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Zoround Darren Shan 29780K 2023-09-02

I spendto decide whether or not to tell the others about the threat we face It should be a straightforward call - they have a right to know But I’m worried about how they’ll react They kill reviveds because they see them as monsters If I told them that we need to eat brains to survive, and that we’re being denied the gruel because of ht rip me to pieces Literally

I’ve seen theives them a buzz, and it’s bull when they say that they only do it because they have to There’s a good chance they’ll slaughter me if I tell them the truth, in the hope that Dr Cerveris will restore their rations if I’m removed from the equation A lot of normal people would sacrifice me in a situation like this, so I can’t expect toobeasts

Then again,to let thenorance And if they kill me, what of it? I’ll be brain-dead in a couple of days anyway Why drag the rest of them doith me?

"Because they’re bastards," I mutter, and brood about it sourt the next day The lack of nutrients is kicking in big-tier pangs shoot through the denied the gray gloop or why they feel as rough as they do

"We ," Tiberius insists as they knock the issue back and forth

"Nah," Gokhan says "It’s a test, innit? They want to see e do e get hungry"

"I’ll rip Reilly’s head off," Peder growls "That’ll show them what I do"

"It isn’t Reilly’s fault," Danny says "He’s not enjoying this It’s bloody Josh who’s behind it"

"No it’s not," Cathy shouts, then makes a face and lowers her voice "It’s Dr Cerveris Josh doesn’t have any say in how they test us It’s the scientists who decide those things I’ll ask Josh what’s going on the next time I see him"

"Oh, I’m sure he’ll tell you," Tiberius simpers "You er, then glares at Rage He’s the cal an old episode of so softly at the punch lines

"I don’t knohy you’re so happy," Cathy snarls "You’re part of this too You’ll starve with the rest of us, no matter how e sniffs "The Turk’s right They’re testing us Once they’ve coain They need us We’re their blue-eyed darlings"

"Maybe they’re feeding you on the sly," Danny challenges him "Maybe that’s why you don’t sees

"You never say a bad word against theht e counters "If we scratch their backs they’ll scratch ours You don’t win any prizes for rubbing against the grain I do what they tell me, treat them with respect and reap the rewards"

"Do you call being starved a reward?" Mark asks

"Shut it, Wor to Peder as if he were the one who had asked the question "They’ve got to treata test, stands to reason But in the nor I ask for, filirls if I wanted"

Danny laughs out loud, ignoring the others as they moan and slam their hands over their ears "Girls?" he shrieks "What the hell would you ith those? We’re all dead down below We can’t do anything with girls except look"

"That’s why I said if I wanted," Rage replies sroin This is news to h now that I consider it, itsoldiers If the situation weren’t so dire, I’d have a good old chuckle about it But they’ve ylistened to the a word, I suddenly decide to solve the mystery for the you because I won’t torture the reviveds And they’re not gonna stop until"

I draw to a halt Everyone is staring at e, who doesn’t look so cocky anymore

"Go on," Tiberius says stiffly

"The gray junk they’ve been feeding us is human brains"

"We know," Tiberius says

"You know?" I exclaiured that out o Zombies eat brains, everyone knows that"

"You never told me," I huff

"We didn’t know that we needed to," Tiberius sneers "How thick are you?"

"Enough of that," Rage snaps, getting to his feet He looks uneasy "Finish what you were going to say"

"We need the brains to stay conscious," I ular feeds we’ll lose our senses and becoain And if we do, we can’t recover, we’ll be stuck like that forever"

Rage stares attoo

"They told you this?" Cathy asks