Eternal Love Amidst the Apocalypse

6:Jump

Abraham had taken military supplies with him, including clothing. These garments were sturdy and water-resistant, designed for mobility—exactly what was needed in a situation like this.

To be prepared, he had brought several sizes and, after gauging Emilia's figure, estimated that a small would likely fit her.

Initially, Emilia had been afraid, particularly because of the way he had decisively shot her in the heart. Now, she was confused about his intentions.

That confusion deepened when she saw him pull a set of clothes from the trunk.

Her eyes widened in shock, silently questioning what he was planning to do.

Abraham found it curious; despite having only met her a few times, he sensed that she lacked the intelligence typical of humans, yet he could somehow decipher her thoughts.

“I’m giving you some new clothes,” he explained. “You can’t move around like this.”

Emilia’s mind raced. Why was he being so considerate? Was this a trick?

“Why are you helping me?” she blurted out, her voice still rough but filled with suspicion.

Abraham shrugged. “Because whether you’re a zombie or not, it’s clear you’re in no shape to fend for yourself. If we’re going to survive, you need to be able to move.”

She hesitated, weighing his words. Perhaps he was right. The state she was in made her vulnerable, and she needed to be able to escape if necessary.

“Fine,” she finally relented, though the mistrust lingered in her gaze.

Abraham handed her the clothes, watching as she took them. He noted the way she clutched them tightly, as if they represented a sliver of her former humanity.

“Change quickly,” he instructed, turning his back to give her some privacy.

As she changed, Emilia felt a strange mix of gratitude and wariness. What was this man truly after?

After speaking, Abraham lowered his gaze to check for any hidden weapons on Emilia’s body. Once he confirmed she was incapable of posing a threat to him, he began to peel off her tattered white coat and the layers beneath.

Though Emilia was a zombie, she retained a sense of her gender and dignity. How could she allow a fish-lipped human to undress her?

With a surge of indignation, she struggled fiercely, “Y-you… stop…!”

Abraham had his own methods to deal with her defiance. “If you don’t cooperate, we’ll leave right now.”

They were already at the entrance of the apartment complex; Emilia couldn’t afford to give up now. Gritting her teeth, she finally managed to mutter, “Pervert.”

By the time she uttered those words, Abraham had already changed her top and removed the bullet lodged in her chest. He wrapped her wound with medical gauze, ensuring she was adequately covered.

Once he had dressed her properly, he even placed a hat on her head.

With her hair obscuring her face, if her odor could be masked and she didn’t make any suspicious movements, it was unlikely anyone would realize she was a zombie.

Emilia was still fuming at the indignity of being exposed to this fish-lipped man.

Noticing her sullen expression, Abraham couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not that twisted to take advantage of a zombie.”

His lightheartedness momentarily diffused the tension, but Emilia remained irritated. She wanted to scream that she was more than just a zombie; she still had feelings, dignity, and desires that went beyond her current state.

“Let’s go,” he said, sensing her mood but choosing to ignore it for now. They had a journey ahead, and survival was their priority.

As they stepped out of the car, Emilia took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead. She had a mission, and no matter how strange her circumstances were, she would see it through.

Abraham still had her hands bound, but Emilia was now able to move her feet freely.

“Do you still want to get out of here?” he asked as he opened the car door.

Emilia crawled out, her expression one of utter disillusionment as she trudged toward the apartment complex.

Damn that man! She didn’t care to acknowledge him.

This place was different from the mall; many who had been inside during the earthquake had not escaped, and the following day, they might have turned into zombies themselves.

It was incredibly dangerous for Abraham to follow her in here, yet for some inexplicable reason, he refused to leave her side.

As she entered the complex, Emilia felt a strange sense of familiarity. She recognized the flower beds and pathways. She had intended to point them out to Abraham, perhaps share some memories, but when she opened her mouth, she realized she couldn’t remember anything at all.

Zombies still roamed within the complex, and Abraham assessed their proximity; it seemed relatively safe for now. However, staying here for long was definitely not a viable option.

“Move quickly. Once you find whoever you’re looking for, we’ll leave immediately.”

It struck her as ironic that after all this time, so many people had sought her out, yet she had never consented to accompany anyone. Now, the only companion she had was a female zombie.

Deep down, Emilia still resisted Abraham’s presence, muttering under her breath that she didn’t want to follow him.

When they reached the spot she had been searching for, she gazed at the ruins before her, and an unfamiliar emotion stirred within her.

She should have felt anguish, but without a heartbeat, breath, or life, how could she truly feel anything?

The only sensation she could grasp was the intoxicating scent of the man’s blood nearby.

As she prepared to step further into the ruins, Abraham halted her. “We can’t go in any further; it’s full of zombies.”

Emilia shook off his hand. “I… am… a… zombie… too.”

Her assertion hung in the air, a mix of defiance and identity. She was no longer merely a victim of circumstance; she was a part of this world, however grotesque it had become.

Abraham studied her, recognizing the blend of resolve and despair in her eyes. He understood her urgency, but he also knew the dangers that lay ahead.

“Even so, you’re not like them,” he insisted gently. “We need to be smart about this.”

The tension between them hung heavy, but Emilia’s determination was unwavering. She would face whatever came next, with or without him.

She wasn’t afraid of being devoured by zombies; she just wanted to find… find who?

Abraham watched her walk away without intervening. After all, he too was searching for family. Emilia had transformed into a zombie, yet she still clung to such a strong obsession. It was clear that whoever she sought was incredibly important to her.

If he didn’t allow her to see for herself, she might never find peace.

Emilia quickened her pace, but her body felt stiff, making it difficult to navigate around the large debris. After over an hour of struggling, she finally reached the heart of the ruins.

Abraham had not followed her in; he stood at the perimeter of the complex, watching her alone in the desolation. From behind, it was impossible to tell she was a female zombie.

Though the earthquake had caused extensive damage, some buildings still stood precariously, teetering nearby.

Determined, Emilia decided to venture inside one of the unstable structures.

Abraham glanced at his watch, knowing it was time to pull her back. But Emilia had already entered the crumbling building.

He hesitated, unsure if calling out would further endanger her, and instead maneuvered around a few zombies, sprinting toward the danger zone where she had gone.

Emilia climbed the stairs step by step, her gaze more vacant than before.

There was no one inside. She had seen the zombies, and she was certain they weren’t the ones she was looking for.

She had traversed to the Bronx not to bear witness to this empty result!

Frustration and despair welled up within her as she climbed higher, each step echoing in the hollow space around her. She wanted to scream, to rage against the emptiness that surrounded her, yet all she could do was keep moving forward.

“Where are you?” she whispered, her voice barely audible against the silence.

Abraham reached the entrance of the building, peering inside with concern. He knew he had to keep her safe, and the longer she stayed in there, the more danger she faced.

“Emilia!” he called out softly, trying to keep his voice steady.

He could hear her faint whispers, and dread filled him as he realized how deeply she was lost in her quest.

“Please, come back,” he urged, stepping cautiously into the building, scanning for any signs of movement.

But all that met his eyes was the haunting stillness, and the nagging worry that time was slipping away.

As Emilia continued her ascent up the stairs, the sounds of a struggle echoed through the empty corridors.

It had to be Abraham; he must have run into a horde of zombies.

She didn’t even consider going to his aid. If he died fighting off the undead, it would only serve her purpose. So, she stubbornly pressed on, refusing to look back.

Abraham had prepared himself for an encounter with zombies when he followed her in. His agility and skill were impressive, and with his trusty knife in hand, he swiftly dispatched one zombie after another, slashing their throats with precision.

He knew Emilia was aware of her surroundings and wouldn’t come to save him. Still, there was something ridiculous about how he couldn’t let go of her. He had changed her clothes; he was determined to take her with him when they escaped.

As he fought his way up, he attracted more and more zombies with every move.

Emilia finally reached the floor she had been seeking, but when she pushed the door open, she found it empty. The room was stained with dried blood, the air thick with the acrid smell of sulfur.

She stood rigid at the threshold, slowly leaning against the wall, deciding she wouldn’t move any further.

She was exhausted, and the thought of wandering outside again felt too daunting.

The distant sounds of the struggle faded into the background as she became lost in her thoughts, her eyes vacant. After a while, she noticed a hissing noise, pulling her attention away from her despair.

Turning her head, she realized that the building's electrical circuits had aged after the earthquake. Even though New York was now without power, a backup generator had somehow caught fire!

Flammable materials surrounded her, and the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the room!

Emilia never imagined she wouldn’t die at the hands of that obnoxious man but instead be consumed by fire.

In that critical moment, she found herself unable to stay calm. She wanted to escape down the stairs, but the more she panicked, the less her legs obeyed her.

Before long, she was completely surrounded by flames, the heat licking at her skin as the inferno closed in.

Desperation clawed at her, but with each passing second, her body felt heavier, as if the weight of her existence was finally catching up to her.

“Abraham…” she whispered, the name slipping from her lips as the world around her began to blur.

In her heart, she knew she had to fight against the encroaching fire, but would she have the strength to do so? Or was this the end of her journey?

……

After dispatching a few zombies, Abraham noticed something peculiar—the remaining zombies were slowly retreating.

But above him, a wave of heat washed over, and his lips tightened with worry.

That female zombie was still upstairs!

Emilia, unable to smell the smoke, felt instead the scorching heat singeing her hair. The sounds of burning wood collapsing echoed around her, shaking the unstable building with each thundering thud.

She leaned against the wall of the corridor, feeling trapped with no escape.

Just as panic began to set in, she heard someone calling out, “Little mute, where are you?”

It was that man!

Forgetting her irritation at his nickname, she desperately beat against a piece of wood, hoping he would come to her aid.

At that moment, she didn’t want him to die. If he perished, she wouldn’t be able to survive either!

Abraham charged up the stairs and spotted Emilia curled into a corner, her expression blank as she stared at him.

Without hesitation, he rushed into the flames and scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against him.

Emilia’s gaze fixated on his neck, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Abraham couldn’t help but chuckle despite the dire situation. “Is this really the time to be thinking about biting someone? Once we get out of here, sealing your mouth will be my first priority.”

His words hung in the air, a mix of humor and urgency, as he navigated through the fire.

Despite the heat, he felt a surge of determination. He wouldn’t let her go.

As he rushed down the stairs, the flames crackled ominously around them, but he focused on the exit, knowing that their survival depended on getting out before the building collapsed.

“Just hold on!” he urged, feeling her body tense in his arms.

Emilia nodded, her heart racing—not just from fear, but from a strange mix of emotions. She had never expected to rely on him, yet here they were, bound together in this desperate escape.

With every step, Abraham pushed through the smoke and flames, fueled by the need to protect her. They would make it out, he promised himself, no matter the odds.

Emilia immediately shut her mouth, leaning quietly against him.

The man’s embrace was broad and reassuring, providing an inexplicable sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

As the fire spread rapidly, there was no way to head back downstairs. After weighing his options, he began to run upward.

Emilia wanted to shout at him, questioning whether he had lost his mind. By going up, they would only trap themselves on the upper floors!

They had just been on the third floor, and within moments, they reached the fifth.

Abraham unfastened the rope from his waist, tying one end around Emilia and securing the other to a sturdy stone slab on the fifth floor.

He turned to her and asked, “Do zombies still feel fear?”

Emilia continued to stare coldly, her eyes widening as he approached the window.

He couldn’t be serious about jumping, could he? They were five stories up! He was insane!

She had no desire to shatter upon impact!

But Abraham seemed unfazed by her resistance, pressing her tightly against his back. “Are you ready? We’re jumping.”

Thick smoke billowed from the windows of the third and fourth floors. The building was finally beginning to succumb to the flames, and Emilia could feel the ground beneath them shake.

What stood out the most was Abraham’s laughter just before they leaped: “If you’re scared, just close your eyes.”

With those words echoing in her mind, Emilia felt a rush of adrenaline. She had no choice but to trust him.

As they leapt into the unknown, the world around them blurred, the warmth of his body a tether to reality amidst the chaos.

Time seemed to stretch as they fell, and in that fleeting moment, she realized that perhaps, in this madness, they were truly alive.

The rope behind them suddenly stretched taut, rapidly extending in a tight loop. Emilia's scream got caught in her throat!

The rope was only about ten meters long, and as they plummeted, they felt a jarring jolt just before reaching the ground floor.

Abraham, seeing the building about to collapse, acted without hesitation. He drew his knife and severed the rope!

In that moment, they fell straight down, a drop of over five meters.

With a powerful thud, they hit the ground hard. Abraham used the momentum to roll, taking Emilia with him as they tumbled several times.

Emilia felt her entire body vibrate from the impact.

Because… that bastard had planned it so that she landed first!

He had clearly intended for her to be his cushion!

How could this man be so callous? She felt as if several of her ribs had broken!

As she lay on the ground, gasping for breath, anger and pain surged through her. She shot him a furious glare, her eyes blazing with indignation.

“Are you out of your mind?!” she managed to spit out, her voice strained.

Abraham rolled to a stop, propping himself up on one elbow, a mixture of relief and amusement on his face. “You’re alive, aren’t you? That’s what matters!”

“Alive?! You think I’m fine? I just fell from five stories!” she retorted, feeling the ache radiate through her body.

“Better than being burned alive,” he countered, grinning despite the situation.

Emilia felt a rush of conflicting emotions—frustration, relief, and an undeniable sense of gratitude. She couldn’t deny that he had saved her, even if his methods were reckless.

“Let’s get out of here before the building comes down completely,” he urged, extending a hand to help her up.

With a huff, Emilia accepted his help, knowing they had to move quickly. The surroundings were still dangerous, but somehow, despite the pain, she felt a strange sense of camaraderie with this man who had risked everything for her.

“Just don’t think I’ll forget this,” she muttered as they prepared to flee.