Abandoned Boyfriend of the Apocalypse

During a zombie-extermination mission, I end up getting infected with the zombie virus for the sake of protecting my squad.

But Emilia Campbell, the team captain as well as my girlfriend, decides to give the only antidote to another team member, who has secretly run away from the squad, only to get infected. Her excuse is that she should avoid being partial.

With red-rimmed eyes, she promises me, "Trust me, Zack. I'll definitely find another antidote for you during the three-day incubation period of the virus."

I can only nod in response while enduring the scorching pain flaring from my body.

On the second day, Emilia actually returns with an antidote.

But the second she's about to inject it into my bloodstream, Dustin Nott, a member who has never left the campsite, suddenly frowns.

"My head hurts so much, Em… What if I'm already infected with the virus?"

Emilia doesn't hesitate to pass the antidote to Dustin in front of everyone else.

"Dustin is a part of the team as well. It's my fault as the captain for not taking care of the squad if anything happens to him.

"Zack, you're the vice leader as well as my boyfriend. I must be impartial."

That's when I notice the smugness crossing Dustin's eyes as well as Emilia's righteous expression. Fury bubbles within me at that moment.

She must be impartial, huh?

Fine. Emilia will soon understand that the squad would never have survived to this point without me. After all, I'm a perfect evolved specimen—a human being that only has a 0.1% chance of overcoming the zombie virus and evolving into a powerhouse in this apocalypse.

When Emilia Campbell handed the antidote to Dustin Nott, she didn't even glance at me.

"Dustin, here's the antidote," she said, her tone as casual as if she were handing him a bottle of water.

Dustin took the antidote, his eyes gleaming with a barely contained smugness.

Then Emilia handed me a small bottle of murky, transparent liquid.

She avoided my gaze. "This is a suppressant. It'll help you hold out a little longer."

The cheap suppressant was useless to me at this stage of infection.

I kept my voice steady. "You know it won't work on me."

Emilia's eyes flickered. She frowned. "Zack Cohen, don't do this. Dustin's health is fragile. What if he really gets infected…"

I interrupted her with a laugh. "He hasn't even been on a mission since joining the team. He has no wounds, so how could he be infected?"

Emilia raised her voice. "That's just on the surface! You know the zombie virus has a three-day incubation period! As captain, I have to look out for every one of my team!"

She continued, "You're my boyfriend and the vice captain. If I give you the antidote and not him, what will the other team members think? How will I lead this team well? I have to avoid being partial!"

That same old excuse, again.

The gray-white streaks on my right arm were slowly creeping up toward my shoulder, and the burning sensation beneath my skin grew stronger with each passing moment.

I stared at her while taking a deep breath. "So, my life is less important than your reputation? You think you can just give me a suppressant and be done with it?"

Her face shifted slightly. "What are you saying? I promised I'll go to the research center in the western district tomorrow. I'll bring the antidote back! You trust me, don't you?"

Before the apocalypse, Emilia and I were the perfect team at the military academy.

She would plan, and I would execute. She strategized, while I handled the details.

Everyone said we were made for each other.

On graduation day, she said to me on the training field, "Zack, you can trust me completely for the rest of your life."

After the outbreak, I stayed by her side, helping her build the survivor squad. I didn't mind playing the supporting role. I gave her all the credit and shouldered all the risks.

Three years later, the team had grown from just seven to over forty, and she had become the respected "Captain Campbell".

But what did I get?

Nothing but excuses and "next times".

If it weren't for the virus stripping away my mutative abilities, and I'd be devoured by zombies if I went out alone, I would never need her to help me find the antidote.