We were fighting so well in that moment. The first ones in the world to get to Lvl 99 together. The famous party composed of the strongest! But more importantly, we were friends, lovers. All of us had fought in a hundred battles, killed thousands of zombies. We were the top party and we were family. Then one of us went too far. And everything came crumbling down. Blood everywhere…that's all remained of us…
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"Hey, you alive?"
"Hah!" I sit up so fast that I knock into the girl in front of me. My forehead explodes into pain but I'm just relieved that I can move. Just a dream…no…wait, please no! The black-haired girl in front of me is too familiar, too real. She looks cute, not covered in mud and blood. Completely different than a moment ago when her cleaver cut down on my neck, just the way I taught her to kill.
It's Yin.
"Oww!" The cute girl stumbles back and her companions stare at me with wide eyes. This time, I am not impassive, for I remember what they did to me…what they will do to me! Jumping up, I reach into my coat and pull out my cleaver. What happened? I came back! Yin must have succeeded in killing me. But then these bastards…
"Yin, give it up!" Donovan yells, his blonde hair and mistrustful eyes hiding the bastard inside. The pink-haired girl watches him protect Yin with jealousy. I can see that now. "This guy is wasted, look at him, he looks like he's seen a ghost!" At that moment, I almost consider stepping forward and cutting him down here and now. Rage fills me, the moment Yin's warmth was torn away from me. I was at peace in her arms for the first time since…ARGH!
"Y-yea…" Yin grows afraid when she sees my terrifying expression. Backing away, she retreats to the safety of the group and that poisonous hoe, Rui. The pink-haired pixie wraps her traitorous arms around Yin as if she's just an innocent girl protecting a friend from a homeless person. But I know her true form underneath the pretty face and bubbly pink-hair. My hand white knuckled on my cleaver, I watch them go, trying to control my rage. Right now, I'm practically a zombie myself. I don't want to eat them. I just want to kill each and every last one of the people who betrayed me. Before she goes, Yin calls over her shoulder, "We're going to the city! If you need help, you should go too!"
"Shush Yin, he's not welcome. He could be dangerous. Don't tell him where we're going!" Rui whispers insidiously and then they disappear. My blood boils. Acid presses against my throat and the wretched taste of bile fills my mouth. Maybe I'll turn with green if this keeps up. Staggering to the crumbling building next to me, I put a hand on the rough-worn wall and lean against it. The shock of dying, the terror of being taken over the Gray, it's all still so fresh in my mind. I can remember the taste, every touch, all the blood. Even the pain of having my fingers trampled and my neck severed. A sobbing girl forced to chop off my head. It is these memories which convinces me of what I need to do.
"I won't save them." I whisper to the empty sky. As the sunsets once more, I set my path towards the river once more. My parched lips feel so much drier than they should be when I drink from my canteen, long and slow. I let it fall back into my coat pocket and swish my cleaver, listening to it part the air. Yin doesn't remember anything that happened. None of them recognized me. This time was different, I hit her accidentally and that changed her behavior. That means I was right. This world is the same as last time, but I can do things differently. A little while later, I hear what I expect to hear. A scream from up ahead between the gap in the two buildings. "It's time."
I pass through, but this time, I just let my head peek through. I don't show myself. The scene before me is familiar, almost exactly the same. Six zombies run down Yin's party which is backing into the river. Donovan swings his branch while his cowardly friends watch. The wet river and round stones cause the blonde bastard to miss. He stumbles and hastily retreats as the lead zombie snarls and reaches for him.
"Help! Is anyone out there?" Rui screams in sheer panic. However, her cries fall on deaf ears. I remain hidden in-between two crumbling buildings, watching impassively. Donovan is the only one of these idiots who has any spine whatsoever and he has no skill to back it up. The pudgy zombie loses its footing several times in the river, but soon corners Donovan. I remember what happens next. Crassia jumps into the river, and tries to swim for the other side. Instantly, she is swept away, crying for help. This time, no help is coming. The zombies press forwards and it's like watching the tide come in. Donovan is overwhelmed first. When he is pulled under, I can only imagine his screams as the water turns red. Next is the boy with dreadlocks, Jumoke. A woman reaches for him, her undead nails clawing at his throat. The ear-splitting shrieks are like music to my ears. I remember him standing over me, holding him down. I wonder how it feels to be held under and torn apart. The last boy stands with Rui and Yin. Even still I don't know his name. As the two zombies finish with Donovan and Jumoke, they rejoin the others.
"Do something, Jason!" Rui clutches Jason's arm in terror. She looks wildly from him to the zombies and the other shore. Stuck in chest deep water, they cannot go anywhere. The last boy hesitates. He suddenly turns around, considering swimming for it. Perhaps he can make it, he's taller than the girls. However, when Rui sees this, she snarls desperately. Jason's eyes widen as Rui shoves him in the chest and he falls back into the waiting arms of a zombie lady.