For the first time in hours, the world was calm.Too calm.
Omega looked around nervously. "Guys… why is it so quiet? Like horror-movie quiet."
Pluto tugged at Tim's sleeve. "Let's go. Before something insane happens again."
Tim wiped his face with the sleeve of Luna's hoodie. "Nothing else can happen. I'm done. I'm spiritually, emotionally, mentally done. The universe can't possibly...."
A distant groan echoed.
Omega whispered, "Tim… why would you say that out loud…?"
Tim blinked. "Say wha...."
Something tackled him from behind.
A blur.A snarl.A rotting hand grabbing Luna's hoodie.
"TIM!" Pluto screamed.
Tim hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him. He twisted, trying to push it off, but this zombie was FAST.....faster than anything they'd seen earlier.
It sank its teeth straight into his shoulder.
Tim's scream tore through the bridge like glass shattering.
"NO NO NO !!! TIM!!" Pluto shrieked, sprinting toward him.
Omega lunged too, but the zombie was already dragging Tim backwards, snarling like it had been starved for weeks.
Pluto grabbed Tim's ankle. "TIM HOLD ON..."
Tim's fingers clawed at the dirt. "PLUTO DON'T LET GO....DON'T YOU DARE.."
Omega grabbed Pluto's hoodie, pulling him back before he got bitten too.
" DON'T LET GO OF ME...DON'T....TIM!!!" Pluto screamed.
But it was too late.
The zombie yanked Tim away.
Tim's eyes widened as the infection hit him fast....his pupils dilating, veins darkening, skin paling.
"N-no… guys…?"His voice cracked.His hand reached out again, trembling.
Pluto's tears spilled instantly. "TIM, NO...PLEASE...NOT YOU TOO!!!"
Tim's breath shuddered.His hand dropped.
His body twisted once....then went still.
A second later, his fingers twitched.
Omega sucked in a sharp breath. "Pluto… step back. The infection… it's too fast."
"SHUT UP OMEGA!!" Pluto screamed.He fell to his knees."TIM… don't do this… don't leave too…"
But Tim didn't answer.
His head snapped upward with an unnatural jerk.His eyes were no longer red from crying.They were empty.Glass-like.Dead.
The hoodie ; Luna's hoodie, hung loosely on the zombified shoulders.
Tim stood up slowly, spine cracking, posture stiff like a puppet.
Omega whispered, "Oh no… oh no no no.....he turned."
Pluto's hands shook. "Tim… can… can you hear me? Please...."
Zombie Tim stared at him.
Then gave a low, guttural growl.
Omega grabbed Pluto's wrist before he ran forward. "PLUTO STOP !! HE'LL BITE YOU..."
Pluto tore his arm free. "I DON'T CARE !THAT'S TIM!"
Tim didn't attack them.Not yet.He just… staggered backward.Like even as a zombie, a part of him recognised them.
And then....
Two silhouettes appeared from behind the ruins.
An entire cluster of zombies moved toward him.
Tim didn't resist.
He joined them.
Pluto's sob cracked in half. "No… no no NO...TIM!!! COME BACK ! TIM....TIM... !!!"
"Tim..."He said softer..."Don't leave me...please...please"
Tim didn't turn around.
He walked with the horde, Luna's pink hoodie still on him, the sleeves dragging slightly in the dirt.
Omega put a shaky hand on Pluto's shoulder. "We'll get him back. You got me back… we can save Tim too."
Pluto bit his lip hard, fists trembling."I'm not losing him, too," he whispered. "I don't care if I have to fight the entire zombie army. I'm bringing him back."
The horde vanished into the shadows under the broken highway.
Leaving Pluto and Omega alone.Broken.Terrified.Determined.
Zombie Tim turned his head slightly....like he could still hear Pluto calling his name.