Haru, Zombie Dog Hero by Ellen Oh

Author:Ellen Oh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

LUKE SUFFERED A sleepless night filled with worry, fear, heartache, and the pain of missing his best friend. He felt sick to his stomach. But how could he care about himself when Haru must be feeling so scared and betrayed? Luke sat up in bed and stared at the space next to him where Haru should have been. The emptiness was severe. It felt as if he was missing a limb, or a piece of his heart. Suddenly, overwhelmed with fury, Luke began to hit himself on the head as he cried angry tears.

“It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have said anything! I should have stayed in the back! This is all my fault!” He yanked at his hair viciously as he rocked back and forth.

The door to his room opened and his mother rushed in to grab hold of his hands and pull him into a tight embrace.

“It’s not your fault, honey,” she said. “You did nothing wrong.”

“But it was because of me! I should’ve just stayed away! Haru would still be with me then!”

“You don’t know that, Luke,” his mom replied. “Nobody can predict what happens in life. You did nothing wrong. And we’ll get Haru home again.”

“Mom, Haru is family. He’s my family,” Luke cried brokenly. “I need him.”

“I know, honey.”

Haru barely slept all night, too anxious and scared to relax. He was the only one awake when the Irish setter was taken away, unmoving.

“Take this one back, he’s too weak for our needs,” the lead man said to Haru’s kidnappers. “I’m glad you brought the new dog. We start with the new formula tomorrow and only the strongest and healthiest dogs will make it past the first course of radiation. Let’s hope he’s strong enough to survive the entire trial.”

“If he does, we get a bonus, right?” Jim asked.

“Yes, a big one,” the lead man agreed. “If he doesn’t, then you’ll go out and find more dogs.”

Haru watched as they carried the unconscious animal out of the room. He wondered what would happen to the Irish setter now. But he knew the dog was lucky to be free of the dungeon.

A few hours later, one of the bad men who had kidnapped him returned with a cart of bowls of food and water.

“Good morning, you filthy animals,” Stan said. Pulling out the tray under the door in front of each cage, he placed the bowls in and slid them shut.

“Eat up, big guy! You gotta have all your strength. Tomorrow is a big day for you.” Stan pointed at Haru. “You’re gonna do your part for the greater good! Ain’t you special.”

Stan sniggered as he slammed his fist on top of the cage and walked away.

The other dogs erupted into angry barking, but Haru was silent. He recognized the word “special.” He was told he was special all the time and he knew it was a good thing. But the way the bad man had said it scared him. Today, he didn’t want to be special.

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