"But…"
Alice Maresato clutched her paintbrush, tears shimmering in her eyes, her voice breaking. "It's been so long already…"
Saeko Busujima's heart ached. She drew the girl into her arms. "Don't be afraid, Alice." Her voice was gentle as the forest breeze, soothing the girl's sorrow. "Your Sister Zeroy will return. She just… had things she had to do." She stroked Alice's pink hair, her tone turning playfully warm. "And Zeroy loves you so much—how could you doubt her?"
"Does Alice think Zeroy lied? That she's a big liar?"
"I-I don't!" Alice shook her head frantically, then lowered it, whispering, "But… I miss her so much…"
Saeko looked at the child's forlorn face, and inspiration struck. "I see… Actually, Zeroy guessed you'd miss her. Before leaving, she gave me a special seed."
"Seed?" Alice's eyes widened, tears glinting with curiosity.
"Yes." Saeko nodded encouragingly. "She said, once this seed bears fruit, she will return."
"Really?" Hope flared, then doubt furrowed her brow. "Still… seeds take a long time to grow, don't they?"
"This isn't an ordinary seed." Saeko winked. "It's special. As long as you care for it with all your heart, it will bloom and bear fruit quickly."
"Great!" Alice's face lit with her first smile, still tear-stained but shining with hope. "I want the seed!"
Saeko stood, smiling gently. "I've kept it safe. Though first, you need to finish these strawberries, to have the strength to plant them."
"Okay!" Alice began eating at once, joy returning to her little face.
Suddenly, an electronic tone broke the forest's quiet. Saeko's communicator buzzed faintly at her waist.
"Saeko, come to the monitoring station." The voice of Saya Takagi came through, tense.
Saeko frowned, unease stirring. She looked up to meet Alice's clear eyes.
The girl still held half a strawberry, yet showed no complaint or tears. Instead, she tilted her head, a gentle smile on her face. "Sister Saeko, let's plant it when you get back." She patted her small belly softly. "I can't finish the strawberries now. I'll eat more later."
Warmth filled Saeko's chest. She stroked Alice's soft hair. "Alright. I'll be back soon, and then we'll plant it together."
···
The refuge lay in a cliffside, forests stretching above and below, laced with cameras. The area for ten kilometers was under constant watch.
At the monitoring station, Saya Takagi stared grimly at dozens of screens.
"What happened?" Saeko asked as she entered.
"More zombies are gathering."
On the screens, many cameras showed the shambling figures.
"…" Saeko's face hardened. The cliff should've been safe. Without climbing gear or aircrafts, they couldn't reach it. That was true—at first.
Regardless, things had changed.
Lacking food, zombies had begun devouring each other. Survivors of cannibalism, infused with more virus, grew stronger. They were evolving.
Not just stronger, but specialized. The cameras had caught one leaping swiftly through trees, faster and more agile than monkeys. Sometimes only a blur crossed the screen.
Given time, they could climb cliffs. And their presence here wasn't a coincidence. For a month, Saeko and the others had hidden quietly. Yet zombies kept converging. Somehow, they were being drawn here.
They hadn't found the refuge yet—even so, it was only a matter of time. More arrived each day.
"And below, people are getting curious," Saya added. She meant a band of survivors who'd arrived two days ago, more than a hundred strong, carrying supplies. They built a camp at the cliff base.
Albeit, they were no good people. Dressed like biker gangs, with Mohawks, weapons, and motorcycles. Nearly all men, few women, treated as pets and slaves. Just today, Saya saw some pointing up at the cliff and talking.
No doubt—they were curious about the refuge.
This was the refuge's one flaw. Its builder had carved a platform into the cliff, like a hanging garden. Though natural rock and plants hid it, in this world, anyone who saw such a place would suspect someone lived there.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]