DS Chapter 9

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

I said quickly, shaking my head.

We’ll definitely find condoms at the pharmacy, right? I’ll grab a box… Just in case. It’s not like I’m planning anything! You never know what might happen, that’s all.

Before I realized it, my eyes had drifted toward his lap. I quickly averted my gaze, worried Logan would catch me.

Come to think of it, his condom size would definitely be… extra-large, right?

* * *

Today, luck was on our side.

Zombies crawled out of the alleys at a manageable pace, and for the first time since we started our little competition, I beat Logan.

We even managed to get the dump truck close to the narrow entrance of the pharmacy, where we quickly found the painkillers and blood pressure medication Mrs. Lenin needed.

But that was the problem.

I’d forgotten the rule: when everything’s going smoothly, that’s when you need to be on edge. People like me, who usually have bad luck, shouldn’t forget this.

‘Had a lucky day, huh? Well, here’s a little gift. Let’s see how you handle this one. Good luck! And if it goes wrong? Oh well, that’s just fate.’

On days when things go particularly well, fate likes to test us by throwing in a curveball.

“Logan, look out!!”

While I was distracted by the variety of condoms on display, a zombie in a pharmacist’s coat burst out from the storage room.

The pharmacist zombie lunged straight at Logan, probably thinking he looked tastier than me. I instinctively stepped in front of him.

It was pure reflex.

Why did saving Logan feel like a reflex? I didn’t know; my body just moved.

Maybe it’s because, in the grand scheme of things, Logan would be more useful to the world than me.

After all, except for today, he had always killed more zombies than I had.

Logan was better at killing zombies, jumping long distances, fixing cars, staying calm… In so many ways, he was better than me.

Just like how Hulk always beat Captain. So, this was the best choice. It was better for me to get bitten than him.

“Kylie!!!”

The zombie that had bitten into my neck slumped to the ground. Logan had avenged me by smashing its head like a watermelon.

In the end, the bite was minor, just a scratch on my neck. I touched the spot, feeling disoriented. Blood smeared my fingertips.

Would I turn into a zombie from just this small bite? Was I going to die from something so minor?

“Logan, I got bit… I’m bleeding…”

I wanted to escape from reality, but I couldn’t ignore the thudding of my heart growing louder.

I was going to become a zombie soon. My chest felt heavy, and tears welled up in my eyes.

It wasn’t soul-crushing despair; it was more of a sense of unfairness.

I had survived so long, only to turn into a zombie from such a stupid mistake. I felt wronged.

‘This is so unfair!’

I was shocked, in disbelief, and completely dumbfounded. I guess I wasn’t the main character after all. Only someone insignificant would die this suddenly and absurdly.

Logan reached out his hand to me, snapping me out of my daze.

“Let’s go. Get up.”

I took his hand and stood up. We left the pharmacy in silence and climbed into the dump truck.

I sat there, dazed, sniffing as tears dried and snot took over. I had anywhere from 1 hour to 24 hours left as a human.

I wanted to die as a human.

Looking at Logan’s grim face as he drove, I made my final request.

“You have to kill me. I don’t want to become a zombie.”

I wasn’t planning on begging for my life. I wanted to go out like one of those cool side characters in movies, even if deep down, I felt anything but composed.

What a waste, packing those condoms. I thought I’d finally have a special night with Logan, but now it’s all for nothing.

They say first loves never work out—how painfully true. Damn it, if I knew it would end like this, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being with Logan. Maybe I’m being punished for being greedy.

“Just don’t bash my head in with a metal pipe, okay? That looks like it hurts.”

“…”

“Shoot me. Do it with a gun, so it’s quick and doesn’t hurt.”

I rambled on about how I wanted to go, while Logan stayed silent, just driving.

By then, the sky had turned a shade of orange, almost resembling the color of blood.

Feeling like Logan wasn’t taking enough precautions, I tied my wrists together and shoved a cloth into my mouth to keep from biting him if I turned.

“Mmmph, mmph!”

Can you at least say something? I’m the one about to die here, and I’m more anxious than you! How long do I have to keep talking to myself? How about some comfort for the dying? You cold bastard.

On a quiet stretch of road, the dump truck finally stopped. Inside, all I could hear was my own ragged breathing.

The air was calm but chilling.

Sensing my end, I took a deep breath and clenched my eyes shut.

‘This is it. I’m going to die. It hasn’t even been an hour, but still… I have to die before I turn into a zombie. There’s no point waiting.’

‘I killed so many zombies without hesitation. This is my karma. I’m going to die like the zombies I’ve killed, and it’s only fair.’

I saw Logan pull the gun from his pocket.

‘No hesitation at all, huh?’

I thought.

‘At least say something kind before you kill me—give me a little comfort.’

Click—

The sound of the gun being cocked.

‘This is it. I’m going to die.’

My head’s going to explode, and blood will splatter everywhere. Shouldn’t I step out of the truck? Are you really going to kill me right here?

Caught up in these thoughts, I spat the cloth out of my mouth.

“Logan!”

I called his name, not to beg for my life.

“I’m not regretful. I survived because of you, and I had fun being with you. So don’t feel guilty, okay? And if you ever meet my parents… tell them I died peacefully, as a human, not a zombie.”

I closed my eyes and spilled out my final words.

This was it. Any second now, my head would be blown off.

I tensed up, holding my breath, imagining my final moments.

But then, a heavy thud sounded as something was dropped onto the leather seat.

“Sorry.”

“…”

“I can’t do it.”

At his words, I opened my eyes, feeling a lump rise in my throat. Tears welled up as my vision blurred.

Logan’s words hit me hard, filling me with a strange, bittersweet warmth. He cared about me more than he let on. Of course, he must feel scared of being left alone, too.

But I had to die. I couldn’t let myself become a zombie.

“Sniff, if—if I die, go to the grocery store people. They seem decent. They always greeted us when we passed by. You’re good with cars, good with guns, and strong, so they’ll welcome you. Hiccup.”

As I sniffled and tried to convince him, Logan finally spoke.

“I killed your mom.”

“…What?”

“I had to kill her. She was charging at your mom. I thought she had turned into a zombie…”

Logan’s voice trembled, and I realized he was crying. But somehow, his tearful, confused face made me sick with disgust.

“Your mom asked me to protect you before she died. She told me to take care of you, that she’d forgive me if I kept you safe…”

Apparently, while my mom was dying, she begged Logan to watch over me.

Despite my bossy, know-it-all attitude, she knew I couldn’t even clean my room without someone nagging me, couldn’t do anything on my own. She had asked Logan to look after me, right before she closed her eyes.

Logan hung his head. My breathing grew heavier and more labored as a surge of betrayal washed over me.

Huff… Huff…

My breath felt hot, my body burning with rage.

‘That bastard..’

He had lied to me this whole time.

Logan killed my mom. And he had the nerve to act like nothing was wrong, to watch me search for my parents in the city, knowing they were already gone!

Beep—

A loud ringing filled my head. My vision turned blood-red as seething anger overwhelmed me.

‘You too… You need to die. This deceitful, treacherous bastard.’

All I could think about was my boiling hatred for him, filling my burning mind until my rationality slipped away.

Beyond my blurred consciousness, I heard a low, guttural growl.

It sounded like it was coming from me.