Apocalypse: After Reanimation, I Became The Queen-Chapter 39: _ Renata Always Saves The Day

I look well and I see it hasn’t been able to break down the bathroom door. Well, that’s no feat for a single zombie.

Anyway, I don’t need to kill it. It’s not like it’s a threat to me. But if it gets to the... if Pretty Boy and Yara get turned—well. That’s just annoying.

"System," I say under my breath. "Rusted dagger. Now."

[Equipping: Rusted Dagger.]

There’s a brief shimmer in the air, and suddenly, I’m holding a blade that looks like it’s seen worse days than me. The metal is dull, and chipped in places, but it’s still sharp enough to get the job done.

I move fast.

The zombie barely has time to react—not that it would, before I drive the dagger straight into its skull. There’s a crunch of bone and a wet squelch as the blade slides through soft tissue. The thing twitches, its fingers spasming before it slumps forward, lifeless.

The impact shakes the walls slightly. Enough to...

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Yara’s voice was muffled behind the bathroom door.

I sigh, wiping the dagger off on the dead guy’s clothes.

The door rattles. "I told you she left us!"

That definitely is Bea.

"Oh my God, would you shut up, Bea?" Yara snaps. "She obviously didn’t... unless that was her twin murdering something out there."

I roll my eyes and yank the door open.

Yara and Bea are standing way too close to each other, their faces reddening from what was clearly a heated argument. Pretty Boy is slumped against the wall, half-conscious, and looking like he wants to die just to escape the noise.

The second they see me, they freeze.

Bea reacts first, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "Where the hell have you been?"

I step aside, motioning toward the corpse still oozing onto the floor. "You’re welcome, by the way."

Bea further crosses her arms. "We thought you abandoned us."

I snort. "Yeah, because I totally left you here just so I could go on a solo shopping spree for fun."

I sling my bag off my shoulder, dumping the supplies onto the floor.

The room goes silent.

Yara blinks down at the food, and the medical supplies. Then back at me.

"You... actually found stuff?"

"Wow, Yara. Such faith in me."

Pretty Boy groans weakly. "Can we... not fight?"

I nudge the can of peaches toward him with my boot. "Eat something before you pass out and make me regret my choice of saving y’all asses."

He makes a noise that might be a thank you.

Bea sighs, rubbing her temples. "Look, I’m glad you came back, but we’re not safe here. The doors are gone, and if more of those things come here..."

"I know," I interrupt. "We need to move. But for now, shut up and eat something before one of you dies from malnutrition and makes this even more complicated."

Yara grumbles under her breath but snatches up the crackers. Bea looks at the bandages like they’re a miracle from heaven.

I lean against the wall, watching them. They’re annoying. Really annoying. But I didn’t come back just for fun.

Damn it. I really need to stop caring.

Pretty Boy.... Urm, León, lifts his head weakly and I see how his eyes barely open as he stares at me. "Aren’t you gonna eat too?"

His voice is rough, like his throat has been scraped raw. He better not die on me after everything I’ve been through to save him.

We still need to find Lucas. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

I shake my head, nudging the can of peaches closer to him with my foot. "Already ate on the way."

Bea scoffs, arms still crossed. "Oh, I knew it. I knew you must’ve stuffed your face first and brought back scraps for us."

Yara glares at her. "Are you serious? Do you even hear yourself? She went out there alone. You think it’s easy strolling through a zombie-infested city like it’s a damn supermarket?"

Bea huffs, flicking a piece of dust off her sleeve like this whole situation is a minor inconvenience rather than the literal apocalypse. "I just think it’s suspicious. Look at her, not even a little exhausted. No signs of struggle. Almost like she..."

I hold up a hand. "You might wanna lower your voice."

Bea rolls her eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. I don’t think whispering is gonna change our..."

I give her a look. "Zombies. In the corridor."

Her lips snap shut so fast you’d think I threatened to sew them together.

For a second, there is silence as the realization that they might still be in trouble sets in. As if on cue, a low groan seeps into the room, curling around us like the first whisper of a horror movie jump scare.

Another follows, this one wet and gurgling. And then, came the unmistakable sound of shuffling feet.

I swear under my breath.

Bea lets out a squeak and literally hurls herself backward. León stiffens, trying to push himself up despite looking like death itself. Yara grabs the nearest thing which is an empty can of peaches... as if she’s about to throw it at the undead like it’s a grenade.

The first one stumbles in, half its face missing, jaw hanging slack like it forgot how to hold itself together. The second drags its foot behind it, making an awful scraping sound against the floor.

The third one... well, this one’s just ugly. Missing an eye, ribs poking out, and something long and stringy caught between its teeth.

Bea screams. God, she’s just so dumb!

The zombies jolt at the sound, their milky eyes snapping toward us with eerie synchronicity.

"Wow, great job keeping quiet," I mutter.

Yara immediately shoves Bea behind her and steps in front of León, her whole body tensed like she’s ready to throw hands with the undead and isn’t literally so weak and looking like shit herself.

León, to his credit, is holding a piece of broken wood like a makeshift stake, though I doubt he has the energy to actually use it.

Argh... guess it’s time to save the day. Again.

"Sit tight," I say, rolling my shoulders. "I got this."