The Monster In Me

Please or Leave

Sontak Firda fell silent even though he was eager to protest. However, it didn't take long until he finally understood why Adira behaved like that. From his current position, he could clearly hear the voice that they had been looking for. And that voice did not sound at all like a zombie growl, but rather like a human groan in pain.

More precisely, the groans of a child in pain.

Both of Firda's eyes widened. Immediately he stood up and tried to turn the iron barrel over, but Adira's hands prevented it. “Why?”

Adira shook her head with a frown. “Leave it. The important thing is we already know that there is no danger around here. Come on, let's go!”

Of course Firda did not heed Adira's words and continued his intention to find out who was now hiding behind the half barrel of iron. It didn't take much manpower for him to figure out, as it turned out that the barrel was much lighter than he had expected. Immediately he was greeted by a sight that made him want to cry sobbing in his place.

A boy who looked to be under 10 years old was cowering alone inside with a body full of wounds. The boy did not react at all as Firda tried to touch his shoulder and continued to moan in pain. The clothes he was wearing had been heavily stained with dirt and blood and was torn in several places, but Firda found no bite marks or scratches on the boy's body. At least, after he had a quick look. He still had to make sure by having the boy sit properly.

Again Adira prevented him when Firda was just about to take the little boy to talk. “He is alive and will remain so because his injuries are not severe. Don't waste time!” Without Adira's heart saying all that.

Firda widened his eyes in disbelief. “We have to help him! There must be something we can do!”

“He could have been a zombie! Just help humans we can't, let alone zombies!”

“She doesn't look like a zombie at all to me.” Firda looked at the boy once more. “After another thought, since all this mess happened, I have never seen a child zombie. Are you not the same?”

Firda's words managed to make Adira speechless. The girl who was still learning to pay more attention to her fellow man then began to approach the boy. He hesitantly touched the boy's shoulder. Just a little, it seemed like he himself was afraid that the child would suddenly attack him. After making sure that there was absolutely nothing for her to worry about, Adira began trying to help the boy to sit down, along with Firda.

All the commotion and the touch of the hands of the two girls did not make the child immediately open his eyes. It still remains closed and moans slowly. It seemed that his consciousness was slowly beginning to disappear.

“Malang once his fate. Just what had he witnessed to this kind of shock?” said Firda limply. His eyes began to feel damp by all the almost overflowing sadness.

“Of course it's not a good thing. Just as we continue to face while here,” replied Adira ketus. Now he stood up and seemed ready to return to continue the journey. “There's nothing wrong with him, so we don't have to help him. Come, go!”

“I don't have a sister, Fir.”

“Please imagine!” Firda unintentionally snapped at Adira. “I want to help this kid. It's up to you to help me or just stand by and watch it all. Whatever!”

Adira looked at Firda in disbelief as Firda began to lay the little boy they found. He patted the boy on the cheek, trying to wake him up. It took a few minutes until the child finally opened his eyes, but he ended up crying louder so that Firda was confused.

All of that made Adira's head pulsate painfully until he massaged it strongly. No matter how hard he tried to understand Firda's current attitude, he never managed to do so. He only saw that Firda had acted recklessly just because he wanted to act like a hero by helping a little boy they did not know his origin at all. Their current situation is far from safe.

“Now what?” ask Adira ketus. “We don't have any mineral water or even food for us to offer the child. There were also no medicines to treat his injuries. All this is free, Fir!”

“Still I will not only be silent and resigned, or worse, let him survive alone in a deadly place like this,” Firda said. He was hugging the boy while rubbing his back.

Adira patted her hair in frustration. Many times he took a deep breath to prevent his anger from just exploding. After all, right now he and Firda only have each other. They should not be divided just because of ordinary debate. “Try to think well, Fir. You who are someone else do not have the heart to leave him, let alone people who know him. So, why would he be in this place alone? Something is strange.”

“What if something is weird? Everything that happens in this place also makes no sense, right?” Firda again tried to refute Adira.

“Good. Now think of the other side.” Without giving up Adira continues to convince Firda to leave the child immediately. “If we really took him with us, would we be able to continue to look after him? We have almost died many times! Don't take any chances, leave me in a place that looks pretty safe and get out of here.”

Firda bit her lower lip so tightly that it almost caused a wound. He refused to approve Adira's words, but in fact deep down he knew that Adira was right. They were just two teenage girls who did not have much survival ability. It is almost impossible for them to look after a child amid all the haunting uncertainty.

However, what makes Firda even more upset is how Adira never changes. The girl always decided everything based on logic, without the slightest bit of feeling involved. Though if Firda behaved the same as he did, maybe he would never help Adira when the girl hung over a high wall a moment ago, just a moment ago, because the deed was much riskier than picking up a little boy they found on the street.

Firda did not expect that he would feel a little regret for saving Adira's life.

***