Highschool of the Dead: Fanfiction Darkpenn

Chapter 4.2: Nightmares

Saeko discovers that late-night terrors are part of the business of being a survivor - but she also finds that she is not alone in dealing with fear.

[Author's Note: This story takes place about ten weeks after the Outbreak; about six weeks after the group reached the Maresato farm; and about two weeks after Takashi and Saeko became lovers.]

The zombie reached out for her, she could feel its foul breath on her skin and the stench of its rotting flesh in her nostrils. Her sword! Where was her sword! Why wasn't it in her hand!

The zombie had her in its grip now, it was pulling her towards its stinking maw and she was defenceless -

Saeko awoke with a snap, automatically reaching out for the Hokusawa blade. It took her a few moments to realise where she was: in her bed, in her caravan at the Maresato farm, Takashi sleeping silently next to her. Her naked body was covered in sweat and she was still shaking from the dream. It was not the first nightmare she had had - indeed, they happened every few nights - but it was not the sort of thing that became easier with repetition.

She knew she would not get back to sleep easily. Being afraid to close your eyes is a bad sign, she thought. She got out of bed and wiped the sweat away with a towel. She put a kimono on, glad for the cool feel of the silk. Perhaps a cup of tea would help. Rather than worry about waking Takashi, she decided she would go into the farmhouse. Instinctively, she picked up her sword as she left.

She was surprised to find a light on in the kitchen. Someone was sitting at the table. It was Alice, in her pyjamas. She turned when she heard Saeko.

"Mind if I join you?" said Saeko.

"Kettle has just boiled," said Alice. Saeko saw that Alice had a cup in front of her. Saeko put her sword on the table and began to make herself a pot of tea.

"I couldn't sleep," said Alice. "Nightmares. About zombies. Of course."

"Me too," said Saeko.

There was a knock at the door of the kitchen. It was Miss Marikawa, looking a bit bleary-eyed.

"Sorry if we woke you," said Saeko.

"I wasn't asleep anyway," she said. "Dreams. Like it's not enough for the zombies to bother us when we're awake."

Saeko poured a cup of tea for her. "I thought that I was the only one to get them," she said.

"You're not," said Alice. "It's not surprising, after all we've been through. Rei sleeps holding her Glock sometimes. She says that it helps."

"What are your nightmares about, Saeko?" said Miss Marikawa.

"I dream about not having my sword. What about you?"

"Being back in Fujimi High School, mainly. Being chased by them and not being able to find the way out. Just going round and round. How about you, Alice?"

Alice shrugged. "Various things," she said. "The most common one is ... the night we first met. You know, Kohta told me that he has bad dreams as well. Saya - "

"Let me guess," said Saeko. "Sleeps like a log."

Alice laughed her girlish laugh. "Right," she said.

"Saya is lucky," said Miss Marikawa. "In many ways. Having a guy who loves her, for one thing. But now so do you, Saeko."

"Really?" said Saeko. "Sometimes, I wonder."

"Crazy, crazy, crazy in love with you," said Alice.

"And you are such an expert," said Saeko, smiling.