Starting Now, It's The End

-"So you searched the place while I was out?"

"Yeah. I put the food and water in your backpack."

-"We should take some chairs for firewood."

"Sure."

It's really awkward... Did I talk too much?

19:00

--------

We didn't talk much for the rest of the day. The silence was heavier than when I was all alone.

I tap on her shoulder.

-"Hey, are we alright?"

She looks at me with a small smile on her lips.

"Not really, but one thing could make me forgive you."

-"Whatever you want."

"Give me… the bed and take the couch."

…

-"Uh, that's it?"

Is it a trap? Can this really be enough?

-"Are you sure?"

"Yes, but just promise me one thing."

-"Name it."

"Don't do anything like this... ever... again."

I nod at her.

-"I promise you."

Day 20

We cleared every floor of the building.

Today is the day when we get to the ground floor and step outside.

We have quite a bit of food, but there's nothing left to loot in here. It's time.

We prepared: flashlights, backpacks, me with a metal bat, Lana with a crowbar, and we didn't forget our guns.

-"Lana, ready?"

"Yes, I take the lead."

I follow her in the now familiar and comforting darkness.

I feel almost relaxed.

Even though I know I shouldn't. I can't let my guard down, ever.

My heart rate quickens at the idea of finally seeing something new and discovering the world.

Behind the door to the last floor between us and the outside:

GROWL GROWL GROWL GROWL GROWL

We can hear many zombies on the other side.

I open the door and flinch.

There are a lot, I can't count them!

There is even a car inside the hall, it went through the bay window.

I close the door very slowly, trying not to attract any unwanted attention.

I signal to go up one floor so we can talk.

---

-"It's not looking great, there are loads of them."

"So what do we do?"

-"We need to lure them away, I don't think we can take care of tens of zombies."

"Well, we could use the guns."

Pondering

-"Not really. Bad idea, even if we had enough bullets to clear the hall, it would attract everything from outside."

"Yes, of course. Well, as we can't go here, we should go see the parking floor."

-"Yeah, I hope there are fewer of them."

We went down in utter silence and opened the floor to the parking lot.

It seems doable, there are fewer than ten of them and they are spread out, so we shouldn't get overwhelmed.

We lock eyes, and with a mutual understanding, we each run toward a different zombie.

I hit the zombie on the knee, breaking it and making him kneel. I smash its head with a powerful blow.

While the body is still falling I shift my focus to another one starting to walk toward me.

I charge straight into him.

THUMB

The first victim falls.

I start to go near the second one and I push it to the ground with a front kick.

THUMB

On the ground, I plunge my bat into its head, to finish it.

Time flows slowly, I feel faster, stronger, my thoughts are clearer than ever.

It's so exhilarating, adrenaline pumping like never before, I start to run toward my next target, smiling like never before. I run toward it and hit it in the jaw — crunch — which breaks and crashes on the windshield of a black car.

I feel like I am in the zone.

A quick sweep to the leg — SNAP — breaks it, then I pin its skull to the concrete.

Warm and sticky blood hits my face.

Doesn't matter, my focus is locked on the fight.

But without a care, I look up and see that there are still two going up to me.

Feeling better than ever, I take out my gun, aim and fire two shots point-blank.

BANG, BANG.

Ahh

Two clean headshots.

Ah, it feels so good.

I'm having the best time of my life.

"Why did you use your gun, Alex?!"

-"Because I wanted to, I was excited about the fight! It was amazing!"

Looking at me disgusted.

"You're smiling, why are you smiling?"

-"Sorry, I just love this so much, adrenaline filling my body. Don't you feel it too? Whenever I kill one of these things it feels just right."

Looking stunned, taking a step back.

"What!? Alex, you... you're crazy! That's disgusting! How can you enjoy this?

I don't understand."

-"I used to feel bad, too. But they're not human anymore, just flesh. There is no harm in liking to kill them."

"You are wrong in the head, really, this isn't normal, Alex, I'm worried."

-"Whatever, for the rest of our lives we'll have to deal with zombies, I have a better chance at surviving this world. I fit in this world."

I take a step toward her.

She instinctively puts her hand on her gun.

I stop, losing my smile instantly.

-"It's still me, Lana."

"You're dangerous."

-"...Maybe, but not to you. I swear I will never do anything to you, you don't have to worry."

"..."

She just stares at me, without a word, conflicted.

My heart tightens.

-"I'll look for the car we found the key to and let you think."

"..."

---

I wipe the blood off my face and force myself to calm down.

After settling, I use one of the corpses to wipe the blood off my bat and put it in my bag.

I use the electronic key, and I hear a faint sound in the distance.

With my flashlight, I look out for any remaining walkers.

I walk slowly in the dark,

each step echoing.

Between two cars I see one. Looking at it, I feel strange thinking about Lana.

I hesitate for a moment, but finally I accept it and tighten my grip on the bat

I walk toward it, accelerating, until I'm running. I hit it in the gut, pushing it back a step. Then I swing at its head, slamming into a car's window. It breaks instantly under the pressure, causing a huge ruckus.

This attracts more of them.

I take care of them in one fell swoop.

I am smiling yet again, but this time I try not to — not to scare Lana away, not because I think I am crazy.

I calm myself down, and then Lana comes towards me, not smiling anymore.

"You alright? I heard glass breaking."

-"Yes, there were some zombies but I took care of them."

Her eyes evading mine.

"...Okay."

-"Lana, you are afraid of me."

She tries to look me in the eyes but can't manage to.

"No, that's not... I am just..."

-"Does the time we spent together not matter for you? Because it was precious for me."

"For me too it was precious, but when I looked at you earlier I didn't see Alex, I saw someone else, some unknown whack job."

My chest tightens.

-"This isn't new, I didn't change, I just didn't show you before, please look at me."

She looks me in the eyes intently.

"..."

-"I am the same person, I didn't act around you, I just like to fight and that's what makes me a better fighter. If you don't accept it, maybe we should part ways. I can take care of myself, and so can you."