CONTAGIOUS

Present Time,

When Zelda’s eyes finally closed to sleep, it was almost dawn. She could not stop thinking about that moment in the library and she wondered why it was so for her.

‘I shouldn't have been thinking of him like that. I shouldn't have wanted whatever could have happened.

He is my freaking saviour and I should not be imagining things I never knew I was capable of!

I thought I was scared of men.

Lawd, but his …’ Zelda quickly berated herself before her thoughts derailed further.

But berating herself wasn't enough because just as one thought ends and she turns to the other side of her bed, another thought comes up again…flushing her skin and turning her warm.

Because he had neglected a good portion of his affairs and businesses for a while, he had a lot of things to handle but he had placed everything on hold. He wanted to tackle everything relating to Zeda. And the foremost thing to be done today is to take her to where the children were being kept safe.

She had slept far into the day, delaying the time he was supposed to have gone with her to the location but he ordered everyone not to disturb or wake her. She woke up very few minutes before noon could set in, and even then, he asked if she had slept enough and would love to continue.

She only ended up feeling more terrible for sleeping that long.

*************”

Kamaz and Zeda were seated in the back seat, Rena shotgun while Falkur was driving.

Even though Kamaz did not want it, Falkur had made sure that the human guards were following them with other cars - at their front and behind.

Lord Kamaz is a public figure who rarely comes out, and whenever he is seen, reporters will somehow be summoned from thin air, and people will want to take pictures of him or just gather around him. Most of the time, it was always a hassle to get them away from their path.

It could have been easier if they had gone to the location they wanted to directly but Zeda said she wanted to get some gifts for the children.

“I know I owe you a lot, Sir, but uhm, I have a request," Zeda started. She felt disturbed to ask him for this favour because she had also been the one to delay them by telling them she would like to get things for the children but she had to do this.

“Go on" Kamaz encouraged, giving her all of his attention.

“I…I don't currently have any money on me, but I need you to borrow me some just so I can use it to settle the bills when we get to the mall. I promise you that I'll repay you every penny when I resume school and resume my part-time job. Please just help me. I'm so sorry for this,” Zeda rapped quickly, and she didn't pause or take a moment to breathe.

She was afraid if she did, she would forget what it was she wanted to say and be too intimidated to go through with this shameless request.

A corner of Kamaz's lips lifted slightly in a smile as his eyes shone with understanding.

But her words had also made him remember the fact that she was still a student.

That meant there were likely times when she would be separated from him.

He put the thought aside as he focused on the woman before him.

“Alright then" He answered, his voice almost indifferent.

“Oh my GOD! Thank you…thank you so much” She said gratefully as she tried to hide the squeal at the back of her throat that wanted to be let out.

She wanted to hug him out of joy but she was still not used to touching other persons. Because of the trauma, she is still suffering - from regular molestation.

So she resorted to taking one of his gloved hands in one of hers and she gave it a gentle squeeze. After her parents died, she began to see the true colors of the outside world, and she knew it was beyond black or white - freaking broad and a bag of sinister acts wrapped in a thin layer of good.

Kamaz looked at her hand on his and his heart thudded.

Rena and Falkur turned to look at each other at the same time. When they turned away, there was a smile on Falkur's face and an angry scowl on Rena's.

They could hear the heart rate of anyone or any other creature, and not for once, as even Falkur heard the heart rate of Lord Kamaz. But now they just did and it was because of Zeda.

Their impromptu coming to the mall had led them to ask those in charge to vacate everyone a little late, and it was taking time for the workers to get everyone who was still shopping out.

But when they got there, just very few people were being ushered out.

Zelda was surprised no one was in the mall, and she was surprised, and it was also weird seeing men dressed in black present in a place as colorful as the mall. Even though there was a hat covering a part of Kamaz's face, the female workers present still squeaked and squealed as he passed by them - forgoing professionalism and the opportunity to keep their jobs just to express their excitement on seeing him.

But Rena's eyes drove hell into as many as she could as she passed by with the security behind Lord Kamaz and Zeda.

When Zeda was finally done, they headed to Kamaz's security-proofed orphanage, where the children were being kept with other children.

Zeda straightened her gown when she got to the door as nervousness ate at her insides.

She had no idea what the remaining children were thinking of her. After all, she was the reason the other children were dead.

Falkur pushed the door open and she entered the room they were in. Rena, Falkur, Lord Kamaz, and two other guards also entered.

The eyes of all the children turned towards them in confusion and curiosity.

But when Mike and Stephanie noticed her after glancing at all the terrifying persons that just entered, they stood up from the games they were playing.

“Miss!" They called in unison, clear emotions running in their voices.

She dropped the gifts she was with as she took an awkward step towards them and they came running towards her.

She couldn't say a word and she had no idea when tears began to roll down her cheeks. She squatted on the floor to accommodate them as they ran towards her and embraced her.

No one said a word. Not even the other children who are known to be perpetual initiators of noise.

Everyone just stared at the five humans who were hugging each other in tears. The emotion that was running within each and every one of them was contagious.