The Monster In Me

Aron

“If this continues, you will die of fatigue rather than die attacked by zombies,” chirped Adira who now continues to walk while holding her chest. Occasionally his eyes squinted at Firda who had difficulty holding the little boy on his back.

Firda corrected the position of the child he was carrying before exhaling a long breath. “As I recall, you are still my friend. So, don't swear me like that!”

“I just say the facts! You should have just left him!”

“Adira! You are so cruel! He's just a kid!”

“It's precisely because it's only a child!”

“Kamu—eh silence first.” Firda hurriedly walked to one of the thick-walled corners of the rock not far from there. Hiding behind a replica ambulance. The girl moved smartly because she had memorized the situation in the cave for the number of times they had come. They deliberately turned around to find a safe place to rest with the child they were now carrying, and the choice fell to a place they were quite good at.

Although Adira strongly opposed Firda's unilateral decision, but he still followed and helped the friend. Like this time, he helped Firda to take down the little boy and lay him down carefully.

“Dik, are you awake?” firda asked while patting the boy softly.

Adira raised one of her eyebrows. “Dik?”

“Iya, Sister. Then what should I call him?” Firda snorted loudly. He is already very resistant to the attitude of Adira who questions almost everything. Firda even considered silencing Adira using their levied cloth which they usually wear to clothe the zombie mouth.

“I-mother ... Father ...”

“Dir! He speaks!” Firda's reflex placed his ear right in front of the foreign boy's mouth. Instantly he felt calm to find the boy's breath blowing firmer than before.

But the boy did not wake up. Firda began to think that indeed the subconscious of the boy did not allow him to immediately realize so that he did not need to face the terrible situation that occurred at this time.

The longer the child does not wake up, the more intensely Adira asks Firda to leave him. Firda must immediately figure out a way to find the best way out for all of them.

Eventually, the boy's eyes blinked. Slowly the clear eyes opened, along with one or two drops of flowing tears. The boy sobbed before crying out loud. He got up from his sitting position and shifted back quickly. He shunned Adira and Firda whom he did not recognize at all.

“Aaah! Daddy's! Mama! Please Alon!” his yell. Now he began to stand up and walk backwards staggered. Both of his eyes shook, staring at the pair of companions who were still staring at him in confusion.

Seeing the boy frightened before his eyes, Adira became unbearable. The girl's face scowled, with lips that continued to open and close restlessly. His instincts said that he should be able to calm the child down immediately. Don't let that little boy suffer any longer.

Adira massaged her forehead, trying to force her brain to immediately think of a good idea. But the idea never came. Of course, because previously Adira very rarely faced with small children. During this time, every relatives who have toddlers come to his house, only Adnan who serves the child. Adira would just fall silent in the corner of the room and watch lazily.

At least Adira noticed.

Finally, without a second thought Adira knelt down. He put on the most amiable expression he could show while his two eyes looked curiously at the little boy. “Hai, Brother! I'm Brother Adira. Coolest Brother in this Playground.” Adira's difficulty with nausea. He really doesn't like what he is doing right now. “Whose Sister's name? Last Sister Denger Sister said ‘Alon’? That's Brother's name?”

“Ah, true!” sahut Firda spirit. “So I heard too. His name must be Alon!”

The boy looked silent to hear the two girls calling his name. No more crying sounds came out of his lips. He now plays the end of his moustache shirt while grimacing his face. “Not Alon. But Alon!”

Adira and Firda's reflexes looked at each other. Their expressions looked similar to each other. Frowns, as well as eyes that are wide open. They really didn't understand what the kid just said.

“Good, Alon. I'm Brother Firda, Kak Adira's friend.” This time it was Firda who tried to get closer. Both of his hands he cremated in front of his body, holding back so as not to look vibrating until maybe re-igniting the fear of the little boy in front of him. “Alone do not be afraid, yes. We are both good brothers!”

For a while, the boy was silent. Staring at Adira and Firda in turn. The girls thought, the boy began to feel calm as the boy sucked his own finger. They had just heaved a sigh of relief when suddenly the boy came back screaming.

“My name is Alon! Alone! Why is it wrong?” the boy was still screaming.

Adira and Firda run to the boy's side. Trying to keep him quiet by closing his mouth. Firda hugged the small body to calm her down.

Until they finally understood what was really the problem.

“It turns out her name is Aron,” whispered Adira to Firda who then nodded her head. Apparently Aron had a little trouble pronouncing the letter ‘R’, but now that Adira and Firda realized it, they began to be able to capture Aron's speech more clearly. The boy just said ‘R’ a little differently.

It seemed like the two of them had failed to establish a good first impression. Luckily, Aron no longer went berserk after they called his name properly.

Now the three of them are sitting in line while having fun. Aron held a packet of chocolate bars whose wrappers had been slightly torn apart. Adira finds it on the way, and initially intends to keep it for emergencies. However, the longer he was with Aron, the more his heart softened. Adira now understands why Firda insists on taking Aron with them.

‘Liar however, being funny, adorable, and plain looking is one of the attractions as well as the defense strategy of small children,’ thought Adira. ‘All babies and young children have all those points so that the adults around them are tempted to take care of them. Didn't think I'd also get caught in such a trap.’

“So, Aron,” Firda cleared up for a while to prepare. After a few minutes just invite Aron chat casually, this time he will try to dig a little information from the boy, “you come to this Playground with whom? What's with your Dad and Mom?”

Aron's face that had initially looked relaxed now stiffened again. His hand that was still holding chocolate was silent in the air, completely motionless towards his gaping mouth. Over time Aron's lips seemed to shake, until Firda began to panic and try to rectify his question again.

***