Chapter 36: A Better Plan (1)

~ Third Person's Point of View ~

Since the apocalypse began, the sun never rises the same as now. Survivors can be able to plant such as potatoes; tomatoes and different necessities that grow easily.

They created a tough and unbreakable barrier to protect themselves from the undead. Most of the survivors made a planting plot at the backyard with tall and sharpened woods facing the enemy.

On the other hand, Princess Danaya failed to resume her mission when zombies were sauntering around their hideout. She cannot let her guard down or let her people continue to look for the Prince.

Danaya sit back and closed her eyes out of frustration. She was facing Shaotzie and Zachary who are still sleeping.

She stood up and walked nearer to the slaves "It's time to work! Wake up, Swordsman!" 

Danaya kicked Zachary's foot and forced him to wake up. But, she didn't disturb the princess nor tried to wake her up.

Zachary moved his head back and forth. He was sweating profusely and he's narrowing his eyebrows like he's having a nightmare. "No! Don't kill him! He's not an enemy; because he is the elu–  Nooooo!"

Danaya burst into a burst of loud laughter and raised her eyebrows. She then looked at him satirically and said in an insulting tone. "Perchance, you are having a nightmare swordsman. But, from now on you will be my slave together with the princess."

Danaya told one of her men to release Zachary except for Princess Shaotzie. "Don't do this, Danaya! Furlough the Princess and I shall be your slave from this moment, and until my last breath. I'm begging you, Danaya."

The Princess awaken when she heard voices near to her. Shaotzie turned her gaze a Princess Danaya who's standing before her. "What are you doing, swordsman?!"

Shaotzie was dumbfounded and flabbergasted when Zachary kneeled down without knowing the reason behind it. She then tried to check his wound but Shaotzie cannot tell that it was already healed.

"Release the princess too! Make it sure that no one can escape from here or else, all of you will be beheaded!" Danaya ordered as if she were the queen of Alicesha.

She furthermore gazes at them and said, "Get up now! You have to work under my principles; if one of you failed to abide and to follow my ordinances.  It will be your last day on earth. Do you understand?!"  

Princess Shaotzie and Zachary looked at each eye. They talked about something with their eyes and they both understand what is all about.

"Yes, your majesty/yes, your majesty!" They both said.

Danaya turned her back then she starts walking. Automatically, the princess and the swordsman followed her with sentries at the back of them. 

"One more thing, if there's someone who will ask your name; tell them that it is Amelia. For sure, there are survivors who don't know you, yet."

Princess Shaotzie shook her head even though it is against her will. After all, 'Amelia' is something more beautiful than her name. "Aye, your majesty!"

Danaya continued walking until they reach the vacant lot at the back of the abandoned house. There were already barriers and tough fences that surrounds and protects them from the zombies.

"Types of equipment are all complete and precise, the only thing you should and must to do is to plant those seeds before the nightfall,"  Danaya said.

The lot was quite huge and wide, but it is indeed the best place to plant with. Shovel, bolos, and seeds were given to them. "No one shall rest without my permission. Don't you persuade me to do it, or you will be punished."   

For the last time, they nod their head in the same manner. Danaya stood up and watches them dredge the loam; healthy soil.

Danaya blurted. "Dredge more! Keep working on it, swordsman!"

Zachary was struggling to dig up the soil due to the fact that he got a severe wound. It wasn't healed and mended, yet, he is under at the piping hot sun. Working without enough resilience.

However, Princess Shaotzie turned her head at him. She saw Zachary, digging up the soil slowly. As if he's wholly tired and drowsy.

The princess was about to speak but Zachary stopped her, "Let her be your majesty. It is the only way to escape; do not worry about me." Zachary whispered.

It was his pure intention; as of now, Zachary is thinking for a better and effective plan on how to sneak out from Danaya's hands.

"Do you have something to speak up, Amelia?" Danaya asked her.

Shaotzie shook her head and replied, "I have nothing, your majesty."

Shaotzie was already done with one plot. She makes a small hole to put the seeds into it. "Do not make such a foolish and absurd thing, Zachary. I am maybe know nothing about you but I can infer it that you are not an expert pretender. I am warning you."

The princess possibly feels that Zachary is only creating an absurd alibi. But, as the last time he checked his wound, it's not yet healed and was still bleeding.

Zachary is not making any alibi because the truth is– the pain within is unbearable. Yet, the Princess never tried to trust in him.

One of the cruel and abusive princess's men walked closer to her. He then leaned and said in a low tone, "We saw survivors nearby, my lord. Unfortunately, we didn't found the prince."

Danaya cursed out at the wind. She then looked at him frustrated and baffled with the bad news. "Gathered five men excluding you! I will gawk for the prince."

"My lord, then who will look after the slaves?"

Danaya replied, "Look after them! If the two of them escaped, it would be your luckiest day. Or zombies will infest them. Do you understand?!"

He replied, "Yes, my lord!"

There were four wardens who are watching and gawking the slaves. Danaya commanded, "Do not give them food unless they finished planting all of those seeds!"

"Yes, my lord!"

They are all replied in the same way and manner.

Princess Danaya looked at them; at Zachary to be certain before leaving. She needs to prepare and to gather her men for an important mission.

Danaya couldn't resist to stare at the good looking swordsman. Although she's acting differently but deep inside, she felt something towards him.

She quickly gets the bow and arrows and placed it at her back. Danaya never tried to put down her sword and so she was quickly prepared of finding Zeln.

Danaya stood up in front of them and began to speak. "We shall find the prince before the dark! We cannot continue with our mission if we will bring the slaves into this. Temporarily, we will stay at this hideout until we find and catch Prince Zeln!"

"Let's go!"

Danaya exclaimed and walked slowly and quietly together with her men. 

~

On the other side, Zachary and Princess Shaotzie worked very hard as there are sentries and lookouts around.

With one wrong move, they will be punished. 

Zachary called out the young princess but Shaotzie cannot hear him. She was then digging up and facing the opposite direction.

"Your majesty!" He said.

Yet, she didn't reply and turned her back.

Zachary stopped digging and went closer to her as the lookouts aren't looking at them.

"I have a plan on how we can get out from here, Princess Shaotzie!"

The young princess was startled when the swordsman suddenly showed up and speak. "Wh...what?!" She exclaimed and have a sneak peek at the guards.

Zachary leaned closer and said, "Slow down your voice, your majesty. I saw a small hole through this tough barriers."

"How?! I mean, it's too risky and dangerous to escape swordsman! Look at you, you're losing so much energy and blood. We will not be going to elude until your wound is already healed and mended."

Lookouts sense something upon watching them. One of them walked closer and said, "Swordsman! Do not come closer to her. Disperse or I will tell Princess Danaya that you are planning to escape!"

Shaotzie smiled and said, "I am apologetic for what he did, but please do not tell the Princess that we are really planning to sneak out from here."

Zachary burst into laughter while touching his wounded gut. He then looked at them whimsically and said, "Poor Princess. However, do not attempt to let out what happened here, or else I kill Princess Danaya.

Instead of getting frightened and spooked up, guards burst into a satirical laugh and replied in disbelief, " In my entire life, I've never heard this kind of parody."

By then, all of them burst into laughter without realizing that it was their tactics to divert the sentries' attention into something else.

"Such a fool swordsman!" Of them exclaimed.

Zachary, stare at the princess and said, "There is a hole at your right side, Princess Shaotzie. All we have to do is to run as fast as we can and or let us wait for the dark to execute our plan."

"No! I have a better plan, swordsman. Trust me, and I will guarantee that we will be safe when we find my sister; Princess Alice.

Shaotzie gave him a sweet and gentle smile. Then, she goes back with digging up the remaining vacant lot.