The Lucky One    

[Shizu]

The sun beat down on the deserted streets of the once-bustling city, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the heat was oppressive, suffocating.

As the sun began to set on the eve of the apocalypse, the temperature only seemed to rise, reaching a staggering 50 degrees Celsius.

The streets were littered with abandoned cars and overturned trash cans, evidence of the chaos that had erupted in the hours before. The undead roamed the streets, their eyes glowing with an unnatural hunger as they searched for their next victim. The only sounds were the constant chatter of gunfire, the screams of the living, and the low, guttural growls of the zombies.

The neighborhood was a maze of narrow streets and dilapidated buildings with no clear escape route. Those who had survived thus far huddled in their homes, barricading themselves behind locked doors and boarded-up windows.

But the zombies were relentless, banging on doors and clawing at walls, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the darkness only made things worse. The zombies seemed to grow bolder, attacking in packs and overwhelming even the most fortified homes. The living were forced to flee, scrambling through the darkened streets in search of safety.

In this dire times, survival was not guaranteed. The undead were everywhere, and the heat was unrelenting. Those who hoped to make it through the night would have to fight with every ounce of strength they had, using any means necessary to stay alive.

It was the eve of the apocalypse, and there was no turning back.

Shizu needed to go home. She was worried about her parents, her brother.

As Shizu crouched behind the large trash bin in the narrow alleyway, her heart was pounding in her chest. Her mind was consumed with worry for her family, and she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled deep in her stomach.

She longed to be home, to know that her parents and brother were safe. The thought of them in danger made her feel sick with fear. She had to find a way to get back to them, to make sure they were okay.

But she didn't know where she was. She left her phone inside her bag in the classroom.

She would never go back in that school, she told herself, staying low in a trash cart parched in the back of a narrowed alleyway. She seemed to be in a small shopping district.

It was chaos before. After she came out of the school, she thought she was safe. But little did she know, the outside world was in pandemonium as well.

Shizu breathed in and out when her anxiety kicked in again. She should stop scaring herself. She would only get herself in trouble if she succumbed to fear right now.

'Calm down. Deep breathes. Deep breathes.' Slouching, Shizu closed her eyes and covered her ears with her hands. Her legs were sore and aching, the broken nails on her fingers were burning, her blisters were itching, and the heat was hell.

It was torture beyond compare, and Shizu often thought that it was better if she died than prolonging her agony. She didn't even know what to do. She was alone. She was helpless, with no food or water and no roof over her head.

She was all alone. She sobbed and desperately shook her head. If she kept thinking about negative thoughts, then she could never move her limbs.

She had to go home. She was worried about her parents and her brother.

As Shizu thought of her parents and older brother, her heart swelled with love and worry. They were the most important people in her life, and the thought of anything happening to them filled her with a deep sense of dread.

She imagined her mother, a gentle and kind woman who always had a smile on her face, and her father, a strong and protective man who would do anything to keep his family safe. They had always been there for her, supporting her dreams and encouraging her to be her best self.

And then there was her older brother, who had always been her hero. He was brave, strong, and always there to protect her. She couldn't bear the thought of him in danger, of him being hurt or worse – dead.

Without them, Shizu would have succumb to depression long ago and commit suicide. They were the only thing left to her. She had no friends in school, and her family was the only one left in her support group. Without them, Shizu would rather die.

As she peered cautiously around the corner of the bin, scanning the deserted street for any sign of danger, she felt a mix of panic and determination. Shizu knew the risks of venturing out into the streets, but the thought of her family alone and scared was too much to bear.

Though she couldn't do anything with how weak and scared she was, being with them through this tough times was her highest priority right now.

Shizu's heart raced as she considered her options. She could wait here in the alleyway, hoping for a lull in the chaos outside, or she could take a chance and make a run for it. She knew the risks of the latter, but the thought of staying trapped in this narrow space, alone and vulnerable, was even worse.

With a deep breath, Shizu made her decision. She rose slowly from her hiding place, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger. As she began to move cautiously toward her home, wherever it wasy her mind was consumed with a mix of fear and determination. She had to get home to be with her family, no matter what the cost.

As she made her way through the deserted streets, she was consumed with thoughts of her family. She could almost hear their voices, see their faces, feel their love and support. It gave her the strength to keep moving, to push through the fear and uncertainty, and to do whatever it took to get back to them.

Shizu ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest as she weaved her way through the deserted streets. The sound of the undeads' growls echoed through the narrow alleyways, sending shivers down her spine. She could feel their presence closing in on her, and the fear threatened to consume her.

But she refused to give up. She darted down a side street, her eyes scanning for any sign of escape. As she turned a corner, she saw a small alleyway that looked promising. She made a beeline for it, running as fast as she could.

As she ran, she stumbled over a pile of debris, nearly falling to the ground. But she quickly regained her balance and pushed forward. She could see the end of the alleyway up ahead, and she knew that she had to make it there.

Just as she was about to reach the end of the alleyway, she was suddenly surrounded by a group of undead. She was quickly overwhelmed, and it seemed like all hope was lost.

"Over HERE!"

Just then, a woman appeared out of nowhere, wielding a sharp object that she used to fend off the undead. She shouted for Shizu to follow her, and without hesitation, Shizu ran towards her.

The woman led Shizu through a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, dodging the undead at every turn. Shizu could barely keep up. She didn't even know what made her run so fast without falling to her face like she usually did.

Finally, they arrived at a small house on the outskirts of the city. The woman quickly unlocked the door and ushered Shizu inside, slamming it shut behind them. They both collapsed on the ground, panting and out of breath.

Shizu looked up at the woman, her eyes filled with gratitude. She had saved her life, and for that, Shizu would be forever grateful.

"T-thank you . . . ," Shizu said between pants.

"Save it." Bristled the woman and got to her feet. Without sparing another glance at her, the woman quickly barricaded her doors and windows using an emergency lamp as her only source of light.

All the while, Shizu just watched the woman in a daze, didn't know what to say next.

The older woman who saved her was dressed in a sharp, professional-looking office attire. Her blouse was a crisp white, stained with blood and dirt, with a tailored black blazer over it. She wore a pair of smart black trousers, and her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

Despite the chaos and danger that surrounded them, the woman seemed calm and collected. Her eyes were sharp and focused, scanning the streets for any sign of danger. She moved with quiet grace, and her movements were deliberate and calculated.

As Shizu looked up at the woman, she could see the determination in her eyes. She was clearly someone who was used to taking charge, and she didn't seem fazed by the undead that roamed the streets outside her window.

But there was also a kindness in her, a warmth that Shizu found comforting. She had risked her own life to save her, and for that, Shizu felt an immense sense of gratitude toward her.

'Nobody had saved me. Nobody. . .'

When the woman pushed the sofa on the door and a bookshelf on her window, she finally gave Shizu a look.

"What's your name?" the woman asked, face covered in sweat before she picked up the bag of groceries on the floor.

"S-Shizu."

"Follow me, Shizu," she said with a rasp and commanding voice. "My name is Imelda."

Imelda led her to the kitchen, and Shizu wondered how she could remain calm in this situation. She was stocking her cupboards with food when there was a loud banging on her doors and undeads loitering in her yards. There were metal grills in her windows so that at least put Shizu's mind at ease.

"Don't worry about them," Imelda said when she saw her shaking. "They would leave after a minute if you are silent. And once something catches their attention, they'll run away from here if they can't enter."

Shizu pursed her lips and could only say, "Thank you."

Imelda continued to stock food in her cupboard as she said, "I didn't plan on saving you. I have . . . mistook you for someone else."

When Shizu didn't reply, Imelda continued, "When these things first came, I knew that I had to stock on groceries. So I raced to the nearest market and just shoved everything into the bag. I was running home when I chance upon you."

Despite the danger that still loomed outside, Shizu felt a sense of calm wash over her. She was grateful to be in the presence of someone capable.

Imelda paused and ran her eyes over at Shizu. "But before anything else . . . STRIP."

". . . H-huh?" Shizu was confused. Was she going to get bullied again? She shuddered at the thought.

Imelda resumed putting canned goods in her pantry like she couldn't care less. "Don't get me wrong, child. I'm only cautious. Once I know that you don't have any bites on you, I will let you stay here."

"O-oh . . ." Shizu meekly removed her uniform and went on her underwear. They were both women, she thought. There was nothing to be embarrassed about.

When Imelda ran her eyes over her body again, she frowned. "What's that on your arm and thighs?"

Shizu bit her lips. She almost forgot about THAT.

"Nothing," she croaked. The line of iron curlers and cigarette burn on her upper arms and inner thighs were her greatest shame.

It was Jennie and the other's mark of torture, their crowning glory. For her, it was her stain of humiliation. Proof of her cowardice. They made sure that they would burn her where she could hide it with her clothes so no one would know.

Without giving as much as explanation, Imelda seemed to know what happened when pity crossed her eyes.

Shizu thought that she would be glad if someone finally knew about her scars and took pity on her. But against all odds, she felt anger rising in the pit of her stomach and disgust at herself for being so weak.

"Looks like you're clean," she said finally. The hardness on her face was back. "Well . . . clean from bites except that blisters on your arm and wounds on your knees."

Without thought, Shizu stared at her hands; the handkerchief she placed on them was gone.

Imelda turned to restock her supplies. "Wash it over the sink. It will help. The medicine kit is over there. Help yourself with your wounds."

"T-thank you." Shizu didn't have to be reminded twice, and she raced over to the sink, gulping water first, all the water that her throat could carry, choking and coughing, and drinking again until her stomach was so full of them they would burst.

When her body temperature cooled down and she got some of her strength back, she then washed her arm next. Though the water was warm because of the heat, Shizu almost fell to her knees from relief when the warm liquid glided across her blisters.

Her temperature cooled down somewhat, and the itching stopped.

Imelda only gave her the barest glance and said with an even voice, "You might want to conserve on water. Electricity is down, and that means the pumps are down too. There is no water running on the pipelines, and I doubt it will be fixed with all these things happening around. The water in this house comes from the tank in the basement, and I don't know when that would last as well."

"S-sorry."

Imelda took a deep breath and said in a hard voice, "You should learn to be brave, girl. This world as we know it is no more. If you're going to be meek, you'll die."

". . ." Shizu knew that . . . but how to be brave . . . that she didn't know.