Zac, Zara and Zombies

Part 9

Minna

“If it means so much to you, we can leave the kids with someone else – your parents, even. I won’t let you go alone,” Anuar said.

I looked hard at him. He meant it, I knew that, but I couldn’t leave my precious children. Even though I wanted to slap them on occasion or just tape their mouths shut for a few hours, I loved Zac and Zara. “No,” I said softly. “I’ll tell Rina in the morning and recommend she send someone, but I won’t volunteer to go. With something killing off the remaining humans, it’s too dangerous. Whoever we sent may not come back.”

I stood up. “Come on, I’m tired and I didn’t work as hard as you today. We’ll need a decent night’s sleep before work tomorrow. Things will look brighter in the morning.”

Together, we trekked up the stairs and fell into bed. In the morning we had energy for all sorts of hijinks, but at night all either of us wanted was to sleep.

I woke to the sound of a knock on the door downstairs. Groggily, I dragged myself from my bed and down the stairs to open the door. Rina was on the doorstep, holding her morning’s catch from the river. “Can I make you breakfast?” she asked. “I’d like to discuss the radio distress call we received yesterday before we reach the office.”

“Sure,” I agreed, eyeing off the fat bream as she filleted them on my sink.

The fillets were spitting and sizzling in a pan of olive oil and salt when I returned from the garden with lemons.

“Is it true that the last Americans, Resistance Omega, sent out their SOS yesterday, reporting they were under attack from mermaids, dragons and human zombie slaves?” Rina asked, flipping the fish so I could see crisp brown skin.

“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep a straight face. It seemed so silly this morning in the light of day. “That’s what they said, but they might have been on drugs like some of the others. One report said they were being attacked by zombies and alligators, while another said they were attacked by zombies and naked women…” I coughed.

“Naked women, mermaids, dragons, zombies and alligators,” Rina noted, her voice flat.

I laughed. “I know it sounds strange. That’s why I suggest drugs, or perhaps madness…my husband said magic. Apparently mermaids and dragons can control humans through magic.” I shook my head. It sounded even sillier. “Last night I was going to suggest we send someone to check it out, but now that seems like a waste of time."

Rina looked thoughtful. “Perhaps it is. I don’t know. I’ll think about it.” She looked around. “Where are your kids this morning? Sleeping in? The first fish are ready, but I’ll leave the rest for them to cook when they’re up.”

I laughed, happy to change the subject from fantasy creatures that didn’t exist. “I’ll wake them up. I’ll be back in a moment.”

I dashed up the stairs and hammered on Zara’s door, then Zac’s. “Wake up, time for breakfast! Rina has fresh fish!” I opened Zara’s door. “If you don’t get up soon, all you’ll have are eggs…” I stopped and stared at Zara’s made bed. She wasn’t there and her backpack was gone from its hook.

I ran to Zac’s room, to find a similar absence. His unmade bed was empty and the wall was bare of boomerangs.

Where have you gone? I asked the empty wall in sudden despair. I’d lost all reason.

I crashed through our bedroom door. “Anuar! Wake up! They’re gone! The kids are gone.” Tears tracked down my cheeks.

Anuar was instantly awake, a habit he’d learned when he was alone at sea. “Why?”