We had made our way back to the small Toyota car and I started the engine. I looked at Abby, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, Square is too, we made our way here, there was some kind of weeping woman nearby, but I ignored her, with all the corpses around. It seemed like such an obvious trap.”

Lory looked at me, “You fell for it, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. I just wanted to see if I could help someone.”

Abby put her hand on my shoulder, “That is noble of you, Steve.”

Alice had opened the garage door, and she closed it after I drove through. Once Alice stepped in, I looked at everyone, “Is everyone buckled up?” They all nodded, “All right, one stop to safe haven.”

As I drove, there were more bumps in the road. It did not take long before we made it to a safe haven. Alice looked out of the window and the guards opened the door. We drove the car into the camp and I turned off the engine.

As I got out, Chance walked over to me. “Steve, was it, right?”

“Yeah, that would be me. We met a few times.”

He punched me, but I barely flinched, “What was that for?”

“That was for making a prostitute out of my little girl.”

Abby ran over, “Look, Steve did nothing of that kind.”

Alice giggled, “he kind of did.”

Lory scratched her head, “Does anyone mind telling me what is going on here?”

I ignored Lory and focused on Abby's dad, “Chance, I just picked up your daughter, some respect would be nice.”

He nodded, “Thanks for that.”

Abby hugged Chance, “Hello dad. Steve has been taking good care of me, he is not a pimp. He is my best friend.”

I nodded, “Yes, we are good friends.”

Abby smiled, “Where is mom?”

Chance sighed, “Come with me, Abby.”

I followed her, Lory and Alice followed me. Chance opened a trapdoor, we climbed down into some kind of jail.

Chance turned on the light, and we looked at a zombie chained to the wall. I grunted, “You know this is why everyone dies in zombie movies, right?”

Abby nodded, “Yes, but, is that, her necklace, mom?”

Chance nodded, “Yes, your mom got bitten and turned into that.”

Lory hugged Abby, “I am sorry.”

I looked at them, “Don’t be, Chance, open the door.”

“What?”

Abby looked at me, then at Chance. “Do what he asks, Steve is batshit crazy, but he is much smarter than he lets on. He just acts dumb most of the time, since he likes to let people think he is dumb. He isn’t.”

Chance opened the door and I walked over to Abby’s mom. Teeth had fallen out, her face is rotten, and her clothes are shredded. The worst part is the stench of this cell. “Jolene? Are you in there?” She just growled and tried to bite and scratch me. Good thing that she is chained up.

The voice in my head spoke up, “You seriously want to do this? I mean, I think it will work.”

I closed my eyes and communicated with the voice in my head, “I don't know who or what you are, or why you are in my head, what I do know, is that we are somehow connected. Just as you can feel what I feel, I feel how angry you are at me, I feel how you would rather have control. Just, help me with this.”

I could hear a deep sigh, “Fine, go ahead.”

I put my hands on my waist and spoke out loud, “I am going to try something here. If there is any shred of humanity left in there, or if it isn’t too late, it might work. If it doesn’t, then I’ll regret this.”

I pushed her head aside, and I bit down on her neck and ripped out a chunk of flesh. It tasted like rotting meat, and her blood tasted old. Not like the blood I used to drink from vampire bars. I quickly snapped my mind into focus. Behind me, I heard numerous gasps. I spit out the chunk of flesh and looked at Jolene while cleaning my mouth, some parasites fell out of her wound, dead. As I looked at her hands, I saw them return to a normal color, her nails returned to normal. I sat down and started drinking water, I sat there for minutes while waiting.

Her skin grew back, and then she spoke up. “Steve?”

“Yeah, that would be me.”

“What did you do?”

“You bite people, I just returned the favor. I guessed, if a zombie bites a human, then he or she turns into a zombie. No one ever told me it does not work the other way around.”

Jolene blinked a couple of times, “That is such flawed logic.”

“And yet, here we are conversing. Do you still have the urge to scratch or bite me?”

“No, but I think something is special about you, Steve.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Why?”

“Come closer.”

“Alright?”

She whispered, “You are not a normal magic being.”

“What, how do you know that I am a magical being?”

She smiled, “It is just a thought that entered my mind when you bit me.”

I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, “Oh, you remember that?”

“Yes, do you mind unchaining me?”

“Of course not,” I freed her from her chains and she got up.

Abby walked over, “Mom?”

They hugged each other and Lory walked over to me, “Did you just, bite a zombie?”

“Yes, I did. What did you think about that?”

“I did not see it coming.”

Alice walked over, “That is not supposed to be possible.”

I put my hand on her shoulder, “And yet, it happened.” Suddenly, I stared at Alice, she stared back.

Alice spoke up, “What is the problem, Steve?”

“I am just wondering if you know.”

Alice shook her head, “Know what?”

I let her go, “We can talk about this in private. Abby?”

“Yes?”

“Are you staying home, or are you coming back with us?”

“I am coming with you.”

Jolene held her in her arms, “Are you leaving again?”

“Yes, the other reality that I had been sucked into needs saving. It needs my help.”

Chance walked over, “You truly went to a different realm?”

“Yes, I think you have noticed Lorraine is not exactly from around here.”

She smiled, “I am not even from the realm Abby visited.”

Chance nodded, “We will lead the survivor camp.”

I climbed out of the jail cells and Alice followed me. I pointed at the car, and she understood, we got inside. After a deep breath, I looked at Alice, “Do you know there is a magical being inside of you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know, there is a being inside of you.”

Alice shook her head, “That’s not possible.”

I sighed, “You can stop lying, Alice. It explains why you are so powerful, I felt this once before. However, your being was less probing when I touched you.”

Alice sighed, “You really are much smarter than you let on. When was the first time you felt that sensation?”

“When I was in a jail cell, and a demon from the future visited me. There clearly was a being inside of her, and it could have killed me. When I touched you just now, a being inside you tried to probe me for answers on how I knew how to save Jolene.”

Alice held up her hand, “What? A demon from the future?”

I shook my head, “Ignore that part. Do you know what is inside of you?”

“Yes, and to be quite frank, it is none of your business. Now keep your nose out of my business and stick it in something that might save the reality next door.”

I nodded, “Are you certain, it’s friendly? Otherwise, I can help find a way to separate you.”

Alice shot forward and grabbed me by my throat. “If you even try to separate us, I will kill you.”

I held up my hands, “I meant nothing bad by it.”

Alice leaned back as she let me go. “I know, it is just. Never mind, we should go back soon.”

“Alright Alice, I know you are in love with me, but can we be friends?”

“As long as you stop sticking your nose in my business, then yes, I think we can be friends.”

“Good,” I opened the car door. “I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. I thought you might have been in danger, it is clear, you share some kind of bond with whatever is inside of you.”

As I stepped out, I heard her whisper, “Thank you, Steve.”

I walked over to Lory, she looked at me, “Alice doesn’t look too happy. What is going on?”

“I can tell you all about it later. Safe to say, you should not talk about her personal things.”

Lory nodded, “I saw her react. Will she be friendly?”

I nodded, “As long as we stay out of her business, then yes. I think it is time to go home soon. You know, I saw Paul’s wife in one of the houses. He probably doesn’t know countless people have died here. At least there are survivors.”

Lory smiled, “And now they have a car to get supplies. It is safe to assume, there are others save camps all over this world. Perhaps, there is a way to stop the zombie infection, but I fear that is not up to us.”

Alice walked over, “I am ready to take us back.”

“Alright then, we just need to wait for Abby.”

After a while, Abby came our way with Square on her shoulder. I sighed, “That dodo still freaks me out. Are you all done here, Abby? I won’t know when or if we are even coming back.”

Abby nodded, “I am ready, Steve. My destiny is larger than just helping to survive this zombie apocalypse.”

Lory smiled, “I would be glad if you joined us, Abby.”

She nodded, “It is a pleasure meeting you, Lorraine. You learned me some important things.”

Alice sighed, “Yes, we all like Lorraine, I get it. Shall we go then?”

I nodded, “Yes, we should go back.” Alice made a portal.

I took Lorraine’s hand, “Here we go!”