Sort of Dead

17 - The Walking Undead

Aar's POV:-

'He's – he is - ' I panted for breath even as I tried to explain to Bee the craziness I had just witnessed. ‘And – and there was this - '

‘Okay, okay, calm down,' she said. ‘Close your eyes and picture something that helps you chill. I read it in the Roman scriptures, it's one of the oldest and most effective ways of meditat-'

'Yeah, I’m chill, I’m chill,' I said, even as I followed her instructions.

Now, I will never admit to Bee that it was her face I saw with my eyes closed that helped calm me down. Never. And if you ever tell her, consider yourself dead meat.

We were in the secluded park near Bee's house, which was our usual rendezvous point. I was on edge and obviously still in shock.

The trick did work, though, and I told Bee everything. Every. Freaking. Thing.

'Wait, what?’

'Yes. They – they killed him – and I – I don’t know what to do - '

‘Aar?'

‘- and we should go to the police, Bee – you weren’t – you weren’t there – '

‘Aar.’

‘I saw him – he was – his head - '

‘AAR!’

I fell silent, feeling so woozy I internally fainted (if you know what that means).

'Listen to me,' Bee said. 'The jocks might be imbeciles, but they aren’t killers. I think you misunderstood.’

'I am telling the truth, alright?! Just trust me!’

Bee took a deep breath, putting her ridiculously pretty ginger locks behind one ear. ‘He can’t be dead, Aar. Gaba isn’t that reckless. He could be severely injured in that alley, we need to go help him out.’

'He's dead, Bee! We need to call the cops!’

‘You’re not making any sense, Aar. Marra can’t be dead. Even if he were, you really think that cops would believe us? The Gabocks probably already cleaned him up and . . . I don’t even know why we're talking about this, Marra is not dead - '

See barked. Louder than I’d ever heard him bark.

Bee frowned, crouching beside her German Shepherd and petting him. ‘What’s wrong, boy? You hungry?’

But See kept barking at the gate to the park. I thought I heard a strange rustle whispering in my ear, and a tingling sensation conducted through my bones.

I glanced over at Bee. Yes, she felt it too.

I could faintly hear a shuffling of feet too. Was that what the rustling had been?

See continued his barking; he was getting all jittery and frantic. What was wrong with him?

Bee elbowed me and I saw her eyes widen. I read her thoughts in her large eyes.

We said what was on our mind together in unison: 'The Gabocks.’

We dashed to hide under a park bench, under which the two of us barely fit. It was old, it was filthy and it looked like it would come down in a sneeze. Not like we had another option or something.

Moon had taken up the baton from sun, and I could hardly see. It was getting dark; what if the jocks didn’t leave? I wouldn’t put it past them, they literally have nothing better to do. We'd have to stay hidden all night. Our families would probably go crazy, report us as missing or something.
Apparently, I was breathing too hard, so Bee nudged me to keep quiet.

I saw a pair of legs enter the park and move wearily towards us. Right towards us.

Surprisingly enough, no other person entered the park. It was just this one guy.

Bless the demons, is it Gaba himself? He'll gobble us alive!

The feet kept limping towards us. Closer. Closer. Closer . . .

‘Guys?’ a familiar, drained voice called out.

I looked at Bee. Bee looked at me. We looked at the newcomer's feet.

He had thin legs, and that voice . . . but how? What sorcery was this?

Bee's eyes said to me: it's just a trick, it can’t be Marra, it just can’t.

‘Guys, I know this is freaky, but trust me, it's me. Your Marra. I'll explain everything, just come on out.’

We didn’t, even as the newcomer kept inching closer.

But See did. He rushed over and licked the newcomer’s naked feet – yeah, where are your shoes, Mister? – making happy noises.

I creased my forehead (actor, remember? It's in my guts to be expressive). This was unusual. See didn’t take to liking people that easily. Hell, he still didn’t completely accept me. But immediately latching on to this stranger . . .

Bee and I saw as the newcomer bent down to stroke See, and my breath left my body as I saw his face.

It was Marra.

The Walking Undead.
Get it?
Yeah, you get it.

Don't forget to vote and comment!!!