Mystic Moon and the Dead

Chapter 3 – More to the Story

(DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT ESCAFLOWNE AND ITS CHARACTERS!)

"I'm still in Russia?" Hitomi exclaimed loudly to herself.

The solo girl sat on top of an old renovated building. The undead below were reaching up for her, wanting to eat her brains and guts like goulash. Hitomi ignored the hungry moans and growls on the streets while her feet dangled three stories above the flesh-eating humans. She scratched her head as she went over a bunch of brochures that she happened to nab from a local tour shop.

"Not only am I still in Russia, er, Russian Federation," she mumbled to herself. "I'm in Moscow. I'm not even that far in Russia! Er, I mean, Russian Federation."

She sighed in defeat and frustration as flopped the pamphlets on her lap. With an annoyed grumble, she plopped her chin onto her palm and leaned her elbow against her knee. She blew a raspberry as she tried to think of a plan.

"Raawwwrrrrr!" a zombie started from below, but was cut short when a bullet went through its head. The echo of Hitomi's 45 erupted in the air.

"Shut the Hell up!" Hitomi yelled as she put her gun down. "I was cranky and now even more so because I just wasted a bullet on your annoying ass!"

She sighed harshly as she leaned back on both hands, staring up at the sky.

"Better not try to get in my head this time, Van." She deadpanned. "I may wound you verbally."

"WHY am I talking to myself?" Hitomi roared into cloud-filled sky. "I'm going crazy! GAH!"

She sighed another time as she leaned forward again, burying her face into a map.

"Let's see," she mumbled. "I'm in Moscow… I don't want to stay here. It's wet, damp and freezing. I need a destination…."

Her eyes scanned over the map and saw her home country on the far right… Japan.

"I could… No! That's suicide! I should know going to a highly populated country would kill me!"

She paused and looked down at the zombie crowd below her feet.

"But then again… no matter where I go, you fucks will be there!" She screamed at she picked up her gun and released her wrath upon the zombies. "I FUCKING HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU!"

She was about to shoot the last one in the eye, but her gun decided to click instead.

Click, click, click!

"DAMMIT!" she screamed as she slammed down her gun onto her duffel bag. "DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT! WHY AM I BEING SO FUCKING STUPID? I'm turning into Dilandao…"

BANG!

Hitomi jumped as she watched the last zombie fall to the ground with a thud.

"Well," a female voice called across. "I won't disagree… that was stupid."

Hitomi looked up and there, on the building across from her, was an Asian woman who looked about the age of 30. She had an extremely pale complexion that contrasted her dark, espresso eyes that was rimmed with smoky, charcoal eye shadow. She adorned an all white leather body suit along with a long white, thick coat. She had single braid of ebony hair that cascaded down the front her body, ending just below her hip. She had a fuzzy white hat underneath her rounded hood to block out the chilly wind. The mysterious woman propped her shot gun up onto her shoulder, staring amusingly the crazy blonde.

"Who asked you?" Hitomi glared menacingly.

"Ha," the woman seemed unaffected by Hitomi's blunt anger. "You asked out loud, remember? You went on quite a rampage."

Hitomi blushed as she calmed down.

"I'm sorry," Hitomi stood up with a sigh. "I guess I had a little psychotic episode."

"It's cool," she shrugged. "I would hate to see your big psychotic episodes. I'm Betty Mui, by the way."

"I'm Hitomi Kanzaki."

"You're from Japan, right?" Betty asked randomly.

"Uh," Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Holy shit! You're the patient from Transylvania, aren't you?"

"Huh?" Hitomi was taken aback. "More like a prisoner… how did you know?"

"Hold on," Betty paused as she looked around. "Let me get over to you… it will be easier to-"

WHOOSH and THUMP!

Betty jumped as Hitomi appeared by her side with her duffel bag in tow.

"Talk to you," Betty finished with confusion. "Did you just jump across the street from that building?"

"Yep."

"And landed on this building with no problem?" Betty stared blankly.

"Looks like it." Hitomi shrugged.

"That's… kind of cool."

"So," Hitomi started as she and Betty sat around the campfire they started on top of a tall building. "Why are you dressed in all white? It looks planned."

"Honey, we're in the Russian Federation in the middle of winter."

"I noticed."

"When snow falls, it's hard for the Unfortunates to see me." Betty clarified as she stirred their cooking dinner – baked beans. Betty fortunately had a pot, a wooden spoon and her handy-dandy lighter.

"Is that what you call the undead? Unfortunates?" Hitomi asked as she discarded her scarf that had been itching her neck for days.

"Yeah. Got it from a book. Pride, Prejudice and Zombies."

"Funny," Hitomi cocked a grin amusingly. "How was it?"

"Dunno. Didn't finish it."

"Why?"

"We had a zombie attack."

The moons and stars highlighted the bubbly clouds with soft blue hues. The high sky's air was thin and crisp with a hint of chill. The extremely high, midnight atmosphere was well lit compared to the dark grounds of Gaea. There was no sound… just pounding, questioning silence.

An angelic figure burst through the foggy fluff, leaving a swirling trail of mist behind him. The Fanelian king, Van de Fanel, was trying to clear his mind by taking a late night flight. His bright, white wings practically glowed under the moons' rays. He tried to keep his angry eyes forward and away from the Mystic Moon.

He was hoping that this brief escape would settle his rage and the harsh feeling of rejection, but the quietness around him allowed his mind to scream.

Stay away! All I am trying to do is help her and take her away from whatever is going on on that silly planet of hers… and she tells me to stay away! Why is she so stubborn?

You're just mad that your distressing damsel doesn't want your help. His other voice echoed through his head.

Shut up, you! Great, I just told myself to shut up. I'm turning into Dilandau.

"Not even close." A very familiar corrected on Van's left.

Van's head snapped in the direction of the voice and saw his older, dead brother flying aside him. Van's heart shot up to his throat, unable to say a word. Folken looked the same when he was alive… his dark cloak flowed behind him like the sea's watery waves. His ebony, tainted wings stretched far and wide. His wispy light, sky blue hair swayed gently like long grass in a breeze. He still had his lavender teardrop tattoo, which matched his eyes, planted on his right cheek. Everything was the same… It scared Van.

"You're alive…" Van choked out but kept flying. He was in total shock.

"Unfortunately, no," Folken tilted his head with a knowing smile. "I'm a figment of your imagination. You wish to speak to someone about your troubles, but you fear they will find you weak and vulnerable."

"I could talk to Merle…"

"You could… but you won't."

"I don't want her to worry about me," Van admitted as he faced forward. His short, raven ponytail was beginning to loosen from the constant brush of air.

"You know she is. But that's not what is bothering you… it's Lady Hitomi from the Mystic Moon."

"She wants nothing to do with me," Van stated quietly.

"No," Folken corrected. "She's protecting you and you know it."

"But from what? I have fought against Zaibach and lived to fight the next enemy! I saved her so many times… why won't she let me save her now?"

"You are forgetting the times she has saved you."

"I know," Van said quietly. "I just feel so useless."

"All you can do is wait."

"For what?" Van blurted out as he glared at his imaginary brother. "For her to fall into my arms dead?"

"You wait for her to call," Folken smiled with assurance. "You know she will call for you. It may be tomorrow, it may be years from now… but she will eventually wish for you. Tell me, when that day comes, what will you do?"

"Go to her," Van answered with an obvious-tone. "My mind created you… you should know this."

"How did you know about Transylvania?" Hitomi asked out of the blue as she finished her plate of baked beans.

Mmmm, maple flavored!

"Before I answer that," Betty set her dish to the side so she could lean forward. "How about I give a little information about myself?"

"Ok, go." Hitomi got more comfortable on the rough surface of the building.

"I am originally from Hong Kong, but I grew up in America. I was adopted by a military family."

"That would make an interesting childhood," Hitomi smiled.

"Oh, it did," Betty chuckled as she waved the subject aside. "Childhood stories for another day. Anyway, I now work for a secret agency called USIS."

"United States…?"

"United States Investigation Service," Betty finished. "My title is Field Specialist."

"Oooh, fancy," Hitomi was impressed.

"Back home, we received reports about secret, illegal testing in Transylvania. Which I am sure you are aware of…."

"Am I ever," Hitomi grumbled as she glared briefly into the ground.

"I know this is a hard subject for you, but please bear with me." Betty continued after Hitomi gave an approving nod. "Tell me, do you know why those tests were performed on you? Do you know who those people were?"

"Um, I didn't really have a chance to ask."

"Those people are a part of a small country called Rose. One of the weakest countries/islands in the world."

"Where are they located?"

"They are in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. That place is so small; people would mistake the island for pen mark on a classroom globe."

"Well, that doesn't explain why they went after me, my mother and those other people," Hitomi growled.

"They wanted to build their own army, Hitomi. Their population may have been small, but their technology and chemistry-knowledge was very under estimated." Betty's soft face was no harden and serious.

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"Tell me, Hitomi. What is your blood type?" Betty asked out of nowhere.

"Uh, I don't know… O, maybe?"

"Wow, you don't know your own blood type?"

"I guess not…." Hitomi blushed and looked down. It was kind of odd how she doesn't know her own blood type.

"You're an AB negative." Betty answered cautiously, waiting for a reaction. "Do you know about AB negatives?"

"No… what's so special about it?" Hitomi looked back up with curiosity.

"It's an extremely rare blood type. VERY rare. And you all had the same height and weight."

"So I have a rare blood type… I'm guessing my mother did too."

"But she reacted differently to the virus."

"Virus? What virus? She was killed by those people!" Hitomi exclaimed.

"Hitomi," Betty started calmly. "Those people created a chemically enhanced virus they called Thorn. I can't remember what is exactly in the concoction, but it was made to increase and perfect a human's physical abilities. But only an AB negative blood type could take in the virus the way it should… at least they thought."

"Don't get me wrong," Hitomi jumped in. "I'm faster and stronger… and I know I have changed. But I'm not, like, Wonder Woman or anything. And what about the others? Why did they die if they had the same blood type like me?"

"They forgot to factor in what the virus could do a person mentally."

"I don't get it."

"That virus rotted out the victims' brains that resulted in death. But the virus stayed active in the bodies… when the patient died, the virus brought the person back to life in a rabid way…."

"Turned them into zombies," Hitomi finished as she looked down.

"The virus turned everyone else into zombies. But it did something else to your mother and AB negative blood types."

Hitomi just looked at her… not sure if she wanted her to continue. Hitomi was trying to block out the outcome of her mother… just merely thinking of her as deceased. It took all of her mind power to cancel out the possibility that her mother was now a zombie.

"The others, your mother… their turned into creatures."

"What kind of creatures?" Hitomi rasped out.

"I'm not even sure… my men were killed before they could find out. We found out about the testing too late… we came to get you and the others out… but it was too late."

Betty looked down with shame.

"I'm sorry," she continued as Hitomi stared into space. "If we knew sooner… there could've been a chance to save you. But when we broke in, the creatures attacked us… infected my men. That's when the virus broke loose."

"Doesn't explain how you knew me," Hitomi mentioned harshly.

"We found your file, just before we were attacked. You were the only successful subject. Project 36, they called you. There was something about your mind that was powerful… abnormal to begin with. Special. Your mentality was strong enough to take the virus, but you fell into a coma from being traumatized."

"Was I still in the coma when you got there?"

"Yes," Betty answered regretfully. "But since we were attacked, there was no way for us to get to you. I was forced to leave you behind."

"I understand, Betty. There's no shame for you to fall back," Hitomi reassured.

"I know, but… Damn! I never failed a mission until that day!" Betty punched the ground gently.

Silence engulfed the both of them… all they could hear was the crackling of the small fire and distant moans from the undead from far away.

"Tell me," Betty croaked out. "How are you different?"

"I'm not sure how I would be different."

"Well, can you move things with your mind? Or something?"

"Ok, now you're going nuts," Hitomi chuckled.

"Hitomi, those files said you inherited a gift… what does that mean?" Betty's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Hitomi froze, her face paled.

"My visions..." Hitomi whispered to herself. "I use to have visions! This explains why my sight is enhanced… how I am able to see far away or around a corner."

"What do you mean by visions?"

"It… it all started on Gaea."

"Where?"

"And that's when I came back to Earth," Hitomi finished her story of her adventure on Gaea. "Listen, I know it may sound crazy… but it really did happen."

"Hitomi…" Betty cocked her head to the side. "We are in a zombie apocalypse… I thought this shit only existed in movies. I think I am able to believe you and your little adventure on another planet."

"Really?" Hitomi eyes widened in disbelief. "Not even Yukuri and Amano believed me."

"Who are they?"

"They were my best friends. We had a falling out just after I returned home… they thought I was crazy." Hitomi looked down with sadness. "I hope they're OK…."

"I wish I could assure you that they are, but this virus broke out fast. It reached the States less than a month."

"What?" Hitomi eyes widened at the news. "You mean your country is infected? How?"

"The Unfortunates snuck onto a ship… well, you can guess the rest."

"What is not infected?" Hitomi's breath hitched her throat… she already knew the answer.

"Every country has the infection, Hitomi," Betty answered grimly. "The entire world as we know it… is coming to an end."

"Damn," Hitomi gazed onto the dark, lifeless city called Moscow. "I can't believe everywhere is like this…"

"I know, right? I'm still trying figure out on how to live the rest of my life like this."

"Is it worth living?" Hitomi asked quietly, more to herself if anything.

"If you are alive now, then you must have something to live for."

The two just sat in silence, both not knowing what else to say about the topic. The city's air wreaked with stale decay. Hitomi hated the idea of never being able to inhale fresh air again. Or be able to run without being chased. How would she be able to eat after all of the preserved food is gone? Most animals have the infection and have gone rabid. Plants and produce have rotted out and become inedible. She wouldn't be able to stay in one spot and grow a garden full of fruit and vegetables… the undead will always force her to move.

"It seems impossible," Hitomi admitted in defeat.

"Seems impossible, but is it really?" Betty gave a weak smile.

"How do we make staying alive worthwhile? Our future seems bleak and full of nothing but survival of the undead."

Betty sat there and thought about her question. While contemplating an answer, she came up with a new question.

"What is it that you always wanted to do?" Betty asked with a smirk.

"What do you mean? Like, goals?" Hitomi was baffled.

"No. Just in general. Like, I always wanted to go sky diving and smoke a big bowl of weed when I reach the ground."

"Uhhh, I don't want to smoke weed…"

"Figures. Listen, everyone has a secret list of things to do before they die."

"I don't think everybody had one of those," Hitomi shook her head amused.

"You're right. Only the cool people did. But back to the question… what is it you always wanted to do?"

"Hmm," Hitomi decided to humor her. She thought for a moment while looking off into space. "Well, I always wanted to go on a road trip."

"We can do that!" Betty face brightened. "I have a car parked not so far away. It can fit two people and I was going to offer you a ride anyway. Where do you wanna go?"

"Where can we go?" Hitomi was starting to like this idea.

"Anywhere. We have lots of roads ahead of us. We can stop anywhere we please. Granted, we have to slash some zombies along the way but hey! It adds to the fun."

"You're crazy."

"Crazy awesome, you mean. I always wanted to sing in front of huge audience."

"That will be difficult to do considering the world's population decreased by, I don't know, A LOT." Hitomi shrugged with a mischievous grin planted on her face. "But it doesn't mean we can't try."

"That's the spirit!" Betty applauded her new friend. "The point of this is to make life worth living."

"It's a good idea, Betty."

"I'm full of those."

"Oh my…" Hitomi giggled uncontrollably. "You have Smart Car?"

Hitomi and Betty stood before a small, blue Smart Car in an empty alley. Betty had held her chin high and proud as she clutched her shot gun in her hands. Hitomi leaned onto one foot while propping her sword's blade on her shoulder, careful not to cut herself. The both of them were breathing heavily and had beaded sweat across their brows.

Behind them, there was a heaping pile dead bodies. Each individual now adorn either a gunshot to the face or multiple gashes.

"Hey!" Betty playfully glared. "My Smart Car is awesome. As you can see, I added some coolness to it."

"I see that," Hitomi chuckled.

Fenced bars crisscrossed the windshield and the windows to keep any unwanted visitors out. Barb-wire rimmed the bumper along with numerous sharp, protruding blades that could sever your legs off. Spikes peered out of the chrome rims. Hitomi wondered why there were three exhausts instead of one; two on the sides, one in its normal place.

"I made it faster," Betty stated proudly.

"You made the Smart Car smarter," Hitomi quipped lightly. "It's adorably dangerous! Like a mean, little chiwawa."

"Did you just compare my car to an ankle biter?"

"Yes, yes I did."

Betty was silent for a few seconds and mumbled "fair enough" as she walked to the driver side.

"Betty, is there even enough room for my bag?"