Okaeri: Part 31: Interview with the ex-zombie

Part 31, written by Choco Soong
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Himitsu seeks the truth.
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‘Moriko-san.’ Himitsu greeted.
‘Hello. You must be the witch Yuri has been speaking so highly about.’
‘I wasn’t!’ Yuri exclaimed. Himitsu pursed her lips.
‘Moriko-san, if you don’t mind, I would like to ask you a few questions.’

Moriko nodded.
‘Fire away, Himitsu.’
‘What were those bloody signs in the houses? The “Help Me” writings on photos?’

A small frown appeared on Moriko’s face.
‘Yuke made the transformation painful. I wrote the one on Yuri’s poster. Sorry, Yuri.’ She smiled at Yuri. Yuri shook his head forgivingly. ‘And for the portrait, I saw your father do it. He had experienced the worst, for Yuke had a grudge upon him.’
‘I can tell.’ Yuri grumbled.
‘When did the transformation happen?’ Himitsu asked.
‘A day before Yuri came back from camp. Our appearances were yet to change. Our insides had already changed, but Yuke scheduled our appearance to change the night Yuri came back.’
‘If it hurt when you changed, why didn’t I hear any screams?’ Yuri asked.

Moriko sighed.
‘Before Yuke changed us fully, he had muted our vocal chords. Only after you woke up, he “re-installed” our voices.
‘We were fully aware of what was happening and what we were doing. It was part of Yuke’s plan. To make us feel pain, and to make us destroy you.’

Yuri looked at the ground, biting his lip.
‘I was chosen to be the “stronger zombie”, as I was closer to you than the others. Yuki was also chosen because she was the one you cared most about.’
‘So you were given the power of shape-shifting, like in the city.’ Himitsu said slowly.
‘Believe me. I didn’t want to do it! We were Yuke’s puppets, and he was pulling the strings. Yuki was easier to manipulate, because she was just a child with no self-defense. I tried to fight back, but it was worthless.’
‘We don’t blame you, Moriko-san.’ Himitsu said comfortingly as Moriko started crying. Himitsu patter her arm. ‘Yuke’s dead now. You’re free.’
‘I didn’t mean to… I really didn’t.’ Moriko sobbed. Yuri wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her slightly.
‘I don’t blame you.’ Yuri whispered.

They looked at Yuki, who was trying to catch a grasshopper.
‘Ignorance is bliss.’ Himitsu muttered. Yuri and Moriko laughed a bit.
‘Why did the zombies turn back into humans after Yuke died?’ Yuri asked.

Himitsu looked at him thoughtfully.
‘Puppets can’t move without their puppeteer. He died, and all his powers faded and the zombies broke out from their fleshy “skins”.’ Himitsu said slowly.

Yuri nodded. Yuki, tired of the grasshopper, crawled over to Yuri. Yuri carried her in his arms, and Yuki fell asleep.
‘So, holocaust is tiring after all.’ Yuri joked, but Moriko didn’t find it funny.

Yuri put Yuki into Moriko’s arms.
‘Excuse us, Moriko-san.’ Yuri smiled as he grabbed Himitsu’s hand and led her away.
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Written by Choco Soong
www.goddofthenewworld.blogspot.com
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Okaeri is a fantasy written by two students.
Okaeri rightfully belongs to K and Choco
No copying or distributing to public without written permission from owners listed above