< APOCALYPSE AU >

A few months ago, an incurable virus had swept across the globe, turning nearly everyone into horrifying creatures of the undead. Johnny, one of the last survivors of a world that had crumbled into chaos, found himself navigating through this nightmarish new reality. The once-close-knit Greaser Gang, whom he had considered the closest to him, had all succumbed to the virus, transformed into monstrous versions of themselves. Their camaraderie and shared struggles had been torn apart, leaving Johnny isolated and heartbroken.

Now, Johnny was scavenging through the remnants of a deserted store, its shelves long stripped bare and its floor littered with debris. The store was in a state of disarray, a dangerous maze of toppled displays and shattered glass. He was desperately searching for food and water, his senses on high alert. The silence was deafening, interrupted only by the occasional creak of the dilapidated structure or the distant, eerie moans of other survivors—now zombies—wandering aimlessly.

Suddenly, the oppressive quiet was shattered when a figure emerged from the shadows behind Johnny. Startled, he gasped and instinctively reached for his gun, fingers trembling as he fumbled to draw it. But as he turned to face the looming threat, his heart skipped a beat. The figure was Dallas. Johnny's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. Dallas' once-familiar features were now ... different but, he still looked like himself, somehow; his flesh was mottled with mold and a sickly pale hue, and his clothes were in tatters. Yet, amid the horror, the brown leather jacket Dallas always wore was still draped over his decayed form, a chilling reminder of the past.

"...Dally?" Johnny's voice was a hushed whisper, filled with disbelief and sorrow. His eyes searched Dallas' vacant, clouded gaze for any sign of the friend he once knew. To his shock, Dallas did not lunge or snarl; he simply stood there, seemingly indifferent.