When Mir didn't go to work on Monday, I began to worry. Mir was one of those people that rarely missed a day of anything, Work or otherwise. Even when she does, she would always call or text me beforehand. The last time she didn't, was when she suffered her car crash.
As I left work, one of the other workers in the forensic lab came up to me with a lunch box. "Could you take this to Mirlande? She left it here Friday." She worriedly asks. I looked down at the heavy lunch box as I took it. Mir had forgotten to eat, again! I nodded before heading out. There was a whisper in my ear telling me to open it. To see what is in it. To see if Mir really was a creature, but I didn't. I shouldn't snoop around. If she wasn't human, then it was up to her to tell me. I could always give her a hint that I was like her. I smiled as I got out the extra key that Mir gave me, not wanting to wake her if she was sleeping. This isn't the first time that I had to take food to a sick Mir because she forgot it, but she hadn't gone this long without food, and it made me worried.
I closed the door with my foot and put the lunch box onto the dining table. I checked Miko's food. Miko is Mir's rescue cat that she got from a reservation she lived on for a year and a half. Her dad was hired for three years as a medicine man for one of the reservations, Pinion, I think. It was some of the only things I know about her family. Her mom was still in Haiti, and her eight other siblings were scattered all over the world. The only reason I know what they look like was the endless family photos Mir had shown me over the years.
A growl startled me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Mir, but she didn't look like she normally did. Her eyes were duller than usual, if that was even possible, her hair was all over the place, she looked tired, and hangry. Her nails seemed longer as well and I was suddenly glad that I wasn't human. "Hey Mir, I just bought you dinner," I pointed to the table as I moved out of her way. That was a mistake, as she lunged for me. I put up my arms to block her attack, and I had to bite my tongue so I didn't scream in pure agony as her nails dug into me. She had grabbed my arms with inhuman strength, yet I could tell she was holding back.
She let go of me, stumbling back as if she was fighting herself. That's when I realized she recognized me. She didn't want to hurt me, but she was starving. I walked backwards slowly, yet she noticed. Her eyes whipped up to look at mine, fear and sorrow in those dull green eyes.
I show no fear as, "It's ok Mir, I am just getting you food. You're hangry. Once you eat we can talk." My back hits the table, but I stay calm. I turn slightly, always keeping an eye on Mir. She starts to quiver more as she watches me work. I get the lunch box and turn back to face her completely. I walk to her slowly, but she backs up. I could tell it is taking everything in her to stay away from me. I let out a tired breath, "It is ok Mir, I know you can't hurt me." I take another step forward. She backs up again, this time into the wall. She looks like a trapped and scared tiger cub, who didn't want to attack the zoo caretaker. It hurt my heart to see my fierce, powerful, and protective friend like this. Mir, who always has so much life and happiness in her now looks like she is dying inside, and I guess she is.
I open the lunch box and hold it out for her. Not even caring that there were small rat brains inside. Not caring that it stunk like hell. Not even caring that she scratched me again as she grabbed it from me. I watch with a small smile as she devours the food. While she is distracted, I check my arms. To my relief all the scratches are gone...Alex had said that the only beings a zombi could turn were humans, goblins, and witches. Did that mean I was some sort of rare demon? I should ask Alex if I ever see him again.
"Lily...,"Mir's voice is rough, as if she hadn't used it in a long time. I turn my attention back to her. Life seems to have returned to her. "What? Why...?" I wasn't sure what she is asking, but I have a couple guesses.
"Why am I still here, Why did I not try to run, Why did I feed you, Why am I not freaking out right now?" She nodded wordlessly. "Honestly, if this had happened even a month ago, I would be freaking out right now. Even then I would have been more excited than anything. While I still have no idea what I am, I know I am a supernatural being." I walked over and sat down next to her. "I fed you because you were hungry, I can't die so why would I be scared of you." I shrug.
"But...i...I scratch you..." She seems to be in disbelief. "You should be hungry, insane, deadly, trying to eat everything alive, zombie right now..."
"That just means I am not human, Goblin, or a witch. Though I had already crossed out the first two. As far as I can tell, I am some sort of light demon. Anyways we're friends, friends stick together."
She leans against me slightly as she relaxes. "I guess that you know what SNI stands for now?" She jokes.
"That's the Mir I know, welcome home. Mind explaining why you didn't eat your cat if you were so hungry?"
"Can't, bats, cats, and wolves brains make us sick. Even worse than alcohol, and that is saying something." She jokes again. I nod with a small smile. "I...I'm a zombi...I was on my deathbed after the car accident. Since I already knew about the supernatural world, I asked to be turned into a creature. I was too close to death to be anything other than a zombi. It was hard the first week, I was so hungry. Nothing helped, not even the rat brains." She pauses at that.
"I was nine when I found out I wasn't human, but I always felt I was different. Don't worry about the brains, I recently met someone that was the supernatural world that explains things to me. Alexander Raymond, the older brother to the girl we met the other day." I explained, with a small grin.
"No way, I know that look!" She yelled. I looked at her confused. "I have seen that look on all my friends when they have a crush on someone!" She sounded more excited than upset.
"Ya, your plan for me to hook up with someone at a party finally worked." I rolled my eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted...I...I should not have recognized you. I was in a hanger craze, it would cause anyone to hurt the people they care about..." I understand what she means. "You said something before... '"It is ok Mir, I know you can't hurt me."' What did you mean by that?" I showed her my arms, and her eyes widened. "I hurt you...I scratch you..."
I smiled at her concern. "I always heal fast," I yawned. "Though, it hurts for about a day after." I couldn't keep my eyes open. "It always makesss me so sleepy."
I felt a hand in my hair, petting my head. "Take a nap, I will wake you up in an hour or so," She whispered softly. She started to hum an old lullaby till I fell asleep. "Wing of light, guide my flight. Halo of hope, I shall float. In this sea, I shall be me. Fly angel fly, into the night sky..."