Chapter 622: Christmas dinner.

Looks like Baked Ham was off the menu—again. A whole year into the apocalypse, and Chris was still stuck hauling crates like a damn pack mule.

He thought back to the days before everything went to hell—working retail through the holidays, scarfing down cold leftovers in the breakroom. Honestly? Not much had changed.

With a sigh, Chris rounded up Brandon and the others, along with a few more Awakeners, forming a transport crew. Their next stop: Texas.

Meanwhile, Mia tracked down Sean. Ethan had invited them over for a proper meal—something rare enough these days to feel like a holiday.

...

All across the country, people were scrambling, prepping for what was coming—the global Zombie Horde was on the move, and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

On a stretch of American coastline, crimson waves crashed against the shore, churning up dead fish and the bloated corpses of mutated sea beasts.

A massive ship had just docked.

From it poured members of the Vampire Race, swarming out like ants from a nest.

Even the sea itself wasn’t quiet—deep, guttural howls echoed from beneath the surface. Countless Aqua Zombies floated in the blood-red water, packed so tightly they looked like a solid mass. Some of the more advanced ones were already walking along the ocean floor, slowly emerging onto the beach.

They looked like demons crawling out of hell.

Leading the charge were several powerful figures from the Vampire Race, each one radiating deadly intent. These weren’t just any vampires—they were the adopted sons and daughters of the Crimson Count himself.

And right in the middle of them stood Sophia.

"Scarlet Moon, so this is America?" asked a handsome young man beside her.

"Yeah," Sophia nodded. "This is it."

The young man scanned the coastline. They’d arrived early—more of the Zombie Horde was still gathering offshore. The final battle wasn’t quite here yet.

"So, what’s fun to do around here? I wanna find something to play with first."

Sophia smirked. He’d definitely asked the right person. She knew the layout of America’s remaining strongholds like the back of her hand.

"Well, the biggest human shelter left is up on Mount Elbert. Still a decent number of people holed up there—lots of fresh meat."

"Also, the old Genesis Biotech North America HQ in Texas? That’s where some human scientists are hiding out. It’s one of the Zombie King’s outposts. We could wipe that off the map first."

...

The other vampires lit up at the news, eyes gleaming with excitement.

At this stage of the apocalypse, humans were practically an endangered species. Who would’ve thought there were still so many left in the U.S.?

"The American zombies didn’t kill them? Pfft, they’re saving them for us!"

"I’m taking Mount Elbert!"

"Fine, then I’m hitting Genesis Biotech. Don’t even think about stealing it from me!"

...

They bickered and laughed, already dividing up the spoils. They’d just landed, and already they were itching for blood.

One by one, the Vampire Race split off, each leading their own horde of zombies toward their chosen targets.

The undead split into waves, their roars shaking the earth as they surged forward like a living tsunami.

Wherever they passed, nothing survived.

...

Los Angeles.

A few crows circled a high-rise, cawing sharply as they swooped through the air.

Inside, footsteps echoed down a stairwell—Mia and Sean slowly made their way up.

Worth noting: Sean had dressed for the occasion. He wore a bright red puffer jacket and a green scarf, looking like a walking Christmas ornament. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, clearly intrigued.

"This where Ethan lives?" he asked.

"Yeah," Mia nodded.

A moment later, a door ahead of them swung open. Warm light spilled out, framing a tall figure in the doorway.

"Come on in. It’s cold out."

"Thanks," Mia said, stepping inside with Sean. At the entrance, they slipped off their shoes and put on a pair of brand-new slippers.

The living room was spotless. Everything was neatly arranged, giving off a calm, welcoming vibe that made you want to sit down and stay awhile.

"Whoa! This place is spotless," Sean said, clearly impressed as he stepped inside.

Ethan walked over with a tray and set it down on the coffee table. "Take a load off. Have some fruit."

The word "fruit" lit Sean up like a Christmas tree. He leaned in eagerly and saw a beautifully arranged fruit platter—slices of melon, berries, grapes, even some apple swans carved with surprising finesse.

"Hell yeah!" he grinned, diving in without hesitation.

Mia, on the other hand, didn’t move. Her sharp eyes locked onto Ethan. "Don’t think feeding me is gonna make me forget you’re the reason the entire world’s zombie population is converging on this place."

Ethan shrugged, completely unfazed. "Hey, they came on their own. Not my fault."

Mia stared at him, speechless for a moment. "This global Zombie Horde situation... it’s not like before. You really think you can handle it?"

"Probably," Ethan said with a casual smile. "But let’s not worry about that right now. First things first—we make Christmas dinner. Whatever happens, we eat well."

"Exactly! Christmas dinner first!" Sean chimed in, already halfway through a slice of pineapple. The thought of a real holiday meal had him practically bouncing.

Mia sighed, then nodded. "Fine. Let’s do it."

...

The three of them headed into the kitchen and got to work. The fridge was stocked with everything they needed for a proper Christmas feast—ham, potatoes, green beans, cheese, cream, corn, powdered sugar, and a can of cranberry sauce. Everything was clean, fresh, and ready to go. The spice rack was fully loaded.

As they moved around the kitchen, the air began to fill with the warm, nostalgic scent of the holidays. For a moment, it felt like they were back in the orphanage kitchen, before the world had gone to hell.

They didn’t talk about the zombies outside. Instead, they laughed about old times—fighting over cake, burning cookies, sneaking Christmas candy. The kitchen buzzed with warmth and laughter, like the apocalypse had taken a break just for them.

Outside, the endless Zombie Horde surged forward. But inside, they were making what might be humanity’s last Christmas dinner.

Mia washed her hands, tied on an apron, and started prepping the green bean casserole. She layered green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions with practiced ease, then slid the dish into the oven. Her hands, once used to slicing through undead flesh, now moved gently, sprinkling shredded cheese like she was rediscovering what it meant to be human.

Ethan focused on the baked ham. He brushed it with a honey-mustard glaze, studded it with cloves, wrapped it in foil, and placed it in the oven. Then he got to work on the mashed potatoes—boiling, mashing, adding butter and milk until they were smooth and creamy.

Sean, meanwhile, was on dessert duty. He clumsily rolled out dough for sugar cookies, using gingerbread man and Christmas tree cutters. Under Mia’s guidance, he frosted them with shaky hands, drawing eyes, buttons, and stars. "I look like a kindergartener doing arts and crafts," he muttered, but he was smiling the whole time.

The stove hissed and bubbled, steam rising like smoke from a battlefield. Outside, at the base of Mount Elbert, the Zombie Horde had arrived—thick as a black tide, pressing against the mountain.

Awakeners stood ready. Crystals embedded in their bodies began to glow. Fireballs and icicles rained down from the cliffs, smashing into the undead ranks. Flames roared across the snow, leaving only ash and smoke.

Clang.

Ethan pulled the ham from the oven. Its golden-brown crust glistened in the firelight, the smell rich and mouthwatering.

Sean proudly brought over his slightly lopsided cookies and set them in the center of the table like they were a masterpiece.

Outside the Mount Elbert shelter, the battle had begun. But inside, the three of them gathered around the table, as if the world hadn’t ended, as if this was just another Christmas Eve.

"Let’s eat," Ethan said.

"Yeah. Okay," Mia replied, picking up her fork. She speared a slice of ham and took a bite. The fat melted on her tongue, the honey glaze bursting with flavor. Her eyes softened, a smile tugging at her lips. "Still tastes amazing."

Sean stared at her, caught off guard. It had been so long since he’d seen her smile like that. He gave her a thumbs-up. "Damn right. Smells like heaven."

The three of them dug in, laughing and eating like they had all the time in the world.

Outside, the sky churned. The undead were closing in.

Ethan watched them eat, his expression calm. For a moment, it felt like this meal—this warmth—was the last kindness the world had to offer before the storm hit.

Then Mia’s phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen. A message from Dr. Morgan.

"Mia, Mount Elbert shelter is under siege by the Zombie Horde. We’re requesting immediate backup. What are you doing? Respond ASAP!"

...