I pretended to be weak and pulled out the order receipt for the armored vehicle.
“Wife, I thought the apocalypse might be dangerous. In case you and Jude want to go out, having a vehicle would be more convenient.”
She snatched the slip from my hand, wrapped her arms around Jude, and pinched his cheek with a bright smile.
“In a couple of days, let’s head into the zombie horde and broaden our horizons!”
Jude nodded, but the look he gave me turned cold and vicious.
It was exactly as I remembered, the same look he wore when he coaxed Vienna into locking me outside.
Vienna’s expression turned sinister.
“Now that everything’s settled, there’s no point keeping you around.”
“Honey, our supplies are limited, and there’s hardly enough for Jude and me. You’ll just have to make a little sacrifice…”
The night deepened, and suddenly, zombies began to appear.
Heavy banging shook the courtyard walls.
“Ah! Daddy, help me!”
My daughter’s terrified screams pierced the night. I rushed to the window and froze.
A wooden stake stood in the yard, newly erected.
My daughter, who should have been safe and happy in the villa next door, was tied to it, her face pale with fear.
Outside the gate, more and more zombies pressed forward, ready to break through.
I panicked and lunged for the door, but Jude grabbed my collar.
He pressed down hard on the back of my neck, forcing me to stay inside the villa, my cheek crushed against the cold glass as I watched everything unfold in the yard.
Vienna leaned close, her breath brushing my ear.
“Don’t get so worked up, honey. You’ve never really seen what the apocalypse looks like, have you? A perfect chance to show you.”
Just then, my daughter’s cries pierced the night again.
I struggled with everything I had, my voice raw as I begged.
Jude took the chance to slap me hard across the face.
“Shut up! We’re just using your daughter for an experiment. Is that really worth all this drama?”
I was certain this twisted idea had come straight from him.
Vienna smiled and gave Jude an approving thumbs up.
Jude’s grip tightened as he grabbed my chin, forcing my eyes open.
“Don’t be scared. Watch. Watch closely.”
“Whatever those things out there are, and how deadly they might be, we don’t know. Your daughter makes the perfect test subject.”
“If they don’t like kids or don’t eat people, maybe your precious girl will get to live.”
Rage surged through me. I fought back with every shred of strength and sank my teeth deep into Jude’s finger.
He screamed in pain, his voice echoing through the room as his other hand yanked my hair. The two of us grappled, crashing into the wall.
Vienna finally let go of the hand she had been using to restrain me.
I seized the moment and bolted straight for the kitchen.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to tear everything apart so soon.
But now that they had laid a hand on my daughter, I swore I would fight them with everything I had.
In my past life, after they locked me outside, Vienna wanted to fool around with Jude on the couch.
My daughter, not knowing I had already been torn apart by zombies, knelt by the door, crying and calling for me.
Vienna, irritated by her sobs, dragged her to the small dark room under the stairs and locked her inside.
“Cry, cry, cry, that’s all you know! If you cry again, I’ll never let your daddy come back!”
My daughter, terrified, hiccupped and bit her lip, not daring to make another sound.
Satisfied, Vienna went back to fooling around with Jude, only for the two of them to die a sudden, ridiculous death in the end.
Before she starved to death, she kept whispering apologies.
“Daddy, I’m sorry.”
“Daddy, I promise I’ll be good from now on. I won’t cry ever again…”
My greatest regret was never being able to protect her.
And now, they dared to lay hands on her right in front of me.
Vienna lunged at me, her face twisted with rage.
I grabbed a small kitchen appliance and swung it with all my strength.
It struck her hard, leaving several bloody welts across her skin.
She let out a shriek and completely lost control, charging into the kitchen without a second thought.
