The Monster In Me

Sharp Objects

Adira, Firda, and Aron fell curled up on the ground while groaning in pain. Pulmonary curates appear on their faces, necks, and hands that are stiffened. The eyes of the three people tightly closed while their teeth clenched tightly. What they heard this time was probably the worst and loudest sound that had entered their ears in their entire lives.

Not much different, Adnan was also trying to survive the attack of sound that seemed able to blow his entire body from the inside. His two hands pressed to the ears could not reduce the loudness of the sound. The young man fell and thrashed on the asphalt, but his eyes remained open, watching Adira who now seemed to strengthen herself to rise and face the older brother.

With all his strength, Adnan also stood up and was about to walk up to Adira. Luckily, either because he was getting used to it, or indeed the disturbing sound was beginning to decrease in intensity, Adnan no longer felt any pain at all. He now began to smile wide, preparing to come to Adira, his sister whom he had been searching for his existence all along.

“Sister always knew you'd survive, Dir!” Adnan breathed a sigh of relief while muttering to himself. I don't know why his legs felt weak to just walk forward. “Although Brother almost lost hope for not finding you.”

Adira who was helping Firda and Aron stood up seemed to see the motion of Adnan's mouth, so he looked at the brother questioningly. Adnan who knew it then shouted to greet him, but the noise around them was still a barrier.

“It looks like your sister is too surprised to be able to walk right here, Dir,” said Firda, still grimacing to feel her ears ringing.

Adira leaned her body until her ears were very close to the mouth of the friend. “You said something, Fir?”

Firda let out a heavy sigh and glanced at the few loudspeakers that were near them. Deep down he cursed Evan and whoever it was behind this annoying voice. It seems, despite being smart in school, Evan has enough trouble controlling technology he doesn't know in the Cakrabuana Playground.

Whereas before, the voices will immediately stop and change with a typical Playground song. So why not this time?

With a force, Firda repeated his words. This time with a little louder. “Sister Adnan must have been very surprised so can't get here straight away!”

“What?”

“Sister Adnan sure—“

“Fir, I can't hear you,” said Adira in despair. He himself deliberately did not let out his voice and only focused on clarifying his lips so that Firda could understand.

Firda poked her lips before holding Aron back on her back. In the same way as Adira, he begins to speak only with the gestures of the lips. “Ayo, we go to Kak Adnan.” Firda pointed his index finger at the young man to clarify his words.

This time Adira understood what Firda was trying to tell her, because the girl's face immediately shone and she quickly led in front. How carefree he was until he occasionally jumped up in excitement. Although the distance with Adnan was still quite far, but he could see that the elder brother was waiting for him with the same spirit.

Adnan waved his hand which was still shaking violently. Apparently, his decision not to rest or find something to eat first is now beginning to affect his body. However, the results he got were now worth his effort. In front of his eyes, Adira stood in good health and did not hurt much.

Adnan was very impatient to tell all he knew to his sister, because he was sure, Adira would be much calmer after knowing everything. However, for some reason it feels like a long time waiting for Adira to get to her place. Especially now that the girl had stopped walking instead, with a dumbfounded expression that Adnan had never seen before.

Not to mention Firda who was in a hurry to lower the little boy on his back, in order to be able to pull Adira away. Adira jerked her body vigorously to release Firda's embrace, she looked very angry at the friend. However, Firda keeps pulling Adira away.

With all his strength, Adira stretched out her arms. The point is straight towards Adnan.

“Oh?” A confused Adnan thought that Adira was trying to reach him. The young man then stretched his hand forward.

Adira shook her head quickly, before pushing Firda until her best friend fell down. Adnan's sister then tried to run, but Firda deftly held her legs. Desperate, Adira tries to warn her. “Sister Adnan! Watch out! In back! In back!”

Adnan's head was tilted to the left and to the right as he tried to understand his brother's words. “Di ... back?”

Adnan had not had time to turn around, his body was already pushed firmly forward. His focus is no longer centered on Adira, making him now able to hear the growls that he has recently become accustomed to hearing. The two young man's eyes widened to see the number of zombies that were now enveloping him. Some of the undead had even struck his body and locked his movements on the asphalt.

As much as Adnan's energy survived. Both of his arms he used to hold the neck of the zombie that tried to bite him, while his long legs continued to kick in any direction. Of course all that did not give him much chance to escape the zombie ambush. Adnan's trapped.

“No! Can't! I just saw Adira! I haven't brought him out of here!” Adnan groaned violently while pushing all the zombies that surrounded him with all his might. His entire determination made his strength multiply many times over. He found a gap to crawl and started running away.

However, Adnan suddenly felt a tremendous pain in the back of his legs.

The young man fell onto the asphalt with a violent impact. A groan of pain escaped his lips, while a fresh red liquid started flowing from his legs. Adnan curled up, hugged his own knee, before again trying to get up. Unfortunately, again his movement was restrained because his other legs were also hit by sharp objects.

Adnan's eyes widened. He can clearly see some zombies have many sharp objects stuck in the body. A knife sticking out of the arm of one of the zombies, while the other zombie had a big nail on its forehead. And the zombie that attacked Adnan's leg twice turned out to have a large scissor that pierced through his palm. Adnan observed everything with an overwhelming feeling of fear.

***