Love After Infection (Apocalypse)
Continuation of the novel.
The voice belonged to a man who emerged from the shadows, his face etched with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his demeanor radiating an air of quiet competence. He bowed deeply to Felix, his eyes averted in a gesture of deference.
"Master Felix," he repeated, his voice regaining its composure. "We have been searching for you for months. We feared the worst."
Felix regarded the man with a detached curiosity, his expression unreadable. "Park Jae-hoon," he said, his voice a low murmur. "My… loyal secretary. I see you've managed to survive."
Jae-hoon straightened up, his gaze shifting to Vivian. He regarded her with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, his eyes lingering on her tattered clothes and her ink-stained fingers.
"And who is this, Master Felix?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"This is Vivian," Felix replied, his tone surprisingly protective. "She is… a friend."
Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow, but refrained from commenting. He had learned long ago not to question his master's decisions, no matter how unconventional they might seem.
"Of course, Master Felix," he said smoothly. "Whatever you say."
He turned his attention back to Felix, his face etched with concern. "Master Felix, we have much to discuss. The situation in Seoul is… dire. The government has collapsed, and the city is overrun with Zeros. We have managed to secure a small enclave within the Daeshin Group headquarters, but our resources are dwindling."
Felix listened intently, his expression hardening with each passing word. Despite his undead state, he still felt a sense of responsibility for the company his family had built.
"What about my family?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of anxiety. "My parents? My sister?"
Jae-hoon hesitated, his face clouding with grief. "I'm afraid… they didn't make it, Master Felix. They were among the first to be infected."
Felix closed his eyes, his face contorting with a mixture of sorrow and regret. Despite his complicated relationship with his family, he had never wished them harm.
"I see," he said softly. "So, I'm all that's left."
Jae-hoon nodded somberly. "You are the sole heir to the Daeshin Group, Master Felix. It is your responsibility to ensure its survival."
Felix opened his eyes, his gaze hardening with determination. "Then that's what I'll do," he said firmly. "I will rebuild this company, and I will restore order to this city. Even if I have to do it as a zombie."
Jae-hoon bowed his head in respect. "I have no doubt that you will succeed, Master Felix. You have always been a strong and capable leader."
He turned to Vivian, his expression softening slightly. "Perhaps… Miss Vivian can be of assistance as well. She seems to have a… calming effect on you, Master Felix."
Vivian blushed, feeling self-conscious under Jae-hoon's scrutiny. She wasn't used to being the center of attention, especially not in such a luxurious and intimidating setting.
"I… I don't know what I can do," she stammered. "I'm just an artist. I don't know anything about business or leadership."
"Nonsense," Felix said, his voice firm. "You're intelligent, resourceful, and compassionate. Those are qualities that are far more valuable than any business degree. Besides, I need someone I can trust. Someone who sees me as more than just a zombie."
He took Vivian's hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "I want you by my side, Vivian. I want you to help me rebuild this world."
Vivian looked into his eyes, her heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and affection. She had never expected to find love and purpose in the midst of the apocalypse, but here she was, being offered a chance to make a difference, to stand beside a man who saw her for who she truly was.
"I'll do it, Felix," she said, her voice filled with determination. "I'll help you in any way I can."
Jae-hoon smiled, a rare and genuine expression of warmth. "Excellent," he said. "Then let's get to work. We have a city to rebuild."
Over the next few days, Vivian settled into her new life in the Daeshin Group penthouse. She was given a luxurious bedroom, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and access to all the amenities she could possibly desire.
But despite the opulence and the comfort, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was living in a gilded cage. She missed her old life, her simple apartment, her art supplies, her freedom.
She also struggled to adjust to Felix's undead nature. He was still handsome and charming, but he was also a zombie, with all the accompanying quirks and limitations. He didn't sleep, he didn't eat (except for the occasional brain), and he had a tendency to stare blankly into space for extended periods of time.
She tried to understand him, to learn about his past life, to connect with the man he had been before the infection. But it was difficult. He was a shell of his former self, a ghost trapped in a decaying body.
One evening, as they sat on the balcony overlooking the ruined city, Vivian decided to broach the subject.
"Felix," she said softly. "Do you… do you ever miss being human?"
Felix stared out at the city, his expression unreadable. "Sometimes," he said quietly. "I miss the feeling of the sun on my skin, the taste of good food, the warmth of human contact."
He turned to Vivian, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and regret. "But I don't dwell on it," he said. "I can't change what I am. I can only focus on what I can do."
He took her hand, his touch surprisingly gentle. "I may be a zombie, Vivian, but I'm still me. And I still care about you. More than you know."
Vivian squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with affection. "I care about you too, Felix," she said. "More than I ever thought possible."
She leaned in and kissed him, her lips brushing against his cold, lifeless skin. It was a strange and unsettling sensation, but it was also strangely comforting.
She knew that their relationship was unconventional, even bizarre. But she didn't care. She loved Felix, for who he was, for who he had been, and for who he could become.
They were an unlikely couple, a living girl and a zombie, but their love was a beacon of hope in a world consumed by darkness.
As they stood on the balcony, gazing out at the ruined city, they knew that their journey was just beginning. They had a company to rebuild, a city to restore, and a love to protect.
And they would face it all, together.
End of Chapter 2
To be continued....