Chapter 1

In the final second before my consciousness slipped away, my mind was filled with nothing but my wife's ice-cold gaze.

Savannah Lane, the woman I had loved desperately for seven years, had just killed me for another man. That soul-shattering pain drowned out even the agony of having my special abilities ripped from my body.

I didn't understand. What had I ever done to her to deserve such cruelty?

When the apocalypse hit, I'd thrown myself into every dangerous mission so she could live better. I came home covered in blood and wounds more times than I could count. All I got in return, however, was cold-blooded murder.

I let out my last unwilling breath and died with resentment.

Maybe my resentment was too strong, because the next thing I knew, I was trailing after Savannah in the form of a spirit.

She was in the lab, her face glowing with joy as she handed the vial containing my stolen special ability to her true love, Edmund Colson.

She said, "Ed, here it is—the special ability I got for you. It's the strongest lightning-based ability there is, so don't worry."

I only let out a bitter, silent laugh. She really was willing to go all out for him. Not only did she strip me of my special abilities, but she'd also picked the strongest one I had.

She'd never once gone to this much trouble for me.

Edmund's face lit up. He pulled Savannah into his arms. "Sav, I don't even know how to thank you. Once I have this special ability, I can go out on missions every day. I'll give you all the supplies I get."

Savannah blushed. "Ed, your safety is what matters most. I'll love anything you give me."

He sighed, putting on a self-deprecating look. "But no matter what, I'll never compare to Chase. He's the captain and can bring back all sorts of supplies. I—"

She couldn't bear hearing him put himself down and hastily cut him off. "So what? In my heart, anything from you is the best. I don't care about a single thing Chase has ever brought back."

Savannah's words struck me like a sledgehammer to the chest.

Life after the apocalypse wasn't easy, but I'd refused to let her suffer, even just a little. Every time I went out on a mission, I fought on the front lines, slaying zombies like a madman just to earn more points. With more points, I could trade for more supplies for her.

Even with multiple special abilities, there were times I ran out of strength. Getting injured was routine, but every wound felt worth it if it meant giving Savannah a safe, comfortable life.

Every time I rushed home, excited to show her what I'd managed to bring back, she would only spare the things a cold glance. She'd never once looked moved, never once asked if I was okay. Yet Edmund only had to feed her empty promises to make her melt.

Perhaps that was the difference between being loved and not being loved at all.

Edmund's eyes glinted. He feigned worry as he asked, "Sav, won't Chase come after me when he wakes up?"

Savannah frowned, her expression turning frigid. "What right does he have to come after you? I just took one of his special abilities. It's not like I killed him.

"You can also be someone everyone looks up to, Ed. You're just short of a special ability. Chase has so many, so sharing one with you is the least he can do. How can he be so selfish?"

I wanted to tell her that I really was dead. And without me, the entire human race was about to face extinction.