Chapter 13

    "Lizzy Gills?" Emily climbed down from her chair. "You're alive?"

       "Emily. I'm so grateful to see you again." She burst into tears.

       "Emotional moment. Let's give them some room." Adam signaled. He dragged a reluctant Ted away. "You don't have to be so overprotective about your girlfriend. She's not a kid."

       "Shut up, kid."

       Does he have amnesia or what? He's never called my name.

       "Oh my. That's Ted Oliver. The handsome chef everyone used to talk about." A smile spread across her lips as her fear dissolved slowly. She pulled away from Emily's arms and whispered, "That's Ted? I've seen him once. When Dave and I went to the movies but he didn't say a word to me at all."

       "Shocking."

       "Can you believe that?"

       "No. I really can't. How did you get here?"

       "Well, I posted on my Instagram account that I was hiding in Prestige Restaurant and didn't know how to get out." She flipped her hair. "And this amazing kid just chatted me up and told me to come here. He told me about the living dead and how they couldn't see in the dark. For days I've been waiting and thinking about how to come out but couldn't. When I noticed two people fighting those living dead earlier today, I started following them."

       "Ted and I?"

       "Yeah. I couldn't meet up with you guys because I got caught up with those things. So I waited and counted how many minutes it took for the passageway lights to come on once they go off. I'm scared right now. I shouldn't have come here at all."

       Ted snapped his finger to get her attention. When he was certain she was indeed listening, he asked, "How many minutes does it take for the lights to come on?"

       "I don't know. I was too scared to count. When I heard the sound of this door opening, I didn't think it through. I just ran as fast I could." I need to rest. I feel like collapsing right now. She rolled on the floor, arms and legs spread like someone who had just escaped being kidnapped. Her nostalgia knew no bounds. I hope they have an intelligent plan on how to leave this place. I'm still young and pretty. I can't look like those Halloween mutants. A hard line crossed her forehead. "There's plenty of frozen food in the room after the elevator. I had a lot while I was there."

       "And you didn't think it necessary to bring some while coming?" Ted looked at her in disbelief. Calm down, Ted. Don't get mad. I can't believe this is happening. How do we get past these living dead? "How long does it take for the lights to go off?"

       "About an hour," Adam said no more, but the negative side of what might happen if their plan failed. He gazed at the numerous living dead lurking outside the room. "We'll need to create a distraction to get them far away from here. It's going to be pretty difficult to get past them in the dark without bumping into one. You need a perfect plan that doesn't involve losing someone." Which is impossible. Someone's going to die. Not every story has a happy ending. I hope our story is different. His expression dulled. "Okay. I've done the best I can to be of help. Make sure you put in a good word for me when you die. I'm going back to my game."

       "No. You are the only smart person in this room after me. You'll help me come up with a plan."

       "Wow. That's the nicest thing you've said since you walked in. I don't like that." Emily shot him a once over. She blinked twice. Anyone would be happy to get a positive remark from Ted but Adam's reply threw her off guard. She pretended not to take an interest in their conversation. Adam rubbed his nose and said, "Usually in movies and books when someone's attitude changes it means they are gonna die. It's okay when your favorite movie character dies but it's not okay in real life. This ain't no movie so stop it."

       He's a kid and he communicates like a grown-up. I wonder if he's twelve-year-old like he claims. What could it be that he's gone through in life that has made him grow up snappier than his age? "Are you alright?"

       "Yeah. I'm great." He plastered a smile on his face. "Why? Are you frightened?"

       "Who isn't?" Lizzy scowled. She sat straight up. "It's absurd not to be! You've ever woken up before and seen people trying to murder you with their teeth? Everything is anomalous. It's like I sprang into a TV and became one of the actors. Even in movies, people get scared. How are you so relaxed? You're a kid for crying out loud." her face crumpled.

       "Come on." Adam's mouth spiraled into a snarl. "This is real life, not a movie. In films the directors and actors try to make viewers spooked; that's the point. So they can sell their CD and have more viewers. You see people sobbing, shivering, clashing, and stuff. Most of these films show more terror than the people who are being terrorized, it's more about obliterating the monster than empathizing with these monsters who were once humans. But this is reality." He breathed hastily. "We had lives before any of these occurred. Some of us had unfortunate lives, we were on the verge of committing suicide, some were in an acrimonious relationship, heartbreak, and some just needed to be lost to sight, I met a lady earlier who wanted to get an abortion but couldn't because her mother in law wouldn't let her,"

       "What's your point?" She nabbed, rolling her eyes in agitation.

       "My point is, we had different memories. Cheerful, sad, unforgettable, and so on. Some of us had greater monsters living with us than what we are facing so this isn't new to us. The only difference is now we don't get condemned for committing suicide. We die whether we have an option or not. I've been through shits that have shaped me into the person I am today so why should I feign to be scared just to give you the fulfillment you desire?"

       "You are twelve! Am I missing something here? You're a child. You're a child who should be scared... scared of,"

       "Of what?" He interrupted. "The monsters outside or the ones behind a mask? Humans are the real monsters. Those things outside don't talk, right? So why didn't the humans hiding in each room open up when Emily and Ted were banging and crying out? Ask yourself why no one's come to our rescue yet. At least those living dead ain't aware of what they are doing."

       I'm pretty sure this guy didn't want to open the door for us at first. Emma cracked up.

       Some of us had greater monsters living with us. Ted echoed.

       Some of us had greater monsters living with us. Emily glanced at Ted from the corner of her eyes then peeped through the small hole in the door. She sympathized sincerely. Never did she imagine while killing those living dead that they used to be humans like her. They were humans, and loved ones and presumably had schedules that day before everything changed. How humankind was put to the test when the time for survival came. The pandemic sure did bring out the best and worst in people in 2020. She affirmed. She reflected on how she reported her friend who had been infected with the virus that year. Killing these monsters now and rattling out someone who had been infected then, there was no difference at least to her awareness. But was she wrong? Her eyebrows snapped. "I get your point." She drew near. "These people once had dreams. So then? Should we just run past them without killing anyone?"

       "Oh no." His cookies almost dropped from the plate. "If you don't get rid of them I'm sure you'll end up like that. You have to eradicate to outlive. You ain't killing them because you want to but because you have to. If you don't, everyone here will ultimately become like them. I'm just saying, she can't expect me to be startled because she is. We have our diverse ways of reacting to situations."

       "You are annoying."

       "Wow. I wonder where I learned it from, Ted?" he retorted. "I figured a way to create a distraction. Reaching out to Ted, he whispered in his ear.

       Ted nodded in agreement. He walked to the middle of the room then cleared his throat and did a run down of the plan.

       Lizzy opted to stay behind with Emma. She made sure to tell them about the danger of leaving the little child all by herself. For the first time, Ted and Emily giggled simultaneously. They knew better than to ask her to come along. Her facial expression was enough to discourage anyone who approached her.

       Ted's question made Adam growl at him with clenched teeth. He pocketed his phone and stood defensively. I came up with the idea and he still wants me to sacrifice my baby just for them. Haven't I done enough? "No!" He raved when Ted wanted to say more. "There's no way I'm throwing my phone out there. Here. Throw the landline phone outside."

       And I thought he was smart. "Dude, if we do that, it would break into two. How would a damaged phone ring?"

       "And what made you think my smartphone won't split into two as well?" He's so selfish and ludicrous. How can he suggest something this outrageous like it doesn't matter? I shouldn't have notified him of my plan. "I'm not the only one with a phone."

       "Yeah. You are the only one who shouldn't be with a phone. You are walking on my nerves, kid."

       "I'm standing right here, dude." his hands moved as he spoke. How am I walking on his nerves if I'm here?

       Emily smiled and reminded Ted of his smartwatch. He didn't find that humorous. After several persuading from everyone, he took off the watch, still groaning. "You have my number, right? Once I throw it out, dial it quickly."

       "I don't. I don't have your phone number." Her eyes showed no sign of guilt. She flipped her hair back.

       Her reply didn't sit right with Ted as he paced around the room angrily. He stopped and said fiercely, "You don't have my number. We've worked together for ten years! How can you say that with a straight face?"

       Oh, gracious. They are going to have a dispute again. I'll just play my game and wait till they are ready. They have a very thorny relationship.

       "Don't make it sound like it's my fault I don't have your number."

       "It's kinda your fault." Lizzy chirped in. She held out a hand, palm up. "I know I shouldn't interrupt but it's weird that you don't have your colleague's number."

       "For real." She twirled around; everyone was staring at her with wide eyes. "Stop it, everyone. Enough with the judgemental eyes. I had his number. The one time I called Ted Oliver, he yelled at me so badly and asked me not to phone him again. When I lost my old phone, I didn't bother getting his number again because I felt it wouldn't be important."

       "I have all three of your numbers in my phone."

       "Shocking because you've never called me." He's making me look like the bad guy here. No matter how I try to avoid him, he pops up like the Cops. "Give me the number. I'll save it this time."

       Walking up to Lizzy, he said, "No thanks. Hey, take my number and dial it."

       "I'm sorry, Ted. My phone's turned off. I can't make any calls till it's completely charged."

       "Don't ask me," Adam stated just as he was about to ask. "Can't make calls while gaming." Why can't they settle their problems discreetly? Their love story is way more complicated than I visualized. He fixed his eyes on the game, not giving two cents about what Ted was saying.

       Emily approached Ted. A heated argument broke out between the two. Emma curled herself to the wall, sucking. Her stomach was in desperate need of food. She wondered if their plan was going to work out with the controversy Emily and Ted had.

       "I hate to ruin this cute couple argument but we are supposed to be creating a distraction to send those living dead away from the door but clearly your voices are luring them to us."

       "You said the door couldn't break."

       "Yeah. If a human tries to break it with a stick. What I didn't say is, if more than 500 living dead are resting on the door it won't come down." They are the same. I'm beginning to understand why they are lovers.

       Ted sharpened his knife. The noise spurting from the knife grabbed the attention of the living dead outside. Emma ran behind Emily and buried her head in between her legs. Lizzy jumped up and ran to the toilet door, holding it just in case the entrance door came down. Taking her phone from her stretched-out hand, he dialed his number and then handed the phone back to her. "How long does it take for the lights to come on, Adam?"

       He's doing that again. Finally, he called my name. "About five minutes." Saying that out jolted him to realize it was impossible to get to the elevator before the lights come on. "Maybe we should,"

       "It's fine. We have no other alternative than to run. Once the lights go off, Emily and I will go. Stay back and take care of the ladies."

       "I'm coming along," Adam added and wore his backpack. He ran to the table beneath the window and grabbed a small knife. "You need me."

       "You are smart. I get it but this is risky. You're a kid. Let the adults handle everything."

       "Thanks, Ted. I didn't know you have a heart. But I'm coming still. Three heads are better than two. And, if something goes wrong in our plan, you'll need someone to hold the food while you're killing those things."

       He's right. But he's a child. Emily felt a rising tide of fear from her head to toe. It felt like something bad was about to happen. Her heart raced like a speeding car. She wiped the sweat off her nose. There was neither a fan nor an air conditioner in the room and the heat level had picked up. The sun reflected through the window. "Adam, stay here with Emma and Lizzy. Emma needs you more than ever."

       "I don't know what that means primarily because I just met her today but I'm going nonetheless." I know I'm too good looking but they don't have to make it too noticeable. Are they trying to organize a marriage between us or what? "I can take care of myself. And, I've been in this room for the last 14 days. At this rate, my bones might shrink if I don't walk around."

       We don't have much time. He's not going to listen. "Fine. Come along. Hey, make sure you don't get the spotlight or I'll have to kill you as well."

       Is he concerned about me or threatening me? What an awkward way to show concern.

       "Adam." Emma embraced him. "Come back with Ted and Emily."

       "Tell them to come back with me instead. I'm a strong man. Don't be scared and also don't fall in love with me. I have my preference when it comes to ladies."

       Is he a kid? There must have been a mistake in his birth certificate. Lizzy reasoned. How can he talk maturely and think like a grown man? If he wasn't a kid I would have crushed on him. He's mysterious and disturbing. I wonder what his parents do for a living. Should I ask? No. It might denigrate him and I would have to go in his place. I'll ask later.

       "Adam,"

       "Emma."

       "Just in case you see my grandma, tell her I'm in the last room by the left. She's tall, has dark blue eyes, there's a scar on her forehead."

       "Emma, I..."

       "It's pretty easy to notice her. She has red long hair. Oh, she's wearing a red sweater and purple jeans. Please bring her along. I miss her so much."

       "If she's here and can still recognize humans then I'll bring her along."

       What is he saying? Sometimes he sounds smart and other times pretty fatuous to me. "I don't know what that means but okay. Make sure you return with them. You're the only friend I have who's almost my age."

       A friend is a strong word. Is she crushing on me? That would be a terrible mistake. I know what I want in a woman.

       This is the worst plan we've ever had since day 1. I hope we make it back alive. Emily held her stick firmly.

       Ted pointed out to them they had only a minute. Adam tried to estimate. He had just realized his idea was very suicidal. He hoped the distraction lured every last living dead towards the smartwatch. There were no weapons in the room aside from Ted's knife and Emily's stick. It was a restaurant after all. They served food and not weapons.

       Lizzy's mouth quirked up. She wanted to say something but was interrupted when Ted signaled to Emily to dial his number. Taking the quick instruction, she dialed it, palms sweating.

       "Now." He whispered. Adam pulled the door, running ahead of them. Emily stepped out next. She tiptoed, trying not to stumble on anything. "Close the door, and don't fall asleep. Once you hear our voices, open up." He stepped out and turned to look at the living dead. They were all running in the direction of his smartwatch, groaning, and clamoring.

       When she was convinced they had gone, she closed the door and walked back.