“Hey, dead weight.”

The first thing that greeted me early the next morning was the pretty woman who called Taylor red hair. I guess she like to give people nickname.

“Um… Hi?” How am I supposed to reply a greeting of someone who called me with an insulting nickname?

“Where’s that good looking red hair go?” Her eyes glancing left and right restlessly.

“Joe dragged him to the upper floor. Said they would be looking for any equipment that could be used.”

“Oh. Is that so. Then no use talking to you then.”

Finally, I could breathe a sigh of relief as she strode away. Those eyes of her. I knew what it mean even when I can’t read her mind. Now I know, she looked down on me not only because I proved to be useless, but also due to my relationship with Taylor.

I am not particularly comfortable with the idea of someone else having a crush on my partner, but at the same time I was also glad. Because that mean, Taylor had people who does care about him. People who took a liking on him despite everything.

Poof. “Eve.”

It amazed me how I was able to get used to the sudden hug from other. Especially back hug. Well, only the two of them would does that so far. Although vague, but I does remembered being sensitive to human touch and hated any skin contact with other human.

Ruffling through his hair as I nudged my the back of my head on his neck, I said, “do you find everything you need?”

“Um. I do. But Eve… she said,” pointing toward Layla, “someone was troubling you while I’m not here. Who was it?”

“Ha ha. Not at all. She was just asking me your whereabouts.”

“Is that all? Truly?”

“Yes. That was all. You want me to swear?”

“No. Don’t. I believed in you. But, if anyone give you trouble. Don’t ever hold back, got it? My Eve can do anything she wanted.”

Look. How could I not be attracted to such person? He would always put me first. That also made me want to do everything I could for him. But, even though I had lived for so long, I still do not know what should I do.

Bang! Bang! Growl~

The ground was shaking. Trembling as the zombies kept on thrashing the main door and by the window. The echos of their howling caused a quake inside the building.

Everyone was taken by surprise. Thump! Thump! Thump! Their heartbeat raced with time.

“The zombies!” Joe shouted. “They’re coming in!”

“What?!” Lee exclaimed with extreme confusion on his face.

Even the always calm Taylor jolted at the warning. Anyone would. The zombies they had met so far does not have any intelligence and was passive unless they saw human.

At this stage, they still uninformed of the existences of a higher level zombies. Second generation zombies. That was how they would be classified in the future.

The second generation was far more aggressive, and had a bit of intelligence in them. Unlike the first generation that could only used their smelling sense at night, the second generation could even used it during the day. Even more effectively at that.

Second generation zombies were more attracted to the superhuman because of the core inside of them. Not the inferior grade like the first generation zombies had, but a high grade core inside of every superhuman.

Second generation zombies could be either the prey or the hunter. And that what made them more dangerous than the first generation.

I do not knew how should I unveiled the information this time, but I knew it won’t hurt even if it’s a bit later. Because no one would be silly enough to throw their life away. Or so I thought.

“Eve.”

I look up toward Taylor, “yes?”

Clenching his fist, furrowing his eyebrows, and his jaw tighten. He said, “go into your space.”

His stern voice and his strait-laced face made me realized one thing. They knew the severity of the situation in front of them. There was just too many of them.

Their experience so far was not enough for them to gain the confidence of winning. They must had thought they were in a pickle. How far accustomed was they with their power? That I do not knew. I didn’t took that into account.

A miscalculation. I really should just gave them all the point anyway. Albeit fearing I might be caught under suspicion.

“Taylor.”

“Go.”

“Listen.” I tugged his arm. Although he didn’t budged even a bit, he stared down on me, almost looking like pitiful puppy. “Unleashed your power. That would be enough to defeat all of them. Destroy the core.”

“I will. Now could you go?”

“No.”

“Wha—”

“I will stay here. I will wait for you. To bring me back. To our home. I know you will keep me safe. So you need to be safe. I won’t go anywhere without you.”

“What do you know?” Layla intercepted. Her face was one with determination. To win.

“Those outside were far more aggressive than the previous one you had fought before. That because, this group sought for your core. Superhuman core. These core were seen as delicacy for them. Unlike the zombies core that mostly planted in their brain, super human’s core are here,” I explained, placing my palm on my chest, where the heart beat.

She rolled her eyes, somewhat annoyed. “Ah. So it’s either kill them or be eaten. Being seen as a gourmet in the eyes of those things definitely not pleasant at all.”

“And be careful, these group of zombies were far more resilient than before. They had more awareness and able to protect their core.”

“Ugh. They’re already troublesome enough without an ounce of intelligence, now they become even more troublesome,” she groaned, palming her face.

“I don’t know why you guys have not used your power so far, but only by utilizing your abilities to the fullest, will you gained the capabilities to fight those outside and even stronger.”

“What you said does make sense, Miss Nelson. But, most of us have never once unleashed what within us. It’s still feel too unfamiliar,” Lee interrupted.

“If you never once used it before, now would be the perfect time to test it. Sense it. Sense the core within your heart. Let it flow freely through your vein and be part of you. Don’t you want to see what you are capable of?”