Zendure

Intro

There was zero taste to the liquid in the dreadfully decorated unicorn glitter mug in my hands, but I pretended it was the greatest cocoa I've ever had. Silently observing the girls sprawled in the room. Some on the floor comparing nail colors, two new groupies bouncing excitedly comparing their magazines, and others among the beanbags and pillows listening to music and making beaded bracelets. A well placed laugh, or forced smile when they looked at me or asked for an opinion and I was still treated as part of the group. Even though my heart raced, threatening to burst out of my ribs. They were all acting like it was all normal, just another weekend after the long classes at school. Standing with a stretch and a dramatic yawn, knowing I was at my social limit. Minor protests were silenced as I raised my cup and motioned to the kitchen as if I was to get more of the tasteless sludge. I backed into the door a moment before it went flying open, Adin bursting into the room screaming, soon everyone was yelling. May grabbed me and covered my ears as she tried to check on me as I had landed flat on my face at her feet.

"They're Real!" Everyone screeched again, my hand squeezed over the pair already on my ears. The world was violently shaking, and stars entered my vision. A moment and a few more girls beside me helping me to the window seat. After the commotion settled, everyone gathered between me and Adin. She paced in the doorway watching us as she waited for the spotlight again. "Did you hear me? They're real!" May waved her hands at her before grabbing my face and adjusting my bangs behind my ear, waiting for me to give her a nod that I was fine. Sure, I felt silly sitting in my overly baggy pajamas now soaking in the leftover cocoa.

There was a moment of peace and calm when everyone turned to stare at the girl in the doorway, shifting from my embarrassment. May had held onto my hand with a light squeeze, the rest of the girls sitting by my feet with napkins, a blanket, and someone was offering a sweater as Adin cleared her throat. "Oh fine, we'll play. What's real? The Zodures? Ha, Ha." The air felt tense at the mention of them, the monsters that now plagued the world. My heart instantly thrashed, my mind fritzed out and made focusing very difficult. I could hear my heart bashing inside my chest, breathing heavy enough for May to turn her gaze with a worrisome look painted on her porcelain face.

"Yes! I know where one is too!" All the girls snapped back to Adin with a buzz of excitement and fear, small murmurs and exchanged looks. "I saw it with my own eyes, and I'm not the only one!" As if in a practiced unison the room gasped and fell silent. Just as Adin wanted, hanging onto her every word like starving babes and she held the only nurishment. As I just started to regain my composure, breathing steady and my heart quietly pacing, she snapped a bony finger at me, that evil grin spreading across her face, threatening to expose her snake-like teeth inside her venom spewing mouth. "Nyx knows exactly what I mean." All eyes turned to me, but none of excitement, every face was in twisted horror, each pair of eyes bright with terror and fear.

Did she know? How? I was so careful. Wasn't I?

I could feel my pulse soar as May pulled her hand away from mine. Of course they believed Adin. She was among the smartest in the school, she held the most influence in the gossip of our age.

But how did she know? This has to be a bluff? No, not with something this dangerous or big.

She knows about the creatures. There was a huge uproar when they first showed up, hunting anything like it was sport. It began when something snapped 8 summers ago, the animals fought back. News bulletins flashed through my head as the group just stared at me.

"Buck butchers hunters in their cabin."

"K-9 unit decimates prisoner yard."

"Zoo escapees tear apart cities."

"Safaris turned to rescue missions."

"The rise of the Animal Kingdom."

"Treaties fail as animals eliminate 80% of the human population."