Chapter 18: Determined

( Azriel's Point of View )

"So! Ms. Ajena changed Dylan's name to Dino by combining Dylan and Dykon's names since Dylan has his brother's heart, right?" Reed said.

I felt so bored. That story took all day, and I was sitting here listening to Roseann. I sighed and slowly stood up. Ouch! My butt hurt.

"It's so sad, right?" Roseann said, wiping her tears.

"So that's how Ms. Ajena met Uncle Tyler's group," Zach added.

"I feel bad for Brother Kho and Brother Jerry. They were just 8 years old then. No wonder Brother Kho is so distant since Ms. Ajena died," Thame said.

I agreed. I wished I could see the funny Kho again.

"I want to be like Ms. Ajena," BJ said, standing up with a smile and holding her fist up. "One day I will be like her! She's so cool! I want to see some of her photos! Wanna come, guys?" she asked, and they all nodded immediately.

"Me too! I want to be like her! She's so brave!" Thame said, standing up and hugging herself.

"If I find a girl like Ms. Ajena, I will marry her," Reed said, looking at BJ.

"Is the storytelling done?" Jerry approached us, smiling. Thame immediately ran to him.

"Brother Jerry! You're so brave! Please let me hug you!" Thame said, hugging Jerry's waist. Then BJ, Roseann, Reed, and Zach started comforting him, making Jerry smile.

I stood up and looked at them, then joined them and hugged Jerry too.

"She's right, Jerry. You're so brave."

"Okay, Let's go inside and eat, hmm?"

"Yay! What's our food tonight?" BJ asked.

"I want steak!" Thame said.

"Guess!"

"Aww! Brother Jerry!"

"How about you, Az? What do you think?" Jerry asked, patting my head. I saw BJ look at me angrily.

I just smiled at Jerry. "I don't know! Let's go inside, Brother Jerry."

We went inside the warehouse, and I could feel the tense atmosphere. I sighed, hoping everything would be fine. BJ's parents came and took them. I just watched them, then on the second floor, I saw Peter getting beaten up by King. I couldn't help but giggle. Deserved, haha.

"Hi, Az," I looked up and saw Phil. He was one of my people. He was smiling and carried me.

"I'm heavy, Uncle Phil," I said, and he just laughed as we walked towards our house.

"But Uncle Phil is strong! Besides, you're light as a feather, Az. Are you eating? Don't worry, I'll find sweets once it's my turn in the expedition."

"Be careful, Uncle Phil," I said, looking at the gloomy faces of the survivors.

"You're like Boss, so brave," Phil said, looking sad. I looked down.

"BJ and the other kids are looking for Boss's photos. Do you want to see them too?"

I nodded, and he brought me to Peter's house where Piolo and Karlo were with BJ. Zach and the others were holding photos, and I saw Zach blush. I couldn't help but laugh. Am I that beautiful?

Phil put me down, and Piolo approached me, pinching my cheeks.

"Hello, Az! You're so cute! Where did those looks come from, huh? You weren't one of the kids who screamed earlier, right?"

"Hehee, nope. I'm brave, Uncle Piolo!" I said, showing him my biceps even though there was none.

"But weak, hmph!" I heard BJ whisper.

Piolo laughed and messed up my hair, then he gave me one photo. It was me as Ajena.

"Wow! Ms. Ajena was a black lady?!" BJ said.

-_-

"It's dark skin, not black, Beatrice," I said, and she angrily looked at me.

"Don't call me that! You weak! So what?! Dark is still black, hmph!"

"Hep! Hep! Don't fight. Why don't you kids show these photos to the other kids? You know, cheer them up," Karlo said, holding BJ.

"Good idea! Hehee, I'll show them that this brave lady will be me in the future!" BJ said and ran to the nearest kid who was still crying.

"I'm gonna show this to Brother Aldren," Thame said and ran to Aldren's house.

"Spread the story of Ms. Virgin, okay?!" Peter shouted to Reed and Zach, who ran off too.

"She has a name, Uncle Peter!" I said, and he looked at me and then laughed.

What's so funny?

"Hahaha, come on, Az! You're acting like Ajena! She hated being called Ms. Virgin," Piolo, Phil, and Karlo also laughed but then stopped and became sad.

"I miss Boss," Phil whispered.

"Uncles, I know that Ms. Ajena is happy that you are all alive and protecting us," I said, holding their hands. They looked at me and suddenly hugged me.

"We'll continue protecting all of you, Az, especially Ariela," they said and looked at Ariela, who was approaching.

"BJ is cheering the other kids using Sister's story and photos," Ariela said.

"Yeah, and it helps," Piolo said, looking at the kids with their eyes sparkling in amazement while Roseann kept talking.

"Do you guys have violet dye?" Bea came asking.

"Why?" Karlo asked.

"Well, BJ wants to color her hair like Ajena. Violet," she said.

"I'll try to get one tomorrow. It's my turn going out," Peter said.

"Thanks, Peter, but be careful."

"Hahaha, those zombies are scared of me! So they're the ones who should be careful, hahahaa," Peter laughed.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Ariela took me and bid goodbye to them since it was time to go to sleep. After eating, we were now sleeping. Geo and Ariela hugged me.

"We love you, Az," they said.

"I love you too, Mom, Dad," I said and hugged them too.

At first, it was really awkward that they kept saying "I love you" to me every time we slept, but I got used to it. After they fell asleep, I took the leftover food in the kitchen. Time to go to Zomma.

( BJ's Point of View )

"Don't laugh at me, Mom!" Argh! Mom was laughing at me! I'm not joking about wanting to be like Ms. Ajena.

I pouted.

"Okay, okay, I won't. But I'm glad that you're brave, Beatrice, my baby," Mom said, hugging me. I pouted even more.

"Call me BJ, Mom! Beatrice is too girly."

"But you are a girl," Dad said.

"But! Argh! Just call me BJ, Dad!" I said, and they hugged me as we laid in our bed.

"Please grow beautiful, brave, and strong, BJ," Mom whispered to me.

"I will, Mom, I will," I said.

"If something happens, don't look back and run, okay?" Dad said, and I became sad, imagining that happening.

"I-I can't. Please don't say that, Dad. Nothing will happen. Uncle King is protecting us," I said, holding their faces.

"You're smart, BJ. Not all the time King will protect us. So I want you to prepare for the worst," Mom said seriously.

"N-No, Mom!... Dad! Stop Mom from saying something like that!" I shouted.

"It's for the best, BJ," Dad smiled, but he wasn't happy. His smile was too sad.

Now I was crying! Why were they saying that?! Nothing bad is going to happen. I always pray, and I know God is there and also Ms. Ajena.

"We're so sorry, BJ, that you have to live in this world," Mom whispered and put her forehead on mine.

"Please, M-Mom, stop talking like that," I sniffled, then Dad wiped my tears and hugged me.

"We're so sorry, baby girl. But always remember that Mom and Daddy love you so much. You are the best thing we have since this apocalypse happened."

"I hate you g-guys!" I said, crying, and they both smiled.

"We love you, baby girl."

"I love you, Mom and Dad, so please s-stop saying things like that? I will grow stronger and protect you guys. I will be like Ms. Ajena," I said, and they nodded.

"Just wait, Mom and Dad. I will show you that I can protect this place," I said, and they held my cheeks.

I stopped crying, and they fell asleep. But I couldn't sleep. I could feel the determination in my chest. I promise, Mom, Dad. I will protect you and this place.

I wore my pajamas and went outside. I hid from the guards and went out of the warehouse. I gulped seeing the walls. I wanted to see the outside. I wanted to see what it really looked like out there. I hid from the guards and saw Uncle Karlo guarding tonight. I walked to the stairs and hid as I saw some guards walking.

When there were no guards up here, I climbed the rails, and my eyes widened seeing the world outside the walls.

T-this is what the outside world looks like? There are so many monsters walking, especially those zombies near the walls, wanting to climb up.

My heart beat faster, and I breathed heavily. I clutched my chest; I could feel the fear. What happened 9 years ago? Why is everything ruined?

"BJ?" I turned to look and saw it was Uncle Karlo. I was so startled and couldn't help but slip.

"BJ!!! " Uncle Karlo shouted.

Time seemed to slow down. I saw the sky; it was so dark and had so many stars. Tears swelled in my eyes. I'm so clumsy. Is this how I'll die? I just said earlier that I would protect Mom and Dad.

Huk! I'm scared. I closed my eyes tightly.