" Let's not tell Ajay about this little act of danger," says Chetan once we leave the tall grass.
I roll my eyes. "Do you know what that means?"
"Um, goblins are living in the forest?" Chetan says.
"No, if the other creatures are already making deals with the vampires, they have already acknowledged them as head species."
"Some, cuz we know the centaurs have not," Chetan tells me.
"But who has?"
"They are probably just trying to save their skin, Zare. Nobody respects the vampires," Chetan says.
"But is fear enough?"
"I don't know," Chetan says.
"It sure works with Ajay."
Chetan stops walking. "Nobody fears Ajay, he's Alpha, and we respect him."
"Okay." I roll my eyes.
"I feel you need to learn the true meaning of being in a pack Zare," Chetan huffs.
"I guess I've never been good at taking orders."
"It is called knowing your place. Ajay never asked to be Alpha. It's in his blood. Before him, his grandfather and his dad's grandfather were also Alpha, and now he is Alpha. He was trained at a young age to lead," Chetan tells me.
I nod. I never thought of it like that. I am not making his job more manageable.
"He is trying to keep everyone safe at a difficult time," he remarks.
"I know."
Soon we reach the camp. The others were eating.
"My stomach is growling," Chetan tells me.
I laugh. "Go eat. I am going to see Ash wants to hunt."
Chetan rushes towards food. I look around and spot Ash sitting under a tree.
"You thirsty?" I say, approaching him.
He nods.
"What's wrong?"
"Just thinking about some moments I shared with Ace," he tells me.
I sit down next to him. "I know you have been struggling with the loss of him."
"It's just that vampires don't have a soul, so when they die, they go nowhere," he explains.
That's so sad. Heartbreaking.
"He had a soul before."
"When he was alive," Ash says.
"So maybe his soul is already in heaven, waiting for his body to catch up."
He smiles. "I like your way of thinking.": He puts his arm around me and pulls me in for a hug.
I see Ajay walking around in our direction. He looks in good spirits.
"Are you guys going hunting?"
I nod. "Yes."
"Mine doing a Zombie check?" He asks.
"Sure."
"Okay, thanks," he tells me.
I stand up. "You ready? I am really thirsty."
He shakes his head. I grab his arm, pulling him forward.
"Get up, lazy."
He laughs. He flies up. "You ready, slowpoke?" Ash yells, racing off.
Laughing, I run behind him. Ash was a speedy runner. We were at the cemetery in no time.
I hear the growling off in the distance. And the scent of rotting flesh fills in the air.
"Ash?"
"I hear there's a zombie near," he responds.
"Yeah, but where?" Soon I spot the Zombie, and my heart breaks. It was a little girl. A child. She looks at me with black eyes. She wears a gray dress, and a bonnet hat, and has thick brown curly hair. Once upon a time, this child was adorable.
She hisses at me, showing her decayed teeth filled with maggots. I reach out my hand. She scratches me with her sharp nails. I smell blood, but that doesn't stop me from trying to befriend the child.
Soon she takes my hand. We walk side by side. I will help and teach this child. I am sure not all zombies are doomed to be wrong.
"Zare, this is a bad idea," Ash says.
"Well, can you destroy her?"
He shakes his head.
"Will okay then, neither can I."
What about Ajay? He gave Riya a chance. I want to be this Zombie child's chance at an afterlife. Maybe she won't attack.
The zombie hiss and growls loudly as we walk. The thirst burns my throat. I don't want to stop and drink. I fear what this Zombie kid might be able to do.
Finally approaching the camp, I feel nervous beyond words. Ajay may be pissed. It's a child. Who can destroy a child?
"Shhh," I try to calm her, but she hisses loudly. The gang looks shocked as we come into view.
Ajay walks toward us, and the zombie goes insane, growling and spitting up green liquid all over my hand.
"Zare, what the Hell, are you bringing a zombie here for?" He yells.
Chetan rushes over.
"It's a child, please, Ajay. I will look after her. She doesn't want to hurt anyone."
"Zare, that's a zombie, not a child," Ajay says.
"We gave Riya a chance."
"That's different. She's functional and controllable," he remarks.
"Please, Ajay."
"Let her go. We will see how she acts," he tells me.
I did what I was told. The zombie growls like a mad dog ready to attack.
"What happened to your arm?" Ajay asks.
I place my opposite hand over it. "Nothing."
"It must be destroyed, Zare," says Ajay, grabbing the girl by the head and twisting her neck.
"Noooo," I scream as Ajay rips the girl apart.
I rush into Chetan's arms, crying. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me on the head.
"Zare, it's alright," he says as he begins to rub my back.
"I just wanted to give her a chance," I cry.
"I know, love, I know." He says.
She was just a little girl.