Revolution: The New World

The Next Day

February 14, 2068

1600 CST

Brian Farrington's Mansion, Central Olympia

Inside the Main Kitchen

Teresa Young's Point of View

“Heh. Checkmate, Kiko,” I say.

“You’ve beaten me yet again, Teresa,” she admits with a look of confusion as she looks at the board.

You are such a better person than my stupid and disloyal cousin, Kiko.

“Poker and Chess are my favorite games in the entire world!” I say.

“I know Teresa,” she chuckles with a yawn as she rubs her frizzy hair. “You tell me all the time.” she leans back, stretching.

“Kiko buddy, you’re my best friend in the entire world! Together, we can do anything!”

“Hah. Are you ok, Teresa? It’s not like you to blurt things out like that,” she questions as she adjusts her bar stool.

“Kiko, do you think I’m annoying?”

Why did I ask that?

“No, Teresa. I don’t think you’re annoying. Are you asking me this because of your big fight with Julie?”

“She’s such a gigantic jerk! I hate her and her ugly doo-doo headface! I never wanna see her again! I wish she was dead!”

Damn! She smacked me from across the table?!

“Ow! What the H, Kiko?”

“Teresa, you need to take a chill pill. She’s your cousin! She’s your blood! You only get one family, so you shouldn’t take them for granted!”

“She betrayed me, for an idiot and not at all suave boy! It’s my fault though for living in fantasy worlds instead of real life. I’m so stupid for believing that someone would ever date someone as short and mean as me. Maybe I’m destined to be alone forever until my body withers away, and a loved one has to put me down to prevent resurrection. And maybe that loved one will be that stupid former best friend. That’d be poetic justice. Or maybe I turn before anyone can prevent my death, and then I’ll have to die twice. Maybe I’ll remember the second death, maybe I won’t. Nobody knows, but either way, I’ll die, and my corpse will become food for maggots. I’ll just be bones, and eventually, I’ll wither away into dust…”

“Holy shit, Teresa. I think you’re exaggerating,” she accuses in surprise.

“It’s true, though! Everyone dies once or twice, but no matter what we do, death is unavoidable!”

“I don’t think this is about Julie” she realizes with a look of concern.

“I don’t want to be alone, Kiko, but I also don’t want to be bothered by anyone! What’s wrong with me?! I-I love my aunt and uncle, but I don’t think it’s the same as loving my parents!”

“Teresa, you’re not alone. I know how you feel,” she comforts sadly. “My mom died a long time ago too, and my dad is rarely around, so I just sit in this mansion and think about the undead all day. I know it’s weird right, but I just can’t help but wonder about them,” she says in a slightly cheerful tone. “I think to myself, who or what made them? Where did they come from? Why did they show up? Why is everyone infected? What causes a mutation? Why can they only be killed with the destruction of their brain? How did humanity lose against them eighteen years ago?” She ponders curiously.

Kiko, you’re so pretty when you think like this. The way your eyes sparkle when you ramble is mesmerizing. You will never betray me, and your status and personality make me feel oh so secure. Huh? Damn it, brain! What’s going on with me?

“…and the more I learn, the more questions I have,” she continues to digress into space. “The Eight Kingdoms! What’s the world like? What are the other kingdoms like? Maybe, just maybe, there’s someone in another kingdom who’s immune to the infection. And it’s bizarre that the only kingdom we have any real information on is Scorpius, but then I wonder…”

The world is indeed one big mystery, Kiko.

“What if one day, The Eight Kingdoms decided to trust each other long enough to eliminate the zombie threat? It’s a silly fantasy, but I can’t help but wonder what the other kids are like in the other kingdoms. It’s like how people back then would wonder if there was intelligent life outside of Earth,” Kiko continues to brainstorm.

“Heh, you have a good point. For all we know, the other kingdoms could be filled with aliens.”

“Hah. It’s somewhat rude to compare them to extraterrestrials, but it helps with my point,” she answers with a crazed look. “What if there are super smart people that reside in the other kingdoms? Like astronauts or scientists?! What if all these super-smart people combined their big ass brains to defeat the zombie threat or do the impossible and create a cure?! It’s another silly fantasy, but I can’t help but wonder.”

A cure? No, it wouldn’t work.

“Remember the stories our teacher told us about the Halos?” She quickly asks in excitement. “The mysterious zombie-killing superweapons that someone or something distributed throughout the world eighteen years ago. I think they were created to combat the zombie threat, but who would do such a thing, and why? And since people are often dense, the Halos only turned The New World into the Wild West, further increasing the chaos. There’s so much I must learn about The New World, but my obsession with thanatology comes first,” she suddenly explains as she leans over the table, getting closer and closer to my face.

“If we become apprentices, then we won’t even have to worry about em’.”

“Yes! But that’s the thing! Don’t you see?!” Kiko continues in her crazed tone. “All I do is worry about the zombies! It’s my passion! I know how crazy and dangerous and stupid it sounds, but I just want to learn everything about them!”

You’re crazy, girl!

“Um, everyone has obsessions, but you have a death wish,” I say.

There are safer options and I don’t want you to get hurt, Kiko.

“Hah. You’re one to talk,” she laughs as she finally backs off. “I bet you’d gamble with the devil if you had the chance.”

Heh, you know me so well.

“You are absolutely correct, Kiko, and I would kick the devil’s ass and claim my throne as the she-devil of hell!”

“Hmm, speaking of she-devils. What do you think about you-know-who?” She asks as she quickly paces back and forth near the table.

Ugh! Her.

“Veronica Shinka?” I ask.

“Yes, Teresa! The controversial Veronica Shinka!” She reverts to her crazy tone and eyes.

“Who cares about her? I don’t know her, and I don’t want to know her. All I want to do is eat candy, gamble, and read. Wasn’t she exiled a long time ago anyway?”

“Yeah, but supposedly nobody knows why though, which is total B-S,” she answers in frustration as she continues to pace and rub her frizzy hair.

“She probably did some bad shit.”

“Yeah, she probably did do some bad shit.”

“Kiko, I know that I was the one who was being a big baby, but I can see that you’re hiding something from me. Friends don’t do that, especially best friends.”

“Did you know that Olympus had a research division?” She asks in a sudden ominous tone.

Something isn’t right…

“Yes, I did. Kiko, you better not be saying what I think you’re saying.”

“Veronica Shinka was in charge of the research division, and their job was to gain intelligence on the zombies,” she says what I think she’s saying. “The Styx River, Hades, and the Thunderbolts must’ve been their idea! No random pack of fools could come up with such a brilliant design, so they’re the prime suspects! I’m starving! May I have a candy bar?” She rambles aloud in excitement.

“Sure, sure. Continue,” I say as I toss her a candy bar.

“What happened to the research division, and why did Veronica Shinka get exiled?!” She excitedly ponders as she chews with her mouth open. “Think about it! If Veronica oversaw the research division, then that must mean she had help. She had to have apprentices, but then…what happened to them? Did they just disappear along with her? It doesn’t make sense! It’s so confusing and infuriating, but at the same time, it’s so addicting and fascinating to theorize about! The research division disbanded with her exile, which is ridiculous! Our leaders, minus my dad, of course, are STUPID doo-doo heads! Nobody was brave or smart enough to step up and continue the research. Some say Veronica Shinka is evil reincarnated, but others say she’s Olympus’s savior. Hah. I’m rambling again, aren’t I?” She says as she sits down on the stool to my left.

Oh. I wanted you to keep talking, though…

“Heh. It’s ok,” I say.

“Teresa, my curiosity helps me forget how lonely I am inside this big ass mansion,” she reveals sadly but with a soft smile.

Gulp. T-time to roll the dice.

“Yeah, I know how you feel,” I say as I slowly move my hand closer to hers.

Come on, Teresa! Just put her hand in your palm.

“Kiko, are you familiar with the saying, Misery ummm, enjoys company?” I ask.

Yes! Our hands are touching! I love this feeling! This warm exhilaration that’s running through my heart right now! I-is this my obsession?! I don’t know what’s happening to me! I can’t stop! I don’t want to stop! I’m so happy!!!

“I’m familiar with the saying, Teresa,” she says with a warm smile. “Misery does enjoy company! But!”

But? But what? Oh no, why’d you pull away?! Stop… stop making eye contact with me!

“I have a role to fulfill,” she reveals as she goes back to pacing back and forth. “Uncovering the mystery and the origins of everything is my current purpose, but I also enjoy spending time with you, because you’re my best friend in the entire world, so hear me out,” she says with a nervous look on her face “Veronica Shinka…”

What about her? Forget her! Damn it, Kiko.

“I’m, I’m listening,” I say.

“If the stories are true, and that’s a big if, then she’d be able to survive anything The New World throws at her,” she says in a calm tone, a look of determination on her face. “She’s someone who can persevere on her wits alone, and she’d be able to conquer people and zombies alike! She’s not someone who would take unnecessary risks, but the more intelligent and valuable of a person you are, the more trouble you’ll attract. I know that because that’s how life worked in The Old World. An influential person could use their talents to bring positive energy to the world, but the opposite is possible as well. Some people saw these beings as role models and inspirations, but others saw them as hindrances, which led to envy and jealousy, which led to pain and sorrow.”

Weird. For the first time in my eleven years of life, I can’t read someone, but why? Is it because I don’t know what I’m thinking? What am I thinking? I don’t know what I’m doing or why I’m doing it.

“… I don’t think Veronica Shinka is a bad person,” Kiko continues aloud. “I think she’s an extremely dangerous person, but I also believe that she had her reasons. My dad… has to do similar things sometimes, not because he’s bad, but because life is forcing him to be bad. Human beings were the world’s biggest danger and now, it seems like we’re getting a taste of our own medicine. It’s the end of the world, and we’re still murdering each other, so a part of me thinks that we deserve to go extinct. Mankind does more harm than good, but mankind also contains a plethora of good people. I think I believe that people like my dad and Veronica are good people who’ve been driven to do bad things. I used to think that my dad was immortal, but then I realized that the only way that could ever happen was if he got bit. Oh, I said that so nonchalantly. Maybe something is wrong with my head. I mean, I wake up every morning half-expecting Commander Zhi to deliver the news of his death to me. Ahem,” she quickly explains, eyes tearing up. “Sorry, I went off-topic. I think it’s umm…”

“Adolescence?”

“Hah. Yeah, adolescence. Let’s blame adolescence,” she laughs sadly.

I completely understand.

“Teresa, I love my dad with all my heart, and I don’t want him to be deathless,” she declares in new determination as she finally stands still. “I want to create a cure that will protect my dad forever and ever, and it will also help humanity end The Age of Zombies in the process, bring order to The New World, and establish world peace! Veronica Shinka is a survivor just like my dad, which is why I believe that she’ll return home one day! And once she’s home, I’m certain that she’ll reform the research division so humanity can learn more about the zombies! And I’ll be the first one ready and waiting for her! I’ll impress her with my plethora of intelligence and high status! She’ll be so impressed that she’ll have no choice but to accept me as an apprentice! Then I’ll devote my life, sacrifice it if needed, so the research division can create a cure or something that’ll help humanity defeat the zombies!” She explains with a mixture of awe, determination, uncertainty, and excitement on her face.

Kiko…

“And after I help her with her research and save the world, she’ll walk towards me, kneel to my level, give me a hug, look me in the eye, smile, and say, I’m proud of you. Then my passion will end,” she says in relief as she holds my hands. “My journey will be complete, and I’ll begin to fantasize about something new, until I obsess about it, and turn it into a reality again. The cycle will go on and on until I inevitably croak, and I would be ok with it because it makes me happy. Most importantly someone will be proud of me, and I’ll feel a little less alone. I know this is just another fantasy, but fantasizing is fun and exciting. Isn’t that why you read your books? I also daydream about meeting my mom, but that is one fantasy that will never come true. The undead look like people, but they’re far from human. Their only purpose is to kill and consume, and I don’t know why, but maybe this is how God is punishing humanity for its sins,” she says in a somber tone. “Teresa, I want you to join me. It’s…like you said, we can become apprentices in any field, so we don’t even have to worry about the zombies, but what if we deliberately went toward the danger?!” She proposes.

You’re insane! Let go of my hands!

“Kiko, the point of becoming an apprentice is to avoid the zombies!” I say as I pull my hands away from hers.

No, why did I do that?

“Listen, Teresa, I know it’s an insane thought, but you’re my best friend in the entire world, remember? I’ll always be there for you, no matter what! Plus, we’ll have to pick a field to study for the test eventually, so let’s pick the perfect field for big-brained people like us! We’re some of the smartest people in the entire kingdom. When Veronica returns, she’ll be looking for people like us! You’re way smarter than me, so you’d easily be able to do it! We have to be there for her! Please, Teresa!” Kiko begs.

Huh? W-why am I running away? Why am I crying?! No! Go back, stupid!

“I’m sorry, Kiko. I’m selfish, and I’m a coward. That’s why I can’t stand to see you do something as dangerous as study the zombies, let alone join you! I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Teresa, wait!”

So unfair! There were no rules, no time for preparation, and no strategy for this ultimatum! My life is just a big, humongous, comedic tragedy! I’m little, ugly, mean, selfish, a coward, and insecure but most importantly… I’m so stupid! I’m simply one humongous, stupid DOO-DOO head! And that’s all I’ll ever be because I’m too scared to face my fears. Heh. Life is oh, so awful.