A/n: I'm back again with another Vaas story. Woot! I was going to wait to post the first chapter to this, but I'm far too excited to do so. This one is going to be a zombie soulmate AU because I've been stuck on this idea for a while. Please pay attention to the warnings and enjoy. Also, I used the same MC from 'Where the Tainted Kiss'. I'm attached to her.
The beat of the music reverberated in her ears as Die Antwoord played across the speakers in a nightclub somewhere in Thailand – the name she could not remember or pronounce. Liv sat at the bar and waited for her bitch drink, as Riley called it; a Sex on the Beach; one of her favorites. Her attention remained on the strange compass tattoo on her inner wrist illuminated by hues of dark lilac and magenta from the ambient light dancing across the floor. It was doing something that she had never seen before. It lost its way; the needle spun wildly.
Seeing it move was not something uncommon. A lot of people had compass tattoos that changed directions. It was a mark of sorts; a brand that signified out there somewhere was someone whose compass was leading back. The coined term was 'soulmate', but some theorists called it the Era of Fate, a rare phenomenon that had been around as early as the 15th century. There was no record of how it started, only that around a person's 16th birthday a compass would appear and point the way to the person who they were ideally suited for.
Liv never really sought out her soulmate or had an interest in them; her career meant more to her than some strange person she may or may not even like. Frankly, she didn't know much about it other than what she heard or read about online. It all sounded ridiculous to her. And thus, she ignored her compass for going on 10 years. Until tonight.
Rubbing her finger over the tattoo in hopes to smug it away, she groaned as the needle continued to spin. What did this mean? Was hers broken?
What does it matter? You never cared before.
Yet the more she watched it, the more drawn to it she was. She never realized how hypnotizing the tattoo was, turning and turning like a pinwheel; it strangely made her crave to be home, yet the warmness of her city apartment didn't appeal to her at the moment.
Perhaps she should look up the meaning. Curiosity got the better of her. Liv took out her phone and unlocked it, but a hand on her shoulder made her avert her attention and lurch in fear. She glanced over her arm and sighed as she recognized the brown-haired woman who had grabbed her.
"You scared me," she stated.
Liza leaned in, pointing at her ear to show that she could not hear her over the sound of the music.
"I said you scared me," Liv repeated.
"Sorry about that," she stated with a laugh. Her alcohol-scented breath fanned out across the woman's cheek. "I honestly tried to call your name, but it looks like you're nose-deep in your phone. I hope it's not business."
Liv snorted.
"I was just looking at something, but it's not too important."
She was lying of course. Putting away her phone she watched Liza turn her green eyes to the dance floor in annoyance. Liv raised a curious brow. Something was wrong with her; she worked with the aspiring actress long enough to know what was an act and what wasn't.
"Are you OK?" She asked as she leaned in.
Liza took an uneasy breath.
"Trouble in paradise."
"Because of the unnecessary fight Jason was in earlier?" Liv asked. Though to be honest, she assumed there were other reasons besides this, but was not her place to ask.
The brown-haired woman snorted in annoyance.
He was the reason the group of nine moved to the nightclub from the previous bar, or rather fled, though it wasn't just him. Keith, an investment banker, and Jason's youngest brother, Riley were just as responsible. For some reason they instigated a fight with a group of Thai patrons; most likely because they were drunk – typical frat boy behavior.
It was understandable to Liv as to why Liza was pissed solely at Jason however; the two were soulmates; had met in college before she and the actress met.
"It's more than that. He's... immature. All he does is party and he has no real goal in mind. Not to–– No. I shouldn't unload this on you, or Daisy. I'm sorry," Liza mentioned.
Liv frowned and reached up to touch her arm in reassurance.
"I don't mind. We're friends, no?"
"Why couldn't we be soulmates?" Liza asked with a smile. "We're perfect for one another. I complain and you listen. Not to mention we have goals that we're both working toward."
Liv snorted.
"I'm on the market."
"I couldn't leave Jason even if I wanted to. We're tethered... and you wouldn't believe how amazing the sex is," Liza mentioned, grinning at the last part.
So Liv heard. She leaned her elbow against the bar and stared at her friend for a moment. The woman was doomed.
Those who find their soulmates are said to be forever tethered to them by some unseen emotional bond. They feel what the other does and they can't escape if the relationship goes sour; it was a nightmare wrapped in candy-colored paper. A tattoo, much like the compass appears on their person when they first meet, bonding them forever.
"I can have great sex without being tethered to someone," Liv mentioned.
A tap on her arm brought her attention to the bar where the bartender was standing with her drink. She smiled at her and took the glass. The sweet and sour taste of orange juice and vodka assaulted her tastebuds bringing goosebumps to her arms. Perfect.
"Not to be a nag, but I heard Vincent has eyes for you," Liza brought up, nudging the dark-haired woman's arm. Her drink sloshed out onto her hand and Liza grimaced in response.
Liv snorted and licked the mixture from her salty skin.
"I've noticed."
He was a nice guy; a year younger than her, and according to Jason, he was studying engineering at Cal Tech. But Liv wasn't looking for a relationship at the moment; her last one ended on bad terms and she wanted to enjoy her vacation away from the hassle of the material world for a few days. Besides, she'd feel like a shit friend if she took one of Jason's friends to her room when this week was about Riley and his accomplishments.
"I see what you're doing," Liza mentioned.
Liv raised a brow.
"What am I doing? Pray tell."
"You're holding out in hopes to find your soulmate. But Liv, you're never gonna find them if you don't attempt to look for them," she argued.
Liv turned up her eyes. She knew, but she wasn't holding back or looking for her soulmate. Honestly, she could go her entire life never meeting them and be happy. Her career was important to her.
"You got me all figured out, huh?"
"If I'm wrong, then there is no reason you can't make nice with Vincent," Liza stated.
She was a persistent one.
Eyeing the beanie-wearing mechanic in the crowd, Liv watched him in amusement as he attempted to dance with Daisy Lee, the pretty blonde that Jason's older brother Grant was dating – was Grant the jealous type?
"I'll leave it at a maybe," she told her friend.
Liza grinned, pleased to hear this.
At least she wasn't going to nag her more about it, or so Liv had hoped. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Jason standing at the side of the dancefloor talking to a man with brown hair; a man she had never seen before.
"Who is that with Jason?"
Liza turned her attention and hummed.
"That's Doug the DJ. Jason heard there was a great place around here to skydive and he wanted to surprise Riley."
Skydive? Liv shivered at the idea.
Sipping at her drink, she watched the two converse until Jason was seemingly through. He shook his head, then turned his eyes towards the bar at Liza and walked toward her with a hopeful smile. Leaning forward, he gave her a brief kiss on the cheek, but Liza didn't seem too forgiving. Liv didn't blame her.
Don't take any shit.
"Doug says there is an island nearby where we can do anything; party with the natives, explore the temples; you name it! He can take us there tomorrow and we can celebrate without anyone bothering us."
"That fight was on you, Jason! When are you gonna grow up?" Liza asked. Her tone was laced with annoyance.
Liv averted her eyes to the dance floor, ignoring them, but the silver and blue lights could only keep her attention so much considering the fact both were shouting over Lady Gaga. She could hear their entire conversation.
"I wasn't–– Look, I'm sorry, but this can be good for us! We can take a four-wheeler out and picnic away from the others!" Jason shouted.
"We need to talk about us! We can't keep ignoring it!" Liza stated.
An air of awkwardness enveloped the 3rd wheel.
Being single might be lonely but sometimes it's better.
"We will! I promise!" Jason retorted.
Liza agreed with a sigh and accepted another kiss from him, watching him walk away to rejoin the others. Cries of excitement rang out as Jason told them the news.
"I guess we're going skydiving tomorrow!"
"I heard! Is it too late to say that I'm not a fan of heights?" Liv asked, turning her eyes to the woman; the latter grinned in response and shook her head.
It was as she feared; it was far too late.
The whoosh of the wind tousled her short black hair and snapped in her ears like a whip as she stared at the island below. It was beautiful at this height. Liv craved to snap a picture but her Olympus was in her backpack and honestly, she was too scared to move. What the fuck was she doing? Did she want to die today?
"It's our turn," Vincent pointed out. His warm breath fanned out across her cold cheek as he spoke. "Are you ready?"
Liv shook her head in disagreement, but the mechanic laughed and pressed his body against hers, forcing them both from the side of the plane as it soared over Rook Island. Why did she have to be strapped to him for this? No, she had never gone skydiving before but if she was going to be forced to do it, she wanted to go at her own pace. This was too much. Her heart pounded in her chest as they fell quickly from the cloud-covered sky down to the ground below.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! This was so stupid. Fuck Jason. I'll haunt his skinny ass if I die.
The others were having the time of their lives with no care how dangerous this was, even Vincent was laughing and whooping in her ear. As they passed the brown-haired douche who was filming the entire experience, Liv flipped him the bird, then clutched onto the straps of her harness; her one-piece suit flapped in the wind, the only noise besides her constant thoughts that she heard.
Further down, she heard the sound of the parachute release. The sudden jerk sent her heart to her stomach as the momentum lessened and they began to float toward the ground. Liv was still uneasy; she wouldn't feel safe until they stood with their feet in the sand.
"See, not so bad," Vincent stated in her ear.
"Every damn one of you is insane," she protested.
This earned her a laugh.
Liv was relieved when her shoes touched the sand. The parachute descended behind them, but she paid it no mind as she struggled to unclasp the safety harnesses. She wanted to be away from the damn thing as soon as possible.
"I got you," Vincent stated, releasing her.
"Never again," Liv mentioned.
She pressed her unruly hair down into place and sat down on the white sand. It was a miracle none of them had died. People were not meant to freefall from the fucking sky.
One by one the others landed. Riley immediately undid his harness and rushed further down the beach, disappearing around a corner where the dense jungle met the sand. Liza approached Liv and leaned down beside her, grinning.
"Any regrets?"
"Too many," Liv stated. "But the biggest was not having my camera out. That sight was picture worthy."
Liza snorted in response. She stood up and unclasped her harnesses, then took off her suit. A tattoo of a turtle dove peeked out from beneath the band of her jeans on her hip as she did.
"Did you at least have fun though?" She asked.
"Not at all. But the island is beautiful, so I'm pleased to be here," Liv retorted in honesty. "Thank you for inviting me, Liza."
The said woman grinned and helped her to stand.
"We're friends, no? And besides, we both needed a vacation."
That was true. Liv was worn out from her previous freelance job. She was hired by a small town company to help with a local commercial. It wasn't much, but it gave her enough to pay rent and for her trip. She was looking into setting up a contract for her next gig when she got back, something she was eager to do.
Removing the harness from her body, she unzipped her suit and took it off. She wore a red cold shoulder top and jeans with a white one-piece swimsuit beneath, in case she decided to get in the water. A beach table and chairs caught her attention and she walked over to it, setting her gear into one of the chairs. Did Doug set this up? Perhaps he had someone do this for them. Liv didn't question it.
"Do you smell that?" Oliver asked as he sat his backpack down. His eyes were bloodshot and red from the joint he smoked before the plane ride.
She raised a brow and smelled the air. It had a peculiar scent, almost like someone was grilling meat. Her stomach clenched up in hunger.
"There might be other tourists here. I'm sure we aren't the only ones Doug the DJ told about this place."
Oliver agreed and took a bottle with clear liquid from the back.
"Who wants a shot?!"
Liv grimaced. Her stomach was still in knots. She turned her attention to her backpack and dug out her camera, humming in contentment as she tinkered with it.
"Come on Liv. Take a shot with us," Keith ordered. "It'll put hair on your balls."
"Gross man," Vincent uttered.
Liv snorted and placed the camera strap around her neck. She'd most likely regret it later, but she might as well. Walking over to the group, she took a tiki shot glass from Oliver. It was rather cute.
"Raise your glasses," Grant – a stout army-trained stud – ordered.
The group did so.
"Uh, to my brother Riley for getting his pilot's license! Where the hell is that motherfucker?" Grant asked.
That was a good question. Today was meant to be about him. The last Liv saw of him, he was running down the beach in child-like excitement. Oh well. She tossed back her shot and nearly choked on the foul-tasting alcohol.
"God, I haven't done sambuca since I was twenty years old," Grant mentioned with a grunt.
No wonder. It was intense. The taste of licorice lingered on her tongue even after Liv spat the taste from her mouth. She turned down another shot and turned on her camera, taking pictures of the group as they carried on in laughter, drinking, and shouting.
"I want copies after we get home," Liza mentioned to her.
"And me. Please," Daisy Lee piped in.
Liv agreed with a nod and continued to snap some pictures. She sauntered away from the group for a few minutes to take some of the clear water and the jungle when she heard a voice shout out. From around the arch, Riley came, rushing toward the table.
"There he is! Take a––"
"We need to get the fuck out of here!" Riley shouted, interrupting Oliver.
Liv raised a brow in question. He seemed frightened by something.
"We just got here, man. What's up with you?" Vincent asked in concern.
Riley took a deep and uneasy breath.
"I can't fucking explain it. There are... people tied to fucking poles down the beach. Someone burned them alive.
Was he drunk?
"Dude that's not funny," Keith mentioned.
"I'm not trying to be funny," Riley argued. He groaned in annoyance and waved his hand. "Look for yourself."
Jason snorted and sat down his shot glass, following his younger brother; Grant went too. And as much as she didn't want to, Liv walked around the bend with them. She was surprised that Liza decided to come, grasping her arm as the small party walked down the beach. The scent from earlier permeated the air, much stronger than before; it almost smelled putrid.
Just around the corner, Liv saw what Riley was trying to warn them about. Her eyes widened in horror. Three long poles stuck out of the sand and bound to them each was a person. Their bodies had been badly burned; the probable cause of their death, though at least one of them had a knife wedged in their chest. She couldn't even tell what they used to look like, only that they were human. Her stomach churned and her mouth filled with saliva as she nearly vomited. What the fuck was going on?
"Jason," Liza called in fear.
The said man turned to her with wide eyes.
"Go back to the others. You two don't need to see this."
"You need to call that guy and have him come pick us the fuck up!" Riley shouted.
He was right. Liv wanted to be off this island as soon as possible.
"He said he'd be back for us later, that we needed to stay on the beach," Jason mentioned. "I don't have a way to contact him."
"We can't just ignore this," Liza pointed out motioning toward the poles.
Riley snorted in disbelief.
"And do what exactly? We are on a fucking island!"
"Calm down," Grant ordered. He was more together than the others. "She's right though. We need to let someone know what happened here, but we also need to return to the others and wait until Doug picks us up. We can't do much until then."
Liv was already hating this idea. She knew he was right, but fuck.
"T-take some pictures of this," Riley ordered, turning his attention to her.
For fuck's sake.
Raising her camera, Liv took a quick shot of the three bodies, not caring whether the image was good or not. She just wanted to hurry and leave the area. As she raised the camera a final time she heard a noise from the jungle; it sounded like rushed footsteps.
"Do you guys––"
Before she could finish the question, a snarling man ran from the foliage and slammed into her, knocking her onto the ground. Liv lost her breath for a moment as his weight pressed against her chest. He smelled putrid like rotten meat and feces.
What the-
The question was lost to her as she stared into his cloudy lifeless eyes. Her own widened in horror as she noticed that his mouth from the cheekbones down was ripped into bloody uneven pieces, enough so that his lips were completely gone exposing his raw gums and stained teeth. A mix of blood and saliva leaked from his open mouth onto her cheek as he hovered over her. Liv was chilled to the bone.
Then with a scream, one that sounded shrill and inhuman, he bared his teeth and lunged at her. Grant came between them before he sank his teeth into her, wrapping his arm around the feral man's neck, but in the process, he was bitten. He shouted in pain and yanked him to his feet.
"Jason, h-help him," Liza ordered.
The said man rushed to his brother's aid and grabbed the man, pulling him away. However, a large bloody chunk of Grant's arm was removed in the process. Jason recoiled in disgust and watched him chew on the torn flesh. Seizing the moment, Grant yanked the knife from the pole and shoved the blade into the man's head with a wet 'slit'. He fell motionless in the sand.
"What the fuck is that!?" Riley asked in a panic.
Liza rushed to Liv and leaned down beside her.
"Are you OK?"
"I... I don't know. He tried to bite me," Liv retorted in shock.
What sort of fucked up Romero shit was going on? Her eyes widened in horror as she remembered that Grant had been bitten. The said man was clutching his bleeding arm in pain.
"We need to get back to the others," he mentioned.
"Are you gonna be OK?" Jason asked.
His brother shook his head in agreement, but he didn't look too sure. Turning, he led the group back down the beach and around the bend. Daisy Lee noticed them first and covered her mouth in shock, rushing to Grant's side.
"What the fuck happened? Keith asked.
Liv shook her head and sat down at the table, wrapping her arms around herself. She just wanted to go home. This entire day was one big nightmare.
"Guys, come on. What is––"
The sound of a siren interrupted Oliver, echoing around the beach. It sounded close, but Liv wasn't certain. Then from the corner of her eye, she noticed something emerge from the jungle down the beach from them. It was an animal; a large dog. But something was not right about the canine. Its dark fur was missing in patches like it was sick and its face was gruesomely decomposed; bloody muscle and bone were showing. Liv stood up from the chair and almost backed into Keith.
This can't be happening. I'm dreaming; I have to be.
But the fear was real. The adrenalin coursing through her body and the voice in her head telling her to get the hell out of dodge; it was all real too.
"W-we need to run," she mentioned lowly.
Keith raised a brow and turned his blue eyes toward the dog.
"What the fuck is wrong with it?"
With a guttural bark, it suddenly sprinted at them, quickly closing the distance.
"Fuck! Run!" Someone shouted, probably Riley; Liv didn't stand around to find out.
She clutched her bag in her hands and dashed into the jungle, aware that the others were close behind. She could hear their labored breaths and the guttural growl of the dog as it chased after them. Tears poured down her face as she tried to navigate the bush, but she had no idea where she was going. Her only beacon of hope was the siren.
But why does it sound like it's moving away from us?
Running from the tree line out on a dirt road, she saw two large vehicles driving toward her. Raising her arms, Liv shouted over the siren in hopes to catch the driver's attention, but to her horror, both drove past her.
"No, no, no. PLEASE STOP!"
She knew she'd never catch them, but Liv chased after them regardless, pleading with them to come back. She knew that at any second the dog was going to run her down and maul her to pieces; her friends were sadly the last thing on her mind. She just wanted to survive. On the last vehicle, she noticed a turret mounted on the top. Someone peeked out toward her, and to her relief, the vehicle came to a stop; the other soon followed suit.
"Get down!" A man wearing a red bandana shouted.
Liv raised a brow. Why did––
Suddenly the man started shooting the turret toward her. Liv screamed in protest but someone knocked her to the ground and covered her. She felt her hands burn as the road tore into her; the sound of screams echoed in her ears, so loud she almost didn't hear the gunfire cease. The person on top of her got up and Liv took a peek, seeing Vincent next to her. Did he save her? No. The man with the bandana wasn't shooting at them, or else she and Vincent would have been dead. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed that the others were alive too. The rabid dog however was in pieces, lying mere inches away from Oliver. Bullet holes riddled its diseased carcass.
They saved us.
"Fuck, that was close," Vincent mentioned.
Liv wasn't sure if he meant the dog or the turret. She sat up and groaned as her raw hands burned.
"Liv," Vincent called gaining her attention. He motioned towards the vehicles where a stout dark-skinned man approached them.
"Americanos (Americans)?" He asked.
Liv shook her head in agreement.
The man grinned.
"You are afortunado (fortunate) we came by. Or else you'd be almuerzo (lunch)."
What was he trying to say?
"Thank you for stopping," Liv mentioned.
"Don't think me yet," the man retorted.
He turned his eyes toward the others and counted them, then yanked a walkie from his belt.
"Jefe (boss), we found them. Nine little americanos (Americans)."
The line cracked for a moment, then a voice answered.
"Well? You waiting for an invitation motherfucker? Bring them here."
An air of uncertainly consumed Liv. Did he admit that he was looking for them? Perhaps they knew Doug. So many factors didn't add up. She glanced over at Vincent for answers, but he was seeing to Oliver who had scraped his leg somehow.
"Four of you come with me," the man ordered. "And the rest of you get in the other vehicle."
"Where are you taking us?" Jason asked.
Liv was curious too, but she was more concerned about the monsters that attacked them. She refused to call them anything else; there was no telling what they were.
"¡Apurarse (hurry)! Or do you want to wind up someone's lunch?" The man asked, motioning them on.
There were more of them?
Liv had so many questions, but she put her trust in the unnamed man and followed him to the vehicle. How bad could a man who just saved their life be?
If only she knew.