Chapter 16: Gut Feeling

The whole harbor is a mess as I we make our way. Screams of different people are everywhere. The same with gunshots and explosions.

"How could we fight off that thing?" I heard one of Fernando's men mumbles.

I look at the gigantic octopus monster. Many soldiers are busy fighting it, but from what I could see, it's just a pure slaughter on the soldier's side.

"As long as chance didn't permit it, we will not engage with that monster," I said as I continue running ahead.

"Erin!"

*Bang!*

Carlo shoots the zombie who suddenly jumps to my right side. It slumps down right in front of me. It still moves so I deal the final blow shooting its head.

"Thanks, man!" I said as I reloaded my gun.

"No problem, focus on locating old gramps," Carlo shoots more incoming zombies.

"Let's split here, the harbor is huge and there are three ships. Let's go with three groups each." I and the others nod at Fernando's words.

Carlo, me, and Fernando lead each group. We have three men in each group.

"Don't get killed," I said to them.

"So as you," Carlo said.

"Yeah!" I answer and with that, we went on our separate ways.

Just where are you gramps right now?

We move with precise and quick steps and keep running around the harbor towards the dock. I raised my right arms to halt our move.

I'm now in front of one of the ship docks. I look at the huge ship that is already a mile away in front of us. Huge black letters, 'Exodus 001' is the name written on its side. As I look up, smoke can be seen erupting from the ship. And people are jumping to the sea.

'Erin, focus on anything to where grandpaps might be? Where? Where?' I step sideways when a zombie approaches me. And shot its shoulders. It stumbles on the ground.

"Ho-hope is lost!" It kept saying as it gets back on its knees and attacks me again.

"Not for me, but for you," This time, I shot its head and it falls, completely dead this time. "Rest in peace,"

"Erin above us!" One of the men shouted with fright.

A huge shadow tower over me, as I look up, I saw the horrendous octopus monster above me! The heck?! Why is it here?!

"Sh*t!"

I and the men with me evade in different areas.

"Oh! Crap!" I jump on my left side. But I would still be hit by the gigantic monster. Tsk. I should have brought spare clothes.

"Jump on the sea!" I shouted to the other men. I too, jump right off the bay of the dock.

*Splash!*

"Erin!" I heard Carlo's shout before I fall in the water.

I immediately dive up. "Tsk. I should have expected the worst." The monster is also right in front of me as I dived up. The dock, I'm standing before is completely crushed into pieces.

"Erin get back onshore!" Fernando shouts.

*Boom!*

I swim back on the shore when the monster is distracted by the grenades Carlo and the others throw at it. I see the other men with me are also doing the same. I will have no chance of living here if I stay here. But I thought we're going separate ways? Why are these two here?

I finally make it out from the sea. I wince to see that my left shoulder is bleeding. Tsk. It must be hit accidentally by one of the wooden planks when I jump. Carlo and the rest of his men hurriedly meet with me on the shore.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Erin, your shoulders!" Instead of answering, Carlo looks at my bleeding shoulders.

"This is just a small wound," I tear the sleeves of my attire and rolled it towards my wound. "That is not enough we should treat..."

I cut off Carlo's words. " We don't have time for that. Now answer my question,"

He just raises his hands showing defeat. And instead of answering again, Carlo points to something. I look towards where he is pointing. That I see, the two boats they were supposed to go were tackled at the tentacles of two huge octopus monsters and being split into two.

"The f*ck! There are other two of that thing?!" I said out loud. Then I look back to the last ship.

"As you can see that's the remaining ship," Carlo said "And it will be destroyed if that monster reaches that too." The huge octopus has ignored the bombs thrown at it as it swims towards the ship.

"Tsk. Why is fate really giving us the chance? Give me a new gun," I said and Carlo hands me two new guns.

"So what's the plan?"

"Do you really need to ask that? We will make that octopus, one fine calamari," I said as I reload the guns.

"And gramps?"

"He is on that ship," I said nonchalantly.

"Are you certain?"

"Yeah, my gut feeling told me so," And there is no way he would die that easily.

"Hah," Carlo snickered. "Then, I guess we don't have a choice to trust the guts of the great Erin."

"You jest," I smirked.

"Erin!" Fernando's group is already heading this way too.

"How many explosives do we still have?" I asked as soon as Fernando was right in front of me.

"We still have fifteen left on my side," Carlo said.

"Twenty," Fernando answered.

"That's plenty enough." I pointed my gun towards the large octopus swimming away and heading to the last remaining ship. Then my sight caught the small fishing vessels and boats that are line up near the shore. That would be perfect.

"There are oil barrels, I found right before the dock, help me load towards that boat," I said as I pointed out towards a certain black boat.

Carlo and Fernando seem to realize my plan and soon we loaded the barrels towards the boat. "You sure this is going to work?"

"Definitely," I dust off my hands after we loaded the oil. "Now, I..." Carlo cut me off.

"I will be the one going. You should head to the ship while we are dealing with that squid." Carlo said.

"But..."

"I'll be fine. You should focus on finding gramps instead." Carlo said as he entered the boat.

"Fine, don't do anything reckless,"

"Hah, this plan is already reckless, to begin with." Carlo chuckled.

"Yeah right." I rolled my eyes.

"So it's set," Fernando said as he rode another boat. Once again we are divided into three groups, riding different boats. But the difference is, Carlo is alone on the other boat where the oils and explosives are.

Now, we are heading towards the ship.

Just 3 kilometers away from the monster, I turn the steering wheel of the boat to the left side. Fernando on the right and Carlo...Why isn't he jumping yet?!

The boat Carlo is riding is heading straight to the monster. 2 km, 1... "Carlo! Jump out of the boat now!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

The boat collides with the monster and a huge explosion erupted from it. It sends strong waves in our direction. "Drive this!" I said to one of the men with me and run towards the railing of the boat. My eyes are trying to locate a certain someone on the vast blue. The monster who suffered great damage is slowly drowning. But I can't still find the person I'm looking for.

'Carlo, you idiot! Where are you?!" I shouted, and at the same time, I see someone who appears on the sea. Fernando's boat is heading towards him. I finally release a deep breath to see that it was Carlo. Then he signals me with a thumbs up and gestures for me to proceed on the ship.

"That's a close one, idiot," I turn my back towards their direction and focus on the ship that is only a kilometer away from us.

"Exodus 001..." My gut feeling was never wrong, I know you're their grandpaps.