The moment I realized exactly where I was, I froze.

And I don’t mean on my couch, in my house, in a life where I was safe, protected, and... happy.

No, I was at a crossroads, and I didn’t know which way to go.

I turned off my phone and looked at the four men around me. Each one was different, each one had an ’expertise’ that would be useful in the apocalypse. But I didn’t know how to apply that to me.

My eyes rested on Yuche and stayed there.

I didn’t know exactly what he did in the old world or who he was. I knew he had weapons, I knew that he didn’t play by the rules, and I know that he was part of a world that I knew nothing about.

But he was also the most morally grey man I had ever met.

I opened my mouth, but then quickly shut it again. Fuck. I don’t remember the last time I had ever asked for help. Maybe my last life? Before I turned four and realized that just because I asked for help didn’t mean that I got it.

Come on, it really couldn’t be that hard, right? I mean, people asked for help all the time. I see Chenghai and Zhenlan do it, and the world didn’t come to an end. I should be able to do it, too.

Still staring at Yuche I opened my mouth for a second time, only to shut it just as fast.

I felt his sigh more than I heard it, and before I could say anything, I was already flung over his shoulder and we were moving into a different part of the house.

He must have been walking for ten minutes before he finally put me down. I wasn’t in a room that I recognized, but I liked it. There was a giant bed nestled between two windows overlooking the backyard. The sheets were black with a black canopy overtop. Even the walls were a dark grey color with more black furniture strategically placed around the room.

"It seriously can’t be that hard for you to ask for help," he grunted after a moment. He walked over to one of the corners with a black and silver striped wingback chair and sat down. He crossed one leg over the other and rested his elbow on the armrest. "So tell me, what do you want?"

"Whose room is this?" I asked, turning around in circles. Fuck, I was already so in love with this room that I didn’t want to ever leave it. It was so much better than the bubblegum pink room that belonged to the old Rouxi that I almost wanted to put down my foot and never leave it.

"No idea," replied Yuche with a shrug. "Not my house. Shouldn’t you know the answer to your question more than I do?"

"You’re right," I agreed, walking over to the bed and flinging myself on it. I stared up at the canopy with a stupid smile on my face. "This is my room."

"That’s good and all, but I’m not letting you out of here until you tell me what is bothering you and why you think that I, more than your Uncle, can help you with it."

"First of all," I started, holding up a single finger. My eyes never left the darkness overhead. It was so soothing that I felt my chest becoming lighter. "Zhenlan is not my uncle. Second of all, if you are dishing out threats, pick a better one. Never leaving this room is not a hardship."

"I’m sure that Zhenlan would be thrilled to hear that," Yuche murmured under his breath. It was so low that I almost didn’t hear it. "Now. Spit it out."

I sucked in a deep breath and held it long enough that my lungs started to burn. Then I let it out slowly. Right. I needed help. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"How do you ask for help?" I asked, realizing that I wasn’t making the most sense.

"Are you telling me that you don’t know how to?" replied Yuche, his voice actually so soft and gentle I almost wanted to look at him to make sure that this was still the same man that I knew.

But I also knew that looking at him would break the magic of this room.

"I don’t remember the last time I ever asked for help," I said honestly. "The words are kind of... sticking in my throat. Like a cat with a hairball."

"I am going to ignore all of that," sighed Yuche. "If you don’t know how to ask, then don’t. You do better with demands anyways, don’t you think?"

I nodded my head in agreement. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of those things that you could just demand. That was what was making this so hard.

"Fine," I got out. Jumping up so that I was sitting crisscross-applesauce, I looked at Yuche. "If you could save the human race, would you?"

Yuche studied me, his black eyes seeming to stare right into my soul. For a brief moment, I wondered who he saw... me or the spoiled princess.

"I am no one’s savior," he purred suddenly. Uncrossing his legs, he got out of his chair and moved toward me like he was a big cat who had just found his prey. "But I could try for you. Tell me, angel eyes, do you want to save the world?"

There was a tense moment where Yuche and I were practically breathing the same air before I burst out laughing.

"Yeah," I agreed, the smile in my face an actual one instead of the one I practiced over and over again in the mirror. "You’re right. I am no one’s savior."

The brains were going to contaminate the human’s water source with an antigen made from crushed up zombie crystals and blood. Their thinking was that if a human was exposed to just a little of the zombie virus, then those that were still living could build up antibodies that would naturally fight the zombie virus.

They figured if it worked for the flu then it would work for an apocalypse.

Only humans didn’t get access to any sort of water source. Compounds used water power users to give them clean water, the upper crust getting the better water. Those in the slums drank rain water.

Only plants were able to absorb the water from water treatment centers and water lines from the old world.

The zombie blood and crystals?

Those would completely change the very structure of plants until they were the most dominate force on earth. Humans and zombies wouldn’t stand a chance against them.

"You seem happy," murmured Yuche, reaching forward to stroke my face. "Did you get the help you wanted?"

"I think I did."