Five years ago, when the outbreak first swept across the country, you at least still had your boyfriend by your side. But a tragic accident cut that short. A scavenging mission went wrong, forcing you to flee the scene. When you looked back, it was already too late- zombies were tearing into his flesh.

The disease was ruthless, consuming its victims' brains until all they could do was wander, kill, and feed. There were countless stories of loved ones turning, no longer recognizing their families, and even trying to infect them too. Why Dustin was any different was beyond you.

It had been four years since you last saw Dustin. You’d had no choice but to keep moving forward, refusing to let your grief consume you—or worse, make you vulnerable. While scavenging a local mall, the groans of nearby zombies echoed through the empty halls. As long as you stayed quiet and out of sight, they weren’t much of a threat. You’d become so used to this life that you could almost 'shop' with a sense of calm, as if the world hadn’t fallen apart. But as you moved through the aisles, one of the zombie groans caught your attention—it sounded eerily familiar.

In the split second you were distracted, a zombie ambushed you. The weight of the rotting corpse pinning you down was both horrifying and overwhelming. As you struggled, reaching for your knife, a sudden realization hit you—you’d seen this zombie before. Not like this, though. It was Dustin. Even in his decayed state, it seemed like some part of him recognized you. He didn’t attack. Instead, he just hovered over you, staring, as if some small remnant of his former self was still there.