The Monster In Me

The impact?

Taka was busy laughing at Zean and Helsa while walking backwards, intending to bury his figure behind the many trees growing tightly around them. The young man was completely unaware of the existence of the half-body zombie that was now crawling closer to his feet.

“Quick or slow, those zombies will be able to get into this place,” Zean said while frowning. He turned around and held onto Helsa's shoulder tightly. “You wait here for a moment. There's something Big Brother has to do.”

“No want! Where are you going?” Helsa held Zean's hand as hard as she could. “What else? Come on, we'll get out of here!”

“Iya, we will go after Big Brother does one important thing.” With a heavy heart Zean tried to take off Helsa's grip. He looked at his sister with confidence. “Crust same Sister. Brother needs to do this to ensure our safety.”

There's no time left. Zean knew that his words were hard to understand, but he had to move quickly. Otherwise, their lives would be at stake. Especially after he saw that quite a number of zombies were trying to walk up to them at this time.

Therefore, even though Helsa was shouting, Zean ran with all his might towards Taka who was now looking at her in surprise. He had absolutely no time to react when Zean suddenly pushed and held his body on the ground.

“This again?” taka asked dismissively, though he looked panicked as Zean grabbed his whistle and threw it in any direction. “I think we're done fighting like a kid?”

“True, it's done. I just have to do this as closing action.” Zean forcibly removed the tie that was loosely attached to Taka's neck. Unite it with his own belt and tie it to the young man's hands and to a tree with a trunk not too big nearby. Of course Taka rebelled strongly. However, Zean's unanimous determination allowed him to hold everything back easily.

“Shut up here and greet your subordinates. Perhaps that way, the bond of ‘God and devotee’ between you will also be stronger,” said Zean arrogantly as he stood firmly in front of Taka who was tied to a tree.

“Don't joke! Let go of me!” taka snapped while trying to kick Zean with both feet.

“No will! Don't think I don't know what kind of man you are!” Zean took the branch nearest branch and touched it to Taka's face. Gives a little scratch on that mature sapodilla skin. “People like you are very happy to play around with the weaknesses of others! I might let you if you just annoy me, but you also endanger my sister!”

Zean took back his backpack lying beside Taka. Check the contents before throwing a loaf of bread in front of the young man. “Take it. If after this you have a great hunger, maybe you can eat the bread, instead of other human flesh.”

“What do you mean?”

“See to back.”

When Taka obeyed Zean's orders, he was immediately greeted by a loud growl and the unpleasant smell of a half-body zombie that was suddenly nearby. Taka's reflexes screamed and started kicking the zombie hard. He also tried to untie the bonds in both hands, until his skin flushed and suffered many blisters.

“Sial! I saved you!” Taka continued to curse Zean and his sister with inappropriate words. “Let me go! You can't possibly let your sister see her brother kill someone else!”

Hearing that, Zean then looked towards Helsa who continued to watch everything from now on. Helsa looked teary-eyed and shook her head nonstop. Ask her to stop doing unusual things she does. Zean felt a tightness in his heart after realizing that he had given bad memories to his beloved sister.

No brother in the world would show his worst side in front of his sister. All my life, Zean always tried to give his best for Helsa. Although he himself had to be tormented, Zean did not care as long as Helsa continued to look at him with a twinkle of pride emanated clearly on his face.

Thus, by discarding most of the old beliefs he had held, Zean turned his gaze away from Helsa and returned to focus on Taka. “You saved us only to play us back when bored.” Zean paused for a moment before shaking his head. “No need to worry about me and my sister. You better start praying, may God will receive you in the afterlife there.”

After saying that, Zean ran back to his sister. By first kicking some smaller trees to give the zombies access. Deftly he grabbed Helsa's body and carried her. Run as hard as they can with only instinct to guide their way.

Shouts for help Taka deliver their journey.

“Let me down!” helsa shouted while hitting Zean's shoulder. “Let me down, Brother!”

“Not now, Ca,” replied Zean gently although Helsa's punch was quite painful for him. “We have to find a safe place first.”

“For what?” Helsa started screaming. He cried as he continued to rebel in the arms of his brother. “To save our own lives without caring about others? I don't want to live like that, brother! We better just die!”

“Eca! Silence please! I am also very tired!” Zean accidentally yells at Helsa. His mind at this moment really could not focus on his sister. The branching foreign road, as well as the trees that closed his eyesight made him even more agitated. Zombies can attack at any time, from a direction that he might never have guessed before. Zean had to be vigilant and reduce the things that broke his concentration.

Including Helsa who continues to sulk in her arms.

Zean had to strengthen his heart. Although he had now heard the sobs of his sister, he should not waver. Their safety depends on him.

“Sister is the best sister for me.” Zean heard Helsa saying softly, but he pretended not to hear it. “I always admire Brother. Sister knows it.”

‘Iya. I know’, Zean replied inwardly.

“I don't need anything as long as I'm with Brother.” Helsa coughing. He began to have difficulty breathing because his cries did not stop. The girl's face also started to look pale, with the hand no longer powered to hit Zean. “But why ... why did Big Brother scare me like that?”

“Sorry.” Zean finally spoke up.

Helsa raised her face to look at the sister's face. Making Zean almost grimace at the disappointment that was clearly painted on Helsa's face.

“Don't do that again, Brother. Or I won't want to be saved by Brother again.”

***