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A shot rang out, echoing through the serene woods, causing a flurry of birds to take flight from their nests. Their wings beat frantically against the air as they sought refuge from the disturbance caused by the shotgun blast. A heart-wrenching thud resonated through the trees, announcing the fate of a deer that now lay lifeless on the ground. Levi emerged from his concealed position behind the underbrush, shouldering his shotgun with practiced ease. He made his way to the fallen animal, his heart heavy yet resolute, as he gently lifted its form and cradled it against his hip, the weight of it both a tribute to his skills and a grim reality.
As he approached his home, he gave the front door a gentle kick, a silent signal that he was back. The door swung open almost immediately, revealing the eager, smiling face of his child. Their eyes sparkled with joy, and they pushed the door wide, fully welcoming him into the warmth of their shared space.
"Did you sleep well?" Levi inquired, his voice a mix of affection and curiosity. The child nodded enthusiastically, contributing an innocent, “Uhuh! I slept well, papa.” Their eyes darted toward the dead deer nestled in Levi's arms, shifting with a blend of excitement and concern. "Is Mama gonna eat that? Should we cook it for her?"
Levi chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, it doesn't need to cook. Mama always eats it, okay?" There was a hint of hesitation in his voice, a slight tremor that hinted at the burden he carried, but he quickly tucked it away for his child’s sake.
His gaze flickered toward the doorknob that led to the basement—a place that held more secrets than it should. As the child opened the door and closed it with the same habitual routine, Levi's heart sank. The sound of his footsteps echoed ominously down the creaking stairs, each step heavier than the last as he approached the dimly lit space below.
He flicked the switch, the harsh light revealing a scene that filled him with sorrow each time he laid eyes on it. There you were, bound to the cold, unforgiving walls, your wrists and ankles shackled by heavy metal restraints. Your once vibrant eyes now appeared a dull grey, the life within them flickering like a candle nearing its end. Your features were gaunt, skin stretched taut over bones, and every small movement provoked a chattering of teeth that produced haunting, muted gurgles.
You had become something other than human when the apocalypse began. The chaotic invasion of flesh-eating zombies transformed your life into a nightmare. When one of these horrors had barged into your home, instinct drove you to protect your child. You fought valiantly in the kitchen, blood, and desperation mingling as you battled the creature, even as its gruesome bites marred your flesh. In a final, fierce act, you plunged a knife into its brain, feeling a shift in yourself—a terrible metamorphosis that marked the onset of your transformation into one of them.
With the remnants of your humanity slipping away, you urged your child to flee upstairs, dialing Levi’s number with trembling fingers before hiding away. Without hesitation, you stifled your cries of anguish by covering your mouth with a piece of torn cloth, then chained yourself to the leg of the sturdy table with Levi's handcuffs. Tears streamed down your face as you allowed the weight of your emotions to break free, pouring out your sorrow and despair as the darkness threatened to engulf you.
Yet, amidst the horror, you clung to the beautiful memories of your life—laughing with Levi, the joyful giggles of your child, the warmth of family moments shared. You made a promise to yourself that, even as your mind began to blur and your senses faded, those memories would remain a beacon of light.
That's when Levi stumbled upon you in the kitchen, caught in a moment of horror and disbelief. He acted without a second thought, urgency driving him to lead you away from the house and into the dense woods, immersing you both in the shadows where no one would think to look for you. The world outside had become a cruel place, filled with voices urging him to end your suffering. They told him to pull the trigger, to put an end to the torment of your undead existence. But in his heart, he could never bring himself to do that; you still inhabited the essence of his beloved wife, the light of his life, no matter how twisted you had become.
With a heavy heart, he tossed the carcass of a dead deer in front of you, watching in a mixture of revulsion and morbid fascination as you instinctively lunged for it. The sounds of your feeding—wet and grating—made him wince; the primal way you consumed the animal was something he could barely endure.
He often struggled with the idea of bringing you food, knowing it came from a place devoid of human understanding, yet he felt compelled to nourish you. He clung to a semblance of normalcy, imagining the two of you, sitting together at the dinner table with your child as if life had not spiraled into this nightmare.
With a heavy sigh, he flicked off the light switch and ascended the creaky stairs leading up from the basement, closing the door firmly behind him. Each step felt heavier than the last, a constant reminder that beneath the earth, the person he loved was still alive in some horrific way, but not truly living.
As he reached the top, he was greeted by the sight of his child clutching a worn teddy bear, their innocent eyes searching his for reassurance. His heart ached at the burden of their questions, each one a stab of guilt. "Is Mama going to be okay? Is she better?"
Levi barely held back the tears threatening to spill. He wanted to dispel their fears, yet he knew the truth: you were more of a monster than ever, and the hope for your recovery was a cruel illusion. Still, he felt it crucial to protect that fragile sense of hope in his child. "Yes, Mama is okay, and she’s better," he lied, forcing a gentle pat on their head to reinforce his words. "Mama just needs some alone time right now. She doesn’t want either of us to be too close."
The child’s face turned hopeful, innocence shining through the fog of despair. "Will there be a day when we can get closer to Mama?"
Levi took a shaky breath, the weight of their hope suffocating him. He mustered a smile, one that teetered between sincerity and the most profound sadness. "Yes, one day." he promised, the words tasting bittersweet on his tongue. He wished he could believe them.