Age of zombies

[47] The new household

The world came back in a blur of pain and confusion. My head throbbed, and my mouth was dry, tasting like dust and regret. It took a moment for the fog to clear, but when it did, I realized with horror where we were.

We were tied to chairs, thick ropes binding our wrists and ankles tightly to the wooden frames. My hands were numb from the tightness of the ropes, and panic quickly set in as I tried to move, the wood creaking beneath me. I glanced around—Ethan, Daisy, Liza, and Yabe were all tied up just like me. And then I saw her.

Sitting across from us was a woman bound to a chair. At first glance, she looked like the Beatrice from the photo on Liam's wall—the same blonde hair, the same kind eyes—but those eyes were empty now. Vacant. She was a zombie, her skin pale and decaying, her head slumped to the side as if she had no energy left to move. But she was very much alive, or rather, undead.

Liam stood in front of her, his back to us. He was mumbling something to her, petting her hair like she was some kind of precious doll.

"What... the fk?" Ethan muttered, his voice barely a whisper as he strained against the ropes.

Liam turned around slowly, his expression one of calm, like this was all perfectly normal. "Ah, you're awake. Good."

"What the hell is this, Liam?" I spat, my voice rough. "What are you doing?"

Liam smiled, a gentle, almost fatherly smile. "I told you earlier, didn't I? I've been lonely. But now... I have Beatrice again. She came back to me. And soon, you'll meet some new friends as well."

Liza cursed, her eyes wide with rage. "You're fucking insane! That's not your wife anymore—she's a goddamn zombie!"

Liam's smile faltered, and in an instant, his calm demeanor snapped. He stormed over to Liza, raising his hand and smacking her across the face with a force that made her head whip to the side. The sharp crack of the hit echoed in the small cabin.

"Watch your mouth, young lady!" Liam barked, his voice suddenly full of fury. "Back in my day, kids who used that kind of language got a good spanking! And trust me, there'll be plenty of time to teach you some manners once the new household is formed."

Liza winced, her cheek already turning red, but she didn't back down. "You're out of your fking mind."

Liam shook his head, turning away from her as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. "You'll see. In time, you'll all understand. We're going to be one big happy family here. No more loneliness. No more running from the world."

I glanced around, my mind racing for a way out. We were all tied down, helpless. The ropes were too tight to wiggle free, and Liam stood between us and the only door. Desperation clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to stay calm.

Liza wasn't done yet. Through gritted teeth, she began to fidget with something. My eyes followed her movements, and I noticed her knees clutching the hem of the tablecloth between her legs. She was up to something. I saw her grip tighten on the fabric, and then, with one swift motion, she yanked the cloth sideways, dragging everything down with her as she threw herself to the floor.

The plates and cups on the table crashed to the ground with a loud crack, the sound startling everyone, especially Liam. Yabe, who had been sitting right next to Liza, toppled over as well, her chair smashing into the floor with a thud, dragging all the kitchenware down in a chaotic heap.

"Goddamn it!" Liam shouted, momentarily caught off guard by the mess. He rushed over to try and fix the overturned table, clearly flustered.

As I watched, Liza shot Yabe a quick glance, her eyes silently saying something. Yabe, though shaken, immediately shot a look at me, her eyes wide with panic and understanding. This was our chance. My heart pounded in my chest as I caught Yabe's gaze, and then I quickly glanced at Daisy.