Chapter 11: Zombie Puppy

A parent, voice shaking with emotion, yelled out, "What about the children who are too young to understand? Are we just going to scare them senseless?"

Hoo, i thought it's something

King exchanged a glance with the other leaders, then nodded at Ariela. She stepped forward along eith me, her voice calm but firm.

"We've decided that children under five will be exempt from this. Only those six years old and above will be told the full truth."

The murmurs slowly subsided as parents began to accept the decision. They turned to their children, preparing to have some difficult conversations.

"Please don't push your kids. If they can't understand, you can take them up the wall to see the outside, but be careful," King said again as he got down from the stage.

"Papa, I'm scared. I don't like this. What's going on?" Roseann seemed really scared, hearing some children crying and seeing some parents taking their kids up the wall.

Pwat carried his daughter and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Anne. We have to do this," Pwat said, hugging Roseann. Rose came over, holding Roseann's hand and smiling weakly.

"What is this all about, Dad? Mom? Why are they crying? And what reality is Uncle King talking about?" BJ asked her parents, Bea and Tin.

"Let's talk about it inside the meeting room, okay?" Tin said. BJ looked at me but then looked away.

I looked at Reed, who seemed about to cry but was holding it in. He was probably scared, so I held his hand and smiled at him. Seeing Reed's eyes reminded me of his mother, Pauline. I lowered my head, remembering how Pauline passed away two years ago. I sighed. Then suddenly, Geo and Ariela squeezed my hand, so I pretended to be curious about what was happening.

We entered the meeting room. Just a little information: we have a lot of leaders because we have many survivors here. When I was still alive, my squad, called Sky Squad, rescued over 350 survivors. Then King's group, called K, rescued over 200. I gathered many survivors and brought King and his group to our base.

In the eight years since then, the K and Sky squads have worked together and rescued almost 5000 survivors. I don't know the exact number now; that's just an estimate and they are group into 50 with 100 people per group.

The main leaders are King and Ariela. Other leaders which are 50 include J, Rose, Euna, Peter, Will, and Tyler . I think I heard them talking about selecting more leaders since our numbers are increasing. Each leader has their own group of survivors to take care of. Oh, and also Dave. He's not here now because he's outside on an expedition with some others, including Kho , Jerry Brother.

" All here? " Will asked wearing a doctor gown , I should call him Dr. Will, He had Tope beside him. Tope is the Doctor in my Squad so it's Dr. Tope.

" Let's go kids " King said

As we followed Dr. Will and Tope. They led us through winding corridors until we reached a door tucked away in a dim corner of the base. They exchanged a brief nod before Tope pushed it open, revealing a narrow hallway lit by flickering lights.

"Where are we going?" BJ asked.

"To a place only a few know about," Dr. Will replied, his tone serious yet reassuring. "It's safer this way."

Two guards took their positions by the entrance as we stepped inside, ensuring no one followed. The hallway seemed endless, our footsteps echoing in the confined space. Roseann's fear was mirrored in the eyes of the other kids, their whispers filling the air.

"I don't like this," Roseann muttered, clutching her dad's hand. "It's so dark and creepy."

"Stay close, Roseann," Pwat said, offering a comforting smile. "We'll be okay."

After what felt like an eternity, we reached the end of the hallway. Tope pulled open a heavy door, revealing a staircase leading downward. The air grew cooler as we descended, the weight of the unknown pressing on our shoulders. After another long walk , The kids was carried but I'm not. Until we arrived, I wonder how this room look like now?

"This is the secret room," Dr. Will announced.

BJ and Reed's eyes widened in amazement as they looked around the room.

"Wow, this place is incredible!" BJ exclaimed, her voice echoing off the walls.

Reed nodded, equally impressed. "I've never seen anything like this before."

I smiled seeing how the secret room is organized with a lot of Jar with specimens in there. Wait! What if my things are here? I should try to look around. I look around when King suddenly knelled in front of me and also called the other kids

" You look so serious Uncle King " Thame said

" I'm sorry but this is not the time to play so I want you guys to accept what ever you'll see okay? If your afraid just hug us. We are always here for you kids " King said smiling

" Please be strong kids , show us what brave is hmm? " Rose said smiling us. Of course we nodded , I look at Roseann who cling into my arms trembling

" Aww , Look at Az and Roseann they're like a couple " Peter said teasing me and I pout

They brought us in front of a large curtain. I knew what this was. As they pulled the curtain back, it revealed a prison with five zombies inside.

" Aaah! "

They screamed and fell to the ground, immediately hugging their parents. Fear filled the room as we all took in the sight of the zombies, with their lifeless eyes and rotting flesh.

" Zombie? " Wait , Did i hear that from Roseanne? But then Thame screamed. Ahh so loud!

"Those humans are so scary!" Reed cried out, his voice trembling.

"Why do they look like that?" BJ whimpered, hiding her face in her mother, Bea's shoulder.

"I don't want to go near them," Thame said, clinging to Yan leg, Her mother.

Rose stepped forward and spoke calmly, "These creatures are what we are fighting outside, and they are the reason we built these walls. The guards are not playing; this is the reality we face every day."

She paused. "We built these walls to protect you, to keep you safe from the danger outside. The guards risk their lives to keep these creatures from getting in. This is not a game. This is the truth of our world."

They trembled in fear, hiding behind their parents. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I look at BJ who shot me an angry look.

"Why aren't you scared?! " she demanded, her attitude suggesting she thought I was mocking her.

"Do you already know about this, Az?" Zach asked nervously. Fear flickered in his eyes, hidden as he gripped his mother Bree's hand.

"Ariela, did you tell Azriel about this?" King inquired, looking at me innocently. I had my reasons for not showing fear.

"No, I haven't said anything to Az," Ariela replied.

"And you, Geo?" Will asked Geo.

"I haven't," Geo replied, then turned to me. "Az, why aren't you scared?" he asked, pointing at the zombies. Before I could respond, Peter spoke up.

"Ah, I need to go to the bathroom, guys! See you!" Peter said hastily, running off.

"Uncle Peter already told me about those zombies," I said innocently, trying not to laugh at their terrified faces.

"What? That Peter!" King exclaimed.

"That's why he ran off!" Ariela added.

"I don't think Peter would tell you for no reason, Az," BJ said, looking at me intently. I maintained my innocent act.

"It happened a month ago. I saw Uncle Peter bring a zombie inside," I explained.

"What?!" they all exclaimed.