Dead Souls: Alive

Amalgam

　
　
Amalgam - Janice's POV
　

Malowi Jungle
February 15, 01h25
　

The passenger seat was quite comforting. Even then, I didn't feel like I was alone in my clothes. Twenty minutes ago, I killed a man. His screams of agony still linger within my mind. They refuse to disappear, they refuse to let me breathe alone. Maybe time will tell.

Ara was still in shock. I had presumed her distant self was because of her feelings for dear Skyler, I thought she missed him. How wrong I was. She was afraid of me, afraid of the monster I become when my tummy runs out of fuel. I don't know how much more I'll be able to protect her — from myself. How laughable. What a friend I am.

How can I be worrying about my own urges? Can I not control them?

I pondered, my eyes not moving even an inch from that mirror. She was all I had. The only friend I've known in the longest time. Amari, or so he was called by his friend, focused on the road ahead. It was filled with bumps and turns, so he kept a steady pace. The speed-o-meter averaged around forty kilometers, it was going to be an hour long drive. Above and beyond the thick, lush green of tree leaves was a collection of clouds, causing the moon to drift away in concealment.

Ara returned a gaze towards me through the rear-view mirror. Her pink hues were so darn attractive, no wonder Skyler was head over heels for this woman. Even then, the smile she tried to throw my way felt as awkward as it looked. Was I that scary? I returned my own smile of awkwardness before turning towards the road.

"How far from Visinia, Amari?"

I tried breaking the silence. The humming engine was soothing, a V8 powered beast with a calming roar. Suddenly, before he could reply, a streak of lightning tore the heavens apart, causing one loud bellow of rage a few moments after. A storm was coming, or so it seemed. "We should be fifty minutes away now." It's been ten minutes. I didn't know what to do, think or say to her. My eyes darted from tree to tree.

In a heartbeat, time appeared to slow down. From above the many, humongous tree, a dead body came and crashed against the wind shield! Amari was going to hit his head against the steering wheel. I, as fast as I could, barricaded the steering with my hand so it'd break the force. Looking back at Ara, she seemed fine, her seat belt was on. Before it could spin out of control, I firmly held the steering so the car could stabilize. Before any of them could know, the car had crashed into a tree.

An ambush.

I mused. It was the only applicable predicament. From the car's compartment, I luckily found what appeared to be a machete. A common weapon amongst savage soldiers. Quickly, I released my seat belt and remained still.

I looked back at Ara. She was frightened beyond what I'd seen before in her eyes. I held her head and softly brushed her hair. I saw a child in her. Coming to think of its, she didn't look a day older than 19.

"We're gonna be alright. You have me in the team."

What was I saying... I wasn't supposed to pride myself of having the body of a monster. She was terrified of me and I still showed off. Though in all honesty, it did feel great. After the unfortunate meal I had, my vitality had skyrocketed. Ara calmly nodded her head, sinking into the space where her legs priorly sat. She was great at controlling her fear.

"Amari..."

I called out. Slowly, he responded, but was still in a haze. With haste, I switched off the headlights, closing my eyes to focus. Footsteps were gradually approaching the car. They didn't seem human. Groans were evident here and there, growls and moans from different locations. I naturally had sharp ears, but ever since this, I could hear like a bat. From just sound alone, I detected seventeen monsters. Seventeen blood thirsty zombies who seemed far more intelligent than your regular from that tactic they used to derail the car. Carefully, I opened the door and locked it while open, left, and kept my hand on the handle to lock it once I closed.

"Stay inside. Keep an eye on her." Amari gestured back. He'd returned to his senses.

Even in darkness, where the moon was unfortunately blinded by a blanket of clouds, my eyes could still see. The heat from their bodies was quite infinitesimal, though I could see and count them. That was all I needed. Another perk gifted from becoming half a monster, or so it seemed.

In a thought, the first zombie met my knee in a collision. Blood splattered on my skirt which was already majorly red. A swift knee to its face broke apart whatever head it had left. The machete in my hand finished it off by slicing it off. Sixteen.

The second was a few two feet to its left. Using the falling body, I lunged towards it and instinct led to me biting down on its neck. For some reason, I enjoyed it. With momentum from the subtle jump, I tore away it's oesophagus and it dropped dead. Fifteen. The third forth and fifth; my weapon knew exactly where their necks were located. Their heads flew off into the heavens and touched the skies, tumbling and swirling ceaselessly.

Before I knew it, all of them were on the floor. Their slow and timid walks were clear evidence that one more intelligent monster remained. Hiding in plain sight, waiting to strike.

"I know you're there."

A lie. I didn't. However, that seemed to drag him out. A neat formation of clothing was what presented this... man? I couldn't read his facial features, but his silky smooth suit was all there was to identify. Heat was nowhere around his body. This told me he was an undead man. His walk crushed a few pebbles on the ground. Formal shoes, according to the sound I registered. A zombie with the clothes of a man going to a funeral? I wasn't sure what to think.

Suddenly, the shoes began a rhymic sequence of steps, as if tap dancing to fit the mood in the air. I was irritated because I couldn't see him, but then I remembered to have taken Amari's torch when I searched the car's compartment. Slowly, I reached out to my bra before...

I was too slow.

CRASH!

When and how? Before I could see what was happening, the space between myself and this mysterious man was sealed off without a sound. My ribs, partly fractured.

"Where are you rushing to? Though I must admit, my face is quite the thing to look at."

That was all I heard before retreating to the back of my mind. His voice was smooth, compared to my own that was rigid. I blacked out on the spot. My life, in the hands of another of unknown descent.