Adam ran to the door, standing beside Emma, he said, "He's hungry. You're the one who said a hungry man is an angry man. I'm sure he didn't mean any of that."
She tapped her feet, groaning loudly. "He did. You don't know that lunatic like I do. He meant every damn word he said." Slowly tilting her head in Emma's direction, she apologized for the use of mature language which she considered improper in front of a kid. "This is who he is. He's a huge pain in my,"
"Your what?" Emma's face lit up. She grinned, winking non-stop at Emily. "Be a good teacher first before you condemn others. You three are bad influences on me."
"You don't have to talk to him." Adam paced around. "Just stay here for Emma and your family. If you want to see your family again then this isn't the time to compete on who has the largest ego. Ignore him. He's only picking on you because you react. If you ignore him then he won't do it again." He didn't wait for her to say anything, he walked back to his spot and brought out his phone. Time to get back to my medicine. I'm going to win this round for sure.
He's right. I can't die and I can't survive on my own. "Emma, sit over there. I need some time to myself."
"Sure."
Ted ran his fingers in his thick black hair, tapping his foot on the floor. His mind wandered off to many places. Three excruciating hours had passed since they entered the room, he was more than certain that if those monsters didn't get to him first then ulcer definitely would. His stomach rumbled.
Adam played his game in silence, giggling at the national anthem Ted's stomach was playing. He lifted his hand in jubilation after winning another round in his game. Getting up to stretch his cramped legs, he walked over to where his backpack was, opened it, and brought out a plate of cookies. I'll have two now and one later and then... He gazed at Emma pitifully then counted the leftover cookies on the plate. I'll have the remaining tomorrow. It's not my fault. I didn't tell them to come in here. They'll figure something out I'm sure.
Emma scribbled a Latin word on the wall. She shook her head and stroked her chin before scribbling again. Adam. What's his last name? I don't care. I'll just write Adam Ted 2. He's exactly like Uncle Ted. Her lips broadened when she took notice of Emily. Emily Smith. The nicest lady I've ever met after Mum. I hope Grandma is okay. If she comes out to look for me, those bad people might get to her first. She fretted. Taking off her sneakers, she focused on the scar on her right foot. The scar had darkened, it wasn't like what it was the last time she checked. The memories backing up the scar remained in her head even if she didn't want it. The memories of how she got it flooded her isolated mind again. She could recall how that morning after taking part in the spelling bee competition, the bullies in her class, approached her while in the restroom. All attempts to escape their firm grasp flunked as they shoved her against the wall, making her bump her head on the toilet seat. She had seen their sports teacher. Her tears didn't affect him as he had snubbed her and walked away. 'She's an orphan.' She remembered one of the bullies mocking her. The others cracked up uncontrollably. She had pleaded with them to let her go but was nabbed and beaten till she was out of breath. One of the bullies had taken a knife out of her backpack. If her grandma hadn't shown up, the girl had almost cut off her foot. She wondered that instant if her dad was still alive, would their sports instructor have saved her? Perhaps she was accountable for her parent's death. If only she hadn't insisted on having a birthday party that year maybe her mum wouldn't have gotten infected with coronavirus and passed it to her dad. Grandma had been her biggest strength and only friend before coming to Prestige Restaurant. She reminisced about her first day at Prestige. It was after getting bullied at school. Grandma had just lost her dog and best friend. Emma didn't realize it then but after giving it a broad thought, she finally understood she shouldn't have yelled and taken her frustration out on her grandma that day. It wasn't her fault she got bullied. If only she knew how unsympathetic her anger was then; maybe she wouldn't have reacted that way. Stacy had carried her that day and showed her around Prestige. They had a loquacious conversation that day. She reflected on how everyone including Dave cared for her like a real princess. She had forgotten all about the bullies and her parents.
She brushed the dirt off her pink ballerina gown. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she scribbled her grandma's dog's name on the wall and then drew a heart around it. I'm sorry, Bruno. I should have been a better best friend to Granny. She missed you so much while you were away. I hope the Cops come to save us. Grandma said ominous things don't happen to good people. Maybe bad things are happening to me because I rebuked Granny. I did badly, Bruno. I'm sorry. I promise to take care of her when we get home.
Emily inhaled and breathed out. It was getting increasingly laborious to put up with Ted. She uttered profanity under her breath, making sure Emma and Adam didn't hear her. His detestable attitude and disregard for her didn't seem to sit right. She needed to get away from him as soon as possible. If only Ricki hadn't done what he did. She reasoned if she was at fault for their failed relationship or if it was just a nemesis in her mum's family. Everything still appeared like a fantasy to her. The man she loved so dearly had left her to die without giving it any kind of thought. That day it felt like the world had faded away and she was standing isolated in a large empty room. The first day she met Ricki, she recalled how Celine and Stacy were against her meeting with him. She felt skeptical at first but succumbed to his sweet voice and deceptive affection. Was he lying when he said she was his entire world? She wondered. Where had she failed in their relationship? Seven days ago while standing helpless in that room massed with dozens of living dead she understood what her mum went through the day a hotel receptionist had called to tell her that her husband and a lady had been shot. The devastating look on her mum's face, when she saw her lifeless husband lying naked on the bed with her closest friend flashed in her head while staring at the window.
She got up and proceeded to the window. The living dead outside the restaurant outnumbered the ones in the restaurant. She sniffed, and her heart raced like it was on a track field. Even if they managed to get out of the restaurant, there was no guarantee they would get passed the living dead outside-especially when she knew her stomach needed to be refilled. The hunger was getting increasingly tough to manage. Stepping away from the window, she stumbled across an old wooden box on the table beneath the window. The key was lying under a diary. She inserted the key in the box and then opened it. He still had this. I guess there was more to him than I knew. She admired the picture of her and Danny. It was her first day at work, 16 years, dampened, bummed out, and unemployed. She needed a job then desperately. Her mum had quit her work due to her mental health which was a result of their dad's death. She had wandered around California looking for someone who would hire a 16 years high school student. She recollected how some of them tried to take advantage of her celibacy. One agreed to give her a job if only she slept with him. She was on the brink of being kicked out of school due to flunking the agreement to pay the tuition fee before the summer break. She had no alternative, everyone she knew shamelessly shunned her and her mum. Gracie needed to go to school, they were running out of food supplies, and their landlord was threatening to rent their home to another person. That day. That day remained in her head even after ten years. The day she went to the house of the man who agreed to offer her a job if only she had sex with him. She had sent her address to Gracie if she didn't make it out alive. As she jigged into his house, she recalled seeing an eighteen years old boy standing very close to the man. His Roman nose and cheekbones sat above his chiseled jaw. His inverted triangle shoulders were part of his burly physique. He moved with a leopard-like grace and his dark green eyeballs blinked slowly. His charming personality and baritone voice captivated her heart. The swirl of his loamy cologne had the man's staff swooning in his sitting room. To date, he still used the same cologne. At first glance, she thought he looked pretty masculine for an eighteen years old. Dave had extended his hand to her. He smiled comfortingly. Beside him sat Danny and Ted. She couldn't tell in a million years what had happened then. It felt like a button had been pressed; she felt the urge to pour her heart out to him after eavesdropping on their conversation. The look Ted had given her that day didn't change even after ten years. Danny had moved toward her, eyes glimmered with excitement. He had introduced himself and Ted. Ted didn't say a word when Dave agreed to hire her. It was Danny's idea to take a picture for memories. I wonder if Danny remembered this day like he said he would after ten years. She fluttered.
"So he has cookies to eat." Ted sighed angrily. I can't take this anymore. I have to find a solution for my stomach. I made it through coronavirus, and barely made it out of that room alive seven days ago; ulcer is the worst way to die after everything.
"The first room after the elevator," Adam muttered. His reply harmonized with when Ted was about to ask a question. Ted relaxed, waiting patiently for him to complete his sentence. He played his game. He didn't look, but he knew Ted was giving him a harsh glare. He could feel the intense anger flowing through his ear down to his body. "Yes. I win again!" Oh no. He's about to explode. He seriously has an attitude problem he needs to work on. He's worst than angry birds. "After the elevator. Why are you glaring at me like it's not your workplace?"
"There are so many rooms after the elevator!"
Adam jerked back as if Ted's reply shot lasers at him. "Geez. That was pretty loud for a guy. You are famished for sure. People who lose their temper so easily are the most frivolous in the world. If you weren't so agitated, you would have heard me say the first room after the elevator. They act like they know it all but they don't." he bent his knees and then sat on the floor again. "How many first rooms do you have immediately after the elevator? Tell your girlfriend to teach you some things."
Ted advanced towards him. "You have a big mouth. I'm starting to get pissed."
"Wait. All these while you weren't pissed? Fascinating. I didn't realize there was an update of equanimity."
"What's in the room?"
"What your stomach needs right now to get that attitude of yours out the window."
Wow. They are alike. Emily admired. I'm glad he's able to stand up for himself. No one deserves to make anyone feel inferior. I can't wait to get out of here so I can tell Ted my mind. Just wait and see. Keep taking advantage of my frailty. "Adam," She called in a low tone. "The room after the elevator? That's pretty far from here. It's basically a room after where we just came from. This is suicide. I can't see clearly how are we supposed to get there?"
She can't see clearly! "That's it!" he jumped to his feet. "I know something nobody knows. Even your boyfriend doesn't know."
"Oh really? And she's not my girlfriend."
She scoffed. "As if." I'll rather roam the streets barefoot than have a relationship with you. "Adam, what is it you know? Please tell me it has something to do with what's going on."
"While y'all have been hiding from these monsters, I've been studying them."
Oh geez. I can't believe I'm listening to this.
"Turn off the lights I'll show you something intriguing." He ran to the door. After Emily turned off the light, he instructed Emma to peep through the window and let him know when the passageway lights went off.
Emma raised her thumb as planned. Before Emily could pull him away, he opened the door. Fear gripped her and Emma and sharpened all their senses. Ted observed Adam from behind, holding his stick firmly.
The living dead outside the room outnumbered them. Adam stood in the doorway. All attempts to pull him away failed. The living dead close to the door, growled and grunted, eyes flickering. Blood dripped from its mouth, razor-like teeth welcoming each other. Their heads tilted back and forth. Just then Ted understood what Adam was trying to show them. He dropped his stick and patted the boy proudly. Adam hadn't closed the door when someone ran in, making Emily's eyes widen so much that the whites showed. Ted grabbed the stick and was about to shove it at the person when she screamed. "I'm human! Please don't kill me."