The world came back in a blur of pain and confusion. My head throbbed, and my mouth was dry, tasting like dust and regret. It took a moment for the fog to clear, but when it did, I realized with horror where we were.
We were tied to chairs, thick ropes binding our wrists and ankles tightly to the wooden frames. My hands were numb from the tightness of the ropes, and panic quickly set in as I tried to move, the wood creaking beneath me. I glanced around—Ethan, Daisy, Liza, and Yabe were all tied up just like me. And then I saw her.
Sitting across from us was a woman bound to a chair. At first glance, she looked like the Beatrice from the photo on Liam's wall—the same blonde hair, the same kind eyes—but those eyes were empty now. Vacant. She was a zombie, her skin pale and decaying, her head slumped to the side as if she had no energy left to move. But she was very much alive, or rather, undead.
Liam stood in front of her, his back to us. He was mumbling something to her, petting her hair like she was some kind of precious doll.
"What… the fk?" Ethan muttered, his voice barely a whisper as he strained against the ropes.
Liam turned around slowly, his expression one of calm, like this was all perfectly normal. "Ah, you're awake. Good."
"What the hell is this, Liam?" I spat, my voice rough. "What are you doing?"
Liam smiled, a gentle, almost fatherly smile. "I told you earlier, didn't I? I've been lonely. But now… I have Beatrice again. She came back to me. And soon, you'll meet some new friends as well."
Liza cursed, her eyes wide with rage. "You're fucking insane! That's not your wife anymore—she's a goddamn zombie!"
Liam's smile faltered, and in an instant, his calm demeanor snapped. He stormed over to Liza, raising his hand and smacking her across the face with a force that made her head whip to the side. The sharp crack of the hit echoed in the small cabin.
"Watch your mouth, young lady!" Liam barked, his voice suddenly full of fury. "Back in my day, kids who used that kind of language got a good spanking! And trust me, there'll be plenty of time to teach you some manners once the new household is formed."
Liza winced, her cheek already turning red, but she didn't back down. "You're out of your fking mind."
Liam shook his head, turning away from her as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. "You'll see. In time, you'll all understand. We're going to be one big happy family here. No more loneliness. No more running from the world."
I glanced around, my mind racing for a way out. We were all tied down, helpless. The ropes were too tight to wiggle free, and Liam stood between us and the only door. Desperation clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Liza wasn't done yet. Through gritted teeth, she began to fidget with something. My eyes followed her movements, and I noticed her knees clutching the hem of the tablecloth between her legs. She was up to something. I saw her grip tighten on the fabric, and then, with one swift motion, she yanked the cloth sideways, dragging everything down with her as she threw herself to the floor.
The plates and cups on the table crashed to the ground with a loud crack, the sound startling everyone, especially Liam. Yabe, who had been sitting right next to Liza, toppled over as well, her chair smashing into the floor with a thud, dragging all the kitchenware down in a chaotic heap.
"Goddamn it!" Liam shouted, momentarily caught off guard by the mess. He rushed over to try and fix the overturned table, clearly flustered.
As I watched, Liza shot Yabe a quick glance, her eyes silently saying something. Yabe, though shaken, immediately shot a look at me, her eyes wide with panic and understanding. This was our chance. My heart pounded in my chest as I caught Yabe's gaze, and then I quickly glanced at Daisy.
Daisy met my eyes, and in that moment, I knew she understood the plan. We needed time. We needed to distract him long enough for someone—anyone—to come up with a way out.
Daisy cleared her throat, her voice taking on a tone I hadn't heard before—smooth, charming, even a little flirtatious. "You know, Liam," she said, drawing his attention away from the chaos on the floor. "I've always admired Canadians."
Liam blinked, his focus shifting toward Daisy as he straightened up. "What?"
"I mean it," Daisy continued, her voice steady. "Canada… it's just so much better than the States. You guys have healthcare, good manners, all that. It's no wonder you're so well-adjusted compared to us. Honestly, it's inspiring."
Liam stared at her, his expression caught between suspicion and curiosity. "You… really think so?"
"Oh, definitely," Daisy said, leaning forward as much as the ropes would allow. "I mean, look at what a mess we've made of things in the States. People there can't even have civil conversations anymore. Everyone's so divided, arguing about everything, while you Canadians… you're just out here living your best lives."
I glanced at Ethan, who was watching with wide eyes, clearly wondering what the hell Daisy was doing. But I knew. She was stalling, buying us time to regroup.
Liam, surprisingly, seemed to take the bait. He stood up straighter, clearly proud. "Well, Canada is a better country, no doubt about that. We know how to take care of each other. None of that individualistic nonsense you Americans seem so fond of."
Daisy nodded eagerly. "Exactly! That's what I've always loved about Canadians. You're all about community, about supporting each other. I mean, healthcare, social services… you've got it all figured out."
Liam smiled, clearly warming to the topic. "Oh, absolutely. We take care of our own up here. No one gets left behind."
Daisy grinned, continuing to play along. "And don't even get me started on the scenery. The wilderness here… it's gorgeous. Way better than anything you'd find in the States."
Liam chuckled, looking more relaxed now. "I'll give you that. The forests up here are something else. Nothing like 'em down south."
"Not to mention the politeness," Daisy added, her voice dripping with charm. "I mean, even in the apocalypse, you're still one of the nicest guys I've met. Always saying 'sorry,' even when it's not your fault. That's something we could all learn from."
Liam's chest puffed out, clearly basking in the praise. "Well, I suppose we Canadians do have a reputation for being polite. It's just in our nature."
Daisy nodded again, keeping his attention fully on her. "I've always said, if I had to choose between living in the States or Canada, I'd pick Canada in a heartbeat. You've got everything we could ever want."
I watched as Liam began to shift in his seat, the conversation with Daisy clearly losing its hold on him. His eyes flicked toward the bound zombie that used to be Beatrice, and I saw his posture stiffen, like he was preparing to stand up. We couldn't let him get back in control of the situation.
Before he could move, I leaned forward and spoke, keeping my voice steady but curious. "Liam, what… what happened to Beatrice?"
His body froze, and for a moment, he didn't answer. His gaze lingered on the zombified remains of his wife, her decayed form tied to the chair, her head slumped forward. The room went silent, and I could hear the soft, raspy sound of Beatrice's breath—or what passed for breath.
Liam's face fell, and when he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion. "We'd been living out here for years, you know? Just the two of us, away from everything. It was… perfect." He paused, taking a shaky breath. "Then, when the world went to hell, we stayed out here. Kept to ourselves. I thought we were safe."
I swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the room rise. Yabe was still working quietly, her fingers slipping behind her chair, using a broken shard of the plate to cut at the ropes binding her wrists. I just needed to keep Liam talking a little longer.
He rubbed his face, his eyes wet with tears. "But one day… one day, she went out to check the traps, and when she came back, she had a bite on her arm." His voice cracked, and he started to cry, his sobs filling the room. "I thought… I thought maybe it wouldn't happen to her. But she got sick. She died."
There was a long pause as he stared at Beatrice, his lips trembling. "I couldn't let her go. I couldn't…" His voice became a low whisper. "So I tied her up in the shed, where she couldn't hurt me. I thought maybe I could… maybe she'd remember, y'know? She doesn't eat her favorite waffles anymore… she doesn't remember me."
The sadness in his voice was palpable, and for a moment, I felt pity for him. But that pity was short-lived as his face hardened again, his eyes filled with desperation. "That's why I need new family. A new start. A fresh chance."
Suddenly, Liam stood up, and my heart skipped a beat. He grabbed Liza by the arm, yanking her out of her chair. She screamed, struggling against his grip, but he was too strong. "You'll be the first," he said, his voice trembling with excitement. "You'll be the first of my new family."
"Let go of me, you sick fk!" Liza screamed, kicking and thrashing as he dragged her toward Beatrice. Beatrice's head lifted slightly, her blank eyes staring in Liza's direction, her mouth twitching as if she could smell the fresh meat.
Panic surged through me as I struggled against the ropes. "Liam, stop! She's not your wife anymore! You're delusional!"
But he didn't listen. He brought Liza closer, his grip on her tightening. Liza's eyes were wild with fear, her breathing coming in ragged gasps as she fought against him.
Just as Liam pulled Liza next to Beatrice, Yabe made her move. In one swift motion, she leaped up from the ground, her hands free, and the broken shard of plate gripped tightly in her hand. Without hesitation, she charged at Liam and drove the shard deep into his neck.
Blood sprayed from the wound as Liam staggered back, his eyes wide with shock. He let go of Liza, who fell sideways, hitting the floor with a painful thud.
"Ahh—fk!" Liam screamed, his hands flying to his neck as blood gushed from the wound. He stumbled, his body lurching backward until he fell onto Beatrice's lap, knocking her chair back as well.
"Holy shit," Ethan gasped, his eyes wide as he struggled against his bindings.
Yabe didn't waste a second. She darted over to us, using the shard to cut through the ropes holding us to the chairs. First me, then Daisy, then Ethan.
As soon as I was free, I bolted to where my katana was leaning against the wall. Grabbing it, I turned just in time to see Liam convulsing on the floor, the blood pouring from his neck slowing. His skin was already starting to turn gray, his eyes clouding over with that familiar, lifeless look.
"Jake!" Yabe called out, her voice panicked. "He's turning!"
I gripped the katana tightly, my heart pounding as Liam's body twitched and spasmed on the ground. His movements became jerky, and then, with a sickening snap, his head jerked up. His once kind, grief-stricken eyes were now cold, dead. He let out a low, guttural growl, and his mouth twisted into a grotesque snarl as he staggered to his feet.
"Fk, here we go," I muttered under my breath.
Liam lunged at me, his hands outstretched, his mouth dripping with blood and spit. Without thinking, I raised the katana and swung with all the strength I had left. The blade sliced clean through his neck, severing his head from his body in one swift motion.
Liam's body crumpled to the floor, his head rolling away, eyes still open and lifeless.
I barely had time to catch my breath before Beatrice started to move. Her bound body jerked awkwardly in the chair as she struggled against the ropes, her mouth opening and closing with hungry snaps. The noise sent a shiver down my spine.
I knew what had to be done.
With a grim sense of finality, I raised the katana once more and brought it down on Beatrice's head, cleaving her skull in two. The zombie spasmed for a brief second before going still, her decayed body slumping back into the chair, motionless.
For a moment, there was only silence. The room was still, save for the faint sound of our ragged breathing. The adrenaline that had been pumping through my veins began to fade, leaving me feeling shaky and exhausted.
Liza, still on the ground, let out a long, shuddering breath. "Holy fk… holy fk…"
Yabe quickly knelt beside her, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?"
Liza nodded, her face pale, but her expression fierce. "I'm fine. That bastard… he was insane."
"Yeah," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "And now he's dead."
Daisy, having just finished cutting the last of Ethan's ropes, walked over to me, her expression grim. "We need to get the hell out of here. Now."
I couldn't have agreed more. We quickly gathered what few supplies we had left—our weapons, our packs—keeping our eyes on the bodies of Liam and Beatrice. I half-expected them to get back up, even though I knew they wouldn't.
As we stepped out of the cabin and into the cold night air, a wave of relief washed over me. We were alive. We had survived.
Q: Have you ever been to Canada before?