The gym was quiet for once.
Not empty— it was never truly empty during business hours—but quiet in that strange lull between the after-work rush and the late-night lifters. The bass-heavy playlist still vibrated through the walls, but it felt more like background hum than a pulse now.
Sera leaned against the front counter, scanning the equipment room checklist again even though she'd already confirmed it. Everything was where it should be. Nothing was out of place. Still, her eyes lingered on the inventory sheet longer than necessary. The creature inside her stirred restlessly.
It wasn't hungry.
Not exactly.
Just bored. Edgy. Alert.
April meant spring was on its way, and it was also one month closer to the ticking clock in the back of her mind. Apparently, even zombies reacted to the change in the seasons.
Treadmills hummed. Distant weights clanged. A girl in the corner grunted with each deadlift, music bleeding from her earbuds.
