Her apartment was almost as she remembered it, almost, the environment felt colder, there was less food on the shelves to the naked eye, and a thin layer of dust visibly covered everything. Opening the bathroom she couldn't find anyone, to tell the truth the apartment seemed to be completely uninhabited and it felt like a knife to the chest. Was she too late?
Walking into the apartment she felt like she was in a dream, it had been so long, she had wanted so much to return and now that she was there she was afraid to wish she had not returned.
The living room looked slightly better, it seemed to have been in use and all the things were still there. Touching the controls of the consoles she verified what she had suspected, that part of the house had been used recently, although it did not make sense because to use the consoles electricity was needed. Looking slightly more to her left she could see some stains on the sheets that covered the sofa, that dirt was very similar to that of the stairs of the shelter.
-Did they get in?
The phrase was nothing more than a whisper to herself, but something behind her seemed to hear it, looking straight ahead, in the reflection of the window glass she could see how the doors of her room were opening and someone began to come out, the reflect was strange but she didn't stop to study it. Skirting the couch with speed, she ran to the door cursing herself for having locked it, as fast as she could she began to open it until a hand slammed it over her head.
Her eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets, at that moment she only wanted to become invisible or for the ground to swallow her, looking slowly up she could see that the hand that had her trapped was covered in pale skin with purple fingers. He was a zombie, there was no doubt. Closing her eyes again she lowered her head very slowly, hiding her face behind her hair, she could feel how the creature behind her was getting closer and closer. She had no weapons, she wasn't even in an advantageous position, and her fighting spirit was gone. She could only wish the infected would kill her quickly.
The zombie rested his other hand on the door while brushing his forehead against the crown of the young woman making her shrink slightly in herself, a tear began to slide down her cheeks
- E ... den?
A hoarse and broken voice startled the young woman making her look straight ahead like a spring, the grayish hands began to descend away from the wood to place themselves on each side of her hips gently, almost without touching her.
-Eden...
This time her name sounded clearer, but equally serious, as if he had not used his voice for a long time, the pressure on her hips increased until the young woman turned to face him, not without trying to walk away, sticking her back against the door.
Those hands took her chin making her look up. A small gasp came from Eden's lips when she saw that her latest deductions were true, the man holding her was none other than Alek, and to her pain, he was not human.
His face was not much different from how she remembered it, his jaw angular yet soft, chin-length black hair though slightly disheveled, his lips still the same thickness that she enjoyed so much but his color was now a worrying purple-gray. Looking into his eyes, her heart skipped another beat, she could tell that his gaze was the same as always, she could see the pure love he felt for her, she could even sense a certain sadness and longing, but even though his eyes were still brown now, slight haze of death covered them giving them a ghostly whitish hue
The young woman had just collapsed and the crying that she had managed to hold back so far exploded, tears streaming down her face as he stroked her cheeks, pulling them away, allowing her to vent enough. Minutes later her crying had turned into sobs, her now dry cheeks looked dirty and flushed, her swollen eyes could not move away from the one who had been her boyfriend. She wanted to think that he still was, her name on his lips, his touch, if she closed her eyes she could imagine that he was alive, but she knew he was not, he had not attacked her yet but she had not made a movement more abrupt than the one of crying
Alek would not stop looking at her without blinking as if when he looked away she was going to disappear, he seemed expectant, swallowing hard Eden decided that she had to do something, moving was scary but she had to try, she gently released her face from the grip of his hand Looking at him from top to bottom, he did not seem to have any open wound, his clothes, although stained, were the same as always. Taking another deep breath, he stared at her face
-Alek? - The voice came out of the girl more shaky than she had wished- Is it ... you?
The infected drew back a little, looking her up and down as she had done, smiling when he got back to her face. His teeth were very dirty and blackened which scared the young woman, but considering his reaction, she had to hold back.
Slowly she moved forward and changed positions, distancing herself from him until she ran into the kitchen counter. Looking at what she had collided with, she could hear what seemed to be a chuckle. The young man kept smiling as he watched her, he seemed to study her
- You... you get caught by yourself- little by little that voice regained its fluidity, giving her chills that she had not felt for too long- God, I am dying to hug you- he approached her stopping just when he noticed her tension- but I know it would not be ... comfortable
- I do not think you will die ... exactly- she swallowed, observing his imperturbable smile- and even if it hurts, it would not be comfortable
- Just yet
- Just yet- a small smile broke the serious grin on her face
-Eden ... it's been so long ...- the young man grabbed his head, ruffling his hair as he walked away to the living room- so many things have happened ... but how did you come back? - looking at her, he began to frown like If he were remembering something- They have closed the borders between cities, they do not allow anyone to leave ... or enter
- And how can you talk? - She moved away from the counter- you are like the infected out there, a zombie
-I'm not like those out there, and I keep asking you, How did you come? - He approached her
-Aren't you glad to see me?