"Vivian, you probably haven't had any fruit in a long time, have you? Here, I picked an apple for you. Try it." Yasin took an apple from his pocket and handed it to Vivian Sinclair.
Although this woman had no blood relation to him, and they shouldn't have had any connection before, Yasin couldn't shake the strange feeling in his heart.
Vivian's face lit up with a radiant smile, but she hesitated and pushed the apple back toward Yasin.
"You eat it. I just had some bread and crackers, so I'm not hungry. You've just come back after being busy; you need to replenish your energy."
"I have another one." Yasin pulled out a second apple from his pocket and smiled.
"There are plenty of them on that tree. Enough to last us at least ten days."
"Alright then…" Vivian blushed as she accepted the apple, taking a small bite. The sweet taste of the fruit mirrored the sweetness in her heart.
At this moment, looking at the man before her, Vivian felt an immense sense of contentment. This feeling was almost like… falling in love.
Thinking about how she no longer had to endure loneliness, despair, and hopelessly hide in the kitchen, waiting for death, she had the sudden urge to throw herself into Yasin's arms and shower him with kisses.
Seeing Vivian's shy expression, Yasin felt his heart stir.
A stunning woman like her, acting so coy and adorable in front of him—how could he not be moved?
But as soon as his thoughts drifted in that direction, a strange unease crept up inside him, almost like a sense of guilt. He couldn't shake the feeling that something about this situation was… unnatural.
Shaking off his impulsive urges, Yasin forced himself to focus on the matter at hand.
"Vivian, is it possible to connect the power room's electricity to the front gate and the surrounding security cameras?"
Right now, he needed to take care of the most important issue. The mansion's front gate was still open, and any loud noise inside could attract a horde of zombies. The first priority was figuring out how to close it.
"Yes! The power room is an emergency backup generator, and the gate and security cameras are part of the defense system. They should be the first things prioritized for electricity. But something seems to be wrong with the system—aside from the second floor, the power has been cut off everywhere else. Luckily, that's why I've been able to conserve electricity for so long."
Vivian spoke with confidence.
"Do you know where the power room is?" Yasin's eyes lit up as he pressed further.
"I'm not entirely sure—I've only been here a few days. But I suspect it should be in the electrical room on the first floor."
Vivian pointed toward a securely locked iron door not far away. "That's the electrical room!"
"Great."
Yasin nodded in satisfaction and turned to Vivian.
"Vivian, go back to the kitchen and rest for a bit. I'll check it out and see if I can restore power to the defense systems. If I can, I'll be able to completely shut the front gate. Then, once I've cleared out the zombies in the mansion, this place… this place can be our home."
"Our home…" Vivian murmured, her face turning red as she turned her head away shyly.
"Ahem…" Yasin realized his words had sounded a bit too intimate and quickly coughed to cover his awkwardness.
"Just go back inside for now. I've cleared out the zombies in the backyard, but this mansion is huge—there could still be some hiding somewhere."
"You… you be careful! If it's too dangerous, don't take any risks! I think the kitchen and the backyard are already safe enough…" Vivian looked at Yasin with concern before reluctantly heading back into the kitchen.
This woman was truly bewitching!
As Yasin watched Vivian sway her curvaceous figure, her hips moving enticingly as she walked away, he couldn't help but swallow hard, forcing down the rising temptation in his heart.
Once Vivian had disappeared behind the door, Yasin finally pulled out his sword and cautiously approached the iron door.
Below the second-floor kitchen was another kitchen. Through the glass window, Yasin could see several zombies aimlessly wandering inside—some dressed as chefs, others in suits.
He counted at least seven zombies within his field of vision.
The kitchen's equipment was still intact. Yasin even spotted a pot still filled with food, though the floor and countertops were littered with rotten vegetables and broken dishes.
It had already been a month since the apocalypse began, and judging by the state of the first-floor kitchen, the power had been out for a long time. Any remaining food was likely spoiled, which Yasin found to be a pity.
Moving forward, Yasin peered through the blood-smeared glass into the kitchen and adjoining dining room—empty. The dining room's front door hung open, a few rotting corpses sprawled on the floor.
A lower-level room had no windows, just a sealed security door. Without knowing what lay behind it, Yasin wasn't reckless enough to barge in. Pressing his ear to the metal, he caught faint skittering sounds—like rats—and an occasional, barely audible squeak.
Approaching the power room's steel door, Yasin deliberately tapped it lightly, then listened closely.
For a long moment, nothing. Just the intermittent hum of machinery—likely the generator cycling on and off.
Once sure it was safe, Yasin pulled out the electric saw, yanked the starter cord, and revved it toward the door's lock for a brutal dismantling.
The power tool was effective but loud. The engine's roar and grinding blade would draw every zombie within 300 meters.
As he carved through the lock, Yasin mentally noted the need for a quieter method. This was efficient but too conspicuous.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
GROWL!—HISSS!—
From upstairs and the kitchen, zombies pounded against doors and windows, stirred into frenzy. The wrought-iron gate separating the courtyards rattled under their assault.
CLUNK!
The lock gave way—just as the power room door burst outward. A small, agile figure lunged at Yasin, claws slashing, teeth bared.
It moved fast—faster than any zombie. Too fast to dodge.
ZZZZZZZT!
Reacting on instinct, Yasin swung the saw.
Flesh tore. The creature shrieked as the blade ripped from its cheek down to its chest, nearly decapitating it. Its head lolled grotesquely to one side.
Yasin killed the saw, drew his sword, and backed up, eyes locked on the twitching abomination and the dark room beyond. Certain no other threats lurked, he finished the job—a clean chop severing its spine.
"What the hell is this thing?"
Yasin stripped off his blood-soaked shirt, wiping gore from his face and hair, then knelt to examine the bizarre corpse.
Hairless. Naked. Pale blue skin, almost alien. Standing barely 4'6", its proportions were off—oversized crimson eyes, a distended torso, and, most unnerving, enormous blue-tinged breasts. Spreading its legs revealed a human-like vulva.
"A female... zombie?"
But unlike the rotting undead, this thing's flesh wasn't putrid. Its blood—dark blue—smelled faintly metallic, almost... sweet. A strange, musky perfume clung to it.
"This isn't a zombie. It's something else."
The biggest difference? It had ambushed him. This thing hid. Waited. Zombies didn't strategize.
This was intelligent.
Grimacing, Yasin gripped his sword tighter and stepped into the power room. He had to be sure no more of these things lurked inside.
This discovery changed everything.
If these creatures were evolving... the apocalypse just got much deadlier.