Chapter 2
338words
Marcus's message blazed across the screen: "You! Your wife isn't human—she's a walking corpse!"
Steven froze, then plastered on a smile for the camera: "Well, someone's got quite the imagination."
"Does she sneak out of bed at midnight to apply makeup? Ever seen her bare face? Living corpses feed on the vital energy of the living to maintain their existence!"
The chat exploded—half the viewers mocking Marcus as a lunatic, the others dissecting his claims with disturbing seriousness.
Steven's mind raced back—Linda always went to bed after him and woke up later. Come to think of it, he'd never seen her without makeup.
His health had deteriorated since their marriage—constant fatigue, unexplained weakness. The realization sent a chill down his spine.
"Living corpses fear sunlight and avoid silver. Haven't you noticed? Can you honestly deny it?"
Steven's heart hammered against his ribs as memories flooded back.
The audience fractured into two camps—those dismissing it as a publicity stunt and those frantically sharing similar experiences.
Steven remembered Linda's strange attachment, how she seemed most affectionate when he was at his weakest.
Marcus fired off his final warning: "Three days from now—on your birthday—the zombie massacre begins!"
After the stream ended, Steven found himself frozen outside the bedroom door, listening to Linda's soft humming from the bathroom.
Following Marcus's suggestion, Steven poured Holy Water into the new makeup remover he'd bought for Linda, presenting it to her as a gift.
She smiled sweetly as she accepted the "gift" from Steven.
Linda planted a grateful kiss on Steven's cheek, thanking him for his thoughtfulness. Her seemingly innocent demeanor convinced him she suspected nothing.
That night, Steven's phone buzzed with a lengthy private message from Marcus.
The message detailed zombie characteristics: unnaturally pale skin, cold body temperature, and pathological aversion to sunlight.
He remained skeptical, but damn if it wasn't the perfect livestreaming gimmick.
