Zombies Need Love Too!

The sound was faint—barely more than a whisper through the trees—but definitely artificial.

Something was moving through the underbrush.

I pressed my ear to the wall, hoping I was just imagining things.

Rustle.

Nope. There it was again. I hadn’t misheard.

“U-uhh… What do I do?”

Earlier, I’d been riding that sweet dopamine high, slashing through zombies with my brain mostly on vacation.

But now? Now I was the most level-headed zombie on the planet.

Hyper-alert. Borderline responsible.

Was it friend or foe? No way to know without looking.

Rustle.

Closer this time.

Were they targeting the monastery? Hard to say.

But they were definitely poking around nearby.

Out of nowhere, Yoan’s words echoed in my head.

“If anything happens, come straight to my room. Got it?”

But dragging him into this would probably make it worse.

“Gotta handle this alone.”

I mean, I’m a zombie.

If it’s a person—great. If it’s another zombie, well… I can fight back.

Just thinking about it made my hair stand on end.

Still, decision made, I slipped quietly out the door.

The monastery was silent. Spookily so.

I tiptoed across the hall and reached the big, firmly locked front door.

What if the latch made a noise?

I hesitated. Then glanced around, hoping for a sneaky little gap somewhere.

No luck. The place was built like a fortress.

“Haa…”

I took a breath, pursed my lips, and made a quiet little sound.

“Goo-ook.”

Hopefully that sounded vaguely like an owl.

Okay, maybe a sick owl with a chest cold, but I was trying.

“Goo-ook. Goo-ook.”

While doing my very best owl impersonation, I undid the latches one by one.

Then I carefully slipped outside.

That’s when I realized—I’d left the knuckles Yoan gave me behind.

No time to go back.

I scanned the area and found a sturdy-looking wooden club. Not the best weapon, but I was strong.

Hopefully strong enough.

“Let’s go.”

Saying it out loud made me feel braver. Ish.

And off I went, into the dark underbrush with my fancy stick.

***

“Is she running away?”

Yoan watched Sasha through the narrow window, voice low.

He’d specifically told her to come to him if anything happened.

And now she was sneaking off like a rebellious teen with a curfew.

“Runaway puppies need their owners to bring them back.”

His lips curled into a cool, not-at-all-amused smile.

After everything he’d done for her, and she dared slip out on her own?

Presumptuous.

He grabbed his portable slingshot, a pouch of iron pellets, and a well-sharpened greatsword.

Then he followed her, silent as shadow.

Will she notice?

Zombies had good hearing. She might realize he was tailing her.

But she didn’t stop. Just kept going, clutching that wooden club like she meant business.

Where the hell is she going?

And there it was—a groaning zombie.

Yoan ducked behind cover and watched.

Krrrrrr.

It was dark, but Yoan’s eyes were sharp.

That one…?

That was definitely the same zombie that had attacked Sasha yesterday.

He raised his slingshot, ready to fire—then paused.

The atmosphere felt… odd.

Krrrrgh. Krrrrr.

“Dunno. What you saying?”

Krrok! Krrrrr!

“Use words. Words.”

Gurrrrrk…

“I don’t speak zombie.”

Krurrrk?

“You know… how to write?”

…Krah.

They were… talking?

Yoan stayed hidden, tense. If things went south, he’d end it with one shot.

“Can you… understand me?”

The zombie nodded. Like Sasha, it could understand speech.

Krr, rurr, rahk.

“So frustrating.”

It raised a hand and gestured.

Sasha mirrored the gesture, trying to communicate back.

I can’t tell what they’re saying…

The distance, the darkness, the half-blocked view—it all made lip-reading impossible.

His patience wore thin. He pulled the slingshot’s string taut.

Then Sasha suddenly shrieked.

“What? Really? Why are you—!”

What had it said?

“No! Don’t do it!”

Sasha sounded panicked. Desperate.

Snap.

The pellet flew.

***

“Eh?”

When I got to the source of the noise, I found the zombie from yesterday.

I raised my club on instinct, but it held up both hands in surrender.

What’s it playing at?

It didn’t feel like a normal zombie.

I hesitated, wary but curious.

The zombie seemed eager to communicate… but we hit a bit of a language barrier.

“I don’t speak zombie.”

Krurrrk?

“You know… how to write?”

…Krah.

Then it started drawing letters in the air with one finger.

Crude, but effective. I could finally understand, kinda.

[I knew it. You’re a special zombie like me. Did you mutate?]

[Something like that. But why did you attack me yesterday?]

[I saw you with humans. I wanted to test you.]

[Test me how?]

[See which side you’re on.]

[Wait. Was attacking the cabin part of that plan?]

[Yes. I needed to know where you stood. You’re with the humans, right?]

[Why does it matter?]

[Because I want to recruit someone like you. Someone aware.]

Recruit? What was this, a zombie job fair?

[I’m going to make this place our world.]

Wait, for real?!

[My name is Aria. Will you be my comrade?]

Aria?

[What did you say your name was?]

[Aria. What’s yours?]

“What? Really? Why are you—!”

Aria was supposed to be the heroine. The literal savior of the world. The Holy Maiden.

What made her like this? Why was she suddenly auditioning for Queen of the Undead?

“No! Don’t do it!”

Don’t start a zombie uprising!

But before I could say more, something whizzed past me.

Crack.

A sharp, sickening crunch—like bone meeting steel.

But not my bone, thankfully.

KRAAAHHK!

Aria screamed, clutching her forehead.

“Ah…!”

Before I could react, Yoan appeared beside me like a storm in boots.

Why’s Yoan here?!

He stepped forward, eyes locked on Aria.

“Wait. This’ll be over quickly.”

No! Not okay!

I didn’t know what had happened to Aria, but she didn’t deserve a summary execution.

“Stop!”

I grabbed his sleeve in desperation.

He didn’t even blink. Just shrugged it off and kept moving.

His greatsword glinted under the moonlight. Aria was dazed. Vulnerable.

One strike and it’d be over.

“Yoan!”

I panicked.

Then I cried out and threw myself dramatically to the ground.

“Oww!”

It was a pathetic move… but somehow, it worked.

Yoan froze and looked back.

Uh… Now what?

His eyes narrowed like a cat ready to pounce.

“Sasha. You’re—”

“I tripped... chasing after you.”

“…”

“W-woah. Hurts... sooo much.”

“…”

“Sasha... dying from pain.”

I threw in the most ridiculous excuse I could think of, hoping to buy a few precious seconds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aria stumble away.

Relief flooded me. I’d bought enough time.

But when I looked back at Yoan, the air had shifted.

Those jewel-bright blue eyes carried the chill of midwinter frost

Yoan sheathed his sword and walked toward me slowly—like death on two legs.

Just like when we first met.

I felt that same chill in the air.

“Sasha.”

“Y-yeah?” I stammered, unable to meet his gaze.

He grabbed my chin and tilted my face up to his.

“You’re not listening to me.”

“Hehe…”

I flashed the most harmless, pitiful smile I could muster.

Surely no one would berate a smiling zombie.

“This is funny to you?”

“…”

Unfortunately, Yoan was exactly the type of person who would.