Chapter 2

Addison silently thanked Zed's family for their help as they pulled away. They had given her just enough time to sneak past the gate guard and up to the front door. She had the hood of Zed's jacket pulled over her head to hide her bright white hair as well.

She slipped into the door and slid close to the wall, peaking around the corners to make sure the coast was clear before proceeding forward. The halls were deserted.

Her adrenaline was pumping through her veins as she made a sprint down one of the hallways. If someone saw her, it would be over. She had to be quick. Lucky for her, the building didn't seem to big or complicated and she found herself slowing to a halt as she realized the next hallway she turned down was lined with windows that peered into blank rooms that resembled cells.

Little did she know, a security guard watching the cameras was already making a call to the Chief of Patrol.

XxX

She walked slowly down the corridor, mouth opened slightly at the horrible things she was seeing, removing her hood from over her head. The first room had Eliza strapped to a chair and she didn't look like herself, her arms covered in dark veins, her eyes darkened and sunken in.

Their eyes met and Eliza started growling and struggling against the straps. Addison gulped, giving her an apologetic look but kept walking. Then she found Bonzo, he was strapped down the same but seemed to just be staring blankly at the floor. Her eyes saddened at the sight but continued walking, she had a different zombie she was looking for. She swore to herself that she would come back for her other friends later.

The next room stopped her heart. There was Zed, strapped to a chair like their friends. The sight broke her. How could they be so cruel? They're left like this for days? He was zombie-fied as well, dark purple veins creeping up his arms, his eyes dark and angry.

His eyes lifted to hers and something seemed to ignite in him. He began struggling against his restraints with all his might. The thick leather straps ripping, he metal buckles creaking and bending until they snapped, and even the chair's hinges and bolts coming loose. His towering form stood slowly, head lowered, his muscles flexed. He lifted his eyes and glared at the girl behind the glass.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't stand him looking at her like that.

~"I have crossed the horizon to find you" Addison sang as she stepped up to the glass, hand extended to gingerly place against it. Zed's cheeks puffed in and out as he violently huffed through gritted teeth. His eyes boar into hers, his pupils dilated almost completely. A blinding fury waging war in those eyes. Addison wanted to cry.

~"I know your name" This was still her Zed. Even if he seemed unrecognizable.

"Rrrraaaaarrrrrrhhh!" Zed roared shaking the walls as his knuckles crackled from his fingers flexing unnaturally. Addison didn't run, didn't even flinch. Her Zed would never hurt her. Zed stormed towards the glass, towards her. Slamming his fists against it, trying to get to her.

With his fists pounding the glass, she noticed his Z-band was gone.

~"They have stolen the heart from inside you" Her fingers rested against the glass where his left fist was now stopped on the clear surface. His breathing was still jagged but he was now staring at her, unmoving other than a few jerks of his purple veined muscles here and there.

~"But this does not define you" His eyes widen a fraction as her other hand presses a button beside them and the door slides open. Red lights began blinking. Addison walked towards the door, keeping her eye contact with Zed, her fingers dragging along the glass as she walked.

Zed's breathing quickened. He could smell her.

~"This is not who you are" Addison entered the room and the two were squared, facing one another. Zed's muscles were flexing and jerking out of his control at the smell of Addison in the room but he managed to keep his feet planted, his head telling him to eat.

Addison took a step towards him.

"Nnnoooo!" Zed screamed in a deep distorted voice. Addison stopped. "Ru- ru-" he growled between his panting. "Ruuunnn!" He roared, his face twisted as if he were in pain. Addison took another step and another. "A- A- Addy. No." He said between pants, pleading with her to get away. He didn't want to hurt her.

~"You know who you are" She was in front of him, wrapping her arms around his torso. Zed's breath slowly became less ridged. His arms, still covered in the dark purple veins, slowly encased her gently. He placed his nose in her snow white hair and breathed in deep.

"Who you truly are." She whispered.

"My. Addy." His voice was still low and distorted, but it sounded calm. His growls felt like content purrs against Addison's ear as her head rested on his chest.

"You're ok Zed. I'm here." She whispered.

"Hrrrmmm." He growled his agreement, tightening his hold on her slightly, protectively. The lovers embraced each other for a few long moments.

The sudden sound of people yelling and running footsteps down the hall rushed towards them. Addison's head turned in the direction of the door and in the next instant Zed had shoved her behind him and was growling and roaring furiously at the guards that just rushed into the room. His football pads had blocked most of her from view. He was protecting her.

"Rah! Grah!" Zed growled threateningly, teeth exposed, in a hunched defensive posture.

"Where's the girl?! There's no blood?!" The men yelled more to one another than to the zombie in front of them. "Why isn't he attacking?! He should be mindlessly on a rampage!" Another questioned. "Who cares! Just put him down!" Another yelled. Addison gasped, her eyes widening at the exclaim.

"No!" She screamed in horror, throwing herself around Zed's back. He immediately quieted at her touch. Without letting go, she wiggled under his arm and clung to his side so all the men could finally get a good view of her, her eyes glaring at them. "You're not going to hurt him!" She yelled protectively. Zed wrapped the arm she was under around her shoulders and replaced his nose in her hair, taking in a deep whiff of her scent.

All the men were taken aback. How was this possible? No zombie has ever been able to stop their craving of flesh. The chief stepped forward.

"Addison! Get away from him before you get hurt!" He orders. At his words, Zed growls, but only enough for Addy to hear. His eyes are squeezed shut in concentration, on her scent alone to keep him calm.

"No! Can't you see? He would NEVER hurt me!" She replies, rubbing her hand over his chest, her other hand reaching up to the short hair on the back of his neck. She softly scratches there and a shiver shot down Zed's spine. "Zombies are NOT monsters. They have feelings and love just like humans do. You just have to give them a chance." The purring growls returned to Zed's chest as reassurance and appreciation to his love in his arms.

The men looked back and forth at one another before they finally surrendered the argument. "Fine, but he still needs his Z-band. He's still not 100% in control." The chief sighed.

Addison nodded eagerly, looking up lovingly at her zombie. He looked back at her and she could see he was still struggling but there was still recognition in his eyes. He would be back to normal once they returned his Z-band to him.

A few moments later, a man in a white lab coat entered the room and stretched as far as he could to hand Addison the Z-band without getting too close, afraid the 'un-controlled' zombie would attack in an instant.

Addison quickly took the band and offered her hand to Zed for him to give her his. She could hear the murmurs and gasps as he rested his hand in hers softly grasping her hand as if for support.

After strapping the Z-band on his wrist, she tapped the screen to activate it. Within seconds, Zed's veins faded from his arms and his eyes lightened back up. He looked down at Addy with a small smile before he slumped forward into her in exhaustion.

"Zed!" She caught him in her arms and slowly lowered the both of them to the ground. "Are you ok?! Say something!" Addison exclaimed. Zed nodded weakly and smiled up at her from his spot on her lap.

"Yeah. I'm good." He smiled more widely up at her. She couldn't help the laugh that left her before tears filled her eyes and she hugged him tightly. He gladly hugged her back.

"Thanks Addy." He whispered, she smiled and just hugged him tighter in response.

Soon a bunch of people rushed them and white coats began checking over both Zed and herself, checking vitals and for any injuries. They didn't force the couple apart. Addison guessed they had proven that wasn't gonna happen anyways.

When everything checked out, they started to move Zed to a medical room for some rest before they released him.

Addison followed close behind as two men walked him to the room, one under each of his arms for support. She saw Zed make glances back to make sure she was still there every so often. She would give him a reassuring smile every time their eyes met.

Once in the med room, the men sat Zed down on the bed and quickly left. A woman in a white coat brought in a change of clothes for Zed to get out of his football uniform and told the two that once he was rested he would be released then left the young couple alone, closing the door behind her.

Addison helped Zed slowly out of his jersey and shoulder pads, he winced from his stiff muscles. She then turned around to give him some privacy so he could change pants before returning to his side.

She pulled a chair up and sat at his bedside holding onto his hand the whole time while he slept. The exhaustion of being in control of his zombie side put him immediately out as soon as he laid his head on the pillow.

She sat there just staring at his peaceful face as he slept for a while. She smiled as she remembered how Zed protected her even though he was full on zombie. He really does love her, doesn't he? She was sure that there was no greater love than what they shared.