As Dusty and Sarah walked through the deserted streets, their footsteps echoing in the empty silence, they found themselves lost in conversation, reminiscing about the world that had been lost to them – a world of bustling cities, crowded streets, and endless possibilities. While Sarah had no recollection of becoming a zombie she remembered details of her past including her experiences as a young child.
"Do you remember what it was like?" Dusty asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "The busy streets, the noise, the people hurrying everywhere?"
Sarah nodded, a wistful smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I miss it," she admitted softly. "The energy, the excitement... it feels like a lifetime ago." For her, in many ways, it was in fact another lifetime ago.
They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of their memories hanging heavy in the air. But despite the sadness that lingered in their hearts, there was also a sense of hope, a glimmer of possibility that refused to be extinguished. She remembered she grew up in Saint Joseph city, she was an only child and both of her parents had passed away before the zombie attacks happened. But somehow, within the last year her memories disappeared. She didn't remember where she was working or if she was going to school, it was all a blank.
"What do you think started all of this?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence with a thoughtful expression. "I wish we had found more information when we searched the library."
Dusty sighed, his brow furrowing in concentration as he considered the question. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I think we need to find out. If we can understand what caused it, maybe we can find a way to stop it. And if we can do that, maybe we can change you back as well."
Sarah nodded in agreement, her eyes alight with determination. "I think you're right," she said softly. "We need to find answers, no matter what it takes."
With a shared sense of purpose, they made their way back to the library, the crumbling building looming before them like a relic of the past. As they stepped inside, the musty smell of old books and broken dreams washed over them, filling them with a sense of melancholy. But now Dusty couldn't help but think how something good finally came out of the library. He had met Sarah, and now she was part of their little group.
The library was a shadow of its former self, the shelves lined with dusty tomes; broken furniture strewn haphazardly across the floor. But despite the disarray, there was a sense of reverence in the air, a quiet respect for the knowledge that lay dormant within these walls. If there was more information to be gained, this would be the place for them to find it. Looking around he remembered learning the Dewey Decimal System. Is that even a thing now, with computers did anyone still look up books the old fashion way?
They began their search in earnest, scouring the shelves for current articles or newspapers searching for any clues that might shed light on the origins of the zombie outbreak. Dusty pulled out a stack of old newspapers, their yellowed pages filled with headlines screaming of chaos and despair. Anything that will help us would have to have been written close to the time of the first zombie attacked. That's where they focused their energy.
"Look at this," he said, holding up one of the articles for Sarah to see. "It says here that the first sightings of zombies were reported in the nearby city of Saint Joseph"
Sarah's eyes widened in surprise as she scanned the article, her mind racing with possibilities. "Do you think... do you think that's where it started?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She paused, thinking about her lost memories and the first sightings of zombies, are they somehow related?
Dusty shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "It's possible," he admitted. "But we won't know for sure until we find more information." Do you think it is where you came from"
"I remember living there before but I don't know if I was still there during the outbreak, I just can't remember," she said. Her voice had been getting stronger over the past few days but she was still careful not to overdo it.
With renewed determination, they continued their search, poring over every article and document they could find in a search for answers. And as they sifted through the wreckage of the past, they knew that their journey was far from over – but with each new clue they uncovered, they were one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the apocalypse. They were careful to collect and keep any of the documents that they thought might relate in someway to what had happened. It may not make sense but added to other things in the future they might be able to piece the truth together.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon and the shadows grew long, Dusty and Sarah exchanged a tired smile, they knew it was time to return to the safety of their base. As they gathered the materials they had found their hearts were filled with a sense of purpose. They may not have all the answers yet, but they were determined to keep searching, to keep fighting, until they found a way to bring an end to the nightmare that had consumed their world.
With that comforting thought lingering in their minds, they set off for home before night claimed their world. Arriving back at the jewelry store, the flickering light of the lantern cast long shadows across the room. Greeting William and Samantha they shared the things they had learned that day. It may not have been a lot but at least it was a small step in the right direction. As they drifted off to sleep, their dreams were filled with visions of a world reborn, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, united in their determination to survive.