Chapter 6 - Exploration (1)

The next day at 11:30 a.m. I'm with Son. We're walking around the village since we have some free time. A few meters later, we see Shailly and Maïko. We decide to join them.

_ Son: “ Hey girls, what are you doing? ”

_ Maïko: “ Hi guys, we're just walking around and chatting. ”

_ Son: “ We are too, let's walk together. ”

_ Shailly: “ Good idea! ”

We walk together, talking about this and that.

Suddenly, the manor's front door opens. Guardian Keren appears in our field of vision. He walks toward us, his face still impassive.

_ Keren: " You're just in time. Ayden and Maïko, get your things ready, we're going on an exploration. "

Our eyebrows raise, our heads tilting slightly.

_ Ayden: “ Wait, but... Normally we're not allowed to leave the village. ”

_ Keren: “ The situation has changed. Come on, hurry up. ”

The guardian continues on his way as if nothing had happened. A broad, sincere smile appears on his face.

_ Maïko: “ That's great! ” she said, excitedly.

_Shailly: “ Unbelievable! Tell me how it went! ”

_Maïko: “ Sure! ”

_Son: " How lucky! Good luck, buddy. " he said, patting his new friend on the back.

_Ayden: “ Thanks, Son. ”

In principle, explorations are prohibited for those under 15 years of age. And for whatever reason, we will be able to go out for the first time thanks to guardian Keren.

It's afternoon. We've covered a considerable number of kilometers in the southern Zone. The lush vegetation of this tropical forest is full of plants with huge leaves. A peaceful calm reigns, disturbed only by the singing of parrots. Equipped with bags, Maïko and I gather a few fruits here and there.

Such a vast and colorful outside world never crossed my mind. With excitement at its peak, every kilometer traveled is a pleasure.

_ Maïko: “ By the way, why are we allowed to go exploring? ”

_ Keren: “ I spoke with the boss this morning. I told her about your situations. ”

_ Ayden: “ Which ones? ”

_ Keren: " Training kids is all well and good, but if they never have the opportunity to discover the outside world and experience all kinds of life situations, they will never grow as human beings. That's what I told him. "

_ Ayden: “ Tutor Keren is rather cold and harsh. Still, he cares about us. ”

_ Maïko: “ Actually, he's pretty cool. ” she said in a low voice.

_ Keren: “ Shut up. ” he replied.

Maïko flinches reflexively.

_ Maïko: “ Oh no, he heard me. ”

We continue on our way, then an old gathering point comes into view. In the distance, a one-story clinic stands abandoned. I raise my eyebrows slightly.

_ Ayden: “ There's a clinic in the middle of the forest? ”

_ Keren: “ In my opinion, a Reclusive doctor must have worked here. That explains why there's a gathering point. Business must have been done here. ”

_ Ayden: “ Yet the clinic is still in good condition. It's as if the owners disappeared recently. ”

We continue for a while, then a soft, high-pitched sound echoes in my ears.

_ Ayden: " Huh? I think I can hear water running not far from where we are. "

_ Person: “ AHHHHHH! ”

Several meters away from us, behind the trees that block our view, a huge howl rings out. We look in the direction of the noise, our eyes wide.

_ Maïko: “ What was that?? ”

_ Keren: “ Follow me. ”

We head to the scene, our stomachs in knots. When we arrive, we see Recluse, who is quite old, lying on the ground with his hand clenched tightly over his chest.

_ Ayden: “ Are you okay? ”

_ Recluse: “ DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! ”

A tremor ran through Maïko and me after hearing those words.

_ Keren: “ Maïko, give me your water bottle quickly. ”

Keren, the guardian, rushed over without hesitation and made her swallow a few sips of water.

_ Recluse: “ I told you not to come near me… ” he said, in pain

_ Keren: “ I'm not going to walk away when I see an old man lying on the ground. ”

_ Recluse: “ You don't understand… ”

At the same time, a jar containing three blue pills falls out of his jacket.

_ Recluse: “ I'm infected. ”

Confusion spreads across our faces.

_ Keren: “ What? ”

_ Recluse: “ And now you are too. ”