Chapter 21: The Lazy Zombie

During a zombie apocalypse the best thing for you to do is run. You just need to run as fast as you can and keep safe from any zombies that may be lurking. The only downside is that the zombies are fairly quick as well. So it's just best to avoid at all costs if you can.

Zexion made sure that he was always one step ahead of the zombies. Despite them being the undead, they still were fairly smart. They may not have been able to communicate like humans anymore but they seemed to communicate with each other. Still he had to keep away from the zombies, even though he wished he could spend time studying them. It was all too risky and his own safety was what came first.

There was no sign to the end of the apocalypse, no signs of a cure. Not yet at least, but Zexion had plans once he was safe to start up his research. He was determined to figure out a way to save the rest of humanity before it was all too late.

"Just a bit further and I'll be at the edge of town," Zexion thought to himself as he snuck along the streets. It was day time so most zombies were either hiding or sleeping from what he had observed.

He slowed for a moment to observe his surroundings, and his ear quickly picked up a groaning sound from the alleyway. There was at least one zombie nearby, maybe more since it was hard to distinguish right away.

Knowing that he shouldn't stray from his path he continued on, but in his distraction of keeping his eyes on the alleyway he failed to notice the empty can by his feet. He halted as the metal sound screeched against the ground for only a second.

He breathed in slowly, becoming perfectly still. He could hear the groaning from the alleyway and the sound of feet dragging. The zombie had heard him! He knew he could run, but there was still the off chance that he would be caught by other zombies from too much noise.

Slowly he looked around and saw that there were a couple zombies moving out from the alleyway he had been staring at, as well as a few from behind. There were far more than he expected to be! He almost felt foolish for not noticing sooner! There wouldn't be a chance if he stayed still any longer so he knew he had to take his chances and run.

With a deep breath he started to run as fast as he could and he could hear the groans and moans behind him still. He was being chased, but he was faster than the zombies. They may have had the ability to run, but Zexion knew that he was still smarter. He wouldn't try to fight them off, the sounds of that would only draw more in. He knew he could try and hide but that would let the zombies surround him and then he knew he wouldn't be able to leave.

He just had to keep running until he was able to get away. But even that came at risks. As far as he knew zombies never tired. Unlike a regular human who would need to stop and catch their breath, a zombie could keep going for as long as they wanted.

Though when it really came down to it, a secure safe location would be the best bet. He had the supplies to last for a few days and by then the zombies would eventually wander off elsewhere. All he needed was the proper location.

As he ran he looked around for what was ahead of him. Eventually his eyes settled on a brick building that already had boarded up windowed. He sped up and tested the door, pleading that it would unlock and thankfully it came open on the first pull.

He swung it open and then closed it quickly behind him and set the lock, hoping that it wasn't actually worn. He did hear it click though so it did give some reassurance. The zombies were scratching and pounding against the door, but there was no sound or sign that they would be breaking it.

Still to be on the safe side Zexion scanned the room and saw there were cabinets and shelves so he pushed a could of them up against the door. Once it was taken care off he sighed and finally took in just where it was that he had run into.

It was a music store from the looks of it, but like any place it had been nearly completely ransacked years ago. Only faded posters and signs still remained with some broken instruments on the floor.

"Not the worst place at least," Zexion thought to himself as he started moving further back into the shop, checking the area to see if he really was in the clear.

Suddenly he heard a sound and his body went cold again. Was it a zombie? Or just the house creaking? Perhaps something else? Zexion held his breath as he listened again.

"It sounds like… strumming…"

It was the faint sound of strings being plucked. Someone… or something was making music within the building, most likely from the backroom. Taking out his gun, he held it at the ready before moving forward again.

"It doesn't make sense… what could be making that sound? Surely a person would have noticed my presence here by now.."

Slowly he came to the door to the back room and took one large step forward before pointing his gun forward. He stopped and froze when he sat face to face with a zombie sitting on the floor and a strange looking guitar in hand.

The zombie was not as deteriorated as others were and looked much more recently turned. If Zexion had to guess it had to have been within the past week if anything. His skin was pale and starting to rot but the smell was hardly anything as of yet. It was only faint compared to other zombies he had encountered over the year. Even the hair of the zombie seemed to still all be there.

But what puzzled Zexion the most was that the zombie was strumming the guitar. The zombie was the one strumming the guitar!

Zexion backed up and pointed his gun at the zombie. For whatever reason he was hesitating to shoot the zombie. It was what he was supposed to do. Leaving it alive would come back in the end to get him. Though for whatever reason the zombie wasn't moving from his spot. He sat there staring until he shrugged and went back to strumming.

"What?" Zexion gasped aloud. "What in the world?"

"What? You never heard a sitar before?"

Zexion stumbled back, nearly crashing into the closet. The zombie had just spoken to him! The zombie had actually spoken real words and Zexion could understand. "There's no way… Are you just… how can you?"

The zombie tilted his head to the side. "What are you talking about? You okay?"

"You're a zombie!" Zexion shouted louder than he should have. "How can you be talking to me?"

The zombie shrugged. "Why wouldn't I talk? You're the first person to really come in here in a while so it's cool to have someone to talk to."

"But you… you're a zombie."

"And you're point?"

"Zombies are mindless creatures who want to eat pretty much any flesh based creature."

"Okay first rude! And second that's just soooo much effort. I'd rather just sit and play my sitar, which I already do!"

"So you…" Zexion stood up straight, still eyeing the zombie suspiciously. "You don't have the urge to come and eat me?"

"I told you, too much effort," the zombie muttered as he strummed a few more cords. "I prefer to just sit back and practice my songs."

"Huh…" Zexion said as he slowly went to put his gun away. "So you're just a lazy zombie."

"Hey! Again rude! I'm not lazy, I'm just…finding something better to do with my time."

"Sure… whatever you say," Zexion replied, still baffled by the fact this zombie was talking to him. Though with that zombie there now, he had something new come to his mind. If this was truly a zombie and one who could talk to him. Maybe there was a chance for saving humanity. This… lazy zombie… he could be the key to all of it.