Chapter 3

Dave's movements stopped. He lifted his head, glancing toward the bedroom door.

He froze.

Even without looking, I knew Caleb had come out. My heart plummeted.

I didn't care about anything else. I ripped myself from Dave's grasp and ran to my son, pulling him into my arms, both desperate and furious. "Mommy told you never to come out if someone was here! Why are you so disobedient?"

Caleb's expression was vacant. He lay in my arms like a soulless doll.

The terror on Dave's face lasted only seconds. Seeing Caleb's harmless, vacant stare, he relaxed.

"Well, well, you filthy bitch. No wonder you're so secretive every day. So you're raising a zombie son."

Dave snatched a dinner knife from the table, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he took slow steps towards me.

"If the people in the settlement find out about this, what do you think they'll do?"

I stared at him in despair, and as he approached, I dropped to my knees with a thud.

"Dave, please, I beg you, have mercy. Don't tell them."

"Caleb is the only family I have left. I can't lose him too…"

Dave grabbed my hair, throwing me aside. Then he reached out, grabbing my son by the neck, and lifted him into the air.

Caleb still didn't react. His small body hung suspended. Beneath his pulled-up shirt, a stomach covered in old bite marks was visible.

"Ugh, so stinky, so disgusting." Dave's face twisted in disgust. He then aimed the knife tip directly at Caleb's eye, a cruel smile on his lips.

"You want me to spare your son? Fine. Strip."

I bit back a sob, slowly, deliberately, unbuttoning my top.

I didn't know if Dave would keep his word, but right now, to protect my son, I had no other choice.

Soon, my top was completely open, revealing my thin bra. Dave's eyes widened, glued to me. He hissed, "Keep going, keep going! Ha ha ha ha!"

His face was contorted in a crazed expression. "If you'd just submitted, none of this would be happening. But now, you'll have to please me in front of your son. Is that what you want, you pathetic slut? Does that turn you on?"

I fought to keep my emotions in check, but the immense humiliation made my body tremble uncontrollably.

Just as I was about to unhook my bra, Caleb's eyes suddenly shifted.

The vacant stare faded, replaced by a flicker of pure rage and hatred.

He let out a guttural snarl, his mouth opening wide. And then he lunged, biting deep into Dave's arm!

Dave hadn't seen it coming!

He let out a piercing shriek, instinctively dropping Caleb to the floor. He clutched his bleeding arm, and pure, unadulterated terror flooded his eyes.

He knew exactly what a zombie bite meant.