Everyone's attention was caught by the abrupt stop of the music, followed by a total darkness, and a sudden beam of light, lit on the upper floor, where the commander stood. Just a floor higher than the one we were.
All eyes had no option but stare at him, for there was nothing else to stare at, we barely could see ourselves.
"I want to welcome you to my home, I hope that you will all find solitude and excitement here! Having said that, I want to call on some amongst us who deserves to be honoured.", He said as some faces lit up.
"Sub commander ping!", He called and the sword wielding commander stepped out of the crowd and walked up the stairs, as his face slowly became visible under the shining light, everyone could now see and applaud him as he walked up majestically. "Your heroic act of protecting the settlers did not go unnoticed! All the settlers you rescued from the hands of the zombies have gathered up to say thank you", the commander said smiling at commander ping as the people cheered.
"Sub commander Kate!", He called, and a slim female figure walked up the stairs as well and the crowd continued applauding and cheering, "yes commander", she replied, "your works and troops were wonderful on the battle field, treating and taking out the injured! Simply marvelous!", He commended and turned to Helen who stood behind him.
"Sub commander Helen!", He called and Helen's face immediately lit up as she stepped forward, "My daughter indeed! A true blood, not only was she fast at moving, she was also fast at thinking. She took out the eyes of the monster, making him to kill his own, what a beautiful and clever young woman!", He said as Helen blushed up the glory.
"And finally...", He said and paused as everyone turned to me, I looked around surprised to see the number eyes staring at me, "Derick!", The commander called.
Some began to applaud as I stood still looking up to the commander smiling at me, "go up!", Some yelled and some even went as far as pushing me forward.
I walked up reluctantly as the commander continued smiling at me, "I really never expected such from him. A moment ago we planned to kick him out and now he is crowned a hero. After my daughter had taken out the monsters eyes, he single handedly took it out in a fashion I have never seen before in all my years of fighting. It was clear he understood the physics behind the chains, and as a reward, we are going to give him the monsters chain", he said as two boys came up the podium with the zombie's chain.
"You can have this, either as a weapon, or just for keep sake, to remember what you have done, and so that all who sees you would know what you have done for us", he said as the crowd cheered on.
"Please!", I said aloud waving my hand to stop their cheers. The crowd slowly stopped cheering, "I don't deserve this", I said to them. "Stop trying to be modest!", "humble warrior", some settlers said aloud.
"None of the above mentioned really did as much as the one who really deserves acknowledgement", I said and the people began to murmur and some even booed, "But sadly the person wasn't called among the heroes, because she did it for good not to be rewarded", I said as the crowd remained quiet.
"Xender!", I called but there was no response, "young Derick, please don't tarnish the good image you already have!", He said as he stepped forward. " Didn't you see what she did?", He asked as the crowd stared at him seemingly waiting to hear what she did.
"If not for my fast healing, I probably would not be able to stand before you all, Xender my own daughter, shot me amidst the war! How? My own daughter, trying to kill me!", She said as the crowd whaled.
"She did no such thing! Yes she shot at you, but her intents weren't to kill, but to save your life. That and many more, she did for you and us all!", I added still defending her.
"Did Xender save anyone this time?", he asked the crowd and there was no reply, "can you see?", he asked, "how are they supposed to see her when she's operating secretly! I am tired of this, you guys are just!", I said and stepped down.
They began to murmur and call me names, "lover boy!", "defender!", they called, but I ignored and walked away.
I stood outside the main chambers, just staring and over hearing the commander talking about the winner of the hunting competition he earlier announced.
"Hey!", I heard someone call and turned back to see, it was Xender, "Xender!", I called exhaling heavily, "where have you been?", I asked, "amongst my fathers guest like everyone else, my dad is still mad at me for the arrow thing", she replied, "oh! so you heard what I....", I said shyly, "yeah", she replied and there came an awkward silence.
"I am really sorry about what I said back there!", I broke the silence with an apology, "it's okay, you were grieving, I understand!", she replied.
I stopped and looked at her, "if you knew and understood, why then have you been avoiding me, all these while?", I asked, "I just felt you needed some space", she replied. "So have you had any drinks?", she asked, "not really", I replied, "there are some new bash of none alcoholic wine, my dad isn't releasing that to the public but I could go sneak us some", she offered, "sure! Let's go", I replied.
"You can't come", she said putting a hand on my chest to stop me from walking forward, "wait for me, if possible stay in, i'll find you!", she replied.
"Okay!", I said as we both went in, and she left and I walked around waiting, "Derick!", I heard someone call as I wondered around amongst the dancing and drunk settlers.
It was Helen, "hey", I replied, "let's go!", she said as she pulled me, "where are we going?", I asked as she continued pulling, "you forgot about what we discussed?", she asked as we secretly went up the stairs.
The light was now evenly distributed and majority of the settlers were drunk or over fed, in other words, they were occupied.
We got up and I was snuck into her room, "I have two gallons filled with the new batch of sweet wine my father requested for", she said, "Xender!", I exclaimed, remembering that Xender asked me to wait for her for this purpose.
"What's up with her?", Helen asked, "she asked me to wait for her", I replied, "but we talked about this!", Helen replied provoked, "but Xender is going to be looking for me", I replied.
"Okay, at least have 2 glasses of this before going, but you have to promise to come back", she said turning a colourless drink in a glass cup, "here", she said handing it to me. I looked at her reluctant to take it, "you refused to stay just as we agreed, the least you can do is accept this", she said with a frown.
I tightened my fist and with a whatever attitude I quickly took it and drank it all, it had a different smell and taste from the wine. "How is it?", she asked, "it's okay", I said about to work out, "not so fast lover boy! Here!", she said offering another, "I said 2!", she replied.
Without a second thought I took down the second immediately, "you can leave now", she said and walked to sit on her bed. I quickly rushed to her door, and suddenly! Everything began to spin around, and I fell to the ground in an attempt to take another step.
"Derick!", she called panicking as she rushed to where I was, "are you okay?", she asked as I watched everything spinning before me.
"Help me, let's get you on the bed", she said as she struggled to lift me up. She put me on the bed and I laid there closing my eyes, tired of seeing things spin around me.
"What have you done?", I asked, "me?", she replied seemingly angered, " I am trying to help you have fun and enjoy the short life we have, and you here questioning me like I drugged you or something", she replied. "How was I supposed know you can't handle two glasses of alcohol! I honestly thought you would be stronger than that", she replied.
I struggled to stand up again and fell back to the bed, "stop fighting it, you will get yourself injured!", she said, "just relax", she said putting a hand on my arm.
"You are warm", she said and placed her hand on my neck, "jeez! You are burning up!", she said and took my shirt off.
Things spined before me, but I could see her pause to stare at me, "have I ever told you that I love how you look shirtless", she replied as I continued struggling with my vision.
"Let me help you bathe, to bring down the temperature", she said, "no!", I exclaimed, "why not?", she asked. I said nothing and rolled off the bed and fell on the floor, "you are going to get yourself injured!", she yelled as she walked to where I was, this time she pulled down my pants.
"If you are scared of bathing, I could join you!", she said and she too took off her clothes. "Now we are both naked!", she said as she picked me up, "you are have so much weight!", she said as she struggled to keep me up.
"Woah!", we exclaimed as we fell to the ground, "ouh! Ouh!", she exclaimed from underneath me seemingly in pain, "sorry", I said as I tried to get off her, putting both my hands on the floor and trying to get up, "I love this!", she said smiling. "Love what?", I asked still struggling with my vision.
"You on me", she said and we heard a knock on the door, "who is it?", she asked, "it's Xender! Have you seen Derick?", Xender asked. "Xender!", I called trying harder to get up, and fell again, back on Helen. "What's going on?", Xender asked and opened the door.
to be continued......
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