Chapter 6 - Demi Vermillion

It wasn’t long before zombies started swarming the house that we were in. If we’d stayed there a second longer, we wouldn’t have been able to escape. But we still weren’t in the clear, some of the zombies didn’t run for the house but stopped in the streets. Shooting them wasn’t option, this would just give away our location.

I gritted my teeth. Shoot them? Those were once people, what’s wrong with me?

“There aren’t many of them. If we’re quiet, we can get away from here,” the man suddenly spoke, successfully interrupting my thoughts.

Right, this wasn’t the time to be consumed by guilt. Escaping here came first.

We were currently hiding in the house opposite the one we came from. Cautiously, we made our exit, not taking our eyes off the zombies for too long. And as soon as the coast was clear, we ran for it.

“Have you seen a girl with purple hair and glasses?” I asked.

“No, I only arrived in this area today,” he replied to me.

His answer raised some questions in me. If he wasn’t from here then where was he from? He certainly didn’t look like he was from the slums, did he escape from D3 like I did?

Though I was curious, it wasn’t any of my business. Finding Rina was my top priority right now. It’s been about a day and a half since we were separated.

Suddenly, we came to a stop. There were too many zombies for us to keep running. We cautiously made our way to nearby alleyway and hid, monitoring the zombies’ movements.

Minutes went by, and neither of us could find a way through them. We couldn’t look for another route either because it was getting dark. It would be harder to see them at night and we weren’t sure if the area we ran to would be any worse.

“I’ll distract them,” he said abruptly.

“What?” Shocked, the words flew out of my mouth. Distract them? Unlike the previous area we couldn’t even count the zombies in front of us. It was suicide.

“Why?” I asked him, there was no reason for him to do that. I should’ve been happy that someone would go that far for me, but I wasn’t. Instead, I was suspicious.

“I couldn’t save that child earlier. No matter what I did I wouldn’t have been able to save her. I don’t want to see another innocent person suffer,” pain and anger etched his face as he said this.

I had thought he was a cold monster after what he let happen to that child, but it seems he was human after all. But I couldn’t let him do that, I didn’t want someone to sacrifice their life for me.

“I know we just met, and I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier. But can you trust me? I’ll get us out of here,” my eyes locked with her as I said this. Once again, she was waiting for me in a horde of zombies.

He hesitated but nodded. As I cautiously stood, so did he. When I took a step towards the zombies he grabbed my hand, stopping me from advancing. “Are you crazy?” he asked.

“You agreed to trust me,” I said matter-of-factly. After a brief staring contest, he relented, recognizing my determination.

And so, we advanced into the horde of zombies. I wasn’t sure why she only helps me at certain times, but I was sure of one thing, whenever I was in danger The End would always help me. Soon we were out of the horde and she disappeared. I could feel the man’s gaze on the back of my head but I ignored it and started running.

“We should stay here for the night,” he suggested. It was a house that still had its windows and doors intact.

As we entered the house, he took out his gun and told me to wait by the door as he inspected the house. A few minutes later, he came back informing me that it was safe.

“Is that an arm?!” I exclaimed without thinking as I saw what he was holding.

He immediately became annoyed, “Why don’t you scream louder, I don’t think the zombies outside heard us.” I didn’t even give a retort yet but he continued “Menu.”

Oh, he was using the arm to access the home’s menu. But I was confused, I glanced at his wrist and saw that his ID watch was still there.

“You have your questions and I have mine, it seems like we’ll be stuck with each other for a while so why don’t we get to know each other a bit,” he said as he turned the lights on and accessed the house’s fridge.

I nodded and my stomach grumbled as I saw the delicious food appear in front of me. I only had a granola bar in the last three days so I was famished. “Is the water system still working?” I asked as I started eating immediately.

“It is,” he replied. I couldn’t be happier at that moment. A bath was much needed and hopefully after I took one, I could organize my thoughts better.

“Are you a criminal?” I choked on my food at the unexpected question. We agreed to get to know each better and that’s what he starts with?

“No,” I pause to drink some water, “Are you?”

“I’m not, it was more convenient for me to use someone else’s ID watch. Don’t ask why because I won’t answer. That being said, what happened to yours?” It was suspicious how he dismissed my question before I asked it but I’ll let it slide for now.

“I got injured while running away from zombies earlier,” I lied smoothly.

“I see,” he said as he bought my lie. It didn’t feel great that I’ve suddenly become a good liar but I couldn’t risk it. Mother had betrayed me and this man was a stranger, I wasn’t about to open a door that I’d rather stayed closed.

“What’s your name and district?” he asked after a while.

“May Zepher, D3. How about you?”

He thought for a while before he answered, “Demi Vermillion.”

Huh? Demi Vermillion? As in that Demi Vermillion? The President’s son?

“Yes, that Demi Vermillion,” he said. I didn’t realize I said all that out loud.

My shock was understandable. Despite being the President’s son, he rarely made any public appearances, you couldn’t blame me for not knowing. He used to appear a lot when he was a child but suddenly stopped, as the most important person’s son you’d expect him to flaunt his status around but he didn’t.

I was about to ask more about that, like what he was doing here or if he knows what’s going on but he spoke up, effectively ending our conversation. “I saw two bathrooms when I searched the place earlier, I’ll take the one on this floor,” it was clear that he didn’t want me to ask any more questions.

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As the cold water ran down my skin, I felt refreshed. Though, it didn’t last long because soon I was hissing in pain. The cut on my face stung because I’d forgotten to treat it, my arm burned and my leg throbbed in pain.

I slumped to the bathroom floor as tears ran down my face. As I watched the water wash away my blood, I couldn’t help but recall all of the things that’ve happened. Cities that were once filled with life had become infested by the undead.

I’ve had my fair share of zombie movies but that couldn’t have been enough to ever prepare me for something like this. I couldn’t kill a zombie even though my life depended on it.

‘Because you’re a coward,’ she sat in front me, the water falling through her. Demi didn’t see her earlier, that probably means I’m the only one that can. Every time she showed up, she would either help me or give me the harsh truth. I was indeed a coward, I wanted to live but I didn’t want to get my hands dirty. I wanted to find Rina but I was barely putting in any effort. All I was doing was running aimlessly, crying and asking why me. I was a pathetic coward.

‘I can help you find her. But a coward like you won’t be able to handle what comes after. Or you can always stay here and I’ll protect you forever, that can be an ending as well,” her voice echoed as she spoke.

An ending? What was she talking about? Talking to her confused me, but it also made me question myself. I didn’t want to be coward but I was too afraid to take that first step.

Sighing, I got up. It’d be bad if I got sick at a time like this from staying in the shower too long. I thought she would disappear, but even as I exited the bathroom and changed, she was still there, waiting, watching me.

Demi and I didn’t seek each other out after our conversation, there was no need to. So I laid there as my thoughts consumed me. I didn’t want to fall asleep; I didn’t want to witness anymore tragedies even with my eyes closed.

‘Then put an end to it. This world that is slowly becoming infested with those things that mock life. Once you do, those nightmares will stop. You won’t have to run anymore either,’ she said as she slowly approached me from the end of the room.

‘But be warned, your actions have consequences. Trusting others will only get you hurt. For tomorrow you will be faced with a new challenge,’ and as soon as she reached me, she disappeared.

I closed my eyes; it was too much for me. I’m not strong like Rina or Demi, I can’t focus on an objective after seeing so many people die. I’m not some hero who saves the world, just a coward and a failure.

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I had a rude awakening; Demi had forcefully woken me up as he pointed his gun at me.

“Wha-”

“May Zepher, I will only ask once more. Are you a criminal? Are you the one that caused this outbreak?” he cut me off, anger evident on his face as he demanded an answer.

“I- I’m not a criminal, I didn’t cause anything,” my voice trembled as I spoke.

He didn’t believe me. “Then what the fuck is this?!” He asked angrily as he threw his phone towards me.

My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. The article read:

‘It has been four days since a strange creature, which we will now refer to as a zombie, appeared in District 5. That creature attacked the civilians there spreading this disease. However, after carrying out a thorough investigation we have reason to believe that this chaos was started by one person. Her ID watch indicates that she’s currently in District 3. As of now we are uncertain as to why she started this nightmare and what her goals are. But do not be dismayed citizens, it was thanks to Head Detective Maurice Henry of District 3 that we were able to pinpoint the suspect. Additionally, we will be dispatching District Officers everywhere to subjugate the zombies. The culprit’s name is May Zepher and we have attached her photo to this article, if you find her notify authorities immediately.’