Mrs. Delany sat in front of us, her expression stern yet kind. "Remember, Azriel, and all of you, that not all members can fight. That's why the other categories are equally important."
( Azriel point of view )
"Brother?"
I looked at Zomma as he finished his food. "Are you done eating?" He nodded. I took a towel and wiped his messy mouth and hands. Zomma was still struggling to use a spoon and fork. After that, I opened the cabinet and took out a syringe that I had dipped in alcohol to kill bacteria. I lifted Zomma and sat him in a chair, drawing blood from him and examining it.
Today is really exhausting, Those kids angry and add to this problem.
Two years ago, I started over on my project, Project Make Antidote. No matter what I did, I kept failing. Damn! I kicked the other chair and gripped my hair. F*ck this brain! What did I forget?!
"Brother," Zomma said, looking worried. I smiled at him and sighed.
"Zomma, I'm sorry for giving you more marks. If only I could remember the other ingredients of what I was doing when I was still Ajena. I could stop taking blood," I murmured and sat beside him.
Why can't I remember it? If only there were samples left, but none remain. I heard that Dr. Will and Tope used them all. What is the most important thing I used to bring Dino back to his senses?
"Brother, blood," Zomma said, but I shook my head.
"No, not my blood," I said.
"No, blood, Mama," he said, shaking his head. I looked at him curiously.
What is he talking about?
"Mama! Blood!"
My eyes widened in realization.
"Right! My blood! My body blood as Ajena!"
Now I remember! The most important ingredient is my blood as Ajena! But Dr. Will and Tope also used up all of my stocked blood. Another problem, ugh!
Wait? I looked at Zomma, who looked as fresh as a human. What if my body as Ajena is still fresh? I need to check it out! I still have time. I looked at the clock on the wall. Midnight. I have time before the others wake up.
I changed Zomma's clothes into something that wouldn't reveal he was a zombie. Yes, I'm bringing him with me. Besides, Zomma needs exercise too. I took out a small katana that Peter gave me two years ago. I didn't think I'd ever use it.
"Brother, where?" Zomma asked.
"We're going out to retrieve my body, and I want you to protect me, Zomma," I said. He nodded.
I'm only ten years old and need Zomma's protection. I carried Zomma on my back until we got out of the basement. I looked around and hid when I saw guards up on the walls. Where did Peter dig in here before?
How do I get out of here? I remembered that Peter dug in here and brought a zombie dog before. I dug in the ground to find the soft soil until I found it. Wait, there's still the zombie dog's bones here. I might need this. I put the bones in my bag and put Zomma down.
"You go first, Zomma, and kill the zombies near this hole, okay? But be careful not to get noticed by the guards," I said, and he nodded. Zomma went into the hole, and minutes later, I followed. There were no zombies nearby, and I saw Zomma slicing zombies with his tongue and running to me.
"Very good, Zomma. Attack the zombies near us. Don't bother with the slow ones," I said and carried Zomma on my back.
I moved where the guards couldn't see us until we reached a building. Where did I jump before? I think it's a green building and the tallest. I looked around and saw a green building. That must be it!
"Let's go, Zomma!" I said and ran there while Zomma killed zombies. I put him down and looked around.
Where is my body? Zombies didn't eat it, right? I need to hurry before morning comes.
"Brother," Zomma said, pointing at something. When I looked, it was my body!
"Great job, Zomma!" Zomma clapped and pointed at his nose. He smelled my body? That means it's still fresh.
I ran to it and saw my body. It's still fresh! The clothes on my body were gone, and there was dry blood on the ground. My legs and arms were broken.
How am I going to carry this?
Snap!
I immediately turned around, and Zomma was ready to attack. I heard a snap, like someone stepping on a stick.
I took out my katana. "Who's there?! You better come out!" I said and pushed Zomma behind me. I signaled him to hide and stay quiet.
"Come out!" I shouted, but no one came out. I slowly walked until I reached the car where I heard the snap and my eyes widened.
"Roseanne?!" I shouted. She was trembling. I ran to her.
"Did you follow me?!" I shouted at her and looked at her body. Damn it! I can't forgive myself if something happens to her.
"A-Azriel," she said, fear in her eyes. She was crying and trembling.
"This is what the outside looks like. S-So scary, Az."
"It really is! Why did you follow me?! You're smart. You should know how dangerous the outside is!" I shouted, and she hugged me.
"I'm sorry. I saw you go into the hole and got curious. I followed you and thought of going back, but I couldn't. There are zombies everywhere," she said, trembling.
"Relax, okay? Calm down. Since you're here, you better keep this our secret," I said, and she nodded, wiping her tears. I held her hand and pulled her to my body.
"Help me here. I can't do this alone," I said and rolled my body in a sheet I brought.
"Az, Who is that and also Is that Baby Zomma?" Roseanne asked, pointing at Zomma, who was munching an apple while sitting on top of a zombie.
I sighed. It's come to this.
"Yeah. Let's talk later and get back inside. Let's hurry up," I said, and she nodded. Even though Roseanne was only eight, she wasn't clumsy. She was also too strong for an eight-year-old. She just didn't know it.
We pulled the sheet with my body, and Zomma protected us from the nearby zombies. There were no mutants here; this whole area was already patrolled by the guards, and they made sure only Walkers were here.
I looked at Roseanne, who was looking around, anxious.
"Don't be scared. Zomma is protecting us," I said, and she looked at me, then down.
"I'm really sorry, Az, for following you," she whispered.
"There's no use in apologizing. It already happened. You just need to keep this a secret," I said.
"Oum! This will be our special secret," she said, smiling.
Teaching the kids and showing them zombies every day is really helpful. Roseanne got scared, but soon it was gone.
We reached the wall without getting noticed by the guards and went inside. First, I let Roseanne enter, pulling my body while I stayed outside, pushing it. Zomma protected us while we entered, and I covered the entrance as Zomma went inside. I made sure no zombies would get in. Besides, they weren't smart enough to notice a hole here.
"Here," I whispered to Roseanne and opened the basement door. We pulled my body together.
"Zomma, close it," I said, and he closed the ground door and helped us pull my body up the stairs until we reached the lab.
"Wow, what is this place, Az?" Roseanne asked, spinning around.
"This will be the first and last time I'm bringing you here, Roseanne," I said, pulling my body to the side. Roseanne immediately helped me.
I'm still weak. I can't even pull my body alone.
"Last time? But Az—"
"No, Roseanne. I want you to listen to me. I'm trusting you, and I hope you will keep this a secret. I don't want you to disturb what I'm doing and don't ask," I said seriously, and she lowered her head.
I approached Zomma and washed him. After that, I carried Zomma to his bed.
"Since this is the last time, can I hug Baby Zomma?" Roseanne asked, looking at me. I sighed and nodded.
She approached Zomma and lifted him.
"Hello, Baby Zomma. I'm Roseanne, Az's friend."
"Az?"
"Waah! He's speaking!"
I'm shocked. I remember back then that only I could hear Zomma speaking.
"You can hear him?" I asked, and Roseanne nodded.
"Daddy said that Ms. Ajena kept hearing Baby Zomma saying 'Mama,' but they only heard a growl," Roseanne said, looking at Baby Zomma, who was looking at her too.
"Now, now, let's go back," I said, pulling Roseanne and lifting her down from the bed.
Roseanne was also too short for an eight-year-old.
"By the way, Az, do you know her?" she asked, pointing at my body.
"You don't need to know. Let's go back," I said, and we walked up the stairs.
Suddenly, a loud siren blared from the wall above us. The sound was so loud it felt like the whole basement was shaking. The noise was deafening and made everything in the room vibrate.
"Aaahh! Azriel!"