บท 2: Prologue: The Fallen Kingdom

*In the kingdom of soon to be queen, Princess Alice*

Princess Alice's Kingdom changed and became dull upon the sudden reigning of zombies. She was brave and dauntless to fight against the undead.

"Alice, at your back!" Her sibling, Shaotzie screamed as she saw zombies walking towards their direction. "Rot in hell!" Alice's sword slid into a zombie's heart and blood sparkled out into her face.

"Grrr!" Zombies heard the sounds of her sword, they were hungry and ravenous to eat the beautiful and courageous Princess. "Ruuuuun!" She said in a hoarsely voice.

Shaotzie and Princess Alice run until they got into a trap. Zombies are everywhere, they were uncountable and they can't elude easily. "Stay at my back, Shaotzie!" Princess Alice stretched arms overhead and get ready her sharp and dreadful sword and tail of a venomous fish.

Princess Alice sighed deeply and throw a satirical grin at the undead. By then, she began a one-on-one fight, alone. On the other hand, Shaotzie came to be her 'eye' at the back. "At your left, Alice!" She said in a calm voice.

"Thank you, Shaotzie!" For the nth time, Alice buried the sword into a zombies' head and kicked it out. Drops of blood our everywhere, Alice can't any longer recognize the faces of her people, her servants, the innocents, and the young girl and boy. Her kingdom was totally fallen– but as a princess and soon to be a queen, Alice can't sit back and do nothing. She will search for an antidote and cure, even if it takes her life away.

"My pleasure, my queen." Shaotzie smiled vividly, still watching the zombies attacking them. "How I wish I can use a sword like you, My queen." She added, her smile was shroud by disappointment.

Princess Alice tugs the sword from the Zombies' head and narrowed her eyes at her. "Stay focus! Don't be upset Shaotzie, I'll teach you how to hold the hilt of a sword. Lower down your head!" Shaotzie obeyed what her sister told her, realizing that a zombie is at her back, ready to assail and kill her.

Alice sheathed her sword, thinking that the fight is done. "Shaotzie! Use it!" Alice throws a steel gear and luckily, Shaotzie catches it up. "Stab them to death, Shaotzie!" Princess Alice said, with angry eyes.

Alice was sweating profusely, she didn't even wear a Princess' furnishes made of expensive fabrics. She was wearing a cape with a mixed color of black and lilac. Her arms were protected by a steel bracelet that a zombie can't bite her easily, she was wearing fit trousers and she matched it with high cut boots.

Princess Alice never thought that her kingdom will be fallen because of these undead people. But, at the back of her mind, she's looking ang thinking how to end this horrible and terrifying apocalypse. "Princess Alice, watch out!" Alice was nearly bitten at her thighs, but she thrust deeply and hardly the sharp sword into its head.

Shaotzie, learned how to use the steel gear expertly and skillfully. She was indeed unbelievable, at a young age, she can learn anything effortlessly. Shaotzie was blessed with a caring, beautiful, kind, and good leader of their kingdom, her sister– Princess Alice. Shaotzie can't deny the fact, that her sister was independent and fearless. Alice, since the apocalypse began, is the one who's protecting her from zombies.

Princess Alice killed them all mercilessly, her sword was full of blood and sliced body parts scattered around. She gazed at her kingdom, her home, her castle, and it is all wrecked and ruined! She needs to find the cure, sooner or else Princess Alice can't any longer stop the zombies to reign.

"What a weary fight! Shaotzie, bring that gear with you!" Princess Alice tapped her sister's head and smiled genuinely. "Your wish, is my command, My queen!" Shaotzie replied, giggling, and hugging her sister tightly.

Princess Alice has no idea where to hide and to stay the night. The sun is setting, and soon, darkness will be visible, and zombies are more active than in the morning. "Shaotzie, do you still remember the secret chamber of our late grandfather?" Shaotzie tried to recall the location of the secret chamber.

The late King Xiafe built a secret chamber as a hideout during the war. It was huge and wide inside, and it was built with the use of expensive and valuable stones and boulders. One day, King Xiafe went to the secret chamber not knowing that Shaotzie followed him inside.

"I remembered it!" Shaotzie exclaimed but Alice covered her mouth and told her to lower down her voice. "My sincere apology, Princess Alice!" Shaotzie bowed her down and lifted it up again. "At his own grave, the front entrance of the secret chamber is at Grandfather's grave, Alice!"

Princess Alice shook her head, trying to think a better plan to reach their late grandfather's grave. It's getting darker outside and they have no time to reach it. "We can't let our guard down, perhaps, it is better if we look for a nearby abandoned house or anything that we can stay in." Princess Alice was right. It's too risky and dangerous if they'll push and urge into the secret chamber without a plan.

"We need to walk, quietly as we can. Look behind you, and I'll lead the way, Shaotzie." Princess Alice told her in a low voice.

They must not make any unnecessary noise, because, if they do, zombies will chase them until they got infected. Alice observed the undead people for almost six months, they are more active during the night. Their sense of hearing and smell are more active too, at night. But in the morning, they can be easily distracted and killed.

"Don't move!" Princess Alice whispered. Shaotzie's right foot left hanging on the air, she was going to take a step when a zombie– five feet apart from them, passes by, hungry and ready to infect humans.

Shaotzie sighed deeply in relief when it finally gone. It was too close, for sure, they're a lot of zombies nearby, waiting for a victim. "Let's continue walking." Princess Alice grips her hand tightly. She can't bear if there's something bad happen to her sibling, Shaotzie.

"Princess Alice? Princess Shaotzie?" Someone called their names, Princess Alice looked around and she saw a man, waving at her. In his right hand was an old and handmade gun. "Over here!" The man helped them to get inside.

Princess Alice never trusted anyone since the zombies' apocalypse, she stayed countless, observant and vigilant. But, she has no choice, She and Shaotzie are in danger if they would stay outside for the whole night. "We're not infected yet, My queen. Please, accept our offer to stay the night with us. It's too dangerous outside."

They were ten in all, five women and five men. The man who helped them gives respect to his ruler, to their next queen. "It's our pleasure to help you, Princess Alice, Princess Shaotzie." All of them bowed, as respect for Alice.

"Thank you for helping us, and soon, if this war will end against the undead, visit me at and I'll give you your reward." Princess Alice said, with no doubt.

As a future queen, it's her duty to pay back the good deeds of her servants and people. Alice must be grateful and happy because she saw and meet people who're not yet infected.

"It's our pleasure to serve and welcome you, my queen." They said in the chorus.

Princess Alice and Shaotzie were given an old and aged room, but, still, they can both throw themselves at the bed. It was an exhausting day, and they must rest and sleep to gain more energy.

Alice roamed around, and she saw a sharpened bamboos and woods as their protection. Zombies will undeniably be killed when they try to reach the main gate. The house was quite huge and ancient, Alice never been in an old and dusty room but at this point in their lives, she only wanted to end this.

"Perhaps, you are hungry and thirsty fighting alone with the zombies. Here, my queen." Two women wearing a blue and peach dress entered the room with a food tray on their hands. Shaotzie jumped out from the bed and accepted it. "Thank you for the food!" Shaotzie uttered, swallowing the tea without savoring that taste of it.

"Let us know if you need something, My queen." They went off and still, Alice didn't bother to touch the food.

"Alice? You're not going to touch the food? It's delicious!" Shaotzie told her, chewing a savory bread. "No thanks, I'm not hungry. Eat all of them if you want to, Shaotzie." Alice, as an elder sister, gave her food to Shaotzie. She can do everything for the sake of Shaotzie.

Alice looked away when her stomach called out for food. She was hungry and thirsty, but still, keeping and acting like she's fine. "I'm just thirsty. Don't mind me, Shaotzie." Alice swallowed the tea, greedily.

Shaotzie finished eating all the loaves of bread and fruits, she fell into sleep afterward. Alice, on the other hand, rubs her hair like she was still a baby. "I'll protect and save you, no matter what, Shaotzie. I'll make sure that I will find a cure, sooner or never." Alice didn't get into sleep, she watched and guarded Shaotzie the whole night.