*Zap*

A loud crack pierced the air as a bolt of lightning hit a tree, setting it ablaze. The fire burned brightly, creating a stark contrast with the dim and gloomy sky.

The sky was parched with gray clouds, and the thunder kept rolling, but no rain fell to extinguish the fire or moisten the dry and dusty land.

A man was bound to a metal pole that stood as tall as the trees, making him an easy prey for the electric strikes. He wore a leather jacket and jeans, and his hair was styled like a K-Pop star.

He was isolated from the trees by a wide clearing, leaving him exposed and defenseless to the elements.

He had no clue who had put him there or why, but he knew that his fate depended on luck. He could only hope that the lightning would spare him.

But that was not the worst part of his ordeal.

Because a zombie was creeping towards him, waiting for the right opportunity to pounce.

It dragged itself slowly and painfully on the ground, as its left foot was missing and its right foot was crushed by something heavy. It was covered in blood and dirt, and its eyes were red and ravenous.

But the man did not fear the limping zombie or the lightning. He knew he could handle them if he was free, and he was confident in his combat skills.

What he feared was the horde of zombies that would arrive soon, as the zombies were attracted to wherever the lighting flashed.

As the survivors of the zombie apocalypse quote, "When the lightning flashes, a human is alive."

"Seriously? This is a joke, right?" the man muttered, who was known as Blaze.

He couldn't accept that he was betrayed by the community he had built from the ground up with his own sweat and blood.

He had dedicated his life to safeguarding and guiding the survivors of the apocalypse, only to be captured and bound by his own people.

"Blaze, The Protector From Lightning my ass!" he grumbled to the air as he tried to loosen the ropes that tied him to his doom.

Obviously they wanted to mock him if he was going to be struck by lightning before the zombies reached him.

He attempted to wiggle out of his restraints, but they were too snug. They had ensured he couldn't flee or resist.

He scanned his surroundings for any hint of help, but he found none.

He felt a wave of rage and frustration, blended with fear and despair. He wondered if this was how he was going to end.

He wondered who had turned on him and why they had done it. He hoped that someone would come to save him before it was too late. He hoped that someone would recall his deeds and fidelity, and not trust the falsehoods that were circulated about him.

Blaze suspected that Eros was the one behind this perfidious act. Blaze wasn't persuaded at first but now, he had no doubt that Eros was eliminating the protectors one by one.

There were seven protectors who led the survivors, making them endure the apocalypse for 12 years.

Blaze and Eros were among the protectors, using their wisdom and methods, even fortune. And finally established the now known Sarion Settlement, a sanctuary for the living.

But Eros had a different plan. He wanted to reign over the settlement as a king, and he didn't mind who he had to remove to accomplish his aim. He had covertly influenced and corrupted some of the other protectors, making them join his side or vanish.

'He really craved to be a king that much?'

Blaze regretted the effort he invested in the community just to be deceived in the end by his former friend.

"He really fooled us, didn't he?" he said sourly.

Blaze doubted that he could dispose of the other protectors the same way he did to him as others have sway on the survivors. Very different to a loner like him who prefers to tinker with things than manage people.

He knew that some of the protectors had faithful followers and allies, who would not easily succumb to Eros' plots. He wondered if any of them were still alive and resisting.

Blaze stopped trying to free himself as the rope wouldn't even move. He felt his wrists bleed from the rubbing. The blood trickled down his arms and stained his clothes. He felt a sharp ache in his joints and muscles, as he had been hanging for hours.

He wished he could liberate himself and fight back, but he had no tools or weapons with him.

He looked up to see how high the pole was, planning to climb it slowly using the tightness of the rope. He thought that maybe he could reach the top and free him from the pole.

However, whatever he was intending to try was irrelevant now.

*Rustle*

A rustling sound could be heard and it got louder and louder by second. It was the sound of hundreds of feet scraping on the ground. It was the sound of death nearing. It was the sound of zombies.

*Gulp*

Blaze gulped already envisioning how the zombies would consume him, knowing that it would never be painless at all. He wished he had a weapon or a way to end his life swiftly. He knew that being devoured alive by zombies was one of the worst ways to die in this world.

Every survivors already prepared themselves everyday to die at any moment, and Blaze was no different. Making fear the second of his concern.

He had faced many perils and trials in his life, and he had always surmounted them with bravery and intelligence. He was not afraid of death, but he was afraid of dying like this, the pain would be unbearable to endure.

A lone zombie burst out of the tree, sprinting like a madman.

Blaze could see every detail of its horrific appearance, and he felt a surge of disgust. Its skin was peeling off, revealing the bones underneath. Its mouth was dripping with blood, and its eyes were glowing with hunger. It had no sign of humanity left, only scars and wounds.

It charged at Blaze with a deafening roar, eager to tear him apart.

Blaze reacted quickly, spinning to his left and dodging the zombie's attack by a hair's breadth. He used his agility and reflexes to evade its bite, barely feeling its breath on his neck.

Blaze caught a glimpse of its fangs and saliva as it whizzed by him, as if time had slowed down for a moment.

He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare, as he saw the zombie's mouth open wide and its teeth shine in the light. He saw the saliva spray out of its mouth, like tiny missiles. He felt a shiver run down his spine, as he realized how close he was to death.

He wished that this was his only enemy, but he knew that it was not true.

He heard more noises coming from different directions, signaling that more zombies were on their way.

He heard their growls and moans, their footsteps and movements.

He smelled their stench and rot, their blood and flesh. He sensed their hunger and rage, their desire and malice.

He knew that he had no chance of survival, unless a miracle happened.