The Monster In Me

Seeing More Clearly

Adnan looked around. He had indeed walked quite a distance since entering the Cakrabuana Playground, but previously he was too busy avoiding zombies to not have time to look around. Now, when he returned to continue the journey with Zean who had walked first a few meters from him, Adnan was finally able to really feel the horror that the atmosphere of the Playground was given to him.

Everything was much more terrifying compared to what he had imagined before.

At first, Adnan thought, with humans attacking each other, the most terrible situation was just that many lifeless bodies were lying with a deep red liquid that colored the surface of the surrounding asphalt. But it turns out not only that.

Wherever Adnan looked he could see bodies that were no longer intact, as well as body pieces that were unknown to their owners. A fishy smell kept pressing into his breathing, and Adnan needed all his self-control ability to hold back so that whatever still inhabited his stomach did not push out just like that. The young man did not even care where he set foot. The warm sensation that enveloped his feet behind the shoes no longer made him feel goosebumps.

And on top of that, Adnan still does not understand why many Playground rides can be destroyed just like that.

“What are the zombies raging and attacking in groups?” the question was without shouting, but it could be heard enough by Zean. “Their power must be huge if many rides succeed they are damaged like this. Looks like the rides that still survive are just some of the biggest rides in this Playground.”

Zean stopped walking so Adnan could catch up with him. For a moment he looked to the right and left while frowning. He just realized that the number of zombies they encountered was decreasing. Was there someone who had slaughtered them all?

“I don't know much either.” Without asking his curiosity, Zean tried to answer Adnan's question. “But as far as I can tell, those zombies acted very aggressively the first time the attack happened. They hit everything in front of their eyes, even inanimate objects. They also bite zombies. Or maybe I saw it wrong? I don't know. To be sure, they are no longer that aggressive now and only attack humans.”

Adnan nodded for a while before returning to frown. “But I once saw a zombie that was twitching itself as if it was accidentally breaking every bone in its body. Is he a rare kind of zombie?”

“No. I know they do keep moving like that whenever there is no sound or human figure fishing them.”

Zean stopped walking suddenly. Almost made Adnan hit his body if only Adira's brother did not have good reflexes. The young man was just about to nag Zean when he accidentally saw what might have made Zean now freeze on the spot.

Although the body that is now lying on the asphalt in a curled position and covered with various stains, Adnan can still see what kind of clothes the body is wearing.

The bright yellow color with the image of a small sunflower mascot is scattered at several points. It was the official uniform of the officer who operated each of the rides at the Cakrabuana Playground.

Besides that, what else could make Zean and Adnan now look on with pity? Of course the position of the corpse.

“Poor man. Though he just wants to work for a living,” said Zean slowly. He crouched down to observe the man more closely. His face that was visible from behind the slit of the hand that covered his head looked much younger than Zean. This made the young man take a deep breath. “I hope the Playground party compensates enough for his family.”

Meanwhile, Adnan just sniffed his shoulders and chose to walk around. A look of pity was no longer visible on his face. Now he looks cold again with both eyes that focus on staring around. His steps were certain as he approached a small iron box with a large circle on it.

Both of his eyes sparkled after recognizing what it was.

“The movement of zombies is unpredictable,” he said loudly to attract the attention of Zean. “All the big items, such as poles, trees, until their rides lunge. But, look! This cotton candy machine is not nudged at all. Well, although still exposed to a lot of stains.”

Zean grimaced in disdain as he watched Adnan investigate the cotton candy machine further. The young man seemed to open every small drawer there until he found a drawer containing colorful powder. Starting from white, pink, green, and purple. All of that is the sugar that is the base of cotton candy, and is the thing that Adnan was looking for. However, the young man's face was not at all happy to see him.

“These sugars are contaminated. Lookie! Some even began to fuse because they were wet,” grumbled Adnan while shaking his hand, asking Zean to come up to him immediately and see all that. “It seems, this purple sugar should not be purple. But a mixture of blue and red from—“

“Iya, yes. I see,” cut Zean a little in a hurry. He really did not want to hear Adnan's explanation further. His stomach now felt swirling around in his body. “Again, who would want to make cotton candy at a time like this?”

“I. Adira really likes this snack.”

“Do not! Don't reck! Even if it looks like there is still clean sugar, don't do anything!”

Adnan rolled his eyes puffing at hearing that. Though not long ago he met Zean, but Zean has now acted like an older brother who continues to try to protect him. Adnan was eager to protest and said he did not need protection at all. Only, he still needed a road guide from Zean who had been in the terrible place for longer. Adnan thought he could save more time and could find Adira faster with Zean's help.

Even though he still maintained his vigilance. Zean is still a stranger to her.

“OK. I'm just gonna take a look around here. I won't touch anything,” Adnan replied finally, with a slight tattle. He deliberately raised both hands up, imitating the movement of criminals who were being held by weapons by the police in the film. For a while, he went around maintaining that position.

***