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"Aelita-er, I mean, Xana...where are we going?" "The dormitory,, Jeremie." "A what?" Aelita scowls at me. "Not now. Your room, Jeremie." She kicks open the 'wall' as I rush inside and lock it. A split second later she's by my side. "How'd you-"
"Shut up, Jeremie, and lay low. Zombie Ulrich is after you." I puzzle over this. "Why me? Why is everyone after me? I'm just a...a little kid is all!" Aelita begins to smirk but stops. "Shhh." I listen closely.
There's a lot of moaning. I stoop down and look under the thing that closes. Shadows dance around the halls, and someone pulls me back. "Ouch, that hurts!" I stand to see Aelita half-transformed into a zombie as well, both eyes completely white. "AAGH! DON'T EAT ME!"
"Jeremie, STFU. I'm ok, but I won't be if you aren't quiet." I glance out a transparent piece of reflecting light. "What about down there, can we jump out?" Aelita also looks. "We need salt and water, not a way to get us killed!" "Salt water? What's that?"
Aelita gives me a sly grin. "It releases people from being zombified." "But...where do I find that?" "I'll be able to pass as zombified right now, but I've got to be careful. I'll bring you the stuff, but I won't last much after that. You've got to PROMISE me that you'll give me the stuff first."
Aelita slips out of the dorm and closes the thing. I tremble, hiding underneath the blankets on a cot in the room. What seems like hours pass by before it opens. "Jeremie, I'm back..." She groans in agony as I hurridly grab the glass of water from her and tear open the salt packet.
"I hope this works," I whisper, stirring the salt into the water. Aelita takes it shakily, both hands grasping the slender glass, and tips the edge to her mouth, taking a sip. "Eeewww..." Aelita makes a face, as a black wisp floats out of her shadow and disappears into my own.
"Aelita, wha...what now?" I ask, as she assumes her human form once more. Both eyes blink. "Jeremie...I...I don't know."
The thing that closes and opens is suddenly flung open. Zombie Odd starts toward us. "No! Back off!" I yell, cupping my hand and dipping it in the water. Aelita cowers behind me, scared. "Jeremie, be careful."
Odd grows closer and I fling the water at his eyes. "GAAAHHH!!! IT STINGS!!" he screams, both in his own and Ulrich's voice. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Owwwwww!" "It works!" I smile at Aelita. "See? See? I told you!" Xana yells at me, triumphant.
"Odd, I need to speak with Ulrich, can you switch with him?" Odd's face goes blank for a few seconds. "This is Ulrich, Jeremie what is it?"
"Ulrich, do you know where your other self is?" Aelita nods. "You may have a link with him, may be able to tap into his thoughts." "O-ok...I'll try." Odd sinks to the floor, eyes closed, a large frown of concentration on his face.
Aelita is quietly crying as I think one depressing thought:
Why does everything want me dead?
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End of chapter 11
Preview of chapter twelve:
It hurt, but the pain was more distant now...and something white had left my chest.
Xana was screaming at me, but it was distant.
And then reality SMACKED ME LIKE A BRICK WALL!