C16 The Sanitary Pad and Zombies!!(1)
As dawn broke the next day, Willett was already on his bike, eager to leave the zombie-infested area behind him.
Pedaling his electric scooter toward Luvern's place, he found the streets increasingly swarming with zombies, forcing him to take the less-traveled paths. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.
As he was about to exit an alley and press on, a dark figure lunged at him from the shadows.
"Thud!"
Willett's scooter crashed into the figure, sending it tumbling through the air. Startled, he quickly steadied his vehicle and drew his long knife, approaching the fallen shadow with caution.
"Huh?"
To his astonishment, the figure sprawled on the ground wasn't a zombie but a girl dressed in black sportswear. She lay there, unmoving, and had it not been for the sight of her pale hands, Willett might have mistaken her for one of the undead and struck her down.
"Wake up, beauty! Wake up!" he urged, gently lifting the girl and giving her a shake. As he did so, he took a closer look at her face and was taken aback.
"Janet?"
Staring in disbelief, Willett recognized the familiar face of his high school's belle. He had last seen her at a reunion two years prior and had lost touch since. What were the odds of running into her in such chaos?
"This is just my luck. She's going to give me an earful when she wakes up," Willett muttered, massaging his temples with a groan.
Janet had been his class monitor in high school, and they had shared a desk for three years. Despite her gentle demeanor, Willett knew all too well how formidable she could be. He had endured his fair share of her antics during those years, even dubbing her "Beastkin" for her beauty on the outside and beastly spirit within. His classmates had envied his close rapport with the school belle, oblivious to the torment he faced. Sighing, he could only blame her uncanny ability to hide her true colors.
"Roar!"
Willett was nursing a headache, pondering how to wake the woman up to offer a proper apology, when a fierce roar echoed from nearby. He turned his head and jumped in shock.
"Oh my God!"
Behind him, an endless sea of corpses was shambling towards him. There was no question about it; the woman had caused this catastrophe.
"My head hurts! I'm always unlucky when I'm around you!"
Willett grumbled under his breath. He then scooped up Janet's shapely body, mounted the electric scooter, and sped off in the correct direction.
"I can't believe how well she's maintained her figure over the years!"
Driving along, he felt the warmth and softness of the woman in his arms. Willett couldn't help but glance sideways. He gazed down at Janet's delicate and pale face, inhaling her subtle scent, and mused aloud, "I wonder where she's been hiding these past two months. She's so clean... not a hint of any foul odor."
He inhaled deeply and chuckled lewdly, "I've heard she's never had a boyfriend. Could this be the legendary scent of a maiden...?"
"Does it smell good?"
A clear voice rang in Willett's ear.
"Yes, yes, it's fragrant... Uh, you're awake?"
Caught off guard and drenched in a cold sweat, Willett stammered.
"Why are you nervous? Big sister is asking if it smells good, right?"
The beauty in his arms lifted her bright eyes and asked with a teasing smile.
Feeling the growing hostility from the woman in his embrace, Willett experienced a sense of dread akin to facing an L-shaped zombie. Truth be told, he'd rather confront an L-shaped zombie than the incensed beauty about to erupt in his arms.
Willett wiped the sweat from his brow and was about to explain himself to Janet when his expression turned grave. He eyed the encroaching zombies and frowned, "We're in trouble now!"
A horde of zombies had also emerged at the mouth of the alley, forcing him to halt. Glancing back, he saw the zombies from behind closing in, sealing off their escape route.
"Ah!"
Janet, who had been ready to continue her playful jabs at Willett, suddenly became aware of the perilous situation. She let out a terrified scream and buried her head in Willett's chest like an ostrich, too frightened to look around.
Feeling the astonishing softness and warmth in his embrace, Willett gently patted Janet's shoulder, signaling her not to be afraid. He then dismounted the electric scooter and lifted Janet into his arms.
"Don't be scared! Hold on to me tightly!"
As Willett felt Janet's grip around him tighten, he started to devise an escape plan. On his own, he could have easily grabbed a weapon and fought his way out, but with Janet clinging to him, he wasn't confident he could ensure her safety from the zombies during their escape. The encroaching zombies from both sides and the lack of hiding spots in the narrow alley compounded his headache.
"Of course!"
Surveying the alley, barely a meter wide, an idea struck Willett. He secured Janet and himself even more tightly with the rope he had on the electric scooter. Then, with a powerful leap, he stepped off the scooter, pushing against the alley walls with his feet and bracing with his hands, ready to climb upwards.
"Ah!"
Completely unaware of what was happening, Janet, with her head buried in his chest, only felt herself being propelled into the air with Willett, prompting another involuntary scream.
"Cut it out!"
Startled by her scream, Willett's hands shook, nearly causing him to plummet. Glancing down at the sea of corpses below, he let out an angry shout.
Suddenly, all was quiet.
Janet, sensing the gravity of their predicament, fell silent, pressing her head even more firmly against Willett's chest, motionless.
"Panting heavily, Willett finally stood atop the roof, a temporary sanctuary. He glanced at Janet, who still seemed oblivious to their safety, clinging to him as if she were an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
"Beastkin, if you don't let go soon, I might suffocate! Do you find the comfort of my embrace that irresistible?" Willett teased as he loosened the rope binding them.
"Mm?"