Survival Mode

Chapter Eleven

Tominow ran a brush through her thick, vibrant colored red hair. It was saturated with water for she had completed a shower only a few minutes ago. A towel was wrapped around her thin body.

She set the brush aside and stared directly at her reflection. She removed the towel from around her body and gasped. A long scratch stretched across her stomach. Tominow gulped and rested her hand above it.

"Do not do it Tominow," she whispered to herself, "don't do it. Control yourself. Restrain yourself from it. You know what your job is and you must do it well."

Tominow dressed herself in the clothes Dashi - the woman who rescued her the night before - offered to her. She then left the bathroom for the living room.

When she arrived she situated herself on a couch. A man with black hair stood in the kitchen and appeared to be cooking something. Tominow recognized Dashi's auburn hair beside him - helping him.

Shellington - a man Tominow recognized from the night before - entered the living room and sat on a chair. He gave Tominow a smile and a friendly wave. "Hello Tominow. Did you sleep well last night?"

Tominow ran her fingers through her hair. "I uhm - I necessarily did not receive any sleep at all. I was rather frightened from what I witnessed the night before. But I hope tonight will be better."

Dashi entered the room and sat beside Tominow. She rested a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry Tominow. Tonight will be better, I can assure you." Footsteps entered the living room and three looked to see who it was.

It was a young boy Tominow did not recognize. He stared at her with confusion then looked to Shellington and Dashi for an explanation. Dashi gestured toward Tominow. "She is a guest. We found her hidden beneath a car last night."

Tominow smiled happily toward the young boy. He looked as if he were right around her age. He had messy blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Dashi was correct - he and Shellington did look similar. Despite the different colors in hair. "And who is this?"

The young boy entered the living room and stood before Tominow. He extended his hand out to her and she took it. "Tunip. My name is Tunip Bjorgman. What's yours?"

Tominow smiled at Tunip. "Why hello there Tunip. My name is Tominow. Tominow Mas...Martin. Yes, Tominow Martin! That is my name!"

Tunip looked at her strangely. Then he turned his focus to Dashi and smiled at her. "So what's for breakfast?"

She smiled at him. "Peso and I are making pancakes for everyone. Why don't you and Tominow call the others down? And Shellington will you please explain to my father why Tominow is here? He wouldn't understand coming from me."

Shellington nodded his head. Dashi smiled to him then left for the kitchen. Shellington stood and took hold of Tominow's hand. "Come along now. I'm sure her father will be happy to meet you."

Tunip came up beside the two. Tominow leaned toward him to whisper in to his ear: "For some extremely odd reason, I have a feeling his voice had a bit of hesitance in it."

He bit his lip and nodded. "Of course it did. Dashi's father isn't necessarily the most accepting man. But don't fret - Dashi will make him accept you I promise."

Tominow smiled at him. Shellington pulled her to the side of him. "Wait here. I'll call the others down and then I will introduce you to Dashi's father." He then turned toward the staircase and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Tweak, Kwazii, Dr. Wilson! Breakfast is ready!"

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs reached Tominow's ears and she winced. Kwazii and Tweak appeared and they both smiled at her.

Next came an older man - he looked to be in his late forties. He looked to Tominow and up at Shellington with almost evident anger and confusion. "Who is this?", he asked angrily. Tominow again winced.

Shellington smiled to the man and motioned to her. "This here is Tominow Martin. Last night we found her beneath a car and decided to take her in. Dashi wanted me to introduce her to you." Shellington turned to Tominow. "Tominow this here is Dr. Wilson."

Tominow smiled at him and shook his hand. "The pleasure is all mine. I do hope you allow me to stay here...only for awhile though. I told Dashi I only needed a home till I find my family. I was separated from them when we were running from the zombies."

Dr. Wilson smiled at her and released her hand. "Well aren't you a well mannered girl? If you will excuse me, I must speak with my daughter at once."

He left the two and Tominow squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them and looked to Shellington. "Is he going to be angry with her?"

Shellington pressed his lips together and watched Dr. Wilson enter the kitchen. "As much as I hate to admit it - but yes, most likely he will be angry with Dashi."

And sure enough he was. Dr. Wilson stormed in to the kitchen and grabbed hold of Dashi's arm. She turned around and rolled her eyes. "Okay I get it. You're angry for me bringing her in. But I promise, she won't be of any annoyance -"

"That's not why I am angry with you Dashi," Dr. Wilson growled under his breath, "Sure you brought her in here without my permission, but more importantly you left the house in the middle of the night! That was forbidden my daughter!"

Dashi released a sigh once again. "I understand. I went against your rules and I'm sorry. But something urged me to leave the house father! I couldn't ignore that plea! Look on the bright side - I rid the town of several zombies!"

Dr. Wilson let out a scoff. "Look on the bright side!? There is no bright side of things Dashi! We're in the middle of a stupid zombie apocalypse with no where to go and hardly any supplies - and here are going off about a bright side to this!"

Tears were starting to collect in Dashi's eyes. "I don't understand why you are like this father. When mother was alive you...your eyes would always twinkle...a smile plastered to your face... Are you an idiotic mess because of her death!?"

Dr. Wilson released a sigh. "I see that you have fully recovered from your depression over your mother's death. It is too obvious you have recovered from your depression over Michael's death. Why don't you grieve over these things!? You are such a disgraceful idiot!"

"I am not over mother's death nor Michael's!", Dashi cried out. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "You can't assume such things father! And you are seriously calling your own daughter an idiot? No you're the idiot for assuming such horrible things!"

"I don't assume, I speak of the truth!" Dr. Wilson clenched his fists and shook his head. "I'm the idiot? I'm the idiot!? I am your father!"

Dashi wiped at her tears. "I absolutely hate you! You are always protective over me, always such a bothersome to me... Why can't you trust me for once in your life? Why can't you support me? Why can't you be the father you once were!?"

A tear fell down Dr. Wilson's cheek. He lowered his head and let out a quiet sigh. "I just...I don't want to lose you too...I love you too much Dashi..."

"Oh yeah?", Dashi leaned forward in to his face and clenched her teeth. "Then prove it." With that said, she marched out of the room and upstairs.

Author's Note: Well things are getting a little hectic... Mm, but I needed the perfect reason for Dashi to be upset so Tominow could show her a little something. *insert smirking face here* Also next chapter in am hoping to introduce another character! Can you guess who it is? (I know kateselenemelody3ocs can!)