The Monster In Me

Don't Waste Energy

“Don't hit him, Dir! You don't see that he's harmless?” firda shouted as Adira stubbornly tried to land another blow to the helpless zombies in front of them.

“Awas! If you don't want to help, don't bother!” Adira pushes Firda's shoulder until the girl staggers and almost falls down.

Luckily Firda was still able to maintain his balance. She quickly hugged Adira from behind and pulled her friend away. However, Adira who revolted with all her might made him forced to take off his embrace.

“What's wrong with you? Wouldn't we agree we would only fight if necessary? Don't waste your energy!” Firda moved in front of Adira. Stand between Adira and the zombie. “Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

Adira stopped in place. Both eyes looked at the staff in his hand and the zombies that were now rolling in front of him in turn. The memory of how the zombies out there attacked him fiercely made him want to immediately beat up the monstrous creature.

As Adnan, his brother, killed an ant with just a touch of a finger. Like his mother who stopped the movement of snapper just by cutting the fish's head. Like his father who likes to go hunting with his friends.

How much Adira wants to conquer the zombies with just one attack as her family always does to the living creatures around. Maybe that way he will be able to walk with satisfaction and pride.

Finally Adira again prepared to swing his staff, but the soft sound of Firda again prevented him.

“Let him, Dir. She is also someone of great value to her family.” Firda looked at Adira expectantly. “He can't attack us. If you're scared, we can make sure of it by keeping his mouth shut or locking him up somewhere.

Adira rubbed her face violently. Trying to get rid of the entire terrifying shadow in his mind. “Good. We're looking for a place to lock him up.”

“So I saw there is a small closet storage of cleaning tools near here.”

“OK. Just there.”

Deftly Adira then took one of the clothes that were nearby. Immerse it in the zombie's mouth before grabbing his hand. The girl grimaced a little for having to grasp the creature's hand, while Firda held her foot. Slowly they lifted the creature although still the waist of the zombie still hit the floor and dragged. Coloring white floor with deep red color.

“Oh, no.” Adira looked in horror as one of the zombie hands she held was cut off. He then threw away the part of his wrist that he was still holding, while slightly cursing. It was a nightmare he could never forget.

“It's okay, it's close. Let me just drag him,” Firda said understandingly.

Finally they got near the cupboard that Firda meant. Roughly Adira got rid of the cleaning tools that were too large and took up space. Some mops he broke his stick to be used as a weapon, while others he just let outside.

The two of them closed the closet door without bothering to figure out how to lock it, as they were sure the zombie would not be able to open it.

Brak! Brak!

Although still the zombie can go berserk and try to destroy the door with its head full of wounds.

“I'll find the toilet. Who knows the water in this place is still flowing.” Adira said in a lethargic manner.

“Ayo, go together,” Firda replied.

There is no other option, Adira and Firda finally can only wash some parts of their bodies by utilizing the water that flows from the tap in the sink. Not to forget, they also store some water into a drinking bottle that is in Firda's bag.

“At least now we can seem more decent.” Adira stared at the shadows of the two of them through the mirror attached there. There were traces of palms as well as other stains blocking it, but he felt quite satisfied just by looking at a slight reflection of himself. “Sadly once no soap can get rid of this fishy smell.”

“I'll take a shower all day after I can return home,” Firda's determination while feeling her own face. Slightly grimaced as his finger touched the injured part. “I hope all these wounds will not leave marks later.”

“You can still care about such a thing?”

“Of course. Doesn't that mean I still have the spirit of life?”

Adira nodded her head. “Taste so.”

Silence enveloped the atmosphere for a while before Firda finally spoke again. “Come, we find a place that is quite comfortable for us to rest.”

As commanded, the two of them compactly walked towards the same direction. Passing through the center of the store where they had been picky clothes and continued walking until they found the room resembles a small room cubicle.

The atmosphere was the same as in the toilet. However, they turned out to be still lucky enough, because there was still one empty room that was clean enough. It was as if it had never touched any human or zombie.

“It looks like many visitors like us, who came and picked up the shirt without trying it in the dressing room first,” chirped Firda.

Adira just sniffed her shoulders. “At least we have a decent place to spend the night.”

Eventually they both entered the narrow room. The area of the room that only reached 4 square meters was not enough to make them to lie freely. They should be able to leave the door open to have plenty of space, but the real fear still haunts them making them choose to endure the discomfort alone.

Security remains an inviolable priority. No matter how cramped the place they were lying in at the moment.

“I hope, after I wake up from sleep later, I will realize that all this is just a nightmare.” Firda suddenly told a story while staring at the ceiling of the dressing room. He placed his head comfortably on his own bag. Without caring about the dust and dirt that fills it. “How about you?”

For a moment Adira only fell silent until Firda had to make sure that his friend had not fallen asleep. “If all this was just a dream, we would have woken up with a body full of sweat since earlier.”

Firda then snorted. “I know that! But still—“

“I hope there will be someone who will save us while we are asleep,” Adira continued. Not giving Firda a chance to interrupt. “Because I'm not sure I'll be able to trust anyone who claims to be a hero when it's too late. They should have come as soon as the commotion happened.”

Adira's speech sounds childish, but it makes sense. At least for Firda who continued to be beside him.

“Then, we should go to bed quickly. Only then can we prove whether our hope can be real or not, tomorrow.”

***