Chapter 8- Infected

Celestial Realm, 9:30, June 28 

The Angel stood in her corner watching Nefeli quietly for any further orders. The moon shone on them through the night, star-filled sky. Nefeli turned towards the window, watching something with great interest that the Angel couldn’t see. The Angel squeezed her hands together, keeping her head down. 

“My lady, if you don’t mind me asking something,” the Angel asked, her voice small and soft. 

“Spit it out,” Nefeli demanded, her patience wearing thin eyes still staring out the window. 

The Angel cleared her throat before continuing, “Is it possible for a God to get infected? I'm just worried for Goddess Amicia.”

Nefeli stayed silent for a while then in a low voice she answered the Angel's question, “A God can only be infected if they are in a human form.” The Angel looked up five different emotions passing through her at once: shock, concern, anger, confusion, and hatred. Then she slammed the dam down before the Goddess could see them.

If a God could get infected they would wreak havoc on Earth. 

Green-hill Apartments, 7:34 am, June 29

No one slept a wink last night. Too scared to ignore the sounds that came from the upper floors. Too scared of looking away from the glass doors of the gym. Now and then the sounds of someone praying to God would fill the room around them. The silence stretched around, their breathing the only loud thing around them. 

Tenma stayed next to Soyara the whole night. Too afraid to move away from her and now and then he would hold the scared child in his arms. The child stayed near Soyara and Tenma not daring to move away from them, silent in a way that should be alarming. 

“What are we going to do about food?” A young girl asked, the question on everyone's minds. She had monolidded almond amber-shaped eyes, paper-straight brown hair with red highlights, and a bright smile on her star-kissed face. She looked just like her twin who had a wolf cut and had dyed it a deep royal blue. Making the contrasts look paler on her skin. 

Soyara looked at the girl, “We need to get food soon. We won't be able to hold on any longer. But I don't think any of us are ready to face those monsters again.”

Tenma turned to Soyara, “We'll have to act fast. We have a child here and elders who can't be starved any longer. We need to have our strengths up in case we need to run.”

Tenma turned to meet everyone's eyes holding them each for a second, “We'll need a group. People who are specifically responsible for certain supplies. But they need to at least go in pairs of three. Is anyone willing to do it?” 

No one spoke then the girl with the wolf cut stood up sighing out loud, “Shit. I'll go. I know how to defend myself. I'm not going to twiddle my thumbs around and starve myself to death.” 

Tenma grinned at her, “Thank you. I actually mean it.” The girl shrugged at him clearly unsure what to do with it. Tenma turned to look at Soyara, opening his mouth when suddenly the glass gym doors shook angrily. Everyone went silent as their attention snapped towards the doors. Pulling away from them.

Soyara stood up, her eyes wide with shock,” Aru?” Ayaru was leaning against the doors. Black tears stained his cheeks, his shirt was ripped in different places, gold covered his once black shirt, his hair was matted with blood that dripped into his clothes and dripped down to his fingers onto the floor. 

Soyara stood there staring at Ayaru unable to make herself open the door for him, not risking the chance of letting an infected in. The young boy looked up at Soyara and tugged her hand to get her attention but she hadn’t noticed.

 The boy looked back at Ayaru who was breathing heavily, leaning against the glass doors that no one moved to open. The boy dropped Soyara’s hand and ran to the door opening it before anyone could stop him. Ayaru looked up to meet the boy’s eyes bright and clear, with a smile on his tired face. 

“Glad, you're alright, buddy,” Ayaru softly said to the boy, staggering inside the room. Each step made everyone tense and take a few steps back. Ayaru’s eyes fluttered closed before he could look around his legs giving out under him. Tenma and Soyara caught him before they could think. Taking his weight. 

Soyara and Tenma looked at each other then back at Ayaru who was cold as a corpse. Soyara’s voice was barely a whisper, “Was it a mistake letting him in? He’d infected.”

Tenma’s voice shook but tried to steady, “Looking at him makes me think that maybe the true monster is him who survived everything up there.” 

Soyara and Tenma looked up at the ceiling, the echoing sounds of screeching and screaming filled the air. 

If those were monsters then what was he?