“Ugh... oww...”
My head was pounding like a blacksmith’s hamr, but at least I was conscious again.
I groaned and blinked my way into the world.
Second ti getting knocked out, and this ti all alone with no one around to rescue . Great.
“Where is this”
Because of course, the cliché struck twice. Waking up in a strange place wasn’t exactly my favorite pasti.
Rubbing my throbbing scalp, I sat up and took in my surroundings: a small, windowless room dimly lit by a single lamp.
The air slled warm and lived-in, though. Sobody actually used this place.
Doesn’t look like Aria caught , 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 soone had called this place ho.
I was about to move when the unmistakable sound of a door opening ca from behind . Not the one I’d climbed through, but another.
I spun around on a di, 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 t?”
“No.”
“You just looked like you knew .”
“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? Sa 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 at 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 . I was heading ho at sunset when I found you caught in my trap.”
“Then why… bring here?”
If he’d seen , he’d know I wasn’t exactly normal.
“Don’t you rember?” Valdes smiled politely. “You said sothing before you passed out.”
“I did?”
That was weird. I thought I blacked out imdiately.
“Yes. You seed different from the usual zombies, so I tried to wake you. You said ‘help ’ and then passed out again.”
I had no mory 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 an 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 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 ant after all.
Valdes seed pleased to talk to a zombie who could actually communicate and filled in on what Loa was doing.
They hadn’t found the root cause yet but were trying their best.
Then he carefully ntioned Aria.
“That’s why I ca 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 ti for calm chats.
Suddenly, I jumped up, eyes darting around. What kind of place had no windows?
“What ti is it?” I asked.
“Um… It’s in the middle of the night.”
“Crap.”
I’d missed our eting ti. They’d never let 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, nightti didn’t scare .
I was late enough as it was. If I didn’t show up soon, Yoan would never let hear the end of it.
“It’s been ages since I’ve had a real conversation. Honestly, I hoped I’d learn sothing 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 ant to et again, we would.
“Sorry. Gotta go. Survive, okay?”
No thanks for the help. It was his trap that got here in the first place.
I turned to leave—but a sudden electric shock hit , 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 movent.”
He crouched, eting my eyes with an eerie smile.
“You really should listen when soone’s being nice. Didn’t want to use force.”
I couldn’t speak with jolts pulsing through .
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 sothing 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.
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