At Roarville Zoo. 8 A.M.

  The snow fell gently in the hands of a woman who stood in front of a tiger. She wore a stunning navy blue jacket over a crisp white blouse, paired with dark-washed jeans and sleek heels.

  An assistant of the zoo walks towards her.

  “Thank you, Miss Emilie, for volunteering.”

  Emilie looked in her direction as she let out a gentle smile.

  “It's my pleasure to care for the animals. You don't need to thank me.”

  The assistant walked away. Emilie stood alone in the middle of the zoo. She walked towards a tiger’s cage, resting her back against it as she pulled out her phone.

  “What is he thinking…?”

  She calls Elsa, Elsa immediately picks it up.

  “Did you meet Dad?”

  “No.”

  The tiger behind Emilei slowly made his approach. What he saw in front of him was a gentle prey ready to be eaten. One of her legs entered the cage as the tiger twitched. He became furious.

  “They found Andrew, and because of your bullshit, they connected it to me.”

  “It's not my fault… how was I supposed to rest thinking my brother would die?”

  The tiger raised its arm, ready to slice her leg.

  “GWAHHH”

  Suddenly, the tiger's hand started to bleed viciously, and the tiger let out a cry. Emilie looked behind. Gazing the tiger straight in his eyes.

  “Big cats stays quiet.” Her voice, laced with anger.

  The tiger jumped back, terrified. Or maybe instinctively. He realised what was in front of him wasn't prey. It was a predator.

  “Ok, Elsa, because apparently your choices are being prioritised for some time… I will give you a pass. But if I hear anything that makes my life hard. I am not doing it.”

  “But you agree to his requests.”

  “Don't take him in this equation. Even if I don't agree with him, he somehow handles it anyway.”

  “Ok…”

  Elsa hung up the call. Emilie gazed towards the sky as she sighed.

  She looked back towards the tiger, bleeding, holding his hand. Crying.

  She knelt down as she raised her arm towards him. Patting his head.

  “I am sorry.”

  She smiled gently. Tiger stood up, limping towards her, as he started to lick her cheeks.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Now you are a good cat.”

  Meanwhile, at Maple Ridge Elementary.

  ***

  Ken’s POV:

  I stood in front of the office. My body is trembling. My hands are shaking. Sweat glistening on my forehead.

  I lost my balance as Ben grabbed me from behind.

  “What happened?”

  “Andrew…”

  My voice began to crack.

  “His… body stood up.”

  “...”

  The silence is dreadful. Did I hear it wrong… no, I didn't. I couldn't possibly.

  “Greg… told me… his body began to move… his dead body began to move…”

  Ben picked me up.

  “Let’s go”

  I can see his body shaking. He is terrified, too. This doesn't make any sense… how is a dead body moving… and why him?

  He took me to the car, and I rested in the back seat. I am still trembling. My hands are still shaking.

  It’s terrifying that a dead body moved… but the more terrifying part is…

  Andrew didn't get a chance to rest, even after death.

  My eyes began to water as I looked at Ben, his hands shaking. He gripped the steering wheel, taking a deep breath. Is he trying to remain strong? For me?

  Suddenly, I heard a call. ‘Sophia’.

  “Hey, did you guys meet Emilie?”

  My breath hitched. “No…”

  “Is… something wrong?”

  She realised it… she realised my voice cracking, my breath shaking. She knows something is wrong. I can't lie.

  “Andrew… his body stood up”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “His dead body… started moving… Greg told me…”

  Tears streamed down my face. As I wiped them off.

  I heard Sophia's voice, she isn't terrified. She was… calm.

  “Ken, calm yourself.”

  Calm? What??

  “How can I remain calm…?”

  “Because you have to… I know it's not easy, I know that you know it better than anyone. The desire to be free, the desire to not suffer anymore. I know that. But—”

  I screamed.“ BUT WHAT SOPHIA? YOU WEREN’T THERE BUT I LOOKED AT HIM”

  I sniffled. I… am not angry… It’s more like, I feel guilty.

  “You know… when I went to see him. He begged me… he begged me to save him. But I was… so powerless to do that… For some reason, I was angry instead… even though I treated my own daughter so harshly, but the moment I saw her killer, I thought I would avenge her… I don't deserve to avenge her… I am fucking pitiful human being who doesn't even desvee to fucking live—”

  “SHUT UP”

  Sophia screamed. I never heard her voice filled with rage, especially towards me.

  She sniffled as she said gently.

  “I know your pain, I know it… You don't need to repeat it again and again and make yourself guilty. Remember, Andrew trusted you. Even though he was tortured for 5 years. He still trusted that someone could save him. You can't break down now. You need to fulfil his trust.”

  I felt a shiver run down my spine… My eyes widened as she continued.

  “Ken, you have to do it. You need to repay his trust. I know you can do it. I know it because I love you.”

  I let out a soft chuckle.

  What was I thinking? Guilt? Shock? Despair?

  Those emotions mean nothing. What I need to do… is repay a debt.

  I need to trust in myself.

  “Thanks, Sophia. I really needed it.”

  “Now go, do what you can.”

  I hung up the call. Her words weren't meant to baby me. It's been so long since I trusted in myself that I forgot this feeling.

  It feels so good…

  I gazed towards Ben, “Sorry for breaking down earlier.”

  Ben snickered, “No problem.”

  Even he trusts me… I will figure it out, and even if I don't. I won't let Andrew suffer anymore.

  I reached the hospital, it’s morning, so it's a bit quiet. But right now it feels much quieter.

  I felt that strange feeling, the same feeling when I came to meet Andrew for the first time. But… this is different.

  That feeling was like an eerie dread that was unravelling my organs from inside.

  This feeling is like something is squashing me from the outside.

  We ran upwards from the stairs. We need to get to room 208. Andrew is there…

  As I reached the second floor. A loud grunting noise erupted throughout the floor.

  Ben and I ran towards the grunting noises that came from room 208.

  The feeling I felt outside just keeps increasing. Is it possession again? It doesn't feel the same as Jack.

  My heart is racing. I don't know what I will do… but I have to do something. I opened the door.

  My face instantly horrified. Ben stood frozen beside me. As we looked at Greg pushing Andrew down, grunting. His arm bled, filled with bite marks. Andrew is trying to escape his grasp. His mouth open, filled with blood like a vicious beast trying to be free.

  His eyes are hollow, They are not even dark. I can't even see anything in them.

  Ben and I rushed in, grabbing Andrew down on the ground, his limbs flailing, trying to escape us.

  “What the fuck is this strength? It's like I am fighting a bear,” Ben said gruntingly.

  He is right, it's not ordinary strength. Maybe it's because of the supernatural.

  I looked at his face as I saw a tiny drop of tear. My eyes widened.

  “Is he… fighting it too?”

  Greg held his bleeding arm. It must be paining a lot, but we don't have time to check up on that.

  “I am calling the police”, he ran towards his phone.

  “NO DON’T”

  I grunted, trying to keep Andrew stable.

  “If you call the police… then the public will know and the chaos won't be safe.”

  “What is your plan then? I don't even know why I called you either way. I was planning to call the police, but for some reason, I ended up calling you, and then Andrew broke my phone.”

  What? How? Is it because I was first in his call log?

  Greg screams “Ahh… this bite, this motherfucker bit me so hard…”

  I gazed towards his hand, blood streaming down. It’s… familiar.

  WAIT!!

  ***

  Ken looked at Ben, holding down Andrew.

  “Just hold him down alone for a few seconds”

  “I can't, he is too strong”

  Ken gazes at Greg.

  “Greg, do it’

  Ken’s eyes locked onto Greg with a fierce intensity.

  Greg stepped forward as he thought.

  “What is he doing? He looks… scary.”

  Greg gulped as he held down Andrew using his entire body weight.

  “I can't promise that I can do it for long”

  Ken steps back as he places a hand over Andrew’s chest.

  “You don't need to hold him for long… I think I know what to do”

  Ken sighs, as he gazes towards Ben.

  “If something wrong happens. You are in charge.”

  Ben’s eyes snapped. A sense of unease washed over him.

  “Wait, what?”

  Ken gazes at Andrew as a smile enveloped his face.

  “Andrew, Wake up”