Chapter 35: Training

One month later...

The playground buzzed with the sounds of children at play. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees, and the sun cast a warm glow over the scene. Azriel sat atop the monkey bars, his legs dangling as he watched the world below.

Roseanne and BJ took turns sliding down the slide, their laughter filling the air. Nearby, Zach sat on a bench, sketching the lively scene with a focused expression. Reed swung back and forth on the swings, keeping a watchful eye on BJ and Roseanne. Thame stood a little distance away, practicing CPR techniques on a human doll with a look of determination.

Azriel let his mind wander as he observed his friends. The past month had been a whirlwind of emotions and events.

"Uhmm," a kid approached them, holding a lunch box, and they all turned to look at him.

"Here's my lunch box! Thank you for saving my mom before," he said.

"Wow, it took you a month to thank us?" BJ said, laughing.

"Everyone is traumatized, and the others haven't yet adapted to what happened," the boy said, handing his lunchbox to Reed.

"Stay here and play with us," Roseanne said, smiling, and sliding down again.

"I envy you guys. You lost no one, and you seem happy now," the boy sighed, sitting beside Reed on another swing.

"Envy? If you feel like that towards us, then probably the others do too," Zach said.

"Yeah, everyone is. The teachers awarded you guys. You were so brave one month ago. How did you do that? How were you able to fight the humans you always see?" the boy asked.

"Aki, once they are infected, they are no longer human," Azriel said in a serious tone. The boy named Aki looked up.

"But still, it's so hard to kill them. They were so kind to us, especially the elders," Aki said, looking at his feet.

"In this world, it's either die or kill. Fight or become food. What happened should inspire you guys to become strong," BJ said, sliding down and standing at the end.

"You guys really are amazing," Aki said again, amazed by them.

"Of course! We are the Sky Quad, you know! Hahaa," BJ said.

"By the way, since I'm not in the same section as you guys, what were your group roles setup?" Aki asked, swinging.

"Well, we are all defenders. But the main ones are Az, BJ, and Zach," Reed said.

"All defenders?" Aki asked, surprised.

"Yep. Thame is our medic, I'm the scout, navigator, and communicator. I'm also a long-range fighter," Reed smiled, and Aki was again amazed.

"I'm a short-range fighter! I will be using a katana, but Az copied me, so he will be using a katana too," BJ said, making Az tsk.

"And Roseanne here is our survival expert and also a short and long-range fighter," Reed added.

"Short and long-range? I don't get it," Aki said. Then Roseanne took a toy knife out of her pocket.

"I will be using a dagger and a gun," she smiled.

"Then how about Zach?" Aki asked.

"Zach is our leader and also a short-range fighter. Since we started self-defense, he changed from long to short-range," Thame said, sewing a fake wound on the doll.

"Why? I think long-range is suited for a leader," Aki said, looking at Zach.

"I just realized it. I'm better at using my body," Zach said, looking at his fists.

"Fists?! You mean, fighting zombies by punching them? That's insane!" Aki said.

"Zach is strong. Hands-on fighting suits him," Azriel said.

"Wow! Your group is amazing! I feel like I want to join," Aki said, eyes wide with admiration.

"Hahaa, dream on! We prefer a group with six members. We're already perfect," BJ said, now standing on the monkey bars.

Ding Ding Ding Ding

"Oh well! Lunch break is over. Time to go back. See you guys. By the way, Violet suits you BJ" Aki said and ran inside.

" Told you guys! Violet hair suits to me hahaha "

The group also entered the building. A few minutes later, training started again. Two weeks ago, they were awarded certificates for bravery and were approved to upgrade their levels. They were now training at the same level as the eleven-year-olds. Their exercises were intense, focusing on running and endurance. They knew they had to be prepared for anything.

While Thame jogged steadily, her breathing synchronized with her steps. The training grounds were filled with the sounds of running feet, encouraging shouts, and the occasional clatter of equipment. Thame's focus was unwavering, her mind set on mastering her role as the group's medic.

Beside her ran Ms. Jane, a former nurse and Thame's mentor. She kept pace effortlessly, her sharp eyes watching Thame with a mixture of scrutiny and pride. As they reached the halfway point of their run, Ms. Harper began to quiz Thame on her medical knowledge.

"Thame, imagine you're outside scavenging, What's the first thing you do if someone in your group gets hurt?" Ms. Jane asked, her voice steady even as she ran.

Thame, already feeling the strain of running, took a deep breath before answering. "I... I make sure we're safe first. We need to be away from zombies."

"Good. And once you're safe?" Ms. Jane continued.

"I check the injury. If they're bleeding, I stop the bleeding with pressure," Thame replied, her voice a bit shaky from the effort.

"Correct. Now, if Zach gets a bad cut, what's your next step?" Ms. Jane asked, quickening her pace slightly.

"Clean the cut with clean water... or an antiseptic if I have it. Then, bandage it tightly to keep it clean," Thame said, her legs starting to feel heavy.

"Excellent. What if Azriel faints from heat exhaustion while you're all scavenging?" Ms. Jane's questions were relentless, but Thame remained focused.

"Get him to a cool place... give him water slowly, and keep him lying down," Thame answered, her breathing getting harder.

Ms. Jane nodded approvingly. "Perfect. And what if BJ sprains her ankle?"

"Help her sit down, check her ankle, and wrap it with a bandage to keep it still. Then, help her walk slowly," Thame said, trying to keep her voice clear despite her tiredness.

They continued running, the questions flowing seamlessly between them. Thame's training was rigorous, but she knew it was necessary. She had to be prepared for any situation, to protect her friends and those they cared for.

"Thame, imagine you're all outside and Reed gets a fever. What do you do?" Ms. Jane asked, her pace steady.

"Give him water, keep him cool with a wet cloth, and try to find medicine if we have any," Thame answered, pushing through her fatigue.

"Good job. And what if Roseanne shows signs of shock after an attack?" Ms. Jane questions kept coming, but Thame stayed focused.

"Lay her down, lift her legs up, and keep her warm... while calling for help," Thame said, her voice unwavering despite the challenging pace.

They slowed to a walk, cooling down from the intense run. Ms. Jane placed a hand on Thame's shoulder, her expression one of pride and encouragement.

"You did exceptionally well, Thame. Your knowledge and composure will be invaluable to your group," Ms. Jane said.

"Thank you, Ms. Jane. I'll keep training hard," Thame promised, her eyes filled with resolve.

After returning to the resting area, Thame grabbed a bottle of water, gulping it down eagerly. The cool liquid was refreshing after the strenuous run. She sat down, catching her breath as Ms. Jane approached with a familiar object.

Ms. Jane brought a human doll, specially designed for medical training. The doll had a simulated wound, perfect for practicing sewing and other emergency procedures. Ms. Janw set it down in front of Thame, giving her an encouraging nod.

"Alright, Thame. Time to demonstrate what you've been practicing," Ms. Jane said. "Remember, in a real situation, you might not have all the materials you need, so you have to make do with what you have."

Thame nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. She took out the limited supplies she had—a needle, some thread, and a few bandages. She began to sew the wound on the doll, her hands steady despite the pressure.

Ms. Jane watched closely, asking questions to test Thame's knowledge. "Thame, what's the most important thing to remember when you're sewing a wound?"

"Keep the area clean to avoid infection," Thame answered, carefully stitching the wound.

"And if you don't have proper thread or needle, what can you use?" Ms. Jane continued.

"Any clean, sharp object for the needle, and strong thread or even fishing line for the stitches," Thame replied, her voice steady as she worked.

Ms. Jane nodded approvingly. "Good. What if the wound is deep and bleeding heavily?"

"Apply pressure to stop the bleeding first, then sew it up as best as I can. I'd also look for something to use as a tourniquet if needed," Thame said, finishing the last stitch.

"Excellent work, Thame. You've shown great skill and resourcefulness," Ms. Jane praised, inspecting the stitched wound.

Thame smiled, feeling a surge of pride. She had come a long way in her training, and she knew that her friends were counting on her. With each lesson, she grew more confident in her ability to keep them safe in a world filled with danger.