14 – Hand Touch

“A system user, huh?” Jason asked as he led Cody and the others to the farm area. “My and Tommy’s father, Albert, are also a system user. Because of him, our consciousness could return.”

There’s only Jason. Tommy had run to the main house to inform Helena of Gwen’s arrival.

“So, you guys spread the transmission so that people gather here?” Cody responded.

Jason looked back and smiled. “We used to go around using cars to do mobile transmission, but we don’t do that anymore because we run out of gas. In fact, the car you use is the one we usually use.”

“I see.” Cody glanced at a pig pen near to them. Those pink animals still looked healthy, and they were being guarded by a zombie.

“Are you guys still scared? That’s why you don’t talk much, right?” Jason adjusted his hat and smiled once again. “Well, it feels strange living with zombies like this. When they first arrived, many of our members felt scared.”

Cody frowned at that.

Several individuals arrived from a distance. One of them ran towards Cody’s group with a scream. “Gwen!!!”

“Helena!!!” Gwen also ran to the woman who had blonde hair like herself.

“That’s.” Emily grimaced at the sight of Gwen’s sister.

“You noticed that too, huh?” Cody spoke in a low voice so that no one else could hear him.

The two sisters hugged tightly, but not long after, Gwen widened her eyes and let go of the hug.

“Why is your body so cold?” Gwen studied Helena’s body up and down, then gasped hard.

“That’s how it is.” Helena smiled. “I can’t be called human anymore.”

Helena’s face and body remained undamaged, but her skin turned pale and grayish, just like Brigg’s, t

“Wh-why?” Gwen’s eyes filled with tears.

“Long story.” Helena was still smiling.

“Fascinating.” A skinny old man with a face full of wrinkles left his group and came to Cody’s zombies. He also wears a cowboy hat like Tommy and Jason. “They can be stand still, not like ordinary zombies. But they also haven’t gained their consciousness.”

[Another Zombie system user detected]

Like Cody, the old man looked up into the air, most likely watching his system UI Screen.

—

Albert Norris

Role: Zombie Awakener

Attack: F

Defense: F

Stamina: F

—

“Cody Wolfe.” The old man looked at Cody with a big smile. “Zombie Puppeteer, huh? Welcome to Norris Farm.”

“Thank you for having us, Mr. Albert Norris.” Cody was smiling, but he was on full alert.

All of this was suspicious. Besides Albert, there were no other humans present. Some people on the farm had their body parts torn apart like ordinary zombies, but some were still intact, like Helena.

But all of them were pale and grayish.

“Let me wake them up.” Albert looked at the Cody’s zombies. “Everyone deserves a second chance. And yes, I still consider them human.”

Two zombies dropped their respective weapons as Albert touched their heads. The muscles that grew due to Cody’s system buff also decreased.

Seeing that, Cody wondered. Should he attack them? But he doesn’t yet know the strength of these zombies living on the farm.

“W-what happened?” One of Cody’s zombies groped his body after a minute of Albert holding his head. “Last time I remember, everything was in chaos…”

Jason spoke to him. “It’s okay. We’ll explain what happened to you.”

As Albert awakened the other zombies, Jason and several others tried to calm the newly awakened ones. After that, Jason took those newly awakened zombies somewhere.

“Is this okay?” Emily whispered to Cody. “Those zombies are your weapons, right?”

“We can’t do anything.” Cody hissed.

“Ah, I awakened too many zombies.” Albert held his forehead.

Tommy patted the man’s shoulder. “Come on, Dad. Let me take you to your room.”

As Tommy supported him to walk, Albert smiled again at Cody. “We will throw a big party tonight to welcome you guys.”

The zombies cheered. Some followed Albert, while others welcomed Cody and his friends.

Cody felt that the way he spoke seemed artificial.

“Take it easy.” Helena smiled again, and it also looked fake. “You guys will be happy here.”

***

That evening, they served roast pork, mashed potatoes, and vegetables to Cody and his friends outdoors. Because the main farm house uses solar panels, they can still turn on the lights.

“It’s okay. You can eat it.” Cody spoke to Emily, who looked hesitant about eating the dish.

“Yeah, we won’t mix it with sleeping pills or anything like that.” Helena came to them carrying a guitar. “We don’t have access to anything like that.”

Helena handed the guitar to Gwen. The singer did accept the instrument, but said nothing. Her eyes were half closed and the corners of her lips were down, as if she saw something she didn’t want.

“I’m sorry if you don’t want to do this,” Cody whispered. “But I need you to, please.”

“I know.” Gwen sighed, then stood up.

As Gwen walked away, Cody observed the zombies joking and feasting at other tables. Cody wondered, were they really enjoying this outdoor ‘party’?

Can they taste food and drink like ordinary humans? Or do they want to die right away because they can’t tolerate their body conditions?

Cody witnessed someone eating with food exiting through a hole in the neck. How could he enjoy something like that?

“As a thank you, I will be here to sing a song. The title is Who Should I Trust.” Gwen said after arriving in front of the undead. Unlike before, she wore a big smile, just like a true entertainer who buries her own feelings while performing.

The audience clapped, and Gwen started singing. “When they come to me and say everything is fine, you tell me the truth...”

Gwen’s melodious voice filled the sky that night. Emily closed her eyes to enjoy it. However, Cody instead spoke to Helena. “Your sister’s singing has distracted them. Is there anything you want to talk to me about, Helena? I have a feeling you want to do it.”

Helena made sure that no one noticed them. “I have prepared a plan to escape, and you must follow me. This place isn’t that good, Cody.”

Cody looked at Gwen, who was still singing. “I also have a plan, Helena.”