Zombie Domination-Chapter 52- Watching

Once, there was a little boy who lived in the mountains, far from the city, with his grandmother.

His parents had left him there for a while, saying they had work to do. But the boy didn’t mind. His grandmother loved him deeply, spoiled him, fed him warm soup, and told him stories.

Every day, the boy would walk down the mountain path to play with his friends in the small village below. They played hide and seek, chased chickens, and laughed until the sun went down.

But then... things changed.

One by one, his friends stopped showing up. First, it was Lala. Then Aji. Then Barto.

Each morning, another friend was gone, and no one could say why.

That’s when his grandmother began giving him a strange warning every night.

’Whatever happens... don’t open your door at night. No matter what sound you hear. Do you understand?’

The boy, still young and innocent, simply nodded.

But the nights... they grew stranger.

He began to hear scratching outside his bedroom.

Then came the footsteps.

Then... the voices.

At first, they whispered. Then they cried. Then they screamed.

’Help me... Please! It hurts!’

It was the voice of his friend. Mina.

The boy trembled under his blanket. But he remembered what his grandmother had said.

Then on the third night, he couldn’t take it anymore.

He crept to the door. Slowly... quietly...

He opened it.

The hallway was cold. The light above the kitchen flickered, casting long, unnatural shadows across the floor.

Something moved past it, fast.

His breath caught in his throat.

He stepped forward, bare feet against the old wooden floor, each creak loud as thunder in the silence.

The kitchen door was half open.

A shadow stood there. Still. Watching.

Its limbs were too long. Its eyes reflected no light.

He heard it breathing... wet, rasping, unnatural.

Then it turned to him—"

"BAAAAAAA!!" Julian shouted, suddenly leaning forward.

Screams erupted.

Clarissa jumped and instinctively clung to Emma, her eyes wide. Emma gasped, gripping Julian’s arm tightly with both hands.

Veronica, though usually cocky, froze slightly and muttered under her breath, "That was messed up..."

Aya, seated right beside Julian, let out a sharp yelp and covered her ears, rocking slightly. "Please-please-please... I don’t like ghost..."

On the other side of the fire, Mira let out a squeak and practically teleported behind Celestia, hiding behind the lieutenant’s back.

Celestia’s expression didn’t change, still as cold as ever, but a single visible shiver ran down her spine. Her fingers twitched. Goosebumps rose on her arms.

Reinar, who had been trying to look brave, suddenly slumped with foam at the corners of his mouth.

"W-Woah! He’s foaming again!" Cassian shouted.

Igor panicked. "Reinar! Breathe, dammit! Don’t let a ghost story kill you!"

Hike blinked in disbelief. "You just... broke everyone."

Julian chuckled lightly, watching the chaos. "Huh. Guess the story hit harder than I thought."

Clarissa, still hugging Emma, muttered, "Julian... that was so mean..."

Emma pouted. "I was this close to crying!"

The tension slowly eased. Celestia looked at Julian with a flat expression and asked in a quiet yet sharp voice,

"So... what happened to the boy?"

Julian stared into the shrinking flames, his eyes reflecting the red-orange glow like embers. In a calm, emotionless tone, he replied,

"He died. Eaten by his grandmother."

Silence fell again like a heavy blanket.

Veronica, who had just started to stand, froze.

"Okay... that’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever heard," she said, hugging herself.

Reinar, who had just started to return to normal, wilted once more.

"I’m... calling it a night. I need to... sleep."

He slowly walked away, staring up at the night sky as if searching for God.

Cassian, Igan, and Hike quietly followed, each muttering some excuse as they left. Mira quickly trailed after them, her face still pale.

Julian tilted his head and looked at the few remaining.

"Was the story... really that scary?"

Emma pointed to the side with an amused expression.

"Look at Aya, she’s almost fainted."

Aya, sitting cross-legged with a blanket over her legs, kept her head down and muttered quickly,

"I’m not fainting! Just... a little startled, that’s all..."

Julian gave a small smile.

"What a shame. I actually had one more horror story ready..."

Immediately, Veronica, Emma, Clarissa, and Aya stood up at the same time.

"I’m going to bed!"

"Don’t you dare bother me!"

"You’re cooking tomorrow, Julian!"

"I swear, I don’t want any nightmares!"

And just like that, only two people were left by the campfire.

Celestia looked at Julian, the flickering firelight casting soft shadows across her sharp features.

"Where did you even get a story like that?" she asked, her voice calm, tinged with curiosity.

Julian leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting toward the night sky. His voice lowered, carrying a quiet sense of nostalgia.

"From a friend of mine," he replied simply.

Celestia studied him for a moment, noticing the subtle shift in his expression, something softer, distant.

"That friend of yours... must’ve been an interesting person," she said gently.

Julian let out a faint, humorless chuckle.

"Not really. He was selfish, always hated losing, and couldn’t stop meddling in other people’s business."

Celestia blinked once, then responded with a small nod.

"I see."

Julian glanced at Celestia, the fire’s soft glow dancing in his eyes.

"Aren’t you going to sleep, Celestia?" he asked casually.

Celestia shook her head, her gaze fixed on the starry sky.

"I just wanted to enjoy the night a little longer."

Julian nodded.

"Is that so..."

After a pause, Celestia spoke again, her voice quieter.

"I was surprised, you know, when you asked me to come with you the first time."

She gave a faint chuckle, "And I still can’t believe I got asked by someone with a reputation like yours. A playboy, of all people."

Julian smirked, not at all bothered.

"That’s because I’m genuinely interested in you."

Celestia turned her head toward him slightly.

"And what about the others? What did they think of you asking me?"

"They’re the ones who told me how you feel," Julian answered plainly.

For the first time, a hint of red colored Celestia’s cheeks despite her usually cold demeanor.

"Was I... that obvious?"

Julian tilted his head and replied in a calm tone,

"That’s what makes you cute."

Celestia’s eyes widened slightly as she blushed deeper.

"That’s the first time someone’s ever called me that..."

She paused for a moment before looking toward the dark outline of her soldiers’ tents.

"It’ll be hard to part ways with my squad," she said quietly.

Julian looked at her, his voice steady.

"Have you known them long?"

Celestia nodded.

"I’ve come to see them like family."

Julian gave her a rare, sincere smile.

"That’s a strong bond. That’s something worth protecting."

Celestia nodded slowly.

"Once we reach the base, I’ll have a lot to handle..."

Julian leaned back, watching the fire crackle.

"Then I’ll be your support. No matter who stands in your way—"

"That’s a bit much," Celestia interrupted with a faint smirk.

"But... thank you. I’ll be fine."

Celestia looked into the fire and spoke softly,

"I owe you a great deal, Julian..."

Julian shook his head with a calm smile.

"It’s nothing. But, if you really want to repay me... I do have a request."

Celestia turned to him, slightly wary.

"What do you want me to do?"

Julian leaned in just a little.

"Kiss my cheek."

A flush immediately spread across Celestia’s face.

"What kind of request is that?" she muttered, flustered.

Julian kept his tone even.

"That’s my request. Take it or leave it."

Celestia hesitated, then looked down for a moment before saying,

"Alright... if that’s what you want."

With clear hesitation and pink on her cheeks, she leaned in slowly, closing her eyes. Just as her lips neared his cheek, Julian moved with sudden boldness and kissed her gently on the lips.

Celestia froze, her eyes widening in shock. But... she didn’t pull away. Instead, she relaxed into the kiss, letting it linger for a long moment before they finally parted.

Their eyes met, silent and intense.

Julian then said softly,

"Being self-reliant is a strength... but it’s okay to lean on someone too."

Celestia nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I’ll... remember that."

A small yawn escaped her lips, her energy clearly fading.

Julian smiled.

"Go get some rest."

Celestia gave a small nod.

"Alright... I’ll sleep for a bit then."

She stood, gave him one last look, and walked to her tent.

Julian paused just outside his tent, his gaze lifting toward the starlit sky. The fire behind him crackled softly, but his attention was elsewhere, on the dark silhouette perched high on a twisted branch.

A raven.

It had been following them since they left the outpost.

At first, he had dismissed it as coincidence. Just a curious bird drawn to movement and food. But now... it was always there. Always close. Too close. Every time they stopped, it reappeared, silent, still, watching.

His eyes narrowed.

"You’re not just any bird, are you?" he murmured.

Without hesitation, Julian pulled out a throwing knife from his imventory. In one smooth, practiced motion, he flicked his wrist.

The blade spun silently through the air.

A sudden thunk echoed in the trees.

The raven let out a distorted, unnatural screech before tumbling from the branch, lifeless.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on fr(e)𝒆webnov(e)l.com