CHAPTER 63: Off to The Scally
FIVE WEEKS LATER;
JANUARY 29,
IN THE YEAR OF OURlord, 2014 . . .
I groaned as I rolled over on my bed. I had been awake for a few hours by now, but my stem was hurting like hell, after, what, five days. I grunted and gritted my teeth as I recalled the attack 120 hours ago that caused my stem to start hurting . . .
It was around midnight when I had decided to go out on a stroll. After all, I've been feeling so restless lately, what with missions and violent run-ins. My soul had longed for a breath of fresh air, and I was going to let it savour this. With a smile, I walked along Queen Street, while the cool wind made whoosh-whoosh noises in my ears. The moon was a full moon; a full, satisfied moon that looked as if it was going to watch over the world like a hawk. Just then, the cry of a wolf began to pierce the air. I almost screamed at that noise ― after all, what the hell would a wolf be doing in Area Code 416? Just then, a battle cry was uttered by some beast, for the cry was loud and clear, as if the creature wanted to wake up all of Toronto. Just then, something wrapped itself around my throat. With a yelp of surprise, I turned around, and saw a zombie glaring at me.
"Variskol Yeminue. Ain't I glad to see you again." I snarled, as a fountain of anger came back to life as I looked at the various scars, and the gnarled, knobbly middle finger that was almost divorced from his smelly, green hand.
"Yes, Antoinette. We meet again. Though I don't know why you're even named after a French queen. After all, the only kingdom you'll rule is the kingdom of crap!" the zombie, named Variskol, taunted as he tightened his grip on my throat.
I began to sputter and cough up blood as I became more and more constricted.
"You . . . damn . . . bastard! Trying to kill my mother . . . trying to kill Peater . . . you were lucky that she squirmed outta it . . . cause if she didn't, you would've been roadkill! I would've knocked that smelly head off your neck, and stuffed it up your hole!" I spat.
Next thing I knew, I felt a knife slowly inching its way across my stem. I kicked Variskol away, and sounded my idea of an alarm: three short whistles, three long, and three short. Plants, recognizing this as "SOS" in Morse code, came pouring out the doors and started shooting at Variskol, who simply disappeared into thin air without another word. I fell to the ground panting, for the loss of blood was disorienting me. I began to submit myself to the darkness of unconsciousness . . .
I groaned once more as I rolled into a position where I wasn't laying on the side of my stem that was caked with dried blood. I then heard Peater creep up to my bed and felt his leaf gently rub the lacerated area on my stem.
"Oh, you poor little snowflake." he murmured.
I didn't wince in pain, for Peater was something of a healer. He knew how to tend to wounds, just the way a Sunflower could.
"Peater . . . remember that one battle where this zombie with supernatural powers stabbed you ten times and I had to take off two days to heal you? That zombie was Variskol, and he tried to kill my mother. But why did Variskol have to come and attack me?" I rasped.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that he'll give you one heck of a hard time." Peater replied.
I slowly sat up, and looked into his green eyes. "It'll be hard . . . but I'll live. Right?"
Peater laughed and gently pulled me into a standing position.
"Definitely. Now go, and see what Eric has for us, is that all right?" I smiled, before I walked out the door and slowly descended the stairs.
"Elyssia! Boy, am I glad to see you!" Elias came bounding out of Eric's office as soon as I had knocked on the door.
"Elyssia, I think you'll like ― no, love this news . . ." Eric mumbled as he tossed me a leaflet. Eric and I started reading the pamphlet as soon as I flipped to the first page, which had pictures of the most imposing-looking building of Regent Park (The Scally, as we plants liked to call it), and the sewage plant at Lakeshore. Turned out that the leaflet was all about how The Scally and the Lakeshore sewage plant were factories that created zombies and other gory things that gave the bases one heck of a hard time. After a few more minutes of reading the booklet, Eric started explaining the purpose of this grand mission.
"Every team of plants that we've sent in there hasn't come back in one piece. So, I've decided to choose you, Peater, and Elias. I mean, you're strong fighters, and as for you, Elyssia . . . you've got a rare type of magic. I'll pour my faith into your leaves. Please . . . come back alive, and not as some demon."
I smiled at those words. "All right, then! It's off to Lakeshore Boulevard for you three." Eric chirped as he tossed us three bags filled with lots and lots of provisions, before shoving us down a chute.
"This'll be easy . . ."
We set off at around noon. Since we couldn't take a train to Lakeshore, Peater, Elias and I had to hoof it. As we trudged along the roads, we thought intently about our mission and what it would bring us. Finally, I decided to break the ice.
"So . . . where would be a safe place to sleep?"
Peater sighed, and tapped my shoulder.
"Look up and wave. We're already at The Scally, and there's a good old . . . house dead across it."
I nodded, and pulled the twosome into the house that was right across it.
"Look, guys. It's already very late, and we need a good sleep if we want to face The Scally and the sewage plant." I hissed.
Minutes later, we found a few cushions on the first floor. With a smile, I bid good night to father and son, before I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.