Senior Year ↭ Zaddison/Zeddison

three: Never Say Never

I stand there in silence and darkness for a good minute before I realise I am not going to get anywhere if I can't see or locate anything. I feel around for a light switch and when I find it, I flip it on.

Overhead lights shine down in intervals. A big boom explodes every time one section of the room lights up. Six big booms and everything is now visible.

I adjust my eyes to the scenery. Immediately, I feel a pit deep down in my stomach. It's basically a zombie shrine. On the wall are paintings and posters of famous zombies who have changed history and right in the middle of it is an enlarged portrait of my mom. I furrow my eyebrows. That's so weird. She hates zombies.

I tiptoe around some more, trying to explore thoroughly. Z Bands are everywhere, and so are books on the lineage of zombies, how to's on bonding with humans and getting rid of their fear of fire.

I start to suspect something, but I don't want to accept it. It's too far fetched.

I walk right up to the picture of my mom. She looks completely different now that I can really see it. Her typically blonde hair is now a grassy green, she has dark burgundy marks under and above her lids and sickeningly pale skin. A zombie.

Could my mom be a zombie?

I shake my head. What in the world am I thinking? MY mom, a zombie? What universe have I entered?

I place my hand tentatively on her folded fists, and the portrait instantaneously spreads apart. I jump back. "That's enough surprises for one day!" I try to joke, but in all honesty I'm scared as all hell. Zed says you can see when I'm afraid because it shows in my eyes. I can only imagine how I look right now.

Once the picture of my mom has fully split in half, a long digital scroll is revealed. I take a deep breath and begin reading.

I am fearful. As part of the zombie community, I have been manipulating my Z Band to appear human for 20 years. My research has proved this method of disguise is more successful in women, which is why I have not yet extended it to everyone. With new technology, not everyone needs to hide anymore, but I do, because of my daughter. However, the zombie adults know who I am and what my purpose is; to infiltrate in a peaceful way and distract attention away from zombies, especially my daughter. She is both dangerous and a miracle, but not even she knows her true identity. Being half zombie will be difficult for her, and I know one day Zion will come for her abilities and blood. I have vowed never to tell my husband who I am, but I struggle with that daily. I pray that everything will be fine, but she grows closer and closer to her last year of high school. That's when Zion will strike. And Lord have mercy on us all when that time comes.

My breath hitches. I read it again, again, again. I reach up to touch my hair and sigh. Could it be true?

I have so many insisting questions. Why am I such a big deal? What does being half zombie even mean? Who's Zion? What is my mother's true purpose? Senior frickin year? Why did she never tell me?!

I don't know why but I feel like crying. And that's when I hear the front door open and I remember all about Zed and our date. Sort of like I know exactly how to manage everything, I place my hands on opposite sides of the portrait and it closes back together. I run back to turn off the lights and stumble out of the office just as Zed turns the corner with a box of pizza and a karaoke machine.

He stares at me oddly and I grab his hand.

"You will not believe what just happened to me,"

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OMZOMBIE! what does this mean ?! continue to be active my loves 🌸✨🌜