The Monster In Me

Regretting

Both of Firda's legs did not stop running at full speed even though his chest now felt like it was squeezed and burning violently. It was hard for him to breathe, his gaze also started to sway. However, he could not stop to rest. Although there were not many zombies around, Firda still felt that he was being chased.

Perhaps the one chasing him was not the undead he had imagined, but his guilt for leaving his best friend and a little boy for granted. And this turned out to be much more terrifying than zombies.

Because regret will always be able to haunt him, no matter where he hid.

Suddenly Firda stumbled and hit the asphalt hard, injuring his knees, palms and chin. The girl complained of pain while sitting down limp. It seemed like it was only falling down the only way for him to stop running.

“Should I go back to pick them both up?” He wondered in the midst of sobs without tears. “Cannot be. I've been acting this far. If I go back, what's the point? There is no guarantee that the two of them are still human at this time.”

Until then the song on the loudspeaker again sounded loud. Firda's reflexes straightened up and turned to and fro. Previously he had gone to the Information Center office and found that the place had been covered by so many zombies that it was almost unrecognizable. Firda was convinced that Evan and whoever had been there must have gone to their destination.

Is correct. Firda believes in his instincts that the act of turning the song on to any loudspeakers still functioning in the Playground is deliberately done because Evan plans to go somewhere after he manages to lure the zombies to congregates. It seemed, the entire experience gained during these three days made Firda's brain able to think faster. The girl is now trying to reach the exit of the Cakrabuana Playground in hopes of meeting other survivors.

Recollecting his goal would make Firda strong to stand up and immediately run back towards the gate. The end of the iron gate has been seen behind several buildings. Just need to pass a few more meters for Firda to arrive. Until finally, from a distance, he saw a group of people walking back and forth near the sliding lock and the big gate padlock. It seemed like they had yet to find a way to forcibly open it.

“I-Mother Danita!” firda shouted after recognizing the figure of the woman who was behind him.

The teacher whose name had just been called turned around. He was astonished to find one of the students at the school where he was teaching was walking towards him. Danita immediately approached Firda, accompanied by Abian who also realized the presence of the girl. Meanwhile, Trisha and Evan choose to stay focused on finding a way to get out.

“Firda! You're Firda, right? Oh my goodness, son. Turns out you're still safe.” Danita gave thanks while hugging her students. After that he observed Firda's body from top to bottom, making sure that the girl did not suffer heavy injuries. “You've been alone all this time?”

“Fir, where's Adira?” abian asked impatiently. “Aren't you guys always together? Is he waiting for you somewhere?”

Firda really can't say anything. More precisely, he did not want to. How will the response be received later if everyone knows that Adira he just left?

An idea flashed through Firda's mind, and the girl used it without a second thought. “Adira is gone.”

“What?”

Not only Danita and Abian scream in surprise, but also Trisha and Evan who have not been so concerned about the existence of Adira. Firda would probably feel that the current situation was quite comforting if only he was not lying.

In fact, he wasn't sure if Adira was alive, had become a zombie, or had actually died. However, it seems that saying that his best friend is dead is the best option, as it is likely that he does not have to explain the details.

Firda started crying. Moreover, now he feels he has become the worst human being in the world.

Similar to Firda, Abian was also now without prestige to have let his tears flow profusely. The young man had to rub his eyes many times to clarify his vision. “Although once fate Adira. May he soon meet with Karsa in nature there.”

Both Firda's eyes immediately widened. “K-Karsa?”

“Iya, Marsh.” Abian took a deep breath from his now clogged nose, making a loud sound that sounded uncomfortable in the ears. “Bedanya, she hasn't really died. She has become one of zomb—“

“That's enough, Abian!” reprimand Danita suddenly. “Firda must have been very tired and suffered facing everything alone. Let him calm down first.”

Firda bit the inside of her cheek in agitation. Although cut off, he knew very well what Abian had been trying to tell him. Karsa has become a zombie.

And if Firda can be honest, he thinks Adira has also turned into the same creature as Karsa.

However, for now, he would only enjoy the attention of Danita in silence. Get rid of the various other thoughts that now inhabit his mind. ‘If I had not left Aron, Aron's welfare would have been more secure now that there is Ms. Danita.’

“We are all looking for a way to open this gate, as long as the zombies are distracted by the centralized sound in the Information Center.” Danita's voice makes Firda's daydream cut off. The teacher now seemed to be smiling at him while pointing at Evan proudly. “All this is thanks to Evan's idea and the cooperation of all friends. I'm sure, if we continue to cooperate like this, we will definitely be able to get out of this place.”

“Of course you can. By sacrificing someone one by one as Evan did to Mr. Gunawan,” chirped Trisha who then got a reprimand from Danita. “What? I'm just saying facts! Just wait, soon there must be something Evan sacrificed again.”

“As far as you are,” replied Evan casually while continuing to smash rocks into the padlock attached to the fence. “At least I'm better than someone who just keeps screaming and asking to be saved.”

“What did you say?”

“Evan, Trisha, once again Mother please, stop!” Danita started screaming. He really felt his head throbbing violently because he kept hearing quarrels and the sound of rocks clashing with iron. Not to mention the Playground song that is still heard even though it is faint-sayup. “Yang then let it pass! Now we focus on the most important issue! That iron padlock can't possibly open just like that!”

Evan clicked his tongue in annoyance before slamming the stone in his hand and walking away. He broke his head until his hair fell apart, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to be as far away from those noisy useless people as possible.

***