Amy awoke to the sound of suckling. It took a moment to remember where she was. The sound was close, but not directly in her tent. She assumed a couple in a nearby tent were being intimate, yet when it stopped, a feeling of dread and confusion began to grow within. If it wasn't the former...
"Shadow...," she whispered, "Shadow, wake up..."
"Rose...?"
"Shh. Someone's out there..."
"A zombie...?"
"I don't know..."
A dark silhouette cast a void over their shelter. Amy didn't know how, but she could tell by its presence...It was pure evil...
"Shadow, I need you to use chaos control..."
"What for...?"
"If you can distract them, I can take 'em out. I just need to know what they are first..."
"Don't bother," a sinister voice echoed, "I can hear you just fine."
The pair froze, blood running stiff in their veins. The creature...It looked human, but its abilities stretched far beyond the limits of mortality...
"Who are you." Amy demanded, no longer trying to hide her presence.
"The question isn't who I am, but what you are. I can smell your blood. It's pure...Untainted..."
"You're not a zombie. You're different from the others. The predilection for virgins makes that clear."
"You know what I am."
"A creature of the dark."
"So, my dear little Rose, how do you intend to stop me? You're unarmed, defenseless, and I know where you are. That trick of yours won't work this time."
"Unarmed? Yes. Defenseless? Not even close."
"A fair fight, you say? I'm intrigued. I should warn you, however. I'm far more cognizant than the autonomous flesh sacks you've faced so far."
"Good opportunity to test my mettle, then. Time to put up or shut up, poser."
Amy exited the tent, finally catching a glimpse of her undead opponent. The infection had evolved. They weren't just fighting zombies anymore.
"Too bad. You're actually pretty handsome. You would've been a big help on our side, but you've already killed too many people. This is where we part ways. At least tell me your name so I have something to remember you by."
"Kyle, not that it matters. You'll become one of us. I'll see to it myself."
"I know that name. It means strait or narrow, doesn't it? Ironic, considering your path."
"We can't all be good little children, now can we?"
Amy examined the vampire's stance. Like them, he too had received instruction in mixed styles of martial arts. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Such a shame. So much power and you don't even know it."
"I'll make sure it's enough to beat you."
Kyle charged in, aiming for the hedgehog's throat. She stepped aside, barely avoiding the assault. Those still living awoke to investigate.
"You're fast - even faster than Sonic, but speed isn't everything. You'll slip up sooner or later."
"And what makes you so sure?"
"Your punches are sloppy. You don't know how to exert your full strength. I can already tell you're little more than a paper tiger. The infection enhanced your strength, but you don't know how to use it."
"So you found my weakness. You'll have to catch me first to exploit it."
"Too bad for you that's our specialty."
Kyle attacked again. Amy dodged with ease. Her confidence gave her an edge in psych-out warfare. All she she needed was just one opening...
"Agh! Ough...!"
Using precise timing and rhythmic frequency, Amy slipped her nails through the vampire's offense. Her hand pierced clean through his heart.
"Is this the power you wanted to see?"
Slowly, gradually, Kyle began fading. It seemed as though by informing her of her strength, he'd summoned it as well. Maybe she already knew, or at least how strong she could be.
"So this is the power of a broken heart...Such a strange world we live in, isn't it...?"
Kyle vanished into dust, blowing away with a soft, cool breeze. Amy didn't bother looking away. She could feel the spectators. They were all there...Every single one...Watching...Waiting for her to say something...But she never did...Not on the outside...
"Why...Why did you lie...?"