Chapter 14: Almost

"!!!"

It wasn't only the women, even the Zombie widened his eyes as his hood was suddenly blown away by the wind. He quickly tried to cover his head back; but by then, it was too late. Everyone had seen what he looked like.

"..." The Zombie turned to look at the group of women, only to see them with their mouths slightly open.

[The Readers of Fate are once again raising their eyebrows.]

[Reader of Fate: Hidden Dragon, says the little Zombie should kill all of them now that they've seen your identity.]

Not good, the Zombie thought. These humans were probably about to run– as is the usual reaction of humans whenever they see a zombie. If it was like that, then he would have a hard time devouring them all.

Perhaps he would end up with only having Sandie as a meal since one of her legs was injured. The humans seem to tend to do that, leave their weakest companion alone and run. If that is what's going to happen, then he should probably strike someone else other than Sandie since she wouldn't be able to run anyway.

[Reader of Fate: Honorable Bui, seems to be talking to himself about blood and carnage.]

[Most of the Readers of Fate are suggesting for the Host to eat Anna first.]

Anna.

And even though the Zombie could not yet read the words that were popping up in front of him, he still turned his eyes towards Anna. She seemed to be the strongest one of them all and would be the only person that would actually try to fight back if he starts eating someone.

After all, she was the only one who came back to fight with the werewolf. Gab follows orders, while Isa takes time to attack.

[A select number of Readers of Fate are worried that the Zombie is getting too smart too fast.]

Of course. The Zombie is not yet a creature that is clouded by his emotions; instincts, yes. But it was an instinct to survive and eat in the best way possible. His thoughts were more akin to a beast, thinking of the best possible way to hunt its prey.

And so, the Zombie begins his hunt…

…or so he thought.

"It's alright."

As before he could even take a single step, Sandie leaned closer to him, carrying an expression that the Zombie had never seen a human give him before.

A smile.

"It's alright," Sandie repeated as the smile on her face did not fade, "We… all have scars. You don't have to hide or anything, we're all slayers here."

"...Scars?" The Zombie whispered.

"Well, yours is more like a mega scar or something," Gab breathed out,

"But it's good, very manly," she then said as she raised both her thumbs. Isa also did the same.

As for Anna, she just closed her eyes, before lifting up her shirt and showing the huge burnt mark plastering her entire stomach.

As for the Zombie, he… was just confused. Half of his face should be decayed enough to show some of his bones already. So why were these humans referring to it as just scars?

"..." But then, the Zombie suddenly remembered how the gash on his shoulder suddenly closed. Could it be… the hole in his face also closed? The Zombie hasn't really looked at his reflection voluntarily his entire existence because he didn't really feel the urge to.

But for some reason, he wants to see what he looks like now.

But then again… it didn't really matter. What matters now…

…is that he devours at least one of these humans.

And so, with that thought, the Zombie's nails once again started protruding from his fingers; almost shaping into a blade as his pale blue eyes looked solely on his chosen target– Anna.

[The Readers of Fate are demanding blood.]

And the Zombie obliges. He quickly rushed towards Anna; his teeth, ready to gnaw the woman piece by piece.

"Ah, we finally found you!"

But before he could do so, however, several voices began whispering in the air; which caused the Zombie to retract every sharp thing he had in his person.

As for Anna, she could only take a step back; her face, clearly weirded out as to why the stranger suddenly stood in front of her. But as soon as she heard the people that suddenly began arriving, she let out a small sigh and patted the Zombie's arm several times.

"No need to be alarmed, they're with us," Anna then said as she chuckled and turned towards the people that were walking from the thickets.

It was a good thing the Zombie had not yet killed Anna; if not, then he was sure that he would find himself extinguished; simply for the fact that the group that suddenly arrived numbered almost a dozen.

[The Readers of Fate are frustrated with this outcome and are demanding blood.]

[Reader of Fate: Craze the Third, is asking what kind of plot armor Anna has to survive this long.]

"Fucking hell, isn't that a grown werewolf!?" One of the people that just arrived quickly ran towards the corpse of the largest werewolf, "Shit… these guys' claws go for like a hundred dollars or something. You can buy a pack of cigarettes with that shit."

"Don't touch it, it's not ours," Anna raised her voice before letting out a sigh.

"What? What do you mean?" It wasn't only the man who approached the carcass that looked at her, but the rest of the newly arrived group.

"He's the one who killed it," Anna then pointed at the Zombie, "It's his alone. And since he actually did just save our lives, the rest of the spoils are his as well."

"You mean he killed a grown werewolf alone?" Another one from the group step forward; it was the tallest man in the group, towering over everyone else as he walked towards the corpse of the werewolf,

"Who is he?"

"..." And as soon as he asked that, the only thing Anna, Sandie, Gab, and Isa could do was look at each other for a few seconds, before finally setting their eyes on the Zombie.

"Come to think of it…" Sandie said as she once again leaned closer to the Zombie, "You saved us and all…

…and we haven't even asked for your name."

A name.

The Zombie could only stare at Sandie as he heard that word. It has perhaps been days since he also asked himself that question. But an answer, he still has not yet reached.

And so, the Zombie could really only look up; his eyes, almost asking the heavens themselves for an answer.

And so, for the very first time, the time has come for the Readers of Fate to directly intervene.

Choose very wisely; for even something as simple as choosing a name might just very well affect the entire Fate of our little Zombie.