Zombie survivor

[106] New year

The living room was dimly lit, the faint glow of the fireplace casting long shadows across the walls. The air was cold but manageable, the group huddled together on mismatched chairs and the worn-out couch they'd salvaged from another abandoned house. The battery-powered fairy lights strung around the room flickered weakly, adding a faint festive glow to the setting.

It was New Year's Eve.

They'd scrounged together what they could for the occasion: a small stash of canned fruit, a bottle of suspiciously aged champagne they'd found during a scavenging run, and a few cups of water for those who didn't want to risk the questionable alcohol. The clock on the mantle, its battery almost dead, ticked away slowly as they waited for midnight.

Jean sat on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped together as he glanced around the room. Everyone looked tired but content, their faces reflecting a rare moment of peace.

"So," he began, his voice breaking the quiet. "Since it's New Year's Eve, I figured... maybe we could share resolutions. You know, like we used to."

Jordan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Resolutions? Dude, the world ended. What the hell are we resolving for?"

"To survive another year, maybe?" Chloe said dryly, rolling her eyes. "It's not like we've got much else to aim for."

"Come on," Jean said, his tone earnest. "It doesn't have to be serious. Just... something to look forward to."

There was a brief silence as the group exchanged glances. Finally, Brad shrugged, breaking the tension.

"Fine," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I'll go first. My resolution? To get ripped again. I've been slacking since the apocalypse, but I'm bringing back the gains. Zombies won't know what hit them."

Tyler snorted. "Bro, you're already ripped. What are you gonna do, bench press a car?"

"Maybe," Brad shot back, smirking. "You never know."

"Classic meathead," Chloe muttered, shaking her head. "Alright, my turn. I want to... I don't know, be famous again. Like, apocalypse famous. There's gotta be a way to get my name out there, even now."

"You mean like influencer famous?" Brittany asked, flipping her pink hair over her shoulder. "Good luck. The internet's kind of dead."

"I'll figure it out," Chloe said with a shrug. "If anyone can, it's me."

Jordan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Okay, my resolution is simple: I don't wanna die a virgin. Straight up. It's gotta happen this year."

The room burst into laughter, though a few faces turned red.

"You're so predictable," Blake said, shaking his head.

"Predictable but honest," Jordan said, grinning. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."

"Not everyone," Akira said softly, sitting close to Jean. "My resolution... I just want to protect the people I care about. That's all."

Jean glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That's a good one."

Akira nodded, her expression serene.

Brittany spoke up next, her voice bright. "I want to hit 100 million subs. Like, obviously, the internet's not exactly functional, but when it comes back? I'm gonna be ready."

"You're so full of yourself," Chloe muttered, though there was no malice in her tone.

"And you're not?" Brittany shot back, smirking.

"Alright, keep it civil," Jean said, raising a hand.

Blake adjusted his glasses, clearing his throat. "I'd like to start a journal. Document what's happening. The world's gone to shit, but someone should write it all down. Future generations might need to know what we went through."

"Assuming there's a future," Brad said.

"There will be," Blake replied, his tone firm. "Because we're going to make one."

Evan hesitated, fidgeting with his hands. "Uh, I guess... my resolution is to, like, not be so scared all the time. I mean, we're all scared, but I feel like I freeze up too much. I wanna be braver."

"Big mood," Tyler said, nodding. "Mine's kinda similar. I wanna be less cringe. Like, stop saying dumb shit that makes everyone uncomfortable."

"Good luck with that," Chloe said, smirking.

"Hey, I'm serious!" Tyler protested. "This year's gonna be different. Just watch."

Garrett, who had been sitting quietly with his arms crossed, finally spoke. "I don't do resolutions," he said gruffly. "But if I had to pick one, I guess it'd be... keeping all of you alive. That's enough for me."

The group fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them. Despite his rough exterior, Garrett's commitment to their survival was unwavering.

Finally, all eyes turned to Jean.

"What about you, fearless leader?" Jordan asked. "What's your big resolution?"

Jean paused, thinking. His gaze drifted to the faintly glowing Christmas lights, and then to the faces of the people around him.

"I guess... I just want to keep us together," he said quietly. "We've lost too much already. If we can make it another year as a group, as a family... that's enough for me."

The group nodded, their expressions softening. Even Jordan, usually quick with a joke, stayed silent for a moment.

The clock on the mantle clicked closer to midnight. Brittany glanced at it and sat up straighter. "It's almost time. We doing a countdown or what?"

"Hell yeah," Brad said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's ring this shit in right."

The group gathered closer around the small table where the bottle of champagne sat, along with a mix of salvaged cups and mugs. Garrett grabbed the bottle, twisting the cap off with a loud pop. The sound echoed through the room, drawing cheers and laughter.

"Ten seconds!" Brittany announced, holding up her watch.

"Here we go!" Tyler said, bouncing on his heels. "Let's fucking go!"

As the countdown began, their voices overlapped, each person shouting louder than the last.

"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven!"

Jean glanced at Akira, who gave him a small, encouraging nod. He smiled back.

"Six! Five! Four!"

Brad threw an arm around Jordan's shoulders, the two of them yelling the numbers together like a pair of drunken frat boys.

"Three! Two! One!"

"Happy fucking New Year!" Chloe shouted, raising her mug as the room erupted in cheers.

The group clinked their mismatched cups together, the sound ringing out like a toast to survival itself. Champagne spilled onto the table, and laughter filled the air as they drank to their new resolutions, their hopes for the year ahead.

The snow outside continued to fall, blanketing the world in a cold but peaceful silence. Inside, the warmth of their camaraderie burned brightly, a defiant light in the darkness.

Q: Did you enjoy the book? xd