“Sorry, just wait a bit. I need to properly block the window before nightfall. You know how it is. We got to do what we got to do. Oh, right, my name’s Murray. What’s yours?” [Murray]

The large man introduced himself as Murray while pushing a wooden bookshelf in front of the window once he closed it after retrieving the rope.

“Ryner.” [Ryner]

Ryner replied while looking around the large room. It was dark as all of the windows were boarded up, blocked by pieces of doors, tables or shelves. The only source of light was the window that he had entered from, but even that was slowly disappearing as the large man gradually blocked it with the bookshelf.

“Ryner… Ryner… Great to meet you! Truly now, I’ve been standing guard for so long, hoping to see another survivor pass by that I started losing hope!” [Murray]

Murray said cheerfully as he finished barricading the window, leaving them without light. Then, he retrieved a black flashlight and a sledgehammer lying by. It had a black, rectangular head made of steel fixed onto a long wooden handle. After effortlessly holding it up with one hand, he turned to Ryner and saw that he was examining the room. There was practically no furniture or anything in sight, except for a kitchen stove, a pipe chair, a black and yellow portable generator and a white floor lamp.

“Oh, yes, that. Don’t worry it’s properly set up. Luckily I haven’t needed to use it yet!” [Murray]

The reddish orange-haired man said, pointing at the floor lamp using his hammer, thinking that was what caught Ryner’s attention the most. However, he was more intrigued by the various writings on the white walls around him. Though it was dark, his eyes had already adapted, so he could see the messages covering the place.

WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!

“…” [Ryner]

The same word was written in black paint everywhere.

“Anyway, let’s get out of here. I’ll give you the tour, show you the layout, and introduce you to my wife!” [Murray]

Murray said, enthusiastically urging Ryner to follow him and turned on his flashlight. The two left the room and closed the door behind them. They ended up in a corridor with rows of dark brown wooden doors on each side. Or at least, a few entrances had doors as most of them lacked one.

“Come on, this way. Sorry, I haven’t cleaned up in a while. The place’s a mess, but don’t worry, I made sure that nothing’s broken. We’re safe. We’re perfectly safe.” [Survivor]

Murray guided Ryner while talking with a big smile on his face as they walked down the gray carpet covering the floor. The place was dark and only the light of the flashlight illuminated the way.

“The first floor of this building has shops and the rest from the second floor has apartments. Elevators are dead and I blocked all of the stairwells so no infected can reach us.” [Muray]

The walls were painted in a light beige color and, similar to the first room they were in, had words written in black all over them.

“Haha, you probably already saw, I also boarded up all of the windows with anything I could find, like doors and tables. Surprising how dark a house can be with no power and no sunlight getting in, but that’s normal now! Oh, right, I used to work in construction, was a handyman, you know. Got my tools with me! And that’s why I’m walking around with my trusty hammer, Betty!” [Murray]

Ryner, who could see well enough in the dark, quietly read the messages messily painted on his left and right.

It’s over.

The world is destroyed.

God has forsaken us.

It’s been so long.

“… Sooo, Murray, you’ve been living here with your wife?” [Ryner]

He said to his guide who had been cheerfully speaking by himself with a huge smile on his face.

“You know it. Maybe it’s thanks to God’s guidance, but I managed to set up this safe haven while the rest of the world went to hell. Haha, isn’t it great?!” [Murray]

“Yeah, it’s great, real great. Glad to see you managed to do alright at the start of it all.” [Ryner]

“The start? Yeah, I did alright, I did alright. But it was total chaos.” [Murray]

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“I can relate. Barely managed to get out with my life when the outbreak began. How long ago was it again? I forgot with all that’s happened.” [Ryner]

Ryner asked, trying to get information out of the first living human he had met in the world.

“The outbreak? Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, it was bad! It happened like a month, two months ago?” [Muray]

Luckily, it wasn’t too difficult since Murray appeared rather fond of talking.

“Whoa, it’s been that long already? What was it like on your side when the world went to hell?” [Ryner]

“Well, you see, me and Audrey were out on a date after work. I was driving us around in my truck when people started screaming real loud. I looked out the window and saw it! They were getting attacked by zombies. ZOMBIES, man! Can you imagine?! That came out of nowhere! A bunch of zombies came out of nowhere! I couldn’t believe it and just stared dumbly, but the blood was real. People were getting eaten and dying for real. It was like getting suddenly shoved into a horror movie! Hahaha! Haha…! Ha…” [Murray]

The reddish orange-haired man slowed his steps until he stopped walking. The smile plastered on his face fell and the cheerful tone in his voice died out.

“There were accidents. Cars crashing into buildings, running over both the living and dead. Someone’s face got bitten off. A house got set on fire. I think a kid cried for help, but I didn’t help. I tried to get us out of there. My wife, she was so scared… I had to do what I could for her.” [Murray]

He spoke, appearing to be in a daze. His eyes were foggy and unfocused, his expression somber.

“We drove away, ended up here. Don’t quite remember, but I swung my hammer. I know I did. Crushed zombies’ heads. Broke their bones. They looked human even though they’re monsters… I just hit and hit and hit… Blood, so much blood… But, I did all that I could for my wife. Audrey… She didn’t deserve any of this… No, she only deserves the best… Only the best…!” [Murray]

Towards the end of his monologue, Murray was muttering under his breath. But, he shook his head as if to get a grip on himself and looked back at Ryner.

“ANYWAY! This place is safe! SAFE! The infected won’t come in!” [Murray]

He said with a huge smile on his face once again, though one of his wide opened eyes was twitching.

“… If you say so. It’s your house.” [Ryner]

“That’s true! It’s my house! I’m so glad to meet someone who understands! Now, let’s properly start the tour! There’s a lot of free space, so I repurposed some of the unused apartments to suit our needs!” [Murray]

The two resumed walking with Murray explaining what each apartment was used for.

“This is where I store materials, like wood. Yeah, it’s kind of obvious, but I take apart stuff like doors to turn them into materials.” [Murray]

Where did the zombies come from?

Help Audrey.

“This apartment is being used to keep tools and supplies I found. Gas, saw, nails, hammer, you name it. Ah, Betty doesn’t belong there though. Betty belongs with me!” [Murray]

It’s so dark without light.

I’m goddamn scared.

“This one had a nice bed, so I took it for my wife.” [Murray]

There are monsters here.

No one to talk to.

“And this one had a portable gas stove, so I also took it for my wife! Hahaha!” [Murray]

I hear them at night.

Why won’t they help?

There were more messages written all over the walls, but not once did Murray mention or glance at them, as if he was blind to them. Ryner did not ask him about it and instead carefully watched his surroundings, ready to reach for his precaution.

“This apartment here is the morgue. Don’t open the door or it’ll stink to high heaven.” [Murray]

Murray pointed at a door on their left. A rotten stench coming from behind it wafted through.

“You have a morgue here?” [Ryner]

“I call it that, but it’s just where I dump the bodies of the people I’ve killed.” [Murray]

He casually told his guest and flashed a grin.

“Uuuh, okay? Aaaand why’d you kill them?” [Ryner]

“Yeah, it’s bad, just bad. But hey, not every fellow human I met was nice like you!” [Murray]

Murray said jokingly and chuckled before walking away. Ryner, who looked at the door one last time, followed him. After a short while, they stopped in front of an apartment that was at the corner of the corridor. The words “Our Home” were painted on the front door.

“Ahhh here we are! Time to introduce you to the love of my life!” [Murray]

Murray turned off his flashlight, and happily opened the door. Upon entering, he turned on a floor lamp connected to a portable power supply that illuminated the place. Behind him, Ryner frowned slightly for a moment as he could smell the rot of decay.

“Audrey! Are you awake, honey? We’ve got a new visitor after so long!” [Murray]

The place was large and had three other doors leading to a bathroom and two smaller rooms. The floor was covered with light brown wooden planks, the walls and ceiling were white and various furniture was set up so that people could live comfortably. In one corner was a stove with a counter, a sink and a refrigerator as well as a table with chairs for dining. A couch with a television was placed next to the kitchen area. A few portable generators were also present, hooked up to floor lamps or different electrical appliances.

Moreover, at the far end of the room, the window on the wall was securely barricaded. On its right was a desk and on its left was a bed with two fluffy pillows and a warm blanket. Murray swiftly walked towards it after placing his flashlight on the dining table. He also tossed aside his olive green jacket, revealing his huge, well-trained arms. The woman lying on her back on the bed took his full attention.

And she was tied down with ropes.

“Audrey, I’m back!” [Murray]

The large man kneeled beside the bed, leaned his sledgehammer against it, and lovingly looked at his wife.

“Graaaah…” [Audrey]

The immobilized zombie eerily groaned in response. The white T-shirt and blue jeans she wore were covered in bloodstains. Her grayish cracked skin had swollen black veins underneath. Peaking between her messy brown hair that reached her shoulders were two glassy eyeballs that reflected no light. The undead woman’s mouth opened and closed with a snap as she tried to bite Murray. However, her body was firmly bound by ropes tying her down to the mattress.

“Ryner, let me introduce you formally.” [Murray]

Murray turned his head and looked at Ryner with a wide smile on his face.

“This is my wife, Audrey!” [Murray]

“… Knew it.” [Ryner]

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Item of interest

Floor lamp:

* Different types and models.

* Can light up a large area with an adjustable level of brightness.

* Great survival tool.