THE WILL
By: Marc Adrian Reyes
Chapter 1 · Episode 11 · "EVOLVE"
EXT. ROAD — MOVING MILITARY TRUCK — DAY
The squad rides in silence, still shaken.
MARC sits frozen, eyes locked on YNA's lifeless body lying beside him.
Suddenly...
Kyla notices Yna's fingers twitch.
INT. TRUCK — CONTINUOUS
Kyla
(shocked)
S-Sir?
Everyone turns.
Yna's eyes slowly open—empty, pale, soulless.
In an instant, Yna lunges at Marc, snarling softly.
Marc doesn't move. He just holds her face… heartbreak drowning his eyes.
Jeff
(terrified)
No… No. How is this possible? She didn't even get bit!
The team exchange horrified glances.
Marc stays still, tear-filled, staring at the woman he loves — now turned.
Agatha
What are you doing?! Marc, get her off you!
The squad tries to pull Yna away—
But Marc lifts a hand, stopping them.
Marc
(low, breaking)
Stop… right there.
Everyone freezes.
Yna claws toward him, inches from biting, but Marc gently presses his pistol under her chin.
His hand trembles.
He looks into her dead eyes — still searching for the woman he married.
Marc's mind drifts…
FLASHBACK — SIX YEARS AGO
INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA — DAY
Yna sits with her classmate, watching Marc's interview on TV.
Yna
If I ever become a soldier… I'll find that man.
(points at Marc on screen)
Classmate
(chuckles)
Come on, girl. You've had a crush on him since first year. Don't you have any other guy to idolize?
Yna
(smiling softly)
No… Boys nowadays just act like kids.
They have no courtesy… no vision to help people.
Classmate
And what makes you think that man does? You haven't met him.
Yna
I think… he's a good guy.
TWO MONTHS LATER — TRAINING GROUNDS
General Alvin drills the rookies.
General Alvin
Being part of the army is not a joke. This is a duty. A calling where courage and discipline—
(looks up)
—You're late again.
Marc appears, saluting.
Marc
Apologies, sir.
General Alvin
(smells him)
You drank?
Yna, in formation, stares at him like a starstruck kid meeting her hero.
Classmate
(grinning)
There's your crush.
Yna
Shut up! General might hear us!
General Alvin
(to Marc)
100 push-ups. Now!
Marc
Sir, yes sir!
(drops and starts)
One… two… three…
Yna can't stop staring.
General Alvin
(noticing her)
YOU! Rookie! You wanna join him?!
Classmate
Yna! Yna!
Yna
(snaps out of it)
What—?
(sees Alvin staring at her)
Sir, no sir!
INT. CAMP CAFETERIA — LATER
Yna watches Marc from afar.
Yna
He looks exhausted…
Classmate
Who?
Yna
Lieutenant San Diego.
Classmate
I don't know.
(chews)
There he is. Go talk to him.
Yna
I'm shy…
Classmate
Do you still have your cap?
Yna
(confused, showing camouflage cap)
This?
Classmate
Come with me.
(drags her)
AT MARC'S TABLE
Marc sits with General Alvin, trying to eat but clearly bothered.
General Alvin
What happened? You look… off.
Marc doesn't answer at first. His jaw tightens.
General Alvin
Is it about Elizabeth?
Marc slowly nods.
General Alvin
Did you talk to her?
Marc
(shakes his head)
No, sir.
General Alvin
Then how did you—
Marc's voice cracks as he forces the words out.
Marc
I… went to her wedding.
General Alvin goes still.
Marc
(pain heavy in his voice)
I stood outside the church.
Watched her walk down the aisle…
With someone else.
He swallows hard, eyes shining.
Marc
I didn't go inside.
I didn't say anything.
I just… left.
A heavy silence.
Before General Alvin can respond, someone taps Marc's shoulder.
Classmate
Good day, sir. Sorry to bother you,
But my friend here is your biggest fan.
Yna hides behind her.
Yna
(whispering)
This is embarrassing…
Marc leans to take a look.
Marc
(smiling softly)
What do you need?
Yna steps forward, shaky.
Yna
(hands cap, nervous)
C-Can I… get your autograph, sir?
Marc
No.
Yna's face drops, crushed.
Marc
(chuckles)
Kidding.
(signs her cap)
What's your name, rookie?
Yna
Pasupil, sir.
Marc
(smiling)
No, your real name.
Yna
Yna.
Marc hands back the cap.
Marc
You're cute, Yna.
No need to be shy.
Yna blushes deeply.
Yna
T-thank you, sir…
BACK TO PRESENT
INT. TRUCK — DAY
Marc's finger is on the trigger.
Tears fall as memories flash.
Yna (flashback)
(on their first date)
Yes.
Yna (flashback)
(at his proposal)
Yes… I love you.
More echoes of Yna's voice.
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I love you…"
Marc closes his eyes.
Marc
(whispering, breaking apart)
I'm sorry… my love.
A gunshot rings.
Yna collapses.
Silence fills the truck.
No one moves.
No one speaks.
They just stare at Marc —
A man who just killed the love of his life.
Elizabeth
(shocked, cuffed; can't even look at the man she once loved after he shot his wife)
Marc…
Sophia
How is that possible? Yna didn't even get bit. Why did she turn?
Doctor Sotto
(somber)
They're evolving.
The rabies… and the rabids…
The virus went airborne.
Sophia
(confused, scared)
What does that mean?
Doctor Sotto
It means finding a cure just became much, much harder.
Leah
(looking out the window, voice shaking)
Guys… you need to see this…
Doctor Sotto
(sits beside her)
What is it?
The whole squad leans toward the window.
Jeff
(terrified)
No. No way…
Agatha
They're not supposed to cross water…
It's rabies, right? They should be afraid of it!
Doctor Sotto
(whispers)
I know…
A swarm of rabids walks straight across the river — not drowning, not hesitating.
Everyone falls silent, horror spreading across their faces.
Doctor Sotto
(low, defeated)
If they've reached this stage…
I might not be able to cure it at all.