Godead

XLVII

Elsa reached the RVs, suddenly horrified by what she discovered. There, at the other side of the vehicles were bodies strewn around, bloodied and mutilated. As she looked on in fright, Elsa noticed a young boy standing amidst them. He was thin and small, no older than ten years old, stoically staring at the body of a woman before him. He slowly looked up, noticing Elsa standing at the end of the clearing. As Elsa watched in fright, the boy coldly stared her down.

"Who are you?" he asked, voice low and raspy.

"I... I...," Elsa replied, lost for words.

The boy's appearance was peculiar to say the least. He had messy, jet black hair and pale skin, his most notable feature being a long, sharp horn growing from his right temple. He wore a black outfit that covered most of his body, and had dark, eery eyes that were pitch black. As he approached Elsa, the young woman warily stepped back.

"What happened? Why won't mother wake up?" the boy asked. Elsa's eyes grew wide.

"These... these people are dead...!" she replied. The boy stopped in his tracks. He then looked down, noticing the blood on his hands.

"...Did I...?" he replied warily, wondering if he'd killed everyone in his caravan.

"...I don't know. My name is Elsa. Who are you?"

"Reuben. I was living here with mother and the others when the zombies appeared. I fell sick for awhile, and then...," Reuben said, pausing before holding his head. "I... can't remember." Elsa stood in silence, noticing the boy's confused expression.

"I see," she replied. "You poor thing. Are you okay?"

"I think so. But... what is this strange thing?" the boy asked, touching the horn on his head.

"I don't know, dear. But I saw a girl like you who had an... interesting look, as well. Perhaps whatever's happening is changing children's appearances," Elsa said. The boy looked up at her, his expression similar to that of a lost kitten's.

"I'm... scared," he said softly. Elsa slowly frowned, heartbroken by the boy's words.

"Oh... it's alright, dear," she said, walking over before gently embracing him. The boy stood in silence, feeling Elsa's warmth against him. Just then, a pair of footsteps sounded from behind.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Abby asked, standing next to Claude as she looked Elsa's way. "If it isn't the little worm who got away!"

"You...!" Elsa replied, recognizing Abby.

"Elsa! Are you alright?" Claude asked.

"Who gives a sh*t if she's alright?" Abby said. She then noticed Reuben, raising a brow at the thin young man. "...Who's the brat?"

"...This is Reuben," Elsa replied nervously.

"Reuben, huh? What's with the creepy horn?" Abby asked.

"I... don't know," Reuben replied.

"Well that's fine with me. I'm glad I found the two of you. This gives me a chance to show off my new powers to Claude!" Abby said wryly.

"Abby! Don't!" Claude exclaimed.

"Hush, darling! Just watch and be amazed!" Abby replied, raising her wings.

As she was just about to attack, Reuben's eyes quickly shot open, the boy's arm extending before swiftly shooting through the ground beneath him. In an instant, a dozen sharp spikes shot up from the grass near Abby. The girl cringed, quickly dodging in the nick of time. The four stood in shock, looking to the dozen, black six foot spikes poking from the ground.

"What the...?" Claude said nervously.

"I see. Looks like you've developed some tricks yourself, huh kid?" Abby asked. Reuben blinked, returning his arm to normal as the spikes sunk back into the ground.

"Reuben! How did you do that?" Elsa asked.

"I have no idea. I just... kind of reacted," the boy replied.

"You don't scare me! I'll kill you both and wear your entrails as a hat!" Abby exclaimed.

Suddenly, the girl took off, flying high before diving at Elsa. As the frightened woman stepped back, Reuben jumped in front of her, raising his arm. Suddenly, his palm opened up, firing sharp quills at Abby. Abby cringed, dodging out of the way at the last second. The two fought back and forth, evenly matched as Elsa and Claude watched in shock.

"Abby! Stop this! Please!" Claude shouted. Abby gritted her teeth, landing next to Claude moments later.

"Damn you, brat. You think you're tough, huh?" Abby asked Reuben. The boy stood stoic, guarding Elsa as Abby stood near Claude.

"Abby, please don't fight with Reuben. It seems the two of you have developed similar abilities. Maybe you can learn from each other," Claude said.

"...Hmph!" Abby said, folding her arms in annoyance. Though she hated to admit it, Claude was right. Reuben was the first one besides herself with such strange powers, and Abby's curiosity was piqued over the young boy.

"What happened to you, Reuben? Do you remember?" Claude asked.

"Not really. I just remember feeling weird when the zombies started appearing. I felt sick, and the others cared for me here at camp. I kept getting irritable, though, and it got worse and worse over time. Then, I couldn't get out of bed... and the next thing I remember was Elsa showing up," Reuben explained.

"That sounds similar to what happened to you, Abby," Claude said.

"Yeah. I think the two of us transformed or something," Abby replied.

"I don't notice any wings on you, Reuben. Can you fly?" Claude asked.

"No," Reuben replied.

"Ha! I can! My powers are way stronger than yours, kid! I'll prove it!" Abby exclaimed. As she was about to resume her attack, Claude stepped in front of her.

"Don't!" he said. "The two of you are strong. If we work together, we can keep the zombies at bay."

"I can do that by myself!" Abby said.

"Maybe. But who knows what else is out there? There could be an army of zombies, or maybe there are others like the two of you who are hostile. If we join forces, we stand a far better chance against them," Claude explained.

"I agree," Elsa said.

"Me too," Reuben added. Abby rolled her eyes, sighing moments later.

"Oh, alright. But I'm watching you, brat," Abby said to Reuben. "Try anything funny, and I'll chop off your head and cut it in half!"