Page 135 of My Undead Love Life

“…we found one,” a male voice crackled through. “A fallen guardian. Its brain ruined. This will not go unanswered.”

My stomach dropped. Guardian?

“The snow leopard will be avenged,” a female voice chimed in. “The sinners will be brought before the altar.”

I stared at the radio. For a second, I genuinely wondered if I had hit my head and was hallucinating, because there was no way the world had gotten so bad that people were worshipping undead murder cats.

Except, that it had.

Humans loved making things worse.

“…spread word to the inner disciples,” the first voice continued. “Anyone traveling in groups of four or more is to be watched. The blessed beasts have been agitated. They will lead us to them.”

A sharp burst of static cut through before more talking filled the room. “…the leopard has already picked up a trail.”

I bent down and picked up the radio.

“…good,” someone said, low and pleased. “Let it hunt.”

The signal cut out, and silence slammed back in.

“Well,” I muttered to myself, staring down at the radio. “That’s not horrifying at all.”

I rushed back upstairs with the radio in hand and pushed into the room. “They worship them!”

Everyone looked at me in confusion.

Spencer was sitting cross-legged near one of the crates we’d dragged in to use as a table, with Keith beside her. He was close enough that his knee touched hers, and one hand rested near the rifle across his lap.

Mad and Oxi were checking our weapons near the door.

All of them froze when they saw my face.

“What are you talking about?” Mad asked.

I tossed the radio onto the crate-table. “This thing works. And you’re not gonna like what’s on it.”

Keith leaned forward first, already reaching for it. “Where’d you find⁠—”

“Downstairs in a beam of sunlight,” I cut in. “It’s solar powered, so I guess it charged enough. And it’s still broadcasting.”

Oxi frowned. “Broadcasting what?”

I leaned back against the wall, arms crossing. “My guess is that it’s a cult.”

“Please tell me you’re joking.” Fear glinted in her pretty brown eyes, and Keith immediately shifted closer to her.

I shook my head. “I wish I was.”

“And what exactly do they worship, Luck?” Mad’s face was cold.

Keith turned the dial slightly, adjusting the frequency, until static filled the room again.

Ssshhk.

“…they think killing them makes them strong…” the same female voice from before drifted through. “But the blessed beasts are chosen. They are beyond us. We serve them. To be chosen by them to become blessed is not something to fight.”

Spencer’s hand immediately found Keith’s arm, and he pulled her against him.