I was clothed and taken to the east river bank by Helen, as instructed by Xender.
"Here it is!", Helen said pointing at Xender, "thanks!", I replied, "you are welcome she said still tagging along.
"Leave!", Xender commander as soon as I and Helen got close enough, "uhh?", I exclaimed, "Helen! Leave!", Xender commanded harshly.
Helen stood a while and finally left, "Sit!", Xender commanded, I too stood a while and then sat, "where are you from?", she asked and I said nothing, not really having a reply to the question.
"You were bitten! How long has it been?", she asked, "why is everyone so interested in how long it has been since I was bitten, what does it matter?", I asked, "After 7 years of receiving a zombie bite, one slowly begins to lose his sanity, he is complety transformed into one of them", she explained.
I froze in shock, "If it's been more than 5 years, I am sure you've started seeing visions", she said, "yes!", I replied immediately, "Meaning you have less than 2 years, just like my father", she replied, "Is that why he behaves the way he does?", I asked.
She pause for a while and looked into the water. "Dad has always been like that! A paranoid old man, who doesn't care about anyone but building this fort....To be honest; I don't care!", she explained.
"Why is he so hell bent on building this fort, and forgetting his family?", I asked, "I don't know, why don't you ask him?", she said staring at me.
There was a moment of silence, "So are you going to teach me how to shoot out 3 arrows?", I asked.
"I normally don't like I said before, because none has been able to get it! Or even close to it! So why waste my time!", she replied, "so why call me out here?", I asked.
The silence came up again, "Personally to ask questions!", She replied. "What questions?", I asked still trying to figure her out.
She seemed lost, she didn't seem to care much about anything, she was just free, almost like nothing drew her back. If the zombies were to break in now, she seems like one who would kill as many as she can, just to save herself and a few she can, but stresslesly.
"How were you bitten?", She asked staring at me.
"I...was quite young then", I replied, "how young?", she asked immediately, "10!", I replied. "Well go on?", she said.
"I was with my mom, we were surrounded, and I was pulled by a zombie and bitten on the shoulder", I replied. "Why ask?", I inquired.
"If you haven't noticed, the zombies hardly ever bite, unless they are certain of a kill! as you can see there are not many or even any who has survived from a zombie bite. So I was wondering how you survived", she explained.
"Didn't your dad get bitten?", I asked. "His was an attempt to protect Helen! The zombies had her at teeth point, certain to kill. He pulled her out, and in the process got bitten", she explained, "Being a grown man, he quickly noticed the changes in his body and requested for special attention!", she explained as she stood up.
"Our researchers have done everything they can, but all they could pull out was that he would become a full zombie on the 7 year of his bite!", She explained walking away as I followed.
"Where are you going?", I asked as we walked towards the river.
"They are coming!", she said as she bent down by the river, touching the water. "How can you tell?", I asked looking at the calm and stable coloured water, "When you've been with these things for as long as I have, you develop a 6th sense", she replied.
"What's your experience?", I asked as she stood up, "I wasn't always my Father's girl! Actually i was never, he doesn't really regard me his daughter", she replied, "and why is that?", I asked, "the strange event that surrounded I and Helen's birth", she replied and paused, looking at the clear water as though she could watch her birth in it.
"According to them, they said, that Helen was born first and I remained in refusing to come out. And he was given a decision, to have just the baby and forsake the mother or lose both! My father chose the latter!", She narrated, "wow!", I exclaimed, "That was the same expression the physician gave. He decided to defile my father and bring me out anyways, and for that reason my father despised him, and me even more", she explained.
"That must be difficult", I said to her, "not really! I grew into it! I find it very easy to adapt", She explained, "They are approaching fast! We better go worn the others, from the looks of things, they are coming in herds!", she said as we walked back to main part Fort.
"I am going to get my trainees, you go inform Helen and your people!", She commanded.
On my way to the main building, I saw Mrs Claire, June and April on the way, "Where's Helen?", I asked with urgency in my tone of speaking, "She's with her father in the main chambers! What's wrong?", April questioned, "They are coming!", I replied, "who's coming?", June asked, "the zombies!", I said as I rushed to the main Chambers as they followed.
I opened the door calling, "Helen!", I yelled, "yes?", she replied rushing down.
"What is it?", I asked, "They are coming!", I warned, "Xender told you?", she asked, "yes!", I replied.
"No!!", We heard Helen's father yell, "dad!", Helen yelled as she rushed up, and I followed.
"what happened?", She asked, "they are coming!", he said, "Xender told Derick same!", Helen replied, "go get the troops prepared! A huge war is about to kick in!", he said.
We got out and a huge bell was wrong, people began to rush for shelter, some kids played on, not seeming to understand what was going on.
"Alright guys, let's get you guys equipped!", Helen said as we rushed to the Artillery training ground. "Sub commander Hex!", Helen called, "yes! Mistress Helen!", he replied with loyalty heard in his voice, "I want this boy equiped with he gun he can use!", She commanded. "And you!", she said looking at June, "Take only what you can make use of!", she commanded as we left june there.
"Jessica!", Helen called, "yes sub commander!", a girl carrying two kids replied, "take her to safety!", she commanded referring to Mrs Claire, "take good care of her!", i added not feeling too good about letting Mrs Claire go with her, "don't worry Derick, it's all under control!", Helen assured.
"You and April! Come with me!", She commanded and we followed her.
"Sub Commander Helen!", we heard someone call immediately we stepped into the building where lots of armed men were, June included, "yes?", She replied as the guy from earlier came.
"We are ready! Sub commander kenneth asked if they were any teenagers up for recruit", he said, "you are in luck, take her with you!", She Commanded touching April's shoulder.
"Come with me!", He commanded and April followed seemingly confused, "don't forget to let them take care of her wounded arm!", She said aloud as he left.
"So what's it going to be? Sir Derick!", She asked, "what section lacks recruits?", I asked, "the only section apart from the medics that doesn't have much troops is the artillery substitutes", she explained, "okay!", I replied about to go, "but they hardly ever request for any, why don't you stay with us instead! Can you use a gun?", She asked, "I haven't used one before, but I prefer to stick to what I am good at!", I said still wanting to leave.
"Derick!", She called holding my arm, "I could teach you!", She said I looked at her, her hand and around at the people staring.
She immediately let go of my arm, "I just don't want you to be stuck to one weapon! And that goes for all of you!", She said abnormally loud as they all continued what they were doing.
I starred at her as she held as they gave her her gun, "apart from the gun what else can you make use of?", I asked as she stared at me speechless.
I walked away trying to locate Xender and her troops.
"Xender!", I called as I walked closer to her, "what are you doing here?", She asked, "I am here to help, you got any spare bow?", I asked, "yeah! But wait! What?", She said, "come on Xender! Helen told me you guys would be needing more men!", I said staring at her, "it's sub commander Xender to you, and we need more men not more boys!", A weird looking dude with a long over pampered hair interupted.
"And who gave you permission to speak?", Xender rebuked, "sorry sub commander!", He apologized and walked back to where he came from.
"Get him a bow!", She commanded, and in seconds I had a bow in my hands, "I really hope you can use one, cause once on the field you are on your own! You are all on your own! an you obey my every instruction without thinking! Is that clear!", She said aloud, "yes sub commander!", They replied.
"Let's go!", She commanded as they ran out, "Xender!", I said pulling her arm.
"What is it?", She said irritated, "I need my pet snake!", I said to her, "your pet what?", she asked, "pet snake! My pet snake Medusa", I replied, "what are we supposed to do with that?", She asked, "considering how much we are! It's going to even up our number!", I said trying to convince her.
"I don't see how a snake could be of any help to us, but where is it?", She asked, "she! She's in a place no one goes", I replied, "that could be anywhere Derick!", She said, "a store room!", I added.
"sub commander!", The over pampared hair guy from before called, "what is it?", Xender replied, "we have been sent for!", He said, "I'll be right there!", She replied.
"I have to go! When you find it come fight with us", she said and left me.
I began to search for Medusa all alone, "Medusa!", I yelled, "Medusa!", I called still running around, "sir!", I heard a child call, "what are you looking for?", He asked, "my pet snake!", I replied, "pet snake?", he asked to be sure, "yeah, pet snake, it's really big, and they said they kept in a store room no body goes!", I explained, "Oh! So you are the owner of the new monster!", he asked, "ummm....Yeah!", I replied, not really sure of what he was refering to, but just hoping it was Medusa.
"Take me to her!", I said, "her?", he asked, "there's no time! Just take me there!", i said and he ran off, "follow me!", he said and I began to run after him.
"Here we are!", he said and stopped, looking at me, "thanks!", I replied hearing Medusa hiss and groan, "Medusa!", i called as I rushed to the door.
It was locked, "don't you have something for me?", the little boy asked opening his palm, "something like what?", I asked trying to figure out a way into the store room where Medusa was locked up.
"I don't know, anything!", he replied, "there's a war about to take place! I really think you should go home!", I said to him, "Medusa!!", I called and Medusa hissed and slammed herself against the door, it shook and for a moment the little boy was scared.
"I am not leaving until you give me something!", he stood stubborn, "what do you want?", I asked as the thud was heard again from Medusa slamming herself against the door, "a fruit maybe!", he replied, "I have no fruits with me, please go home!", I said to him, "no!!", he replied immediately.
And finally the door burst open, "get out of the way!", I said jumping towards the boy. We both landed on the floor, "are you okay?", I asked the little boy who seemed frozen.
"Hey!", I called, "are you okay?", I asked again, "I don't have any fruits right now, but would get you one when I can", I said to him trying to get him up, "arhhh!!!!", he screamed seeming really scared, "I don't want your fruits!!", he yelled running away.
I turned around there she was, coiled up, "Medusa!!!", I called as I ran towards her, she hissed looking hostile, "what's wrong?", I asked and she hissed seeming angry, "I am sorry dear! I didn't mean to leave you! I promise to make it up to you! But we need you right now!", I said as I watched it calm down before my palm.
"Thats my girl!", I said as it came down, "Let's go!", I said and ran towards the troops.
All who saw us coming gave way, exclaiming as we made our way to the front with all the commanders in front, "is that it?", Xender asked looking at it in amusement, "yeah! That's my Medusa!", I said as she coiled up behind me.
Helen and her father looked at I and Xender talking, and there was an obvious look of surprise on their face.
"Here they come!!!", The guy in front yelled, "ready your guns!", we are going to light them up before they even get close to the river!", the commander yelled as they became alot more visible.
In front of the herd of zombies, was a zombie on a huge bull, as they got closer their ugly faces became more visible, "mom?", I said surprised to see my mom on the huge bull leading the herd of zombies.
"did you just say mom?", Xender asked, "fire!!!!", the commander commanded.
to be continued......
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