Zombie Guy

Chapter 13: The Plan

A dark, suffocating weight pressed down on me, dragging me back to that moment—the blood, the blinding hunger, the helplessness. I was back in that lab cell, the taste of iron and terror flooding my senses. The person's face was blurred, but the feeling was all too real. I tried to stop, to pull myself away, but my body wouldn't obey. I was trapped, forced to watch as I tore into them, helpless against the violent instinct consuming me.

"Kevin. Kevin."

A voice cut through the darkness, and I jolted awake, gasping. Jaime's face hovered above me, looking both concerned and amused.

"You alright?" she asked, tilting her head. "You were muttering all sorts of things in your sleep. Never thought zombies could dream."

I rubbed my eyes, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to me. "It was... it wasn't great," I muttered, shuddering. "I was back in the lab. Reliving... you know." I looked down, the shame and disgust still fresh.

Jaime gave me a sympathetic look, reaching over to pat my shoulder. "Hey, it's just a dream. You're out now, remember?" She looked out the window at the early morning light breaking through the trees. "Come on, let's shake it off with a walk."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction, and we headed outside. The woods were quiet, save for the early morning chirps of birds. Jaime led me back to the narrow path we'd practiced on before. I took a deep breath, focused, and tried to walk as naturally as I could, determined to shake off the stiffness that came with this unfamiliar body.

"Better, Kev," Jaime said, watching me with a nod of approval. "You're almost looking like a regular guy again."

I chuckled, the tension in my chest loosening a little. "Thanks, coach."

She grinned, then looked at me thoughtfully. "So... tell me more about Linda. What's she like?"

I felt a smile creep onto my face, the nightmare fading as I thought about her. "She's... well, she's beautiful, obviously. She has these big brown eyes, like she's always looking straight into you, and this warm smile. It's the kind of smile that makes you feel like everything's going to be alright, no matter what."

Jaime listened, a small smile on her face as I went on.

"She's smart, too. Quick with a joke, and she doesn't take crap from anyone. Even though she jokes a lot, she notices things, like when someone's having a bad day. She's just... real, you know?" I trailed off, realizing how much I missed her.

Jaime nodded. "Sounds like she's one of a kind. No wonder you're so hung up on seeing her."

I let out a sigh, the ache of missing her settling in. "Yeah. I have to find a way to see her. I can't keep hiding like this. She deserves to know I'm... still here. Even if I'm not exactly the same."

Jaime patted me on the back, her smile widening. "Then let's figure it out. If she's as amazing as you say, we'll get you looking good enough that she'll look past... well, the zombie bits."

The thought of seeing Linda again lit a spark in me, a motivation I hadn't felt since the transformation. For the first time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I could make this work. I just had to keep moving forward—one step, one awkward walk at a time.

A few hours later, Jaime and I were walking down a dirt road at a steady pace.

Jaime had done an impressive job with the final touches of my makeup. I looked almost... normal. Enough to pass through town without drawing any weird looks, anyway. But we had to be careful. As we made our way toward the facility, I noticed groups of people scattered around, talking to locals, showing photos, and asking questions.

Jaime nudged me. "Those people... are they...?"

"Yeah," I murmured, keeping my head down. "They're definitely looking for me. Probably doctors or guards from the lab. They must have sent a search party when I escaped."

The plan to meet Linda was straightforward enough, at least in theory. Jaime and I would scope out the facility first, keeping an eye out for any guards or staff who might recognize me. With people out there searching for a "strange individual" (a.k.a. me), we couldn't afford to be reckless. Once we confirmed that the coast was clear, I'd wait until Linda was on her lunch break or heading out after work.

I'd approach her casually, not making a scene, just... normal. The goal was to make her see me—not this messed-up version of myself, but the person she knew. Jaime would hang back, ready to swoop in with some emergency makeup touch-ups if needed, just in case my "normal" disguise started to slip. I was anxious, sure, but the idea of finally seeing Linda again... it made me feel like maybe, just maybe, this could work.

We slipped around the groups of people, careful not to draw any attention, and eventually found ourselves on a back road leading up to the facility. There, we ducked behind a clump of trees, catching our breath and scanning the area.

"Whoa," Jaime whispered, peeking around the tree trunk to get a better look at the place. "This is something. Is this where they keep the zombies?" She gave me a cheeky grin, her eyes wide with excitement. "So... what's the inside like? Are there mad scientists running around? Do you guys get, like, special zombie chow or something?"

I stifled a laugh, rolling my eyes. "It's not that dramatic, Jaime. Just a lot of labs, sterile rooms, people in white coats. Trust me, it's not nearly as exciting as you'd think."

She pouted, clearly disappointed. "That's a shame. I was hoping for something more exciting." She lifted her binoculars to her eyes, scanning the area with an eager grin.

Meanwhile, I realized that, even without the binoculars, I could see everything with unsettling clarity—the guards stationed by the gate, the people moving in and out of the facility, each detail sharp as day. I didn't need extra help seeing the place or, ideally, spotting any familiar faces. But as I scanned the area, I still couldn't find who I was looking for.

I took a step forward to get a better view, but the next thing I knew, my foot came down squarely on Jaime's.

"Ow!" she yelped, and before I could even apologize, her hand shot out, slapping me squarely across the face in pure reflex. The force sent me stumbling backward, my head connecting with the tree behind me with a loud thud.

Stars danced in my vision, and I heard the rustling of wings as a cluster of birds took off from the branches overhead, their cries piercing the quiet morning air.

We both froze, eyes wide, as we saw the guards by the gate whip their heads in our direction, trying to spot the source of the noise. Panic surged through me, and I grabbed Jaime's arm, tugging her down as we scrambled backward.

"Go, go, go!" I hissed, pulling her along as we tripped and stumbled over roots and rocks. Jaime's muffled laughter mingled with our panicked breaths as we crashed through the trees, trying desperately to avoid another loud accident.

Somehow, we managed to get far enough away that we were out of sight. We ducked behind a fallen log, panting and trying to catch our breath.

Jaime looked at me, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "Smooth moves, stealth master," she teased. "Next time, maybe watch where you're putting those big zombie feet."

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. "I'll try, but maybe avoid standing in the line of fire next time."

We both chuckled, the tension lifting as we realized we'd escaped unnoticed. The facility loomed in the distance, just out of reach, and I felt the familiar weight of determination settle back over me. We'd try again, I told myself, even if it meant risking a few more mishaps along the way.