Zombie Love

I don't know how it started. I don't know when it'll end. But, I do know I'm not normal. Ha, normal. As if that word can describe anything anymore. I'm Alex and I don't remember anything else about myself. Oh, I should tell you. I'm a zombie. I think I'm female. It's been too long since I've seen anyone for me to know for sure. I see the occasional zombie here and there. But it's rude to ask about one's gender. Oh, right! I'm weird because I don't eat. Most zombies will eat dead animals or humans. Some even eat other zombies. Once they stop moving, of course. However, I just don't eat. I think I look human and I walk like one. I found that out after a few of my friends tried to eat me. I found a little apparent that was abandoned. That's my home, not much. I don't eat so; I collect plants as a hobby.

Today I found a small rose bush. I brought it home with me. When I opened the door, I heard something rustling inside. I gently put my rose bush down next to the door. I fixed my hair and walked in. "Hello?" I called. I walked farther in. Looking around, I saw food. Weird, as I was looking at it I stubbed my toe on one of my plants. I fell to the ground in pain. I went to get up but stopped. With a bat in my face, the person said, "Who are you?" "Alex." I said calmly. "How many people are with you?" Their voice is deep. "It's just me. Now, can I get…?" Before I could finish, I heard more movement in my room. "How many are with you?" They stepped back, "It's just me." Do they think I'm stupid? I get up and dust myself off. "Look, I don't mind sharing a place. However, you can't move my babies." I picked up the plant I stubbed my toe on. I put it back in the window, adjusting it a bit.

They put their bat down. "You are one weird girl." "Says the liar!" "I'M NOT A LIAR!" "I can hear your friends in the other room. I get it if you're trying to protect them but, lying is still lying." "My name is Max. The ones in the other room are my sisters." I smiled at him. "Nice to meet you." Now, I have to take a good look at them. This might be a man. "How have you survived up until now?" I don't think they know what I am. "I don't really know." I said rubbing the back of my head. "You see, I don't remember anything past my name." Max hugged me. "Don't worry. We're all in this together." Then, Max turned towards my room. "She's a friend. You can come out." Three girls came out. One was obviously a toddler; the other two were more likely teenagers. The little toddler walked up to me and smiled. "Are you going to stay with us?" I knelt down and patted her head.

"I can't go but, you can stay here as long as you wish." That did it! She was so happy. She turned to her brother and said, "Marry her! Marry her!" "Kate, calm down! We just met her!" Max said blushing, I giggled. Max looked at me. "Sorry about that." "It's alright. I thought that was really cute." Kate lit up. "She called me cute! She called me cute!" As she shouted, I could hear someone calling my name. "Alex, okay?" It's one of my friends. I forgot she lives here too. "I'll be right back. Kate, we don't want zombies hearing us and coming here, do we?" Kate covered her mouth with both her hands and shook her head. "Good, try and be quiet until I come back." Kate nodded.

I quickly left my room and ran to my friend. "Alex, okay?" "Yes, I saw a rat in my room. Sorry about the noise." My friend patted my head, took my hand and took me to her room. "Alex stay night with me." "Okay." I had to spend the night with her or she'd know I was lying. She offered to eat it for me but I didn't want her in my room. I reminded her of my plants. And told her I'd let her take care of it, if I find it again. Once I got home, I heard Kate crying. "I killed her. She was going to be big brother's girlfriend and I killed her." "There's no way for us to know for sure that she's dead." One of the older girls said.

I sighed, "Well, I think I'm still alive." Kate ran over and hugged me. "Are you okay? No boo-boo's?" I hugged her back, "Yep, no boo-boo's."  Max was relieved. "Okay. Now, I need you to remember to be quiet at night. No sun, no noise." One of the girls looked confused. "Why only at night?" "Because, there aren't any zombies here during the day. There are a lot at night." I faked a yawn. "Well, I'm going to take a nap." "What about breakfast?" "I'll eat later. I'm too tired." I walked into my room and closed the door. Some zombies need sleep. So, when humans make noise at night, they eat because they're tired. Luck me, all my friends sleep at night. The ones that don't sleep stay in big cities. Under an eighth of zombies sleep at night. So, they go to small towns or forests.

After about an hour of laying on my bed, I feel it dip. I open my eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I wanted to take a nap too." Kate whispered. I smiled. "It's alright." I said, in a tired voice. "Can we join too? We were all worried about you and didn't sleep." "Go ahead." I made myself comfy and closed my eyes. I felt them get into bed. Before I knew it, all three were cuddled up to me, sound asleep. Now, I can't move or I'll wake them. We stayed like that for three hours. One of the older ones woke up first. "You're awake?" "Yeah, I just woke up. I didn't want to wake you three. So, I didn't move." She giggled, "We're all heavy sleepers. You could jump on the bed and we won't wake up. I'm Ava and she's Eve. We're twins." "Nice to meet you." "Hey, you hungry? We still have some food left over from breakfast."

I thought about it. "No, I think I'll go for a walk." "Okay." Ava said, a little disappointed. I think she made it. "Ava, I don't want to be a burden. Just make sure you sisters and brother eat, okay?" Ava smiled and nodded. Before I left, I saw my rose's next to the door. I picked them up and put them in the kitchen. Max saw me leaving. "Hey, where are you going?" "I'm going out for a walk. I might bring a new plant back. We'll see." I shrugged. "At least let me come with you! It's dangerous!" "And how safe are your sisters without you? I'm just going to the park." I left before he could say anything.  As I mentioned before, my friends mistake me for a human from time to time. One bit me on my walk. "Dude, really?" "Sowwy, toght you uman!" "It's okay. Just nah on me, no ripping."

Nahing is a good substitute for zombies. On my walk, that happens three times a week. In their defense, I smell like a human now. I got back with water and lilies. We made a routine after a week. They let me take my walk in peace. They even ask me to get things for them. Food, water, and even clothes. I don't mind. After three months, they started wanting to come with me. I made the mistake of letting them. Kate held my right hand and Max had my left. Ava and Eve ran in front of us. Max and I did start dating but I refused to kiss him. I still haven't told them, I'm a zombie. Max let go of my hand to chase after the twins. Kate saw some daisies and pulled me towards them. She even let go of my hand and ran to pick them.

That is where it hit me, this was a mistake. I saw one of my friends get ready to eat her. I held her and he bit me. I heard a gunshot and my friend fell down. "Alex! Kate!" Max called. "Big brother!  Alex stopped that thing from eating me!" Kate said happily. I touched my shoulder and looked at my fingers, blood! I didn't even know I could bleed. I stood up. "Max!" "Yes, are you okay?" I turned towards him and opened my arms. "Shot me!" Kate's eyes widened. Ava put her and on Max's shoulder. "Max, it bit her. She'll change just like mom and dad did." Max looked conflicted. "Max, shoot me and leave this town." "What?" "I've seen it. Once you shoot a zombie, they don't stay down. No matter how many times you shot. I don't want to hurt you or your sisters. I love you. So please, shoot me and leave."

Max didn't want to but he did. Two rounds, one in my chest and one in my head. After that Ava and Eve had to drag him away. "Sorry." "It's okay. You didn't know." "Friends?" "Yeah, we're still friends. Once we can move again, I want to be alone for a little bit. Don't worry this will pass." My friend began moving at sunset. "Want drag home?" "No, they might still be there. I'll move tomorrow." My friend nodded and left. I closed my eyes. The morning sun woke me. I got up. "Well, they must be gone by now." I looked at the daisies. "I don't have daisies at home." I uprooted some of them and carried them home. I opened the door and nodded. Their stuff is gone, good. I found a pot and planted the daisies. I took a deep breath. "Their scent is still here. They must have just left."

A knock on my door. "Alex, home?" "Yes, I'm home. Just give me a minute. I moved the flowers to the wall. "Come in!" "Alex home smell human." "Yeah, I know. I was enjoying the company." "Sorry. Mat ruined, told us." "I thought he would." I saw something in her hands. "What you got there?" "For Kate, bear good, zombie good." I smiled and patted her head. "I'm sure Kate would have loved it but they left." My friend looked at me. "Human not gone. I watch them. Human not gone." "What do you…?" I looked at my room. I slowly opened the door. As she said, they hadn't left yet. They were still asleep. "Ava, Eve, and Kate but, then where is Max?" "Male next door. Had a big fight." "Fight over what?" I thought for a moment. "Alex, is that you?" Kate said.

 I looked back at them, Ava and Eve were awake too. "Alex is home!" Kate ran up and hugged me.  "Do you think she's here to eat us?" Eve asked. "She would have by now. It looks like big brother was right. You were already a zombie." "Is she going to hurt us?" Kate said looking behind me. "Nope, she only eats animals. She has a present for you." Kate cautiously walked up to my friend. "For Kate. Mat sorry, didn't know." Kate took the present, "Thank you." She opened it and found a teddy bear. "Is this really for me?" My friend nodded. "Alex, who's Mat?" "Mat is the zombie that attacked yesterday." "Alex, you're back!" Max shouted, running up to me. "How did you know?" "You made it obvious. You never eat in front of us, you'd come back with bite marks, and you know how zombies work. I'm guessing you don't remember being human." I nodded.

 Ava grabbed my shoulder. "Alex, we're family. We stick together." "Alex, don't make us go. We love you." Kate added. "Alex family, my friend." My friend said and shuffled off. "She's a weird one." Eve said. "No, she's normal. As far as zombies go, I'm one of a kind. I sleep and don't eat." Everyone laughed. "Alex, we're staying weather you like it or not." Max said. I kissed his cheek. "I like it."

The End