Even though he had long understood that the situation would only grow worse, and had predicted that the government, what little of it remained, going to rescue citizens was to much risk, he still felt a sting of disappointment.
Logic dictated it would require a expand of too much resources, and if even he could see that, the government’s analysts would naturally come to the same conclusion and advise against it.
They would save their own skin before wasting ammunition or supplies on others.
Aron had accepted this truth a while ago, yet he would be lying if he said there wasn’t a part of him that hoped for rescue.
The announcement proved otherwise, and he couldn’t deny the bitter taste it left. Still, he knew this so-called "evacuation" was nothing but a strategy.
Anyone who could reach Zone A on their own was already strong or resourceful enough to be of use, and that filtered out the weak, the freeloaders. To the government, it was a win - win situation either way.
His appetite had long since withered, but food wasn’t a luxury he could skip yet.
The night dragged on.
It was only 2 a.m. four hours left before morning.
After checking the locks and setting up a crude alarm for any unwelcome surprises, he lay on his bed.
He turned off the phone alarm; his body would wake at six regardless, he turned it off not wanting to draw any unwanted abomination toward him.
Some restless turning, a trick of the mind here and there, and finally he drifted off around 3 a.m.
He quickly fell into dreamscape. In the dream, endless zombies charged at him from all directions.
He was in the middle, fighting with all he had. After a bitter struggle, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he was dragged down. The horde swarmed him, about to tear him apart...
Aron’s eyes shot open. Sweat soaked his skin, his body tense as though the dream had followed him to the real world.
The sound wasn’t in his head, it was his makeshift alarm crashing to the ground. The building itself trembled, groaning as though it might collapse at any moment.
His room was covered in darkness. His visibility low, Outside was still dark. It seemed he hadn’t slept long.
Sure enough, not only his building but the entire area was pitch black, the electricity is also gone.
He grabbed his phone, thumb about to switch on the light, when his hand froze. Something wasn’t right. He glanced toward the small window again.
The sky was still dark, yet his phone’s display read 10 a.m. He dismissed it instantly as an error, he had no time to dwell.
The tremors grew violent, dust and plaster raining from the ceiling. Ignoring everything else, he turned on the flashlight, grabbed his bag of food, and shoved away the barricade at his door.
The moment he stepped out, his eyes met hers.
The girl from across the hall stood frozen in her doorway. She was also stepping out, fear and panic written all over her face.
Her once-bright features were gaunt, her skin pale, with heavy shadows under her eyes clearly sleep deprived . New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel•fire.net
Yet, even in that disheveled state, she carried a fragile kind of beauty, a face that stirred a man’s instinct to protect.
Aron looked at her once, then moved to leave. He had never built ties with anyone in the building, and she had been no exception. But the girl had pestered him despite his indifference, always bringing snacks or trying to strike up a conversation whenever she could.
Not only here, but even at the club where he worked, where she happened to be an accountant. Whether he wanted to or not, he recognized her.
(At least she hasn’t turned into a zombie. Good for her.)
Without a word, he turned toward the stairwell.
Her heart sank. Even now, even in the apocalypse, he remained indifferent to her.
But Last night, after the gentle knock on her door different from the banging of zombies, she had gathered enough courage to peek through her door again, and was given a shock. she saw Aron fighting the landlord, no, what had become of her. A zombie.
She had watched Aron dispatch it with frightening ease, then drag the body away before returning to his apartment with a bag slung over his shoulder.
She had been utterly shocked, The official posts had said zombies were dangerous, far stronger than normal people. Yet he had killed one so easily as though it were nothing. Could he be an awakened too?
The thought had taken root. From then, she decided she would follow him. Even if he didn’t want her around, she already had a crush on him. She wouldn’t mind...
She had stayed by the peephole all night, waiting. When the building out of nowhere started to shake and seemed about to collapse at any given time, panic overwhelmed her. But when she heard a door open, excitement surged, and she rushed out.
Aron’s reply was flat, and cold cutting off her words before they could form. He was already at the stairwell, before she knew it.
Her heart sank at his coldness. She stood frozen, desperate.
"I... I also got a second notification!" she blurted out, voice trembling.
Aron stopped mid-step.