How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

The second floor of the commercial building Taylor had turned into their shelter.

Devoid of any substantial furnishings, only layers of dust had accumulated within that space – featuring a large window providing an outward view of the streets.

It was before that window that Taylor stood.

While the scenery visible beyond likely consisted of this small town’s utterly unremarkable landscape… under the pale moonlight, only its silhouette was faintly outlined, exuding an inexplicably mystical atmosphere.

“What’s this about?”

Aiden, who had been summoned by Taylor, posed that inquiry.

In response, Taylor shrugged nonchalantly as if it were nothing significant.

“I thought we could exchange some information. What do you think?”

“…Not a bad idea.”

Aiden nodded in agreement.

It was certainly something they required as well.

For his group, who were constantly on the move towards new areas, information was an invaluable commodity.

“Then you can start first. I have quite a few questions myself, it seems.”

Taylor spoke those words with a wry smile.

Aiden didn’t hesitate to proceed with his line of questioning.

“Very well. How long have you been residing in this vicinity?”

“Around half a year or so. Not solely within Santa Rosa, though. I’ve been wandering between the nearby small towns whenever supplies ran low.”

Half a year, huh.

Longer than Aiden had anticipated, but that wasn’t necessarily a drawback.

It meant Taylor would have had ample time to familiarize himself with the local conditions.

“Then I presume you’re aware of any survivor groups in the surrounding areas.”

“I am. However, the only ones sizeable enough to be called groups are in Amarillo and Albuquerque – just those two locations. Did you want information on them?”

“We’re heading towards Albuquerque. I’d like to inquire about the situation there.”

Albuquerque, a major city located 460 kilometers from Amarillo and 270 kilometers from their current location in Santa Rosa.

Aiden had already obtained information about a survivor group existing there during their time in Amarillo.

However, he harbored some skepticism regarding the veracity of that group’s continued existence.

Apparently, communications with Amarillo’s group had been severed long ago.

Upon hearing Aiden’s words, Taylor let out a brief contemplative hum as he stroked his chin.

“Albuquerque, huh… I can’t claim to know everything about it. But I’ve heard a few things by chance. Until a few months ago, I’d occasionally encounter their scouting parties.”

A slight frown creased Taylor’s brow, as if recalling those memories.

“However, the situation there didn’t seem particularly favorable. All their scouting parties appeared utterly exhausted and only voiced complaints.”

“Complaints, you say? Did you happen to learn any specifics?”

“Specifics… ah, right. They mentioned being at war with some cannibalistic tribes. Which wouldn’t be surprising, considering Albuquerque’s location.”

Formerly home to over 500,000 residents, the major city of Albuquerque was situated adjacent to the Sandia Mountains, towering over 3,000 meters in height.

It seemed Albuquerque had been engaged in prolonged conflicts with cannibalistic tribes occupying those very mountains.

“Of course, I can’t vouch for the accuracy since I never directly conversed with them. Those were just snippets I overheard from their scouting parties. And the last time I encountered any of them was over three months ago. I haven’t seen them since.”

“Do you have any idea about the size of the group based there?”

“Hard to say for certain. But their scouting parties seemed quite numerous. At the very least, it would be a group consisting of thousands of individuals.”

That was encouraging news for Aiden.

The group in Albuquerque appeared to be even larger than the one they had encountered in Amarillo.

Certainly sizeable enough for a junk dealer like himself to establish trade relations.

After posing a few more minor inquiries, to which Taylor provided diligent responses, Aiden nodded in a manner suggesting he had heard enough.

It was now Taylor’s turn to ask questions.

Aiden looked at him expectantly, prompting Taylor to clear his throat before speaking.

“Alright, my turn then. Um, this is just out of curiosity, but what’s the deal with that helmet of yours?”

“I’d prefer not to discuss the helmet. It’s a personal matter.”

Aiden curtly dismissed the subject.

In response, Taylor let out an amused chuckle.

“Understood. Then I won’t pry any further. But… you are a doctor, aren’t you?”

Aiden nodded affirmatively.

The yellowish-white coat and ID tag he wore weren’t mere decorations.

“Then I have something I’d like to consult you about.”

His expression turning solemn, as if the prior lightheartedness had been a mere pretense, Taylor proceeded to recount the matter concerning his daughter.

How she had recently lost her ability to smile, likely due to the past half-year of their nomadic lifestyle.

However, Aiden tilted his head slightly in response.

For even at that very moment, the faint sounds of Luna’s laughter could be heard wafting up from the floor below.

“That’s the problem. I never expected it to be resolved so easily. Does Luna simply need a friend, then?”

Taylor spoke those words with a sigh.

Ever since meeting Sadie, Luna had seemingly regained her former demeanor as if by magic.

However, the reason Taylor had raised this topic with Aiden, despite already being aware of the solution, was undoubtedly because he recognized it as merely a temporary respite.

The time Taylor and his daughter could spend in the company of Aiden’s group would be fleeting at best.

Today, or perhaps two days if they were fortunate – that would likely be their absolute limit.

After that, Aiden’s group would depart from this town, leaving Luna alone once more.

It was that eventual reality that Taylor seemed apprehensive about.

“I suppose that would be the case. While she has her personal reasons, Luna does seem to be a child particularly sensitive in that regard.”

“Huuh… then what about your daughter, Sadie, was it? Is she alright?”

At Taylor’s inquiry, Aiden waved his hand dismissively.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. Sadie isn’t my daughter.”

“Not your daughter? Then a niece, perhaps?”

“She’s not a family member at all. Just a child I’ve been temporarily looking after due to a request.”

“Is that so? That’s… quite surprising.”

Taylor muttered those words, as if he hadn’t even considered such a possibility.

In this unforgiving world, it was hardly a common occurrence for someone to travel accompanied by a child who wasn’t family.

An arduous endeavor that Taylor, intimately familiar with those difficulties, seemed to regard with a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

Noticing that inquisitive gaze, Aiden spoke up to steer the conversation back on track.

“Sadie has been managing remarkably well. Fortunately for us.”

“Is that so…? Then what about Luna? Is there no other solution besides simply providing her with a friend?”

“I wouldn’t know about that. Above all, it’s not my area of expertise.”

Aiden gestured towards the medical ID tag hanging from his neck.

It identified his specialty as surgery.

Taylor responded with a wry smile.

“But if it’s for the child’s sake… wouldn’t it be better to relocate to a place where she can have friends?”

“Yes, that would be the ideal solution. I’m well aware of that.”

Taylor let out a deep sigh before continuing to speak.

“You mentioned heading to Albuquerque. Then where will you go after that?”

“Hard to say for certain. We’ll need to gather more information in Albuquerque before deciding. Since our objective is to locate survivor groups, perhaps Phoenix… or Las Vegas could be potential destinations.”

All major cities situated to the west of Albuquerque.

Upon hearing that, Taylor nodded as if understanding Aiden’s implication.

“Westward, huh. So you’re aiming for LA after all? Because of those radio broadcasts?”

There was no need for Aiden to conceal that evident truth, so he affirmed it.

In response, Taylor posed a weighty question in a low voice tinged with solemnity.

“Isn’t that far too dangerous? Once you cross into Arizona, all that lies ahead are mountains and deserts. Infested with roaming zombies and cannibals, no less. And yet you truly intend to bring a child that young into such perilous territory?”

It was almost an accusatory statement, prompting Aiden to meet Taylor’s gaze directly.

However, the emotions reflected in those eyes weren’t condemnation directed at Aiden himself.

Rather, a profound desperation seemed to emanate from Taylor – a yearning for the genuine answer.

“Did something happen before?”

At Aiden’s words, Taylor briefly fell silent.

Then, after a considerable pause, he began recounting a tale from the past.

“Until about half a year ago, I too was heading towards LA. I had traveled all the way down from Denver in the north. But… the moment I set foot in New Mexico, I lost my wife. Senselessly torn apart by a swarm of zombies. Despite being a former soldier, there was nothing I could do to stop it.”

“…”

“After experiencing that, I simply couldn’t bring myself to proceed any further. The road ahead only grew more perilous. And yet, that was the path I had to take with my young daughter in tow. Out of fear, I ended up hiding away while wandering between these small towns instead.”

Taylor clicked his tongue in self-deprecation at his own cowardice.

Soon after, a bitter smile tinged with self-mockery graced his lips.

“But today, I realized that simply remaining stationary like this isn’t the answer either.”

His gaze settled upon the staircase leading down to the floor below.

From there, Luna’s laughter could still be faintly heard every so often.

“A child capable of smiling like that… and I’ve been stifling my own daughter’s spirit by cowering in fear, confining her to places like this town.”

“…”

“You told me to provide her with a friend, didn’t you? Then I suppose I’ll have to go to LA as well. But truthfully… is that really the right choice?”

Taylor posed that anguished question, a palpable sense of exasperation evident in his voice.

Having already experienced one failure, he feared a recurrence of that trauma.

The doubts he harbored were likely shared by every survivor struggling to persevere in this unforgiving world.

Which was why…

“I don’t have the answer to that either.”

Aiden couldn’t provide a definitive response.

Perhaps they would encounter fatalities along the way. Or maybe LA wouldn’t be the sanctuary they envisioned.

Neither Aiden nor anyone else could decisively answer such an inquiry.

The answer could only be determined by their own choices.

However, Aiden was acutely aware of the appropriate approach to making decisions in such situations.

It was to avoid confirmed misfortune.

“The road to LA is long and perilous. No one can predict the outcome for certain. However, there is one thing I can state with confidence.”

“Confidence?”

“If you remain as you are, neither you nor your daughter will endure for much longer.”

Aiden spoke those words with conviction.

For a young child, and even Taylor himself, attempting to survive alone was an immensely hazardous endeavor.

Had it not been for Aiden’s intervention, Taylor would have undoubtedly perished crushed beneath that apartment debris just the previous day.

“Then I suppose there’s only one answer, isn’t there?”

In response, Taylor muttered those words with a resigned chuckle.

Perhaps the answer had been predetermined from the very beginning.

Reaching that realization provided him with a semblance of solace.

“…There will be a lot of preparations required.”

Taylor’s gaze settled upon the empty sky beyond the window as he contemplated their forthcoming journey.

As he had stated, extensive preparations would indeed be necessary for such a long-distance relocation.

Fortunately, they had a vehicle at their disposal. The one Taylor had brought with them all the way from Denver, carefully maintained just in case.

However, they lacked sufficient provisions – food, water, fuel, and other essential supplies.

A means of acquiring those was… available.

But Taylor’s capabilities alone would be insufficient.

So he turned his attention back towards Aiden once more.

“Junk dealer.”

“What is it?”

“Care to lend me a hand on a little endeavor?”

After a prolonged pause, Taylor finally proposed that suggestion.

In response, Aiden tilted his head slightly.

“Let’s hear the details first.”

* * *

The next day.

Aiden and Taylor had just crossed the southern outskirts of Santa Rosa.

“…This vehicle seems better than I expected.”

The one Aiden was currently riding in belonged to Taylor.

In considerably superior condition compared to Aiden’s group’s own vehicle, it was effortlessly cruising along the road at a relaxed pace.

“Of course it would be. This is the one I’ve been using since before the whole world went to hell.”

Taylor spoke those words with evident pride.

So that explained why the interior seemed unusually well-maintained.

As Aiden carefully positioned his rifle to avoid inadvertently damaging the vehicle, he opened his mouth to inquire further.

“More importantly, where exactly is our destination located?”

Their current heading was towards a temporary military base situated beyond the small town’s limits.

Dozens of kilometers away from Santa Rosa, it had been established during the initial outbreak of the zombie crisis. However, due to its isolated location with minimal human traffic, the likelihood of useful supplies remaining intact was higher.

“Follow the river south. We should be… around 30 kilometers away now, I’d estimate.”

“But are you certain this base actually exists?”

“Don’t worry about that. Back when I was in the military, I served as a communications officer, you see. I’ve had radio contact with the personnel who were stationed there. It’s a confirmed location.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Taylor reassured Aiden’s concerns.

Despite never having witnessed it firsthand, he seemed well-acquainted with the approximate layout and scale of that military facility.

“However, as I mentioned before, I can’t guarantee what might still be present there. There could be zombies occupying it. More importantly, we’ll need to traverse through a mountain range en route, so be wary of potential cannibal encounters.”

The only passengers in the vehicle at present were Aiden and Taylor themselves.

Arian, Sadie, and Luna had remained behind at their shelter in Santa Rosa.

Since the distance to the military base was considerable, there was a possibility their reconnaissance might not conclude within a single day.

Which made bringing the children along problematic – but leaving them unaccompanied was equally unacceptable.

The unavoidable compromise was leaving Arian behind at the shelter with them.

Ultimately, it meant Aiden’s group would be deprived of Arian’s formidable capabilities for this endeavor.

However, Aiden judged their remaining forces to be sufficient.

For Taylor, a former military man himself, seemed to possess considerable combat prowess.

From what Aiden had witnessed, Taylor’s overall physical abilities, particularly in combat situations, were exceptionally honed.

Which likely explained how he had managed to survive for half a year accompanied solely by his daughter.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Just a few bruises, but nothing problematic.”

Taylor spoke those words as he rotated one of his arms.

Yet the injuries Aiden had observed covered nearly his entire body in purplish contusions – hardly a trivial matter.

Even so, Taylor didn’t seem to exhibit any impairment in maintaining his bearing.

“Is that it over there?”

Aiden pointed towards the road cutting through the mountainous terrain.

With a hint of tension evident on his face, Taylor nodded affirmatively.

“Yes. This is the cannibals’ territory. Let’s conceal the vehicle nearby and proceed on foot from this point onwards.”

Aiden nodded in agreement.

Soon after, they had hidden their vehicle amid the foliage before beginning their ascent up the mountain’s slope, towards the area where the military base was supposedly located.