Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

walking into unknown

The group stepped out into the quiet night, the streets eerily empty except for the occasional moan of zombies in the distance. The cool air was a relief after the stuffy gas station, but the tension in the group was palpable. Everyone knew the danger that lurked in every shadow.

Mei adjusted her backpack, her eyes scanning their surroundings. “I still think we should’ve waited until daylight,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

“Daylight won’t make the zombies disappear,” Yeong Do said flatly, his black eyes darting around. “We’re less of a target at night.”

“Yeong Do’s right,” Zach said, giving his younger sister-in-arms a reassuring nod. “We move fast and quiet. It’s our best chance.”

Mei frowned but nodded. “I just don’t want any of us to get hurt. We’ve lost enough already.” Her gaze lingered on Anastasia before she quickly looked away, her protective instincts over her sister clear.

Zach placed a hand on Mei’s shoulder. “We’re all going to be okay. Stick together, and we’ll make it through this.”

Anastasia, who had been quiet up to this point, finally spoke up, her voice soft but determined. “Mei, I know it’s hard, but we have to trust each other. We’ve come too far to turn back now.”

Mei’s heterochromatic eyes—one blue, one grey—met Anastasia’s. She sighed and offered a small, tired smile. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, I’m just on edge.”

“We all are,” Aradhya chimed in, tightening the strap of her pack. She looked up at the taller Anastasia and gave a small grin. “But at least we’ve got two badass sisters watching our backs.”

Anastasia chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Don’t let Mei fool you. She’s more of a badass than I’ll ever be.”

Mei rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get to the factory.”

They set off down the street, moving cautiously through the night. Every step felt like a gamble, every noise a possible threat. Zach took the lead, his bat gripped tightly in his hands, while Yeong Do stayed at the back, his eyes constantly scanning for danger.

As they walked, Zach found himself drifting closer to Anastasia. He didn’t mean to, but it was like an invisible force kept pulling him toward her. Her presence was calming in a way he hadn’t expected, like they were stronger together.

“You good?” Zach asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper as they walked side by side.

Anastasia nodded, glancing up at him with her striking green eyes. “I’m fine. Just... thinking.”

“About what?” he pressed, genuinely curious.

A small smile played at her lips, though there was a sadness behind it. “About everything we’ve lost. And everything we still have to fight for.”

Zach’s chest tightened at her words. “We’re going to make it,” he said firmly. “I won’t let anything happen to you, or Mei, or anyone else.”

“I know,” Anastasia replied, her gaze softening. “That’s what scares me sometimes.”

Zach frowned, confused. “Scares you?”

She looked up at him, her expression more vulnerable than he had ever seen. “You take too much on yourself, Zach. You can’t save everyone. I don’t want you to get hurt trying.”

His heart skipped a beat at her concern. For the first time, he felt a connection beyond survival, something deeper. “I won’t lie, I think about that too. But I can’t help it. You… you mean a lot to me.”

Anastasia’s breath caught, and for a moment, they locked eyes, the world around them fading. The weight of everything—the apocalypse, the zombies, the fear—seemed to lift, if only for a heartbeat. They were just two people, standing in the dark, trying to figure out what their feelings meant in this broken world.

Before either of them could say more, Yeong Do’s voice broke the moment.

“Zach, up ahead.”

Zach snapped back to reality and followed Yeong Do’s gaze. Up ahead, a small group of zombies wandered into the street, their bodies swaying as they searched for something—anything—to devour.

“We’ll have to go around,” Aradhya whispered, her brown eyes wide with concern.

Zach nodded, scanning their surroundings. “There’s a side street over there,” he pointed to an alleyway on their left. “We can cut through and avoid them.”

They quickly adjusted course, moving silently through the alley. The narrow path was littered with debris, but it was clear enough to navigate. Mei kept close to Anastasia, her anxiety clear in the way she clutched her knife.

“Are we sure this is safe?” Mei asked, her voice shaking slightly.

“It’s safer than charging through a pack of zombies,” Yeong Do replied calmly, his eyes scanning the shadows.

Aradhya, walking behind Yeong Do, leaned closer to Mei and whispered, “I get it. This whole thing is a nightmare. But if anyone can get us through this, it’s Zach. He’s got that whole ‘knight in shining armor’ vibe.”

Mei cracked a small smile. “Yeah, he does, doesn’t he?”

Aradhya shot a glance toward Zach and Anastasia, who were still walking side by side, a soft look lingering between them. “Looks like someone else has noticed too.”

Mei followed her gaze and let out a soft chuckle. “Anastasia’s too stubborn to admit it.”

“Well, they better figure it out soon,” Aradhya said, her voice light despite the tension. “Because, apocalypse or not, they’ve got chemistry.”

Mei laughed softly, though the sound was tinged with a mix of hope and fear. “Yeah. I just hope they figure it out before something happens.”

Suddenly, there was a rustle ahead of them. Zach raised his bat, and Yeong Do stepped forward, gripping his crowbar. They froze, listening carefully.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a single zombie, its limbs twisted and its eyes empty. It lurched toward them, drawn by their movement.

Without hesitation, Yeong Do stepped forward and swung his crowbar with brutal efficiency, the sickening crunch of bone echoing through the alley. The zombie collapsed in a heap, and Yeong Do stood over it, his expression unreadable.

“Nice hit,” Zach muttered, grateful for the backup.

Yeong Do nodded, wiping the crowbar on his jacket. “Let’s keep moving.”

As they continued through the alley, Zach’s mind drifted back to Anastasia. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were running out of time—not just in terms of survival, but with each other. The more dangerous things became, the more he realized how much she meant to him. If they were going to make it, he didn’t want to waste any more time.

As the alley opened up into another street, Zach found himself walking close to Anastasia again. He glanced down at her, his heart racing.

“Anastasia…” he started, his voice low.

She looked up at him, her green eyes bright even in the darkness. “Yeah?”

“I just want you to know,” he began, swallowing the nervous lump in his throat, “I’ll always have your back. No matter what.”

Anastasia’s lips parted slightly, her gaze softening as she took in his words. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of their footsteps and the distant groans of the undead. Then, she smiled—a real, genuine smile that made Zach’s chest ache.

“I know, Zach,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “And… I’ll have yours.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Zach felt a flicker of hope—not just for survival, but for something more.