Vanished (I LUV U.) - Abide With Me Book 1

Chapter 16 - The Final Tragedy

This is it. The penultimate episode...er...chapter...

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Chapter Sixteen - THE FINAL TRAGEDY

August 21, 2011

“Zenzu!?”

Right after appearing right inside Zoey’s house, Zenzu took a glance at the mummified creature gripping his right arm. A wave of onion and gum entered Zenzu’s nostrils. The boy lurched back, covering his nose. Its great red eye glared at him with anger and plans for revenge. In disgust, he waved his arm and slammed the being against the weak drywall.

Sand slowly poured out a rip in the creature’s bandage. Before it could recover, Zenzu turned the once small crack in the drywall into a great big hole. He kicked it through the gypsum boards and into the small kitchen. The creature slid on the countertop, knocking most of the utensils and plates before banging its head on the faucet.

“W-what is that!?” Zoey could barely speak.

Zoey? Zenzu had ignored her presence for the first nine seconds he arrived. He would’ve hugged her if he hadn’t brought a two-and-a-half meter tall mummy with him.

“WHAT IS THAT THING!?” Zoey repeated, louder.

The creature stared at them and snarled with an unearthly, paranormal voice. With blinding speed, it sat up and broke through the window. Only a thick slather of oil was left  on the countertop.

Outside, a shocked Garrick stumbled and fell on his rear when a sickly-looking mummified being escaped from the house. It sniffed the air with its nose held high. After a second, it seemed to have found what it was looking for.

Zenzu and Zoey dashed out the door and blocked the creature’s escape.

“Zenzu!?” Garrick yelped in surprise. He stood up, brushed off some grass and continued to stare at his friend, stupefied. “Where have you been?”

Again, Zenzu was too focused to answer. He opened his palm. Instantly, the soil buried the creature’s feet.

It only snarled, before breaking free and jumping over the tall hedge.

“C’mon!” Zenzu yelled. Using his ‘floating cliff’ technique, he levitated a chunk of earth in mid-air. Garrick and Zoey hopped on. They were still confused by Zenzu’s sudden return. However, they would have to ask later. Zenzu’s eyes spotted the sun already rising over the horizon.

“Wait!” Ronze shouted. “We need Ron!”

***

Alaya collapsed to the ground, breathing ten times a second. She couldn’t feel any part of her body, as if she was just floating on air.

At least her eyes were still functioning. Above her was a tall, cream-colored ceiling. The first rays of the sun entered through huge, open doors to her right. And, to her left, was a young girl with long, black hair and a brown overcoat. Her vision adjusting, Alaya noticed how adorable the girl’s emerald eyes were. She seemed so…innocent.

 “OMG. How’d you get here!?” the girl reacted with a squeaky voice. “Are you some girl from my imagination? Am I going crazy just like Zenzu? I really, really need you to tell me. I don’t like being called crazy at all! Please tell me I’m not crazy!”

Onion and gum filled Alaya’s nose. A strong gust of wind suddenly entered the great hall. Crawling on the ceiling like a spider was a mummified creature with thin, sickly but horrific features. In the back of her mind, Alaya remembered seeing it before. She couldn’t point her finger at it, but her conscience was trying to connect it with the “monster” her dead sister Anita had mentioned.