She makes her feel different. She doesn't really remember the last time she's felt anything that wasn't inflicted by pain.
She watched as the woman pulled another needle from her arm. It must be Tuesday. The woman always sticks to a strict schedule. On Tuesday's she attempts to draw blood and runs tests. This might be her favorite day of the week because they get to sit this close.
She doesn't keep track of days, she hasn't for a long time.
She watches the woman write things in her beloved notebook. Even though she can't understand the writings in it, she can't look away. The woman's glasses hang on the edge of her nose, her hair is pinned in a bun on top of her head and she's biting her lip in concentration.
She quickly became her favorite doctor here because she's the only one who talks to her like she's normal. Hearing her complain about her frustrations or a tv show she's binging or how her blackout curtains don't work, quickly became the highlight of her day. Maybe even her life. This life at least.
When the woman finally looks up their eyes meet and she feels the same feeling that has slowly been growing throughout the days she's been here.
If she's being honest this feeling isn't new to her. She's always felt it but only around this woman. The only difference is the feeling has grown much stronger. Every look, sway of the hips, smile, hair flip, they all make her feel so-so… alive.
She remembers when they first met all that time ago.
When the woman first shot her.
A Few Years Earlier
She feels horrible
She's unbelievably nauseous.
Her skin looks... sickly.
Where am I?
She tried to call for help but it came out as a loud groan.
The area seems familiar but she doesn't know where she is, who she is or what happened to her. Judging by the stores she must be in some kind of shopping mall. It's crowded. There are people staring at her, moaning and groaning to each other. To her left, there's a person b-but they're dead. What?! She wants to run, to scream but their carcass smells so… enticing. When she crawls close she hesitates for a moment. The body seems familiar but she can't quite place it.
There are a few limbs and body parts precariously surrounding her. This body is the only one still intact. She hovers over it for a moment trying to hold onto the remaining self-control but she can't. She takes a bite. Then another. And another.
She devours the remains of the person and it is so….fulfilling.
It's wrong. She knows it's wrong but it feels so right. She feels stronger.
The other people who were watching continued on their way as if what they witnessed was completely normal. Maybe it was. When she stands she begins walking for what seems like a few minutes. She doesn't know where she's going but on instinct, she stumbles along through the mall. On her pointless journey, she noticed a newsstand. Finally some answers.
The headline reads 'The search rages on- '.
The search? Search for what?
'It has been 8 long years since the outbreak. What was thought to be a small illness, turned out to be a disease that has been contracted by more than 20% of the world? Since the outbreak, nearly half of the remaining Southern Water Tribe along with 8% of the Fire Nation and 3% of the Earth Kingdom has been evacuated and quarantined. The symptoms of the disease include pale skin, white eyes that nearly glow, slowed mobility, forgotten memory, abnormal strength, limited verbal skills and an insatiable desire to devour humans primarily the brain. Those infected individuals are called Zombies. The source of the disease is still unknown and the search to cure it is seemingly futile. The United Battalion an army of seven elite classes of fighters trained to eradicate the earth of zombies have been defending the uninfected parts of each nation. Unfortunately, most of the members of the Battalion have either perished or have been turned leaving only a few elite members of each group. Researchers have been scrambling for years seeking some sort of antidote. A few brave researchers have ventured into the contaminated areas to obtain test samples and search for a cure.'
The article went on for a few pages but she was too shaken to continue. She dropped the paper and looked at her reflection in the glass. Her hands reached up to touch her pale face just under her white lifeless eyes. She's one of them...a zombie! She should feel scared or sad but she doesn't. She doesn't feel anything. She can't even remember what her life was like before she woke up today.
She looked down at her outfit which consisted of baggy black cargo pants, combat boots, thermal shirt layered with tactical gear and an array of weapons. The patch on her left breast matches the one next to the article in the paper.
I must've been one of the fighters in the Battalion. And now I'm a zombie.
She looked through her pockets but they were completely empty. Her hand subconsciously reached for her neck. There was a deep bite mark in the back of her head at the base of her hairline. It didn't hurt but it felt as though it should. Her hand grazed a metal chain that hung around her neck. She pulled it out from beneath her shirt to reveal a dog tag that read-
Korra 'Avatar' Waters
DOB 8/12/153
Southern Water Tribe
O Negative
S Class 010010110
This must be who she is… Korra Waters.
Since then that's all Korra's known of her self. After the first month in a half, she stopped keeping track of the days. They all seem to blur together at this point. Each day is spent walking aimlessly in rain, sleet or snow, groaning very few words to passing zombies and eating any unlucky people who cross her path. It only happens on rare occasions. Usually, it's the occasional scientist or militant who bit of more than they can chew on their expedition. She never wants to eat them Korra even tried to fight the desire but it's always too strong, she always gives in. Korra even tried staying away from any areas that might have humans but she got too weak, she started... losing herself.
She's seen it happen before, zombies who try to fast or go to long without eating start to change. She didn't understand the changing until it began happening to herself when she began fasting. The zombie's body begins to rot beyond repair, patches of skin decay until they fall out completely, hair withers away and the body turns into a horrible green color. The worst part of the transformation is the mental instability they have. Their bodies seem to go into survival mode killing and eating any humans in their way. They even won't hesitate to attack a zombie. They're emotionless, careless and any humanity left within them completely fades away.
That's why Korra resorted back to eating humans, to keep her sanity, her humanity. That's how she found herself in a hospital along with a hoard of other zombies like herself chasing a group of humans through the halls. There was a group of 17 people whom Korra assumes are scientists due to how easy it is to catch them. Six of the scientist were caught and Korra had one of them. According to the nametag on his puffy winter coat, his name is Ryu. She normally avoids learning her victim's names, it makes it harder for her to eat them but she saw it by accident.
Before she could finish she sniffs the air because she smells something utterly delectable. She follows the smell to a locked room that she effortlessly breaks down. There were eleven people in the lab each ready to attack. Behind Korra was 5 other zombies ready to feast. The group began firing guns and waving machetes but all Korra worried about was getting to the smell. The source of the smell was a woman with porcelain skin, long black hair and a tall slender body. Korra couldn't help but stare at her as she shot every zombie in her wake. She was a sight to see and Korra just wanted to reach out and touch her, sniff her and maybe even talk to her.
But how? How could she get that close without scaring her?
She was going to introduce herself, like a regular human. You can do this. You were a human once before so it can't be that hard. Korra starting walking in the woman's direction when she saw a zombie rushing at her from the side. She even recognized him, Daw, at least that's the word he constantly groans at her. Before she realized what she was doing Korra sprinted toward Daw and tackled him with all the force she could muster. She began pummeling away at him until he halted his movements. When she finally stopped and looked off toward the woman who was staring at her. Korra gave her a lopsided smile as she stood up she noticed the woman clutch her gun a little tighter. Korra reached out to try and shake her hand, just like a human.
This is it Korra. You're going to touch her.
She licks her lips as the smell got stronger with each step. Once she was a few inches away from the woman she heard the gun go off and felt a bullet enter her body. It wasn't her first time getting shot but the bullet was different it made her vision blurry and everything went black instantly.
After Korra woke from the sedation she found herself in a room with a television and bed. That's where she's been staying ever since.
The cell door was locked but she was often let out into a pretty garden. Other times she's either being tested on, or watched by the lady. There are other zombies here, the woman calls this place the compound, they seem nice. Most people would assume that she would hate being forced to stay in these confines but she loves interacting with real humans who can talk. Although the tests can sometimes be draining Korra never complains since she knows it's all going to help find a cure. At least that's what she hears the scientist say. And also because she can't actually talk. Besides, the more time she spends here the more alive she feels.
Present day
The tests end earlier than usual, she only received a hand full of injections this time. Usually, testing can go on for an hour and a half according to the clock on the wall. Although today it only took 26 minutes.
"Ok, Korra we're going to cut your session short so your body can rest." A chill ran up Korra's spine as the woman said her name. She learned it when Korra showed her the dog tag around her neck. She's always liked the way the woman says her name is different from any other way she's heard it. Technically speaking, I've never heard anyone else say my name before.
The woman began doing what she normally does at the end of a session. She straps a muzzle around her face before removing one wrist from its binds and placing it in handcuffs than the other. Korra doesn't take it personally, she'd use that same kind of precaution if she was a human.
"Korra you're always much calmer than the other zombies when I do this step."
Korra can feel her cheeks warm almost as if she had a normal blood flow.
"I'll take you back to your room since you finished for today." What?! Don't get me wrong the rooms at the compound are the closest thing to a home I have ever had but I don't want to go back already. She rarely gets time alone with the woman as it is, she's not going to get it cut short for something as simple as rest. Zombies don't even sleep!
"N-Noo." Korra tried grunting out to the best of her abilities but it seemed like enough. The woman stopped her movements and froze. She's most likely in shock because even Korra has never heard many zombies speak and when she did it was out of desperation.
"Are you saying no to getting some rest? Or no to leaving?"
"St-stay"
"You want to stay?" Korra didn't hesitate to nod her head as fast as she could. Which probably isn't as fast as she thinks.
"Ok, we'll continue with the tests." The woman began uncuffing Korra and bound her to the floor chains when the electricity cut off.
"Hmm. It looks like the power went out, it happens a lot, so unfortunately no more tests for you Korra." The pout on Korra's face must've been prominent. "I'm sorry Korra. I know you wanted to finish testing but we can't continue without light or power. I guess we have no choice but to cut this day short. I'll bring you back to your room. We probably won't see each other for another week or so until I fix the generator in the basement."
Korra can't exactly describe what she's feeling. Maybe frustration? She's not quite sure but she knows she's never felt something so strong. She wants to hit something but she's still bound to the floor. She wants to tell her that she just wants to stay with her but she can't!
"Woah. No. No. Wait. I'm sorry Korra. You don't have to cry. I don't think I've ever seen a zombie cry before."
Crying? I'm not crying. I've never cried before. I didn't think I knew how. Why am I crying?