3. Lena
3
LENA
D awn had finally broken, the faint light cutting through the early morning mist as Lena and Fleur slipped quietly out of the community. It hadn’t been home, not really, but it had been a refuge, a place to gather herself and focus. Now, as they left, Lena didn’t feel much in the way of nostalgia, though the faces of the people she was leaving behind tugged at her conscience. She could only hope that Gene would keep his word, that he would protect them. It was all out of her hands now.
The first part of their journey had to be done on foot. No cars were kept near the community. Being so close to a military base meant they hadn’t needed to venture out often for supplies, a rare stroke of luck in a world where most people were scraping by. They couldn’t risk attracting zombies with the noise of a car engine, not until they were far enough away. Once they hit a gas station, Lena would find them a car that looked like it could take them the distance.
Lena cast a sideways glance at Fleur, wondering if she was up for this. Fleur stood at about 5’7”, with a build that suggested she was more than just a brilliant geneticist. Judging by her credentials and all the schooling she must have done, Lena figured Fleur was probably in her early forties. But looking at her now, it was hard to tell. She had that rare kind of agelessness; her face carried a few lines, sure, but her body told a different story. Lean, toned, like someone who had spent years running, not for exercise, but for survival. In this world, endurance was everything. You couldn’t get far without being able to run, without having at least some athleticism to fall back on.
As they moved through the overgrown streets, Lena couldn't help but marvel at how quickly nature had reclaimed the land. Trees had burst through the cracks in the pavement, vines crawled up the sides of buildings, and animals roamed freely. It was almost serene, like the earth was healing itself in the absence of human interference. She found herself wondering if the virus had been some kind of cosmic reset, a way for the planet to rid itself of the plague of mankind.
The world had changed, but in some ways, it felt safer now. Sure, there were zombies lurking about who might try and eat you, but at least you didn’t have to worry about getting mugged—or worse—like you did before the outbreak. There was something simpler about it. Lena had encountered plenty of zombies over the years, but most of the ones they’d run into lately were slow, shambling things. The fresh ones, the dangerous ones, were rare now. But if you ran into one, you’d know. Their milky eyes gave them away, but by the time you saw those eyes, it was probably already too late.
Even the slower zombies still posed a serious threat. Sure, they shuffled along at a frustratingly slow pace most of the time, but they had sharp olfactory senses that made up for their lack of speed. They could smell a living person from a distance, and their hearing? That was even more sensitive. But the sensitivity depended on the age of the rotter.
For the newer ones, the moment they caught a whiff of fresh prey or heard the slightest noise, they were relentless, moving with a single-minded fury that didn’t stop until they sank their teeth into flesh.
What made them even more dangerous, though, was their tendency to travel in packs. One zombie? Manageable. A group? That was a different story. They flocked together like animals, moving in herds, and once they had you in their sights, it was over. Alone, a zombie could be handled, but in numbers they became a deadly force.
As they walked, Fleur started rambling about pathogens, infections, and blood. Lena could tell it was nerves, but damn, the woman didn’t know when to quit. She was droning on about some trial involving a foot-long needle and brain injections when Lena finally cut her off.
"Can we just walk in silence? Don’t you worry someone might hear us?"
Fleur shot her a look, clearly annoyed but trying to keep her composure. "Talking helps the time pass." she said. "Doesn’t it help you?"
"Nope," Lena replied flatly. "I’d rather focus with silence."
“It’s difficult for me to understand how someone in a leadership position could be so cold and bitter,” Fleur said, frowning.
“Well, believe it. Everyone has to find their way to survive out here,” Lena shot back, eyes scanning the horizon.
Fleur fell silent, pouting in a way that almost made Lena smirk. But at least now she could pay attention to their surroundings. The silence let her listen for anything out of place, any movement in the distance. There couldn’t be any distractions. They couldn’t afford mistakes.
After another few hours of walking, they reached an abandoned gas station. It looked untouched since the outbreak, which was a good sign. Cars littered the parking lot, and, even better, there were gas pumps. This was exactly what Lena had been hoping for.
"Did you pack any medical supplies?" Fleur asked as they approached the building. "I couldn’t bring much with me."
"I’ve got bandages," Lena replied, keeping her eyes on the cars.
"Bandages? That’s it?" Fleur sounded incredulous, as if she’d expected Lena to be carrying a whole trauma kit.
Lena rolled her eyes. "What did you expect? I can’t take precious supplies from the community. We’ve got what we need to get by. Times are hard, in case you hadn’t noticed."
Fleur pursed her lips, clearly unimpressed with sarcasm. "Well, there’s a medical office right over there," she said, pointing across the street. "I’m going to check if there are any supplies we can take."
"I don’t think that’s a good idea," Lena said, narrowing her eyes. "Why don’t you stay here? I’ll handle the car."
"My ‘precious, intelligent little behind’ is going to get us medical supplies that could save our lives. If one of us so much as scratches ourselves on a rusty nail, we’re dead. So how about you worry about getting us some wheels, Ms. Former Firefighter?" Fleur retorted, arms crossed.
Lena sighed, biting back a retort of her own. The woman had a point, even if her attitude grated on her nerves. "Fine," she said, turning toward the nearest car. "But don’t take too long. We need to move fast."
Fleur gave her a curt nod before heading toward the medical office, and Lena watched her for a moment before focusing on the task at hand. They didn’t have time for bickering. The sooner they found a car and got out of here, the better.
Lena filled up a few empty cans with gas, surprised there was any left in the tank. This place must’ve been far enough off the beaten path to keep scavengers away. After loading everything into a reliable-looking Subaru, she decided to walk around back, mostly to pass the time while Fleur was off on her little medical mission.
That's when she saw it.
Blood, splattered across the grass and parking lot, thick and dark, but not yet washed away by rain. It was old, but fresh enough to raise every red flag in Lena's mind. Instantly, she was on high alert.
“Damn stubborn ass had to get medical supplies,” Lena muttered, annoyed at how reckless Fleur was being. She had no idea how many zombies were near. Was it one, two, or a whole horde? But she knew one thing: they were likely dormant, just waiting for some noise or a scent to set them off. And what were she and Fleur? Walking, talking stimuli.
Suddenly, she heard a loud crash from inside the building.
Without hesitation, Lena bolted into the medical office. Her heart sank when she saw Fleur, pale and breathless, struggling to keep a zombie at bay with nothing but an IV pole.
“Why didn’t you call for help?!” Lena snapped, half-angry, half-incredulous.
“I was handling it,” Fleur shot back, panting, her stubbornness as infuriating as ever.
Was this woman insane? Lena grabbed another IV pole, moving swiftly, and with one heavy swing, knocked the zombie’s rotten, softened head clean off. But before she could catch her breath, there was another crash. It was followed by the unmistakable sound of moaning. Lena’s stomach dropped as it dawned on her: this wasn’t just a medical office for treating patients. It was a place for storing the dead.
And now the dead were waking up.
Lena yanked Fleur behind her. “Stay behind me,” she ordered, her voice sharp.
For once, Fleur didn’t argue. Maybe she was finally starting to understand the gravity of their situation. Lena could feel the fear radiating off her, though Fleur was doing her best to mask it.
Lena tried to stay calm, but inside, she was spiraling. She had no idea how many zombies were coming or how many they’d have to fight off. She swung at each one that approached— WHACK!— decapitating them with brute force. But the more they killed, the more seemed to stagger out from the shadows. Lena was a well-trained fighter, but everyone had a limit.
The further they ventured into the building, the worse it became. The cold autumn air had shielded them from the smell at first, but now the stench of rotting flesh hit them full force. It was suffocating, the kind of smell that could bring someone to their knees. Lena fought back the urge to vomit, running on pure adrenaline.
But Fleur, remarkably, didn’t flinch. She barely seemed phased by the smell. Lena couldn’t wrap her head around it. Who was this woman? How could she be so calm when everything around them was falling apart?
But Lena couldn’t afford to dwell on that, not now. “Let’s just get out of here,” she grunted, her voice strained. All that mattered was surviving the next few minutes and finding a way out before they were completely overrun. She grabbed Fleur’s hand and ran.
Before Fleur could react, Lena snapped into firefighter mode. She was quick, methodical, scanning the surroundings and calculating the best escape route. Her training kicked in, allowing them to slip out of the building before the situation spiraled any further. But they weren’t out of danger yet. There were five zombies that stood between them and the car, lingering near the gas station. Lena couldn’t afford any mistakes now. One wrong move, and this could be their final trip.
Lena grabbed a bar of metal with a sharp end from the floor, moving swiftly towards the threat. With each swing, a zombie’s head hit the pavement with a sickening thud. One, two, three... until all five were decapitated. No hesitation, no wasted motion.
“Get in the car,” she barked.
Fleur, still catching her breath, obeyed without protest. Once inside, Lena locked the doors, grateful the keys were already in the ignition. She started the car and they sped off, leaving a staggering trail of zombies behind them. As they drove, Lena couldn’t help but wonder if the zombies could track their scent, but she pushed the thought away. They just needed to put enough distance between themselves and the chaos.
After driving for what felt like hours, Lena spotted a secluded cabin. It looked abandoned, likely a vacation home that had been left behind before the outbreak. Isolated enough to offer a safe place for the night.
“Let’s stay here,” Lena said, cutting the engine. “We’ve had enough of a thrill for today.”
Fleur didn’t argue, too shaken to do anything but agree. “Okay.”
The adrenaline still hummed through their veins as they entered the cabin. They had known the risks, but neither of them expected to face a near-death experience so soon. Lena collapsed onto the couch, exhaustion finally catching up with her. Fleur sat beside her, more tentative, her usual confidence shaken.
“If you’d just listened to me, none of this would’ve happened,” Lena said, the frustration seeping through her.
Fleur flinched, guilt flashing across her face. She looked... vulnerable, something Lena hadn’t seen before. Fleur was always the composed one, the brilliant scientist with all the answers, but now? Now she looked human, uncertain.
“You’re right,” Fleur admitted softly, her voice cracking. “I was stupid. I thought medical supplies were a priority, but I should’ve known. I knew it was that kind of office. I should’ve figured there would be zombies.”
Lena wanted to stay angry, but seeing Fleur like this, the regret etched on her face, she couldn’t. She exhaled deeply, letting the tension drain from her shoulders.
“In emergencies, we sometimes miss the obvious,” Lena said, her voice softening. “We make mistakes.”
“Thank you,” Fleur whispered. “Thank you for saving me.”
Lena turned to look at her, taking in Fleur’s appearance. Her dark curls, streaked with grey, were a mess. For the first time, Lena noticed the lines around Fleur’s eyes, the way exhaustion clung to her. She knew Fleur was older, maybe in her forties, but it struck her just how much the outbreak had aged her. What kind of hardships had she faced? What had she lost? Probably just as much as everybody else.
Their eyes met, and something inside Lena came to life. Maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was the relief of surviving, but she felt it, this undeniable pull. And from the way Fleur held her gaze, Lena knew she felt it too.
Without thinking, Lena leaned in, pinning Fleur against the armrest. Fleur didn’t waver, didn’t pull away. Lena could feel the warmth of Fleur’s skin as their arms brushed, sending a shiver down her spine. The softness of Fleur’s touch was unexpected, a contrast to the hardened world they lived in. It had been so long since Lena had been this close to anyone, and the sensation stirred something deep within her, a hunger, a vulnerability she wasn’t sure she was ready to confront.
Fleur's scent filled the small space between them, a mix of citrus and wood that was both fresh and grounding. It wrapped around Lena like a tether, pulling her in. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been close enough to someone to notice these small, intimate details. The familiarity of it was intoxicating, almost overwhelming. Lena’s chest tightened as the weight of the moment settled on her.
As she leaned in, her breath soft against Fleur’s cheek, her pulse quickened. She could feel their energy pulsating, the underlying current of something more than just proximity. It was magnetic, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Lena wasn’t sure if she could resist it. There had been something unspoken in the room when Fleur had told her everything earlier, a tension that neither of them had addressed. Now, that tension was thick, and she was hungry to taste it.
Lena wasn’t one to let her guard down easily; she couldn’t afford to, especially not in this world. Fleur had gotten under her skin in a way no one had in years, and that terrified Lena more than she wanted to admit. Her gaze dropped to Fleur’s lips for just a moment before flicking back to her eyes, and the intensity there was impossible to deny. Fleur wasn’t backing down, wasn’t looking away. She was holding Lena’s gaze, her own breathing just as unsteady. There was something powerful about that. In the middle of this chaos, in a world where death lurked around every corner, there was still room for something raw and real. Something Lena had long since buried.
And yet, in this fleeting moment, Lena felt it rise to the surface. The desire to reach out, to touch, to let herself feel again. She didn’t know if it was wise, didn’t know if she could handle whatever this was between them. But the electricity crackling in the air told her that maybe, just maybe, it was worth the risk. The air between them felt electric, and before Lena could stop herself, she kissed her.
But as quickly as it happened, Lena jerked back. “I’m sorry. I don’t?—”
Before she could finish, Fleur reached up, grabbed the back of Lena’s neck, and kissed her again. This time it was deliberate, hungry. Fleur bit Lena’s lip, and the heat between them grew, their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in the moment. The world outside, the zombies, the danger, all of it faded. Lena's hands moved with an urgency she hadn’t felt in a long time, pulling Fleur on top of her with a need that bordered on desperation. Their bodies pressed together, and Lena felt an intense, primal connection surge through her. She wanted to lose herself in the kiss, to explore every sensation, every whisper of warmth that Fleur’s body provided. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more animalistic, as though they were trying to merge into one entity.
Fleur’s fingers tangled in Lena’s hair, tugging gently as she moaned softly against Lena’s lips. The sound was like a spark igniting Lena’s desire, fueling her need to explore every inch of Fleur. She trailed kisses along Fleur’s neck, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin under her lips. Each touch elicited a shiver from Fleur, her body responding eagerly to Lena’s touch.
Lena’s hands roamed over Fleur’s back, pulling her closer as if she could sink into her. She could feel Fleur’s heartbeat against her own, a steady rhythm that matched the pounding in her chest. It was a beautiful, intoxicating chaos, a dance of passion that Lena didn’t want to end.
The room seemed to disappear around them, leaving only the two of them wrapped in a cocoon of desire. Lena’s kiss was insistent, demanding, and Fleur responded in kind, her own hands gripping Lena’s shoulders as if she were afraid to let go. The intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, and Lena’s mind raced with the intensity of it all. She had never felt so alive, so raw, so entirely connected to another person. She had forgotten this feeling was possible in a world so broken and fucked up.
Lena’s heart was pounding. She knew they were both on the edge of something dangerous, something beautiful and fraught with complications. But right now, in this moment, all she cared about was the sensation of Fleur’s body against hers, the taste of her lips.
There was no room for hesitation or second-guessing. Only the need to savor this connection. Lena’s hands roamed over Fleur’s body, feeling the heat and softness, and she kissed her deeper, harder. Every part of her was consumed by the need to hold on to this feeling, to keep it from slipping away into the chaos of their world.
But as things intensified, reality crashed back into Lena’s mind. She pulled away, catching her breath. This was too much, too fast. They were on a mission, and things needed to stay professional.
Lena cleared her throat, standing up awkwardly. “We should get some rest. I’ll sleep on the couch, and you can take the bed. I’m sorry—I don’t know what came over me.”
Her head was spinning, an emotional whirlwind that left her breathless and disoriented. She had to be cold. She had to shut this down and protect her heart and the mission ahead. The kiss had opened a door she wasn’t sure she was ready to walk through, exposing a raw, unguarded part of herself that had long been shielded by the harsh realities of their world.
Fleur nodded, her face a mask of composure, as though nothing had just happened. “Oh, okay. Yes that… sounds good. We’ll leave at first light. We’ve got to make up for today’s lost time. I’m sorry too. My head is a… mess.”
Lena forced a smile, trying to shake the tension that lingered between them. “Agreed. Let’s stay focused.”
As Fleur disappeared into the bedroom, Lena lay back on the old, ripped couch, staring at the ceiling. She’d been through hell and back today, but this... this was something she wasn’t sure how to handle.