14 Chapter 12: Zombie Apocalypse (4)

– Day 2 –

The sun wasn't visible from the surface. It was covered by black and thick clouds that make the place dull and plain.

Sahara, Princess Shaotzie, and Billy woke up early in the morning and made a plan.

"Sahara, you will in charge of cooking the whole day. Then, you, and then me." Billy told the girls.

"But–"

"No buts, this is my house and you should follow the rules. Are we clear?" Billy smirked at the princess and Shaotzie has no choice.

She's still young to cook but Sahara can help her either way.

"I don't know how to cook! I'm a princess, Sahara!" She whispered at her, angry and frustrated.

Sahara giggles and replied, "Don't worry, I'll help you, your majesty."

Billy turned his back and laugh relentlessly. If only he finds out the real identity of the girl he was talking with.

"I'll be going out to look for food and water. We need to stock up for us to survive."

Shaotzie run towards him and said, "I'll go out with you, Billy! I want to see the outside world caused by zombies."

Billy wanted to roam alone but Shaotzie was too hard-headed. "Sahara! Guard every door and window. See to it that you locked them. Understood?"

"I will. Take care of her, Billy. Come back with a basket of potatoes, loaves of bread and corns!"  She said.

"Stay here Sahara, I'm hoping to see the Princess. I know she's worried about me."

Shaotzie gasped as she whispered it to Sahara. "Let's go! We need to come back, right away!"

Billy and Shaotzie went off from the house. The forest was empty, the carriages were all wrecked and has a bloodstained on it. The road to the city became too quiet.

"Alicesha looks different all of a sudden. Can you see the market? Fruits, vegetables, fishes, and meats are scattered everywhere. Some of the houses nearby were locked up and covered by thick and dark curtains and or blanket. "

Shaotzie told him. Anyone who can see and witness what happened to Alicesha will act the same as her. Her eyes widened when she saw a corpse on the ground, its gut was all wrecked and its internal organs are gone.

"Billy!" She stumbled and fall to the ground. Shaotzie covered her mouth, she can't bear to watch such a scenario.

"Let's walk a little bit longer. Father brought me into a food store, nearby." Billy told her as he helps Shaotzie to stand.

The princess nodded and forced herself to walk, hoping to see Princess Alice. 

They walk and walk until they reach the food store. Billy observed the place and he saw a carriage that barricades the door of a small house.

"Wait. Don't move!" He stops Shaotzie from entering the food store. He heard a man's voice and he's coming into their way.

Billy grabs the princess's hand and hide at the back of the house.

"Diane! Don't force yourself to walk."

Shaotzie glimpsed at them and she saw a man's broad shoulder walking to the food store.

"Billy! I think I already met that swordsman before." She exclaimed, still waiting to see the man's face to confirm. 

"Don't go out! One of them is wounded, and we don't know if they are safe and not bitten by zombies." He said shortly.

Shaotzie gasped and lowered down her head. She thought that it was Cartlon but Billy was right. It's not safe to get closer to strangers.

"Stay here, I'll try to get some food."

"Billy!" She grabs his arm and looked at his eyes. "Take care." She added.

The boy shook his head and grip the weapon forcibly. Billy runs fast towards the store. If they will walk and look for another store, there's a bigger chance to get invaded by the undead.

"Your majesty, it's time to eat." Billy heard the man's voice.

"I lost my appetite, since yesterday. I've been looking for her and I'm too worried about her. You know what, this is all my fault. If only I didn't sneak out from the palace–"

"Shhh. It's not your fault, Alice. The best thing to do is to eat some potatoes and we will look for her, afterward."

Billy was eavesdropping when he accidentally steps in a trap that Cartlon made.

"Wait here! There must be someone outside."

Billy can't run rashly back to Shaotzie because Cartlon catches him, eavesdropping.

"Who are you?"

Billy stood up slowly and replied, "I'm Billy and I'm one of the survivors. I am here to look for food."

Cartlon steps closer and saw a tall young boy with sharpened steel in his right waist.

"Who's that?" Princess Alice asked Cartlon.

"Just a young boy looking for food."

Alice replied, "Let him in."

Cartlon has no choice but to obey the Princess. "Come in."

Billy looked behind and he didn't saw Shaotzie. He told her to look and to observe the place but if zombies come up, Shaotzie will blow the whistle and Billy will save her.

"Are you alone?" Cartlon asked while putting potatoes into the sack.

Billy gulped and replied, "No! I saved two young girls and we're hiding at my house. I thought we're the only survivors but I'm wrong."

"Can you describe them?" Alice asked Billy suspiciously.

"Well, both of them are beautiful and adorable but one of them looks like a princess."

Alice steps closer to the boy and holds his hand. "Tell me where did you leave them?"

Billy step back and got frightened because of Alice. "Billy, can't you recognize her?"

He stared at Alice and Billy remembered what Sahara have told him. "Princess Alice?!"

"Yes, little boy. I am Princess Alice." She cupped Billy's face and smiled genuinely.

"I left her in the forest, your majesty. But, don't worry, she's safe and I told her to cook potatoes for breakfast." Billy lied to the Princess of Alicesha.

Alice burst into tears because of joy. Finally, Alice thought that she can see and embrace Shaotzie again. "Poor little princess. But, as soon as I found the cure, Billy, because of your kind heart, you will be awarded by saving my younger sibling."

Billy bowed to his majesty and said, "It's my pleasure, your majesty."

Alice hugs him in amusement. "Cartlon, bring everything! We will move right away to the forest."

"Your majesty, here." Diane brought bread and a cup of hot tea for Billy.

Billy suddenly thought of Shaotzie. It's cold outside and she must be hungry. "Your majesty, I am with a friend. Can I let her in?"

Alice looked at Cartlon and replied, "Where she is?"

Billy was about to answer back when they heard a loud whistle.

"My friend!" Billy recklessly put back the bread and run into Shaotzie.

Cartlon and Alice followed him, but they couldn't see anyone around.

"Biiiiiiilly!" Shaotzie screamed.

"Where are you?!" Billy answered back. He looked around and he saw the whistle he gave to Shaotzie.

"Your majesty, someone took her. Look at this, I gave this whistle to her last night. There must be someone watching us, without our knowledge."

Alice stared at it and shook her head. "We will find your friend, Billy." She said and tapped his shoulder.

**

Billy left Shaotzie alone. She hides at the back of the small house and looks as he steps nearer to the food store.

"Why does the weather suddenly changed and became this cold?" She uttered, rubbing both hands to make herself warm.

Shaotzie look-see at Billy but she can't see him anymore. She began to worry and to imagine things.

"Billy, where are you?" She closed her eyes and said.

Shaotzie roamed her eyes around and she saw a woman, who's crying at the end of the street.

She was wearing a ragged white dress and barefoot. The woman was leaning on the wall, crying profusely while her hands are on her face.

Shaotzie feels pity and sorry for the woman. Her family must be victimized by the walking dead.

Without hesitation, she walks nearer to the crying woman. She makes sure that there's no zombie that is ready to attack her.

As soon as she reaches the end of the street, Shaotzie called her. "Hey! What happened?"

"Stay away from me!" The woman shouted.

Shaotzie didn't follow. She touches her shoulder but the woman hit her hands.

"Ouch!" Shaotzie exclaimed.

"I just want to help you, please, tell me what happened." She added.

The woman gasped and looked at Shaotzie. "I need royal blood. Can you help me?" 

Shaotzie smiled bitterly. Why would she need a royal blood?

"I need royal blood! Can you help me or not?" The woman asked her angrily.

Shaotzie felt afraid and so she steps back gently. If the woman acts aggressively, she will blow the whistle to ask for help.

"Royal blood? Why?"

The woman suddenly stood up and squirmed around. Shaotzie notices a small bite on her neck.

By then, she felt strange about the woman. "Royal blood is the cure to end this phenomenon."

She tries to touch Shaotzie but she runs as fast as she can to escape from her.

She blows the whistle once when she reach the place where she hides earlier. The woman was chasing the princess until a brave man grabs Shaotzie's hand and save from the infected woman.

The whistle that Billy gave to her was slid into her hands and fell into the ground.

Too late for Princess Alice to save her younger sibling, for the second time.