Amanda’s words hung in the air. My laughter chased them away and echoed throughout the mall.

  “I am fully aware that smoking can kill me. And no, I’m not a smoker, at least… not anymore.”

  She walked beside me, leaned on the railing. Invading my moment of solace. Her eyes glimmered as they reflected the moon’s light that bled in from the skylight.

  “That couldn’t have been easy. Quitting I mean.” She finally said after a moment of silence, her eyes flicked to the carton in my hand.

  “It wasn’t.” I affirmed.

  “What even got you started? If you care to share that is.” She followed up with. Her intent clear.

  The casual way in which she asked irked me. As if, it was only natural that I would answer her question…

  And then… did I want to?

  I looked down at the lone cigarette shifting about in the box. I could still imagine the smell, the taste. Her lips… I sighed… I let the bottle of beer in my hand dangle over the edge before giving it a second glance and setting it aside.

  “Nope. I have no interest in sharing.” This was for me, and me alone.

  “So, it’s like that?” she asked back.

  “I suppose it is.”

  A long moment passed. A most definitely awkward moment passed.

  Eventually, Amanda sighed and stepped forward, leaning on the rail. Throwing caution to the wind.

  “You know, I have to admit, this last month was perhaps the best month of my entire life.”

  “Can’t say I feel the same.” Though, I did admit, it was fun in its own way. “Especially with where we find ourselves now.”

  “Really? I mean, for the first time in my life I feel like I’m actually moving forward. No longer spinning my wheels uselessly in the mud, like I’m actually making traction. Getting somewhere. Surely you feel the same?”

  I considered. I looked down at the carton in my hand. “Not really…” I finally said with a sigh. “If anything, it just feels like everything I’ve done up to this point was made moot.”

  “You’re not a very good conversation partner.”

  I shrug. “I get a bit more talkative when drunk.”

  She actually laughed at that. “I imagine.”

  “I imagine you didn’t come out here just to blab about my smoking and, whatever this is.”

  “It’s an attempt at small talk. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a heart of ice.”

  “I might just.” I said, with a light laugh.

  “I doubt that, especially with how you threw yourself in front of that monster before.” She jabbed back, though, not in a mean way.

  “Just doing my job.”

  “Sure.” I could feel the sarcasm in her tone. “But, yes, I didn’t just come out to carry a conversation on my own.”

  “And you were doing so well.” I said, replying with my own biting sarcasm.

  “You joke. But seriously, I wanted to apologize for earlier.”

  “Earlier?”

  “Yes, when I asked if you’d share your past. I realize now, or perhaps I always knew that everyone here had a similar past. A past we’d very much not want to talk about. Myself included. It was unfair of me to demand you to share, when I wasn’t ready to share either.”

  “I’m not too bothered. You’re better off apologizing to the others.”

  “Yeah, but you seemed the most approachable.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought that…” I trailed off. I tapped the railing with my finger. “Does that mean you want to share?” My own curiosity coming to the fore.

  She didn’t immediately reply back. Instead, she looked up at the full moon that could be seen above, through the skylight.

  “I… no, I don’t think I’m ready to share. Not yet anyway.”

  “Good.” I let out a sigh. “I’d rather not deal with that right now.”

  She let out a giggle at that. “What, afraid I’ll worm my way into your heart? Under that ice, is there a living beating heart? Or maybe, do you have a heart of glass you keep contained deep within, like a real princess would?”

  I didn’t reply to her teasing. I didn’t bother. I just watched as her cheer faded into something else.

  “Right…” She finally said. “Well, I won’t keep bothering you, I have next shift, so I might as well get some sleep!”

  “You do that.” She walked towards the door, but just before she could reach it. The lights went off. Plunging the mall in near darkness. Only the moon above illuminated the space. I didn’t panic. Slowly, I looked down at my watch, its face lit by moonlight.

  It was midnight. Start of the second day, meaning, something changed. After a few minutes of nothing, just when my eyes began to adjust, a great rattle echoed from somewhere under the mall. All at once, lights came blazing back on, briefly blinding me.

  The mall’s emergency power had engaged. Not just that, but following the lights coming back on, a distant cry reached my ears. I turned to speak to Amanda.

  “We should wake the others up.” Before she could reply, the door swung open. Diana and Serenity walked in, both looking somewhat disheveled but ready for action.

  “No need, we’re already up. The sudden loss of electricity woke us both up.” She grumbled. Serenity nodded along. “Anyway, what’s up?”

  “Loss of power, followed by the emergency generator kicking in. We’ll need to check how much fuel it has, but I’m thinking a few hours at most. Not just that, but we have guests.”

  At my words, the sounds of bodies smashing against the mall entrance echoed out through the space.

  “Well, guess we should get to work.” Diana said, nobody complained. Yet, just when we were getting ready to go down to the main floor, another, familiar cry echoed out, only, in stereo.

  “Is that!?” Serenity cried out, just when a loud crash echoed throughout the mall. The main entrance was blasted through, zombies were pouring in. At the very front were a pair of hulking brutes, more of the same kind of abomination from last night.

  “Diana, think you can handle one?”

  “Maybe…” She said hesitantly but firmed her hand. “I’ll need a bit of help.”

  “Serenity, back up Diana with your water. Aim for the legs, try to hamper it. Can you do that?”

  “I can!”

  “Good, now, Amanda focus on keeping the horde at bay. I’ll take the other one. Sound good?”

  ““Yes!”” They all shouted, and I moved without a second thought. The tiles underfoot crackled. With every breath, the temperature dropped, the ground freezing around me. The moment I reached the rail, I threw myself over right towards the incoming brutes. Tiles cracked underfoot when I landed.

  Not just that, but as the ice crawled over my body, freezing my blood and emotions, I felt something else change. I felt denser. I felt stronger. The world itself appeared to open up before me. Like my vision had widened, my hearing more acute. Serenity’s healing hadn’t completely fixed me, but… I felt so much more already.

  I couldn’t even hear my heart as I stepped forward. Instead, I heard the sound of many feet stepping on the tiled floor. I could see each individual zombie moving, every detail all too clear. The clothing they wore, the state of their bodies.

  Beside me, I felt Diana land. A burst of wind cushioned her fall. Her pick already swirling with gnashing winds. I felt the ground shake as roots took hold. Tendrils ripped out of the mall floor, impeding the coming horde.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  However… I noticed something as I approached the brute before me. Not all zombies were taking the path of least resistance, some appeared to be heading up the stairs, taking the long way around to attack Amanda and Serenity. An oddity to be sure, but…

  I had a task before me. I walked with measured steps, even as the hulking, muscle bound zombie approached. It reared back one of its meaty fists to strike and in response, I took up a stance. It swung, and I swung my own fist. Our two fists collided. The tiles below us chipped, the ice covering my arm cracked, but held, the brute’s arm however, shot back.

  I stepped forward. Another fist came sailing forward. Again, I met it. Again, ice cracked but held. Absorbing the blow. After breaking so many times, over and over yesterday, after being healed by Serenity. Something had changed. My body drank in the mysterious energy like a desert drank water. I could feel it soaking in to every part of my being. Strengthening beyond what should be possible.

  My own ice, was further enhanced. With each break, it improved. Even now, I did not go for the kill. I exchanged blows with the brute. Taking its measure. Each exchange my ice cracked less. The damage to my arm lessening to nil.

  I was improving at an astonishing rate. We all were. A beam of water shot out, scything through the knee of the other brute, buying time for Diana to make a hefty sweep at its neck when it stumbled. The brute raised its arm to block, the wind covered blow ripped into the thick arm, chewing it up like a chainsaw, until bone was revealed.

  It seemed like we had this well in hand. With another exchange, the ice covering my body shivered and shook, but held. The brute’s arms, however, failed them. Knuckles were rent from the exchange. The arm bent at a strange angle as bone bent and broke under the force of collision.

  With every step, I began to push it back. With every step I felt the cold go deeper.

  It was only because of that, that I saw it. A blur ran through the crowd. Something different. New. Not just that, but the horde let out a combined scream.

  “Diana! Help Amanda and Serenity!” I cried out. More out of fear of the unknown than anything else. I swiftly shot forward to end the brute, a strike to the knee had the limb crumple. It fell to its knee, and I thrust a spear hand through its throat into its brain, killing it. I pushed forward, sending the creature falling back and retrieved my blood covered hand in a single motion.

  I glanced back, when I heard approaching steps. I lashed out, a fist cratering in the skull of a zombie. Another filled the void, pushing me back. I moved back, punching and kicking as I went.

  The line had broken. The vines keeping the horde at bay were now inert. The plants were now being trampled by the oncoming horde. Behind me, I heard heavier, limping steps. I quickly faced the oncoming other brute that Diana had been focusing on.

  It swung at me, and I went low, moving as close as I could. I kicked at its knee in passing, the wounded knee that Serenity had scythed through with her beam of water. The limb cracked, bone snapped, flesh and sinew tore. The mostly useless limb was made entirely useless in a single blow.

  The brute fell to its knees, I moved under its arm and around its body. With a bit of a distance, I ran forward, small ice spikes on the bottom of my new shoes dug into the brute’s back as I ran up its broad back. As I crested the top, it swung a hand to swipe me, like I was a fly. I kicked off, spun in the air, ice gathering at the end of my foot. As I passed the arm, I kicked…

  The blow was perfect. My foot connected to the side of the brute’s head. The extra weight the ice gave me just enough oomph, so that my kick carried through. Ripping the brute’s head from his wide shoulders. Sending it sailing out towards the crowd, almost as if I were a professional striker kicking a goal.

  I hit the ground, much like an artist falling into a mosh pit. Zombies were pressed under me. I rolled as best as I could. Their chipped nails and fingertips bereft of flesh scraped at the ice covering my body.

  They tried to pile on me, but I managed to get a hand under me and with a heft, kick out at a cluster of zombies’ legs, sending them into a heap. Using the opportunity, I leapt up. My new strength made it all too easy to shrug off grasping hands and once I had my feet under me, I began to tear into them with steady blows.

  Only, they weren’t coming at me with single-minded determination. There was an intent behind it. They came at me in irregular waves. Forcing me to shift and turn to meet them. They bit and clawed. Working away at my ice. Working away at my mind.

  They were too coordinated. Something had to be leading them…

  My expanded senses made it easier for me to look around. As I turned and shifted, I took in every detail. Even as I continued to reap away at the seemingly endless tide. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw it. On the second floor it stood. A zombie, taller than most. Eyes gleaming, staring down at me with a disgusting grin.

  My head turned, our eyes locked. Its eyes widened, it took a step pack, and I knew it was commanding them. I tried to push forward, but the zombies locked together and pushed against me with greater force, as if urged on. Putting their all in stopping me. Teeth clacking, claws scrabbling at my ice.

  Even with my newfound power. I was surrounded. They were wearing my ice down with a thousand cuts. All they needed was a small opening, then they would begin to pry me open like a crab. Once pried… they would rip my frozen flesh and organs out from that opening.

  The realization was not pleasant.

  I couldn’t reach the zombie leader. Every step I made closer just had them tightening ranks. Any attempt to go around or circumvent any opposition just led me into another group.

  I was in a quagmire. A quagmire of bodies and limbs. I had no idea what was going on the second floor. I could hear the bursts of wind screaming out. Bodies hitting the ground. I could hear the rush of water, but I couldn’t see or hear any of the signs I had come to associate with Amanda’s ability.

  Yet, I had no idea what had happened. Why we were on the backfoot. Either way, something had to change.

  “Serenity! Hit the tall zombie on the opposite platform, on the second floor!” I cried out, choosing to trust my team, and the zombies rushed in with ever greater fervor in response.

  Hearing my words and somehow understanding them. The leader attempted to bolt. I was pushed and pulled. My feet struggling for traction as I punched and elbowed whatever I could. They pressed in and for a single, horrifying moment, my feet left the ground as they worked together. Their combined might, like a living tide, managed to push me down.

  Then something screamed overhead. A projectile of water, the size of a football soared by. It clipped a marble pillar, ripping a chunk away with an explosive splash of compressed water, narrowly missing the leader zombie. Four more followed and evaporated the leader.

  All at once, the horde’s coordination fell apart. They dropped me, my feet managed to land on solid ground. Giving me leverage to toss them aside and begin to properly cull them. They came at me in an unceasing wave, and I, met them with fist and foot.

  There were too many. My ice began to flake away. My energy flagged. At any moment, something would fail, and I’d be swallowed up by the horde. Then, a shift happened. A horrible keening wail ripped through the mall. Zombie limbs and black blood went spraying everywhere.

  At the far end of the mall, Diana was moving forward. Winds howled around her, ripping and tearing into the mass of undead with ease. Their bodies were flown about or torn to bits and scattered throughout the mall. Every swing of her pick sent out a visible gash that cleaved through the horde.

  In a matter of moments, the horde was rapidly thinned and eventually reduced to nothing. The stragglers were slowly dealt with. Only then, standing over a field of corpses and body parts. The ground wet and sticky with black blood. Only then did I let myself relax.

  No new danger approached, and I let the ice recede. What followed was pain. My entire body screamed out. Muscles twitched and contracted. Every part of me felt like I had wrung it fully out.

  “You okay?” Diana asked, her clothes and face covered in blood. Bits of meat were stuck in her hair.

  Through clenched teeth I managed to speak. “Gimme, a minute…” It felt more like I had a full body muscle cramp. I stretched as best as I could. Breathing in and out as fire lit up along my entire body.

  Eventually, I felt good enough to move without falling or crumpling into a ball.

  “I think… I think I’m good.” I said, slightly more confident than I must have looked.

  “You sure?” She pressed.

  “Yeah, I think… I think with my ice in action, my body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs. Since it slows my heart rate and all.”

  She nods. “Makes sense, I guess. Isn’t that kind of bad though?”

  I feel it out. I felt stiff. Just moving my various joints felt off. The more I moved them though, the more sure they felt… which was, odd.

  “I think I’ll adapt.” And it was true. Compared to yesterday, it felt much more manageable. Even if I did do it over a longer period of time, the intensity was to a much lesser degree. Even when I fought the abomination, or brute last night, I hadn’t gone as deep as I had just now. Or rather, my body couldn’t have handled it even if I had tried.

  “What exactly happened anyway?”

  “That… You’re better off seeing it.” She answered vaguely. We walked the long way around, past the literal carpet of bodies towards where Serenity and Amanda were. My eyes immediately caught sight of the issue.

  Amanda was on the ground. Her face was unusually pale. Her clothes were soaked in blood. Her throat was covered in blood as well. Not just that, but the vines that had clung to her body were all wilted and dead. For a moment, I thought the worst as Serenity stood over her, her face equally pale, and she looked ready to collapse.

  “Serenity, what happened?” My words jolted her out of her thoughts. She hurriedly stood up and nearly stumbled to the ground, but I managed to grab her shoulder and hold her upright.

  “Ah, well…” She paused. She tried to steady her breath, her whole body was shaking in tune with her beating heart that slammed against her chest.

  “At first, everything went fine, yeah. I helped Diana out, and Amanda was able to stop the hordes. Even when they took the stairs and went around us, she was able to keep them under control. The problem was… something blurred by. I barely caught it when suddenly Amanda was on the ground…”

  She hesitates and brings her arms close. “Her throat was ripped out. Blood was gushing everywhere. Even then, she didn’t panic. Vines erupted out, impaled whatever it was that attacked her, she then fell back. Blood gushing from her throat… I… I… I rushed to her side to heal her.”

  She stammered. Looking ready to break down. I brought her in to steady her. The moment she was in my embrace, she cried. I was cold, ice cold, but the girl didn’t care as she cried.

  “I thought she was dead! No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t heal fast enough! She was losing too much blood!!!” She roared in my chest. Soaking my jacket in tears. I said nothing and continued to hold er close.

  “Then… then… the vines, they started to wither, and the wound closed even faster. I don’t know how, but… but I think she was healing herself through her vines!”

  At this point, she managed to control herself. With a few sniffles she wormed her way out of my embrace and rubbed her shoulders. Likely realizing how cold she was now.

  “Yeah, it looked bad.” Diana added after. “When I came up, she was entirely focused on trying to revive Amanda, if you hadn’t told me to come up, well…”

  The zombies would have tore into her, is what Diana left unsaid.

  “Even then, I was having trouble keeping them under control They moved irregularly, and I was having trouble protecting the two of them while the zombies kept pressing in.” Diana finished.

  “Then you called for me to attack. I didn’t really think about it. At that point Amanda was stabilized. I just, I just threw everything I had at the first possible target I saw.” Serenity added in.

  “Yup, then as you can tell, all coordination collapsed. I wiped them out and assisted you the moment I could.” Diana chipped in. Thus, ending the after-action report…

  I nodded and took in the scene and looked at Amanda. She looked worn out. Exhausted and for good reason…

  The question was, could she continue?