In the hushed stillness of a desolate residential street, Dusty and Sarah were traveling together in search of more supplies. The air around them was thick with the scent of decay, a haunting reminder of the world they now inhabited. As they traveled they could see the decaying bodies some having their bones long ago picked clean. Dusty's grip tightened on his sword, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, while Sarah, although she was in fact a zombie, moved with a grace that belied her undead nature.
Dusty still struggled to get his head around that fact. She was a zombie, one of the creatures that was about to attack. She seemed so normal to him, yes she was strong but everyone is different. He just felt comfortable around her, even if she had told them the truth about her.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the pavement as they moved cautiously through the silent streets, their senses attuned to the slightest hint of danger. Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of shuffling footsteps—the unmistakable telltale sign of approaching zombies. Sarah heard them first but not long after Dusty could also hear the creatures approach.
Dusty's heart pounded in his chest as he drew his sword, his muscles tensed in anticipation of the coming battle. No matter how many times they went through this scenario he still became nervous due to the magnitude of the impact of the battle, each one, a battle for their very lives. Beside him, Sarah stood poised and ready, her eyes fixed on the approaching horde with a mixture of dread and resignation.
With a guttural roar, the zombies emerged from the shadows, their eyes vacant and their movements jerky and erratic. The zombies had smelled their target and were now on route. Without hesitation, Dusty and Sarah sprang into action, their swords flashing in the dim light as they met the undead assailants head-on.
The battle was fierce and chaotic, the air thick with the stench of decay and the sound of metal meeting bone. Dusty fought with a ferocity born of desperation, his every strike calculated and precise. Beside him, Sarah moved with a grace that defied her undead nature, her movements fluid and graceful as she dispatched her foes with ruthless efficiency.
To say she had mastered her sword would be an understatement. With the strength of her zombie body to power the sword each swing and each thrust carried the force of several people. Inflicting more damage with each hit then the others were able to achieve.
As the last of the zombies fell to the ground, Dusty let out a ragged breath, his body trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline. Beside him, Sarah stood panting, her chest heaving with exertion. But as the adrenaline began to fade, a different kind of hunger stirred within her—a hunger that could only be satisfied by consuming the flesh of the fallen.
"Dusty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, I must feed."
Dusty's heart sank at her words, a wave of nausea washing over him at the thought of what she was about to do. He had known she was a zombie and he knew this day would come but until know it was just words, words he was easily able to put out of his mind. But he knew that for Sarah, this was a matter of survival—a grim reminder of the reality of their existence in this unforgiving world.
With a heavy heart, Dusty nodded his assent, he knew what she had to do and he was going to show her that no matter what he would support her. If that included watching her consume human flesh then that was what he was going to do. That was until she lifted an arm into the air and took her first bite. Dusty tried to support he but he was unable to meet Sarah's gaze as she knelt beside the fallen zombie, eating to satisfy the craving within. Closing his eyes tightly, he tried to block out the sound of tearing flesh and the sickening squelch of bones being crushed beneath Sarah's teeth. How she was able to do this without breaking down in tears was something he could not imagine. He had to save her from this, he didn't know how but it was something he had to do.
For Sarah, the act of feeding was a necessary evil—a grim reminder of the monstrous nature that lurked within her undead form. With each bite, she felt a pang of guilt and revulsion, a reminder of the life she had lost and the creature she had become. Seeing Dusty turn away caused her heart to break, would he be afraid of her after this, would he push her away. She had hoped it would be different but how could it be, how could someone simply stand by and watch another person consume the body of a fallen human. Yes they were a zombie, but it was still a human body right down to the blood and the bones.
But as the hunger abated and the last of the flesh was consumed, Sarah felt a sense of relief wash over her—a temporary reprieve from the gnawing emptiness that haunted her every waking moment. Carefully making sure to clean away and sign of the blood on her face she stood to face him. She could see the sadness in his eyes at what she had done. She lowered her head and softly whispered, "I'm sorry, I had to do it, I couldn't help it."
With a forced smile Dusty nodded his head and walked toward her. "I understand, do not apologize for this, you did not choose to become what you are." He put his arms around her and gave her a gentle hug.
As she leaned into his arms a small tear rolled down her cheek. How did she get this way, maybe for some reason she did choose this. If only she could remember.
Together, Dusty and Sarah made their way back to their safe house—the Jewelry store in the center of town. The weight of their encounter and what he had seen her do hung heavy in the air, but beneath the surface, a bond stronger than steel forged between them—a bond born of shared struggle and unyielding determination to survive in a world consumed by darkness.