The Queen’s Awakening

Haven One. It had once been a luxury hotel near the eastern district. After the outbreak, its owners had abandoned it, leaving behind generators, stored food, and a private security team.

Caedmon would go there because he had contacts among the city’s wealthy families.

Liora would follow him.

Together, they would convince the survivors that they were trustworthy people.

They would use Vespera’s stolen wealth to buy loyalty and secure weapons.

Then, when the settlement became powerful enough, they would begin eliminating anyone who threatened their position.

Vespera remembered how the story described their rise.

Caedmon was praised as a brilliant leader. Liora was admired for her kindness.

Their victims were forgotten. She clenched her fists.

“Not this time.”

A strange noise came from the street ahead.

It sounded like metal scraping against concrete.

Vespera stopped. The zombies around her suddenly became restless.

One stepped backward. Another released a low growl.

The third dropped to its knees. Vespera’s eyes narrowed.

“What is wrong with you?” A heavy impact shook the road.

Then another. Something was approaching.

Vespera felt it before she saw it.

A presence pressed against her mind, powerful and hostile. It was like standing before a wild animal that had already decided she was its prey.

She turned toward the intersection. A figure emerged from the smoke.

It had once been a man, but its body had changed beyond recognition. Its shoulders were unnaturally broad, and dark plates covered its skin like armor. Its mouth stretched almost to its ears, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Unlike the ordinary zombies, its eyes were clear.

They were a deep, unnatural red. The creature stopped several meters away.

It looked at Vespera.

Then it smiled.

“So,” it rasped, “you are the one they call the queen.”

Vespera froze. The Zombie creature could speak.

That was impossible.

In the novel, intelligent zombies had appeared much later, after several months of mutation. Even then, most could only make simple sounds.

This creature was different.It had awakened far too early.

Vespera raised her hand.

“Bow.”

The ordinary zombies immediately lowered their heads.

The creature remained standing. A cruel laugh escaped its throat.

“You think that trick will work on me?”

Vespera felt her stomach tighten.The blue screen flashed before her eyes.

[Warning.]

[Hostile Royal Mutation detected.]

[Threat Level: Unknown.]

[Royal Authority contested.]

She stared at the warning.

“Who are you?” The creature stepped forward.

“Once, I was human. I had a wife, a home, and a family. Then the people I trusted sold me to a research facility.”

Its voice grew darker.

“They told me I was being treated for a disease. They lied. They injected me with something that burned through my body and turned my blood into poison.”

Vespera’s expression changed.

The research facility. Project Lazarus.

The creature laughed again.

“When I escaped, the world had already begun to fall apart. Everyone was screaming. Everyone was running. And the dead were eating the living.”

It spread its arms.

“Do you know what I discovered?”

Vespera said nothing.

“That humans are weak. They betray one another for money, power, and survival. They deserve to be ruled by something stronger.”

Its red eyes burned.

“Something like me.” Vespera slowly stepped backward.

The creature watched her with growing amusement.

“My name was Draven Korr. I was the first successful subject of Project Lazarus.”

The words sent a chill through her.

A scientist. Or a test subject.

Someone who had survived the experiment that might have caused the apocalypse.

“You know what happened at the facility?” she asked.

Draven tilted his head.

“I know more than you can imagine.”

“Then tell me.”

He stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“You are giving me orders?”

Vespera lifted her chin.

“I am the Zombie Queen.” Draven’s smile vanished.

For several seconds, the street fell silent.

Then he took another step toward her.

“There can only be one queen.”

The blue screen flashed violently.

[Warning.]

[Royal Authority under attack.]

Vespera felt a sharp pain tear through her head.

She staggered. Draven’s lips curved into a cruel smile.

“Your power is still weak. You have barely awakened, and you already believe you can rule the dead.”

He raised one hand.

Every ordinary zombie in the street began to tremble.

Vespera felt their connection to her weaken.

One zombie turned away from her.

Then another. Her eyes widened.

“What are you doing?”

Draven laughed.

“Taking what belongs to me.”

He clenched his fist.

The zombies suddenly charged toward Vespera.

She shouted, “Stop!”

Some obeyed. Others continued running.

Vespera stepped backward as several infected lunged at her. She twisted aside, grabbed one by the neck, and slammed it into a parked car.

The impact shattered the window.

But before she could recover, Draven appeared directly in front of her.

His speed was terrifying.

Vespera barely had time to raise her arms before his fist struck her chest.

She flew backward.

Her body crashed against the side of a vehicle, denting the metal.

Pain exploded through her. She slid to the ground, gasping.

Draven walked toward her.

“Look at you. The great queen, reduced to crawling in the dirt.”

Vespera tried to stand. Her legs shook.

The blue screen appeared again.

[Warning.]

[Royal Core damaged.]

[Humanity: 18%.]

She stared at the message in horror. Her humanity was disappearing.

If it reached zero, would she lose her mind completely?

Would she become nothing more than a creature driven by hunger?

Draven crouched before her.

“You and I are not the same. You still cling to the memories of your human life. You still care about the people who betrayed you.”

He leaned closer.

“That weakness will destroy you.”

Vespera glared at him.

“You know nothing about me.”

“I know enough.”

He grabbed her throat and lifted her off the ground.

Vespera clawed at his hand, but his grip only tightened.

“I know you are afraid,” he whispered. “I know you want revenge. And I know you believe this power will help you get it.”

Her vision blurred.

Draven smiled.

“But revenge means nothing if you cannot survive long enough to claim it.”

Vespera struggled to breathe.

She tried to command the zombies, but the connection had nearly vanished.

Then she remembered the blue screen.

Royal Authority. It was not simply a command.

It was power.Her power.

She gathered every bit of strength she had and forced the words through her clenched teeth.

“Kneel.”

For a brief moment, Draven’s expression changed.

His arm trembled.

The zombies around them dropped to the ground.

Even Draven’s knees bent slightly.

Vespera’s eyes widened.

It was working. But then Draven snarled.

“You little parasite!”

A sharp pain tore through her chest.

She looked down.

Draven’s other hand had pierced her body.

Her royal core. He had found it.

Vespera stared at him in disbelief.

“No…” Draven leaned closer.

“Thank you for making this easy. He pulled his hand free.

Vespera fell to the pavement. The world began to darken.

The blue screen flickered before her eyes.

[Royal Core critically damaged.]

[Consciousness collapse imminent.]

[Emergency evolution unavailable.]

She tried to move. Nothing happened.Draven stood over her.

“Your reign ends before it begins.”

Vespera’s thoughts scattered. She had barely begun her revenge.

She had not found Caedmon and Liora.

She had not even discovered the full truth about the apocalypse.

Was this how her second life would end?

Just like the first one?

Abandoned, Betrayed and Killed by someone stronger.

Draven lifted his foot. Vespera stared at him through fading vision.

“No,” she whispered.

He brought his foot down. Her body went still.

For several seconds, Draven watched her without moving.

Then he crouched and reached toward the damaged core inside her chest.

But before his fingers touched it, a strange sound came from the darkness.

A notification. One that neither of them had expected.

[Royal Core destruction detected.]

[Hidden authority awakening.]

[Warning: The Queen’s true power has been unlocked.]