Chapter Eight

We encountered nothing but obstacles. The tallest building is now in front of us.

'Now which side to turn or just straight?' Michael said.

'Look for red bricks' Tazanna said. We looked around on the road but saw no red bricks.

'Then we have to experiment' Draven said.

'Now's not the time for science' Michael said.

'No really. Not science. Experiment like try an error. We try go straight first and if that's not right we go back and go to the other paths'

'That'll be a waste of time'

'Better than walking. Why don't we ask Zac' Draven said. I wasn't expecting that. Everyone turned to look at me. This is awkward.

'Why him? Alright I decide' Miss Janet said. For the first time I agree to that idea.

'You shut up' Tazanna said. Well guess not. Everyone was counting on me. Wow. The feeling of being trusted and to make a decision fair for everyone is making me nervous.

'We follow Draven's idea. We're doing the same thing and in here is safer than walking out there with danger seconds away' I decided. Everyone seems to agree and Michael drove straight first. At the next junction we saw red bricks and almost got excited but there was no roundabout. So we went back and turned right. I have a strong feeling that this is the correct way. Soon we came across the roundabout. And in the middle I believe once stood the grand city hall. All that's left is a ruined building with fallen pillars and huge pile of rocks.

'This is it' Michael said.

'Fortunately we did not face any problems' Norman said.

'Let's go now' I said, opening the door. We all got off and headed towards the city hall. Most of us with guns held our weapons firmly, staying focus for any incoming attacks. The entrance was wide open. In fact there were no doors at all. Inside I imagine used to be a classy hallway with a big echoey auditorium with glass doors and beautiful chandeliers. Now there were no rooms at all. The entire building seems to be one room.

'Then where's the entrance to below the surface?' Fayre asked. There was a little bit of echo. Tazanna flipped the book open again.

'City hall. Upon reaching, we might expect a group of the infected…' Tazanna immediately closed the book and aimed her gun around. I did the same and also the others. I looked around us. Someone's missing.

'Where's Dane?!' I asked.

'He was with me!' Norman said. I ran back outside. Fayre and Michael came after me. I could not see Dane anywhere. My heart started beating faster in fear. Poor Dane, I thought. He's just a harmless little boy. Suddenly we heard gunshots from inside. We ran back in. Tazanna was continuously firing at a group of the infected. Once were people just like the man we saw earlier. Miss Janet was firing too. We only have six guns. And there were nine of us but Dane's nowhere to be seen. Fayre held one, Michael too. Tazanna, Miss Janet, myself and Draven. We helped the others shoot at the group of infected. There were suddenly so many coming from one direction only. Why are they coming from only one direction? I fired again and again and the whole time I only managed to hit a few. And hitting the body doesn't affect them. Tazanna, Michael and Fayre were really good. Miss Janet as well. Only she has attitude problem and was most of the time acting like she wasn't supposed to be here. The monstrous sound the infected made will give me nightmares. Suddenly I heard something from behind. I turned and if I wasn't fast enough to shoot, I probably would have been infected as well. An infected lady almost bit me. I shot it on the head. Lucky I wasn't so bad at aiming when it's close. Fayre and Michael who were beside me also turned around to help. A new group of the infected were coming in from there. We're all in circle, our backs facing each other. Norman and Orion in the centre since they only have knives or blades with them.

'Norman and Orion, I need you to help us find the entrance' I said, still looking at the infected horrifying faces. I'm sure I'm gonna have nightmares after this no matter how tired I am. The last time we had enough sleep was before we reached the lab. The journey here maybe I slept for a few minutes.

The infected weren't walking or limping anymore, they were running. Even though some of them couldn't even walk properly but their running just reminds me of how fanatics run to meet their favourite celebrities. No matter what they will want what they want. The infected want our blood and flesh and they would do anything for it. Because their brains are not working logically anymore. I don't know how many times I have to reload and the others covered for me and when they have to and I covered for them but we only have to hope the ammo won't finish soon. But when I covered for them, easy say, they almost died. I passed the gun to Orion and took out my knives. I moved quickly on the spot, stabbing their heads and pulling back out and repeated it on another infected. Orion joined in shooting. And he was definitely better than me.

'I can't find any sign or anything that might be the entrance' Norman said, his voice was stressful. I can't reply to him at the moment. We were all busy. And suddenly I saw something frightening and at the same time absolutely ridiculous. I saw Dane, among them. He wasn't infected, his face was normal as ever. Just a little blood from in contact with the inhuman. But he wasn't being attacked. He was walking like them though, mimicking their actions.

'Guys Dane is among them, don't shoot him' I said.

'He's infected!' Miss Janet shouted.

'No! I said don't shoot him!' I shouted even louder. I guess that was very impactful. I was very angry and didn't realise I was releasing my anger so quickly. I've killed a lot more zombies. And Miss Janet was definitely hurt by that. Dane walked up to me mimicking the action of the infected. I looked at his eyes. Confirm he was still uninfected. I pulled him in gently and passed him to Norman.

'Guys, we need to get out now' I said. The infected wasn't coming as much as just now.

'No wait…' Tazanna said, passing the book to Norman. 'Read the one on city hall'

I continued stabbing as Norman searched the page. Suddenly, the surface trembled. Most of the infected were running away. While some were still courageous. It was easy to finish them. Behind us, deeper into the city hall a pile of rocks rose from the ground. And it was flung outside the building. What strong force could possibly do that? Definitely not the infected. I expected the worst. True enough, a fearsome looking monster came out of the hole which was covered by the rocks earlier. It actually looks like a giant lion. The only thing different was that it's body is not fur but scales. Beautiful golden scales. Bad luck, we'll be dead meat soon. The lion roared so loud that we all have to cover our ears in fear of becoming deaf. All around us no more infected. All of them already fled. I guess they knew all along what is down here. What happens next was even more frightening. Dane jumped up and down beside Norman, exclaiming in joy.

'It's over' Miss Janet said.

'Come on!' I said, pulling Dane with me and ran towards the car. The others followed. And the surface shook as I could only guess what was happening. Don't want to waste my energy on looking back. True enough what I thought but my plan failed. The lion came in front of us and crushed our car like it was just a tiny rat for him.

'No!' Tazanna exclaimed. I remembered, Malcolm's body is inside. He was right, the creature is smart.

'Come on!' I said again, pulling Dane with me. I headed to the right, intending to enter the building beside. However, the lion was so much faster. He jumped and stood in front of us. He looked down upon us. I know what we're like to him. Like a table of yummy desserts. I thought so, just because I love dessert. I could eat nothing but dessert all day. It's unhealthy I know. The lion roared again. I stretched my arm out, pointing the knife at him.

'Take me first!' I shouted.

'No me!' Michael said and pointed his gun at him. The lion moved his face closer and I almost cut his whiskers when he suddenly sniffed me. I was so shocked by that I dropped the knife. The lion's breath was hot and smells of rotten flesh. I thought I was gonna be on fire from that.

'What just happened?' Orion said.

The lion suddenly sat down like a royal cat sitting down before his master. And I became more surprised when I heard it purr.

'What's it doing?' Orion said.

'It's purring' Fayre answered. 'Showing contentment, happiness and satisfaction'

'Why's it doing that?' Miss Janet asked. I'm sure all of us are surprised and can't say why. So no one replied. I moved closer to the lion. His purring was at a constant pace and volume. I carefully walked to his legs.

'Be careful Zac!' Fayre said. I slowly reached out my hand to touch the front leg. The purring got louder. The scales are so smooth. It's amazing. A giant lion, a mammal with a reptile's skin. I've never seen this in movies.

'What are you?' I said. The lion got up suddenly. I stepped back in shock. The lion looked down upon me and slowly blinked his eyes.

'Oh my. That's a sign of trust and affection' Fayre said. I can't believe it. Why suddenly the giant monster was showing affection and trust on me? Then I noticed a big necklace fitted in perfectly around the neck under his mane. A circle plate is attached to the necklace.

'Can you come closer?' I said trying to see if he could understand me. He does. The lion moved his head closer. And I could feel the heat from his body radiating.

'No sniffing' I said. The lion stayed that way. He's so loyal. I'm so very impressed. I studied the plate. There were letters on it. Letters forming words. The biggest word engraved in the middle. It reads "Danther". A phrase below it states "The loyal companion of Adams". I was amazed. It's a family friend. A companion. A member of my family.

'It's not a monster. It's a companion of my family' I said. I heard my friends were also amazed. I reached out to turn the plate to see its back if there are any other words. It was a thick and heavy plate. I wonder how my ancestors got this thing on him. "Guardian of X and the sphere" was engraved in the back and below reads "p.s. it's a she". Oh it's a girl!

'Oh it's a female!' I said. The lion made a short sound that sounds like a mix between a meow and a roar.

'And I'm gonna call you Danther!' I said. Danther meowed again.

'You're showing affection to the thing that almost kill us?' Miss Janet said, she sounded unhappy.

'What's your problem?' Michael said. Danther moved closer to Miss Janet which made her nervous. She blowed a little air out of her mouth. The air sizzled upon touching Miss Janet. Miss Janet exclaimed in shock and probably pain.

'See! She's a monster. It burns!' Miss Janet shouted angrily.

'Danther did that because you mocked her' I said.

'First name basis already' Miss Janet rolled her eyes.

'She doesn't have a last name' Fayre said. That got Miss Janet more furious. But she did nothing. I can't imagine how she was qualified as a teacher. She's been acting kind all this while. But her true self is truly the monster. Then I remembered. Our mission.

'Danther, can you show us the way to the hall of the sphere?' I said. Danther's face brightened upon hearing that. I guess she was hoping for the return of the sphere as well. She walked back towards the city hall. I went after her and the others followed.