Age of zombies

[46] Tea for Beatrice

Liam wasn't kidding when he said he liked company. After settling in around the small wooden table in his cabin, he bustled around, grabbing mismatched cups from the cupboard and setting them out in front of us. The warmth from the fire made the cabin feel cozy, almost like a normal evening in a world that had long since stopped being normal.

"Y'all ever had proper herbal tea?" Liam asked, his voice light and friendly as he poured the steaming liquid into our cups. "Got some plants growing out back, and I've been making this blend for years. Good for the soul."

I took the cup, nodding politely. "Thanks, Liam. Tea sounds great."

Yabe, always soft-spoken, murmured her thanks as well, while Ethan raised his cup in a mock toast. "To herbal tea in the apocalypse," he said with a grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Liza sipped cautiously at hers, glancing around the room as she did. "Nice place you've got here," she commented, her gaze lingering on the wall behind Liam. "Is that your family?"

Liam's eyes followed hers to the photos hanging on the wall. There was a small, framed picture of a woman—blonde, smiling, with kind eyes that crinkled at the corners. It was the sort of picture that screamed happiness and better days.

"That's my Beatrice," Liam said softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "She passed away a few years back. Cancer took her."

The air in the room shifted, the weight of his words settling heavily over us. I saw Yabe lower her cup, her face showing quiet sympathy. Even Ethan, who was usually quick with a joke, looked uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," I said, the words feeling inadequate, but what else could I say?

Liam gave a weak smile, but his eyes were far away, lost in memories. "She was the love of my life, y'know? After she passed, I couldn't stand being around people anymore. Came out here. Figured it was better to be alone with my thoughts, just me and Betsy."

As if on cue, a low growl came from outside, making all of us jump a little. The noise was coming from the direction of the small warehouse we'd passed earlier on our way in.

"That's just Betsy," Liam said with a chuckle. "My dog. She's old and cranky, but she's all I've got left. Keeps me company."

Daisy nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as if something about the situation didn't sit right with her. Still, she didn't say anything, just sipped her tea in silence.

Liam's voice cracked as he continued, "It's been... real lonely out here. After Beatrice died, I thought I'd get used to it. But every day it just gets harder."

Then, before any of us could respond, his face crumpled, and tears began to spill down his weathered cheeks. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed.

"I miss her so much," he cried, his voice breaking. "I don't know what to do without her."

For a moment, none of us knew how to react. We'd seen so much death, so much loss, but this was different. This was raw and personal, a man who had lost everything and was left with nothing but memories and a dog.

Yabe was the first to move, her empathetic nature kicking in. She reached out, gently placing a hand on Liam's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Liam. It must be so hard."

I followed suit, nodding in agreement. "We're here now, at least. You don't have to be alone tonight."

Liam sniffled, wiping his eyes on his sleeve as he sat up. "Thank you. It means a lot. I don't get to talk about her much, but... I'd like to toast to her memory. To Beatrice."

He raised his cup, his hands still shaking slightly. "Let's drink to her."

We all raised our cups, sharing a solemn nod. "To Beatrice," we echoed.

Liam smiled weakly as we drank, but something about the situation gnawed at me. I glanced down at my cup, the herbal tea still warm in my hands, but something felt... off. I couldn't shake the strange feeling creeping up my spine.

As I lowered my cup, something caught my eye—Liam wasn't drinking from the same cups we were. He had his own cup, different from the ones he'd given us, and I realized with a jolt that he hadn't poured his tea from the same pot.

"Wait," I said, frowning. "Liam, where did you get your tea from?"

Liam blinked at me, surprised by the question. "Oh, I poured mine earlier, before you came in. Just a personal preference, y'know?"

A cold chill ran down my spine as I stared at him. My mouth suddenly felt dry, and the world around me began to spin slightly, like the room was tilting.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

I turned to Ethan, my voice slurring slightly. "Do you... do you feel that?"

Ethan's eyes were half-lidded, and he shook his head as if trying to clear it. "I... yeah... something's not..."

Yabe was already swaying in her seat, her hand gripping the edge of the table as her face paled. "Senpai... I feel strange..."

Liza's cup slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor as her head lolled forward. "What... the hell..."

Daisy shot up, or at least tried to. Her legs wobbled, and she crashed back into the chair, her eyes wide with alarm. "What the fuck did you do, Liam?!"

But Liam didn't answer. His expression had shifted, a strange calmness settling over him as he watched us with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, barely audible over the pounding in my ears. "I didn't want it to come to this. But... I couldn't stand being alone anymore."

The last thing I saw was the room spinning violently around me, the edges of my vision darkening as my body went limp. One by one, we passed out, the world fading into blackness.

Q: What do you think will happen next?