I Let the Apocalypse Do the Work

Synopsis

That was the last thing Mona felt before she died: pain. Bone-deep, soul-crushing pain. Her precious little brother, Baldwin—the one she'd always been so proud of—was holding a butcher knife, trembling as he traced it across her thigh. And her own parents, the ones who always called her “the pillar of this family," were pinning her arms down. Her mother's voice was hoarse. “Mona, just bear with it. Baldwin hasn't eaten in three days. It's just a piece of meat. You're strong—you'll survive." Mona wanted to scream, but her throat was too dry. Outside, the freezing cold and the snarling of zombies. Inside, her own flesh and blood whispering like monsters. The blade came down. Blood sprayed. She watched her brother greedily swallow down her flesh, and the light in her eyes slowly went out. When she opened her eyes again, cicadas were buzzing outside and the summer sun was blazing. Her mother walked in carrying a plate of cut fruit, beaming from ear to ear. “Mona, about that down payment for your brother's house, aren't you going to take out your housing fund?" Mona stared at the familiar face, a cold smile slowly curving her lips.