CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: UNKNOWN FEAR

"Waaah, wake up!"

’Agh, who is yelling at me?’

Betty’s face twisted in annoyance, her eyebrows twitching. Sophia, unaware, was still clinging to her and shaking her arm.

"Agh, Cassie! Can’t you see I’m sleeping?"Betty sat up and shouted with her eyes still shut. The room instantly fell silent.

"What a jerk, yelling at her own daughter,"A sarcastic voice piped up.

Betty opened her eyes and tilted her head, only to meet Sophia’s tear-filled, puffy red eyes.Looking up, she saw Calista hovering like a nosy neighbor, arms crossed, scolding her with the tone of a judgmental Karen.

Betty gasped and quickly covered her mouth, realizing what she’d done. A sheepish smile crossed her face as she pulled Sophia into her arms.

"Oh no, did I scare you, baby? I’m so, so sorry."

Sophia huffed in her embrace, clinging tightly like a little koala.

"Mommy, who hurt you? I was really scared..."

Betty’s heart clenched as she looked at the worried child. A warm, motherly smile softened her face.

"Baby, outside is dangerous, that’s why Mommy got hurt. But I’m okay now, see?"

Sophia leaned back slightly, inspecting her, then nodded. Betty gently wiped away the tears from her daughter’s cheeks.

"Little demon, let your mommy rest! Come on, let’s go outside."Calista said, waving her off.

But Sophia ignored her and tightened her grip again. Betty chuckled softly and stood up with Sophia in her arms.

Walking toward the door, Betty called over her shoulder,"I’m not tired anymore, Calista. That phoenix pool really worked... though it hurt a little."

Calista, sitting on top of Chandler, narrowed her eyes and muttered,"Yeah, it works great. But the human body isn’t meant to handle the toll of repeated use, at most once a day is good..."

With a lazy glide, Calista floated behind Betty.

Outside, Betty set Sophia down and knelt, smiling gently.

"Baby, I need to do some work now. You can stay here and watch me, alright?"

Sophia pouted but nodded. Betty gave her a quick peck on the cheek before heading toward the scattered groceries.

She began methodically cutting fruits and vegetables, carefully collecting the seeds. Then, grabbing a hoe, she started tilling the soil and tossing in the seeds one by one.

Once finished, she gathered up the remaining tools and supplies, stacking them near the house. Sophia watched curiously as Betty wiped the sweat from her brow and stepped outside again.

"All done," Betty said with a triumphant grin, scooping Sophia into her arms.

"Hehe, thank goodness! You’ve been working forever,"Sophia giggled.

Betty’s smile faltered for a moment.’Crap... what am I supposed to say about where I was all this time?’

She gently set Sophia down and knelt, meeting her eyes.

"Baby, I think I have to go outside again for a bit."

Sophia’s face fell. "Why are you leaving again?"

Betty sighed and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Just for a little while. And once it’s safe, I’ll take you outside too. But not yet, okay?"

Sophia nodded quietly, her hands clasped behind her back, toes kicking at a rock.

Betty patted her head and stood up.

"Thank Baby, for understanding. Don’t worry, after some time I will take you outside."

After saying it, she vanished and appeared on the mattress.

The air went chilly again, unlike the warm air from space. Sitting up, she looked around.

’Tch, I hope nobody has noticed my disappearance.’

Betty POV:

Rubbing my arms to warm myself I quickly pick up the jacket and wear it. As I pull the zipper I notice the bandage roll beside the mattress.

With hesitation, I pick it up and put it in my pocket. As I stood up, the people were still sleeping, and even the ones who were guarding around were sleeping, sitting around campfire.

I took one step backward, then quickly turned around and walked toward the main door.

’I need to go far away from here, I can’t risk being discovered by the Johnson family’

I rub my temple in irritation, remembering Lilian’s concerned face.

’What does she want from me? Why the sudden act of kindness? I don’t understand.

Walking out of the hall, I made my way toward the Main gate of the school.

A shudder ran through my body, rubbing my hands together, I looked around, the sky was still pale, dark with mist around the air, but something felt off.

’Is the air getting chillier?’

I made a jog toward the main gate, but my footstep froze seeing the scene on the school ground.

"Gulp"

In the place where Grade Two Zombie died, many zombies were lurking now. Most of them were eating the flesh of the dead zombie.

’ughh I might really throw up this time’

My eyes widen as one zombie bit the neck of a dead zombie, crunching on its core.

’No, no, no, I have to run’

Slowly, I started backing off, careful not to make any sound, and my shoulders started trembling.

Hugging myself, I look around, seeing that the closest building is the main building, I quickly enter through the window.

"gAhhhhhhhh"

A roar came from outside.

’Looks like he has evolved, but why is my body still shaking? I have killed zombies, slit their necks, so why am I feeling this immense fear, not even at the dead door, I feel this much fear?’

"Tch, I forgot to bring a torch."

The hallway was dark as I made my way inside, praying that no zombie to be here.

A feeling stops me on my track.

"gulp"

My throat tightened, and I looked behind me. There is nothing except the classroom doors.

As I start walking again, the creepy feeling comes again, like someone is watching me, turning to look behind me, there is nothing.

"W who"

I nervously called my body trembling for the same unknown fear.

"u u um, gulp, I’m asking who is there"

MY eyes widen as I feel warm wind pass beside me, my short hair flutters, covering my eyes.

’i is is it ghost, no please gulp’

"SWoooosh"

As the feeling intensified, i quickly opened the class door beside me and entered, closing it quickly.

The creepy feeling vanished suddenly, and the fear gripping my mind also vanished.