Army of True Salvation - Chapter 44：Bye, Sir Jim

They were all flabbergasted when Sir Jim had narrated what he had done to Sir Cesar. There were some who were emotional when they heard about their computer teacher’s death. Their class adviser, even Sir Erick, cried when they knew about this from Sir Jim. Their co-teacher was used as bait. The students felt pity when they knew about Sir Cesar’s death.

Sheloah tried her best to speak. “Why did you do it? He even wanted to help you! He wanted for the both of you to escape! Why!?” The rain started to fall heavily as Sheloah shouted.

“I was… too selfish,” Sir Jim just answered and Sheloah’s hands formed into fists.

“Sir Cesar was a kind man! He wished for your safety!” Sir Jim was now crying when he heard Sheloah say this. He started hitting his chest multiple times as he cried his eyes out. He was now overcome with guilt.

Sheloah was now angry and sad at the same time. Veon went to her and tapped her shoulder to calm her down. Sheloah broke down and cried as she sat on the ground. Sir Jim approached her and touched her shoulder to comfort her, but Veon just glared at their teacher, not trusting him.

“I thought… you’re one of us. How can we trust you,” Josh said as he stared at Sir Jim with disappointment in his eyes.

“Sorry.” Sir Jim apologized and they could sense his sincerity, but they did not know whether to really trust him or not.

“What you did to him was so unfair and selfish.” Tyler could not help but give his feedback. He felt bad for Sir Cesar.

Their classmates started to discuss to themselves as well. Some were even crying to know the fate their kind teacher got. He was kind, yet his death was unfortunate. He was used.

The way he died was not acceptable. He did not deserve to be used. He was prepared to protect someone but he was betrayed for the sake of such selfish reasons.

He was a kind teacher to his students. They did not like the way he taught them before, but as time went on, they grew to appreciate his own strategy as a teacher. He checks the student’s progress one by one. He was also friendly with the students. They did not only learn the computer subject from him, but life lessons such as friendship as well.

Veon helped Sheloah stand up. He was comforting her when he embraced her. He knew that Sheloah cried because she almost completely trusted Sir Jim, but she got disappointed to know that he had betrayed a sane person—a person who was not a zombie. How could they trust him?

“We trusted you, Sir Jim. But how can we trust you now even if you help us countless of times,” Veon said and their teacher couldn’t speak.

The rain continued to pour. They almost stood there for three minutes before Sir Jim broke the silence by what he said to everyone. This surprised them.

“Leave me, then. I don’t have the right to be with you.”

They did not say anything when they heard Sir Jim but they still felt bad of the thought of leaving him behind. He even volunteered to do so. It really showed that he was really guilty and bothered by what he had done to Sir Cesar.

Sir Jim started to cry uncontrollably. “Just leave,” he said, his voice obviously weak. They then noticed that the zombies were walking towards them and they had to move. They may either escape with or without Sir Jim.

Sheloah was about to grab Sir Jim’s hand when Veon stopped her.

“Sheloah, no. We need to leave. And knowing Sir Jim, this is what he wanted. This is what he decided on,” he said as he slowly led Sheloah away from him, away from the walking zombies.

While they were walking towards their respective vehicles, Sheloah looked back and saw Sir Jim’s weak state. He was looking up the sky, drenched under the rain, giving up on his life. His cries were starting to become louder and he had now gotten the attention of the zombies away from the students. To him, this was his way of releasing his emotions; releasing his guilt, and protecting his dear students as well.

Sheloah then returned her look to the front as tears escaped from her eyes. She somewhat grew attached to Sir Jim because in her third year of high school, he was Josh’s and Sheloah’s adviser in 3G.

Veon put his arm on Sheloah’s shoulder as they both walked towards the car.

“Bye, Sir Jim,” Sheloah said almost in a whisper as she took one last glance before she entered the car.

Sheloah’s uncle started to drive away from school, followed by the bus of the parents, the bus of the students, and Veon’s car at the back. Sheloah looked at the side mirror and saw that Sir Jim was now being devoured by the zombies. This made her close her eyes.

Veon held Sheloah’s hand with his free hand, while the other held on the steering wheel. “Don’t cry, Sheloah. It already happened,” he said and Sheloah nodded, trying her best not to cry. “People do regret in the end,” he added and Sheloah rested her head on the rest of the seat.

She looked outside the window as she watched the rain continuously pouring. Her body started to shiver as she felt the cold. They were even drenched in the rain. Veon turned on the heater and reached a blanket at the back for Sheloah to use. Sheloah wrapped the blanket around her as she removed her wet jacket.

They were now leaving school. They wonder what would happen next knowing that they have no definite location to go to. In just two days, a lot had already happened. Today was the third day and they were now leaving the city they used to call their home.

They were now leaving the place that held most of their happy memories.