The next morning, Zed and Addison woke up when Gus walked into the room, "Good morning you two, I hope you both slept well…" he trailed off seeing Addison and Zed still curled up together in the hospital bed. Addison was the first to open her eyes, and when they met Gus's face she started blushing scarlet.
"Um, hi Gus, I swear this isn't what it looks like, I promise we didn't do anything bad."
"No, you know what, I don't want to know." Gus glanced around nervously. "Look, I don't want to get between you two and your dad again like last time. So, I didn't see anything, but your dad will be here in about 15 minutes so I think it's best you probably move over."
"Thanks Gus." Addison was relieved.
"So is Zed still ok?"
"Yeah, he's great." Addison smiled down at his still sleeping form.
"Alright, then I'll just be going." Gus marched back out of the room as fast as he could.
Following his advice, Addison tried to slide out of the bed, but when she tried to move, Zed's arms pulled her tighter. Addison rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Zed." She whispered softly in his ear.
"Addison." He mumbled with a smile gracing his lips, his eyes still closed.
"I need to get out of the bed."
"No, you should stay here."
"You really want my dad to find us like this?" Addison asked him.
Zed's eyes finally popped open and he grinned sheepishly at her. "No, I guess not." He finally let go and let Addison leave the bed and sit in the chair again.
Zed stretched his arms above his head for a few seconds and then pulled himself up into a sitting position. "So just checking, yesterday wasn't a dream?"
"Unfortunately not."
"Not all unfortunate it ended pretty great."
"Fine, one small part of yesterday was great." Addison leaned over and gave him a kiss on his lips. "Good morning."
"Good morning to you too." Zed checked his wrist again. "Still no Z-band."
"Do you feel weird or anything, or hurt or sick or…?"
"No, I promise I feel fine, in fact, that's the weird thing, that I do feel perfectly fine, perfectly normal."
"So that's good news right?"
"Yeah, it is. Definitely." Zed nodded.
The door opened and Dale, Gus, Dr. Ross, and a lab technician all slowly walked in and lined up against the far wall. "How are you feeling Zed?" Dale asked.
"Honestly pretty great Dale."
"OK, Dr. Ross is going to check you over one more time, and hopefully when he's done your Z-band will be ready, then just one more hour and you both should be good to go."
"Sounds great." Zed smiled. Dr. Ross gave him a full examination once again, and once again didn't find anything wrong. In his professional opinion, Zed was a perfectly healthy zombie, he even unwrapped his wrist and the burns from the shocks had mostly disappeared, but it was still red, although looking much better than it had even from yesterday.
Dale told them he brought Addison clothes she could go change into and could go grab something to eat for breakfast. The mention of breakfast reminded both teens how hungry they were since they hadn't eaten since yesterday or the night before yesterday, but Addison refused to leave Zed until he had his Z-band again.
After Dr. Ross was done, Dale waited with them for about another half hour until the technician returned with the new Z-band. Remembering last time, Dale told him to give it to Addison to make things easier on everyone.
But once she had it in her hand, her heart started racing in fear. Her dad had informed them it was a completely different Z-band, it wasn't broken like Zed's was and should work perfectly. But when she glanced down at it, all she could see was Zed lying on the gurney completely motionless, and all she could think was she could be putting his life in danger again.
Zed's zombie senses, unfortunately, picked up on her nervousness and started to rise to the surface. "Addie?" Zed asked in a deeper voice, his eyes falling just a shade darker.
"No, Zed, stay calm, but I'm worried, what if it hurts you again? You're perfectly fine now. You, you don't need this do you?"
"Addie, I have no idea how I'm doing this, other than you're here, and even though I would absolutely love it, I know we can't spend every single second of every day together. I, I hate thinking about that too, but I know we don't have a choice."
"But what if?"
"If that does happen, I know I'll be fine, Dr. Ross will take it off again and we'll be right back here, but I know I can't leave this place without a Z-band. You can hand it over. Whatever happens, I will never leave you."
"OK." Addison finally handed it over, and Zed gingerly grabbed it and snapped it around his left wrist. He shuddered for a few moments as the Z-band activated and started sending out its initial pulses.
Addison watched him closely, ready to rip the Z-band off herself if it hurt him again.
But after a few moments, Zed smiled at her. "Don't worry, I'm me."
"Yes, you are." Addison smiled and grabbed his hand again.
Everyone else in the room let out a collective sigh of relief, whether they were worried about another malfunction, or just glad to have the zombie banded again, no one could tell, and Addison didn't care.
So then everyone left the room again, leaving them alone for a while, Addison just kept scanning everywhere along his body, searching for any sign that Zed was in danger, but he was just the same as always.
After a little bit, Zed finally spoke up again. "You know what, now that I have my Z-band on again, this feels different."
"What does?"
"So now I know I really do feel normal. Like there's a wall between me and my zombie, protecting my brain to make sure I stay in control, I can still hear him grumbling though. But just before it was like we were working together and he was just beneath the surface, but he was allowing me to stay at the wheel since we both decided he wasn't needed, he flashed up when you got nervous, but that was it. Now he's stuck behind the wall again."
"Interesting, do you think they upgraded your Z-band?"
"They never said anything, and this doesn't feel different than normal, earlier was the difference."
"All I know is you acted differently for being without your Z-band, but as long as you're healthy I don't care, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually."
"Yeah, I know we will, together."
"Together." Addison agreed.
They sat there for a little while longer until the hour waiting time was up, and before long both could hear their stomachs growling to end their unplanned fast. Thankfully soon enough Dale and Dr. Ross came in one last time and declared Zed was all ready to go home.
Dale led them out the door as they walked hand in hand behind him toward his car. They all jumped in. After driving a few minutes he asked if they were both hungry and they both enthusiastically nodded yes, so Dale drove to a local diner to finally get them some good breakfast.
Zed attacked his plateful of scrambled eggs and stack of pancakes, and Addison was keeping pace right behind him as she devoured her omelet, she had only halfheartedly eaten an apple at lunch the day before and then was too worried and distracted by Zed to even think about food last night.
They both savored every bite while Dale just watched them while sipping on his coffee with a small smile on his face. He was happy to see them both seeming back to normal even after the hurricane the past day or two had been for them. He knew Addison had been worried the moment Zed never showed up at their door yesterday and even Dale knew either something really good or really bad must be going on for Zed to skip out on walking to school with her.
Then everything with Zed had happened right in front of him. Dale didn't have much experience with the medical side of Containment, he had plenty of emergency and first aid training, but he himself only ever trained for human injuries caused by zombies. He had felt just as terrified in that hospital room as Zevon and Addison had been. Then once Zed was stabilized with his Z-Band removed, he and Zevon had taken a breather and had a quick bite to eat in Dale's office where Zevon told him the story of how his wife died because of a malfunctioning Z-band just like Zed almost did. Then all Dale could think about is what if this happened to Missy or Addison? He would be destroyed. Dale knew they were always making upgrades to the bands nearly every year, but he would be looking into it personally now to make sure that never happens again because the Z-bands are supposed to keep everyone safe, not hurt the zombies.
Dale was happy to see them both smiling and joking around with each other again. As much as he didn't always like to think about Addison growing up, he was happy she had Zed. Even Dale knew neither of them had any plans to be anywhere else. He trusted them for now, even if he had a pretty good guess where Addison had slept last night, he was still pretty sure they hadn't taken anything too far, he knew neither of them wanted to rush things, but if something worse had happened to Zed, Dale honestly didn't know what he would have done, what he could have done in that horrible scenario that could possibly help Addison in that situation, so he was happy for both of them that Zed seemed to be back to one hundred percent. He would do whatever he could to make sure Zed or any other zombies were never in that kind of needless danger again.
"Alright you two, how about we get Zed home and you to school?" Dale asked when they had finished their plates and he paid the check.
Addison glanced over at Zed worriedly for a moment, he nodded at her, and they both wordlessly stood up and walked back out the door, this time Dale following behind them.
When they got to Zed's house, the door was locked, so Zed grabbed the spare key hidden under the flower pot sitting on the front porch. The three of them walked in and there was a note taped to the wall right next to the light switch from Zevon, saying that he had to go to work but if Zed needs anything to call one of the humans on his construction team.
"Dad, we can't just leave Zed alone. Please let me stay home from school, please!" Addison begged him.
Dale sighed and checked his watch, it was only a little after 10 a.m. but he knew this wasn't an argument he was likely to win, or Addison would probably try to get out of school some other way.
"Alright fine, but you are going to school tomorrow whether Zed is up to it or not, and you better call your friends to find out what you're missing today. Call me when Zevon gets back tonight and I'll come pick you up."
"Yes Dad, I will."
"Alright, be good you two, take care of each other, and Zed, get well soon."
"Thanks, Dale, I'm sure I'll probably just spend most of the day on the couch."
"I think that's understandable after you went through, and I'm sure it won't happen again, but if something does happen, don't hesitate to call me. I don't want to see you in Containment again Zed, but I'll bring you in myself if anything goes wrong."
"We know Dad. I'll see you tonight." Addison stepped forward and hugged Dale
"I love you Addison. Take care of him."
"You know I will."
"Zed, listen to Addison."
"When do I not? Don't answer that." Zed turned to Addison with a smile, as she looked like she was about to launch into a lecture.
Chuckling to himself, Dale walked out the door and drove away.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Exactly what I said, sit on the couch, and rest up."
"Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just really tired again for some reason."
"Your Z-band isn't shocking you again is it?"
"Nope, its working just like its supposed to Addison." Zed held his wrist up and tapped the screen, it indeed showed green and stable on it.
"OK, then I have no complaints."
They both sat down on the couch and cuddled up together once again under a blanket. Zed tilted his head back and within a few minutes, he was out cold.
Addison wasn't feeling tired, but she was happy just being near Zed, if only they could spend every day like this. She was holding his hand under the blanket, and every few minutes she would check his wrist to make sure his Z-band wasn't doing anything wrong. Thankfully it never was, and Zed looked the exact same as he always did. When she finally got bored of watching Zed sleep, (it took a while because he was so cute and totally relaxed) she texted Bree and Eliza between their classes to give their friends an update and ask them to grab any notes or assignments they needed. Eliza and everyone else promised to come check in with them after school if Zed was up for it, which Addison agreed to, she was sure they all needed some reassurance just as much as she would if she hadn't been with him all day and night.
Zed woke up a few hours later and was still just like he always was. He stood up and stretched and then decided he needed to go shower, apparently he could still smell the sterile scent of Containment on his clothes and skin. Addison took his word for it, she was perfectly fine with how he was, just like always.
So Addison took the opportunity to play with Puppy for a little bit, just throwing a chew toy shaped like a brain, Addison really wondered whose idea it was to, first of all, make it, and who, out of Zed, Zevon, or Zoey decided to buy it. Puppy certainly liked it though, he was racing all around the living room every time she threw it.
"Good job Puppy!" Addison smiled as he brought the toy back again and placed it at her feet. "Who's a good boy?" Addison cooed, petting Puppy on the head.
"Ruff, Ruff, I am." Zed said behind her, making her jump slightly from her place on the couch.
"Not if you try to scare me like that! I didn't even hear or see you come down. You should follow Puppy's example, he's much better behaved."
"I would argue with that, but given the last forty-eight hours, I'm guessing I'm still in the dog house."
"No, I could never be mad at you for something like this. I'm just happy you're safe." Addison's voice turned serious again.
"I know." Zed leaned forward over the couch to meet Addison's lips for just a moment before he began pushing a bit harder.
"Zed, it's probably almost time for Zoey to come home from school." Addison forced herself to pull away, with some difficulty.
"Well, that just means we better make the most of our time before we're interrupted." Zed pulled himself over the couch so he was once again sitting side by side with Addison. "Now, where were we?" Zed smirked, and Addison lost any desire to stop him.
They met once again, this time staying together longer, each cupping the other's cheek with one hand, they had just stopped to take a breath and resumed when the front door slammed open behind Zed.
"Zed! Are you home? Are you OK?" Zoey asked. As she walked in, Kinzley's mom poked her head in the living room, but seeing that both Zed and Addison were at home, she just waved goodbye to Zoey and walked back to her house.
"See, I told you." Addison whispered to Zed.
Zed playfully rolled her eyes at her. "Yep, Zoey don't worry I'm all better." He bent down to Zoey's level with a smile on his face.
"Yay!" Zoey then ran to him and smothered him in a ginormous hug. "I'm so glad, everyone missed you at school today, I told them you were sick but Daddy said you were getting better, but Mrs. Church let us make you a get well soon card, see? Zoey pulled out a giant pink and green card decorated with hand-drawn pictures of colorful flowers on the front and on the inside, all of the kids in Zoey's class had signed their names, along with a message from Mrs. Church wishing him well.
"Thank you, Zoey, I can't wait to get back to school and see your class again, it's still one of the highlights of my day."
"And, Zed, you promise you're OK? You're not….not like Mommy?"
"No, no Zoey, I promise, I'm back to being me, my Z-band was a little broken and that was what was making me sick, so they gave me a new Z-band to make sure it doesn't happen again." He held his wrist up to emphasize his point. "Plus Addison was with me the entire time and made sure I was safe."
"She did! Thank you Addison!" Zoey gave her a hug now.
"No thanks are necessary, I'll always keep Zed safe." Addison hugged her back just as tightly.
"Have you been playing with Puppy?"
"Yep, he's been a very good boy." Addison brightly smiled.
"Do you want to come with me when I take him for his walk?"
"I would be delighted to Zoey." Addison nodded. "Zed?"
"Yeah, I'll come too." Zed nodded.
So the three of them took a walk through Zombietown, pretty much every zombie they passed asked Zed how he was doing, seems word travels pretty fast in Zombietown, none of them knew the whole story though, just that he was sick, but they were all happy to hear he was already feeling better.
When they returned home, they were in for a surprise, all their friends were already there after their practices and clubs had ended for the day, all anxious to see how Zed was doing, and grateful to find out he was now much better.
They all wanted to know just what had happened to Zed, but he convinced Zoey to go upstairs to work on homework so they could have lots of time to play after dinner before he and Addison explained everything that happened.
When Addison got to the part where the doctors took off his Z-band Eliza interrupted her.
"Hold, up tell me everything." Eliza said, her tone deadly serious.
"OK…so Zed was still being shocked every few seconds so Zevon and I both demanded that they take his Z-band off. Dad ordered them to do it and promised I could keep him calm. So they took it off, and it took a few seconds but he started slowly going back to zombie right away. He woke up again and was calm at first, then one of the doctors got too close and he went full-zom within a few seconds, but I calmed him down and he was more or less back to normal."
"So, by normal you mean?"
Gray skin, green hair, but no dark veins or eyes, there were a few times where his inner zombie started to flare up again but I kept him calm the entire time. Plus besides being exhausted, all his vital signs were back to normal."
"Was he speaking in zombietongue?"
"No, well, a few times, but he mostly spoke English easily."
"OK, Zed, how did you feel during all of this?"
"Exhausted mostly of course, but physically, I did feel more or less back to normal, well not exactly, in my head I felt different, so you know how it is, with our Z-bands we can hear our inner zombies in the back of our heads, but they are stuck firmly behind a wall that they normally can't break through. Then when I've taken my Z-band off before, like in the Moonstone cave, it's like our situations are reversed, where he takes over, and now I'm just a passenger I can tell him stuff, but he doesn't usually listen to me, but of course, I always listen to Addison to keep me calm. I always know I'm safe with her, and that I want to protect her."
"This was different, instead of one or the other forcing control, it was like for the first time ever we were in agreement, and we could actually talk to each other. I understood that Addison was with me, and the doctors were trying to help, so we decided that it was alright for me to be in control at the moment because there was no danger, except for a few times when I got surprised or slightly hurt by something, like when they were treating my wrist, that made me lash out. But Addison kept me cool."
This whole time, everyone was listening intently, but none more so than Eliza. Her fingers were twitching slightly like she wanted to type or write all of this down.
"So after all the doctors and everyone else left, did you feel any different?"
"No, still the same."
"Addison, I think we all know the answer to this already, but did you happen to leave Zed at all between taking off his Z-band and putting it back on?"
"No, I didn't, I stayed in the room with him all night."
"Yes, in the room. I'm sure." Eliza smirked. "And with only one hospital bed, I wonder how you got a good night's sleep? And Zed, you were able to sleep fine without your Z-band?"
"Yeah, of course, Addison was right there beside me. I mean-" Zed cut himself off before he accidentally revealed too much.
"Zo zurprizes arg gran."Bonzo laughed.
"Is that a thing that happens? Zombies can't sleep without their Z-bands?" Willa asked.
Eliza answered, "I don't know, obviously, before the Z-bands zombies had to sleep at some point, but when any of us take them off for Z-band checks, they're usually short enough and our emotions are so high sleep is the last thing on our brains. And I'm sure Zed had plenty on his brain with his zombie loose, correct?
"Well, some things, but it was just suggestions, and nothing bad happened, well besides everything that happened to me I mean, I was totally in control the entire time."
"So what did happen last night?"
"Eliza, I know you when you're thinking about something, what's with the interrogation?" Zed tried to change the subject.
"Fine, don't tell me. Now look, Wyatt and I have been working on something together."
"You are? Why haven't you told us?" Willa asked her brother.
"Sorry Willa, but we needed more research before we told more people." Wyatt placed a comforting hand on Eliza's back, "Are you ready to tell them?"
"OMZ are you guys dating?" Bree squealed an octave higher than usual.
"Um, yeah, but that's not the point." Eliza said offhandedly.
"Eliza, why haven't you said anything?" Addison smiled.
"Just because we aren't as obvious and touchy-feely as the rest of you, we don't feel the need to announce it to every single person that sees us. Now focus, that isn't the important part of this discussion."
Eliza continued, trying to ignore the stupid grins on everyone's face as they stared at her over her news. "You know how like three weeks ago the wolves told us their history and I told you all zombie history? I realized besides the obvious Moonstone connection, both of our stories are very similar. So Wyatt and I have dug a little deeper and found more similarities. Just accounts of how zombies first adjusted to the Z-bands and the wolves developed their necklaces and lifestyle around them."
"So last weekend, we tried a little experiment."
(Flashback)
"So, why exactly did you bring me here?" Wyatt asked as they entered the old warehouse that now held the light garden within its rusty walls. "I thought you hated this place."
"Because, as far as I know only the four lovebirds know about this place, so we shouldn't be interrupted. And I don't hate it, it's still beautiful, just Zed and Addison are way too crazy about this place for anyone's sanity."
"I get it, so we aren't here for the same reason Zeddison comes here?"
"Think again Fido. We're here because we're alone, the door locks, but we're still close enough to get help here fast if something goes wrong."
"You're a genius, if you think this will work, I know nothing will go wrong."
"Well, to be honest, I'm only like 75% sure. The only reason I'm even considering this is because of Prawn night, and I know thirty seconds is a terrible measure, but nothing bad happened there."
"Definitely not. Don't worry Eliza, you're beautiful, inside and out."
"Thanks, Wyatt. So, I have my computer, notebook, pen, and cauliflower in case I get hungry. OK, you take my phone, and when I say go, press this button." She handed the phone over and pointed to a button on the screen.
"OK, tell me what it will do."
"That button will remotely disable my Z-band, turning it off completely, so we don't have to worry about actually taking it on and off. Then you can press the button again to turn it back on when you're ready or if anything starts to go wrong."
"Nothing will go wrong Eliza. I trust you."
"I know, I trust you too. Let's start slow, just for five minutes max if nothing goes wrong, and turn me back on in an instant if I get too crazy."
"You got it. Should I try to do anything with you, because the main thing we want to know is how you deal with others right?"
"Yeah, I guess keep your distance but feel free to talk to me if you can. Remember, I'll be a lot stronger, but based on what I've seen you should be faster and be able to avoid me easily if you use your powers."
"Don't worry, You'll be just fine. I'll be just fine." Wyatt kept reassuring her with quiet certainty.
"OK." Eliza finally took about ten steps away from Wyatt. "Go, five minutes."
Wyatt smiled and tapped the button. He could hear a crackling sound as her Z-band flashed red OFFLINE for a moment before the screen turned blank and went dark.
At the same moment, Eliza's moonstone started glowing an emerald green and her veins and eyes turned black as they rose to the surface. She let out a snarl, and started glancing around wildly before her attention caught on Wyatt.
"Hey Eliza, it's me, Wyatt. How are you feeling?"
"Wyatzki? Argh greer inge?"
"Ah, fox dung. I really need to learn Zombietongue." Wyatt muttered under his breath. "Um, Eliza, can you say it in English by chance? How are you feeling?"
"Diffarrent." Eliza slowly lifted her arm, seeing the Z-band blank on her wrist, and examining it in awe. "Zo Z-band."
"Um, right. No Z-band? Is that what you said? I turned it off remember?"
"Ag Wyatzki," Eliza took a few stumbling steps towards him, but following her advice, he tried to keep his distance.
"Um, Eliza, can you remember Prawn? When you took it off before?"
"Promz DJ, Grreat nochez. Danzing carntiggro. Divartidzo."
"Um yeah. Whatever you said it was a great night wasn't it? Now can you remember what you felt like when you took your Z-band off?"
"Um, argh." Eliza shut her eyes for a moment, shook her head, and then spread her arms wide. "I AM LOUD AND PROUD TO BE A ZOMBIE!" She roared, her moonstone glowed once more and then returned to its natural white shade.
She glanced at Wyatt again and her eyes seemed to be brighter and more focused on him, the black veins were still visible but not as dark, and her face was slowly returning to gray as well. "Wyatzki argg I mean. Wyatt I think I grr zombietongue ouz my system. I can talk, yes I can. OK I'm good."
"OK then, how are you feeling?" He asked.
"Like a full zombie, but it's different, I'm in control for one, like my inner zombie is listening to me. Hold on a minute, I want to try something. Eliza closed her eyes again for a moment, and before Wyatt's eyes, her dark veins and eyes faded back into her gray skin completely, and now she was smiling at him.
"What did you just do?"
"I think I just tamed my inner zombie, we both know we can trust you."
"Do you feel different?"
"No, well, the same as a minute ago. I can still hear myself on the inside but it's different than when I went full-zom at the homecoming game, or from normal. And my senses are still stronger like I can hear your heartbeat. And you're perfectly calm." Eliza smiled wider.
"I could never be scared of you. We're all monsters, neither of us has anything to fear. Do you feel hungry?"
"No, I think you're safe, for now. Wait a minute what is that?" Eliza swiveled her head to a sound in the distance.
Wyatt could hear it too, "Relax I think it's just a rat or something."
"Yeah, I can hear its tiny heartbeat, and it sounds delizious I mean, augh, apparently my zombie is still in here." Eliza smiled a bit embarrassed.
"Hey, it's no big deal, one time Willa, Wynter, and I decided it would be a fun game to see if we could catch a skunk without being sprayed. We weren't allowed in the Den for an entire month."
"Please, a super handsome, scruffy, fine-smelling werewolf like you? You could never stink."
"And you will always be pretty."
Eliza stepped closer to him with a smile on her face, and this time Wyatt didn't move away. Her fingers marched up one side of his vest until she reached his shoulder, the entire time Wyatt was frozen in surprise. Eliza finally paused, mere inches separating them.
"Are you a good boy?"
"Eliza, wait, don't do anything you'll regret if you're not in control, let me just turn your Z-band back on." Wyatt said nervously.
"That won't be necessary Wyatt, I'm totally in control, and I'm not trying to bite your face off or anything. I promise."
"OK, if you're sure."
In response, Eliza pressed her lips against Wyatt's and after a moment, he started pressing back. They kept going for about a minute before Eliza flinched away as her Z-band turned back on.
"I'm sorry, did I press something?" Wyatt asked, looking at her concerned and studying her for any signs of injury.
"No, just in case something really bad happened, I put a ten-minute max timer, I shouldn't be surprised you didn't follow my directions. Bad dog!" Eliza said, but she was still smiling.
"Well, in my defense, you were pretty distracting."
"OK, totally honest, I don't know why, but literally the only thing I could focus on was your heartbeat that entire time."
"So do you regret what we just did?"
"Not at all. In fact, how about we try it again sometime, but not now. Right now we need to write down everything you saw, and everything I felt. Wyatt I think I might be right. If zombies have moonstones, they don't need Z-bands!"
" I know you're right, so when can we tell everyone else?"
"Not yet, we still need to do a lot more tests before they'll agree to try it. Let's get to work."
(END FLASHBACK)
"AGH, you just had to butt in and include everything didn't you Wyatt? Bad dog." Eliza lightly slapped his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, besides I already told Willa."
"What? Why?"
"Because when he came home that night, he almost ran into a tree." Willa laughed, "You should have seen his face, but I guess you spent plenty of time studying it up close and personal."
"Eliza, why didn't you tell us?" Addison asked, smiling giddily.
"Do you two tell us every time you two kiss Zeddison? Thank god you don't, that conversation would probably last twelve hours every single day. Whatever, we kissed, big whoop." Eliza tried to get everyone to focus on the actual important part of that night. Not that she didn't enjoy kissing Wyatt, and that kiss hadn't been their last, but she did not need her friends freaking out about it. "The point of that story is that I think the moonstones the wolves gave us can function like an organic Z-band so that we can be our true zombie selves, and let our inner monsters roar while still keeping our humanity. Plus we should never have to worry about any malfunctions like Zed's ever happening to anyone ever again."
"Eliza, I know the last two or three days have been scary but the Z-bands are awesome and improving every year. They're what makes us, us."
"Zed, wait." Addison interrupted him, "Eliza you really think this will work?"
"I'm still not certain, I need to do more testing, which I why I need all of you to help me with this. But I do think this can work, and make all zombies happier and safer."
"Zed, we should help her."
"But Addison, my Z-band.'
"I know it keeps you safe most of the time, but you or anyone else should ever be put in that situation again, or have to worry about your Z-band ever breaking, or going to Zombie Containment if something happens."
"OK. Eliza, I'm in." Zed agreed.
"I'm inz." Bonzo smiled, squeezing Bree's hand beside him.
"So am I." Bree smiled and squeezed tighter right back.
"We are too. And if this works, we'll talk to the pack, I know there are still hundreds of shards in Mothermouth, in theory we should be able to make as many necklaces as we need, for all zombies." Willa promised.
"Alright then." Eliza smiled. "Let's get started."