“Ugh... oww...”
My head was pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer, but at least I was conscious again.
I groaned and blinked my way into the world.
Second time getting knocked out, and this time all alone with no one around to rescue me. Great.
“Where is this”
Because of course, the cliché struck twice. Waking up in a strange place wasn’t exactly my favorite pastime.
Rubbing my throbbing scalp, I sat up and took in my surroundings: a small, windowless room dimly lit by a single lamp.
The air smelled warm and lived-in, though. Somebody actually used this place.
Doesn’t look like Aria caught me, at least.
After a quick once-over, I edged to the door and pushed it open.
The room beyond looked like a living room, empty and quiet, with a staircase curling up into shadows.
Am I underground?
No sign of life on this floor, so I grabbed the one broom in sight—best I could do as a weapon—and crept upstairs.
“Phew.”
I threw open the next door to find another small room.
“What is this, a maze?”
It was plain enough, but I could tell someone had called this place home.
I was about to move when the unmistakable sound of a door opening came from behind me. Not the one I’d climbed through, but another.
I spun around on a dime, broom raised like a swordsman, and locked eyes with a man.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
“Ah!”
“Hmm?”
I almost said I recognized him, but caught myself.
The man cocked his head, curious. “Have we met?”
“No.”
“You just looked like you knew me.”
“No way.”
“Haha, of course not. I’m not from around here anyway.”
Right. Valdes Daker. Priest from the Temple of Loa in the capital.
Distinctive silver hair draped to his shoulders and sharp red eyes. The pendant around his neck was only given to Loa’s finest.
He looks exactly like the book said.
Valdes had been one of Aria’s biggest supporters in the original story—the guy who did her bidding behind the scenes.
I eyed him carefully.
What’s he doing here now? Same as before, or changed like Aria?
“You look shaken.”
He smiled warmly, heading to a corner table. He pulled tea leaves from a cabinet, dropped them into a cup, and poured hot water over them.
“Here, drink this. It might calm your nerves.”
“No thanks.”
“Oh, not a tea person?”
“Nope.”
Like I’d drink anything he brewed. Unless it was meat broth, I had zero interest in tea.
He sipped his own cup and settled onto a sofa.
“Sit over here if you like. Or stay where you are, whatever makes you comfortable.”
“I’ll stay.”
“Suit yourself. How’s your head?”
“Fine.”
“You scared me. I was heading home at sunset when I found you caught in my trap.”
“Then why… bring me here?”
If he’d seen me, he’d know I wasn’t exactly normal.
“Don’t you remember?” Valdes smiled politely. “You said something before you passed out.”
“I did?”
That was weird. I thought I blacked out immediately.
“Yes. You seemed different from the usual zombies, so I tried to wake you. You said ‘help me’ and then passed out again.”
I had no memory of that. Maybe I muttered it unconsciously. Or maybe he was bluffing.
Seeing my suspicion, Valdes set down his cup sheepishly.
“I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I don’t mean you harm. If I did, I wouldn’t have missed the chance while you were out.”
He had a point.
“Delicate question, but… you’re not human, are you? A zombie?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought so. Your head injury was bad, but your recovery’s remarkable. Plus your skin tone, eye color, blood vessels... I had my doubts.”
“So observant.”
“I have to be ready for anything, you know. Just like all other people.”
“Then why not… tie me up?”
“Oh! Didn’t think of that.”
He clapped his hands with a sheepish “oops.”
Finally, I set the broom down and cautiously sat nearby.
I still didn’t trust him fully, but at least he wasn’t hostile.
"Oh, I should introduce myself—Valdes Daker. I'm not from around here. I serve at the Temple of Loa in the capital."
I nodded as if that was news.
“But how can you speak?”
“Dunno myself.”
“How curious… though I am glad we can talk. What should I call you?”
“Sasha.”
“Lady Sasha, the Temple of Loa is working hard to resolve this crisis.”
“…Really?”
So maybe those clergy people weren't who Aria meant after all.
Valdes seemed pleased to talk to a zombie who could actually communicate and filled me in on what Loa was doing.
They hadn’t found the root cause yet but were trying their best.
Then he carefully mentioned Aria.
“That’s why I came to Alberta in search of the Holy Maiden. I have to find her.”
That woman’s a zombie now.
Not sure how much his superiors knew, but apparently not this.
I kept quiet. Couldn’t predict how things might go if I spilled too much too soon.
Since Valdes and Aria were giving different stories, I needed to verify the facts.
But this was hardly the time for calm chats.
Suddenly, I jumped up, eyes darting around. What kind of place had no windows?
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Um… It’s in the middle of the night.”
“Crap.”
I’d missed our meeting time. They’d never let me roam alone again.
“Gotta return.”
“Ah! Wait!” Valdes grabbed my arm. “You have companions?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s late. Why not stay here tonight and leave in the morning?”
“Nope. Gotta go.”
Zombie or not, nighttime didn’t scare me.
I was late enough as it was. If I didn’t show up soon, Yoan would never let me hear the end of it.
“It’s been ages since I’ve had a real conversation. Honestly, I hoped I’d learn something new from you, Sasha, since you can talk.”
He looked so forlorn, I almost wavered.
But staying wouldn’t get us anywhere. If we were meant to meet again, we would.
“Sorry. Gotta go. Survive, okay?”
No thanks for the help. It was his trap that got me here in the first place.
I turned to leave—but a sudden electric shock hit me, and my limbs went numb.
“Ughhh.”
I collapsed, trembling, mouth moving but no sound coming out.
Valdes held a strange device.
“Oh, this? It’s a magic device that shocks to control movement.”
He crouched, meeting my eyes with an eerie smile.
“You really should listen when someone’s being nice. Didn’t want to use force.”
I couldn’t speak with jolts pulsing through me.
Darn asshole…
Guess my gut was right. I should never have trusted him.
***
No matter how many zombies they’d faced, night was still no friend to humans.
Graaaaaah!
Swish!
Derek wiped cold sweat after nailing a zombie’s head in one shot, even in the dark.
Three hours into the search, there was no sign of Sasha, and worry was growing.
“How many more places?” Derek asked.
“Three.”
“Arrgh, still? It can’t be something really bad happened… right?”
The boy’s voice trembled as he stared into the black void.
“Don’t you worry—she’ll be fine. Let’s keep moving.”
Yoan gripped his machete tighter and quickened his pace.