Luka had always wanted to see the Ljubljana Marsh, the largest wetland in Slovenia. He had heard stories about its rich biodiversity, its archaeological treasures, and its mysterious legends. He had also heard rumors about a secret military base hidden somewhere in the marsh, where experiments on biological weapons were conducted. He had hoped to find some evidence of that and expose it to the public.
But he never expected to see the marsh in such a state. The water was polluted with blood and corpses, the plants were wilted and rotting, and the animals were either dead or infected. The marsh was now a breeding ground for the zombies, the undead creatures that had overrun the country and the world.
Luka and his friends had barely escaped from Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, where the zombie outbreak had started. They had witnessed the horror of seeing their fellow citizens turn into mindless cannibals, who attacked and devoured anyone who was still alive. They had lost many people they cared about, and they had to fight for their survival every day.
They had decided to head south, hoping to find a safe place to hide and wait for help. They had heard that the border with Croatia was still open, and that there were refugee camps and humanitarian aid there. They had also heard that the marsh was a possible route to get there, as it was less populated and less guarded by the military.
They had managed to find a car, an old and rusty Fiat, that Ivan had fixed and modified. He had added some armor, some weapons, and some supplies to the car, making it more suitable for the zombie apocalypse. He had also painted it with camouflage colors, making it less noticeable.
Ivan was the mechanic of the group, and the only one who knew how to drive. He was also the most experienced and the most prepared for the situation. He had lived through the Yugoslav Wars, the NATO bombing, and the Kosovo conflict. He had seen the worst of humanity, and he had learned to survive by any means necessary. He had moved to Slovenia a few years ago, hoping to start a new life, but he had never felt welcome or accepted there. He had a criminal record, and he had made many enemies. He had no family, no friends, and no attachments. He only cared about himself, and he trusted no one.
Except for Ana, maybe. Ana was the teacher of the group, and the only one who tried to be nice to him. She was his neighbor, and she had often brought him food, books, and flowers. She had tried to make him smile, to make him talk, to make him feel. She had seen something good in him, something he had forgotten or buried long ago. She had also seen something bad in him, something he had tried to hide or deny. She had seen his scars, his tattoos, and his guns. She had seen his anger, his pain, and his fear. She had seen him, and she had accepted him.
Ana was the opposite of Ivan. She was cheerful, optimistic, and creative. She loved children, and she loved teaching. She had a passion for art, literature, and music. She had a dream of traveling the world, and seeing its beauty and diversity. She had a heart of gold, and she cared about everyone. She was naive, idealistic, and hopeful. She believed in the good of humanity, and she hoped for a better future.
She was also the only one who had brought a child with her. His name was Marko, and he was one of her students. He was seven years old, and he had lost his parents in the zombie attack. He was traumatized, scared, and lonely. He had clung to Ana, and she had taken him under her wing. She had tried to comfort him, to protect him, and to educate him. She had tried to keep him away from the violence, the gore, and the despair. She had tried to keep him human.
Maja was the nurse of the group, and the only one who knew how to heal. She had worked at the hospital, where she had seen the first cases of the zombie infection. She had tried to save as many lives as possible, but she had also seen the futility of her efforts. She had seen the virus spread like wildfire, turning people into monsters in a matter of minutes. She had seen the panic, the chaos, and the collapse of the health system. She had seen the military intervene, shooting and burning anyone who was infected or suspected of being infected. She had seen the hospital become a hell on earth.
She had also seen Luka, her boyfriend, who had come to the hospital looking for her. He had been one of the first to witness the zombie outbreak, as he had been investigating the source of the virus. He had been a journalist, working for a local newspaper. He had been curious, adventurous, and brave, but also reckless and impulsive. He had always looked for a good story, even if it meant putting himself in danger. He had followed a lead to the marsh, where he had found the secret military base. He had seen the experiments, the vials, and the zombies. He had also seen the explosion, the fire, and the escape of the zombies. He had tried to warn others, but no one had believed him.
He had risked his life to get to Maja, and he had saved her from the zombies and the soldiers. He had also saved Ivan, Ana, and Marko, who had been trapped in the hospital. He had brought them to the car, and he had driven them away from the city. He had been the leader of the group, and the only one who had a plan.
He had also been the only one who had been bitten by a zombie.
He had hidden his wound, and he had hoped that he was immune. He had hoped that he could find a cure, or a vaccine, or a miracle. He had hoped that he could stay with Maja, and live with her. He had hoped that he could survive.
But he knew that he was dying. He knew that he was turning. He knew that he had to leave.
He had waited until they had reached the marsh, and then he had told them the truth. He had shown them his wound, and he had apologized. He had asked them to forgive him, and to remember him. He had asked them to kill him, before he became a zombie.
They had refused. They had cried, they had screamed, and they had begged. They had told him that they loved him, and that they needed him. They had told him that they would find a way to save him, and that they would not give up on him.
They had lied. They had known that there was no hope, and that there was no choice. They had known that they had to kill him, before he killed them.
But they had not been able to do it. They had not been able to pull the trigger, or to swing the axe, or to stab the knife. They had not been able to end his life, or to end his suffering.
So he had done it himself. He had taken a gun, and he had put it to his head. He had said his last words, and he had pulled the trigger.
He had died, and he had become a zombie.
They had buried him, and they had mourned him. They had said their prayers, and they had said their goodbyes. They had left him behind, and they had moved on.
They had continued their journey, through the marsh, to the border, to the unknown.
They had survived, but they had lost him.
They had lost Luka, the journalist, the adventurer, the hero.
They had lost Luka, the friend, the lover, the human.
