Volume 1 - Chapter 31

Relieving Chiemi

I stood in the yard with Aiko.

Exhaustion was taking a toll on me, but Aiko was more important than sitting down. I could get rest at some later point in time.

I let her continue crying on my shoulder for as long as she needed. After a few minutes, she collected herself and I told her how strong and beautiful she was.

Aiko looked at me with red puffy eyes and managed a smile.

"Thanks, Hachiro," she said. "Thank you for coming back alive."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Then Aiko took a deep breath and began to describe in greater detail the incident with the fast zombie.

"We were driving. It came running out of nowhere. It was so fast, I didn't even see it coming. It leaped onto the van and started breaking the windows, grabbing and gnawing at us. We had to stop just so we could fight it."

I saw the fear in her eyes as she recounted the story. I held her tighter, trying to offer some comfort.

"Chiemi was shooting everywhere. But she was missing. The thing was just too fast. It finally ran away, but by then dozens of slow zombies had surrounded us."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I knew they had encountered a dangerous situation but this sounded horrific.

Having different types of zombies out there to deal with was definitely going to change things.

As if we didn't already have enough to worry about, now we would need to plan differently. Seeing the way the van was messed up at the parking lot made more sense to me.

"So you had to shoot your way out?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "We saw the van. I think leaving it was a good choice."

She nodded. "Yeah, we did. I know we can go back for it."

I saw the trauma in her eyes, and I knew she was still processing what happened.

"I'm just glad you're okay," I said finally. "And that you made it back. I was worried I lost you."

"Me too. But Yuki…poor Yuki…"

Aiko recounted how the fast zombie bit into Yuki's arm.

"It all happened in a blur. It was so fast, so cold and calculating. I could see it thinking as it moved, faster than most people I've ever seen. It chased us down from out of nowhere."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I imagined the scene. I couldn't believe that Yuki, who had been so kind and gentle, was the one bit.

"What happened when it bit her?"

Aiko took a deep breath before continuing. "We tried to fight it off, but it was too strong. It was like he was toying with us. He kept predicting our gunshots and moving so quickly we couldn't aim. Each time I tried to shoot ahead of it, the thing turned.”

I knew how much she cared for Yuki, and I saw her lips trembling as she went on with the details.

"Eventually the thing ran off. He just left. It’s like he was toying with us, testing us, trying to bite one of us or something. After he got Yuki he just ran away.”

I gulped, feeling terrified of the speedy zombie. Dealing with a horde of slow walkers felt like a cake walk compared to this one guy.

“Was he full zombie?” I asked.

Aiko shook her head. “I think so but I don’t know. He looked like one of them. He had dangly bits of skin on his face. But he could think. I saw him planning and watching us between attacks.”

I nodded, still trying to build a template in my mind for what we were dealing with. If he looked full zombie then he wasn’t like Genta.

So far we had encountered thousands of slow-walking brain dead zombies, and some of them that had been poorly controlled by the hybrid zombie Genta.

Genta had been bit by a zombie. I wondered what type of zombie bit him, and I wondered if that even made a difference.

I asked about Yuki. “I take it she’s still alive down there in the shed?”

“For now, as far as I know.”

I looked across the yard at the shed and the woman guarding it. Chiemi was a good woman. She stood tall and alert but I knew she was likely worried sick about Yuki.

“Did she have the fever chills or sickness yet?”

Aiko shook her head. “I don’t know. Have to ask Chiemi.”

"I'm so sorry, Aiko."

On the one hand I was glad Aiko, Mio, and Chiemi were fine. Ryotaro and I were able to save Haru, so that was one good thing accomplished.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Thanks to my decision to split us up back at the supermarket, I was able to keep Genta from hurting the women.

On the other hand Yuki had been bit and Aiko was beating herself up about it. All those events might not have happened if we had stayed together.

“It’s my fault,” I said, “so don’t blame yourself for this. It’s a bad place, this world, and it’s only going to get worse.”

“Worse?” Aiko let go and looked at me with sad eyes. “What do you mean? How can it get worse than this?”

“Yuki’s not going to die. That’s my guess anyway.”

“But she was bit.”

“I know. So was Genta, and he turned into some type of hybrid.”

Aiko thought about that. “So it’s not like the airborne infection? That was a quick turn into mindless zombie. Are you saying she might be like the fast zombie or like Genta?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but based on your description they do sound different. Genta didn’t mention the zombie that bit him, so I can't know anything for certain."

“So there’s different levels of zombie? That makes sense.”

“It does?” I asked.

“Kind of. What if the infection strength diminishes with each new bite? Or like you said, those of us who survived the first airborne version only become hybrids with special abilities?”

I didn't know how infections like this worked so I couldn't argue with the idea. I went along with it even though it all seemed so fantastical. Nothing in this uncanny afterlife seemed to make any real sense.

“So airborne brain dead zombies bite a victim,” I summarized, “and we turn super speed or mind control?"

“Maybe?” Aiko shrugged, a spark of hope returning to her eyes. “Maybe Yuki won’t turn completely?”

“I have no idea, Aiko. I really don’t. I’m just thinking out loud here.”

I watched Aiko as she shifted her focus back towards Chiemi and the shed.

“But even if she does turn into something like Genta,” I implied doing a thing I didn't want to, “we do need to be prepared…”

“No,” she said, turning back to me. “That’s cruel. You said it yourself. You didn’t want to kill Genta. You’re not a murderer. You can't do that to Yuki, either."

I realized the truth of her words. We couldn't kill Yuki because of this one thing. We had to give her a chance.

“You’re right. We can’t do that.”

Aiko and I were both conflicted by the situation.

"I don't know what to do."

I didn't have a good answer for her, so I just stood there providing whatever comfort she needed.

It had been another stressful day and we hadn't even made it to noon.

I already had enough zombies for five lifetimes, but I also knew we were just getting started. If we were going to survive, we had to out-survive this one thing first.

I was still thinking about what Yuki would become. If she was anything like Genta, we wouldn't stand a chance against her if she wanted us dead.

The worst part of it all was that she might not even know how to control her zombie powers, if that actually happened. Genta had been grappling with that problem, but speedy boy appeared to have mastered his.

I had no interest in severe nausea, nosebleed, and nearly dying again. If Yuki did that to us, I wasn't sure what I would do.

"We could ask the boy for help," I said after a few minutes.

Aiko was puzzled by this. "But he’s just a kid."

"Haru helped Genta through the fever and chills after the man was bit. He's seen what happens. Maybe he can help with Yuki."

She understood after explaining that bit. Neither one of us knew what to expect, but if Aiko was thinking anything similar to me, we were not very optimistic.

"Maybe," she said.

“All I’m saying, is we do need to be prepared. Not to kill her, but to protect ourselves.”

“Yeah,” she reluctantly agreed, “okay. You’re also right. If she’s truly a danger, we do what we have to do.”

The thought of having to end Yuki wasn't pleasant, and I didn't know if I would have the strength to do that.

I asked, “You think Chiemi is holding up?”

The woman had remained near the shed the whole time I had been back. I knew she was tired and stressed. She'd taken to Yuki like a mother.

“We decided on two hour shifts.” Aiko said. “That way it’s even.”

I understood the arrangement. One person couldn't stand guard all day and night.

“How long has it been?”

She said, “maybe a half-hour. I don’t know.”

It sounded about right based on when we had returned.

“How do you feel about me taking her spot for a while?” I asked. “She needs a break. I think she might need you to lean on for a while, considering what has happened to…”

Aiko kissed me passionately. She didn't let up for a long time. I embraced the act, and matched her energy.

“I don’t deserve you,” Aiko said when she was done, tears in her eyes again. “I truly don’t.”

I was confused. I was thinking it was me who didn't deserve her. All I had done was offer to let Chiemi have a break.

“What do you mean? You are the one who is my perfect queen.”

She smiled but shook her head.

“No, Hachiro,” she kissed me again. “The world went to shit, but then I found the sweetest zombie killing lover on the planet.”

I blushed. "Thank you?"

“No, you silly little man. You don’t understand, do you? You have like the perfect blend of empathy and desire."

I shook my head. I was just a cubicle worker who loved a woman, and I wanted both of us to survive.

Aiko smiled. “You care about others and you don’t think you’re an alpha. It was the first thing about you that I fell in love with.”

I returned her smile. It was true I had never been one to brag or act overconfident.

Feeling love that was beyond the physical was a new experience for me. I knew I was wanted and needed by her, and that made everything about this relationship special.

“Thank you, Aiko. You are truly my queen. I love you.”

“I love you too, Hachiro.”

I looked down the way at the shed and the older woman. It felt like a good time to do what I had promised.

“I’ll go relieve Chiemi for a while.” I said. “And allow her some time with you and Mio and the boy.”

Aiko nodded. “Thank you.”

We kissed again. I walked over to the van and grabbed the rifle just in case I might need it.

Leaving Aiko near the driveway, I walked down the sloped yard towards the cute little shed and the stone wall.

Chiemi saw me approaching and turned to greet me.

I could see she had been fighting to contain some type of emotional gut-punch.

It made sense. She had taken to Yuki more than any of us. I couldn't imagine what she was going through right then.

“She okay?” I asked.

Chiemi shook her head. “A few minutes ago when I checked she was okay. Scared, anxious, and tired. But not fully sick yet.”

I nodded, realizing Chiemi made no mention of the bite mark or if the infection itself had spread. She only mentioned how Yuki was feeling.

The older woman had fear hiding behind a thin veil. I wondered how she truly felt.

“And you? How are you holding up?”

The woman clenched her jaw and shook her head again. I gave her a moment. She didn't burst into tears but she didn't speak either. Her emotional dam barely held the reservoir.

I looked over my shoulder at Aiko, then I motioned towards the house so that she would get the message.

“It’s okay to take a rest,” I said. “We’re worried about you also, not just Yuki.”

“I can’t leave her.”

“You’re not leaving her. You’re taking care of yourself so you can be stronger for her later when she needs it most. I’ll watch for a while. Aiko has a shoulder for you if you want it."

Chiemi looked towards Aiko and nodded. A single tear rolled down one cheek.

“Okay,” she said after a moment. “I’ve been checking every ten minutes or so.”

I nodded, understanding. The older woman made her way towards Aiko and the house, leaving me to a quiet task.

I was certain this was the right thing to do even though I was also tired and hungry. I felt nasty from only half-cleaning the dried blood from my body, and now I was going to play guard duty.

Chiemi needed Aiko and Mio’s attention right then. I could rest later.