LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 14: Running on Instinct
Matthew adjusted the straps on his pack, the heavy weight of coffee beans digging into his shoulders. The forest around them was dense, the air humid and thick with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. He scanned the path ahead with wary eyes, his Detection System humming faintly in the back of his mind. It had been quiet for hours—no pings, no alerts, nothing to signal any danger in their vicinity.
"About a day out," he said, glancing back at Jake, who was walking a few steps behind him, his combat knife strapped tightly to his belt. "If we keep this pace, we should make it to Perkatory by tomorrow evening."
Jake nodded, his face grim but determined. "Good. I'm ready to get these beans into Zoe's hands. Feels like we've been carrying them forever."
Matthew chuckled softly. "Well, they're worth their weight in gold. Let's just hope Zoe thinks so, too. If this doesn't work out, I don't know what will."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "You've got a knack for understatement, you know that? These beans are more than just coffee. They're hope. People are risking everything for what Zoe's building."
Matthew nodded, the weight of Jake's words settling heavily on him. "I know. That's why we've got to make it back. No screw-ups, no distractions."
They walked in silence for a while; the only sounds were the crunch of their boots on the leaf-strewn ground and the distant chirping of birds. Despite the relative calm, Matthew couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. His Detection System remained silent, but his gut told him to stay on edge.
"What do you hope for?" Jake asked suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Matthew glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You know, in the future," Jake said, shrugging. "If things ever get better. What do you want?"
Matthew's pace slowed as he considered the question. "I don't know. I guess I'd like to find a place where we don't have to keep looking over our shoulders. A real home. Somewhere safe."
Jake smirked. "A white picket fence and a golden retriever?"
Matthew laughed, the sound breaking through the tension in the air. "Maybe not quite that. But yeah, something like that. What about you?"
Jake's smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Honestly? I'd settle for a world where we don't have to fight to survive every single day. Where people can actually trust each other again."
Matthew nodded. "That's a good one."
They rounded a bend in the path, the sunlight filtering through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground. Matthew's Detection System remained silent, its absence almost unnerving. He opened his mouth to comment when a figure appeared ahead of them.
It was tall, unnaturally so, with a faint, eerie glow emanating from its skin. Its movements were fluid, almost too graceful for something that had once been human. Its glowing eyes locked onto them, and Matthew's breath caught in his throat.
A glowing zombie.
Matthew froze, his mind racing. Why didn't I detect it? The thought screamed through his head as the creature tilted its head, studying him like a predator sizing up its prey. Was my system broken? Did I miss something? No, I've been scanning this whole time. How could it just… appear? Panic surged, his instincts warring with the logical part of his brain. This doesn't make sense. It's impossible.
"Run," Jake hissed, his voice sharp and urgent. "Now."
The two turned on their heels and bolted, their boots pounding against the ground. Branches clawed at their arms and faces as they tore through the underbrush, the glowing zombie's guttural growl echoing behind them.
Matthew's heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "It's not… it's not supposed to be able to sneak up on us," he gasped, his words barely audible over the sound of their frantic flight. Was it a fluke? No, the system never fails. But if it did, how many more could there be? How can we trust it now?
"Doesn't matter," Jake snapped, his voice tight with effort. "Keep running."
The glowing zombie was faster than any regular zombie they'd encountered. Its movements were a blur as it pursued them, its shining eyes like twin beacons of death.
Matthew's foot caught on a root, and he stumbled. For a brief, horrifying moment, he managed to catch himself, but the uneven ground gave way beneath him. He fell hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Pain radiated up his arm as he hit the ground, and the coffee beans in his pack dug painfully into his back.
"Matthew!" Jake's voice was laced with panic. He skidded to a halt and turned, his eyes wide with fear. The glowing zombie was closing in, its movements a blur of glowing light and malice.
"Go!" Matthew shouted, struggling to push himself up. "Leave me!"
"Not happening," Jake growled, drawing his knife. He positioned himself between Matthew and the zombie, his stance firm despite the odds.
The glowing zombie slowed as it approached, its movements almost mocking. It let out a low, guttural snarl that sent a chill down Matthew's spine.
"Get up," Jake barked, his eyes never leaving the creature. "We're not dying here."
Matthew struggled to his feet, his legs trembling. He could see the tension in Jake's posture, the determination in his eyes. Jake knew as well as he did that they wouldn't survive a fight against this thing. But he also knew that giving up wasn't an option.
The glowing zombie lunged, and Jake braced himself, his knife gleaming in the dim light.
From the corner of his eye, Matthew thought he saw a flicker of movement in the shadows. Could it have been his mind playing tricks on him? No, there it was again—a subtle but deliberate motion behind the trees. Someone was out there, and they weren't zombies. Jake's stance wavered slightly, his eyes darting briefly toward the woods as if he had seen it too. Whoever they were, they seemed to be waiting, preparing for something… perhaps to strike.
As the glowing zombie stepped closer, Matthew's pulse quickened. He couldn't shake the feeling that help was near, though he had no idea if it would come in time. Jake's knife gleamed as he held it steady, but his voice carried a flicker of doubt. "We don't have long," he muttered, more to himself than to Matthew.