The Zetta Sonic
Swarms

Alex doesn't know where he's going. He just kept stepping. Everything is dark. He could only see the end of the leaves from the dim reflection of the moonlight. The temperature was getting lower and the cold was piercing. Instead, his body felt hot. His small steps were accompanied by a stingy breath. Alex stopped to rest even for a little while.

Above it, clouds were moving over the moon. They replaced the fog that had descended, dispelling the clear view. Alex tries not to think too much. He knew that it would not help him to make him worse. So, Alex walked again.

Sometimes Alex stumbles by roots she can't see. Many times his face has been slapped by tall grass. His current condition was the same as the conditions behind the cliff gap earlier. The ground was moist and repeatedly made him almost slip. This made Alex walk even slower. He had time to think whether he had accidentally returned to the cliff. However, Alex brushed off his mind. He would not know the answer in the dark. He'll know when dawn comes. That's if he survives.

In such a situation, Alex let his hand guide. His hands took turns opening the grass like a curtain. Sometimes he let his eyes shut knowing his eyes were not very useful in this condition. His ears are more helpful. He heard a variety of voices.

There was no loud noise, only a low voice covering each other. His mind was trying to guess. There were the sounds of crickets and other insects, as well as the friction of the leaves being buffeted by the wind, then the movement within the bushes. He just wished he hadn't been surprised by the other animals inside. He was too tired to fight any animal.

Including bees.

Errata. Especially bees.

Alex stopped again. He heard. The slow sound of a bee hum. Alex squinted his eyes while shaking his face. He's trying to see if there's a beehive up there. And, there is. Not one nest, but two nests close together.

The wind blew away the clouds, letting the moonlight help Alex see. Alex could see an unnatural mound from a tree branch. The mound occasionally shakes. Wide workers who seem difficult to sleep, sometimes fly to change position. The nest was a few right on top of it. While the other nest is far enough ahead. Alex doesn't like this situation. Very dislike.

He looked around, trying to find another way. But under such conditions, it is difficult to determine which direction is better. Alex circulated the views and views. Only then did he realize his mistake. He not only saw two nests, but more nests in different places. There was even a beehive he had passed behind him.

Alex gulps. The size of the nest is different. Some are even bigger than the pillow. He didn't know what kind of bees were there and whether they were aggressive. However, under these conditions, Alex just wants to get out of there.

After taking a deep breath, he made up his mind. Alex stepped up again, this time so slowly. He didn't even use his hands to scatter the grass for fear that the bees would wake up. Alex just put his foot in front of the other leg. One step at a time. His anxiety comes with fear. Actually he wanted to run away, get away from all this. However, his logic knew that it was a stupid move.

This time, Alex did not close his eyes at all. Alex took a deep breath, calming his heart and mind. One step at a time. Alex repeated it in his heart. He needs to calm down. Surprisingly, the darkness was arguably helpful. He did not need to see clearly the collection of bees. His breath hunted every time he thought of what could happen.

The journey felt so long. Alex is suffering more than ever. He looked back, checking how far he had gone. The more beehives he had left behind. Even so, he had no idea how many more awaited him in front. No choice, Alex walked again.

The buzzing sounds around him began to tighten. He was worried about what he was most afraid of.

Alex running. He doesn't care where he runs. He only knows one thing. Run, run, and run. If you remember, he had experienced something similar. His head felt pierced when the memories came back.

In his memory, Alex remembers having played with small children. He doesn't know them nor does he understand their language. His new friends took him to a big tree. There's a beehive on it. They took turns throwing stones up there, seeing who could throw higher.

He remembered who the winner was. The winner who ends up being the victim. Alex was lucky to only get one sting because they ran right in the right direction. They managed to enter the village through the gate with two large pillars in front of him. Stone pillars with ornate carved lines and letters that he never understood. The pillar glowed green as he passed by as a sign that he was also allowed to enter the village. He also remembered that it was wearing a round-roofed necklace. The same necklace that stung him yesterday.

The memories made Alex gasp.

The pillar in his memory was exactly the same as the pillar he had just encountered. Alex does not remember who his new friends are but is very sure that the location is Kloster village. He's been here. However, he never remembered it clearly. All that remained was fear, horror, difficulty breathing, heat and itching, as well as bad memories waking up in the hospital, and father and mother quarreling over it.

He's been there with his dad!

Alex felt his eyes wet. It was the most painful thing he had felt in the past few months. She misses. He misses his family, he misses his friends, he misses his home. He felt increasingly distant from them after joining the ICPA due to the incident. Now, he's lost himself.

Is such a life worth fighting for?

Alex stop. He was no longer surrounded by tall grass. In front of him lies a long valley with the village of Kloster at the end. He found his way to the village. He should have immediately run there instead of just standing here. In reality, Alex was glued to his place. He even turned to face the raging bee group.

“Keep out of there, Alex!”

Alex recognizes his father's voice even before his world is swallowed back into darkness.