Chapter 10-Silence, No More
Chibiusa spun around and found herself face to face with a zombie. The flesh was starting to rot and they hang on his outstretched arms. Half of his face was ripped off, revealing his skull and his jaws bloodied from previous feeds.
She could hear Hotaru screaming a few feet away. Chibiusa tried to run. She managed to get some distance before she tripped over something and landed hard on her face. The fall knocked the winds out of her and a bout of dizziness took over. The moans of the zombie was getting closer. As she tried to sit up, the monster pounced.
Chibiusa's arms shot out in self-defense, grabbing the zombies by the shoulders. He tried to extend his neck in order to get closer, his jaws and deathly stank inches away from the little girl's face.
Suddenly, a rock came flying and hit the zombie in the temple. Then another rock. The zombie fell to the side, off balanced. A hand grabbed Chibiusa and pulled her out of the death grip. "Run." Hotaru repeated.
The two girls took off, racing towards the beach. Up ahead, they could see Michiru and Rei coming towards them. To their horror, a new herd of zombies emerged from the forest, intercepting their reunion.
Chibiusa looked around. There was no way to get through the herd. She looked back at the other zombie slowly advancing. She looked up at the tree and an idea popped into her head.
"We have to climb up, Hotaru. Come on..." Chibiusa grabbed two rocks, stuffed them into her pockets and then started to scale the trunk. She turned back and extended her hand. "Come on, Hotaru...grab my hand."
In the rush of adrenaline, Chibiusa felt strength she never felt before. She gripped her friend's hand tightly and helped Hotaru get to the lower level of the branches.
Up above, safely concealed by some dense leaves, Chibiusa and Hotaru looked down on the herd. Michiru and Rei were surrounded, fighting fiercely against the waves of monsters. Hotaru let out a soft whimper.
Chibiusa scanned the area, trying to see if the others have come to help. The herd was getting bigger, the noise was intensifying...At this rate, they would lose both Michiru and Reiā¦..
Hotaru stopped whimpering and a new face settled in. Instead of the panic, Hotaru seemed calm.
"I was wrong, Chibiusa. I was wrong all along. The last thing Papa said to me before he died was 'be quiet'!"
"What are you talking about? Hotaru, what are you thinking? Please don't do anything stupid..."
Hotaru looked into Chibiusa's eyes and gave her a warm smile. "I am glad you are here, Chibi. You are my best friend and I love you. Please tell the others I love them too, especially Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa."
Chibiusa's heart sank. "Wait..." She tried to grab her friend's hand but she was too late. In a flash, Hotaru jumped down from the safety of the tree. She gave Chibiusa one final smile and then she ran, away from the herd.
"Hey...hey...over here...woohoo" Hotaru started to scream at the top of her lungs. Part of the herd heard and broke off.
Chibiusa took a deep breath and then jumped down as well. She hurled one rock at the zombie closest to Hotaru and he fell with a thud. Chibi took the chance and ran past him. Hotaru looked back in surprise.
"I am not letting you do this by yourself," Chibiusa yelled at Hotaru. "Now, let's make some noise.." Together, the two girls took off at their top speed, all the while screaming.
Michiru and Rei stared in horror as the zombies start to chase the little girls instead.
"No, Hotaru." Michiru flung her spear around and skewered a few zombies. She pulled it out and start running after the herd. Rei followed.
Chibiusa and Hotaru ran and stopped, ran and stopped, making sure the herd was following them. They could see the others fighting, clearing and thinning out the herd from behind. Chibiusa beamed at her friend, "it's working..."
As they approached a clearing in the forest, the girls stopped again and looked back. The zombies behind them were falling like dominos, no match to Michiru and Rei's relentless attacks.
Finally, the last one remaining slumped over, with the spear tip protruding through her head. A blood-soaked Michiru emerged from behind, panting and crying. She ran over and gave the two girls a huge hug.
Anger and relief flashed across her face. "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again!"
Hotaru clung on to her mama tightly. "I am sorry, Michiru-mama."
Michiru gasped and new tears streaked down her face.
" I am sorry, I was wrong to stay silent. I was wrong to be afraid."
Michiru pulled Hotaru into her arms again, as she continued to sob. "No, honey. It is okay to be afraid. I am sorry I couldn't get to you sooner."
Chibiusa smiled and felt herself choking up. If only her mama was alive too... Rei seemed to have sensed that and pulled Chibiusa into her arms. "Come on, let's go home now... Usagi and the others should be home soon."
