Page 25 of The Last of Love

She couldn’t give up. She wouldn’t give in. With a primal roar, Lena pushed herself forward, plunging the wood into the zombie that came too close. The creature crumpled, and Lena fought on, adrenaline driving her to keep going.

But just as she was about to deliver the final blow to its head, another one lunged at her. She tried to dodge, but it was too fast. Pain erupted in her arm as its teeth sank into her flesh. She pulled away as fast as she could to create space between them, but it had toppled over her, its lifeless eyes and snapping mouth only held back by her arms. This was it. This had to be the end.

“No! Not now!” she gasped, fighting against the encroaching darkness. She couldn’t die here, not when Fleur was still out there.

In a last-ditch attempt to survive, she used all of her remaining energy to push the creature off her, and rolled onto her side to try and get away.

And there she saw it. Glass. A perfect shard of glass.

She grabbed it just in time as she rolled back around and sank it straight into the monster's temple. Its dead eyes blackened as it collapsed next to her.

She looked over to the doorway, where the group of dead were busy feasting on the men from the building. She wasn’t sorry. Slowly she got herself up. The pain was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

Breathing heavily, Lena looked around, her heart racing. She had done it. She had fought them off. But the victory felt hollow as she glanced down at her arm, the blood seeping from the bite.

Lena staggered back, pain lancing through her body as she realized the severity of her injury. The world around her started to fade, her vision swimming in and out of focus. Each pulse of agony shot through her arm, where the zombie’s teeth had sunk in.

“No… no…I’m changing, I’m turning into one of them,” she whispered, panic rising in her chest. She had to find Fleur. She had to escape. The thought of losing her made the darkness that threatened to consume her feel even more suffocating.

The wound throbbed painfully, pulling her focus back to the present. She had to keep fighting. The darkness pulled at her like a tide, trying to drag her under. With each step she took, her legs felt heavier, like lead weights shackling her to the ground. She stumbled forward, the rough surface of the stairs pressing against her palm as she gritted her teeth against the pain.

The world around her blurred, and her thoughts began to spiral. She could see Fleur’s face, clear as day. The way her eyes sparkled when she talked about her work, her passion igniting the air around them. It was these moments that Lena cherished that kept her going even now.

“I’m sorry, Fleur,” she murmured, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I didn’t protect you. I thought we’d get out of this together.” The admission tasted bitter on her tongue. She could feel the darkness wrapping around her, whispering lies and despair, promising that this was the end.

“Please… just a little longer,” she gasped, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

With every ounce of willpower, Lena pushed herself to her feet. She felt the blood seeping from her wound, warm and sticky against her skin. “I’m not done yet,” she whispered fiercely, determination igniting within her. She needed to survive, not just for herself, but for Fleur, too. For the mission. For humanity.

But the darkness, too powerful to fight, was closing in on her. “Please… not like this,” she breathed. The sounds of the world faded, and she collapsed, the last vestiges of hope slipping through her fingers.

As she succumbed to the shadows, a single thought flickered in her mind. Not that she’d lost the fight, but that she’d lost the one thing that had kept her fighting: Fleur.

10

FLEUR

Fleur slowly came to. Her wrists were tied tightly, her body aching from being dragged through the corridors of the building. She tried to steady her breathing, to quiet the fear rising in her chest as she was pushed into a room and forced to sit on a metal chair. The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty space. She swallowed hard, taking in her surroundings. A dim, windowless room, sterile and unwelcoming. A single hanging bulb casting harsh shadows across the concrete floor.

Dr. Walt stood across from her, a smug smile playing at the corners of his lips as he observed her. He was tall, his hair streaked with gray, and he exuded an air of superiority that made Fleur’s stomach turn. She kept her expression calm, neutral, though every fiber of her being wanted to scream, to lash out. But now wasn’t the time for rage. Now was the time to think.

“How many people are here?” Fleur asked, her voice steady despite her discomfort. She wanted to gauge what she was up against, how many eyes might be watching.

Dr. Walt raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why? Looking for an escape route?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re in no position to be worrying about that.”

Fleur forced a weak smile, shrugging her shoulders as much as her bonds would allow. “I’m just curious. Since you brought me here, I figure I should at least know what I’m dealing with.”

Dr. Walt eyed her for a moment, then leaned back, seemingly considering her question. He smirked. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to indulge you, would it? There are thirty-two men in this facility, trained guards. And all of them know exactly what to do if someone tries to escape.”

Fleur studied his face carefully. His eyes darted slightly as he spoke, and there was something almost too rehearsed about his answer. She kept her expression passive, but inside, she knew he was lying. Thirty-two men? No. The building had been too quiet, too empty. There was no sense of bustling activity, no sound of movement, which she would have expected if that many armed guards were present.

It was just her and Dr. Walt—if that was even his real name. Perhaps a handful of others at most. Fleur allowed herself a small, internal glimmer of hope. This lie was his weakness. He thought the illusion of overwhelming power would keep her compliant.

“Thirty-two, huh?” Fleur repeated, feigning nonchalance. “I guess I shouldn’t even bother trying, then. But why so many men for me?” She tried to soften her voice, leaning into her vulnerability, making herself seem small and harmless. “I’m not exactly a threat to all of you.”

Dr. Walt snorted, amused by her act. He took a step closer, clearly enjoying this display of power. “Well you’re tied up tight, dear. I don’t think a pretty little thing like you would bother me. And, Fleur, you are a very valuable asset. I caught wind of your journey to the Ohio Research Center and knew I had to stop youfrom getting there, if you hadn’t been killed on the way. There are a lot of people who would like to see what’s inside your head or what you’re capable of. I know you have some very important information in there.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “It’s not about you being a threat. It’s about making sure you don’t do something... regrettable.”

Fleur swallowed, her mind racing. She needed more information, more details she could use. “Regrettable? Like not helping you finish this plan?” she asked, tilting her head, pretending to mull it over. “Maybe... maybe I was wrong before. Maybe I don’t need to resist you. Maybe I could be a part of it.”

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