that she would agree.

‘Near enough… Wait downstairs.’

Neil felt ecstatic after hearing her response. He nonchalantly agrees as he starts to set up his gadgets on the pavement in front of Aida’s apartment building entrance. He turned on his backpack computer and connected it wirelessly with his phone to act as his monitor. Normally people would just use the phone’s onboard GPS to use a map application but because most map apps available for phones only display 2D information, roads like the rail highway that divides uptown and downtown 616, doesn’t get displayed properly. Neil’s solution was to import a server based map program that he found on an imageboard website that displays the full map of Metro Manila in full rendered 3D. The only downside was that it can only be run on a powerful enough computer. Luckily Neil knows a thing or two about guerilla electronics and has put together a BPC powerful enough to rival anything on the current market which he now still uses for various activities such as the one he was about to embark with Aida tonight as she appears out into the streets with an annoyed expression towards Neil.

‘What are you up to Neil?’

‘Well ever since the raids happen I’ve been scouring the message boards for any insider clues with what’s happening in our country, and… guess what?’

‘What?’ She annoyingly replied.

‘This city is about to become a circus!’ Neil replied with an air of enthusiasm in his voice.

‘As if it’s not already, geez…’ Aida answered back, downplaying any excitement exhibited by Neil. ‘I’m only coming cuz of what you sent on the text.’ She added.

‘So you did read it?’

‘Just now I did. I had to backread through a shit ton of your texts. You type just as much as you speak, you know that?’

‘Well I am my personality.’ He proudly states.

‘SO, where are these cars you were talking about?’

…

…

Pai don’t jump!

Don’t jump!

Jump!

A loud thud followed by a groan of pain reverberates inside the confines of Pai’s room after he yeets himself unconsciously from the soft cushions of his bed. He had been having the same dreams lately of falling over high places which always resulted in him waking up in the middle of the night. Unfortunately tonight was one of the worst nights as he had fallen elbow first from his bed as he clutched it in pain, rocking himself back and forth to comfort his pain somehow.

-Whizzzzz-

A sharp whistle passed by his window which took some of his attention away from the pain he was experiencing. ‘There it is again’ He thought as he carefully got up from the floor.

-Whizzzzz-

Another one passed by.

-Whizzzzz-

And another.

This was starting to peak his curiosity.

He climbs up his bed to look at the street in front of their house as another whizzing sound flew by their house but he saw nothing on the main street besides the facade of their neighbor across as the sound of a helicopter flew above followed by the most violent mechanical cry he has ever heard in his life as a flash of light appeared from behind illuminating the rows of houses in front of their home. Pai suddenly realized that the noise was coming from behind their house as they were near the double stacked rail highway that connects the southern provinces to Manila and vice versa.

‘But how?’ He asked himself as he ran towards the back of their house to get a view of the double stacked structure just a football field length away from where they stayed. ‘I’ve never heard any traffic from up that place before so what’s different?’

He said as he shifted his eyes in between the splitting paths of the rail highway and the train loop that connects to it which flew over their home.

He kept watch as he kept hearing the same whizzing noise pass by the area time and time again as he tried his best to locate where they were passing by. A few more minutes had passed with no success and to make matters worse it had been quite some time since he had heard the whizzing noises pass by as it had been dead silent for the past few minutes he had been standing near the window of their home. His eyes were starting to close and his consciousness was drifting away to dreamland once again when his ears caught the whizzing sound once again. ‘Where are you?’

His frustration from his curiosity was starting to drive him mad as he couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from. He looks back at the hallway to check if anyone was awoken by any of the noise he was hearing but it seemed like everyone was fast asleep that even the helicopter flying overhead didn;t seem to garner a reaction from any of the other people in the house as he hears the faint tone of the violent noise he had heard earlier.

The screaming noise had only lasted over a second but he can’t believe what he had just seen as the bright headlights from the object revealed where they were running on as Pai could only mutter a single “Oh” as he stood there frozen in place.