I had that creeping, instinctive bad feeling—the kind that slinks up your spine and whispers, “You’re in for it now.”
You know how predators in nature documentaries howl before calling in the pack?
Yeah. That was exactly the vibe.
I couldn’t tell if Aria was summoning zombies to our location or sending them to attack the monastery. Honestly, with my luck? Probably both.
“We should eliminate the threat here,” Yoan said, voice steady.
“Not yet. Can’t kill.”
“Why not?”
“She knows… something. Important.”
“Then I’ll capture her alive.” Yoan’s eyes turned to ice.
Could we actually do that?
I wasn’t doubting his skill, but this was Aria.
Plus, I could already hear footsteps approaching. A lot of them.
“Yoan. I hear something.”
“How many?”
“Six? Eight? No... way more.”
Yoan shifted his grip on the greatsword. “Sasha, it’s dangerous. You should—”
“Mooove!”
I shoved him aside just as a massive zombie lunged out of the darkness.
The thing was drooling like a faucet and charging full speed.
When it opened its mouth, I saw rows of teeth crammed inside like a nightmare dentist’s jackpot.
This wasn’t your standard zombie—it had mutated enough to qualify as a full-on monster.
Were they showing up early because of Aria?
“Agh!”
I yelped as it sank its teeth into my shoulder while I tried to shield Yoan.
More attacks followed, relentless and fast.
I staggered, but I refused to move. If I went down here, Yoan would—
“Damn it, Sasha!” Yoan wrenched me backward, taking my place.
“Don’t!” I cried.
If he got bitten, we were doomed. With Aria already turned, he was our only hope.
Thunk!
His sword cleaved straight through the zombie’s belly.
While it flailed, he followed up with a clean slice across the neck. The head flew off and rolled right to my feet.
Of course it stopped there.
“Euhh…” I stumbled back with a squeak.
“Will you please just listen!”
“But—!”
Kreeehk!
Graarrr!
That was just the opening act.
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.
I had to protect Yoan. No matter what.
***
“What the hell is going on?”
Yoan kept swinging as he cursed, his blade moving so relentlessly there wasn’t even room to breathe.
He’d fought zombies before. Too many, honestly.
But these ones? These were different.
Stronger. Faster. Coordinated.
With every strike, Yoan felt himself wearing down, like a wheel grinding against stone.
And what made it worse? Sasha.
She kept throwing herself in front of him.
“Yoan! Duck! Left side!”
A zombie who didn’t care about her own safety. A zombie who dove into danger despite trembling in fear. A zombie who chose humanity.
A zombie who was, frankly, kind of slow sometimes—but also kind in the most upright way.
He had no reason to risk his life for her. They’d met by pure chance.
And yet, he couldn’t stop worrying about her—small, stubborn Sasha.
“Oi! You zoning out?!” she shouted, then shoved him sideways.
He caught his balance, just in time to avoid face-planting.
But that meant the next attack hit her.
The zombie’s claws tore a long gash down her chest, slashing open her shirt.
Sasha immediately crossed her arms with a scowl.
“Don’t look!”
“What?”
That’s really not the issue right now!
Yoan, exasperated beyond belief, decapitated the zombie in a single stroke.
Then he turned his eyes to Aria. She was just standing there, watching.
Right… The fastest way to end this chaos? Take out the head of the snake.
“As long as I don’t kill her, right?”
He switched weapons. A machete would be faster.
“Just wait here. I’ll handle it.”
And with that, he leapt. One moment he was beside Sasha—the next, across the battlefield, facing Aria.
But something felt... off.
There were still plenty of zombies around, but none of them moved.
Just moments ago, they’d been diving in front of her like bodyguards. Now? Nothing.
And Aria—she was smiling.
Not the nice kind of smile. The other kind. The zombie kind.
She raised a finger and began drawing letters in the air.
[Are you sure about this? She seems dear to you.]
Yoan froze. He turned, almost involuntarily.
“Sasha?”
She had been standing, upright and determined, despite her injuries.
But looking again? He found her on her knees.
“Huff... huff...”
Her breathing was ragged. Something was clearly wrong.
Without further thought, Yoan sprinted to Sasha and caught her just as she collapsed.
Her earlier wound had turned black like it had been scorched.
“Poison?”
His mind spun, scrambling through scraps of medical knowledge from half-read books.
But without knowing what kind it was, he couldn’t risk guessing.
“Yoan…”
“Don’t talk,” he said. “Just focus on breathing slow for now. You’ll be okay.”
“You… have to live.”
“Stop talking like these are your last words.”
“I’m serious. That’s...”
And then Sasha closed her eyes.
***
Chirp chirp chirp.
Ugh, so noisy.
I’d never found cricket sounds annoying before. Chalk it up to enhanced zombie hearing.
Eventually, I woke up. Kind of.
Eh? I slept?
I was awake, mentally, but my body wouldn’t move. My eyes stayed closed.
It was like being trapped inside myself.
What’s going on?
Last I remembered, I was in the forest, guarding Yoan.
I’d taken a hit. Chest wound. Burning pain.
And then... nothing.
I’d read a lot of stories in my day, but not a single one featured a fainting zombie.
And now I was one?
I wasn’t dead—probably—but it was suspiciously quiet.
Had I been carried somewhere safe? Or did Aria happen to get me?
Fingers crossed for the former…
Yoan must be alive… I guess?
I was spiraling into worst-case scenarios when the door creaked open. Footsteps approached.
Just from the sound, I knew who it was.
“Sis.”
Derek. His voice was low and heavy, like he’d been crying.
“You can’t die like this.”
I’m not dying. I’m still fine.
“After finally finding a person I want to be with…”
So sorry, Derek. Technically? I’m not exactly a person, per se…
But I really am grateful you feel that way.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to save you.”
This kid was suffering, and there I was, lying there like a sack of cold potatoes.
“Get some good rest then. I’ll come back later.”
He finished and quietly closed the door.
So. I was at the monastery. That meant Yoan had survived too.
Best news all day.
Before I could process more, the door opened again.
Rob.
Okay. Derek made sense, but Rob?
What is he even doing here? Come to nag me in my coma?
“Hey, Sasha.” His voice was strangely soft. “You’re a zombie. C’mon.”
Oh great, here we go again. What is he, some kinda parrot?
Yeah, I’m a zombie. But has he ever done a single thing for me? And yet he never misses a chance to bring it up!
“You can’t die pathetically like this. You hear?”
I ain’t dead, pal! Can’t you see me breathe?
“And, um, if you’re gone, my lord will... Ugh, never mind.”
What? Say it! You can’t just drop a dramatic pause like that and leave!
“Anyway, you better wake up. You have to. When you wake up, I’ll let you eat all the meat you want.”
...You better. I heard that.
He left. Then Bliss came in and promised to cook me something tasty when I woke up.
Oh no.
Was this one of those scenes? Where people visit their hospitalized friend one by one to give them courage?
Because that’s exactly what it felt like.
I didn’t expect Jeremy or Kira—they were too new.
So that left...
The door opened again. Right on cue.
No footsteps needed—I knew who it was.
Yoan.
He walked in and sat beside me with a heavy sigh.
Then unsettling silence.
Why are you so quiet? Are you mad at me?
Was it because I didn’t listen again? Because I threw myself in front of danger?
But if it happened again, I’d still do it. No hesitation.
“Sasha.” He finally spoke.
I tensed, bracing myself for the scolding.
Would he tie me up? Lecture me?
“I’m sorry.”
...Huh?
Not what I expected. At all.
Wait.
Did something really bad happen to me?