I was moving along the large forest at a snail's pace babying what was left of my foot. Every step, every single inch I moved caused pain to jolt right up through me like an electrical wire. If only that would be the only problem.

As I stumbled down through a few more trees, a loud gurgling sound met my ears. I rotated my neck towards the direction of the sound at an incredible speed.

Horror is what my eyes lay upon. A single, lonely lady, grey as the moon, was shambling around, clearly an undead.

Her eyes were sparkling with some slight indication of intelligence, grey as could be, foggy and obscured like a blind person. Her skin had multiple wounds.. Similar.. to my own. A large gash that led up her leg and stopped right before her cunt.

Rattling my brain for the memory of her face, and the conditions for becoming undead. It all snapped into place instantly. I tried to forget you.. I failed you.

This zombie.. Was the woman I tried to protect. Her current state is undead, I guess Elzare was too late for her, in all my turmoil and pain, I forgot about her. I forgot about the reason I ran out towards those thugs in the first place.

I wanted to keep forgetting, but with her undead face rotated at me I couldn't. Guess my fucking luck too, I'm a paladin, so she will remember me and what I did, but hate and want to kill me regardless because of that stupid "Decaying Life 2.2" shit.

Memories came back to me, like a moment of trying to find something to no avail.. Except I found what I was looking for. I didn’t want to though. I wanted my brain cleaned, cleared of all evil in this fucked up world. I wanted to go crawl into a fucking ditch.. But no. I had to face her.

The woman was shambling towards me at an even more pathetic pace than mine. What should I do? What could I do? What level even is she?

"thank you.. For.. Trying to help me. " the zombie woman spoke out. What the hell?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

" um.. You are welcome.. I'm.. I'm sorry that I didn't actually help though.. Umm.. why aren’t you attacking me?? "

" urnnnnggGggnn you.. No Threat to.. mrrrhuuu undead don’t mind .. yuhhh, not.. Norm.. paladin"

"what the fuck kind of paladin am I then? A weak one who couldn't protect anyone! Herself included.. " tears were streaming down my face, memories flooded me again with a large crash like a wave against the ocean.

" no.. You are.. Strong. Protect future.. I must go.. Find jjm..maw. my family"

The zombies slender back was moving away from me towards the village, confusion was building inside me, and painful memories were trying to invade me. With no other option or choice, no more conversation to say, I followed her back, also shambling like a zombie.

My mind was blank, completely blank, not wanting to think of the horrors of this world, not wanting to come to grips with the fact I failed this woman. Not wanting to accept anything that’s happened to me since I’ve came to this word. I’m starting to desperately miss my god of a blanket.

We hobbled along truly like mindless zombies towards the village. Who was her family? How do they react to the undead. I need to prepare myself somewhat for a worse case scenario, but how in gods name could I do that in my current state. I need to stop her, they will kill her won’t they?

Slowly grabbing her by the shoulder, I told her with as much ease and sincerity as I could offer.

“You shouldn’t go back.. They.. they will kill you.”

“Iar,.. urgg. I.. kn-w.. Roisssie, want.. Danny to.. Do it.”

“Who’s Danny?” Knowing full well it was probably her husband.. My heart wrenched, but I sorta understand the desire to die by the one you loved.

“Yestsdt..RUn” Drool was falling to the forest ground as her unhinged jaw couldn’t quite stay shut, my god.. This is gruesome.

I guess I have to see this through, then get help from the villagers with my current state.

How would they react though? Would they shoot her on sight? How long would it take for the guard to realize a zombie and injured girl were walking towards them? Questions filled my mind like a large glass of water, looking back at the girl, I realized I had to commit. Those grey sad eyes wept to me, they told me this was her last desire, and god damnit I’m going to fulfill.

Thoughts of running or going to Elzare's cabin were now completely erased from my head. I walked forward confidently next to the zombie that I failed to protect. This is the least I can do, surely.