Zombies Need Love Too!

I cast my eyes around, trying to get a read on the room.

Surprisingly, Rob wasn’t running his mouth, while Bliss still looked worried sick.

“I get what you’re saying. But from our perspective, your health is way more important, my lord. I’m sorry we’re being such a burden, but right now, you’re the only one we can trust.”

Bliss glanced at me, then quickly looked away with a bitter expression.

“I understand Sasha’s importance to you. But our food supply is limited, and we don’t know when—or how—this situation might change. Please try to understand.”

“I get that you’re anxious, but I’ll take responsibility for Alberta and everyone else. So don’t worry too much.”

Yoan’s voice was steady as a stone wall, not a single tremor. His eyes were sharp, focused.

Even in the middle of all this chaos, he’d already come to terms with what needed to be done and was ready to do it.

Well, I couldn’t just sit there like an extra in my own story. Time to bust out the plan I’d been obsessing over all night.

“Gff.”

Too quiet. Not even a flicker of attention my way.

“Grff!”

I cleared my throat louder. That did the trick—Yoan’s eyes met mine.

“What? Got something to say?”

Actually, I know where we can find food.
“Grrk. Grrrrrk gurrrk.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about this.”

That’s not what I mean! I’m saying I know where to get food!
“Gurr! Grarrrrk!”

“Don’t worry about it and just finish your meat.”

Argh, this is so unbelievably frustrating!

I rolled my eyes and pounded my chest with both fists like a very indignant gorilla.

Then I dipped a finger in my water cup and started drawing on the table.

All three of them leaned in, watching my impromptu finger art take shape.

“...”

I got nervous. I was doing my best, but zombie hands aren’t exactly known for their fine motor skills.

Sure enough, Rob raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a self-portrait?”

Excuse you? I drew a pig, and you think it’s me? You absolute toad!

Huffing, I tried again.

But between the shaky fingers and the impatient audience, it was basically finger painting with a brick.

“Could it be... you’re saying you know where to find food?”

Yes!
“Gruk!”

After a few more painful tries, Bliss finally got it.

I nodded so hard my head nearly popped off and even gave myself a celebratory clap.

Rob, unfortunately, was not convinced.

“How would this zombie—I mean, Sasha—even know where food is? We already searched everywhere nearby.”

“Maybe it’s not nearby,” Bliss offered.

“My lord, you’re not seriously considering this, are you? It could be a trap.”

A trap? Please. Like I’ve got the time or the energy for sabotage.

I’m too busy just existing.

I mean, I felt bad enough mooching off their meat. And since I was probably going to keep mooching, I wanted to contribute something for once.

Besides, I’d gotten a few memory scraps from the original story, and I could help with more than just food—so be nice to me!

When I narrowed my eyes and gave Rob the stink-eye, he clicked his tongue.

“Look at that glare. She’s definitely scheming something.”

“We have to check it out anyway. It’s food.”

“But—”

“Rob Pitt. Are you seriously going to keep arguing? Get your head on straight.”

“Ugh, seriously. You only ever yell at me, my lord.”

I stuck my tongue out at Rob, who was sulking like a kicked puppy. Serves you right.

“And Sasha.”

Huh?
“Gek?”

I froze mid–tongue wag, staring at Yoan.

His expression softened as he spoke, all gentle menace.

“If you’re lying, you’re dead.”

That chill in the air?

Yeah, that was my non-beating heart shriveling up like a raisin.

***

And that’s how Yoan and I ended up heading out together—just the two of us.

“My lord, I don’t think this is right.”

“If both of us go, what about Bliss?”

“Even so…”

Despite Rob’s protests, Yoan remained firm. He even left detailed instructions on what to do if we didn’t return by the appointed time.

The food stash was a decent distance away. Even if we hurried, there was no way we’d make it back by nightfall… especially with all the monster-infested roadblocks these days.

So, since I was the only one who knew the way, I got paired with our dear, stern-faced lord.

“Sasha. Are you sure this is the right way? This area’s always been dangerous.”

We’d reached the edge of the forest.

Specifically, the Fog Forest. Not exactly a cozy name, right?

It was perpetually dark, perpetually foggy, and people got lost in there like it was the Bermuda Triangle.

As Yoan said, definitely a danger zone.

But we didn’t have a choice.

This is the shortcut. The long route would take too long.
“Gurrrrr gurk. Grurrrrr.”

“If we’re unlucky, we might have to spend the night in there. Not sure we brought enough supplies for that.”

Yoan paused, clearly considering the risks. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out a machete from his belt.

“All right. Let’s go.”

Give me something too. Just in case.
“Grrr. Grurrrrrrrk.”

I pointed at his machete. Zombie or not, I had no interest in throwing hands with literal monsters.

Thankfully, Yoan caught on quickly.

Though instead of a blade, he handed me... pointy knuckles.

I blinked at them. Not what I expected.

“A blade’s too dangerous,” he explained. “If an amateur swings it around, I could get hurt.”

Oh. Right. That ever-consistent, overly sensible personality.

I slipped the knuckles on and stuck close behind him as we entered the woods.

Whooooooo—

An eerie wind whispered through the fog-drenched trees. They were tall, damp, and twisted like they’d never known sunlight.

Honestly, it looked like a road straight to hell.

“So, Sasha. How’d you know about this food stash? Did you know from the beginning?”

I shook my head.

I remembered when I hit my head. Don’t ask questions. It’s a secret.
“Grrrrrr. Gurrrrrgrr. Gruk.”

“This is so frustrating. You understand me, but I can’t understand you.”

Not my fault, pal.

“How did you become a zombie, anyway?”

I hesitated. Not like he’d understand me even if I answered.

“What about family? Are you alone?”

I gave a vague nod.

“We’re in similar situations then.”

Hardly. You’re the protagonist, and I’m zombie background noise.

Still, if he meant we were both lonely, I’d give him that much.

“It’s okay. When humans die, they’re alone anyway.”

Talk about an odd way to comfort someone. We were far from death, after all.

He tried a few more times to strike up a conversation, and I tried my best to reply, but it was a disaster.

I even tried writing again, but with zombie fingers, it was like carving into butter with a wet noodle. And Yoan had zero patience.

“Haa…”

That was already his fifth sigh.

I hadn’t even done anything, but I flinched like a guilty dog.

“This method doesn’t seem to work either.”

I totally agree. It’s hard for me too.
“Grrrk. Grrrrrk.”

The communication gap was more of a chasm. We needed to fix this fast.

The original story hadn’t shown any solutions, but I’d seen enough zombie flicks to brainstorm something. Probably.

Ow!
“Gek!”

Lost in thought, I walked straight into Yoan’s back when he stopped.

I peeked around him—and oh.

Gyarrr... gu.

Yeah, that sound was never good news.

“Sasha. Today’s not the day to die. Know why? Because there are two of us.”

I blinked.

Then it clicked—he was referencing his own weird line from earlier. Something about how everyone dies alone?

He was kinda wrong on that.

I’m not human, though. I’m a zombie.
“Grrrrarara.”

But I agreed—today was not the day to die.

I tightened my grip on the knuckles. Scared or not, I’d survive.

Keeeeeet—!

Gwaaaegh!

A horde of zombies exploded out of the fog, shrieking like banshees late for brunch.

Thanks to my upgraded undead vision, I could track their movements just fine.

Aaagh!
“Keeee!”

Problem was, emotionally, I was still a wimp in a horror movie. I had zombie hardware, but a human soul.

Yoan, meanwhile, glided through the fog like it was a ballroom. He really was the male lead.

I tried to stay out of his way, but one zombie got the jump on me.

Gueeeeehk!

It was massive—like one and a half of me—and it came swinging.

My face took the brunt of it, skin tearing open like wet paper.

Aaaaah!
“Grwaaar!”

It didn’t hurt, but I nearly peed myself.

Panicking, I started swinging wildly. The knuckles bit into rotting flesh, sending hunks flying.

Dieeeeee!
“Graaaak!”

I just kept punching until it stopped moving. And then some.

Zombie goo had splattered in my mouth.

“Ugh, ptui! Ptui! Son of a—!”

Bitch! I freaking hate zombies!

All of a sudden, Yoan paused mid-fight and glanced back at me.

Seriously, you have time to look right now?