XYZ

Chapter 1

She hid behind the counter, praying he wouldn't find her. Her heart was still racing from running away. Or, at least she thought it was... In spite of the ringing in her ears from the gunshots, she could clearly hear him outside.

"Ava! You really think you're getting away you spoiled little bitch?" He's closer...

Ava covered her mouth to keep from making a sound. She pictured Daltons piercing hazel eyes, hunting for her like she was... Why are you different now that you know? I get you hate them but I'm not one of them, I'm still me!

"Aaaaaava..." She shook as a bullet hit the wall above her.

Please don't do this.... Ava tried to pull her legs tighter against her chest. Her foot caught a cord. The lamp fell.

"There you are."

Her breath froze.

*Step*

*Step*

*Step*

*Ste-

"What the...!?" Dalton's deep voice panicked.

Ava peeked out of a hole in the desk to see what was happening, It sounded like a scuffle. Then she saw it. Black hair, chalk-white eyes, thin as anything and teeth bared to kill. A young man's corpse? It was hard to tell, but it acted much like one. Dalton threw it off. It found it's footing lightning-fast and pounced back on him like a wildcat. Even though it was at least a foot shorter than Dalton, it held its own against him. Dalton held the wild creature at arm's length. It twisted its neck and torso and bit into Dalton's wrist. He roared in pain and anger and struck the zombie with his other hand. The corpse fell, stunned. It kept it's head down. What is it waiting for? What the hell kind of zombie even is it?!? Dalton drew his knife and walked haughtily over to the creature.

"Fucking Half-dead, give it up already. I win this round."

The corpse on the ground smiled. It's vivid eyes sent chills down Ava's spine. As Dalton raised the knife it grabbed his wrists and lunged teeth first at Dalton's face. Dalton screamed as the corpse's teeth clamped onto his jaw. Ava watched frozen out of fear or vengeance, she didn't know which. Blood streamed and splattered and stained Dalton's struggle against his demise. A sickening pop sounded as the zombie tore Dalton's jaw from its sockets. The dead thing tore the bone free of Dalton's flesh and rammed it in the back of Dalton's throat. Ava heard his skull crack as the jawbone smashed into his brain. Dalton went limp. The zombie dropped Dalton's body to the ground and began to feed on Dalton's chest. A few other zombies lumbered over and began to feed on their fellow's kill. Ava turned away trying to process what she'd witnessed. Did a mutant zombie just kill my ex? She looked back through the peephole. The scene continued undisturbed. There was the winning young zombie with it's plus three in tow, straddling Ava's dead boyfriends middle, blood and Dalton's heart dripping slowly down his neck from his mouth. A mutant zombie just killed my ex... Huh. Not what I had in mind, but it solves THAT problem I guess... She watched the zombies for a while. Shock faded back to curiosity as the late afternoon slowly passed. After the lead zombie finished eating Dalton's heart he looked; she didn't know how, but he looked sad. After heaving what could only be described as a sigh, it got up. It stayed perched on a windowsill near the kill constantly scanning the perimeter as if looking out for the others. They fed till the sun was almost down and only bloody bones were left. Still too on edge to sleep, Ava settled in her hiding spot. You're probably not going anywhere anytime soon, deadites. Not that I mind. I'd thank you personally, but I'd like to keep my jaw. God, it's cold. Ava's stomach growled. She tensed. Did they hear that? She peeked through the hole. She couldn't see much in the fading light, but she still heard the occasional groan. No reaction. Good. Still I'll have to be quie- Her foot hit the lamp. It might as well have been cannon fire. She heard the shuffling feet of the dead. They were closer. She looked through the hole again. There were a lot more than three...

"Hello? Is someone there?" A clear soft voice called out. Who the hell are you and why would you speak in a street crowded with zombies? Ugh, it's like you want to die!  . . . Why aren't the zombies reacting? None of the zombies even looked where the voice came from. The mutant lead zombie snuck into view scanning the dark room she was hiding in.

"Hello?" The voice was the monster. Zombies..... Can speak? It was looking right where she was hiding. Can it see me?

"We're not going to hurt you." The zombie said. Its piercing eyes moved elsewhere.

It doesn't see me. It stepped over the broken glass from the front window.

"That man outside, are you the one he was looking for? " It asked. Looking is putting it gently, HE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME! Something tapped Ava's leg. She turned to face a librarian looking zombie poking at her. Ava screamed and threw the lamp at it. Ava bolted from under the desk. Maybe if I run fast enough they won't catch me. She thought as she headed for the street. Out of nowhere, she collided with a body. She looked straight at mutant-talking-leader-zombie. It's chalk-white eyes looked directly into hers. They weren't cold and violent as before... They seemed almost...Human. She paused before pushing the... corpse? She wasn't sure anymore. Still a zombie, still eats people remember?!?! EW! Now his blood's on me too! She turned to run again, but she didn't get far. The other zombies were all standing still. Staring. Talking-not-so-deadeyes stepped back from Ava, its expression wary. It smelled the air.

"You're half-dead too?" It looked puzzled.

"What?" She scoffed. Too? What's it think I am? A zombie?

"I'm not a zombie!" She said defensively.

"Oh. Why was he hunting you? I'm sure it's none of my business, but one doesn't see live people hunting other people much so close to the Walls."

"The Walls?"

"Oh, sorry." It smiled. It had a youthful smile.

"It's what we call the fort In the next town over. Nothing but upper classes and military in there. The safest place in the county for people I'd say. If they'll let you in."

"I know. That's where I came from." Ava said. She looked suspiciously at the other zombies.

"We?"

He nodded.

"The corpses. They know we're not quite human. They protect me, and well, since you seem half too, you."

"I'm not a zombie!" Ava said. How could that thing accuse me of being dead? I'm standing right here not being dead!

It gave her a curious look.

"Ok. Well, if you need a place to hide, I know somewhere his type won't find you." With that, living dead eyes started to walk away. The zombies shuffled aimlessly after their leader as it left. The unusual creature seemed so small in the shadows on the street. As if something like it could be vulnerable. A breeze blew through the broken window. Ava shivered in the empty room. Well, not quite empty. The librarian zombie slowly limped back into the ruined library with a tired sounding groan.

"Wait," Ava called after Deadeyes. It turned back. I can't believe how low this is, but I am alone out here...

"What place did you mean?" She asked as she followed it into the night.