Lady in Blue: The Billionaire's Regret

THE PAST

THE PAST

“A—Aaaaaaaaaaah! H—help….!”

Greasy-headed in a frenzy wheeze in a blur, the starry night has been covered by grey clouds. They were much darker as if a black canvas was hovering, and covering each corner. Apart from that, there are screams, and bloodcurdling cries coming from outside as they get attacked by horrid vile monsters who were once human. It was of men, but overhead the growls were much louder. The corpses in their wake were restless as they sought flesh. Each man has been filled with fear. Discarded fire as the monsters feast. The last survivors of humanity had been perplexed when their headquarters has been attacked by hordes of corpses.

“f**k!” Cyron cursed.

His breathing is laboured. A flock of messy black hair lay sprouting on top of his head. A blood-smeared cloth is what comforts him. Panic seized him—each one of his group are.

It was supposed to be a casual night, shielded from the terrifying nightmare that wipe out humanity a year ago. A virus, where the Pandemic leads to death, the government's downfall and the spread of a new era where it’s either to be killed or get killed. The survival of the fittest. Cyron and the others outlive, they manage to adapt to the new world order, but it seems like tonight—death decided to pay them a visit.

“We’re screw.” Ryu was panting when he showed up.

His left arm is bleeding. Terrified, Rebeca pointed her 7.62mm Dragunov Sniper Rifle⁠ at him.

“H—hey!” Ryu’s eyes widened.

“Did you get bitten?” Her eyes are sharp, her finger is hovering on the trigger as if she wouldn’t hesitate to shoot Ryu if he was.

“O—of course, I’m not!” Ryu gulps. “It’s a wound, not a bite.”

“Let me see.” Cyron walked closer to him. “He’s telling the truth, it’s a wound.”

“See?” The latter rolled his eyes.

“What’s the status outside?” It was Katana’s turn.

“Worst.” Ryu bitterly uttered. “It happened too fast. When Nathan told me that the left wing had been breached, I tried to warn the others, but all of our communications has been gone. The flesh-eaters may have destroyed our wires—.”

But a scream cut off his words.

“Yumi!” Cyron reacted quick.

He was on his feet carrying his sword.

“No, Cy!” Lin grabbed his wrist. “It was dangerous outside—”

“Yumi needs me!” He glowered.

Lin immediately withdraw her hand, and a pain struck expression flashed on the latter’s eyes.

Cyron didn’t notice it, but the others did.

“O—oh.”

Lin is his ex-lover.

“I’m just….” But Cyron was already out of the door. “…worried.”

Yumi’s voice rang. When Cyron stormed out, the first thing that greeted him was her hanging on the rope as if it is her lifeline. No, because it was.

“Yumi!”

“C—cy…” She sobs.

If she fall, there wouldn’t be any chance that she would survive. The flesh-eaters would instantly devour Yumi, flesh by flesh, skin by skin. They would bite her until none left. That for an instance made her terrified.

“Hang on!” Cyron gritted his teeth.

Behind him, Nami was already on his tail.

“I’ll clear your way.” Her face was stoic.

Frowning, Nami pulled her bows. Her arrows aren’t a normal one that was made of wood. Nathan had upgraded her weapon—no, their weapon, knowing that a simple scratch wouldn’t even stop the flesh eaters.

When Nami aimed, her arrows release an electrical shock that exploded once it hit the target.

BOOM!

Flame erupted. Grunts succumbed to the blazing flame as the flesh-eaters get electrocuted, while a few lost their arms and head.

“Go!”

Cyron takes that opportunity.

He draw his sword and swung it to the flesh-eater closer at him.

SLICE.

His chest was beating horribly. Full of worries and fear, not for him, but Yumi.

‘Wait for me.’ He whispered inside his head.

His heart hammered. A rotten smell took dominion over his senses. It was the scent of death coming from the corpses that were once humans left abandoned by the government. They died and seek refuge, becoming one of the flesh-eaters that roamed on earth. There, humans were the ones being sought and hunted. That….marked the beginning of the apocalypse.

“On your left!” Nami’s scream caught him off guard.

“s**t!”

They were outnumbered.

He had almost get bitten.

“C—cy!” Yumi shrieked.

The rope let out a grunt. It seems like it won’t be able to hold her any longer. The flesh-eaters below her raised their arms in a failed attempt to grab ahold of her feet. Yumi shut down her orbs.

“O—oh my god!”

She never wanted to die.

She hasn’t done anything yet.

She hasn’t made sure whether her family were really dead or if there is a cure of this sickness. She wasn’t supposed to be there.

She isn’t….

The rope released another noise.

She smiled bitterly.

“G—goodbye, Cy…”

“YUMI!”

How she wished that before her death… she would have admitted that she felt the same for him, before the apocalypse and before his confession.

She should have….Yumi should have professed. But all her regrets would get buried once she died like those flesh-eaters.

Her promises flashed before her eyes.

‘Promise me that you’ll live.’

But it seems like, Yumi wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.

In a blink, the rope has been cut loose, and she could feel herself falling only that a hand grab her wrist in time.

“Yumi! s**t!”

It was Cyron. He was gritting his teeth, his forehead cease in utter frustration.

“C—cy—” Her eyes watered.

She hated being the damsel in distress that requires him to always rescue her. Yumi loathed being weak.

“Just hold tight, Yumi! I’ll save you, don’t worry!”

But his face implicated that it wouldn’t be easy. The wooden floor creak and Yumi knew better what was worst to come.

“Y—you should let me go—”

“Shut up!” He was mad.

“It’s either you or me, C—cy—” Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Cyron angrily glared at her.

“I won’t f*****g let you go, so f*****g shut up about dying—!”

Yumi bites down her lips.

She opened her mouth to speak when Cyron made a bold move.

“Trust me.”

The wind remains stilled. A subtle force made her gasp. Cyron preceded. He holds firm her wrist, and in a circular motion throw Yumi with all his might overhead.

GASP.

With her reflexes, Yumi managed to grab ahold of where she landed, although stunned. Her heart was beating fast. Laboured breathing, when she whipped her head across to where Cyron was.

“Cy!”

But it’s too late.

To save her, he must risk his life. Yumi was rescued, while Cyron fell to the hordes in seek of the upcoming flesh from above as the floor gave way underneath him.

He fell with a thud. A c***k on his ribs made him grunt. It soared, a hot white pain that almost blinded him for a second.

The flesh-eaters surrounded him. The hordes grab his arms and legs… and he knew that probably it might have been his bitter end…or so he thought.

SHOOT.

“f*****g move or I’ll kick your a*s, Cyron!” It is Rebecca.

Bullets rang through the night sky. They were loud and clear as each head fell to the ground. She was aiming after their neck, while Nami was trying so hard to hit a few without harming Cyron in the process.

“Move!”

Adrenaline rushed through his vein. He was awake. On his feet, Cyron draws his sword.

The choice is in his hand. It’s whether he wanted to live or die.

“Make a way for me!” He yelled above the noise.

But his arms and his legs are already sore. They were throbbing, and his injury from the fall made his attack a little slower.

“s**t!”

“Need a little help, man?” Ace showed up.

Behind him was Bob, who was busy smashing a few flesh-eaters, who were trying to get on their way.

“Shut up.” Cyron rolled his eyes, but he was grateful.

“Just say your thanks later.” Ace chuckled.

Same as him, he was also using a sword.

With their strength, the trio manage to make it to the rooftop where the others are waiting.

Yumi was there, she quickly run to where Cyron was and engulfed him in a tight embrace.

“You fool!” She cried.

Lin on the other hand looks away. It’s been quite long, but the pain is still fresh on her chest. It made her gnaw her lips, the grudge was unending as it spread like a wildfire ready to consume her.

“You should have never done—” But Yumi was cut off.

“Wait, Cy….” Bob trailed off.

“What?” He followed where he was looking for.

“Y—you were bitten…” Yumi stammered.

“s**t!”

“O—oh my god!” Rebecca covered her mouth.

All of them are stunned.

“N—no, perhaps it is just a wound…”

But Cyron knew better. How can he be so reckless?

Katana pointed her g*n at him.

“You knew what would happen—”

“Stop it! Please, maybe we—” Yumi was hyperventilating.

“No…” Cyron could feel the lump forming in his throat. “….it’s a bite.”

Everybody was glued to their feet. Stun, shocked, and a few seems sad. Saddened because they knew what fate awaited for Cyron.

He bitterly smiles.

He is not yet ready to die.

“Nathan told me that the helicopter would arrive in any minute now.” Katana hardened her façade. “And you are bitten. You know exactly that you won’t be able to tag along, Cy. Do you understand?”

“I…” He paused for a moment. “I understand.”

He knew that this is where it ends. This is where it is going to end.

“No.” Yumi shook her head in denial. “Please…”

“I’m sorry—”

But they haven’t finished yet with their goodbyes when the door was slammed open by a horde of flesh-eaters. They were grunting, their teeth bared as they began to advance.

The group was cornered.

“s**t!”

Rebecca and Nami began firing. Ace swung his sword alongside with Cyron, who could feel himself…no, something seems to stir inside of him.

“No…!”

The sound of the chopper resounded overhead.

“Guys! C’mon!” Nathan shouted.

He throw a rope where they could climb.

“Go now!” Katana ordered the group.

They took turns, a few manage to successfully board the helicopter, while Cyron never looked back.

“Cy…” Ace sadly called for his name.

“Go!” He isn’t mad at them.

He is angry at himself for being so reckless.

“I’m sorry.” With a Crestfallen face, Ace boarded the chopper with a heavy heart.

Cyron knew that he won’t last long standing against the flesh-eater alone.

“You son of a b***h!” His emotions get the better out of him.

He retrieved a grenade and pulled its safety pin. Before it could explode, Cyron used his might to jump to the next rooftop.

BOOM.

The impact almost made him lose his balance.

“s**t!” He gritted his teeth.

But that explosion wasn’t enough to wipe out the vile creatures…and he could also feel that it won’t be long before he became one with them.

“I won’t be like you, assholes!” Cyron swung his sword, making sure that his path is cleared before he run to where the heart of their headquarters was.

“C—cy!” Yumi is crying.

“It’s your fault!” Lin angrily pointed her finger at her.

“N—no….”

The sadness was evident in their faces.

Yumi blamed herself although she was not at fault.

“Nobody wanted it to happen.” Ace hangs his head low.

“I—if it wasn’t because of you….” Lin cried.

Distraught, when Nathan yelled out.

“s**t! I forgot about the walls!”

“What walls?” Katana shouted.

“That wall.” Nathan was referring to the wall they built around that was now destroyed. This keeps the flesh-eaters outside, and to how they infiltrated the area is unbeknownst to them.

“Can’t you just fly the chopper higher?”

“I can’t.” Nathan shook his head. “We only have enough gas before we reach the port.”

“s**t!”

A voice ring on their headset.

“Don’t worry, I got you!” It was Cyron who is already inside their headquarters.

They could hear groans and loud grunts coming from where he is.

“Cy!” Nathan was astonished to hear him alive.

“Just tell me where I—Arck!” Cyron felt his bones cracking, and his head—was throbbing painfully as if something wanted to come out, and carve itself under his skin.

“Are you alright, Cy?”

“F—faster! Tell me h—how to operate the g—gate!” He was in a hurry.

“T—the large button!”

“Copy!”

The large gate let out a loud creak. Relieved, Nathan sighed.

“Thanks, Cy—”

“Now, do me a favour.” Cyron sounded serious. “How can I self-destruct our main facilities—”

“Cy…”

“Please.”

Nathan seems torn.

“In any minute now, I’ll turn into one.” Cyron bitterly uttered. The thought made him clench his fist in anger. “I don’t want to be the monster that I hated the most, Nate.”

“I—…I understand.” Nathan uttered lowly.

“Don’t you dare!” Yumi screamed.

But hearing Cyron, he seems firm in his decision.

“I’m sorry, Yumi.” Cyron smiled sadly.

“Just the blue button beside the panel, Cy.” Nathan could feel his stomach churning. “But if you do that….you know….you’ll get burned as well. The self-destruction of our facility would release the flame I had restored—”

“I know.” Cyron chuckled. “Goodbye, Nate.”

“Cy…”

At that exact moment, the door was slammed down on the ground. The hordes rushed inside. As they charge behind his back, Cyron with a small smile did not hesitate. Regrets that filled him fade into a distance.

He faces the flesh-eaters, chuckling. “Goodbye, motherfuckers!”

And with all his might pushed the button without remorse.

Numb, when the flame engulfs him, Cyron let out a gasp. The hordes were totally deluged towards the fire that has been released from the ground. Explosions soon succumbed.

Cyron lost his senses.

It hurts.

His skin burned. The pieces of clothes he wore…until none left—

“CY!”

“Mr. Armstrong!”

Blinking past, the light seeping from the windows almost blinded him.

Am I dead? That was the first thing that Cyron thought.

“Ms. Gonzales?” His brow furrowed in confusion.

How is she alive? When he saw her get devoured, and died as a meal of those flesh eaters before.

The older woman placed her hand across her hips.

“Didn’t I tell you not to sleep in my class—”

“No, you’re not real!” He panicked.

Every eyes stared in focus on Cyron, who seems hyperventilating for no apparent reason or so they thought.

“Is he crazy?”

“Perhaps, Cyron have a nightmare.” A few laughs.

“Excuse me?” Ms. Gonzales raised her eyebrows as if offended. “I am certainly that I am real, Mr. Armstrong.”

“No, this can’t be…” He trailed off.

Is he losing his mind?

He was burning. Cyron was certain that he died, while the others escape. The remnants of pain still lingered.

“s**t!” When he looked up, his professor was already staring at him rather in confusion.

“I think that—”

“What date is today?” He heaved a sigh.

“I don’t think so that—”

“Answer me!” Cyron yelled.

The stern professor jumped on her feet.

“It’s M—may 5! No need to shout Mr. Armstrong—”

But his heart was already hammering against his chest in anticipation.

“—and what year?”

“Why does it matter—”

“What year it is today?!” He couldn’t stop his emotions from crumbling.

“I—it’s 2022! The year today is 2022!"

2022.

Cyron was glued on his feet. He was totally stunned.

It was May 05, 2022. The same exact year and date before the humanity’s downfall 10 years ago. And him, Cyron Armstrong had gotten reincarnated from the past and 2 days before the apocalypse.