Untouched by the Outbreak

Yumi was shocked. The moment they arrived at their destination, her eyes widened at the sight before her. It wasn't some rundown shelter like she had imagined. It was a fully functioning base—a large house, equipped with an impressive array of solar panels on the roof, and solar-powered lamps lighting up the outside. Every house nearby seemed similarly set up with solar panels.

Her mind reeled in disbelief. How? How had they managed to set up something like this, in the middle of a world where chaos reigned, where no one had time or resources to create such an elaborate system? How had they found the equipment, the resources, the time?

Yumi's gaze darted around, taking in the organized scene. The Striders, fast and relentless in their movements, patrolled the perimeter, with Brutes towering over them, their sheer size and strength intimidating enough to send a chill down her spine. And yet, it was the regular zombies that added to her terror.

There were more of them here, within this base, than she had ever seen in the town she'd come from. Their grayish skin and dark eyes gave off an eerie, almost disciplined presence, standing still or slowly moving under the commands of the man.

She could only watch as Ryo effortlessly gave orders to the Striders and Brutes. The zombies obeyed him without hesitation, spreading out to secure the area. The regular zombies, once mindless and aimless creatures, seemed to function as a controlled, protective barrier around the base.

Yumi's heart pounded in her chest. The scene was beyond anything she could comprehend. These were no ordinary survivors—Ryo and Sachiko had created a fortress, surrounded by an army of monsters she had spent her entire life running from. This place, this house, wasn't just a base—it was a kingdom, and Ryo was its ruler, with zombies as his loyal subjects.

She shivered at the realization that not only was she at their mercy, but she was also completely out of her depth. Everything about this place screamed power—power she couldn't fight against, power she had no hope of escaping.

Her eyes glanced towards Sachiko, who was casually walking beside Ryo, as if this entire scene was nothing out of the ordinary. Yumi's breath caught in her throat. She was no longer an independent survivor fighting for her life. Now, she was a prisoner in a place where the rules of the world no longer applied.

How could they set all this up? she thought, overwhelmed by the scale of their operations. And then, the most terrifying thought of all crossed her mind. If this is what their base looks like… what else are they capable of?

Yumi's heart skipped a beat as she overheard Ryo and Sachiko's conversation. She couldn't catch everything, but she did hear one word clearly: prototype. Her stomach twisted with fear. What are they going to do with my prototype zombies? she wondered, dread settling deep in her chest.

Sachiko then turned her head and looked directly at Yumi, her gaze sharp and calculating. Yumi froze under her stare, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

"Ensure your 'little zombies' join the patrol with the other regular zombies," Sachiko said, her voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable threat. Yumi's breath caught in her throat, and before she could even react, Sachiko added casually, "By the way, Ryo said if you don't control them properly, he'll feed them to the Brutes and Striders as food."

Yumi's face went pale. The idea of her prototype zombies—her only defense, her only source of protection—being torn apart by those terrifying creatures filled her with panic. She glanced at the Brutes, their massive forms pacing back and forth like wild animals waiting for their next meal, and then at the Striders, fast and merciless. They wouldn't hesitate to tear her prototypes to pieces.

Her heart raced. She knew she had no choice but to comply. I need them, she thought, panic rising in her chest. Without her prototypes, she had nothing left to protect her. They were her last lifeline in this horrifying situation. But now, even they were under Ryo's control.

She nodded weakly at Sachiko, her hands trembling. "I... I'll make sure they join the patrol," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, fear choking her words.

Sachiko gave a satisfied smile, her eyes glinting with amusement at Yumi's obedience. "Good," she said, her tone sweet but with a cold undercurrent. "Just remember—if they step out of line, Ryo won't hesitate to make them into a meal for the others."

Yumi swallowed hard, nodding again. She had never felt so powerless in her life. Her prototypes were no longer hers—they were just another part of Ryo's twisted kingdom.

Yumi swallowed hard as she called her prototype zombies to action. Her voice trembled slightly, but the zombies, programmed to obey her commands, responded immediately, moving into position to patrol the area. Some began walking the perimeter, while others stood still, keeping guard as if they were soldiers under her direction.

But deep down, Yumi knew they were no longer truly hers—everything here belonged to Ryo now.

She couldn't help but glance at Sachiko, who stood nearby with her usual smirk, casually recording the entire scene on her smartphone. It was clear that Sachiko enjoyed watching Yumi submit, relishing in the control she had over the situation.

"Don't try anything funny, little girl," Sachiko warned, her tone light but dangerous. She pointed toward Sayako, the female zombie who had been silently standing near Ryo the entire time. "You see that one?" Sachiko's grin widened slightly as she leaned closer to Yumi. "She'll rip you apart, along with your 'little zombies,' if you even think about harming Ryo.

And here's the best part—she won't even need Ryo's command to do it."

Yumi's heart raced as her eyes shifted to Sayako. The eerie, pale-skinned zombie with her long, silky hair stood eerily still, her white eyes gleaming with silent menace. Yumi had seen how quickly Sayako had overpowered one of her prototypes earlier. She knew Sachiko wasn't exaggerating.

Sayako wasn't just any zombie—she was something far more terrifying, faster and stronger than anything Yumi had ever encountered.

Sachiko continued with a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with twisted delight. "Even I wouldn't betray Ryo," she added. "He's more than just a man. And you? Well, you're just lucky enough to still be alive... for now."

Yumi's throat tightened. She couldn't shake the feeling of being completely trapped. Every moment she was reminded that her life and the lives of her prototypes were hanging by a thread, dependent on Ryo's whims. Even if she tried to resist, there was no way out. Sayako, the Striders, the Brutes—Ryo commanded them all, and now, she was just another pawn in his twisted game.

"I won't," Yumi whispered, her voice barely audible, though she wasn't sure if she was saying it to Sachiko or to herself. Fear had wrapped itself around her, and she knew there was no escape from the nightmare that was now her reality.

Sachiko's voice cut through the tension, her tone sharp and dismissive. "Go inside and take a shower," she said, her eyes scanning Yumi with disdain. "You smell bad. I'm sure Ryo wouldn't want his woman to smell like that."

Yumi flinched at the remark, her cheeks flushing with a mix of shame and fear. She could feel Sachiko's eyes lingering on her, judging every inch of her with that condescending grin. Yumi hesitated, but Sachiko's cold stare made it clear there wasn't room for defiance.

With a deep breath, Yumi nodded and slowly started toward the house. As she passed Ryo, who stood casually smoking, she could feel his presence looming over her like a storm cloud. Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way inside, knowing that the only way to survive this was to do as they said—for now.

The house was large, well-kept, and disturbingly well-equipped for a post-apocalyptic world. She glanced around at the solar panels outside, the lights running on solar energy, and the strange feeling of normalcy in such a terrifying situation.

Yumi's mind raced as she stepped into the bathroom, her reflection staring back at her in the mirror. She looked disheveled, frightened, and unsure. But now, she was forced to accept the reality that Sachiko had laid out for her—she was Ryo's property now.

As Yumi stepped into the bathroom, she was struck by the sheer luxury of it all. It had been so long since she had taken a proper shower—longer than she could remember. The sight before her was almost surreal. The shower was fully stocked with everything she hadn't seen in months: bottles of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and even lotions and skincare products lined the shelves.

Everything was neatly arranged, like a distant memory of the life before the outbreak.

She hesitated for a moment, her fingers trembling as she picked up a bottle of shampoo, the familiar scent bringing a flood of nostalgia. For a brief second, it felt like the world hadn't collapsed, like she wasn't trapped in a nightmarish situation.

Turning on the water, she stepped under the warm stream, the sensation overwhelming after so long without it. Yumi closed her eyes, letting the water wash over her, trying to savor this rare moment of normalcy. She lathered her hair with the fragrant shampoo, feeling the grime of weeks wash away, her skin finally able to breathe again.

As she scrubbed, her mind wandered back to Ryo, Sachiko, and the terrifying reality waiting for her outside this small oasis. She was still trapped, still under their control. But here, under the water, just for a moment, she could pretend things were different.