My heart sinks as soon as I see him, but then again, what was I expecting? His back is to me, and all I see is broad shoulders, a black buzz cut, and the AK-47 he's slung across his back. A military grunt. The type that has been the most resistant to people like me. The Reborn, once Dead, now Living. He is the kind whose lip curls at the sight of golden eyes like mine. In a way, I don't blame people like them. People who were once like I was tore out the throats and smashed in the heads of their wives, husbands, children, parents. I retch whenever I think too much about it. Soldiers from Security like him saw the worst of it-saw us slavering up at them from the bottom of the walls day after day.

My stomach clenches as the officer the grunt is speaking to points past him, at me. The grunt turns, and I am surprised. I expected a brutish face to match his back. Instead, he has large blue-green eyes, and the darkest eyelashes I've ever seen. He looks surprised too, and I am glad I took the pains I did today. I wanted to distance myself from my past as much as possible. I tied my hair back neatly, used some salvaged cosmetics, and wore my favorite scarf-the one with dozens of jewel-bright colors. I wanted to try and appear as human as possible. Distract from the telling color of my eyes. To some people, it doesn't matter that my body temperature is a normal 98.7, or that red, living blood beats through my veins and colors my cheeks and lips. The point is, I was Dead once. I once had lost my mind and myself. I once-

No. Enough. I don't bring my mind there.

"Ms. Yi." The officer motions me forward. "This is Private Evans. You will be assigned to him for this sweep." I nod at the grunt, but I feel my smile wobble. His face is set like stone. "Your assigned sector is the northeast section of Fisher Avenue, from the docks up until the Powell Building. Go into any of the buildings on either side of the street, and mark any salvage on the chart. Don't worry about bringing anything back, we'll send in teams for that later. Private Evans, you are to neutralize any skeletons you might encounter. Ms. Yi, your job is to engage with any of the Dead, assess them for signs of recovery, and initiate standard reconnection procedures. Clear?"

I nod my affirmation. The militarized jargon is a little hilarious, but no one quite knows what to call the measures we have been taking to awaken the Dead. R and Julie Grigio were the first to implement the strategies now being taken: talking to the Dead, showing them photographs, playing them music. Awakening their dulled senses. Reminding them what living is all about. For now, we are venturing out in soldier-civilian pairs. Today is my first time out. I've been healed for a year now, but this is the first time I've been able to stomach the idea of going back out into the city.

The gate groans in protest as it's opened. Private Evans swings the AK off his back. "Stay at my three o' clock" is all he says to me before we venture out. I obey him, staying a respectful couple feet from his right side, heeling like an obedient dog. I am determined not to give him any trouble. I don't want him to hate me more than he already must.