A cool breeze blows by, contradictorily calm. I'm as tense as hell and I can sort of sense some tension from Ben, Catherine and Cerina.

Pui Leng will be fine, but I'm not so sure about Matt.

I sigh and run my hands through my hair, sitting down on the bench in between Cerina and Ben. I just sort of failed. I didn't really make any promises to anyone at all, myself or anyone else, but it still feels like I failed PL and Matt. I cup my hands together and lean forward, tapping my feet impatiently. God, I hate this feeling of guilt. I know it wasn't even my fault they got hurt, but still...

Cerina laid a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to face her. "Eh, you okay or not?" She stares me in the eye, making it impossible for me to escape the pressing question.

"I'm just worried for them lah, especially PL leh..." I confessed.

"Don't worry lah, we all are." Catherine reassures me from where she was leaning against a nearby lamp post.

Before any of us could say anything more, a announcement comes on over the intercom.

"There's been a breach, I repeat: There's been a breach, everyone please stay calm and stay quiet."

"A breach? How the hell did Infected get in here leh?" I was surprised by the announcement.

"Wah lau leh, if there's really a breach we should go check on Matt and PL just in case lah." Ben suggests.

"Good point lah." I jerk my head back. "Come on guys, let's go check on them."

The three of us follow as Ben runs through the camp. Infected are everywhere, and I don't know how the shit that happened. Even some Servicemen, have become Infected.

I round the corner of a building and get thrown on my ass, a Infected right on me. "Piece of shit!" I grunt, trying to push it off. These damn things are strong!

My SAR-21 is being sat on by this Infected shit, but maybe if I can... Yeah, I'll try that. I push with all of my strength from my right arm while my left hand makes its way to the axe. Just another second...

The Infected suddenly goes limp and blood sprays all over me, as well as some brain matter. I push the body off in time to see Cerina calmly pull her machete free from the thing's skull, it's blade covered in gore and disgusting grey brain matter.

I thank her before grabbing my SAR-21 and getting up, dusting myself off.

We keep going, killing Infected along the way. Cerina and I doing most of the killing. After some more turns and no surprise attacks from any Infected we finally reach the medical building. It's considerably larger than any of the other buildings around here.

"Shit lah," I mutter when I see the crowd of Infected outside the door. There are gunshots within the infirmary and blood sprays every so often, but I don't think whoever's shooting will last long.

Shouldering the SAR-21, I pull the trigger down while walking forward. A hail of bullets spray out as I empty the rest of my magazine into the crowd of undead. Ben joins in the shooting, covering for me while I was reloading, Catherine and Cerina incapacitating any zombies that get too close to us. Blood sprays everywhere, and soon the building gets adorned with a new kind of red object, a Red Splotch. As the bodies pile up, I sling the SAR-21 and draw the battle axe, bashing in heads with the double-headed steel blade.

One Infected remains, Ben and I walk forward, me holding my axe alongside Ben's M16. I jab the Infected in the neck with the end of the axe's handle and Ben pulls the trigger of the M16 when the barrel's at the Infected's forehead. More blood and brain matter spray all over our faces, resulting in the two of us coughing up blood. Not our own of course.

Looking down at my clothes, blood is spattered everywhere. Okay, that's a gross hyperbole, but there is a lot of blood on me.

Ben and I re-sling our weapons as the four of us walk into the building, patients and medics all breathing sighs of relief. One of the combat medics, armed with a SAR-21A, runs up to us.

"Thank God you came," he says, clasping a bloody hand on my back. "Otherwise we might've been screwed lah."

"Why couldn't you hold them off leh?" I ask.

He holds up the SAR-21A, which has a STK 40GL grenade launcher, STK 3.0x optical sight and bayonet attached. "Fucking thing jammed."

"I'll trade you lah," I say. "This is not jammed, but you might want reload it."

He raises an eyebrow. "What about you leh?"

"I have other weapons." I gesture to the bloodied axe strapped to my back.

The medic nods, convinced. "Okay lah, as long as it'll keep those Infected assholes away."

I take the sling off and give him the SAR-21 while he hands me its successor. I'm not going to clear the jamming yet, since there's something more important to do. Honestly, I'm surprised a SAF combat medic doesn't know how to clear the jamming of an SAR-21A.

"Where are the new patients leh?" I ask, getting a raised eyebrow as the medic reloads the SAR-21. "The teens."

"Over there lah," he says, pointing towards the right corner in the back of the building. "Wait, are you guys their friends?"

"Got problem ah?" Cerina narrows her gaze.

He shakes his head, though I'm not convinced. It probably hurt his pride that a bunch of teenagers just saved his ass, despite the fact he probably can't clear the jamming of this rifle.

The four of us walk to the back of the room. Matt and Pui Leng are in beds right next to each other, although Matt's unconscious.

"What's going on leh?" PL asks, flinching when she moves her leg. "Wah'ppen? Why are you all covered in blood again leh?"

"Infected somehow got in," I say, attaching the sling to the SAR-21A. "And I got a new rifle."

"Wah lau! How did they get in?" She winces as she pulls herself up into a sitting position.

"How would I know lah? How's Matt leh?"

Pui Leng sighs. "He became unconscious after they got the bullet out lah. Before that he was screaming like hell while they were getting it out."

"You leh?" Ben asks.

"I'm fine now lah, although I want to get up and fight with you guys, but that stupid medic will probably make me stay here," She complains. "Chee bai..."

"We better to get going lah," I say, realising we could be doing something helpful. "Stay here and look after Matt can or not?"

PL nods, "What are you guys going to do leh?"

"Go by every place and try sorting this shit out lah." I slap the SAR-21A's magazine.

"Okay then," PL says. "By all means go ahead lah. And Ben, don't be so kiasi can or not?"

"Shut up lah." Ben says jokingly. "Afraid of dying cannot one meh?"

"Alright, we'll be back as soon as possible lah," I say, gripping PL's extended hand and getting pulled in.

"Don't get yourself killed lah," she whispers. "If you do, I'll get Catherine they all to drag you back here and I'll kill you myself." PL jokes.

I laugh and pat her on the shoulder before backing away. Together, the four of us head out the door, the medic wishing us good luck as we pass.

I hope that guy can keep those patients safe, especially PL and Matt.

My hand pulls the SAR-21A's charging handle back and the spent casing flies out. I let the charging handle go before looking through the scope, taking aim at an Infected before squeezing the trigger, a bullet smacking into the Infected's neck. I'm just going to marvel at how the medic couldn't clear the jam again. I don't know for sure, but isn't this part of basic training? Maybe the poor guy was just panicking.

"Where now leh?" Cerina questions.

"To war lah." I reply, earning me raised eyebrows from all three of my friends.

"This is pretty much a war, right?" I ask.

"Kind of lah..." Ben said. "But-"

"But nothing lah! Let's go!" I say.

They don't argue and we start running towards the sound of gunfire.

This is crazy. We were supposed to be safe here. I don't know how the Infected could have gotten in unless some were already here or someone was bitten and Turned, biting others and it just went on and on.

The four of us keep running, taking out zombies as we see them. We soon stumble upon a couple SAF soldiers outside a Humvee with a tripod-mounted SAR-21 light machine gun trying to beat back a crowd of the Infected.

Ben, Cerina and I start shooting, but Catherine doesn't do anything. The bullets from the M16, however inaccurate, Cerina's SAR-21 and my new SAR-21A wreak havoc amongst the Infected when combined with the SAF soldiers' ammunition, and soon, the Humvee has a few new bloody decals on it.

When the last of the Infected fall, one of the SAF soldiers hops into the gunner's seat while the other runs to us.

"Thank you for the help leh," he says, holding his hand out.

I take it and shake, Ben doing the same after.

"You guys didn't get bitten right?" I ask, earning a shake of the head.

The SAF soldier thanks us again before running to the Humvee, hopping into the driver's seat, starting the engine and pulling out. The guy at the turret waving to us as they drive away.

"It's weird leh...you'd think that the soldiers would be the ones protecting us but it was the opposite way around this time." I say to my friends once the SAF soldiers are out of earshot.

The three of them nod in agreement then we start running again.

It was not five minutes later that we reached another building. Looking around, I spot a group of four survivors being pinned down by a horde of Infected. This is ridiculous now, since there's no way so many Infected could have broken through. I thought it wasn't so widespread, but I guess I'm wrong.

"Fuck!" I hear one guy shout. "Out of ammo!"

"Get down!" I shout to the group, peering through the scope. Hopefully no one gets up and starts dancing.

I raise the SAR-21A to head level, squeezing the trigger as I strafe to the right, unleashing a hail of bullets that creates a mess of gore and brain matter. I know a couple bullets went astray, either missing or hitting somewhere besides the head, but that's okay. I keep the trigger pulled until the magazine runs out and I slap the mag release. Sliding the empty magazine into my pocket, I slide out a fresh one and slap it in, pulling the charging handle and hitting the forward assist.

Ben starts shooting at the crowd of Infected as well, providing cover fire for me while I was reloading. Since the two of us and three guys from the other group are shooting, the crowd diminishes rather quickly, but the amount of blood and gore rises exponentially.

The last of the zombies fall and we start toward the group of survivors.

"How many more hordes do you think there are leh?" Ben asks.

"Dunno," I say. "Hopefully got no more."

"Thanks lah," one of the guys, armed with a CIS 50MG heavy machine gun walks forwards to meet us. "I'm Jeremy Seng." He introduces himself.

"You guys know how the Infected got in or not?" I ask.

"No lah, these ones just showed up," Jeremy says. "We started fighting them and more kept coming. Kill one and get five, they're like cockroaches."

I nod. "They're attracted to sound... Are any of you bit?"

Jeremy nods and points to a guy leaning on one of the trees. "Desmond is, why?

"I'll have to shoot him lah." Jeremy raises his CIS 50 and points it at me while I aim the SAR-21 at Desmond.

"Both of you calm down lah!" Catherine says.

Jeremy ignores her and continues aiming his CIS 50 at me. "You shoot him, I'll shoot you. One bite won't do shit to him."

"And he's going to turn if I- Aiyah, neh'mine lah! Just wait then."

I lower the SAR-21 and step back, Jeremy doing the same.

I look at Desmond's body and he starts to get up. Jeremy looks straight at me. "Ha, what did I tell you?"

"Just wait lah," I say, casually raising the SAR-21 at the Infected, who's now growling.

Jeremy walks towards his infected friend. "Eh, Desmond, you okay or not? You look pale leh."

"That's because he's Infected lah," I mutter. Jeremy's two other friends look at me, so I guess they heard me.

Desmond grabs hold of Jeremy and tries taking a bite out of his neck, but I pull the trigger. The bullet smacks into Desmond's cheek, causing a few teeth to pop out of his mouth. I have no clue how that's even possible.

Desmond gets knocked back enough for Jeremy to kick away the Infected and I squeeze the trigger again, this time hitting the eye. Blood flies out and Desmond falls over, leaving Jeremy to stand there in shock.

"He... he tried biting me leh..." I hear him say as I walk over to him.

"And that's why you should've listened to me lah," I say matter-of-factly. "When you get bit, you Turn. Simple as that. The best thing to do is kill the infected person before they actually completely Turn."

"How you know one?" Jeremy questions.

"I've had to do it several times already lah." I'm blunt and grim, and I don't like it. Time for a change of subject.

"How long have you guys been here leh?" I ask.

"Since yesterday late afternoon." Jeremy answers.

"Where were you guys before leh?" Catherine asks.

"In school, we were in school when all this shit started," One of Jeremy's friends, a lean athletic-looking girl with long straight black hair wielding a Chinese straight sword, steps forward. "I'm Hui Qing Teo." She introduces herself.

"You guys know how it started or not?" I question.

"What started leh?" Hui Qing looks at me.

"All this shit," I say, gesturing around us. "The apocalypse."

"Dunno lah," Jeremy's other friend replies. "We just got an announcement to evacuate school because some of Them had broken in." He slings his rifle, which I identify as a SR-88.

"Your name leh?" I question him.

"Izzul Hakim." He states.

I nod. "Ok lah, I'll go with these three to check on my two other friends who are now recovering in the infirmary. The rest of you should go check and see if there are any more Infected that need to be killed then meet us in medical building."

"Come on guys, let's go!" Jeremy and Izzul move out and begin their search but Hui Qing stays behind and walks over to me.

"Eh, thanks for the help just now leh," she says, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "What's your name leh?"

"Ryan. Ryan Loh." I introduce myself.

Hui Qing pats my shoulder. "Okay lah. See you guys later, don't die." She runs to catch up with her friends, leaving the four of us alone.

We retrace our steps to the bench where we had been sitting earlier, and then begin retracing our steps to the infirmary. Most of Them are already dead, but I get the feeling that's because of the tanks and Humvees with machine guns mounted on them, the guys we saved included. Blood stains the once-lush grass and the once-gray asphalt path. This is now less of Gardens By The Bay and more of a Singaporean jungle in the middle of World War 2.

"Hey, you!"

I look around to identify the voice, as do Cerina, Ben and Catherine. Immediately, I see a SAF Serviceman standing on the path, pointing at us.

"Who?" Ben asks.

"All four of you." He jabs his finger at us. "Come with me."

"Us?" I exchange quick glances with my friends. The Serviceman merely nods, gesturing at us to hurry up and come over.

We approach the Serviceman and he turns around, walking back the way he came. I wonder what he wants with teens like us...

"What's this about leh?" I casually ask. "Is it because of the Army uniform?"

He doesn't turn to face me, nor does he answer me. Fine, chee bai.

After a while more of walking, the Serviceman stops in front of a old worn big tent and motions for us to go inside. "You first," he says.

I nod and walk through. I think I just won't open my mouth around this dude because he seems like a asshole. The tent has one of those tarpaulin-like floors, made out of the same material as the tent itself. Since it's on cement and not grass, I guess there's no real issue with that. Some military computer equipment surrounds a table in the middle and there is a crate of something in a corner. At the far end of the table is another 'doorway' which seems kind of odd.

The Serviceman rounds the table and walks alongside it. Are we supposed to follow? ... Stupid question. The four of us walk behind the Serviceman, taking note of all the computer equipment. It's amazing how much computer equipment is in this one tent.

The Serviceman steps through the opening in the back, but motions for us to stay put. After a few minutes of hushed conversation, the Serviceman beckons me in and I follow. The room's pretty small, and I'm greeted by a chair, a desk, and an older man in a chair reading a book.

"Commander," the Serviceman says, causing the older man to look up from his book. "Here you are."

"Thank you, Koh," the commander says. "You're dismissed Sergeant." The Serviceman salutes and leaves the room.

The commander looks up at us and motions to multiple chairs around the desk. "Take a seat."

The four of us sit down. I'm in the presence of a SAF commander while impersonating a Singapore soldier and I didn't even salute. Dad would be pissed...

"Do you know who I am?" he asks.

"Er... Commander..." I immediately look at his uniform, spotting his name on the name plaque pinned onto the right side of his uniform. "Commander Kuek?" That name sounds familiar, come to think of it.

He nods. "So you've heard of me."

More of a statement than a question, but yeah. I nod in a 'kinda' way. "Your name is certainly familiar, but to be honest, I just looked at your name plaque, sir."

He chuckles. "I like your honesty. Tell me, what's your name?" He scratches his scruffy beard.

"Ryan Loh." I said.

"Ryan, I'm promoting you to the rank of First Lieutenant in the Singapore Armed Forces," he announces.

I exchange glances with Ben, Catherine and Cerina, who are about as confused as I am. "But sir, I'm not even in the SAF."

The commander waves his hand. "I don't give a fuck, Ryan! You saved dozens of people, Servicemen included! You are hereby a Serviceman of the SAF, regardless of age or whatever the hell else," He says.

"Uh, it's an honor, sir," I was unsure of what else to say

The Commander nods and points to my friends. "Lance Corporals, the three of you. Same with your other friends.

Why do I have the highest rank? No, better yet, why are we all being conscripted into the SAF? Will we have to do basic training and all of that fun stuff, or...

"Are you serious, sir?" I ask, glancing at Catherine, Ben and Cerina.

Commander Kuek stares at me. "Lieutenant, I am one hundred percent serious. You proved that you're able to lead, and all of you proved able to handle a task such as this calmly, possibly even affecting the outcome of the battle! For that reason, I'm making you all honorary members of the SAF, even your friends in the infirmary. If your abilities are any indication, I bet they're just as good." He holds out his hand. "Welcome to the Singapore Armed Forces, Lieutenant."

I grasp his hand and shake. "Like I said, it's an honor, sir." But it's a confusing-as-fuck honor if any.

This is so surreal. This cannot possibly be something the commander would do, could it? Cerina, Catherine and Ben also shake the Colonel's hand.

The commander begins speaking again. "I'll radio into the armory for them to let you guys in, as well as getting you proper uniforms. For now..." He cups his hands with the back of his head. "Go get some food from the mess hall. I'll have someone get you when everything's ready."

I nod. "Yes, sir."

He shoos us away. "Siam lah. Dismissed."

The three of us walk out of the command tent, still not believing what just happened.

When we're outside of the tent, I start walking towards the infirmary instead of the mess hall. I don't even know where the mess hall is.

"This is just...wah," Ben says. "I can't believe it, we're all part of the SAF now."

I sigh, still unsure. "Honestly, I'm honoured, but I still keep wondering why the hell he made us Servicemen."

"Ya, I'm wondering that, too," Ben says.

We continue walking in relative silence, an occasional gunshot ringing out. The situation's mainly under control, so that's good.

Dad would be extremely proud if he found out I was made a Serviceman by a Commander, but that doesn't mean I'm wondering why. All I did was kill the Infected and save some people with the help of my friends. That's it. How does that constitute conscription into the Armed Forces?

Despite all of my confusion, I still can't wait to hear PL's reaction.

Five minutes later...

"Wait, let me get this straight: you're now a First Class Lieutenant, while we're all LCs in the SAF?" Pui Leng asks.

"Correct lah," I reply.

"That's siao!" PL exclaims.

"Ya, I know." I say.

"They can do that meh? I thought it was illegal or something..."

"What lah, appoint civilians to military positions?" Cerina asks. "I'm pretty sure a Commander can't do that, but he did it anyway."

"But Matt and I can't do stuff yet! I tell you what though, getting a bullet out without anaesthesia is damn pain one."

"You've been through worse lah." I laugh.

"Ya, but it still hurt like hell," Pui Leng complains.

"Stop complaining lah," Catherine jabs.

"If I could get up, we'd be fighting."

"Outside, right now."

"Ya, you try ah. Get kena whack by me then you know!"

Ben laughs hard at that, which isn't surprising. Ben often laughs when PL gets angry.

"Hey guys!" The five of us turn our heads to see Jeremy, Izzul and Hui Qing walking towards us.

"Eh guys, who are they leh?" PL questions.

"Three guys we saved just now." Ben answers

"Are They all dead?" I adjust the SAR-21's sling.

"Most of Them die already lah, got a few still alive but no more big groups like just now." Hui Qing reported.

I nod. "Good job guys." I pat Hui Qing on the shoulder, feeling her lean toned muscles under my hand.

"What happened to them leh?" Izzul inquires, glancing from PL to Matt.

"We got shot while we were in a fight with gangsters." PL answers.

"Excuse me!" A loud voice resonates through the infirmary. I spin around to see Sergeant Koh making his way towards us.

"Lieutenant," he says, distaste in his voice. "And you three," he points to Catherine, Cerina and Ben, "Follow me."

I look at PL, Jeremy and Hui Qing and shrug while they shoo us. The Sergeant walks out of the infirmary with the four of us in tow.

"Where are we going leh?" Ben asks

"To see the Commander."

What does he want now? To strip us of our ranks? That, honestly, would make more sense than letting us keep them. Koh stops outside the command tent. "You know your way from here." With that, he walks off. Wow, this guy is a douche.

The four of us walk into the tent and back to where the Commander is. We're greeted by a seemingly stressed Commander Kuek. Ben, Cerina and I salute, which Catherine tries to do but fails.

"At ease," the Commander says. "Take a seat."

I nod and sit down. "What did you call us for, sir?"

"Your father... is he a Serviceman?"

I nod. "Yes sir. He's a Warrant Officer."

"Nixon?" I nod. "I knew I chose right!" he exclaims. "I knew I didn't make a mistake!"

I'm confused. "What do you mean, sir?"

"I served NS with your father, and I think you're just like him. In the short time I've known you, you have shown me that you have the drive of an exceptional Serviceman and an exceptional leader, at least in my eyes."

He stands up and starts to pace.

"I have another question."

"Go on, sir."

"What languages do you speak?

Well, this is random. "Fluent Mandarin, standard English and some Hokkien, sir. Why?"

The Commander claps his hands. "Excellent, but as for why, that's neither here nor there." He scratches his neck. "I was going to put you all through basic training, but something has happened. Instead, I'm going to put you all on a rescue squad."

"A rescue squad?" Catherine asks. "For what?

"We've intercepted distress calls from around the Jurong West area. Given your abilities when fighting those things, it seems that rescue mission would better display your skills than an extremely short boot camp."

"When will we be sent on the mission, sir?" Ben asks.

"Tomorrow. You four will get properly dressed and armed at around oh-seven-hundred.

Damn. That's... kinda early. "Where will we sleep, sir?"

"And get cleaned up," Catherine adds.

"Can we just go back to the hotel or not?" Ben suggests.

The Commander stops and thinks for a second. "Can. Just be sure you are here tomorrow morning, or I'll send a squad to get you." He stops pacing and looks at the four of us dead-on. "Dismissed!"

The four of us salute and leave the tent. We have to be here at seven in the morning just to start a rescue mission? I sigh. Well, he could've had us do basic training like he had planned, which wouldn't have been fun. I'm still curious as to why we're part of the SAF now. He couldn't just keep us civilians, he had to make us soldiers. I sense something's up, to be honest

"Ryan, can I drive?" Ben asks when we get close to the Tempest main battle tank.

"I'd rather run blindfolded through Orchard Road being chased by a big group of Them than let you drive."

"That's cold."

"It might not be cold enough."

When we reach the Tempest, Cerina gets into the passenger-side while I hop into the driver's seat. Ben and Catherine hop in the back and I start the engine. The Servicemen at the front gate move out of the way to let us out and Cerina starts directing me back to the hotel.

The sky's orange now. I guess it's six or so... Well, what an eventful end to the day...

Well, that's all for now guys! Hope you enjoyed that please review to tell me what you think of the story so far. My WoT fanfic is also up now if you guys wanna check it out! See you guys in the next chapter! Bye!

-NLH.