"Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder" “How long have you been chatting with Steve?†Sally looked at me cautiously. “A month.†I answered. “He seems cool and he’s pretty hot.†“Yeah, and you two are about to meet, so keep an open mind about this. Plus, make sure he never takes off his mask.†I shot her a confused look. “We’re going to a costume party, so I’m sure he will eventually. But, why do you say that?†“Because Steve doesn’t seem like your average guy.†Sally now looked away sheepishly. “He seems…different.†“Different good, or different bad?†“Just different.†Opening my mouth to respond, my words were then halted when the doorbell rang, signaling Steve’s arrival. I knew what he looked like from his profile picture, but I was still nervous; and now with Sally acting strange, I was excessively tense. “I’ll get it.†Sally sung. She raced out of the bedroom. “This guy better not be a total deadbeat.†I muttered to myself. Moments later, Sally called out to me. “Rachel, your prince is here!†Grabbing my purse, I headed out of the bedroom and towards the living room. Then, my eyes fell upon a tall man dressed in a black hooded cloak, black leather gloves and a Grecian looking golden mask that covered his face entirely. It was a creepy mask. “Evening, Rachel.†He said in a low voice. “You’re more beautiful in person.†“Thank you.†I smiled. “Well,†Sally then interjected, “I’ve got to go. I have class at eight.†She looked at Steve. “Now you be good to her, all right?†He nodded. “She’s ravishing, so I’m very pleased considering how hard the date was to set up.†My brow furrowed with confusion. “Huh? What are you talking about?†“Anyway,†Sally headed for the front door, “have fun you two.†As soon as she was gone, I looked at Steve, still bewildered. “Am I missing something?†He shook his head. “No, everything is going as planned and it’s amazing, considering the way things have changed as of late with the population.†“Yeah, it’s been great, but what does this have to do with our date?†Steve went over to the couch now. “Sit, please.†“What about the party?†“It can wait.†Steve sat down. “There’s something we have to get out of the way first.†Things were really getting strange, but I did as he asked and sat down next to him. His mask still freaked me out, so I just had to bring it up. “Can we at least do it without your mask? It’s eerie.†“I can’t, it would ruin the surprise.†“But, I already know what you look like.†Silence for a few moments. Steve stared at me and the longer he didn’t say anything, the more I wanted to cancel the date. “All right. I’ll take it off, but please don’t scream.†“And why would I?†Falling quiet again, Steve then reached up, rolled his hood back before placing his hands on his mask. Seconds later, it was off and away from his face and that’s when I felt a lump emerge my throat and my eyes went wide. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? “I know. I don’t look anything like my picture, right?†He asked with a small grin. “You’re…you’re…†“A walker.†Steve finished my sentence. “And I know doing this is suicide, but I just had to meet you.†“What about your profile picture?†My voice was a shaky whisper. “It was a mask. I made it since they are now forbidden so it was the only way I could get on the dating site.†As my eyes absorbed in his face, a mixture of emotions raced through me. I was confused, saddened, elated, envious and terrified. There was a walker sitting in my living room. A walker that wasn’t dead. That in itself was mind-blowing. “Why me?†I asked desperately. “Why did you want to meet me? Do you have any idea how crazy and illegal this is?†“Yes, but I don’t care.†Steve cupped my face in his hands. “You’re gorgeous and everyone will think it’s sick and twisted, but I can’t ignore what I feel.†“But, do you have any idea what I can do to you?†Tears formed in my eyes now. “I’m supposed to kill you on the spot!†“Is that what you really want? After all our long conversations that went into dawn? All the plans we made?†“Look at me!†I cried. “Do you not realize what I am? Why do you think there aren’t any mirrors in this house!?†Lowering his hands, Steve then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small mirror. “Of course I know what you are, and that’s why I brought my own.†He held it up to my face. “See? You’re beautiful.†Staring at my reflection, a sour feeling came to what was left of my stomach. The white, lifeless flesh, long black hair that fell in thick chunks, and cold blue eyes that had made the toughest men quiver with complete fear and terror. It wasn’t so much that I was an ugly zombie, but that I was the walking dead and to have a potential meal sitting right next to me and not tearing right into it was amazing. I felt something for Steve. I actually felt something for a human and I had no idea how to react to it or what to do. “We…can’t do this.†I looked at him again. “If we’re seen together then the others will kill us both. Me for treason, and you because you’re our food. We aren’t meant to coexist, it’s just not the way things are now, and…†Steve cut me off by pressing his warm mouth against my icy lips and it took every bit of willpower not to sink my teeth into his flesh and strengthen my decaying body. I had a choice to make, so when I counted to three, I’d make my decision. THE END Word count, 999 words. I didn't want to do a normal zombie story. I wanted to do something that was a little out in left field with a twist at the very end. I've always been a fan of zombies as well as romance stories, so I decided to combine the two. Happy reading!