BRAINS: with a side-order of Flesh.

Chapter 9 - Huh?

“Whhaaaaattt!!??” I looked from Faith to Mathieu to Faith once more. “But he . . . he is a –”

“Zombie. Yes, I know.”

Ms Faeshar and Mercy exchanged a look of concern. “Faith,” Ms Faeshar spoke up. “Did you hit your head while you were out there?”

“She doesn’t need to hit her head to act that crazy,” Delevan snorted. “Probably forgot some important pills, am I right?”

Faith ignored his comment and circled back to Mathieu’s side. “So what, if he is a zombie. He is still accompanying us.”

Mathieu didn’t move but he studied us, as if he was trying to decide which one to gnaw on first. I, being the closest to him – other than Faith – received most of his attention. He looked the same as he had before; same blood covered clothes, same disturbingly green eyes, same height, facial features and composure – even for a zombie. Everything was the same, minus the dribble of blood that was dripping off the right side of his face, which probably had something to do with Delevan’s violent tendencies.

“You all look as if you want to dismember me and tie me up in a corner, covered in gasoline and hold a lighter to my head.”

I didn’t think it was possible to faint standing up, but I’m pretty sure that’s what we all did – with the exception of Faith, of course.

“Did . . . did that z – zombie just talk!?” Hope whimpered from behind Ms Faeshar.

Mathieu just sighed. Faith spoke up for him, “Well, erm . . . yes, I was getting to that.” Faith cleared her throat nervously. “He is a zombie, but for some reason he can, uh, control . . . he has some control over what he does. As you have already witnessed he can, uh, speak, so . . . yeah . . .”

“I was trying to approach you about it earlier.” Mathieu said suddenly, looking directly at me. “But your boyfriend decided to clobber me before I could say anything.”

“Boyfriend?!” Delevan cried. “Where the hell did you get that from!?”

“He just admitted he was trying to communicate with us, before you knocked him down, and the first thing you’re worried about is the fact that he called you Alexis’ boyfriend?” Mercy queried with a raised eyebrow. “Well if that doesn’t spell out ‘Jerk’ then I don’t know what does.”

Delevan started to protest, before Mathieu interrupted us again. “Regardless,” he said loudly clearing his throat, giving me an odd look. “The facts are that I am indeed a zombie, or at least I was bitten by one –”

“Maybe he’s a new kind! That might explain the –” Delevan started.

“And am able to speak normally,” Mathieu continued glaring at Delevan – or at least that’s what it looked like. “And I can also run and move like normal.”

“But when I first saw you, you were shambling. You were really slow!” I pointed out.

Mathieu nodded. “I wasn’t sure if you were human at first, so I was being cautious. Then when I realised you were and I smelt your blood –”

“You could smell her blood? What are you, a vampire/zombie half-breed?” Mercy joked. Delevan snorted at her remark. “We’ve proven that zombies exist, so what’s to say that vampire’s don’t either?” Mathieu was obviously not pleased by their lack of respect for the situation and sighed in disgust and disappointment.

“I could tell she was hurt,” Mathieu rephrased, voice thick with irritation. “So I tried to bend down to help her, but my joints were still stiff and she. . .” Mathieu gave me an apologetic look before continuing. “. . . obviously was a little freaked out by the situation, and, uh, well we all know what happened from there.”