How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

“…What are you doing?”

Unable to rise, Aiden addressed Ross with those words.

Yet even as he clicked his tongue dismissively, Ross continued speaking.

“So what will you do now?”

Aiden furrowed his brow, unable to comprehend that query’s intent.

Why keep him alive only to engage in such idle banter?

But Ross’s words didn’t stop there.

“In the end, you and I are alone in this world. No matter how thoroughly you scour this entire continent, I alone can be your true companion. Why do you not understand that?”

“You’re still spouting that nonsense?”

A derisive laugh escaped Aiden’s lips.

Prompting Ross’s expression to harden visibly.

“What’s so amusing?”

“Isn’t it laughable? Regrettably for you, I already have companions.”

“What…?”

Ross echoed in evident disbelief at those unthinkable words.

But soon he let out a mocking chuckle of his own.

“Don’t tell me you’re referring to those children? Hah, that’s simply not funny at all.”

Ross approached, planting his foot firmly onto Aiden’s chest as he continued.

“Do you truly believe they are still alive? Answer me!”

That shoe ground down relentlessly, Ross regarding Aiden with utmost disdain.

“They’ve already been hunted down and turned into zombies themselves by now, no doubt. Or even if not, what difference does it make? Even if I killed you right here, what could they possibly do about it?”

“Nothing need be done – it makes no difference to me.”

“What…?”

“Because I have never expected anything in return from them.”

Aiden’s words furrowed Ross’s brow as if he had uttered some nonsense.

Observing that reaction, Aiden let out a heavy sigh . As if the Mayor’s attitude struck him as simply pitiable.

“Seeing you like this… makes it clear why you don’t have any true friends.”

“You insolent…!”

An enraged Ross raised his hand to hit Aiden’s face.

But at that precise moment that

Tang!

A single crisp gunshot reverberated through the cavernous expanse.

Both Ross and Aiden instinctively turned toward the direction of that unexpected report.

“What the…?”

Ross’s head swiveled with an audible creak to confront that source.

At the bottom of the stairwell descending from City Hall above.

A young girl had appeared there.

A ten, perhaps eleven-year-old child at most.

Gripping a small handgun plainly too diminutive for adult hands.

An unimpressive paltry sidearm dwarfed by the firearms Aiden himself had fielded.

Byt that minuscule weapon’s muzzle remained pointed at Ross.

And over a distance spanning dozens of meters, that pistol had already accomplished its lethal purpose – a single well-placed round punching straight through the Mayor’s skull with grotesque precision.

Registering that realization, Ross’s body swayed unsteadily for a brief moment before crumpling lifelessly to the ground, never to rise again.

“Kiaaahhhh!”

The zombies, unshackled from their former master’s control, howled.

Amidst those raging undead hordes, figures began to move defensively around one particular corpse.

* * *

Approximately one month later.

Inside one building within LA where reconstruction efforts progressed robustly, two humans, a vampire, and a zombie had gathered together.

“Why have you summoned us here?”

It was Arian who spoke first.

She was looking at Ava, who had summoned her, Aiden, and Sadie.

Following Mayor Ross Preston’s downfall, Ava had assumed the new role of LA’s primary military leader.

It was in that official capacity that she had directly requested this meeting with Aiden’s group today.

So Ava began in a businesslike tone suitable for such formal proceedings.

“The city government has reached its final decision regarding your… dispositions.”

At Ava’s words, Arian let out a small, resigned sigh – as if this inevitable moment had finally arrived.

Sadie too tensed slightly, regarding the woman with apprehensive anticipation.

Only Aiden, his face concealed behind that black helmet’s visor, betrayed no visible reaction whatsoever.

Ava first turned her attention toward Sadie.

“First, concerning Sadie Lewis herself – her circumstances will remain unchanged. Based on numerous testimonials, it has been firmly established that this child is an ordinary human. She is undoubtedly a recognized citizen of LA itself. So she may continue residing here and attending her regular schooling without issue.”

A faint smile curved Arian’s lips at that reassurance.

Because information regarding Aiden and Arian’s true natures as sapient zombie and vampire had already spread throughout LA.

In Arian’s case, far too many had witnessed her prowess on the battlefield directly.

While for Aiden, the city government had been obliged to disclose the truth about his role in former Mayor Ross Preston’s downfall and the reasons behind it.

So they had worried that there might be disadvantages for Sadie who had been with them, but fortunately, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

With a relieved sigh, Arian affectionately stroked Sadie’s head.

But Sadie herself wasn’t particularly happy.

She hadn’t been very concerned about her own treatment from the beginning.

So the girl remained focused as Ava’s next words.

Ava was now looking at Arian.

“As for you… it has been decided to officially accept you as a citizen of LA as well.”

“…Really?”

While Sadie beamed happily, Arian could only echo those words with naked disbelief.

But Ava nodded in solemn confirmation.

“Yes. Though we do have our reasons, of course. We are well aware of just how potentially threatening an existence you pose to this city.”

Even now, the crimson crystalline stalagmites Arian had created along the northern perimeter still littered that area as unassailable evidence.

So no one could say the miracle they had seen then was a lie, and therefore the current city government had no choice but to officially recognize the existence of vampires.

However, they couldn’t ignore the fact that this very vampire had fought tenaciously to defend them all the same.

That critical distinction played a pivotal role in determining Arian’s treatment here.

“Nevertheless… the fact remains that LA itself has become a far more dangerous place as well. I’m sure you’ve taken notice of the zombies’ recent movements?”

At those ominous words, the gathered group nodded.

Ever since Mayor Ross Preston’s death – the same individual who had once exerted control over LA’s undead denizens – zombie numbers had skyrocketed across the surrounding region.

Those same zombies he had previously driven into the outlying deserts now streamed back toward populated centers once more, drawn by the presence of living humans.

“From now on, we must directly contend with those zombie threats ourselves. Which will inevitably jeopardize securing essential utilities, water, and fuel reserves alike. So we decided to ask for your help.”

“Help…”

“In exchange for guaranteeing your residency within LA and providing a sustainable blood supply, we wish to enlist your capabilities as necessary. Would that be acceptable?”

For a few moments, Arian closed her eyes, lost in thought.

To fight according to the commands of others, as a vampire…

It reminded her of those who had once tried to subjugate her as a mere weapon before.

So Arian added one vital condition of her own to those proposed terms.

“If it’s just dealing with zombies, I’ll do it.”

“And what exactly does that mean?”

“It means I won’t kill humans.”

Ava nodded at Arian’s words.

LA, who had never intended for her to combat humans in the first place, had no reason to refuse such a condition.

“Alright. I accept those terms.”

With Arian’s circumstances settled, Ava turned her attention finally to Aiden.

“Aiden Lee. In your case, however… I regret that your residency within LA has been denied.”

“Why?”

It was Sadie who immediately voiced that question.

But it was none other than Aiden himself who answered.

“It’s only natural. This place should never accept zombies again.”

He had anticipated this very outcome from the start.

An inevitable conclusion, truly.

While the vampire Arian posed a threatening existence, her tangible utility couldn’t be denied.

Aiden, on the other hand, lacked any comparable indispensable power of his own.

Above all, the danger of the zombie virus is independent of Aiden’s will.

No matter how fervently they might trust Aiden individually, just as they did Arian, that fundamental existential risk could never be realistically discounted or ignored.

As Aiden explained that grim reality, Ava nodded grimly in confirmation.

“Exactly as you say. That danger is precisely why the city government refused to permit your residency here.”

“But…”

Sadie’s eyes drooped.

It meant that she would hardly be able to meet Aiden as she had been doing until now.

However, Ava continued her words.

“Still… things will be different from how they were previously. Soon LA will officially start trading with the junk dealers.”

The overriding reason behind this policy shift tied back to those recently increased number of zombies, of course.

Thanks to that unchecked undead resurgence, LA had been forced to contract its patrol boundaries and even abandon portions of its previously secured safe zones in certain areas.

But the location hit hardest by those same circumstances was none other than Huntington Beach.

Those parasitic elements leeching off LA’s protected territory had no choice but to evacuate that now zombie-infested region.

To the point that even the notorious Huntington Docks gang had completely dissolved in the upheaval.

And this situation wasn’t good for LA either.

For like it or not, the Huntington Docks had served a crucial role solving the most hazardous, complex contracts that ordinary citizens could not.

Their presence had undeniably aided LA’s overall security and stability.

So to compensate for that void left by the Docks’ disbandment, LA would effectively replace their role directly instead.

By sectioning off an entire residential zone within their wall perimeters specifically for  junk dealers and outside visitors. One that would be freely accessible to all, without any exceptions or restrictions.

“Then…”

“While Aiden himself cannot leave that designated area, LA’s citizens can come and go as they please. So as long as you wish it, meeting one another would be possible at any time.”

At those reassuring words guaranteeing their ability to reunite freely, Sadie finally smiled.

In contrast, Aiden just let out a short sigh.

“Hmm…”

He understood LA’s intent behind this direct initiative to conduct legitimate trade with junk dealers.

But oAiden still had some doubts.

No matter how restricted the area he could move around was, if they accepted him, there was still the risk of letting a zombie inside the wall.

In the end, it means LA is taking on an unnecessary risk.

“It still seems too generous. Is there some particular reason behind it?”

So Aiden asked that directly.

In response, Ava’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“You’re quite perceptive. Yes, that’s right. But this can be said to be thanks to Arian.”

Ava turned her attention toward the vampire as she continued speaking.

“Me? How so?”

“My sister’s diary you retrieved. It contained far more than mere personal journal entries. The data for that vaccine my sister developed was recorded within its contents as well.”

At those words, Arian’s eyes widened.

She did indeed recall handing that diary over to Ava after retrieving it herself.

However, Arian, who had no knowledge about vaccines, had no idea such content was there.

“Soon, LA will be free from the fear of the zombie virus. When that day arrives… accepting Aiden’s presence within these walls would become a realistic possibility as well.”

“…”

This time, even Aiden was speechless.

If an effective cure could be developed to neutralize that existential infection risk altogether…

It was an outcome he had never dared dream possible.

An awkward silence lingered for a few moments before Ava got up, brushing off her seat.

“In any case, that covers everything I wished to convey. I’ll be going then.”

As if this was her only business, Ava left the room.

The three left behind traded glances with one another silently before eventually exiting that building.

The time was now mid-morning, around 11 AM.

The brilliant spring sunshine shining overhead proved pleasantly warm and invigorating.

It was amidst those refreshingly ideal conditions for LA that Arian finally spoke:

“This turned out really well, right?”

“Yes!”

Arian and Sadie held hands, rejoicing.

They had worried they might not be able to live in LA, or even if they could, they might not be able to see each other.

This resolution represented the best possible scenario Aiden’s group could have hoped for.

A fact that even Aiden couldn’t deny.

Therefore.

He finally sensed the end of the long request.

“Sadie.”

Aiden approached the child huddled beside Arian.

Sadie’s eyes looked at Aiden with a slight question.

“With these terms, the request your mother Rebecca entrusted to me has now been completed.”

The very same request he had accepted over a year earlier, from the other side of this devastated American continent.

To escort Rebecca’s daughter, Sadie, to the safety of a secure community.

And finally, Aiden judged that he had completed that mission.

But there was one last procedure left for a junk dealer.

To receive the client’s acknowledgment and approval that the request had indeed been satisfactorily fulfilled.

So Aiden asked Sadie.

“Tell me then. Do you acknowledge the success of the request?”

Sadie stood up straight at Aiden’s words.

Because she well understood the solemn significance behind his procedure.

And her own answer came without the slightest hesitation.

“Yes!”

Sadie responded with a bright smile as warm and vibrant as the spring sunshine.

A warm wind seemed to wrap around them from somewhere.

( THE END )