Zombie survivor

[88] Ted talk for survival

The dim lantern in their shared tent flickered weakly, casting long shadows on the rough canvas walls. The group sat in a loose circle on the ground, their faces a mix of exhaustion and nerves. Tomorrow was the big day—their first scavenging run. And while most of them had tried to act tough during training, the reality was sinking in now: this might be their last night alive.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of someone shifting or the distant sound of the camp outside. Finally, Jordan, never one to handle silence well, broke the tension.

"Man," he said, leaning back against a duffel bag. "Remember when our biggest problem was whether someone leaked your nudes or you failed your math test?"

Chloe shot him a glare, her ponytail swishing as she turned. "Nice to know what you thought was my biggest problem."

"I mean, not you specifically," Jordan said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying. High school scandals were, like, the peak of drama. Now we're out here about to fight zombies like we're in The Walking Dead."

"Yo, I'd kill for those problems now," Tyler said, twirling a crowbar in his hands. "Like, give me a cheating scandal over a fucking zombie any day."

"That's because no one cheats with you," Brittany muttered, inspecting her chipped nails.

"Damn," Brad said, snorting. "That's cold."

Tyler just smirked. "You say that, but I know you're secretly crushing on me, Britt."

Brittany groaned loudly. "Ugh, don't even joke about that. I'd rather die."

"Well, good news, you might get your wish tomorrow," Chloe said dryly, her voice laced with sarcasm.

The group chuckled nervously, the morbid humor cutting through the tension. Jean, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke up. "It's kinda weird, isn't it? Like, how fast everything changed. One day we're just kids, and now... this."

"Yeah," Trev muttered, staring at the floor. "I used to sit in my mom's basement, playing games all day. Now I'm carrying fucking wood planks and hoping I don't get eaten alive."

"That's called character development," Jordan said with a grin, earning a half-hearted laugh from a few of them.

"Speaking of development," Brad said, leaning forward, "if we're all gonna die tomorrow, might as well lay it all out. What's everyone's big life goal? Like, if we survive this shit, what's the dream?"

Jordan raised his hand immediately. "Not dying a virgin. That's the goal."

The tent erupted in laughter, though most of it was nervous and short-lived.

"Of course that's your goal," Chloe said, shaking her head. "You're such a stereotype."

"Hey, I'm just being honest," Jordan said, grinning. "I'm not about to die without, y'know, experiencing life."

"Bruh, life isn't just sex," Jean muttered, though he couldn't hide the faint smirk on his face.

"Easy for you to say," Jordan shot back. "You've got Akira glued to you like a body pillow. Meanwhile, I'm over here with zero action."

Akira, sitting close to Jean, perked up at the mention of her name. She latched onto his arm, her dark eyes sparkling with intensity. "I don't need anything else," she said softly, her voice almost dreamy. "As long as I'm with my loved one... together forever."

The group fell silent, a mix of awkwardness and discomfort settling over them.

"Okay, moving on," Chloe said quickly, flipping her ponytail. "If we're talking dreams, I'm gonna be a Hollywood star. That's the plan."

"You're a little far from LA, queen," Tyler said with a snicker.

"Shut up, Tyler," Chloe snapped. "The apocalypse isn't gonna last forever. And when it's over, I'm gonna pick up where I left off. Headshots, auditions, red carpets—I'm gonna make it."

"Big dreams for someone eating watered-down gruel," Brittany muttered, earning a glare from Chloe.

"And what about you, Miss Influencer?" Chloe shot back. "What's your big plan?"

Brittany smirked, sitting up straighter. "Easy. Hit 100 million subs. Be the biggest name on the internet. Apocalypse or not, people are still gonna need entertainment."

Brad snorted. "Good luck with that. Your OnlyFans doesn't count."

Brittany's eyes narrowed. "At least I have fans. What's your goal? Get paid to flex in front of a camera?"

"Close," Brad said, leaning back with a cocky grin. "NFL, baby. I was on track for it before all this shit went down. Star quarterback, first draft pick—you know the drill."

"Sure you were," Tyler said, rolling his eyes. "Let's hope zombies are impressed by touchdowns."

"At least I've got ambition," Brad shot back. "What's your big plan, Tyler? Let me guess: something creepy."

Tyler grinned, clearly unfazed. "Simple. World domination."

"Cool." Chloe rolled her eyes unimpressively.

"Okay, fine," Tyler said, shrugging. "Honestly? I just wanna not die tomorrow. Big dreams, I know."

Evan, who had been quiet until now, shifted nervously. "I, uh... I just wanna have a girlfriend. Someone to... y'know, share life with."

Chloe gave him a sharp look. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"Why?" Evan said, surprising everyone by not backing down. "What's so dumb about wanting to be with someone? You've got dreams. I've got mine."

For once, Chloe didn't have a quick comeback. She huffed and looked away, muttering something under her breath.

"What about you, Jean?" Brittany asked, turning to him. "What's your dream?"

Jean hesitated, his eyes flicking around the circle. "I don't know," he admitted finally. "I guess... I never really thought about it."

"Bruh, how do you not know?" Jordan asked, shaking his head. "You've gotta have something."

"I've been too busy trying to stay alive," Jean said, his tone sharper than he intended. "Dreams don't mean much when every day is a fight."

The group fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Akira, still holding his arm, looked up at him with a soft smile. "It's okay," she said. "You don't need a dream. You have me. We'll be together forever. That's all that matters."

Jean shifted uncomfortably, his face flushing. "Uh... thanks, Akira."

Trev, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, finally spoke up. "I just... I don't wanna be looked down on anymore. I'm tired of feeling like I don't matter."

The group glanced at him, their expressions softening. For all his quirks, Trev's honesty was disarming.

"That's real," Jean said, nodding. "I get that."

"And what about you, Blake?" Brittany asked, raising an eyebrow. "Let me guess: something about feminism?"

Blake straightened up, adjusting his glasses. "Overthrowing the patriarchy," he said with absolute seriousness. "The world may have ended, but systemic inequality hasn't. If we survive this, I'm gonna make sure the new world doesn't repeat the mistakes of the old one."

Brad groaned. "Ugh, Blake. You're like a walking TED Talk."

"At least I have principles," Blake shot back, his tone sharp.

"Alright, alright," Jean said, holding up his hands. "Can we not start a fight? We've got enough shit to worry about tomorrow."

The group nodded reluctantly, falling into an uneasy silence. For all their bravado, the fear was still there, hanging over them like a dark cloud.

"Let's just get through tomorrow," Jean said quietly, his voice steady. "Then we'll see what's next."

No one argued. Dreams or not, surviving tomorrow was the only goal that truly mattered.

Q: What is your bucket list for survival?