Chapter 2
"Bryan, you were lying to Eden, weren't you?" Claudia pressed.
Bryan shoved her aside and yelled at the door, "Eden, stop driving a wedge between us. It was just a stopgap measure. Open the door."
"No," I shot back.
"What will it take for you to open the door?" Bryan demanded.
"I wouldn't open it no matter what," I said, standing up and stretching. "Oh, and just a heads-up. I checked the security cameras. Esther Lane from downstairs has turned into a zombie. She used to love hanging around the hallway. With all this noise, she'll be here any minute."
As soon as I finished speaking, a hoarse roar echoed from deep in the hallway.
It was the kind of sound that made people's skin crawl. It sounded gutteral, and also like a beast's growl.
Bryan and Claudia both shuddered.
"Eden!" Bryan shouted, his voice full of rage. "I'm counting to three. If you don't open this door, when I get in, I'll make you pay. You'll wish you'd never messed with me.
"One. Two..."
I walked up to the entryway, listening as Bryan's furious countdown echoed through the thick barrier.
How amusing.
In my previous life, I'd softened and opened the door.
He'd said the same thing back then, "Eden, you're so good to me. I knew you couldn't abandon me."
Then he hauled Claudia onto the couch and ordered me to make something hot to drink for her, since Claudia had been caught in the rain.
Later, when the zombies broke in, he threw me right into the zombie swarm. He grabbed Claudia and ran into the bedroom, locking the door behind them.
As the zombies tore into me, I could still hear Bryan's voice through the door as he comforted Claudia, "Don't be scared. She'll keep them busy for a bit."
"Three!" Bryan roared and slammed himself against the door again.
Of course, it was useless.
In despair, he started kicking and pounding on the door, spitting out the filthiest curses he could think of.
"Eden, you bitch. You'll never die in peace. Wait, I remember now; I have a spare key." He frantically rummaged through his pockets.
I leaned against the door and sneered, "Go ahead, take your time. Oh, and by the way, when I changed the locks the day before, I upgraded to a wafer lock. The old key belongs in the trash."
Bryan's hand went still.
He hurled his keys onto the floor.
He said, "No way. I can't believe you're this cold. We were together for three years—"
I retorted, "Three years? For three years, you freeloaded off me. Even your underwear was on me. You call that love? That was me doing charity work."
Just then, a loud boom echoed through the hallway as the fire door at the other end was forced open a crack.
A grayish hand reached through the gap, its nails black and dripping with dark blood.
Claudia let out a terrified scream and went limp, crumpling to the floor.
She shrieked, "They're here. They're coming!"
Bryan was freaking out. He looked around and noticed the door across the hall looked like one of those old wooden types.
"Smash that door. Hurry!" Bryan yanked Claudia and bolted over.
An elderly couple lived across the hall. They were pretty decent folks.
Bryan grabbed the fire extinguisher and started bashing the neighbors' door with it.
"Open up. Please, open the door. Help us!" Bryan yelled.
A terrified old lady called out from inside, "W-who is it? What's happening out there?"
"It's the police. We're here to save you. Open up," Bryan lied without a second thought.
My brow furrowed.
In my previous life, that old couple didn't survive either. It wasn't because of zombies, but because they starved to death.
I grabbed the intercom, turned the volume up to max, and yelled out, "Richard, don't open the door. They're lying. There are killers outside. Don't open up!"
My warning rang out, sharp and clear.
Richard Sawyer was about to open the door, but my words stopped him in his tracks. He yelled back through the door, "Eden? Are you saying they're dangerous?"
"Yes! They've got weapons and they're trying to break in. They tried to kill me. Don't open the door, no matter what," I answered.
Bryan shook with rage. He spun around and shouted into the security camera, "Eden, you heartless bitch. Are you seriously trying to get us killed?"
I didn't meant for them to survive. So what if they died because of me?
Bang! Bang!
The fire door at the entrance to the corridor was slammed wide open.
Several shambling figures forced their way into the corridor.
They were the first-floor security guard, plus two delivery guys.
Their eyes were rolled back, yellow drool dripping from their mouths. And when they spotted a living person, it was like seeing fresh meat. They found it irresistible.
The whole hallway echoed with their guttural growls.
Bryan was so terrified he dropped the fire extinguisher, and it smashed right onto his foot. He gritted his teeth, biting back a scream, too scared to make a sound.
He and Claudia pressed their backs together, cramming themselves into the corner by my door.
Right now, the only way out alive was through my door.
Bryan looked up, his eyes glued to the security camera, filled with venom and desperate pleading.
He said, "Eden, I messed up. I really did. If you don't open up now, it'll be too late. The zombies are almost here. Please, just crack the door, even a little. I'm begging you."
He groveled, "Eden, we were engaged. Doesn't it mean anything to you?"
I stared at the monitor, watching Bryan sob his guts out, feeling nothing for him.
This kind of performance? I'd seen it so many times in my previous life that it was almost boring now.