CHAPTER VIII
As I stepped out of the wooden house, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. I had a feeling that something was amiss, and the backyard seemed to be the epicenter of the disturbance. I moved stealthily, my senses on high alert, unsure of what danger lay ahead. Every step I took, I tried to make as silent as possible, my heart racing with anticipation. I was prepared for an attack, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
But just as I was about to take another step forward, a jarring realization hit me - I had left my gun inside the house. Panic began to set in, my mind torn between retreating to retrieve my weapon or pressing on to investigate the source of the noise. What if it was a zombie? What if it was an entire horde of them?
My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions, but my body seemed to be moving on autopilot, continuing to inch closer to the backyard. Fear and uncertainty gripped me, yet I couldn't shake off the feeling that I needed to know what was going on. Every step I took felt like a gamble, every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves making me jump.
As I stood there, frozen in indecision, the silence seemed to stretch out before me like an endless canvas, waiting to be splattered with the vibrant colors of chaos. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath caught in my throat, and my senses strained to pick up any sound that might signal the presence of something - or someone - lurking in the shadows. The uncertainty was suffocating, and I knew I had to make a decision, but my body seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move forward or backward.
My eyes scanned the surroundings, desperate to find a weapon to defend myself against the impending threat. That's when I spotted a woodcutter lying on the ground. I rushed towards it, ready to wield it against the danger lurking in the backyard. As I picked it up, the sound of my movements seemed to attract the attention of the creature hiding in the shadows.
It was a dog, but not just any dog - a zombie dog. Its eyes locked onto me with an unbridled ferocity, and I could sense its hunger and rage. My wounds had reopened, and the scent of my blood wafted towards the dog, further enraging it. I brandished the woodcutter, ready to strike, but my fate seemed to be against me.
There were eight zombie dogs in total, and surviving without a gun would be a daunting task. Evelyn had managed to kill one earlier, but facing this many alone seemed almost impossible. Yet, I steeled myself for the battle ahead.
The eight dogs charged towards me in unison, their jaws snapping wildly. I gripped the woodcutter tightly and began to spin around in a circle, using the momentum to slice through the dogs. The woodcutter sliced through the air, cutting down the dogs one by one. When I was satisfied that the threat had passed, I stopped and dropped the woodcutter, exhausted.
As I lay down on the ground to catch my breath, I heard the sound of machinery roaring to life from the wooden house. The main gate was being besieged by a horde of zombies, and I knew I was in grave danger. The noise was deafening, and I could sense the zombies closing in. My heart racing, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to survive.
I restarted the woodcutter machine and sprinted towards the wooden house, my urgency and desperation driving me forward. In my haste, I forgot that my wounds were still open and bleeding, a potentially deadly oversight. As I burst into the house, I was met with a surreal scene: Evelyn, Amayra, and Mon were perched atop the cupboards, while my mother and father sat atop the dining table, their faces etched with fear. The team of doctors and surgeons had also sought refuge on the tables, their eyes wide with terror.
I asked them what was wrong, why they were all huddled in such a way. Amayra gestured for me to look behind me, and Evelyn urged me to hurry. I turned around, and that's when I saw it - a small zombie dog, its tiny teeth gnashing away at my shoes. The dog was so small that its teeth couldn't even penetrate the leather.
No one seemed willing to muster the courage to kill the little creature, and I couldn't blame them. Instead, they had all retreated to higher ground, waiting for someone else to deal with the problem. I gently pried the puppy off my shoes and pushed it away, trying not to hurt it. Then, I began to frantically search the house for something to contain the puppy, to keep it from causing any harm.
Amayra suggested that there was a bucket in the washroom that we could use. I rushed to the bathroom, grabbed the bucket, and carefully placed it over the puppy, trapping it inside. For a moment, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, knowing that the immediate threat had been neutralized. But as I looked around at the fearful faces of my loved ones, I knew that this was far from over. We were still trapped in this nightmare, and I had no idea how we were going to survive.
We decided it was time to get some rest. I sent my parents to the upstairs room, knowing they'd be safe there. Amayra, being just 15, I accompanied her to the same room where Evelyn and the others were, ensuring she was in good hands. The team of doctors, I directed to the basement after making sure it was secure and free from any immediate danger.
Now it was Mon's and my turn. I suggested she join Evelyn and Amayra upstairs, but Mon refused, insisting she stay with me. Instead, she examined my wounds, which were still oozing blood, and went to fetch some medical supplies from the doctors. She carefully tended to my wounds, applying ointments and dressings with a gentle touch.
As she finished, she headed to the bedroom to prepare the bed for us. I took the opportunity to check the main gate, ensuring it was secure, and then made my way to the wooden house gate, double-checking that it was locked and safe. The main gate and the wooden house gate were two separate entities, each requiring attention to ensure our safety.
With the gates secure, I returned to the room where Mon was waiting. She was lying on the bed I had intended to sleep in, so I decided to take the sofa instead. I picked up a pillow, ready to make myself comfortable for the night ahead. The weariness of the day was catching up with me, and I was grateful for the chance to rest, though my mind was still racing with thoughts of the dangers that lurked outside.
As I approached the sofa, Mon's words stopped me in my tracks. "Don't even think about it," she said, her voice low and husky. I turned to her, curious. "What?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities. Mon's eyes locked onto mine, her gaze piercing. "About sleeping on the sofa," she replied, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.
I tried to protest, but Mon cut me off. "You know what I'm talking about," she said, her voice softening. "You're still looking at me with the same feelings you had all those years ago. You're afraid that if we get close again, the same thing might happen."
The past came flooding back, and I felt myself getting emotional. I wrapped my arms around Mon, holding her tightly. My mind was screaming with questions - why had she done what she did? Why had she left me? But I didn't ask any of them. Instead, I just held her, feeling like I was home.
In that moment, it was like no time had passed at all. The years of pain and longing melted away, and all that was left was the deep connection we shared. I felt like I was drowning in my emotions, but in a good way. It was like I had finally found my way back to a place I thought I'd never be again.
As I held Mon, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It was like the world had come to a standstill, and all that mattered was the two of us, lost in our own little bubble of time. I didn't want to let go, didn't want to break the spell that had been cast. I just wanted to stay there, holding her, feeling her warmth and love.
As I hugged Mon, memories of the day I first saw her flooded my mind. It was during our college's Independence Day celebration, a vibrant event filled with various programs and performances. Mon had participated in one of the performances, showcasing her dancing skills. Since her class section was different from mine, we had never met before, and all I knew about her was her reputation for having a strong attitude.
My first impression of Mon wasn't exactly favorable. As I watched her dance, I couldn't help but form an opinion about her. But things took an interesting turn when Malvika Pathak, a girl I had a crush on at the time, performed a dance routine to the same song. Malvika seemed to take a dislike to Mon and whispered to me, "This girl is really bad, let's get her removed from the program. I'll be your friend if you help me."
Given that Malvika was my crush and was asking for my help, I agreed to support her. At the time, having Malvika as a friend seemed like a great opportunity, and I didn't think twice about joining forces with her to undermine Mon's performance. Little did I know that this encounter would be the beginning of a complex and evolving relationship between Mon and me.
As I stood there, holding Mon in my arms, I realized how much my perception of her had changed over time. The past came rushing back, and I remembered the events that had shaped our relationship. I thought about how I had misjudged her initially and how my actions had consequences that I couldn't have anticipated. The memories were bittersweet, filled with regret and longing. But in that moment, as I held Mon close, I felt a sense of closure and a deep connection that went beyond the superficial impressions of our past.
As I loosened my grip and began to move towards the bed, Mon's emotions overflowed, and she enveloped me in another tight hug. We both found solace in each other's arms, and eventually, we drifted off to sleep, holding each other closely. We knew that tomorrow would bring a new challenge - we had to leave for California, reach the army camp before nightfall, and then embark on a mission with Sir Rajdeep Arora to rescue those trapped.
The weight of our responsibilities hung over us like a dark cloud, but in that moment, we found comfort in each other's presence. As we slept, our minds were already racing ahead to the daunting tasks that lay before us. I knew that once we reached California, I would have to leave my loved ones behind and venture out on a perilous mission to save those in need.
The thought of putting my parents' lives in danger again was unbearable, but I knew it was necessary. My sole motivation was to ensure their safe return to India. As I held Mon close, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that I had Mon by my side.
In the stillness of the night, our hearts beat as one, filled with a mix of emotions - fear, love, and determination. We knew that the road ahead would be treacherous, but we were ready to face it together, side by side. As we slept, our love and resolve became the anchor that would hold us strong against the storms that were to come.
To be continue....