[28] Face to face

A zombie, its rotten face grotesquely twisted into an expression of hunger, stood before me.

Its skin was a nauseating hue of gray and green, covered in open sores that oozed a putrid liquid. One of its eyes dangled from the socket, swaying grotesquely with each movement. Its clothes were stained with dark blood and dirt, bearing testimony to the horrific transformation it had undergone.

Yet, as horrifying as the sight was, there was something more striking that froze me in place – the lack of interest the creature showed towards me. Despite standing inches away, the zombie showed no intention to attack. Its glazed eyes looked through me as if I was part of the surroundings, a non-entity.

The realization was both chilling and oddly comforting. In a world where survival was a minute-by-minute battle, this peculiar anomaly made me feel...safe. The very creature that spelled death for anyone else, held no threat for me. I was invisible to them.

Still, being this close to one of them was unsettling. The stench of decay hung heavy around it, invading my senses and making me gag. It was a harsh reminder of the reality we were living in – a reality where death was a constant companion.

Resisting the urge to take a step back, I remained still, watching as the zombie eventually turned and shuffled away, its disjointed movements echoing the emptiness of its existence.

Once it was a safe distance away, I took a deep breath, shaking off the eerie sensation of the encounter. I quickly gathered the parts I had dropped and made my way back towards Cassidy and Ms. Yan, my heart still pounding from the close encounter.

As I moved away, I turned back for one last look. The zombie had moved on, indifferent to my presence. As I watched it, I couldn't help but feel a strange connection to it. After all, weren't we all trying to survive in this new world order? Wasn't survival the basic instinct that drove all of us, living or undead?

With a final shiver, I walked around the zombie, resuming my trek back to the girls. We had parts to fix, a jeep to prepare, and a journey to continue.

Not today...

Not today!

Not today.

***

The gravel crunched under our feet as we made our way back to Cassidy's house, the weight of the car parts in my arms a grim reminder of the danger we had just faced. Cassidy led the way, her tall figure casting a long shadow in the afternoon sun. Ms. Yan walked behind, her soft voice humming a tune to break the unsettling silence.

Cassidy's excitement was palpable, her sapphire eyes gleaming as she turned to look at me, a large grin splitting her face. "Looks like you didn't need the cavalry!" she exclaimed, her fingers twirling around the trigger of her gun.

"Yeah..." I replied, panting slightly from the exertion. The parts felt heavier with each step I took, the muscles in my arms protesting at the weight. I dropped the components onto the ground, their metallic clatter echoing in the silent afternoon.

Cassidy's grin didn't falter. If anything, it widened even further. "Damn, you're stronger than you look," she commented, giving me an appreciative once-over.

I could only respond with a tired chuckle. My body ached from the effort, my hands still shaking slightly from the adrenaline rush. The image of the zombie's blank gaze kept replaying in my mind, a chilling reminder of the world we now lived in.

Beside me, Ms. Yan's humming stopped, replaced by a worried frown. "Are you alright, Chang?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

I flashed her a reassuring smile, forcing myself to stand straight. "Yeah, just a bit winded, that's all," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

She nodded, although her expression still held traces of worry. I wished I could offer her more comfort, reassure her that everything would be okay. But in a world overridden by zombies, such promises felt hollow and false.

As we resumed our journey back to the house, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief. Despite the near encounters, we had managed to get the parts we needed. We were one step closer to getting out of this place, one step closer to safety.

The sun began to set, painting the sky in a stunning blend of oranges and pinks. In the midst of all the chaos, it was easy to forget the simple beauty of a sunset. A sigh escaped my lips. It was ironic how a world so cruel could still hold such breathtaking views.

As we trudged on, I couldn't help but hope that there was a silver lining to this nightmare. Maybe we could find a haven, a place to call home amidst all this chaos. Or at the very least, maybe we could find a way to keep surviving, to keep moving forward.

For now, though, all we could do was fix a broken-down jeep and hope for the best.

Q: What is the worst thing you smelled?