Zombie Survival System

Alexandre had known the hotel room would be luxurious, but he hadn't quite understood the full extent of what that meant.

The room was huge, about 55 square meters—larger than the apartments which most people could afford to live in, given the global circumstances. The bed was massive and covered by a handmade quilt, and there was a small box of chocolates nestled into the pillow.

At one end of the room was an electric fireplace, while the other end opened up into a balcony that was so huge it made the one in his previous room seem like a fire escape. There was a massive television across from the bed, and in the middle of it all was a beautiful table topped with a pot of hot coffee, a bowl of fresh fruit, and a basket of warm bread.

Fatigued, bloody, and covered in scars, Alexandre couldn't help but take the opportunity of experiencing the luxury of this room's huge marble shower. Dispensers built into the wall squirted out designer shampoos and conditioners, and there was even a fridge full of craft beer built right into the shower.

Alexandre spent a long time under the hot water and drinking a cold beer, feeling the tension melt away from his still-healing muscles. When he finally exited the shower, water dripping from his beautiful hair down his muscular body, Alexandre glanced out the balcony to the ocean beyond. It was a far more gorgeous view than the previous room, high enough and close enough to the shore that the dark sea seemed to swallow every trouble in the world.

"I could get used to this," he said, and finished his beer. "This might be the first time I've truly understood the allure of luxury."

Then something caught his eye—the news channel on the room's television. Alexandre slowly walked toward it, staring intently, not caring about the water he dripped onto the thick carpet underfoot.

The announcer's face was solemn and rigid. "Hello, there! This is Kevin Brockman for CNN. We are about to witness the end of the judicial soap opera that has transfixed the nation for so many years. In just a few minutes, Dr. Goldberg will be executed here at New-Elden Prison, the infamous facility designed to hold Hunter prisoners.

"This execution is anomalous for several reasons. Not only will the event be broadcast live, something almost entirely unheard of, but the method of execution selected by the sentencing judge is hanging, a method which hasn't been formally employed in a decade, not since the execution of Michael 'Stix' Addison in New Hampshire in 2026.

"This method of execution showcases the division which Dr. Goldberg has stirred in the people of this nation. Among the crowd of tens of thousands gathered outside New-Elden Prison, many carry signs with messages such as "Thank you, Dr. Goldberg" and "Goldberg did nothing wrong." Meanwhile, many others carry signs portraying Goldberg being killed in horrific ways, or proclaiming expletives too strong to repeat on this broadcast."

The announcer seemed to be troubled by something for a brief second, but he regained his professionalism almost in a heartbeat. "And... of course, the most unusual element of this trial is the extremely short time between sentencing and execution. For sake of comparison, eighteen years passed between the sentencing of Michael 'Stix' Addison and his execution. Dr. Goldberg was, of course, sentenced much sooner than a decade ago, and the appeals process was brief and dismissive."

Alexandre stared at the screen, taking in the announcer's words. Though the United States liked to pretend that its law and order functioned the same as it had throughout modern history, the truth was clear: The rights of citizens were no longer as important as they once were. Totalitarian "justice" was necessary to satisfy the bloodlust of the people.

"The Governor of the State of New York," continued the announcer, "has called in several hundred soldiers from the National Guard to ensure order, as well as several Hunter auxiliaries."

A few minutes of commentary passed, but it was clear that the presenter was just trying to fill time. Eventually, his head jerked up as he received an announcement and the camera feed shifted to focus on the figures who had just emerged from the prison gate.

"It's happening," said the announcer. "Dr. Goldberg has appeared, flanked by two officers of the prison."

The guards led Dr. Goldberg to a fenced-off courtyard, where a gallows had been constructed. It was bizarre to see such an archaic structure built from brand-new wood, its fresh glistening like gold in the sunlight.

The prisoner was a man in his sixties, slightly stooped from decades of hard work in the laboratory. He slowly climbed the traditional thirteen steps to the platform awaiting him, his gaze peculiarly absent-minded and fixed straight ahead.

A huge man awaiting him was a bizarre contrast, for he wore both a modern suit and an executioner's hood which looked straight out of a history book. The executioner must have been wearing a lapel microphone, for his voice boomed out through speakers set up all around. "Doctor Richard Heinreich Goldberg, the United States of America has sentenced you to death by hanging for your crimes. Have you any last words?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The doctor slowly and deliberately replied, "It's not over yet."

The executioner attached a medical device to Dr. Goldberg's chest to measure his vitals, then placed the rope around his neck and pulled the lever.

Goldberg fell.

The rope pulled taut.

He convulsed for the briefest fraction of a moment, then went still.

A few minutes later, the executioner glanced at his smartwatch and announced, "Doctor Richard Heinreich Goldberg is dead. Justice has been done. Let's not forget that no one is above the Constitution of the United States of America!"

The video feed switched back to the CNN announcer, who looked slightly sick. "That's all for the live broadcast of Doctor Goldberg's execution. Now we'll... we'll have a short commercial break."

Alexandre slowly picked up the TV remote and switched off the set. He muttered, "Go to God, Daddy..."

And then he slept deeply for over eight hours, a coma-like sleep that channeled every bit of his Hunter energy into healing the shattered bones that still ground against each other in his body. The injuries would take a long time to heal fully, even with Hunter healing, but this was a start.

Most importantly, though, this comatose sleep of healing was one completely free of dreams.