21 Days

V: A Secret

                “We should move in the mornings. These things hate the sunlight.” Jake informed.

                “They are really sensitive to sound too.” Ethan followed.

                “And they stink.” Jay complained.

                Everyone was now looking at Jay wearing disappointed faces. He mouthed a “what” and Jake only rolled his eyes in response. Sunny was gigglimg.  

                “That guy has a weak stomach.” Jake said as the tips of Jay’s ears turned bright red.

                “The heck are you saying?” Jay said in denial.

                After their reconciliation, everyone had a talk and majority agreed with leaving the school’s next morning. It was already evening when that happened and everyone was already struggling in their stomachs. The group’s main goal is to survive and hopefully, find help once they were outside. New York City is large and a really dangerous place mostly right now because of those things lurking around. The least they should do is to fight with those beings and consume what’s left of their energies.

                It was a night with full moon and as the others rest, Jake found himself in the empty area of the literature club room which was located on the second floor. He was sitting on the table next to the window where the beams of the moonlight was being reflected, only watching the moon while deep in thought. Up above, it was peaceful but once he looked outside and towards the direction where the main city was, everything was in chaos. Some of the buildings have started burning and because of that, the power source has been cut off.

                What Jake wasn’t saying is the fact that he’s worried about conducting their plans. It was risky and unexpected things could happen. It could be him, or it could be someone else, no one can really tell. As he heaved a heavy sigh, forgetting his gaze on the empty sky, Jake heard footsteps approaching coming from the doorsteps. He was about to relax thinking that it might be one of those people he’s with but a strange growling and heaving sound could be heard coming from the subject. What he did was sneak on the side opposite to whatever that being was and attempted to hide.

                Jake took a small gulp and silently took small steps backwards. He only has his notebook in his hands and unfortunately, it couldn’t be any of help in that situation. Nervously, Jake waited as the silhouette of that thing drag itself on the direction of the brightly moonlit windows. He released a gasp and quickly covered his mouth to retain the sounds.

                IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE THINGS!!

                Jake was hiding behind one of the book shelves stated in the room. There were three bookshelves in the middle of the room. The space on the right where the door was leads to the reading/meeting area stated beside the windows. Jake was seated on the farthest left corner earlier, near the space where the small cabinets that contain old magazines and literary arts were piled up and now, he was hiding there.

                He could hear the pounding of his heart behind his ears. He can’t believe what he just saw and he had to ask himself why something was like that in that place, with them. Jake’s head was starting to get blurry from anxiety and he thought that what he should do is leave from that situation.

His main goal is to attempt to escape that area without going noticed by the thing and inform the others about its existence. Since they were sleeping, they were vulnerable of getting harmed. Jake then realized that if this thing is inside, there is a probability that there was an open area that gave access for them to come inside. But then a frown formed on his face. Zombies can’t go walking on steps, and considering that there was a staircase and they were on the second floor, it would be impossible to for that thing to come from the outside.

                Despite that fear that’s overwhelming his whole being, Jake stood still and waited for the next scene to occur. He kept watching the zombie bump its head on the windows, scratching its nails on the glass and growling to nothingness. Opposite to the sun, it looked like he was attracted by the moonlight and wanted to go there to seek for it.

                What Jake didn’t expect next was the turn of events. A flashlight coming from a cellphone lit the area where the zombie was and it growled angrily because of too much brightness. That’s when a voice followed. It sounds worried but Jake knew who it belongs to.

                “I told you to keep still why are you being naughty?” the voice said in a huff. He then turned off the flash and walked slowly and steadily towards the direction of the zombie.

                The person wasn’t aware that there was someone watching him, them and they continued with what look like a decent human conversation. Except that the first one wasn’t a human and barely responding while the other one was one of their nicest colleagues.

                It was Sunny.

                Jake’s eyes widened in pure horror as he watched Sunny’s figure stood still in front of the undead.  

                “Leo…” he said sweetly and then he put his hands on the zombie’s waist. It growled in response.

So Leo was the name of that rotting being, He also realized that on its mouth was a gag. When the dead Leo saw Sunny approaching, he quickly reached out for him and attempted to take a bite but because of the gag, his mouth won’t do anything. His head was now on Sunny’s shoulder and he started rubbing Leo’s hair.

“I know you miss me.” Sunny said. “I’m sorry. I know you’re hungry but we don’t have any more food to share.

But we’re going outside and… and then maybe I can tell them about you.” Sunny looked at Leo’s face and Jake almost choked seeing how rotten it has gotten.

The skin on its face was peeling and small worms were falling out of the vacant eye socket. All of its skin was on the verge of falling out and the smell was so horrible that it quickly spread in the room where Jake was. Sunny seems not to be bothered by it, what more, he was looking at Leo with pure adoration. It’s as if he was looking at a person, a human being. And he was treating him like one.

Jake watched as Sunny gave this thing a wide hug.

“I miss you so muchhhh. Everyday. I still don’t know if there is a cure for it but—but I know that if you survive and if we find help to cure you, you’ll be as good as new. I miss your voice and your singing. I miss everything about you.” Sunny said.

They were lovers. In Sunny’s mind they were but the truth is, it was one sided.

Leo was the vice president of the home economics club and he was the nicest with Sunny that’s why he developed a feeling for Leo without Leo knowing. They came from different classes and Leo has a reputation for being a good cook. His family runs a restaurant in the city and it was popular for its Asian cuisine. Because Sunny looks fragile and moves more feminine than the majority, he was prone to teasing and mockery and when that happens, Leo would always come to the rescue. People in their grade was scared of Leo, maybe because once he was also an athlete, he plays judo and once won a silver medal for regional games.

Jake doesn’t know about the information so he concluded that these two were lovers. Still, he was in disbelief that Sunny has been keeping such a secret and if Ethan would know about this, he would definitely snap.

                While Sunny was busy reminiscing with this thing he called Leo, Jake was slowly walking backwards, attempting to reach the door and leave the horrible smelling room but as he was sneaking his way out, he didn’t realize that Jay was in the room as well.

                Jake unknowingly stepped on Jay’s foot and they almost yelped, both shock, one was in pain. Jay was able to cover Jake’s mouth even before he could scream and hushed him as they both hid behind the book racks.

                “Did you hear that?” Sunny asked and started looking around. Leo only growled. “Ah… Whatever. For now, just hide… I told you not to come inside because if they hear you, you’ll be a goner. Ethan is a scary person and then there’s that meanie Jay.”

                The two of them observed at Sunny drag Leo out of the room, closing it once they were outside and disappearing to wherever Leo’s hiding place what. Once out of ear shot, Jake fell down, clutching his chest and heaving deeply.

                “What was that?” he asked and then he pointed at Jay. “You! You almost exposed me.”

                Jay went down and sat on his level.

                “I’ve been following him for a few days now.” Jay informed. “You see, I am very sensitive to smell and I’ve noticed a stench from Sunny that’s so out of ordinary. It smells like death.”

                “And then?” Jake has finally collected himself. His chest still a bit hurting from the shock.

“This..” Jay shrugged. “I’ve always noticed that he would sneak in the evenings. I thought he’s just going to the rest room or something but he always comes back with a strange smile on his face and this horrible smell lingering. I don’t know if you guys notice it.”

“Well… Jean has been whining about Sunny having smelly feet.” Jake said and his eyes grew larger as he looked at Jay.

“That must be it.” Jay said finally sitting down next to Jake. They were now both leaning on the book shelves. “It sucks but smelling that s**t everyday made me get used to it. At least on the level that I am not throwing up anymore.” Jay shuddered.

“Damn. Is that a character development?” Jake said sarcastically. Jay glared. “Now what? Do we tell it to Ethan and Jean?”

“I’m not sure. I mean that thing was still a human when I first saw it.” Jay said. “I was about to reveal myself when they were conversing but it was hard. It’s usually this place and it’s always in the evening, the first time was like a week ago, Sunny brought some left over noodles here and that thing said he’s too hungry and nothing can satisfy him. He’s also got a temper but Sunny always assures him and he calms down.”

“I didn’t know you like to snoop around.” Jake said.

“I don’t” Jay replied. “It’s just I am curious. There were voices and then I managed to figure out who they belong to. That thing was bitten in the arm, no, more like a graze and his transition was slower than the others. I am just worried that it would attack us while we were sleeping so I kept following Sunny. To me he still has his consciousness.”

“Even without the eye?” Jake asked flatly and Jay gave an audible gulp.

“Fcking disgusting.”

“It doesn’t have the eyes on the left.” Jake said shortly and went silent. “Shall we go back?”

The two of them returned to the archery room where there was foam mattresses spread to where they sleep. When they came back together in the room, Jean and Ethan was awake and was giving them suspicious glares.  Ethan has his arms crossed on his chest while Jean was on the ground in this strange position and was eyeing them.

“Where did you two go?” Ethan asked.

“What? You think we’re trying to betray you? Not in my dictionary.” Jay claimed as he settled down.

“I was writing on my journal.” Jake said honestly.

                “Then why does it need to be you two?” Jean asked suspiciously. “Have you developed feelings for each other?”

                “HAVE NOT!!” Jay and Jake said in sync. They even looked at each other after they said that and Jean made a funny face.

                “Definitely suspicious.” Jean chuckled and Jay went and tackled him down. Jean was half-crying half-laughing while being wrestled around by Jay. On the other hand, when Jake was about to lie down, Ethan put a hand on his shoulder and said:

                “I understand.” He said and then he nodded.

                “The heck are you saying?” Jake frowned.

                Just then, Sunny arrived with a smile on his face.

                “Oh… Everyone is still awake?” he said and closed the door behind him. He removed his shoes before hopping on the mattress and Jean quickly covered his nose.

                “Your feet really smells.” He said and Sunny looked at him innocently.

                Jay watched how Jake reacted, wearing a stupid smirk and a c****d brow.

                “You should wash it properly or we’ll be dead because of that smell.” Jay teased.

                “Stop being mean with my junior.” Ethan spoke up and walked beside Sunny. He even wrapped his arm on Sunny and then he went and dragged Sunny down the mattress, tickling him.

                It was a strangely happy evening Jake thought. But still, what he saw earlier about Sunny bothered him, A LOT. He doesn’t understand what he should feel as he looked at Sunny wearing an obviously disturbed expression. Jay saw it and chuckled. He crawled near Jake and wiped his hand on his face.

                “Stop making it obvious.” Jay said.

                Meanwhile, Jean saw what just happened and was left chuckling in one corner. What he felt that time was none other than happiness. He then closed his eyes and started praying for everyone’s safety—it has become a habit and he has been doing it daily.

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