Information and Results

As the faint light of dawn crept into our makeshift sleeping area, I woke up to find Jazmen already awake, her eyes fixed on the restrained zombie in the laboratory. Sleep still clung to me, but the urgency of our situation pushed me to consciousness.

"Morning," I greeted her, my voice still groggy.

Jazmen turned to me, her expression more serious than ever. "Apex, I was doing some thinking last night. We need to gather as much information as we can about this pandemic and what's happening outside. It's the only way we can hope to survive."

I nodded in agreement, the gravity of our predicament settling over me. "You're right. We need information. But how do we go about it?"

Jazmen approached me with a determined glint in her eye. "That zombie you captured, he had a switched-off phone which might hold some answers. There must be something on it if it's working."

I picked up the phone, its screen caked in dried blood and filth. With trembling hands, I wiped away the gore and powered it on. To our amazement, it still had a charge. The phone's screen flickered to life and... it required a pattern. I tried the simplest and most basic lock, and it worked.

With a smirk on my face, I turned to Jazmen and quipped, "Well, Jazmen, it seems we've uncovered a true genius here. The password to this technological treasure trove is none other than 'N mark'! Clearly, our predecessors were experts in the art of subtlety and cunning."

We both shared a sarcastic laugh, marveling at the simplicity of it all.

As I scrolled through the device, images and videos began to paint a grim picture. News reports, messages, and social media posts revealed a world in chaos, overrun by the undead. Panic, destruction, and cries for help filled the screen.

Jazmen's eyes widened as she peered over my shoulder, absorbing the horrifying reality. "It's not just our college campus. It's everywhere. The whole world has been zombified."

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The once-familiar world had crumbled into madness. It was a global pandemic of unprecedented proportions, and we were mere survivors in its wake.

"We need to survive and find a way to reverse this," Jazmen said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

I nodded in agreement, pockets of hope still flickering within me. "We'll go out after the experiments, gather supplies, find some safe haven and search for any survivors. We can't give up. Not now."

As we gazed out of the laboratory window at the desolate world beyond, a sense of purpose settled upon me. Our quest for answers had led us to a grim truth, but it also fueled my determination to survive and reclaim the world from the clutches of the undead.

We tried to call our way out, only to find that calling system has been cut off.

---

Later that day, as we sat together in the dimly lit laboratory, the notebook containing the results of our experiments lay open before us. It was a stark reminder of the challenges we faced and the mysteries we needed to unravel to survive in this new world overrun by the undead.

Jazmen's brow furrowed as she pored over the battered notebook. Outside, the hallway echoed with the guttural groans of the undead, but in that moment, she was engrossed in the notes she had compiled. I leaned in closer, my youthful curiosity mixed with a hint of surprise.

"These results, Jazmen," I began, my voice hushed in deference to her experience. "They might just be the key to understanding these monsters." I leaned in, my gaze fixed on Jazmen's face.

Sage nodded, her experienced eyes scanning the words on the pages. "I think you're right, Apex," she replied, her tone carrying a blend of mentorship "Let's see what we've learned."

I took a deep breath and began to read aloud, "First, it appears that zombies aren't inherently stronger. Instead, they put their entire physique into whatever they do, be it jumping, pulling, pushing, or punching. It's like they don't care about their own bodies, which makes them surprisingly formidable in their own way."

Jazmen listened attentively, her wisdom evident as she considered the implications. "That makes sense," she said, her voice warm and encouraging. "It explains why they're so relentless and unyielding, even in their decaying state."

I turned the page, my heart beating a little faster as I continued, "Next, our experiments suggest that the black liquid produced in their salivary glands is responsible for spreading the zombie syndrome, or possibly a virus. This means that only their teeth have the capability to spread the infection."

Jazmen nodded in agreement, her experience shining through. "That's a crucial discovery, Apex. It might help us develop better defenses or treatments in the future."

As I continued to read, Jazmen looked at the notes, her gaze never leaving them. "Moving on, we've learned that other than their extremely sensitive hearing, none of their other senses seem to work. They might have partial visibility, but it's almost negligible. It's like they're trapped in a world of sound and darkness."

Jazmen's wisdom illuminated her face as she spoke. "So, their vision is practically useless," she mused. "That could explain why they rely so heavily on sound to locate prey."

I smiled and turn to the final page of our notes. "Lastly, we observed that zombies regenerate very slowly over time. It's still a mystery, but it might be the reason they don't simply decay into nothingness. In fact, they could potentially heal or respawn if left alive even after enduring a significant amount of damage."

Jazmen's experienced gaze met mine, and she recognized the implications of our discovery. "Regeneration? That's astounding" she said, her voice filled with both admiration and respect. "If we can figure out how it works, we might be able to exploit it, or at least find a way to permanently put them down."

I closed the notebook, my heart racing not only from the scientific revelations but also from the closeness I felt to Jazmen. "Jazmen, these findings could be the key to our survival," I said, my desire to impress her evident. "With this knowledge, we might just have a chance to outsmart the undead horde."

Jazmen smiled, her experience and wisdom blending with a hint of warmth. "But we have to be cautious, Apex," she reminded me. "These are preliminary findings. We can't let our guard down."

I nodded earnestly. "You're right, Jazmen. We'll continue to study them, learn their weaknesses, and find a way to survive this nightmare"

In that dimly lit laboratory, surrounded by our makeshift defenses, we knew that our journey was marked not only by the pursuit of knowledge but also by a unique bond, a connection forged in the crucible of a zombie apocalypse.