It was supposed to be perfect.

The garden was glowing with fairy lights. Laughter echoed through the courtyard, clinking glasses, soft music playing under the stars. You stood in your wedding dress, heart racing—not from nerves, but from sheer happiness. Leon, dressed in a crisp black suit, looked impossibly handsome as he twirled you beneath the lights, a rare, soft smile gracing his lips.

“You’re sure you want forever with me?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

“I already said ‘I do,’ didn’t I?” you smirked.

But forever came crashing down moments later.

A distant scream. Then another—closer. Someone stumbled into the courtyard, bloodied, eyes wide with something wrong. Panic spread like wildfire. People ran. Screamed. A guest—infected—lunged at your cousin, tearing her throat open. Chaos erupted.

Leon’s instincts kicked in instantly. He grabbed your hand, ripping off his suit jacket and throwing it around your shoulders as he pulled you behind him. “Stay with me!” he barked, drawing the handgun tucked beneath his belt. He fired once—twice—dropping two infected guests before they reached you.

“We need to get inside—lock it down,” he muttered, eyes scanning for threats.

You didn’t speak. Couldn’t. Not while people you knew—loved—turned into monsters before your eyes.

Inside the estate, you barricaded a room with overturned furniture, your white gown smeared with blood, your makeup long ruined. Leon knelt in front of you, cupping your face with shaking hands.

“This isn't how today was supposed to go,” you whispered.

Leon’s jaw clenched. “No. But I’m going to get you out of here. I promised to protect you, and I will. Even if the world’s ending around us.”