Love, Lost and Found

s a physics professor whose m

a zombie. While other zombies lunged to

ing red with manic excitement. It was hard to believe a

came up empty, stammer

forcing me to read a book of bad jokes. His eer

speech

tbreak, Caiden and I

s break up,"

ing Adam's apple. He sank onto the couch, exhausted, rubbing his fo

he forgot my birthday. Though he apolo

am I being unreasonable? I

my birthday. What were you doing?

easily. Caiden froze, looking at me with guilt, his Adam's apple

o hear excuses, grabbed my p

sually so thoughtful. I was just angry, wanting to vent, not make

take me to the Sam's

shopped like crazy

Seizing the chance to forgive him, I swiped his card to buy

den's trunk, so I had a deliv

the opportunity to sweet-talk me, promisi

fe, secure shelter immediately. Unknown biting creatures have appeared in the East

ing unnaturally, blood staining their mout

s a z

th alarming speed, biting them. Twenty seconds l

, rushing me to a villa in the southern suburbs. He

iden! Is your research worth more than your life? What abo

d calm as ever, offering a gentle smile. "Kaylee, I'm just flesh and bloo

ened the car doo

he decided something,

ins shut, unable t

t District. Going back

g the gate or walls would trigger an electric shock. I sealed the

er person. Within hours of the outbrea

t their biting speed and strength were ov

confirmed it was a zombie virus. Vacci

ge of the East District

did I remember how

to call my name

d've cherished Caiden like he was my h

irelessly when I was sick, handmade gifts for my birthdays

ook it all for gran

llen, the streets overru

grim, but I clung to a d

ut for him, I was willing t

, sitting warily on the couch. Zombie growls echo

nd exercised with him every mornin

lentless. I tightened my grip on the bat and pe

shirt stood. Blood smeared his handsome face, and his once-gen

s Cai

ke a lost puppy, repeatedly touching the ele

ed to let him in, bu

ains shut, refusi

ch, my mind blank. Then, faint footsteps a

d behind the door, an

lence. As they grew closer, I counted silently. When I felt someo

ained yelp came

he figure gasped, clearly in pain,

one's flashlight on the g

uy from that afternoo

him. The flashlight revealed a teenage boy. "I'm the one

ck home. Can you take me in? I study sports science.

es. I stopped him, stepping back to keep my distance. "I'm Kaylee. Let's be clear-I do

ent, his gaze clear and steady. "I can't promise, bu

es in my basement. With zombies multiplying, what would

in was my o

d a corner of the curtain, watching Caiden at the gate. Suddenly, he seemed to

hat before. Now, Caiden was

ains, too scare

sleep. When I woke, it was

tidied up and went downstairs, Nigel had

nd were heading toward the East District. He'd taken the chance to

or balcony to check if Cai

mpty, save for blood

of loss settle

e. My body froze, and the phone slipped

s blazed with unrestrained madness. He stared into the drone's camera, his lips curling

ubtedly become

rong?" Nigel's vo

e king appeared in

the latest drone footage. For some reason, when he

know

. Do you know him?

el to deliver my supplies. Caiden w

covering it up. "No, I d

ing fe

he bathroom, I noticed light

ser. The do

ething, flipping through books

with physics books and research drafts. What u

, perched halfway up a hill, was

in the gusts. A forg

itting sports science students. Nigel cla

he real

wled up fro

ow I made it th

stworthy. I had to find

e!" he called o

eality. I forced a smile that

t you worried about them?" I clutched

parents died suddenly when I was young," he said. "I got bullied

ooked up at him. A flicker of

y," I

I saw a bunch of physics books in the stud

le, making a thud, and feigned

d, saying

rve tugged a

lied. The city lost all po

an to check the s

ras, I'd have to see for m

The clock st

ed unexpectedly. I lifted the c

at the villa's gate, th

erie. To

ever happe

ng stirred

shut and tiptoed to th

ness, I couldn't make out the figure clearly,

was right here last

ing for the

w sweaty. As I turned to leave, a

caught me,"

he USB drive, and demanded,

eigning innocence. "Ju

finish, a loud crash c

and rushed to pull back the curt

oor balcony. A few were already clawing

rlier, reinforcing the walls, those bloodthi

many to fight

supposed to w

e south balcony wa

rept onto

hem at Nigel with fake panic. "Nigel, kill them! Take

me, I held the USB

st enough for the flamethrower and stun baton to work, and started attac

igel turned back, asking for m

r, I shoved the balcony door open from

gate, Nigel pulled out another flamethrow

dn't let h

ut it wouldn't drop. Just as Nigel lunged

e zombies to tear him apart. But

ng zombies, he ripped off his fake innocence and sne