Pearl was renamed Tunglskin but despite that some kept saying that leopard never changes its spots. Those who have traveled there previously were not so trusting. Myself included. As the empress I was requested to go there and open the city for the place to be repopulated. I went there and gave a speech in our language and cut the darn ribbon and was awarded the key to the city and I waved my hand. A werewolf named Byron opened the gates. Cars came in the thousands. New job openings for humans means they are less likely to harass us. I stayed for an hour or as Roland describes as the time it would take him to wade just across the street in a desolate city while evading the constant threat of the zombie hoard during the height of the apocalypse. I reminded him that we are in a zombie apocalypse right now. If he looks outside those huge walls he will see those things roaming around scrounging for food. He countered, "I meant during the time I was human and vulnerable. Don't forget I was dragging my family through the alleyways and other places trying to navigate my way to the safest place. One night sleeping on the roof of a pharmacy. The next day we were sleeping on the floor of a bus. One night we didn't sleep at all. The only thing we did was walk till fatigue took over." The others concurred recalling their traumatic experiences with these munchers till I came into the picture. I asked to see it since I had only experienced it for a brief moment with my friends eons ago. The others were skeptical but I kept asking repeatedly as we hopped on the helix.
We took our seats and I pleaded so Roland pursed his lips before showing me. The memory was four months before he enlisted in the army and served in exchange for the safety of his family. He was hiding behind a busted Corolla hatchback. A zombie was seen limping lazily dragging its broken leg as he tried to make his way to find his next meal. He waited till the right moment and then he, his two brothers and his baby sister slowly walked to an alleyway to find out it was a dead end. So they hid behind a dumpster and looked to see if the coast was clear. They knew that they could walk back to the street and bump into more zombies roaming. Sure enough few were heading in both directions. So he waits for an hour before the path clears and he and his family walk till they reach a mall. Everyone took turns taking baths while others stood guard. After the shower they filled their canteens with water. Then they raided the place for anything useful. A few canned goods, a hunting knife, a few dozen bullets, some batteries, a walkie talkie, a fishing rod and line and a change of clothes.
The next stop was the garage looking for a working car that had a decent amount of gas to take them to the woods. The cars were left with the doors open. Some had the keys in the ignition. But mostly someone had syphoned the gas. So he kept one eye out for any surprise zombie attacks while trying to locate a decent working car. He found one and everyone boarded. They knew the moment they turned the ignition these chompers would run to eat them. Thankfully the car worked and they drove off. Along the way he saw a woman waving her hand asking him to stop the car. He ignored her and drove. His brother noticed a glint from one of the high rises. He told him and immediately he turned. Gunfire was heard and the bullet rained down but missed the car by a few inches.
Roland decided he had shown enough and took his seat by the radar and I extended my shield and senses to assist. Oleg chuckled as he rested his head on my lap. The ride was uncomfortable so I apologized profusely to Roland and he smiled, "No need to apologize to me. You rescued me so I am grateful" I wanted him to elaborate so he pressed his hand on mine and I got to see it. An old man in a military uniform called, "Corporal Orlando! It is go time." Roland walked out to see that I was sitting down to watch the sun rise and asked the guys who were fit to fight to come with me to take down the zombie menace. The vampires couldn't during the daylight hours so they stayed indoors. The werewolves came with me. Roland, Oleg, Igor along with a few other soldiers volunteered. When we got out we saw that the zombies were gone so I had to fly up in the air to make sure the zombies would come out of hiding. I saw them clawing at a parking lot that had a crack. They were trying to dig their way to the other side. I used the radio to inform the soldiers and Igor used sniper rounds to take them out. After Oleg a grenade was used to blow them up. Roland used thermal imaging on drones to track the rest of the zombies.
We found the next batch near a diner. They were running in the direction of a car crash. Igor reported that I got there first and helped the family get out. We managed to hide when those things came. The zombies were not very happy to see that they were too late. I signaled the family to be very quiet since these things are attracted to sound. They kept their mouths shut as we tried to move slowly. I was concentrating as I stared at the zombies and tried to find a safe route. We hid behind cars and other buildings till we reached the post where Roland and his men with guns were waiting. As soon as we got past them the kids started to cry. The parents tried to soothe them as Oleg gave the orders to his fellow soldiers to shoot down the menace that was attracted to the kid's screams.
The soldiers moved in my direction as I got the family to safety. Oleg and Igor were arguing while Roland was on Comms demanding air support or additional ground troops. He was an earful of excuses when he heard me scream. Roland heard a thud and looked to see the zombies fell to the floor writhing in extreme pain. Igor looked at me and gave me a thumbs up. I disappeared for a moment soon the radio crackled to life saying something about a group of survivors walking in.
At sunset the vampires joined us too. Oleg explored the city using thermal imaging. Igor managed to find out that their radar was acting weird. I advised them.to shut it off because it is attracting these chompers. They were very impressed. Oleg noticed some who were neither human nor nocturnal. After a few minutes of inquiry he discovered they are called the humanized ones. All were staring at me angrily. They had to use all sorts of equipment while I used none of those things. I explained that I can whisper and my kind could hear me crystal clear. Which meant we didn't need any sort of radio. Oleg was impressed with this type of comms. Roland said he wanted to get his hands on that. Igor gave a grunt.
I snapped out of the memory and said, "Wait a minute. Your name is Orlando. But why did you let me think your name is Roland." He shrugged, "New life new name" I looked down at my husband and he gave me a wink. I happily pat him on the head. Roland decided to continue. Oleg subtly told him to shut up but he ignored as he continues to show me a few other memories. Including the day he and the others were rescued from the Indian scientist after their gruesome transformation. The moment Oleg quietly snuck up behind me and pushed me off the high wall as I was observing the zombies down below. Roland asked him if he had left his brain matter in his tent. Oleg shrugged, "She needed the push" but changed his mind the moment I shot up and I hovered over them with the look of absolute bloody murder. Roland would have laughed had it not been for my angry eyes. The next memory was when these three renounced the army and joined the nocturnals. The few moments they fought side by side with us nocturnals convinced them that they had seen real brotherhood. Igor was enjoying dinner as his new superior a werewolf named Corvus told him and the others that they are assigned as my bodyguards. Oleg fell off his chair. Roland laughed his ass off. Igor choked on his dinner. I promised him, "Just you wait I will get you for shoving me off that wall. Are listening to me buster. Yup! sooner or later. I am going to get you" Oleg chuckled, "Ready and waiting dearest"