Furzombie - a gay furry zombie apocalypse

Halfway House - Joshua

The bathroom was cold, the kind of chill that seeped into your bones as the night drew in. The cracked tile floor did nothing to insulate against the creeping cold, and the single-pane window rattled faintly in the wind. I shivered, wrapping my jacket tighter around me as I picked through my backpack, eventually pulling out a bottle of water and a tin of beans.

I hated beans.

The can had a ring pull, and I yanked it open without hesitation. My growling stomach didn't care what it was about to consume; it demanded sustenance, though I knew my taste buds would have their own protest. The tangy smell of the cold tomato sauce hit my nose, and I grimaced.

The thought of going to the kitchen for a fork briefly crossed my mind, but the idea of leaving my new makeshift nest was too daunting. It was dark out there in the rest of the house, and as ridiculous as it sounded, I was afraid to step into the shadows. At least in daylight, I could see the zombies. Not that I wanted to look at them, but knowing where they were gave me some illusion of control. In the dark, everything felt unknown—dangerous.

Using the cap from the water bottle as a makeshift spoon, I scooped some beans into my mouth.

Cold beans. Grim.

The sweetness of the processed tomato sauce hit first, followed by the starchy, almost mealy texture of the beans themselves. My stomach was grateful for the calories, but my taste buds revolted. Living off fresh produce and calorie-controlled meals had changed me. This sugary, overly processed mush was a rude awakening to my new reality. Still, I forced myself to eat.

The bottle of water washed it down, its lukewarm temperature not doing much to mask the lingering taste. As I sipped, my mind wandered back to the bath full of water I'd left behind at my apartment. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, a reservoir of clean water to use in an emergency. Now, standing in a house where the taps were dry, it felt like I'd abandoned a lifeline. Out of curiosity, I tried the bathroom tap, turning the stiff handle. Nothing. Not even a drip.

I crouched back down and rummaged through my bag, taking a stock of my remaining water. Four half-litre bottles. That was barely enough for two days if I rationed carefully.

I switched on my phone, its faint glow lighting up the dim bathroom. The GPS still worked, which was a small miracle, and I zoomed in on the little blue dot marking my location. There was a river nearby, just behind the house, according to the map. I'd need to go there in the morning, not just for water but also to scout the area.

My gaze drifted around the room as I planned. The bathroom was oddly large, a roll-top bath dominating the centre like some kind of outdated luxury. A sink and cabinet sat to the side, the mirror above it reflecting my haggard appearance. My makeshift mattress, dragged in from one of the bedrooms, barely filled the corner of the space. The house was quiet, unnervingly so, and the idea of searching it in the dark made my stomach twist.

I stood, wincing at the stiffness in my legs, and approached the cabinet. My reflection stared back at me—a face I barely recognized. A purple bruise marred my temple, spreading veins of discoloration across my skin. My black eye had faded slightly but still looked nasty. I traced it lightly with my fingers, wincing at the tenderness. That man who hit me... I didn't want to think about him now.

Inside the cabinet, I found a strip of paracetamol, the sight of it nearly bringing tears to my eyes. Two pills went down with a swig of water, and I tucked the rest into my bag.

Then I spotted the toothpaste.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Clean teeth had been a mundane necessity once, but now it felt like a luxury. There were a couple of toothbrushes in the cabinet, their bristles worn but still usable. The thought of using someone else's toothbrush turned my stomach, but necessity overruled my disgust. I picked the cleanest-looking one, poured a little bottled water over it, and scrubbed it thoroughly. Then I brushed my teeth.