"Hey, look guys," A tiny growling French bulldog was in front of Chef Will, he put down his dented pan to his side. "It's Cici." he smiled as if it were the cutest thing he'd ever seen. "Hey, Cici, what are you doing alone in here? Where's your mother?" he was about to reach out for its head to pet her.
Maya peeked to the side to see the infected dog drooling for food--- Chef Will. Cici's bared fangs had nothing but instinct and hunger. "No!" Maya grabbed Chef Will's arms to before it could be chopped off.
"What?" Chef Will turned his head to the side to look at Maya, then back at Cici. "Well, I think she's hungry." he dug through his pockets. "But I don't have any treats with me right now."
Cici growled, becoming impatient. The dog lunged towards Chef Will the same moment the Chef turned to the side to talk to Maya---- making Cici to have a taste of the pan.
"I think the Duchess haven't fed her that well lately, don't you think Maya?" Chef Will turned around once more, facing the dog. "Cici… got thinner and weak." he observed.
"Chef," Maya shook her head from side to side. "That dog's… infected too."
Chef Will had always been good with animals, he always fed them whenever he sees one--- he might be the real reason why Ciel, Cici, and Beat are overweight.
"Ah really?" Chef Will squinted his eyes, drawing his face closer to the dog. "This poor adorable puppy?"
The puppy was not adorable at all in any sense. The puppy's skin was stained with a brown substance that can only be assumed as dried blood. A part of its intestine was hanging from its belly and was dangling to the floor.
With t's small fram, Cici lunged towards Chef Will's. "Really? This adorable thing?" the Chef had finally gotten to his senses as he used his pan as a shield.
'Tang!'
Cici was hit right on her head, making her dizzy as she sways from side to side.
"Someone must have fed her something they should not." Chef Will said.
"What?" Maya did not catch what the chef said.
"It can't be helped. Killing her is the best we could do for her now." Chef Will announced. "Eli?"
Chef Will and Eli looked at each other and nodded.
Cici, finally recovering from dizziness, began attacking once more.
The three scattered to different sides--- Chef Will as the distraction and Eli as the attacker.
Cici might have been a toy dog, but her not being on eye level with them was a disadvantage. Just one bite to their ankles would mean death.
"Here Cici." Chef Will began tapping his huge pan on the floor. "Yes, that's right, good girl."
Eli made sure each step he makes are soft as he creeped behind the infected dog, Maya too did the same. The three of them eventually entrapped the dog into a circle, tapping each of their weapons on the floor to distract the dog.
Cici was walking in a circle, confused from the overwhelming noises around her. Her ears might be sensitive from sounds, but her sense of smell is better. As the hunger that can never be filled in her stomach grows, so does her sense of smell. And women, women always tasted better. The dog's head perked up as it finally able to locate the savory scent of Maya. Saving the two distractions for later, Cici ran straight to Maya---- wanting to have a bite.
Maya who had only experienced neutralizing human zombies, underestimated how much faster a dog zombie could be. She was tapping her steel rod to the ground when the infected dog was already a few inches from her. Even if she pierces her rod towards the infected dog, she knew it would already be too late. She would get bitten, she would get infected, she would have to be killed.
But Maya was raised in the slumps, where giving up is not an option, they would do anything to survive. She mustered all her strength and jumped backwards the same time Cici jumped towards her, making her fall on her back--- hard.
Chef Will was already in front of Maya as he used his pan like a racket and hitting Cici--- sending the infected flying towards the far corner.
Eli was stood frozen on his running poise, he relaxed seeing that Maya was already saved. Entrusting Maya with Chef Will, he ran towards the dog and pierces right through its body.
The infected dog, crying on instinct rather than in pain, its intestine dangling more from its stomach.
Elion backed up, his eyes not leaving Cici.
Feeling no pain, the dog circled around the area. Its hunger still as prominent as ever.
"Are you okay?" Chef Will was smiling as he offered his hand to Maya.
"Yeh," Maya squirmed as she took the offer. "Let's get this over with."
They ran towards Eli to help him.
While Cici's attention was on Elion, Chef Will lunged from behind and pinned it on the floor with the help of his pan. "Elli!" he called.
Eli nodded in understanding as he knelt on the floor adjacent to Chef Will and began cutting the dog into half. Despite being cut into half, the dog's upper body was still moving.
"Just finish it." Maya was holding into her hips.
Eli sliced the dog's brain in half until it laid still on the floor.
Eli stood up, wiping his sword on his pants. But Chef Will remained kneeling on the floor beside the dog, he looked up and smiled to the two. "Can you give me a minute before we move forward?"
Eli and Maya nodded and waited at the corner.
Chef Will clasped his hands together and bowed his head. "Cici, may you find peace. In your next life, may you have a normal and happy life." he stayed kneeling for a minute longer, and stood up after saying his prayers.
***
Upon seeing what was in front of him, Eli's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open.
"What the?" Maya looked down at the chains sprawled on the floor then at the widely open door of the Princess' room. She entered the room and walked around, she opened all the doors--- the closet and the bathroom. "She's not here!" she announced.
On Eli's mind, the Princess was either already rescued--- or infected. He was desperately hoping for the former.
Chef Will crouched on the floor and picked up the chain on the tip of his fingers. "We might be a little late." He stood up and dusted off his pants. "But nothing to worry, the Princess will be fine." he followed Maya and went inside the Princess' room and closes the door behind him.
Eli was already thinking of his next move--- his mission was missing or probably already dead. He was thinking more of the former.
Chef Will's head peaked through the door. "What are you waiting in there?"
Eli lifted his head in question, not understanding.
"Come in, we're going to rest for tonight in here, we've killed to many today, I'm tired." Chef Will said.
Eli still did not move.
Chef Will then walked outside and dragged him inside. "What is the best room to lock yourself in other than the princess' room, right?"
When Eli was inside, Maya was already lying on the bed, with her hands reaching for her back--- massaging it. "It feels like I'm lying on the clouds." she mumbled.
Chef Will rummaged through the Princess' pile of snack, took one and opened it. "Would you like one?" he offered Eli.
"No." Eli refused.
"Too bad," Chef Will sat on the round table. "this is good."
Eli was stuck standing in the middle of the room.
"Forgive yourself, we have to take a rest. We'll look for the princess tomorrow." Chef Will said. "Maya need some rest." he said in a low voice.
Chef Will was right, giving up, Eli settled on the corner right beside the door and sat on the floor. He placed his sword onto the side as he crossed his arms on his chest and bowed himself to sleep.
***
Despite his hesitation earlier, Elion was fast asleep.
Maya too was sound asleep on a bed made for a princess.
But Chef Will was sitting at the round table, his eyes on the bedside table---a red light, peeking from its drawer.
He stood up, not making any sound, walked towards the light and opened the drawer--- revealing a dagger. Its red hue gleaming on his face. He grabbed it through its hilt--- it was a little small for his grip. Holing it on his side, he passed by Elion and exited the room.
Two zombies were walking towards him, with the dagger on his hand, he ran towards them as he easily cut thorough their necks.
Knowing that they're safe for the night, Chef Will returned to the princess' room and placed the dagger back to where he first found it.
Chef Will settled himself on the princess bed for the night--- sleeping right next to Maya.