DS Chapter 24

After Kylie began drinking Logan’s blood, she started to change.

She still growled at him, but it didn’t feel aggressive anymore—it felt more like she was trying to be cute.
Since her mouth and hands were bound, she couldn’t eat him, so she came up with another way to get his blood.
Zombies weren’t supposed to be capable of rational thought, yet that’s exactly what it felt like.

Of course, the moment her gloves or muzzle came off, she’d lunge at him like she’d never acted sweet in the first place.

Still, traveling with Kylie had become much easier.

Even without being strapped into the passenger seat, she sat fairly calmly.
Whenever she got hungry, she’d rub her head all over Logan’s shoulder—like a dog begging its owner to play.

“No. Sit properly.”

The problem was, she did this constantly, so Logan had to be firm.
If he gave her blood every time she begged, he’d end up dead from blood loss.

“If you don’t sit properly, you’re not getting fed today.”

Whether she understood or not, Kylie always stopped when Logan got angry.

It was strange… and oddly endearing.
So every time she behaved, Logan would gently pat her head.

Just when he started thinking… maybe this life wasn’t so bad after all—

He heard something unbelievable in a city he passed through.
While trading with a group of survivors, he came across a rumor: a zombie cure had been developed.

Logan immediately headed east—where the cure had supposedly been made.

That’s when his wandering finally came to a pause.

To cure Kylie.
To live with her, once she was human again.
And even if she couldn’t be cured… to just keep living with her.

Somewhere along the way, that had become his life’s goal—his reason to keep going.

If he hadn’t had that goal, he probably wouldn’t have survived this long.

There was no point in living in a world like this… all alone.

* * *

The sharp smell of disinfectant stung my nose. I was still restrained, and Logan was nowhere to be seen.

‘Is the testing over?’

Through the haze, I heard voices talking.

“The virus is still present… Soon might turn into a zombie… Dangerous…”

“We were mistaken… It’s too late…”

What the hell are they mumbling about? Why are they calling me a zombie? I’m getting treatment properly.

Annoyed, I twisted my body to demand answers. But I couldn’t sit up because of the restraints.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t moved in so long, but my muscles ached and my whole body felt stiff.

‘They could at least loosen me now.’

What kind of hospital treats a patient like this? I grumbled internally and wished Logan would hurry up and come get me.

Everyone here felt unpleasant and terrifying. Their disgusted stares, the way they watched me like I was some lab rat, the way they didn’t even treat me like a person—it all pissed me off.

“Lo… Logan… Logan.”

As the anesthesia began to wear off, I slowly regained control of my mouth. The moment I came to, I called out for Logan.

The tests should be done by now, right? Then I should be allowed to go home. Let me out of here already.

I stared at them desperately and twisted my body in frustration.

“What should we do, doctor?”

“…”

“Doctor?”

“Call the guardian first.”

“Is that okay, though?”

“The condition is… fascinating. A zombie that follows people… we’ve never seen one before. Zombies usually forget family bonds when they turn.”

“…I’ll bring the guardian.”

A chill crawled up my spine. They already thought I was a zombie.

But I’m fine. I didn’t black out. My head’s completely clear.

If they’ve decided I’m a zombie… then what happens to me now? Am I going to die? Do I have to die?

Fear of death slowly began to rise within me.

It felt like I was sinking deep into a swamp, completely submerged. No matter how much I gasped, I couldn’t breathe. A tear slid down from my temple.

“Logan… Logan… Bring Logan. Logan…”

You bastards.

A doctor in a white coat approached my bed. He flipped through a chart, checked the heart monitor, and rubbed his chin.

“She’s still mentally conscious. Even though her virus levels are at the threshold.”

“…Where’s Logan? Where’s Logan?”

“Didn’t the virus never really go away in the first place? Her nutrition and physical state were so poor, the virus probably just went dormant for a while. That’s the most likely explanation.”

This asshole doctor… why does he talk to himself so damn much? I glared at him, grinding my teeth.

Virus or not, I’m fine. I’m not a zombie yet. Have you ever seen a zombie that talks and thinks like a person? Don’t judge me based on some damn paperwork—look at me!

“I’m fine, you son of a bitch! So discharge me already! Bring Logan!!”

Fury surged through me until my head felt like it was burning. I writhed against the restraints, trying desperately to break free.

I wanted to tear that doctor apart with my bare hands. My face turned red, ready to burst.

‘I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you, you bastard!’

As I thrashed on the mattress, the doctor recoiled, taking a step back with a tense look.

“Is this… a danger signal?”

Just as the doctor sensed the threat, the hospital room door opened.

“Doctor, the guardian is here.”

“Ah, wait. The condition is dangerous—don’t come in.”

As soon as I heard someone say the guardian had arrived, I immediately turned toward the door. The doctor was half-blocking the view, but I could clearly see Logan standing there.

“Lo… Logan! Logan!”

Hurry up. Come get me! These lunatics are treating me like I’m a zombie.

As I called out to Logan with a gleam of hope, a nurse stepped in front of him.

“Please wait outside.”

“Just for a second. I just want to see Kylie’s condition.”

“No, absolutely not. Please wait outside.”

The nurse firmly pushed Logan out of the room, even though he had heard my voice and was trying to get to me.

I was so upset and hurt, I could’ve cried. I needed to tell Logan everything I heard, how they were treating me. I needed to beg him never to let me step foot in this awful, twisted place again.

But he left again. I lost sight of him right in front of me.

And when he disappeared, it felt like a gaping hole had opened up in my chest. Like I’d been abandoned—my whole body went cold.

“Logan… Logan…”

Was it because I yelled instead of staying quiet like he told me to? Did I mess up again? He’ll come back if I stay still, right? We’ll go home together… right?

Just then, a memory hidden deep in my mind bubbled up to the surface.

The home we used to live in together. The familiar living room, the front door. A space filled with Logan’s scent that made me feel so happy.

I was sitting in a rocking chair, wearing a muzzle and boxing gloves, sniffing the air, trying to catch every bit of Logan’s scent.

Occasionally, I swallowed down drool.

But then, suddenly, a foreign smell ruined our space. This was our space—Logan’s and mine. That unfamiliar, unpleasant scent had invaded.

When I checked where it was coming from, someone had peeked their head through the slightly open front door. An intruder.

I bolted straight toward the smell. The startled neighbor ran off, but I chased them like a hound after prey, pure instinct taking over.

Was I planning to eat them? Eat them alive? I mean… could I even eat them? I’ve only ever tasted Logan.

Anyway, I dashed after my prey with excitement. The neighbor came back out of their house holding a gun and pointed it at me. I didn’t even realize it was dangerous—I just kept running.

Then—bang!!

The gunshot rang out across the quiet neighborhood. My vision went dark.

Logan had thrown himself in front of me.

The bullet had grazed his cheek as he blocked me. I hugged him tight, sniffing the blood trickling down his face.

It smelled so good. If it weren’t for the muzzle, I would’ve taken a big bite.

The moment that memory hit me, the strength drained from my body.

Now I remembered why Logan had that scar on his cheek. It was because of me.

‘I guess they were right. I probably do have to die.’

As I fell quiet, the doctor adjusted his glasses, puzzled. He must’ve thought I calmed down the moment I saw Logan.

“This is… fascinating. Let the guardian in.”

And finally, Logan—the one I desperately wanted to see—appeared.

When he saw me, standing there with tears silently streaming down my face, his expression turned ice-cold. He rushed over, furious, and began undoing the restraints holding me down.

A startled nurse ran in and tried to stop him.

“You can’t take those off! It’s dangerous!”

“Kylie came here for a check-up. Not to be experimented on.”

Logan didn’t stop. He removed the restraints completely. My arms were free now, but I just let them fall, limp and weak.