Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

new horizons

The group trudged through the abandoned streets, their steps echoing against the cold pavement. The remnants of the battle lingered on their clothes, but their spirits were high. The sky was beginning to darken again, casting an eerie twilight over the ruined city. Yet for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a lightness between them—like they were finally starting to believe they could survive this.

Zach walked with Anastasia at his side, her hand still entwined with his. Every once in a while, their shoulders brushed, sending sparks through him despite the chaos surrounding them.

Mei, walking just ahead, threw a glance back at the two of them. “So, uh, Zach, Ana... you guys make it official yet, or what?”

Zach smirked, squeezing Anastasia’s hand as she rolled her eyes at her sister. “Always the nosy one, huh, Mei?”

Mei grinned, her mismatched eyes gleaming. “I just like to know when I can start making fun of you.”

Anastasia laughed softly. “We’ve been through enough. I think we can handle a little teasing.”

Yeong Do, walking at the front of the group, glanced over his shoulder with an amused grin. “Well, it’s about damn time, if you ask me.”

“Exactly!” Aradhya chimed in, sidling up next to Mei. “We’ve all seen the way you two look at each other. It was only a matter of time before one of you made a move.”

Zach felt his face flush slightly, though he tried to play it cool. “I guess it’s obvious, huh?”

Anastasia gave him a playful nudge. “Oh, it’s very obvious.”

They continued down the street, and as they walked, Zach found himself feeling... at peace. The world was still broken. Zombies still roamed the streets, and danger lurked around every corner, but something had shifted within him. He had Anastasia—his strength, his equal. And with her, everything felt just a little bit easier.

The group eventually came across a quiet stretch of road leading toward a large, run-down mansion that sat atop a hill, surrounded by high, crumbling stone walls. From the outside, it looked like it had once been grand—an old relic of the city’s past glory.

“This might work as shelter for the night,” Yeong Do said, eyeing the building cautiously. “At least, it’s better than the open streets.”

Zach nodded. “Let’s check it out.”

They moved as one, cautiously approaching the gate. Aradhya pulled out a crowbar and worked it into the rusted lock. With a bit of effort, the metal gave way with a creak, and the gate swung open.

They stepped inside the grounds of the mansion, the overgrown garden crunching beneath their feet. The air felt colder here, heavier with history, but it seemed quiet—safe enough, at least for now.

Mei was the first to step up to the massive oak door. “If this place isn’t haunted, I’ll be seriously surprised.”

“Haunted’s better than overrun with zombies,” Aradhya said, pushing past her with a wink. “I can take a ghost any day.”

They entered the mansion, and to their relief, the inside was relatively intact. Dust coated the furniture, and cobwebs hung in the corners, but there was no sign of recent activity. The large foyer led to a grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. For now, it seemed like a perfect refuge.

“Let’s check the place out,” Zach said, stepping further into the house. “We need to make sure it’s clear.”

The group split up, Zach and Anastasia heading toward the back of the house while Yeong Do, Aradhya, and Mei explored the upstairs rooms. As they moved through the old mansion, Zach felt an odd sense of calm wash over him. It wasn’t the same unease he usually felt when entering new places. This one felt... different. Like a sanctuary in a world of chaos.

Anastasia brushed her hand against his arm. “You okay?”

Zach blinked and nodded. “Yeah. Just... thinking. It feels weird being in a place like this. Quiet.”

She smiled softly. “It’s a nice change, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed, glancing around the grand dining room they were in. His eyes landed on a dusty grand piano in the corner. “It’s like a snapshot of the world before all this.”

Anastasia walked over to the piano, brushing her fingers across the keys, leaving small trails in the dust. “I used to play, you know.”

Zach raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

She nodded, a wistful smile on her face. “Before everything happened... music was my escape.”

Zach moved closer, watching her as she sat down on the bench and tentatively pressed one of the keys. The sound was slightly off-tune, but it still rang through the room with a haunting beauty.

“Play something,” Zach encouraged softly.

Anastasia hesitated for a moment before placing her fingers on the keys. Slowly, she began to play a soft, melancholic melody—something simple but beautiful. The notes echoed through the empty mansion, filling the space with a sense of peace.

Zach stood behind her, watching in awe. She looked so serene as she played, her green eyes focused on the keys, her body swaying slightly with the music. In that moment, she wasn’t just Anastasia the survivor—she was Anastasia, the girl who had a life before all of this. And it made Zach fall for her even more.

As the final notes faded, Anastasia looked up at him, her eyes soft. “It’s been so long since I’ve played.”

“You’re amazing,” Zach said quietly, stepping closer.

Anastasia smiled, standing from the bench and moving into his arms. “You make it easy to forget the world is falling apart.”

Zach held her close, his heart beating in rhythm with hers. “Maybe we can create a world of our own. Right here.”

She tilted her head up to look at him, her expression filled with warmth. “I think we already have.”

Their lips met again, a gentle kiss that spoke of promises unspoken. This time, there was no urgency, no fear—just the quiet, beautiful connection between two people who had found each other amidst the wreckage of the world.

From upstairs, they heard Mei’s voice echoing through the halls. “Zach! Ana! You two better not be making out down there!”

Zach laughed against Anastasia’s lips, pulling back with a grin. “Looks like we’ve been found out.”

Anastasia chuckled. “Can’t hide from Mei.”

They made their way back to the main foyer, where Mei, Yeong Do, and Aradhya were waiting for them at the top of the stairs.

“The upstairs is clear,” Yeong Do reported, folding his arms. “A few bedrooms we can use, but nothing dangerous.”

“Good,” Zach said, nodding. “We’ll rest here for the night, then.”

As the group gathered in one of the larger bedrooms, laying out their makeshift beds, Zach sat beside Anastasia, their hands still intertwined.

For the first time in a long while, they felt safe. And in the world they now lived in, that was more precious than anything.

“We’ll figure this out,” Zach whispered to her as they settled down for the night. “Whatever comes next... we’ll face it together.”

Anastasia smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. “I know.”

And as the night closed in around them, the group slept, knowing that whatever the future held, they would face it as one—strong, fearless, and unbreakable.