Heart pounding and chest heaving, Eva yanked her blood-stained fist from the zombie’s shattered skull with a sickening squelch. The viscous feel of the dark, putrid liquid coating her right hand and arm made her skin crawl. She leaned her head away and wrinkled her nose at the fetid smell.
All around her lay the dismembered remains of a small, undead mob. Their murky blood seeped into the dirty, rutted asphalt. Despite battling them for so long, the sight still soured her stomach. Would the constant cycle of blood and violence ever end? Exhaustion had settled deep into her bones from this nonstop fight for survival.
A triumphant whoop! from the rest of her group filled her ears. They’d given the zombies their final mercy; the dead would not rise again. Eva scanned her people, seeing hope in their eyes. So far, everything had gone according to plan. As their leader and protector, she shouldered the responsibility for their well-being and needed to ensure everything worked in their favor. She willingly accepted the heavy burden for the sake of the group’s safety.
The entrance to a private walled enclave stood before them, with a massive wrought-iron gate covered in rusted, mismatched sheet metal. Two silhouetted figures slowly appeared over the top, peering down impassively at her.
Eva pushed an oily strand of dark brunette hair behind her dirt-stained ear. She raised her hand, shielding her eyes against the sun’s glare, and stared intently at them. Her group's carefully laid-out strategy now rested on these people's acceptance.
“Hello. I’m Eva Moore. Can I get your names?”
“Jace.” “Sienna.” They answered in turn.
Eva squinted to better see them. The woman had shoulder-length mermaid-green dyed hair and tortoise-shell-rimmed glasses, and he had short-cropped hair and a scraggly goatee.
Eva smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. We’d appreciate shelter for the night. As you can see, we’ve cleared your entryway of zombies.” She gestured at the scattered remains of the undead surrounding her.
Jace and Sienna looked over the blood-stained group from their perch. “Have any of you been bitten?”
Eva shook her head. “No. Besides, we’re immune.”
“How?” Sienna scowled as she gazed down at them, doubt filling her eyes.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain once you let us in. We’re here to help, not hurt.”
Jace slowly shook his head. “Outsiders aren’t allowed in. We can offer some food as thanks, but no more than that.”
Eva glanced around at the rest of her people, sweat-drenched and exhausted from the fight. The four-legged members panted heavily—their fur stained a deep, dark red.
Casey, her second-in-charge, approached and leaned toward her ear. “We can take this place by force, make it our own.” He spoke in barely a whisper, but the rest of their group heard him clearly.
Eva sensed the stress in his voice and the strain in his light blue eyes as he stared at her. This was desperation talking, and she knew he didn't mean it.
She touched his broad shoulder. The muscles were tight and stiff, and she gently squeezed to calm his pent-up frustration. “No. We stick to the plan.”
He ran his hand over his buzz-cut hair and tilted his head in deference to her. Eva looked around for confirmation from her group. The men and women gave her tacit, affirming nods, ready to follow her lead.
“We have your people,” said Eva, facing the gate again.
Jace and Sienna stiffened, eyes wide. “Are you holding them hostage? They were aware of the risks when they went out. We won’t be extorted by you.” Jace’s voice wavered, indicating fear and a lack of confidence. There was little conviction in his words.
Eva turned to motion toward Ryan and Carol, two of her people, near the roadside. They disappeared into the thick woods and escorted three survivors into the open. Ryan supported an injured older man struggling to walk on his own. Another man cradled his broken arm against his chest as he emerged from the trees, followed closely by a petite brunette woman.
Sienna cried out in relief when she saw her friends and spun to wave behind her.
“They’re not captives. We rescued them from a shambler horde. They’d all be dead or one of the risen dead if we hadn’t intervened,” said Eva.
“Is this true?” asked Jace.
“Yes,” replied the older man, staring up at them with half-lidded eyes. “They saved us.”
“Where're Carson and Marie?” asked Sienna.
“Taken by zombies before rescue arrived,” said the brunette, looking despondent.
Jace and Sienna stared grimly at one another before turning their attention back to Eva’s group.
“Come on, Jace, let them in. They’ve treated us well. We wouldn’t have made it back without their help. I told them they could rest up here for a few days. Don’t make me a liar,” said the broken-armed man in a strained voice.
“Just open the fucking door,” added the older man, leaning heavily on Ryan and struggling to stay on his feet.
Jace hesitated a moment before nodding to Sienna. They disappeared from view before the rusty gate slid aside, the metal groaning in protest. Now that Eva was closer and no longer surrounded by zombies, she noticed that all the trees and bushes had been cleared away from the community's grimy and battered high walls. They must have experienced trouble with outsiders attempting to scale the perimeter fence.
She paused momentarily at the entrance, inhaling deeply. The smell of wet earth and flowering plants filled her nose. But most of all, the scent was clean, with no stench of death. It truly was a breath of fresh air.
Riley, the youngest group member at eight, emerged from her hiding place in the woods and ran to take Eva’s hand. Her little fingers were warm inside hers. Burak shook himself as he padded up beside her, panting heavily.
“Is it safe?” she asked, squeezing Eva’s hand tighter.
“I believe so. Smells safe enough.” Eva’s shoulders and back muscles slowly relaxed as she led the girl inside.
“When do I get to fight zombies?” Riley stared up at her with a questioning look.
“Not until you’re much older, and hopefully, they’ll all be gone by then. In the meantime, I intend to keep my promise to get you safely back to your parents, so keep being a good hider, okay?”
The girl nodded and skipped beside her. They’d seen so much death; the zombie corpses no longer even fazed her. Eva didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Kids fortunately adapted well to new situations and maintained their optimism about the world, no matter how bad things got.
Several men with rifles slung over their backs stopped her group for a pat-down weapons check and backpack search. Eva had her people hide their guns nearby so as not to alarm the residents. They’d retrieve them later.
She raised her arms as a lanky, sandy-haired man ran his rough, calloused hands along the sides of her torso. He lingered a little too long with his fingers pressed against her breasts. She stood three inches taller than the guy and gave him a death stare. Her hand curled into a fist, fighting the urge to deck him.
Burak growled, but she waved him off. The man wisely retreated a few steps. Eva held back because her group needed the reprieve of a safe place for a few days. They were all worn ragged.
She passed through the gate, and the scene inside made her jaw drop. The entire community of various buildings and homes was in perfect condition, as if the zombie apocalypse had never occurred. It was entirely at odds with the devastation of the outside world. How could all this be possible? Her group had seen nothing but destruction and death since the fall. Yet, here was an oasis amidst the blasted heath of the world.
In the distance, a vast multi-story glass building gleamed in the sunlight. The blue and white Workbook logo, Palo Alto Campus, was displayed prominently on the side. She had their app on her now-defunct phone, buried deep inside her backpack. It was the top social networking tool for corporations and business professionals, and it’d been invaluable to her once upon a time.
Cell phone service was lost long ago, but she hoped it’d be restored one day to contact her husband and sons, who were still out there somewhere amidst the ruin of the zombie-infested world. Wherever they were, she prayed they were safe. Eva was determined to reunite with them.
“You need to wash up before entering. We don’t want any zombie infection getting in.” Jace pointed toward a coiled hose hanging from the side of a small shed.
“This is quite the spread. How have you been able to maintain all this?” asked Eva.
“It hasn’t been easy. I’ll let Morgan, our team leader, explain things if he so chooses. Behave yourselves. Don’t make me regret letting you in here,” said Jace, looking nervous as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“We won’t cause any problems.” Eva kept her tone calm, trying her best to reassure him.
The four-legged members paced around her group, panting heavily. Their coats ranged in color from light tawny tones to dark browns and blacks.
“Are your animals wolf hybrids?” asked Sienna.
“Of a sort,” said Eva. “They’re not dangerous to you if that’s your concern.”
One of the wolf-like animals approached Sienna, its tail wagging.
“You can pet him if you like. He won’t hurt you.”
Eva turned the tap, letting the hose water run down her blood-stained hand and arm. It came out slightly warm as it flowed between her fingers. This was as close to a bath as she’d had in a long while. She rubbed the water further up her arms to wash away the grime. It felt good to be somewhat clean again.
Burak plodded up beside them, tongue hanging out.
“Can I give him a drink?” asked Riley.
“I think he’d like that.” Eva handed the hose over, and Riley held it toward her four-legged friend. He eagerly lapped the water while Eva wiped down his muzzle and chest to rid him of the blood staining. When they finished, the hose was given to the next person so the rest of her group could wash up.
They whispered excitedly among themselves as they were led past luxury homes and condos adorned with solar panels. Wind turbines rotated on a nearby hillside. There were small community gardens and an elaborate series of interconnected ceramic cisterns and water towers for collecting rainfall.
The group stopped at a central square with a small step-down amphitheater for summer concerts. The injured were ushered to a nearby building with a red cross above the door. Jace gestured for them to sit while Sienna left, disappearing into one of the large homes, presumably to inform those inside of what had just occurred.
“We’ve elected an informal council that makes decisions for our community. They’ll want to speak with you, so stay put. I’ll have food brought for you.” Jace still looked nervous as he scanned their disheveled-looking group.
Burak and Riley sat beside Eva. She reached out and laid her arm over the girl’s shoulders. She wasn’t her daughter, but she’d grown protective of her after they joined their group on their slow trek up the California coast. It felt good to just sit and relax. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, soaking up the warm afternoon sun.
“Can you believe we’ve gotten this far north?” asked Steven, rubbing his thick chin stubble.
Eva opened her eyes, reflecting on the life they’d abandoned when zombies tipped the scales and overran cities with insurmountable numbers, and their long journey made mostly on foot after gassed-up drivable cars ran out soon after everything fell apart.
Travel hadn’t been easy. Bridges and overpasses in certain areas had been blockaded in a desperate and futile attempt to stop the zombie hordes from entering cities. Oftentimes, her group was forced into lengthy detours around impassable bridges and barricaded roadways. They’d been forced to avoid major metropolitan districts that were no longer safe to enter. All that struggle had led them to this life-altering moment.
“Yeah. We’re a long way from Los Angeles, that’s for sure. I always planned on making a trip to NorCal, but never thought it’d be under conditions like this.” Eva shook her head.
Bottles of water, beef jerky, and trail mix were passed around to her group. Riley stuffed a handful of nuts and raisins into her mouth, crunching loudly. Eva tore off a piece of dried meat and fed it to the sleepy Burak. He gazed at her with his one good eye and chuffed his thanks. Their many-mile walks each day hadn’t been easy on him, but he was a tough old man, a true survivor. He licked his jowls and closed his eyes for a much-needed nap.
A small group emerged from the nearby Craftsman-style multi-story home before ascending the stage to stand before them. A thirty-something hipster type stepped forward, holding the hand of a young red-haired girl. Riley waved at her, but she just turned away, burying her face in her father’s pant leg.
“I’m Morgan Durant. We thank you for getting our people home safely. As per your agreement with them, we’ll provide you with some food. You can rest for a day, but we must ask that you leave after that. Community resources are stretched thin just caring for our own.”
“We can assist your community and contribute to improving life here. All of us are willing to work hard and pull our weight,” offered Eva, speaking for her people.
On stage, an Asian woman with gray hair sprinkled through her long, dark hair spoke next. “I’m Celia Ho. I’m in charge of coordinating the Campus resources. We could possibly take in those who have skills we need, but not all of you.”
Eva shook her head. “No. We’re a group—a family. All or nothing.” She would not be forced to separate them. They only had each other now, and they’d been through too much. Together, the strong survive.
A younger blond-haired man with a nose ring snorted. “You’re in no position to make demands like that.”
Eva smiled, knowing she had a strong hand to play. “Your little sanctuary here is in danger. We’ve been watching this enclave for the past week. We’re aware of the other faction that’s threatening you and extorting you for food. We can help fight back against them; get them out of your hair for good.”
The group on stage shifted uncomfortably at her revelation. “You’ve been spying on us?” said Morgan, tension thick in his voice.
Eva sensed his uneasiness and knew she needed to work quickly to calm his fears. “We always observe groups before joining them to ensure it’s safe.”
“So what happened to these other groups?”
“Some were killed or scattered by zombie attacks. Others fell apart due to infighting. Most people aren’t strong enough to live on the edge like this, and unending stress does strange things to people. We’ve struggled to keep things together ourselves,” explained Eva.
“How do you intend to help us with Moss’s gang?” Morgan crossed his arms, waiting to see what she had to offer.
“We’ve been monitoring them too. They found an abandoned semi in a construction yard. It’s not running, but they’re searching the surrounding areas for parts. We overheard that they only need a couple more things, then they intend to use the truck to smash through the front gate and take this place by force.”
All the residents began talking at once, fearful about Eva’s dire news. Morgan held his hand up to silence them.
“How are you going to stop them? Sienna said you’re immune to zombie bites; how is this possible? Has a cure been found?” Desperation and hope filled his voice.
Now came the hard part Eva was dreading. Her stomach clenched, and her mouth went dry just thinking of what she was about to reveal. Their group had all agreed it was time to come out to the humans if they were going to survive. Every other ragtag community they had joined ultimately failed because they had chosen to keep their secret. They all wanted a safe place to live and thrive, and couldn’t do so without the help of others.
She rose to stand before the council, squaring her shoulders but keeping a relaxed stance. She didn’t want to intimidate them or trigger any cause for panic.
“No cure that I’m aware of. Listen, this will be hard to accept, but as you know, everything's been turned upside down. Things you never thought could happen, like the dead rising and walking around, are possible. The world’s a much stranger place than you realize.”
“What are you getting at?” Morgan’s brow furrowed in a puzzled look.
Eva sighed at the secret that was so hard to give up. She’d mentally prepared for this moment, but butterflies still thumped wildly in her stomach. All of the strict discretion her kind practiced changed forever at this moment. Would this be a positive step forward for everyone? All things considered, could it really get any worse?
Eva hated the uncertainty and the ingrained fear of revealing the truth. Now was not the time for doubt.
“We’re werewolves.” The words were heavy on her tongue, but she’d gotten them out. She paused, looking at the silent council members, who all scoffed and rolled their eyes at her.
Casey stepped beside her, showing a united front. “We weres are powerful and tough in a fight. So we’ll take this semi out, and in exchange, you’ll allow us to stay here and live our lives.”
Morgan chuckled and pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at Eva again. “Get the fuck outta here. Do we look stupid?” His face then turned serious. “Besides, we’re setting the conditions, not you.”
Eva touched Casey’s arm, indicating that he should hold off. Morgan’s response was expected, and they’d prepared for this. “Seeing is believing. Get ready for an eyeful.”
She signaled to two of her four-legged weres, who grunted and began their change. Muscles elongated, and bones rearranged themselves with grotesque popping sounds. They groaned painfully as their bodies contorted from wolfen to human form. Thick fur receded until two naked men rose from all fours to stand before them. Jason had a slim, athletic build, and Luis was short with a stocky, solid frame.
All the residents gasped and backed away, wide-eyed in fear—some looked as though they wanted to run. Morgan’s daughter screeched, her body shaking as she wrapped her arms tighter around her father’s leg.
“It’s okay. None of us will hurt you.” Eva held her arms out, looking around at the scared residents. She signaled to her pack mates to remain still and calm so as not to scare them further.
The sharp smell of the resident's fright permeated the air, triggering her predator drive. She tamped down on her inner wolf to calm her instinct for the hunt. Eva knew this display wouldn’t be easy for them, but it was the only way to show they were telling the truth.
“What the ever-loving fuck?! First zombies, and now fucking werewolves? How is this shit happening in the world all of a sudden?” Morgan’s skin had gone deathly white.
Eva exhaled deeply to relieve her tension; the toughest part was over. “I have no idea how zombies came to be, but werewolves have lived covertly among human society going back to the dawn of civilization. Before the world fell apart, I worked for an advertising firm and did PR.”
She pointed at the transformed werewolves, digging through backpacks for their clothes, and added, “Jason’s a paramedic, and Luis was a construction manager.”
“Why secretly? Why were you hiding among us? Why come out now?” asked Celia in a harsh tone.
Eva knew she was losing the council by their uneasiness and alarm; they barely managed to hold their panic in check. She needed to reassure them and convince them to go along with the plan by showing them they were no threat. It was time for some well-practiced diplomacy. She wasn’t a top PR exec for nothing; she could win them over to her side.
“Our numbers have always been small, so we integrated ourselves among humans because it was easier to hide in plain sight. While we can sustain ourselves in the wild, it’s not much fun. We lived comfortably in a well-organized society, just like you, and want that again. All of us desire to live as normal a life as possible in this messed-up world. What you’ve been able to maintain here is amazing. We can all work together as we always have to improve our chances of survival.”
“My mind’s fucking blown,” said Morgan, wide-eyed and shaking his head.
“I know it’s hard to accept. We debated long and hard about coming out to you, but felt there wasn’t any other option. Continuing to keep our secret seems a little pointless now. You have a big problem looming on the horizon; let’s work together to develop a plan to deal with it. This place is too important to lose to lowlifes like Moss’s gang. I’d like to discuss this further in private, if you’ll allow my pack to use your accommodations. We’ve had a long, hard journey and just need some rest.” Eva sensed she had almost convinced them.
“How do we know you won’t kill us all in our sleep?” asked Celia.
The tension that had been easing ramped up again among the residents. Eva sighed to cover her frustration at Celia torpedoing her progress with the council.
“It’s not our way. How many news reports have you ever seen about werewolves attacking humans? None, right? You didn’t know we really existed until now because we’ve kept to ourselves. We’ve lived peacefully among humankind for centuries and don’t intend on changing that now. We helped bring your people home and will continue to help your community if you let us stay.”
Morgan looked around at his council members to see if they had any objections. The men and women stared at Eva with agitation and uncertainty, but stayed silent. This fear of the other is why weres had kept their secret for so long. Humans have always sought to destroy what they most feared.
“Cam, show them to the dorms and put guards on the entrance. We need a break to absorb all this and discuss it,” he said to the blond-haired man with a nose ring.
He opened his mouth to object, but Morgan gave him a stern look that told him he didn’t want any arguments.
Relief flooded through Eva. She’d secured a safe space for her pack for at least a few days where they could relax and not worry about being constantly on alert for zombies. After they rested, she’d worry about the other part of their plan for taking out the rival group.
Cam sighed, shoulders slumped, before turning to Eva’s group. “Come on. Follow me.”
Copyright © 2025 by L.A. Stinnett