Zombie Guy

Chapter 27: Under the Big Tree

The sun was warm but not overbearing as Jaime and I walked along the dirt path leading out of the little town. The surrounding hills were vibrant green, dotted with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. Day four of this trip, and I felt like I could almost forget the weight of everything pressing down on us. Almost.

Jaime walked ahead of me, her bag slung casually over one shoulder. "You know," she said, turning to look at me with a sly grin, "if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were actually enjoying this trip."

"Don't flatter yourself," I said, smirking back. "It's the scenery."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Come on, big guy. There's a spot just up ahead I want to show you."

The spot she led me to was nothing short of picturesque—a massive oak tree standing proudly at the edge of a gentle hill, its canopy providing a perfect patch of shade. Beneath it, the ground was soft with moss, and the view stretched out over the valley below.

Jaime dropped her bag with a theatrical sigh of relief and flopped onto the grass. "Well, this is nice," she said, stretching out and pulling a sandwich from the bag. "Good call on the picnic."

I sat down across from her, pulling out my own sandwich. "You'll never admit it, but you're enjoying this trip just as much as I am."

"Oh, please," she said through a mouthful of food. "I'm just here for the snacks."

We ate in companionable silence for a while, watching the valley below. The stillness of it all felt like a gift, a chance to breathe in a way I hadn't in weeks.

---

After finishing her food, Jaime leaned back against the tree trunk, her eyes half-closed. "This is... peaceful," she said softly. "It almost makes me forget how messed up everything is."

"Almost," I said, giving her a small smile. "I think it's the best we can hope for right now."

She nodded, then tilted her head to look at me. "You've been quiet. What's on your mind?"

I hesitated, then decided to ease into the conversation that had been weighing on me since we left the lab. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she said, sitting up a little straighter.

"What... what did you feel when you saw your brother?" I asked, my voice cautious. "When you saw him like that."

Her expression softened, and I could see the grief welling up in her eyes again. "I felt... everything," she said after a moment. "Anger, sadness, guilt—like I'd failed him somehow. But mostly, I just felt helpless. There he was, right in front of me, but I couldn't do anything to bring him back."

She paused, her voice trembling as she continued. "He wasn't just my brother, Kevin. He was my best friend. He looked out for me when no one else did, and now he's... he's trapped in that shell, and I don't know if I'll ever get him back."

My chest ached as I watched her try to hold herself together. "Jaime," I said softly, "if there was something you could do to save him... would you?"

Her gaze snapped to mine, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What kind of question is that?"

"I'm serious," I said, holding her gaze. "If there was a way to bring him back, even if it was dangerous or... or required a sacrifice, would you do it?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I would do anything. He's my brother, Kevin. I'd give my life if it meant saving his."

I nodded, her answer confirming what I already knew deep down. I wanted to tell her everything about my conversation with Dr. Hayes, about the impossible choice I was facing, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I just said, "You're a good sister, Jaime."