2. The Zombie Outbreak

Screeeeech—!!

A car driving in the wrong direction crashed into the central divider before careening onto the sidewalk.

Screams of shock erupted from all directions. Fortunately, no one was hit by the out-of-control vehicle.

The car only came to a stop after slamming into a utility pole. Pieces of the car flew across the asphalt, creating a clatter.

The driver, crushed by the inflated airbag, flailed their arms, twisting in their seat.

The hood of the car was crumpled, but the driver’s seat remained intact. Yet the driver inside was convulsing violently.

I witnessed the accident from across the street and, though startled for a moment, soon grimaced and turned away.

“Did they take drugs? I swear, drug addicts should have their licenses revoked.”

I shrugged it off, assuming it was just another incident caused by some drunk or drug addict.

It’s as if the world is falling apart—there’s no end to these lunatics causing accidents. This month alone, there have been three shooting incidents, and drug-related deaths have increased by 20% compared to last year.

In a city riddled with violent crimes, ignoring a car crash in broad daylight wasn’t unusual.

After walking more than a block away from the crash site, I suddenly heard a loud scream.

“Ahhhhh!!”

The piercing cry made me stop in my tracks. My spine tingled, and an uneasy feeling washed over me.

‘What’s going on?’

Turning back, I saw a crowd gathering around the scene of the accident. The swarm of people made it impossible to see what was happening.

The people, forming a tight circle, seemed to be both watching and attempting to intervene, as if something alarming was unfolding.

‘Where are the police when you need them?’

My heart pounded again. Not wanting to get caught up in the commotion, I quickened my pace and hurried away from the scene.

This neighborhood is always noisy. All I wanted was to leave this wretched hometown as soon as possible.

‘Once I get into college, I won’t have to deal with this anymore.’

For now, I was stuck working part-time in this grimy city, but soon, a bright future awaited me.

I had been accepted as a scholarship student at a prestigious university, something I had desperately longed for.

Finally, I could leave this city behind. A chance to erase the miserable past.

In the near future, I’d be living a sparkling campus life, eventually becoming a successful lawyer, walking tall among high-rise buildings.

I’d be a winner, moving on to a bigger world! That would be me.

The accident from earlier had long faded from my mind. As I finished my shift and headed home, my steps grew lighter.

* * *

After a short walk, I came across a garage, reeking of gasoline. The strong smell made me frown.

Broken cars were haphazardly parked, and deflated tires were piled high. Inside the garage, I spotted a man in an oil-stained work uniform.

He had been lying under a car, but now he slid out from beneath it. His face was familiar.

He wore a tied-up work suit over a black short-sleeved shirt, his hazel-colored hair and sharp features unmistakable.

‘Logan.’

It seemed he had decided not to go to college and instead take over his father’s repair shop.

I had heard he received scouting offers from several universities, thanks to his impressive football record. But he rejected them all to stay in this city. His foolish decision made me chuckle.

‘You can keep living in this dump while I move on to better things.’

A sense of superiority tugged at the corners of my mouth. It wasn’t that I held a grudge against Logan.

Well, maybe a little?

We had to spend a lot of time together growing up since we were next-door neighbors, but we never really got along.

I liked drawing and reading books, while Logan was hyperactive and violent. Most of my memories of playing with him were unpleasant.

Every time I played with Logan, I ended up injured.

He kicked a ball at my face once, I fell out of a tree trying to imitate him, and I even tumbled down some stairs once, trying to escape his dog (which is now dead).

After incidents like that, my parents eventually told me to stop playing with him, which was a huge relief for me.

That was back when we were kids. As we grew older and stopped hanging out, things became awkward between us.

We became the kind of people who would exchange awkward greetings if we bumped into each other outside. I even peeked out the window before leaving the house just to avoid running into him.

As we got into high school, things became more uncomfortable and, frankly, more irritating and humiliating for me.

Logan was quite popular. I was smarter, and I got better grades, but he was the one everyone liked. He was good at sports, outgoing, tall, good-looking, and even had a pretty blonde girlfriend…

So, yeah, you could say that’s why.

But now, there’s no reason for me to feel embarrassed around him.

Logan was going to spend his life in this dirty garage, covered in oil and working on broken cars.

Meanwhile, I would graduate from a prestigious university, become a lawyer, live in a nice house, and drive a fancy car. My future was sure to be much brighter. Still, when I came back to visit, I could afford to acknowledge him with a polite nod.

As I stared at his smooth, muscular arms, I swallowed.

“Kylie?”

“Oh? Oh, hey!”

Logan noticed me. Damn, I should’ve just walked by quickly.

I waved awkwardly, trying to smile. Logan wiped his oil-stained hands with a towel and walked briskly toward me.

There was something intimidating about his approach, and I instinctively took a step back.

It wasn’t my imagination; he was just really tall.

That’s why I preferred guys who were closer to my height. It kept me from feeling that strange, suffocating sensation that made my heart race and my body tense up.

“I heard you got into college. Congrats.”

“…Thanks. So, you’re working at the garage now?”

It was hard to look him straight in the eye. Maybe it was because I’d been internally mocking him, and my conscience was pricking me.

“Yeah, turns out this kind of work suits me pretty well.”

“Good for you,” I replied.

Logan shrugged and smiled.

Working as a mechanic, sweating under the heat with only a fan, even in the middle of summer, and surrounded by the stench of oil—how could that be fun? It didn’t make sense.

With my thoughts twisted like tangled springs, I avoided his gaze.

“Well, take care. I’ve got to get going.”

I said, turning to leave.

“Kylie, wait.”

He called out just as I was about to leave. I glanced back to see Logan rubbing the back of his neck, his lips parting slightly as if hesitating.

“Are you going to prom?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“With who?”

“Probably… Asher?”

Asher was about the same height as me, had good grades, wasn’t bad-looking, and had a kind personality.

Sure, he had the annoying habit of spitting a little when he talked, and he didn’t exactly keep his nose hair in check, but overall, he had more positives than negatives. Most importantly, Asher was going to the same university as me.

I also had a feeling he might confess to me after the party.

Logan raised his eyebrows slightly, nodding in response to my words.

“Ah, I see. Well, see you at the party then.”

“Yeah, see you on Saturday.”

I waved at him lightly and turned away. As I walked further from the garage, the smell of oil gradually faded.

The greasy clothes, the stained floors, the calloused hands, and even the sweat beading on Logan’s chin all faded into the distance.

The wind brushed against me, making me feel strangely unsettled. Was it a sense of regret, or was it relief? I resisted the urge to look back and continued on my way home.

* * *

“I’m home.”

There was no sign of anyone in the house.

It was nearing dinnertime. Where could they have gone? I glanced around the living room and kitchen.

“Mom?”

The worn-out leather sofa with a sagging middle, the faded carpet, the scratched cabinets, the sink overflowing with dishes, and the crooked blinds. Only this messy, neglected house greeted me.

Was she still gossiping with the neighbors? Honestly, they neglect their only child too much.

Would it kill them to be a little more attentive before I leave? It’s no wonder I don’t feel any regret about leaving this place behind.

I pouted and opened the fridge. There was a sandwich with dried-out edges. Grabbing the sandwich and some juice, I headed to my room.

I collapsed onto the creaky bed and scarfed down the stale sandwich. Crumbs fell onto the bed, but I just brushed them off with my hand.

With my stomach full, my eyelids began to feel heavy. I watched the curtains gently flutter in the breeze, my eyes growing hazy.

Today was so slow. I don’t think we’ve ever had so few customers.

A news anchor’s face flashed in my mind, reporting breaking news with urgent words and red headlines scrolling quickly across the screen.

Come to think of it, there was a shooting today, right? It happened near a church not far from where I work, which might explain the lack of customers.

And then there was the car accident on my way home. Today must be one of those unlucky days full of accidents.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed from a distance.

Another gunshot? I’m so tired of it.

I could’ve checked out the window in shock, but I was too sleepy. I was just so sick of this city and everything in it.

I pressed the pillow over my ears and shut my eyes tightly. My entire body felt like a wet, heavy rag, completely drained.

I vaguely heard sirens wailing outside the window. But I stubbornly ignored the noise and drifted into a deep sleep.

I can’t wait to get into college. I need to escape this horrible city and this filthy house as soon as possible. With that thought in my mind, I fell into a deep sleep.