He couldn't remember words that were never spoken, but the little gestures were perfect.
"The zombies are my trump card," I said quietly. "If anyone ever hurts you, I can send them to settle the score."
"Zombies have no humanity! Even if you control them, they'll turn on you eventually!"
"Tell me something." I held his gaze, studying every flicker across his face. "Did you know they used live bait at the gate today?"
He froze for a split second, processing, then quickly said, "Oh, I know about that! Didn't they kill a bunch of zombies? Everyone's been celebrating!"
The last trace of a smile drained from my face.
My brother and I had different ambitions, but we respected each other's choices. I would never stop him from devoting his life to the Bastion, and he would never ask me to destroy my undead and submit to humanity.
My brother was the kindest, most tender-hearted person I'd ever known. He'd volunteered himself as a guinea pig to help develop a vaccine.
Someone that good would never hear about a person being strung up as bait and shrug it off like it was nothing.
My hands began to tremble. My heart hammered against my ribs. But I still couldn't let go.
"Come with me. Please."