A New Normal

Soren helped Jordan carry the plates to the dining room table. Fry and Ethan were already sitting down, across from each other. A pitcher of water was on the table as well as enough cups for everyone.

"We need to discuss our next move. Jordan and I have been talking and, while food is a priority, we need supplies."

"Supplies for what?"

Fry turned to look at Soren when she spoke. Ethan did not bother to ask, he had an idea of what was going to happen. He had seen a few zombie movies, after all.

"When shit gets bad someone has to step up. I plan on making this place a sanctuary, a haven for survivors. In order to do that, though, we need to get things ready now. Once we've established how much money we have, I'll be assigning everyone a shopping list."

Food was placed on the table and Soren sat down by Fry, Jordan by Ethan. It did not take long for Fry and Ethan to become lost in eating, it was as if the food in front of them was all that mattered. Soren and Jordan shared a look, and a smile, before they began eating.

Ethan was halfway through what was on his plate when he started to actually look at what was there. The meat had been cut into cubes. The dark color of the seasoning was in contrast against the red meat. Blood leaked out as Ethan watched the fork sink into the meat.

He could feel the hunger inside him settling down. The food in front of him looked delicious, smelled amazing and tasted even better. A small voice in the back of his head said that it was better than any chocolate he had ever eaten. That was when his mind began to remember everything he had heard and seen while with Soren.

The fork hit the plate with a loud 'ting' as it slid from his hand. He stood up suddenly and caused his chair to fall back. His face was pale and he desperately wanted the realization of what he was eating to disgust him, not make him want to eat more.

"This… Boss, this is -"

"It is."

Fry stopped eating and looked at Ethan, then Soren, trying to figure out what was wrong with the food. When she looked down at the plate she realized that she had been eating raw meat. Raw enough that small pools of blood were scattered on the plate. She had never eaten meat like that before. She looked at the other three plates and realized they were all the same.

"Fix your chair and sit down."

Ethan hesitated a moment before doing as ordered. He struggled to keep his eyes away from the plates and from eating anymore.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any to explain what's going on. I had meant to do this right after Agent Issac left, but I was distracted. The mutation that the virus causes is irreversible."

Soren held his hand up when Fry started to say something.

"Yes, you don't look like them, but once your body has been changed it can't change back. Think of it like evolution; it's a forward motion. What I did was push you further along the evolutionary track, putting you on the same level as I am. More or less.

"Eating a proper meal will help bring the hunger under control and raise your strength. It's better to do this than to wait until the hunger takes over and you kill someone you didn't want to."

Fry put her fork down and stared at the plate as realization slowly dawned on her. She struggled to breathe, feeling as if a weight had suddenly been laid on her chest.

"I-I'm still… Still…"

"A zombie." Ethan finished for her, glancing over at Soren as he spoke. "What we're eating is human."

Fry clutched at her chest and her breath came quick and shallow as if she was unable to draw in air. Soren turned her head to look at him, his hands on either side of her face.

"Slow; in and out. Focus on me, Fry, focus. Breath in, breath out."

His words finally got through to her and her breathing began to settle down. Tears filled her eyes, her face was red and pale at the same time.

"I'm not going to apologize for any of it. I need you to understand, both of you, that this state is better than the alternative. Fry, if I hadn't been there when I was you would have gone after the first person to come into the store. Odds are it would have been Mr. Meyers.

"When a human mutates they have no control over themselves, but they know what they're doing. It's like being stuck in a body you can't control. Would you rather live that?"

Soren released his hold on her face and she shook her head. He looked over at Ethan who shook his head as well.

"This state isn't ideal, but we don't live in an ideal world. It's all fucking shit and all we can do is become strong enough to survive. Even without any effort, both of you are stronger and faster than a human. You have the ability to control the hunger, but it requires controlled feeding.

"Everything I say comes from experience. Jordan and I, we've lived this our whole fucking lives. I was five when I realized what I was eating. My father was killing bums off the street and feeding them to me the moment I could eat solids. I understand that my views on this will be miles away from yours.

"This shit is normal. In order to survive the hell that's about to descend on the world, you have to adapt. This has to become your normal."

~It's not so bad once you adjust to the situation. Look at it this way; you'll be strong enough to fight the mutated and save more people.~

Ethan and Fry turned to stare at Jordan in shock as his voice filled their minds. A moment later it was Soren's voice that flowed through their minds.

~This is one of the benefits of evolving the mutation.~

"Yes, it's a shock to realize that humans are tasty, but that's the only downside. Once you start working with it you'll find yourself stronger, faster, with heightened senses and the ability to communicate telepathically.

"It's almost like having superpowers."

Soren switched back to speaking aloud, glancing at each one in turn.

~If you're not in the mood to eat this, I'll finish it for you.~

Jordan reached over to take Ethan's plate. Ethan's reply was to growl and pull the plate closer. His eyes grew wide when he realized what he had done.

"Damn it."

"If you don't take care of the hunger now it'll only get worse."

"It's fucking messed up, boss. I love chocolate, like, it's my life and I would rather eat this than chocolate."

Ethan knew that he had nothing to lose. He had no family or friends, there would be no one to mourn him if he suddenly died. He was upset about what Soren had done, about the fact that he had not been given a choice when he had been injected with the virus. He also knew that Soren had done more for him in the last couple of days than anyone had ever done in his life.

I have a fucking giant room and don't have to worry about getting my ass kicked all the time. He was afraid of Soren, there was no doubt about it, and now that he knew more he understood why. But, he also felt safe with Soren.

With a sigh, Ethan picked up the fork and started eating again.

~Trust me, it does get better from here.~

Jordan gave Ethan's arm a pat before returning to his own food. Fry was still staring down at her plate, uncertain about what she should do.

"If you can't handle it today it's ok."

"Is it? Damn it, I can't even say that I would prefer to be dead because I don't. But, this, I-I don't know. I'm not a cannibal."

Soren shook his head, "Don't think of it like that, Fry. You're not human anymore, none of us here are. We aren't cannibals and you'll only truly be able to understand this when you're standing near a mutated human. They won't even look at you.

"What we're doing is no different than eating a pig or cow. The only difference is that eating this will make you stronger, eating a pig or cow is simply something to eat. Eating this will satisfy the hunger that's filled you since you mutated. Nothing else will do that."

"I understand what you're saying, Soren, I do. It's just, it's not easy."

"I know."

Soren wrapped his arm around her and drew her close. They sat like that for a minute before she shrugged him off and wiped her eyes. She drew in a shaking breath and picked up her fork, determined to see this to its end.

She's never liked being weak. Too many people have taken advantage of her in her short life. Whether she wanted to admit it aloud or not, she liked the idea of becoming stronger. If she was stronger than the average human then no one would be able to take advantage of her ever again.

The remainder of their dinner was eaten in silence. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. For Ethan and Fry, most of their thoughts were around processing and accepting their new status as evolved mutants.