Age Of Zombies Chapter 54 [54] First Day Of Work (part 1)

After nearly three weeks of sleeping on cold, hard ground, the bed felt like heaven. Sure, the couple in the room next to us was going at it all night, loud as hell, but I was so exhausted that it barely fazed me. The mattress cradled me, and the sheets were clean, soft. I hadn't realized how much I missed feeling like a human being until I sunk into that bed. For the first time in weeks, I slept like a rock, dead to the world. The next morning, I woke up with a clear head, well-rested, and feeling almost... normal. It was a rare feeling in this world we were living in now, where survival was day-to-day and everything else was a distant memory. After grabbing a quick breakfast with the group, we headed out to our respective jobs. I'd been assigned to the mental wellness center, something I wasn't exactly thrilled about, but hey, work was work. The mental wellness center was in an old, repurposed building, clean enough, but with that clinical smell that made you feel like you were in a doctor's office. I walked in and reported to the front desk, and after waiting for a few minutes, I was told to head back to Dr. Applelove's office. The name had caught me off guard.

Applelove? Seriously?I thought it had to be some kind of joke, but then again, people had all sorts of weird names these days. When I stepped into her office, I was greeted by a tall woman, probably in her mid-40s, sitting behind a neatly organized desk. She had brown skin, smooth and flawless, and long wavy black hair that fell over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. She wore a white lab coat, but underneath, I could tell she was curvy as hell, her huge melons pressing against the fabric of her shirt in a way that was hard to ignore. Her legs, bare and smooth, were crossed casually under the desk, and she had that whole "hot professional MILF" vibe going on. I could feel my pulse quicken just looking at her. She gave me a warm smile, her lips curved in a way that made my thoughts drift. Her voice was smooth, with a playful undertone that had no business being as sexy as it was. "Good morning, Jake," she said, her tone comforting but with that teasing edge. "I'm Dr. Applelove, the head counselor here. It's nice to finally meet you." "Uh, yeah, you too," I muttered, feeling like an idiot already. I tried to focus on her words, but my eyes kept drifting to her. I couldn't help it. She was distracting, to say the least. She gestured for me to sit, and as I settled into the chair opposite her, she crossed her legs the other way, the movement drawing my eyes to her smooth, bare thighs. The lab coat parted just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her skin, and damn, I was trying really hard to focus on anything but that. "So," she started, leaning back in her chair slightly, "let's go over the basics of your job here. You'll be assisting with various tasks—helping patients, organizing sessions, and sometimes sitting in during counseling to observe. We're really focused on providing mental support for survivors, so you'll see a wide range of cases—PTSD, anxiety, grief. It's going to be a lot to take in, but don't worry, you'll get the hang of it." Her voice was like a smooth melody, each word flowing effortlessly, but I was struggling to focus. My mind kept wandering to the way her blouse hugged her figure, the curve of her breasts catching my eye. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, trying to hide the fact that I was getting hard. It was impossible not to react to her. She was just too damn sexy. I crossed my legs, hoping it would help cover up the obvious bulge in my pants, but I had a feeling she noticed. Her eyes flicked down for a split second before she smiled, her expression turning just a bit mischievous. "You okay, Jake?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement. I cleared my throat, feeling my face heat up. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine," I lied, trying to keep my cool. She chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly. "Don't worry, happens all the time. You wouldn't believe how many guys come in here and get a little... distracted. Must be something about the atmosphere, huh?" I laughed awkwardly, not sure how to respond. "Yeah, maybe." Dr. Applelove smirked, clearly enjoying how flustered I was. "Well, I'll let it slide this time," she teased, her voice dropping just a little, adding to that playful undertone. She reached for a piece of paper on her desk and slid it across to me. "Here's a more detailed outline of your duties. Take it with you, look it over, and we'll get started officially tomorrow." I grabbed the paper, trying not to make eye contact. "Thanks," I muttered, feeling like an idiot. "Take your time with it," she said, still grinning. "And Jake?" I looked up at her, meeting her eyes. There was something almost predatory in her gaze, but not in a bad way. More like she knew exactly the effect she had on me and was enjoying every second of it. "Try to focus on the job, okay? I'd hate for you to get... distracted again." My throat went dry, and I nodded quickly, getting up from the chair. "Yeah, of course." "Good boy," she purred, her voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Good luck on your first day." As I walked out of her office, my mind was racing. Part of me was mortified that she'd noticed, but another part of me couldn't shake the way she'd smiled at me, the way she'd teased me about it. Dr. Applelove was definitely not what I'd expected when I took this job, but damn, this was going to be interesting. I glanced down at the paper in my hand, but all I could think about was her—the way her legs had looked crossed under that desk, the curve of her breasts under her lab coat, and that voice. Focus on the job, Jake, I told myself. But I already knew that was going to be easier said than done.***The mental wellness center was quiet, the low hum of the generator outside barely audible over the silence inside. I sat at my small desk, going over some notes, still getting used to the idea that this was my job now. It felt surreal, being here, trying to help people make sense of their pain and fear in a world that no longer made any sense at all.My first client was already waiting when I was called into the counseling room. She was a little girl, no more than six or seven years old, sitting in the corner of the room on a small, worn couch. Her legs dangled off the edge, barely touching the floor. Her hair was dark and tangled, and she clutched a ragged-looking stuffed animal—a bear, I think—to her chest like it was her lifeline. She didn't make eye contact, her eyes staring blankly at the floor.I glanced at the file I'd been handed. Her name was Emma. She'd lost her mother to the zombie apocalypse, and her father had brought her to Banff right before he succumbed to his wounds. I could already tell this wasn't going to be easy. A kid who'd been through that kind of loss, especially in a world like this... it was unimaginable.I walked over, careful not to move too quickly or say anything that might scare her. "Hey, Emma," I said softly, crouching down so I was at eye level with her. "I'm Jake. It's nice to meet you."She didn't respond. Not a word. Her fingers tightened around the bear, her eyes never leaving the floor.I sighed internally, knowing that just asking her questions wouldn't get me anywhere. She was locked inside her own head, lost in whatever nightmares she'd been living through. And I wasn't going to be able to pull her out of that by just talking at her. I had to find another way.I stood up and glanced around the room, trying to think of something—anything—that might help. The center wasn't exactly packed with kid-friendly toys or distractions, but I had to improvise. I wasn't about to start talking to her about the past. The last thing she needed was to relive it.Then, an idea hit me."Hey, Emma," I said after a pause, my voice lightening up as I moved toward the small table in the corner. There was a pack of cards sitting there—probably for older clients, but it'd do the trick. I grabbed the deck and walked back over to her. "How about we play a game?"For the first time since I'd entered the room, I saw the slightest flicker of recognition in her eyes. It was subtle, but she blinked and glanced at the cards in my hand, her grip on the bear loosening just a bit.I smiled, keeping my voice upbeat. "I'll teach you. It's fun, I promise. You like games, right?"Still no response, but I could tell I was getting through to her, at least a little. I sat down on the floor in front of her, cross-legged, and spread the cards out between us."This game's called Memory," I explained, flipping over a card and then another, showing her how it worked. "You've gotta find two cards that match. Simple, right? I'll go first."I played a few turns on my own, talking through it as I went. Emma didn't move, but I could feel her watching me, her gaze slowly shifting from the floor to the cards."You can go next," I said after a while, my tone gentle but encouraging. "Come on, give it a try."Emma didn't say a word, but after a long moment, she finally moved. Her little hand reached out, hesitantly at first, and flipped over a card. It was a queen. She stared at it for a moment, then flipped another. A three of clubs."Close," I said with a grin. "But not quite. That's okay, you'll get it next time."I took my turn again, flipping over two more cards and making a big show of missing the match. "See? Even I mess up."Emma didn't respond, but I saw the tiniest flicker of a smile at the corner of her lips. It was faint, almost like she was trying to hide it, but it was there. It was a start.We played for a little while longer, and though Emma still didn't speak, she started to engage more, flipping the cards over on her own without any prompting. Her focus shifted from the stuffed bear to the game, and for those few minutes, the weight of everything else seemed to lift, if only a little."Hey, you're getting pretty good at this," I said after she made her first match—a pair of eights. "I think you're better than me already."That faint smile appeared again, and for the first time, she glanced up at me, her eyes meeting mine for just a brief second before darting back to the cards. It was like a crack in a wall that had been built too high and too thick for her to see over. But I wasn't about to push her too far too soon.After a while, I glanced at the clock and realized our time was almost up. I didn't want to overwhelm her, so I kept it light, letting her take her time as we finished the game."Alright," I said, gathering up the cards after the last round, "that was fun, huh? You did great."Emma didn't respond, but there was something different in her posture now. She wasn't as closed off, and the way she held her bear wasn't as tight. I wasn't expecting miracles, but I'd take this small victory.I stood up and gave her a smile. "We can play again sometime, if you want. No pressure."Emma looked up at me, her eyes wide and quiet, and for a moment, I thought she might say something. But she didn't. She just gave the slightest nod, barely noticeable, but enough to let me know that, maybe, we were starting to get somewhere.I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me gently. It was a small step, but it was a step in the right direction.Q: What was the first day of your job like?

Chapter 54 - [54] First day of work (part 1)

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