'Destiny in the Balance: Una's Zombie Quest in 14th Century France

"_Qui habitat in adumbratis, in tenebris Aeterne, et caligine ^Mundi_."

She heard the words echo off of the stone walls of the Dominican monastery. They bounced around in her mind, resonating with each syllable as if some higher authority was singing them from on high. The room seemed to quiver with each word that was read aloud. Her stomach sank as she felt a sense of foreboding just below her heart.

"_Ipse est Dominus, non est praeter eum nec ad dexteram nec ad sinistram._"

Una took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stood up straight. She looked over at Enrique who smiled at her reassuringly. He gave her his signature thumbs up sign and made a funny face which almost made Una laugh even though she didn't want to. The rest of the board members met Una's gaze without breaking eye contact and nodded their heads encouragingly. Una smiled weakly back at them and glanced for an instant at their leader, Pedro, who was seated beside her at the head of the table. He nodded once silently to reassure her before staring ahead again as if he could see through the closed doors into the room where the clergyman continued his sermon.

A solemn air permeated the entire office space, but nobody dared move or speak during this time of distress. It had been two days since they had received word from Spain that La Peste was spreading like wildfire across their country. Two days since they had learned that their friends and loved ones were all dead...or worse than dead, they were undead creatures capable only of destruction and death. Two days since they had learned that everything they knew and loved was gone and their future lay in ruins before them.

The thought of it all momentarily overwhelmed Una with despair so intense that she thought she might faint right there in front of everyone but she knew she couldn't allow herself to break down now more than ever she needed to stay strong for herself and for everyone else around her who looked to her for strength in these dire circumstances. She breathed deeply again then squared her shoulders determined not to let anyone down now when so much hung in the balance. She glared across at Pedro hoping that he would take notice of how bravely she held herself together despite how scared she felt on the inside.

Pedro stared back at Una holding her gaze firm in his own without blinking or looking away until finally he blinked slowly once then nodded once more confirming his faith in Una's ability to lead them all through this crisis with courage and strength as always even though he knew better than anyone else what she must be experiencing on the inside right now because he too felt it within himself every bit as acutely as Una did knowing that many dear friends of his had lost everything in this tragedy including family members whom he had known personally since childhood tragically taken from them forever now with no chance whatsoever of ever being reunited with them ever again no matter how much they wished it otherwise...not while there was still breath left in their bodies anyway because if there was one thing Pedro knew for certain right now it was that those poor souls taken by La Peste...they were gone forever beyond any hope of redemption or resurrection not even God could bring back those souls now no matter how badly they might wish otherwise...so far gone now into darkness beyond endurance by mortal men such as themselves yes indeed...and yet here they were gathered together nevertheless trying desperately to find a way to stop this madness from overtaking everything good and holy about life itself if such a thing was even possible anymore perhaps well no one really knew for sure anymore but for better or worse here they were together trying somehow to keep clinging desperately to life itself trying desperately to hold onto some small scrap of meaning left for them left for us all in this world if only we can just find it somehow if only we can make ourselves see it or feel it still somehow hiding somewhere out there waiting for us just beyond our grasp if we can just keep searching long enough if we can just keep believing hard enough if we can just keep fighting hard enough against everything that is trying so hard right now to kill us right here right now before we are allowed any other choice but that one alone no other choices left at all none none none none...but...

There was a sudden knock on the door interrupting Una's thoughts abruptly cutting through the silence like thunder rolling across the heavens startling everyone back into consciousness suddenly burning away all of their thoughts except one: _what are we going to do?_

"Enter," said Pedro quietly after a moment's hesitation giving voice to everyone's fears about what might be happening behind those closed doors behind him all of them hoping against hope that whatever it was wouldn't be anything bad news about Spain about their families or friends any news at all really except maybe some good news something hopeful something heartening something good something _anything_...anything but bad news _anything_ please God anything but bad news please anything except bad news please please anything except bad--

The door opened slowly revealing an exhausted looking priest clad head-to-toe in black robes who bowed solemnly before Pedro and Una then stood up straight facing them directly once again and rubbing his eyes tiredly before addressing them both directly: "I am pleased to announce my friends," he said finally after clearing his throat softly then pausing briefly as if gathering himself together before continuing: "that I have good news!"

The whole room let out an audible sigh simultaneously as Una released an almost deafening sigh inside her own mind opening her mouth wide as she exhaled calming down instantly relishing in what felt like imminent salvation from total annihilation by La Peste oh thank you God above thank you oh thank you thank you thank you oh god thank you I don't care about my family or my friends I don't care about saving any lives I don't care about anything right now except saving myself oh thank you oh god thank you--

"The situation has been contained!" shouted Father Juan suddenly jumping up onto a chair excitedly waving his arms joyfully over his head clearly overcome with happiness still standing atop his chair with his eyes closed however hands still flailing wildly over his head shouting loudly: "La Peste has been contained! Praise be!"

The room exploded into relieved laughter joyous shouts bit tears streaming down many faces as Una started crying uncontrollably too unable to contain herself any longer simply sobbing loudly clutching Pedro tightly by both arms laughing hysterically unable to stop sobbing despite having nothing left inside anymore nothing left but emptiness exhaustion grief sadness hopelessness grief infinite grief infinite grief God help me my children are dead my husband is dead my wife is dead my parents are dead my grandparents are dead everyone is dead oh god why why why why why why--why--why--why--why--why----WHY--WHY--WHY--WHY--WHY---!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!