thought　there　was　nothing　in

that　to　disturb　me。　But　I　felt　uneasy；　and　I　wasn't　sure　why　at　first。

It　wasn't　until　almost　the　very　end；　as　I　watched　a　haggard　zombie　shambling

after　the　last　shrieking

survivor；　that　I　realized　what　the　problem　was。　The　scene　kept　cutting　between

the　horrified　face　of　the

heroine；　and　the　dead；　emotionless　face　of　her　pursuer；　back　and　forth　as　it

closed　the　distance。

And　I　realized　which　one　resembled　me　the　most。

I　stood　up。

〃Where　are　you　going？　There's；　like；　two　minutes　left；〃　Jess　hissed。

〃I　need　a　drink；〃　I　muttered　as　I　raced　for　the　exit。

I　sat　down　on　the　bench　outside　the　theater　door　and　tried　very　hard　not　to

think　of　the　irony。　But　it　was

ironic；　all　things　considered；　that；　in　the　end；　I　would　wind　up　as　a　zombie。

I　hadn't　seen　that　one　ing。

Not　that　I　hadn't　dreamed　of　being　a　mythical　monster　once—just　never　a

grotesque；　animated

corpse。　I　shook　my　head　to　dislodge　that　train　of　thought；　feeling　panicky。　I

couldn't　afford　to　think　about

what　I'd　once　dreamed　of。

It　was　depressing　to　realize　that　I　wasn't　the　heroine　anymore；　that　my　story

was　over。

Jessica　came　out　of　the　theater　doors　and　hesitated；　probably　wondering　where

the　best　place　was　to

search　for　me。　When　she　saw　me；　she　looked　relieved；　but　only　for　a　moment。

Then　she　looked　irritated。

〃Was　the　movie　too　scary　for　you？〃　she　wondered。

〃Yeah；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　guess　I'm　just　a　coward。〃

〃That's　funny。〃　She　frowned。　〃I　didn't　think　you　were　scared—I　was　screaming

all　the　time；　but　I　didn't

hear　you　scream　once。　So　I　didn't　know　why　you　left。〃