Age Of Zombies Chapter 60 [60] Snakes And Ladders

It had been about a week since I started my job at the mental wellness center, and every day with Emma felt like progress, even if it was slow. She still didn't talk much, but she was opening up in her own way, and that was more than I could've asked for when I first met her.

Today, we were sitting on the floor of the counseling room, a well-worn board game laid out between us. Snakes and Ladders. I had found it tucked away in a storage closet and figured it would be a good way to keep things light. Emma sat across from me, her stuffed bear beside her, and for once, she wasn't clutching it as tightly as she usually did.Her small hands rolled the dice, and she moved her game piece forward, her eyes focused on the board with intense concentration. She still hadn't said much, but she was here, playing, engaging, and that was a huge step forward. Every little bit counted."Your turn, Jake," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper but clear enough that I caught it. Hearing her speak, even just those few words, was like music to my ears.I smiled, taking the dice in my hand and giving them a roll. The numbers came up, and I moved my piece forward, narrowly avoiding one of the snakes. "Phew, almost got caught by that snake."Emma glanced up at me, her lips twitching into the faintest hint of a smile. "You're lucky," she said softly, her eyes flicking back to the board.I chuckled. "Luck's part of the game, right? Let's see if it holds up."We played for a little while longer, the dice passing back and forth between us. Emma was focused, determined to beat me, and I could see the way her eyes lit up every time she climbed a ladder. It was the most animated I'd seen her, and it made me realize just how much she needed this—something normal, something fun. Something that wasn't tied to the pain she was carrying.I rolled again, moving my piece up a ladder, and before I knew it, I had reached the end of the board."Oh," I said, a little surprised. "Looks like I won."Emma froze for a moment, staring at the board in disbelief. Her brows furrowed, and she sat up a little straighter. "No fair," she muttered, her voice a little stronger this time. "You weren't supposed to win."I smiled, trying to keep things light. "Hey, it's just a game, right? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."But Emma wasn't having it. She crossed her arms over her chest, her expression serious. "I want a rematch."Her competitiveness caught me off guard, but in a good way. She wasn't retreating into herself like I'd feared she might. Instead, she was engaging—really engaging—and that was more than I could have hoped for.I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be unsure. "A rematch, huh? You sure about that? I might win again."Emma's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a spark of defiance in her. "I'm sure," she said firmly. "This time, I'll win."I couldn't help but grin. "Alright then. You're on."We reset the board, and I handed her the dice. "You go first this time. Maybe that'll give you the edge you need."She rolled the dice, and the game started again. This time, Emma was more focused than ever, her small hands moving her piece with precision. Every time she hit a ladder, she'd shoot me a look, as if to say, "See? I'm going to win this time."And honestly? I loved every second of it.We went back and forth, the dice rolling, the pieces moving, the board filling with snakes and ladders. Emma's determination was contagious, and I found myself getting into the game just as much as she was. But this time, I wasn't trying to win. I was just happy to see her so engaged, so... alive."Come on, ladders," Emma muttered under her breath as she rolled the dice, her piece landing on a square that sent her right back down a snake. She huffed, her cheeks puffing out in frustration.I chuckled. "Tough luck, huh?"She shot me a look, half-serious, half-playful. "It's not over yet."I grinned, rolling my own dice and moving my piece. This time, I landed on a snake and slid back a few spaces. "See? It happens to the best of us."Emma smiled—a real, genuine smile this time. "Maybe you're not so lucky after all."The game went on, and the closer we got to the end, the more competitive Emma became. Every time I rolled the dice, she watched with eagle-eyed focus, and when it was her turn, she took her time, calculating her every move.Finally, after what felt like an eternity of back-and-forth rolls, Emma landed on the final square, beating me by a hair."I won!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement and pride. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and shining. "I beat you!"I laughed, holding my hands up in mock defeat. "You sure did. You're officially the champion."She beamed, sitting up straight and tall, her hands resting triumphantly on her stuffed bear. "Told you I'd win."I smiled back at her, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the game. "You did. And you earned it."For a moment, we just sat there, the board between us, and I realized how far we'd come in such a short amount of time. Emma wasn't the same quiet, withdrawn girl I'd met a week ago. She was opening up, finding her voice again, piece by piece. And though there was still a long way to go, this felt like a victory—a small but meaningful one."Next time," I said, giving her a teasing smile, "I'll be the one to win."Emma giggled, hugging her bear close to her chest. "We'll see about that."As we packed up the game and got ready to head out, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Emma was still carrying her pain, her loss, but today, for the first time, I saw a glimpse of the little girl she used to be—the one who still had some fight left in her. And that was worth everything.***It had been a long session, but I felt like I'd done well. The client I'd been working with was a wreck when they first walked in, but after an hour of talking and listening, they seemed calmer, more collected. I was proud of myself—I was still new at this mental health counselor gig, but I felt like I was getting the hang of it.As I wrapped up the session and saw the client out, I turned around and found Dr. Applelove standing in the doorway of my office. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, her ever-present smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Nice work in there, Jake," she said, her smooth voice flowing over me like honey. "You're really getting the hang of it."I smiled, feeling a bit of pride swell in my chest. "Thanks, Dr. Applelove. I'm trying my best."She stepped into the room, her eyes glinting with amusement as she walked closer. Her lab coat was undone, revealing her tight blouse underneath, and those damn huge melons of hers were impossible to ignore. They bounced slightly with every step, and despite trying to keep it professional, my eyes betrayed me. I couldn't help but glance down at them. "You're staring," she teased, her voice low and sultry.My face instantly heated up, and I tore my eyes away, cursing myself for being so obvious. "Shit, I wasn't— I mean, I didn't mean to—" She laughed softly, cutting me off. "Relax, Jake," she said, her smirk deepening as she leaned against my desk, her arms folded casually under her chest, which only pushed her breasts up higher. "I'm used to it. You wouldn't be the first guy to get a little distracted around me." I could feel the heat in my face spreading down my neck as I tried to find the right words, but everything I thought of sounded stupid. I, uh... I wasn't trying to... I mean, sorry if—" "Don't apologize." She waved a hand dismissively. "It's cute. Really." Her eyes met mine, and there was that playful glint again. "But you should probably work on keeping your focus. You're doing a great job here. Don't let a little... distraction get in the way of that." I swallowed hard, trying not to look at her boobs again, even though they were right there, practically begging for attention. "Y-Yeah. I'll work on that," I muttered, feeling more flustered by the second.She grinned, clearly enjoying the effect she had on me. "Good boy," she said, her tone dripping with amusement. "Keep it up, and you'll go far here, Jake."As she turned to leave, she shot me one last look over her shoulder. "And Jake? It's okay to admire, but just don't let it get in the way of your work."With that, she walked out, leaving me standing there, red-faced and embarrassed as hell. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. How the hell am I supposed to focus with her around?Q: Would you want a boss like Dr. Applelove?

Chapter 60 - [60] Snakes and ladders

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