It was another day at the orphanage with everyone carrying out their daily activities. Zoe was currently in the stream cultivating her magic with full concentration.
At intervals, she would practice controlling a little sphere of water and then send it towards a rock at the edge of the stream. With each try, she was getting the hang of it and decided to take a break.
"Phew! This is so exhilarating!" She thought with a satisfied sigh. "I can't help but wonder how Alex would react when he finds out," she said with a wide smile. After some minutes of rest, she stood up and got into the stream.
"I better round up and start going before the day gets dark. I don't wanna get them worried."
She closed her eyes as she entered a meditative state. Time flew by with the day getting dark. Her body was covered in a faint glow as she focused on the task. Soon, she found out she was unable to draw in more water energy. She concentrated, trying to find the cause.
"Zoe! Zoe!"
She felt someone holding onto her shoulders, gently shaking her. She finally opened her eyes and could see Ray standing before her with a worried expression.
"What are you doing here alone?" He asked with a soft voice as he settled beside her. "Mrs. Sheila had been worried something bad might have happened."
"Just needed to be alone," Zoe said with a forced smile and then looked away, staring at the distant horizons. "It's dark so soon. It seems I've spent a lot of time here."
"Alone! At the centre of a river?" he asked with a bewildered expression.
"I can feel my understanding of the water element has increased greatly. This is truly amazing!" Her mind couldn't help but wander away.
"Hey, we better head back now." She heard Ray saying as he stood off the ground.
Zoe stood up also, following after him. Walking through the little vegetation sparsely spread over the area, they heard a snap, a twig being stepped on, and couldn't help but stare in that direction.
They could hear the shuffling feet scraping across the ground and heading towards their direction.
"What's that?" Zoe asked in a fierce whisper as she held onto Ray tightly.
With his fingers placed on his lips, he firmly held her hand, and slowly, they moved forward, increasing their pace. The little plants around the area had grown wildly since no one had to care for them.
They could hear the insistent feet and a slight growl as they sprinted across the road.
Zoe was beginning to feel a sharp pain in her chest as memories of the past struggled to resurface.
"Not again!" She couldn't help but say.
"We are almost there," Ray said softly, looking over her face. Finally, the figure broke through the bushes, and they could see it fully.
Zoe caught her breath as she suddenly stopped moving, her breath coming out in a short rasp.
Ray clenched his fist tightly, trying to act brave. "C'mon, we can't stop now!" He said, ushering her forward.
The figure, dressed in torn and bloodied clothes, a missing arm and half of its head opened with worm wriggling about. It seemed to stumble at each step. Its mouth opened widely with spittle coming out.
"What the hell is that?" Ray muttered, holding his breath. "Zoe! Look at me, take a deep breath, C'mon, we can do this!"
Zoe, closing her eyes for some moments, struggled to control her breathing and finally opened them.
"I'm okay now." She struggled to say, putting up a brave face. "Oh no!" She suddenly cried out tears falling down her face. Ray followed her line of sight and saw another similar figure right before their escape path heading towards them.
"Sh*t!" He cursed as his eyes wandered around, and finally, he grabbed onto a large stone with a sharp edge, holding it tightly.
"We have no choice but to move forward," he said, moving forward. "Stay behind my back," he said to her as he cautiously inched closer.
"What are these things," he thought. "We can get out of here. Judging by their steps, they are a bit slow." Getting closer, he could see the figure growling and heading towards him with his hands stretched out.
"Sh*t! Seeing it from this close is quite... intimidating," he thought, holding onto the stone with both hands. He could feel his legs shaking and about to collapse. "C'mon! I can do this!"
The zombie had tried to grab him, but he moved quickly, getting behind and with a yell, struck with all his might. It had landed right on its neck, causing it to stumble down.
"C'mon, let's go!" Ray shouted, grabbing her hands. Breathing heavily, both could see the orphanage at sight, and they pushed on.
"What would happen if they got to the orphanage? How do we get rid of them?!" Zoe thought.
"Ray had struck it down, but it got up back." She thought, looking over her shoulder. "Sam! He would know what these things are and how to get rid of them!"
"Arghh!"Zoe stumbled to the ground with a loud shriek. Ray caught his breath and tried to help her.
"Arghh! I've twisted my ankle," Zoe said with tears.
"C'mon, climb on," he said, squatting before her. Carrying Zoe on his back, he continued forward, his breath coming out in short rasps. Just as he entered the field where the young ones usually played, he saw a shadow before him.
"Huh?" Moving backwards, he stumbled, both crashing down to the ground. "Who's there?" He shouted, pushing himself backwards.
Behind him, the zombies were stumbling forward but still far away.
"Zoe? Ray? What are you guys doing here?" Sam asked, standing before them.
"Sam! They are coming here, some weird figures with rotten bodies, you have to stop them before they hurt someone! Zoe said with a panicked expression. "
"Take it easy, I'm here now," Sam said in a soothing voice. Staring ahead, he could see both figures moving forward.
"Sh*t! Zombies! How did they get here?" he thought. Walking forward, he stretched forth his hand, which began to glow faintly.
"Dark strike!: He said as a condensed dark energy shot forward, blowing off both figures' heads.
Ray stared with wide eyes, unable to believe what had just happened. "Did he just blow off their heads by saying those words? No! What was that glow that shot out of his hand?"
"C'mon, let's go," Sam said. This is bad news. If those two appeared here, it seems the horde won't be far."
"She twisted her ankle," Ray said.
Going down, he placed his hands on her ankle, and a faint green glow occurred, emitting a soothing feeling.
"Thanks," Zoe said, getting off the ground. "Thanks for your help." She said to Ray also with a warm smile.
"Hold on!" Ray said. "What the hell just happened?! Who are you? How are you able to do that?"
"We don't have time for questioning. Go to the orphanage and inform Mrs Sheila, tell her to contact the city!"
"Zoe, you stay here with me, I might need a hand," he said, looking over at her.
"Also, if possible, get as much water as you can when coming back and get a weapon for yourself."
"Get a hold of yourself!" Sam said, placing his hands on her shoulder.
"He's right, I'm totally freaking out! What would Alex think if he sees me like this, I need to act strong in other to be by his side, to help him on his quest!"
"Good, that's the kind of partner I need right now," he said with a smile.
~~~~
"C'mon! Don't stop!" The lady at the front riding a horse shouted as they got close to the border.
"We should arrive just before the sun sets," she said, spurring her horse onward.
"I'm almost there, Zoe. Just hold on a bit longer," Alex thought, with a determined expression.