The Monster In Me

There You Are!

“Why didn't you tell Brother, Ca? You know, right, the slightest injury is dangerous for you?” Zean let out a sigh while lifting Helsa's leg and placing her on his lap. His two eyes stared at every point on the girl's feet to make sure that no other injuries were missed by the two of them. Zean was trying hard to control himself from exploding right now after seeing the many scratches on the white skin of his sister. “You sure no other body part hurts?”

“Nothing, Brother,” replied Helsa while shaking her head. Slowly, he pulled his foot away from Zean's reach. “I told you this is nothing. Big brother is much more hurt than I.”

“But but only,” Zean suddenly stopped talking and let his words hang just like that. “Hah .. free I snatch our backpack from the villain, if we finally have to leave it because it is cornered by many zombies.”

Zean reached into every pocket he had in his clothes and pants, looking for something that might be useful. But he found only plastic waste leftover bread or candy, and a package of white powder burning on some sides. The package he found while running away from the zombie earlier.

Perlaha, Zean observed the powder up close. His forehead wrinkled after he realized what it was.

“It was because of karma,” chirped Helsa while glaring at Zean who reflexively stored back the strange parcel in his hand into his pocket. “Angels don't like the way Big Brother recaptured that bag. Therefore, neither we nor the criminal can have that bag.”

Instead of being offended or angry, Zean chuckled at that. He pinched the tip of Helsa's nose which then whined. “From which this adorable little sister learned such a difficult word,” seductive Zean heard the sound made a little crybaby. “Ya, already. In that case, Brother will cover this wound soberly,” he added again while tearing the cloth part of his own sleeve.

However, he had not had time to attach the cloth to the feet of the sister, suddenly he heard someone shouting from a distance.

“I know you're here! I can smell the rottenness of your heart even from tens of kilometers away!”

“Not possible,” muttered Zean. He really does not believe, both in Taka's speech and the existence of the teenager himself. “I'm sure that he should have died being mobbed by zombies in that place.”

“Kak ...” Helsa hugged Zean tightly. “I'm scared. Did he come here for revenge?”

“It seems so,” Zean answered honestly while poking his head behind a large electrical installation box that was nearby. From behind the surrounding bars, he could see Taka had dragged his steps towards him. It seemed that the young man had not found their whereabouts, for he was busy circulating his gaze to and fro. Zean took a deep breath, and directed Helsa to go back up his back.

“Tight grip. We must immediately find another safe place,” said Zean while whispering. Relying on his instincts and luck, the man came out of hiding without being seen by Taka.

Zean chooses not to go too far, because he knows that Taka will find it easier if he runs on the open streets. Therefore, he immediately approached a pile of shabby curtains that were not far from there. The multi-storey building that was near the cloth made Zean realize what the real function of all the fabrics was.

“This fabric is definitely one of the stage properties of the weekly show,” murmured while lowering Helsa from her sling. He deftly grabbed the cloth and covered the bodies of the two of them. They must stay in a prostrate position to ensure that their body shape will not be clearly visible from the outside.

Helsa is a very smart boy. He did everything without having to be ruled by Zean. In silence he held on even though their current position did not feel comfortable.

“Little girl, you heard me, right?” call Taka while patting his hands together. “Come, come out and go with me. Leave your horrible sister. Didn't you see what he did to me?”

For a moment, Zean's heart stopped beating. Apparently Taka really knew, what he had to say in order to divide the pair. Zean has yet to explain the whole situation to make Helsa better understand all the decisions he has made and will take. And now, Taka is making the problem worse.

Slowly, Zean peered towards the younger brother who was still unmoved on the spot. Helsa must have heard clearly all of Taka's words, but chose not to show any reaction. However, for Zean, facing the silence of the younger brother was far more terrifying than facing his anger.

Until Zean finally realized that this was not the right time for him to think about Helsa's views on him. The two of them had to keep hiding until Taka went away or until the young man got tired of chasing them. Although Zean knew very well that option two would never happen.

The proof, Taka was able to chase the two of them here in a short time. At a glance, when he peeked earlier, Zean could see the state of Taka who was full of wounds. With such a body, it would definitely require a considerable and strong determination for him to go to and fro looking for Zean and Helsa.

Zean should have known, that the power of vengeance could even make a human capable of flipping a huge mountain.

‘I instead aggravated the situation and got Eca stuck in greater danger,’ regretted Zean while wiping her face. With great difficulty he tried to think of a way for them to run away from the current situation.

The young man looked towards Helsa, confirming the condition of the younger brother. Suddenly both eyes widened to see one of the legs of the girl swayed fast enough and strong, to move the cloth that was covering both of their bodies.

“Ca, Eca .. stop moving!” tell Zean in a whisper. Panic began to fill his mind. He endlessly hopes that Taka is not looking in their direction. “We can get caught, Ca. Brother please, shut up!”

“A-I can't. I don't know why.” Helsa started sobbing. With one hand, he held onto his leg which did not stop moving. “It feels like ticklish, or itchy? I don't know, Brother. Helpme. It's really uncomfortable.”

With great difficulty and with great care, Zean moved closer to his sister. He grabbed the leg of his sister who was still kicking in any direction and tried to hold it with both hands. He could feel Helsa slightly jerking as he touched her. The young man looked at the girl questioningly. “What hurts?”

“Ti-no. I think I can stop moving now. But, it feels like I can barely feel the tip of my foot,” Helsa replied in a trembling voice.

Zean had not had time to say anything when suddenly their covering cloth was blurred. The sunlight that shuffled in made the two squint their eyes.

“There you are!” Taka grinned with his hideous face.

***