by Tristan Vick
With her cigarette hanging from her lower lip, Saeko looked down at her chest and let out a disappointed sigh. Groping herself, she squeezed her barely existent breasts together and examined the small bunny slopes they formed. This only confirmed her fear that they were as minuscule as she had always imagined they were. Worse still, she hated herself for even thinking that it mattered. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she screamed.
Taking a long drag on her cigarette, Saeko looked back up at the couple making love in the building across from her. In addition to her improved eyesight, a strange side-effect of whatever the hell had changed her, the luminescent moon lit up their skin like gravure idols in a cheesecake photo spread. The soft glow highlighted every heaving bulge and quivering body part, every passionate thrust and intimate embrace of the unwitting participants.
Exhaling cigarette smoke, which seemed to signify the green flames of fierce jealousy raging inside of her, Saeko watched Kana’s full-sized breasts sway back and forth with each ass-jiggling slap she received from the relentless thrusts of Kevin’s hips. As she witnessed her boyfriend fucking that radish-legged cunt, she reached down into her skirt, slid her fingers into her soft patch of black pubic hair, and began masturbating.
As she got off to the sight of her boyfriend fucking some other woman, she imagined it was her that he was fucking, and relished every throwaway orgasm—and hated herself for it.
Several hours later, Saeko awoke, shivering cold and cotton-mouthed from all the cigarettes. She must had dozed off, she figured, and now the sun was coming up.
“Shit,” she said in a groggy voice. She reached for her pack of smokes that she kept securely in her garter on her leg and pulled them out then tapped the box. There was only one left. But she lit it up and smoked it anyway. Breakfast of champions, she told herself.
Rising to her feet, she decided to put as much distance between herself and Kevin as possible. She was still pissed off by the fact that he couldn’t mourn for more than a couple weeks before fucking the first woman in sight. How pathetic was that?!
Saeko climbed down the emergency ladder and, ten feet above the ground, dropped down to street level. Tucking her hands in her pockets, she trudged up the street, her cigarette dangling from her lips. What a fucking nightmare the past month had been. First, she had almost been raped, then she was eaten alive—and somehow miraculously survived it. Now, she found her boyfriend had not only moved on but, to make matters worse, he’d apparently moved on to bestiality. Saeko still couldn’t get the fat cow’s flabby tits out of her mind. God dammit!
Her body ached from the cold and her heart ached from the betrayal. She knew she was being unfair. Irrational even. But just the thought of it still stung and made her soul numb. Her dreams of being with him and living happily ever after at the end of the world had bitten the dust. All she had left was a lifetime of pain—a pain so deep and penetrating that she knew she couldn’t stand to live with it a single day longer.
Saeko convinced herself there was only one way to be rid of the pain once and for all, which was why she found herself walking up the forlorn street right toward Tokyo Tower.
Upon arriving at the base of the monument, she gazed up at the giant red needle that rose high into the sky. Not many people knew it, but it was a near exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It was merely painted bright red with white stripes to distinguish it. She started up the side and began scaling her way toward the very top.
After what seemed like ages of climbing, Saeko finally arrived at the upper platform of the television broadcasting array atop the observatory. She could barely catch her breath. Hands on her knees, she gasped for air and looked around. A catwalk led out to a broadcasting dish, which jetted out over the roof, like the plank of an Olympic pool high dive. Every muscle she had burned. She had never climbed so much in her entire life.
Determined, Saeko walked over to the railing at the end of the catwalk, climbed up the safety railing and swung her leg over then, momentarily straddling the railing between her legs, then climbed back down the other side. Hanging onto the railing, she turned her body around, careful not to slip off the edge.
Still breathing hard, a cocktail of fatigue and nervousness, Saeko leaned forward and peered over the edge. Hanging onto the railing, her arms outstretched behind her, with her toes dangling partway over the ledge, she held herself at a 45 degree angle and gazed down at the thousand-foot drop that emptied out before her.
Looking out across the Tokyo skyline, she gazed at the black silhouette of the cityscape set upon the backdrop of a glorious sunset. The thin hot pink line, the very last of the sun’s pleasant radiance, kissed the blackness of the city like a couple of forbidden lovers. It was heavenly, she thought. It all seemed so peaceful from way up here.
Saeko closed her eyes and took in a breath so deep it felt as though her lungs would pop inside her chest. Opening her eyes again, she stared at the horizon stretching out before her. Then, after a long pause, she let go of the railing, spread her arms out and took one giant leap forward.
35
On the Verge of Obscure Darkness
The Tokyo Area, Near Sagamihara
Ronin were samurai warriors who, becoming destitute vagabonds, wandered the world in solitary shame. Kevin felt he could relate. For five weeks he had felt lost, without direction or purpose. The long bloody days and horror-filled nights blurred together to form a uniform nightmare ripe with pain and suffering. Everywhere he and Kana went was nothing but dust and decay. So, like the ronin warriors of ancient Japan, he simply pushed on, destined to roam the fallen world, carrying the burden of his sins wherever he went.
Kana Fujiwara lagged several feet behind him. It had only been three weeks since they had first made love, and practically every night since then, but now a new weight burdened her. Kana had missed her regularly scheduled period, and she had the distinct feeling that she might be pregnant. She honestly couldn’t decide if it was a blessing or a curse, but because it was his, she knew she’d love this baby with all her heart. No matter what.
“My feet are killing me,” Kana complained. A stabbing pain shot up through the arches of her feet under each bloated step.
“Let’s rest for a bit,” said in a sympathetic sounding voice. His feet were killing him too.
“Thanks,” Kana huffed, out of breath. Then she shuffled up to the shady side of a concrete wall of a dilapidated office building and leaned against it. The cool concrete felt good against her overheated skin.
“You rest up,” Kevin said. “I’ll take a look around, just to make sure it’s safe.” Surveying the area, just to be on the cautious side of things, he made sure there was no imminent threats lurking about. Satisfied that they were alone, he went over and joined Kana in the shade of the building. Without saying anything, he unscrewed the lid to his canteen and offered her some of his water. She smiled, took the canteen, and took a long refreshing drink.
Although it seemed that Kana was happy with him, and he with her, Kevin still hadn’t been able to shake the memories of Saeko; memories that haunted him every minute of every day.
It was bad enough that he dreamed of Saeko’s gruesome demise almost every single night. Most nights he woke up gasping for breath, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. But now the nightmares of the dead had followed him into the realm of the living. Everywhere he went, he thought he saw a glimpse of her from the corners of his eyes. It was becoming more than he could bear.
At first he thought it was just his mind playing tricks on him. Every time he glimpsed her, she was always just out of sight, staring at him, like a specter from beyond the grave.
Always from the damned shadows, he would see her standing there in her black duster jacket, holding a sword, her long black hair blowing in the breeze. She looked at him with that stern gaze of hers whenever she felt determined. Then he’d glance away momentarily as some distraction and when he’d look back she’d have disappeared again.
Always
this. There and then not there. He was never entirely sure if it was her, or if his mind was simply playing tricks on him.
Kevin was beginning to think the shadows might be gateways to another realm, a sort of ethereal veil that separated this life from the afterlife. Saeko would step out of them, as if stepping out from the gates of Hades. Her visage was a cruel reminder, echoing throughout time, of his failure to save her.
Looking up at the white dot of afternoon sun as it dawdled behind a curtain of grey clouds, Kevin said, “We’d better pick up the pace if we’re going to make it out of town before evening rolls around.”
Leaning against the wall, Kana took off her shoes and began to rub her swollen feet. “I can’t do it,” she said, letting out an uncomfortable sounding sigh to let Kevin know that she was running on fumes as it was. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t go another damn kilometer. I’m spent and my feet just hurt too damn badly.”
“I can carry you on my back, if you want.”
“You really don’t mind?” Kana asked, giving him her best innocent puppy dog eyes.
Kevin knelt on one knee and, in his best John Wayne impersonation, said, “Saddle up, Lil missy.”
Kana still didn’t know why he sometimes changed his voice to something strange, but she shrugged it off as one of his many pleasant quirks. After all, there wasn’t a habit of his that annoyed her. She found everything he did either cute or charming.
With the heels of her shoes pinched between her fingers, she climbed onto Kevin’s back and whispered into his ear, “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said.
“I’ll pay you back later tonight with a massage.”
“I’d rather have a kiss,” Kevin teased.
“I will bathe you with my kisses!” Kana laughed.
“Sounds nice.”
Suddenly Kevin had the odd sensation that they were being watched. Setting Kana down, he motioned to her to keep quiet. Slowly, he turned around and scanned the buildings looking for the slightest movement. After a few moments, he determined there was nothing to worry about and turned back around.
“Never mind,” Kevin said. “I must have imagined it.” He motioned for Kana to hop back onto his back.
Kana stopped and looked at him with big bright eyes which filled with watery tears. A smile formed on her mouth that showed a glimpse of her appreciation. “Oh, Kevin!” she said leaping into his arms. “You’re the best!”
Throwing her arms around his neck, she dappled his face with a flurry of wet kisses. Soon they became heated kisses. Clawing at his belt buckle, like a frisky cat, Kana asked, “Do you think we have time?”
Kevin looked around. “You mean, right here? Right now?”
“Sure. Why not? Nobody is looking.”
Even though Kana was probably right, Kevin couldn’t shake the feeling that they were, indeed, being stalked. But by what or whom he didn’t know.
Kana had already unlatched his belt when he suddenly gripped her wrists and stopped her. “Normally, I’d love to. But I really do want to make the forest before dark.”
Feeling jilted, Kana angrily shoved Kevin aside and muttered, “Fine. Let’s go.” Without so much as another word to him, she turned and stomped up the road.
Kevin looked over his shoulder again. Again, he was certain something was following them. Apart from some abandoned apartments and a disarray of papers fluttering in the small whirlwinds that kicked up between buildings in the streets, however, he didn’t see anything of any note except a tipped-over bus lying in the middle of an empty street.
Still, there was something about that bus that unnerved him. Staring at it, Kevin drew out his sword.
The sound of his blade sliding out of its sheath caused Kana to stop in her tracks and turn back around. “What is it?” she asked.
Kevin put his finger to his lips, warning her to keep quiet, and then inched slowly toward the bus.
Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, he came along the back undercarriage and moved toward the front. Coming around the front fender, his every muscle tensed as he thought he heard the soft sound of breathing. Raising his sword, he jumped out to attack whatever it was that was stalking them.
Kana watched Kevin leap out and stand there, looking confused. She looked around, but couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary, so she called out, “What is it? What do you see?”
Kevin turned toward her and shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing. It’s a false alarm.”
Kana let out a huge sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
36
No Good Deed
The Tokyo Area, Near Sagamihara
Stopping in the middle of the street, Kana waved at Kevin to hold up and said, “I have to take a piss.”
Ever since their evening together, she had felt extra secure just being herself with him. And speaking openly was no longer an issue. She felt she could tell him anything, and he’d still love her. And she basked in his affection. In fact, she’d never had a guy dote on her so much in her life. It felt supremely nice.
Nodding his chin, Kevin pointed toward a supermarket they had just passed. “I bet we could find one over there, in that Top Value grocery store. Also, the rotting produce will help mask your scent if there are any Walkers in the area.”
As she began to head in the direction of the store she caught Kevin following her. Slowing, she turned around and confronted him. “You don’t need to follow me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
Kevin smiled. “I bet you can,” he replied with a dash of sarcasm and a chuckle.
Kana playful hit him in the arm. “Come on! I’m serious.”
Throwing up his hands, he said, “Okay, okay. Just remember what I taught you.”
Taking out the buck knife Kevin had given her as a present, the one he used to show her how to properly gut a fish, she flipped it open, looked at him with her big brown eyes and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry. Really. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll canvas the area while you're inside. Scream if you need me. If I don’t hear back from you in five minutes, I’ll come looking for you.”
Blushing, Kana shot him a nervous glance and brushed her hair out of her face. “You better make it ten,” she said.
“Ohhhh,” Kevin gasped, covering his mouth in dramatic flair.
“Oh, shut up,” Kana replied as she waved off his boyish antics and turned to head into the store.
“Wait,” Kevin said, urgently. He made it sound as if he had something important to say before she left. “I just want you to be safe.”
“I will be,” Kana answered, then turned to go again. But again, Kevin grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“I mean, I don’t know what I’d do without you if you should, you know, fall in or something.” He whispered the last part.
Kana laughed and yanked her arm free. “Stop teasing. You’re gonna make me pee my pants…I really have to go!”
Kevin winked at her as she left him standing in the parking area of the grocery store.
Kana glanced back at him over her shoulder and laughed again. She loved how he teased. Approaching the entrance to the store, Kana tightened the straps of her backpack and raised her knife, thrusting it forward just in case anything lunged at her. Looking around, all she saw were scattered shopping carts and a trail of litter consisting mainly of empty bottles and opened cans—most likely left behind by previous looters. To her great relief, there weren’t any signs of activity.
Checking on more time, Kana looked back over her shoulder and saw Kevin watching her. He waved and she waved back, then, building up enough nerve, turned back around and entered the store. She liked that he watched out for her. In fact, she didn’t mind that he was overprotective. It made her feel safe.
As her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the windowless store, she picked up one of the empty cans and did as Kevin had instructed her. Tossing the can down one of the empty aisles, she listened and waited to see if the noise drew th
e attention of any loitering Biters. After a minute of silence, she let out a relieved sigh and then headed down one of the shopping aisles toward the back to where the bathrooms were.
Cautiously, Kana eased up to the door and then tapped on it with the handle of her knife. Always knock first, Kevin had said. Every room, every door, every building. Knock. If someone or something is in there, best to let it be and move on. It was sound advice, she felt.
Putting her ear against the door, Kana listened. Once she was satisfied that there was nothing on the other side of the door ready to jump out at her, she carefully pushed it open. As the door swung open, Kana jumped to the side and thrust out her knife, just in case. She was comforted by the fact that the only thing waiting for her on the other side of the door was an empty room with a sink and a toilet.
Tucking her knife in the holster on her hip, Kana shut the door and latched it. Going over to the toilet, she quickly pulled down her pants and sat down on the cold porcelain. The frigid seat sent shivers up her spine, but she was pleased to find that there were extra rolls of toilet paper lying on the shelf. She gathered the toilet paper rolls and tossed them into her bag.
Finishing up, Kana jiggled the handle of the toilet, but the tank was empty. “Dammit,” she said. The smell was bad. She’d die if Kevin came to check on her and smelled how bad it was in here right now. He’d never let it go.
She checked the faucet to see if it had any pressure, but only a couple drops dripped out. Kana decided to give up, grabbed her bag, and opened the door. Closing it behind her, she heard a sound in the back storage room.
Pulling out her knife back out, she slowly edged along the back wall, past the men’s restroom to the double swinging doors of the storeroom, which read Employees Only. Putting her ear against the door, she heard the noise again. It sounded like a shuffling of papers or a light scratching, as though a rodent were making a small nest inside the walls.
