Zenith and Asuka were ready to kick back and relax after a long day, so they decided to catch a movie.
The theater was barely lit, with the screen's flickering light casting playful shadows across the sea of seats. The two girls were glued to their seats, their eyes locked on the screen as they watched some cheesy romance unfold before them. In the middle of it, Asuka leaned against Zenith, her laughter filling the air every time a corny joke or ridiculous plot twist popped up.
"Fine, I confess. I did it. I killed her," declared a man with a mustache so thick it probably had a mind of its own.
"I knew it! Ever since you said her name in your sleep, I knew it!" the female lead screamed.
"You slept with him!?" Her husband chimed in, his face a mixture of shock and betrayal.
Zenith couldn't fight the smile tugging at her lips.
[This is so bad...]
Every once in a while, when the on-screen couple leaned in for a smooch, Zenith caught Asuka sneaking a glance her way.
Their eyes would meet for a split second before they both burst out laughing, brushing off the moment and turning their attention back to the movie.
It all went down during the movie's big finale, though.
The theater door creaked open, loud enough to make everyone's heads turn.
"Huh?"
This guy stumbled in, moving like a puppet with its strings all tangled up. His shirt was drenched in blood, and he looked pretty banged up. The smell that came with him? Let's just say Zenith had to pinch her nose shut, it was that bad. Like something had died and been left to rot for weeks.
Out of nowhere, the guy pounced on the closest person and started chomping down on their skin. All hell broke loose in the theater, with people screaming their heads off. The happy vibes from before? Gone in a flash.
[What... the... fuck?]
Zenith's heart was racing so fast she thought it might burst right out of her chest. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, her brain struggling to make sense of it all. Her breathing got all choppy as she watched the horror show unfold.
Her hands shook like leaves as she gripped the armrest for dear life, her heart thumping away like a drum solo. A sick feeling crept into her gut as the truth hit her like a ton of bricks.
[Is that a zombie!?]
More of these creeps started pouring into the theater, their dead eyes and rotting skin straight out of a nightmare.
Zenith's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation, her instincts kicking into overdrive.
Zenith didn't waste a second. She grabbed Asuka's hand and yanked her up, barely registering the screams and madness all around them. People were booking it out of the theater, their frantic footsteps mixing with the shouts of the crowd. Zenith knew they had to do the same, and fast.
"We need to get out of here, now!" she yelled over the noise, her voice sharp with panic.
As they burst out onto the streets, Zenith's heart sank like a stone. The city was a total mess, with people running every which way as zombies swarmed the streets. Sirens wailed in the distance, adding to the jumble of screams and shouts that filled the air.
The streets were a blur of movement, with people scrambling to get away from the nightmare that had taken over. Zenith muttered a curse under her breath, realizing she'd forgotten to turn her phone on earlier. When she finally did, the thing started buzzing like crazy with missed calls and frantic messages.
Asuka's voice cut through the chaos, her words ringing with determination. "We need to go! It's not safe out here!"
[Yeah, what gave you that idea?]
Zenith nodded, her heart thumping wildly as they weaved through the crowded streets. They didn't have a plan, but they had to keep moving. Just as they turned a corner, a pair of zombies came at them, all snarling mouths and grasping hands.
Zenith's blood turned to ice as the danger hit her full force. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. Adrenaline surged through her body, making her muscles coil like springs, ready to fight for her life.
Without a second thought, Zenith leaped into action, her body moving on pure instinct. She lashed out at the zombies with all her might, kicking them back and doing whatever it took to keep them at bay.
Despite giving it her all, Zenith quickly found herself in over her head. Her arms and legs started to feel like lead as exhaustion crept in. The zombies were getting closer, their nasty breath hot on her face, and Zenith knew she was running out of options.
But then, as if by some miracle, a couple of people spotted the trouble and rushed in to help. One of them was none other than Dylan, who apparently had been thinking about catching a movie too.
Dylan and his buddy charged forward, their faces set with grim determination as they tackled the zombies head-on. They shoved the undead creeps aside, making a path for Zenith and Asuka to get out of the chaotic street.
Asuka's eyes went wide with relief as she watched the two guys take on the zombies, their quick and decisive moves a total contrast to the panic and confusion all around them.
"Do you know what's happening?" Asuka called out to them, her voice shaking with fear.
Dylan's friend shook his head, his expression grim.
"No idea. We were just passing by when we saw these things attacking people."
Dylan nodded, his eyes scanning the area for any more danger.
"We need to get out of here," he said, his voice urgent. "There's a hospital nearby, maybe that's where they're coming from."
The group quickly agreed that they needed to find shelter and regroup before figuring out their next move.
"We should head back to the college," Zenith suggested, her voice steady and determined. "We need to find someplace we can lock ourselves inside."
The others nodded, and without wasting another second, they took off toward the college, their footsteps echoing through the empty streets as they ran for their lives.
But as they turned a corner, a pack of zombies came out of nowhere, their snarling mouths and reaching arms a horrifying sight.
Dylan found himself in a tight spot as a zombie lunged at him, its rotting hands grabbing for him. Zenith didn't even think, she just sprang into action, tackling the zombie to the ground and fighting it off with everything she had.
Zenith might not have been too thrilled with her looks, but there was one thing she was proud of - she worked out. And today, that was paying off big time.
Not far away, Asuka was cornered by another group of zombies, their relentless attack threatening to overwhelm her. Asuka's eyes widened with fear as she backed away from the approaching horde, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Zenith's heart ached as she watched her friend's desperate struggle, a surge of protectiveness welling up inside her.
Without a second thought, Zenith grabbed a lead pipe that was just lying there on the ground. She swung it hard, smashing one of the zombies over the head with a sickening crack.
The metallic clang of the pipe rang out, mixing with the guttural growls of the undead as Zenith fought to keep them at bay and draw their attention. Every swing was a battle against fear and exhaustion, but she refused to back down, her determination unwavering.
One by one, she took them out in quick succession. Then, she checked to make sure Asuka was alright, while everyone around them watched in awe.
"Are you-"
Zenith couldn't even get the words out before Asuka threw herself at her, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Asuka exclaimed.
Zenith hugged her friend back, smiling weakly, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins as she glanced around, taking stock of their situation. Amidst the chaos, she caught a glimpse of Dylan, his expression as he looked back at her a mix of relief and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Was it jealousy?
"Holy shit... You killed them," Dylan's friend said. "T-Those people, you-"
"People!?" Zenith protested quickly. "Do you see these fucking things? They're monsters, not people!"
Before she could dwell on it further, the sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention. A larger pack of zombies was closing in on them, their growls echoing and getting louder.
"We need to move, now!" Zenith shouted, her voice urgent as she grabbed Asuka's hand, pulling her towards the safety of the college.
They ran as fast as they could, the sound of the zombies' pursuit growing louder with each passing moment. But just as they reached the entrance of the college, disaster struck.
A massive horde of zombies descended upon them, their numbers too great to fight off.
Zenith's heart sank.
[There are too many of them!]
In a desperate attempt to buy Asuka some time, Zenith threw herself at the zombies near her, pushing them back with all her strength, swinging that lead pipe for all it was worth.
But in doing so, she put herself in grave danger.
As she fought bravely against the undead, she felt the weight of their decaying bodies pressing down on her, their clawing hands tearing at her flesh.
Fighting wasn't an option anymore.
She needed help.
"H-Hey!" Zenith cried out, her voice drowned out by the sounds of chaos and destruction.
But as she glanced back, hoping to see her friends coming to her rescue, her heart shattered into a million pieces.
Dylan was dragging Asuka away, his face twisted with fear and desperation.
[What?]
"We have to go!" he shouted over the roar of the zombies, his grip on Asuka's arm tight and unyielding.
Each word was like a dagger to Zenith's heart, plunging deep into her soul with every syllable. She watched in silent agony as her last hope of salvation slipped through her fingers, carried away by the hands of betrayal.
Zenith's eyes widened in shock and betrayal as she realized what was happening. Dylan was leaving her behind.
"No!" she screamed, reaching out to them with trembling hands. "Don't leave me!"
But it was too late. They were already so far away.
"D-DYLAN, WE HAVE TO HELP HER!" Zenith heard Asuka cry out over the sound of her own flesh being ripped off.
"We can't," she heard Dylan respond. "She's fucked. Let's just keep going!"
Then, Dylan quite literally pulled Asuka off her feet and hoisted her up on his shoulders, carrying her away.
That was it.
That was how Zenith died.
The darkness closed in around Zenith, swallowing her whole as she sank into the abyss of despair. Her world shrank to a pinprick of light amidst the encroaching shadows, a fading ember of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness.
The last thing she saw was Asuka's hand outstretched in her direction, tears streaming down her face as she watched on in horror.
And, despite the sharp, bitter taste of betrayal mixing with blood in her mouth, Zenith thought:
[... At least she got away.] Zenith closed her eyes, the pain too much to bear. [At least... She...]