SERENA

PART II: Chapter 6 - Zombies

"So, let me see if I understood. You were – are – were? – the heir to the throne of a planet called Elementia, where everyone can control the elements?" Alison asks Serena after she explained exactly why she's on Earth.

"Not exactly everyone, but yes to the rest. And I guess I was the heir to the throne, because I was sentenced to death." Serena replies matter-of-factly.

Alison nods. "Right. Because you can control all the elements, and that's forbidden. Even though it was not your choice."

"Yes."

"And how do you think your parents found out?"

Serena sighs. "I don't know."

She glances to Alison and notices the other girl is shivering, because the sun has set and she does not have the ability to warm herself up with the fire inside of her. So, Serena lets the flames erupt from her hands, and then makes them spread in a sphere to a spot in the sand in front of the two of them.

"I will never get used to that." Alison comments.

Serena smiles as her friend moves her hands closer to the fire to warm them up.

"So, about how your parents found out..."

"I told you, I don't know." Serena repeats. "I was careful. Or, at least, I thought I was. But maybe they saw me manipulating the air at some point, and they knew that was the only element that I was missing."

"Who else knew?"

"No one that would tell them." Serena replies, because that's what she wants to believe. In truth, she can't be sure whether Rakon or Nolyn would tell her parents about it. "The only two people who knew were the ones who helped me escape. So, they obviously didn't want me to be executed, right?"

Alison shrugs. "I guess not. Doesn't mean they didn't want you gone."

The next morning, the two girls start making their way back to Las Cruces. Just like they did on the way to the desert and the spaceship, they take food and other supplies to make several stops on the way for Alison.

Having spent three days away from home, one on the way to the desert, one there and one to get back home, Alison has already skipped one day of classes, but all she wants to think about is sleep.

"I'm gonna look and feel like a zombie tomorrow in class." Alison comments as they enter her bedroom and she plops down onto her bed.

"A what?"

Alison jerks her head up. "Oh, my God, you've never seen a zombie! I mean, I haven't either because they're not real. Although up until a few days ago, I thought people who could control the elements weren't real either, so who knows if–" She stops talking when she notices Serena looking lost. "Zombies are made up creatures that are, like, people who die and then come back to life but they're no longer human. They don't really think rationally, and all they wanna do is eat brains."

Serena frowns. "Why brains?"

"Why not? It's not any weirder than wanting to eat any other body part."

"I guess you're right." Serena agrees, still confused about the whole concept of a zombie. "And why are you going to feel like one exactly? Should I be worried about my brain?"

Alison chuckles. "No, don't worry, I'm not gonna wanna eat your brain. I'm just gonna feel like I'm dead. Because I'm exhausted."

"Oh, okay, that makes more sense." In reality, she doesn't think it makes any sense, but it must be a human thing, just like being hurt by vegetables, so Serena doesn't question it any further.

The front door of the house slams shut, and Alison quickly stands up from the bed and opens her bedroom door to peak out into the hallway.

"Hey!" She calls out.

"Alison?" Mandy's voice comes from outside the room. "Where the hell have you been? You disappeared for days without a warning!"

"Sorry. An emergency came up. But everything's fine, and I'm back." She moves away from the door so Mandy can look into the room. "We both are."

Mandy doesn't seem exactly pleased with this information. "So, she's just gonna stay here?" She asks, looking at Serena.

"Just for a while, until she figures things out."

"What things exactly?" Mandy asks. "Because I still don't understand what she's doing here or how you know her or why the hell you brought her to live at our place."

Neither Serena nor Alison answer right away. Just like before with Alison, Serena isn't sure she can trust Mandy. But she did trust Alison and things are working out fine, so maybe she should just–

"I can't say." Alison tells Mandy.

"You shouldn't be the one to say it, anyway. It's her business."

Serena opens her mouth to speak, even though she doesn't know exactly what to say, but Alison talks again before she gets to.

"It's her personal business." She tells her housemate. "And she just needs a place to stay until she figures it out."

"Why doesn't she just rent a place like normal people do?"

"Because she can't, okay? Jesus, she needs help, Mandy. And we're not asking you to help." Alison says. "All I ask is that you stop being a bitch about it."

Mandy scoffs. "Whatever. But when you get in trouble because of whatever she's hiding, you better continue not to ask for my help."

With that, Mandy walks toward her bedroom, gets inside and slams the door shut.

"I can go back to the desert." Serena says. "I don't want you to fight because of me."

"Don't be ridiculous. Besides, we're always fighting." Alison replies. "What you saw the other day, the two of us hanging out and cooking together, that was the exception. I mean, it's not like we're friends, you know? We were just picked by someone to share this place, and we don't really get along most of the time. But we tend to stay out of each other's business." She raises her voice in the last sentence, making sure Mandy hears it in the other room.

Serena doesn't reply, only keeps looking at Alison.

"Sorry, is this not regal enough behavior for you?" Alison asks with a smile.

Serena manages a smile as well. "I just feel bad. Even if Mandy was okay with it, I'm still invading your house and using your things."

"So, we find you a job and you pay rent."

Even though the word 'rent' means nothing to Serena, she thinks she understands the concept of it.

"That would be a good idea if I knew how to do anything." She replies. "All I was ever trained to do was to be the Queen and use my powers. I don't suppose you're in need of a queen out here."

Alison laughs. "Sadly not. Or, maybe, not so sadly..." She makes a pensive face and looks somewhere toward the ceiling. But then, snaps back to Serena. "Let's try something simple. Like working at a café or something. All you would have to do would be talking to people and bringing them what they want." She tells Serena. "Well, I think, because I never worked in one."

Serena nods. "Sounds good to me."