[ WP ] You have just successfully prevented a zombie apocalypse . By killing the first one to turn . What you call `` heroism '' the police call `` murder '' .

Thomas wondered how they came to this. We need to talk. The words were still bouncing through his mind. 
 
 `` Tommy? Hello?'' The voice on the other end of the cell asked for his attention. He realized that he had n't responded. 
 
 `` I'm here.'' Play it smooth, he told himself. `` What do we need to talk about? Did you get a, `` Thomas paused before saying,'' promotion.'' His mouth had gotten ahead of his brain. His friends were always telling him to think before speaking. He had to say something. 
 
 `` No. Just come by my apartment when you get off work.'' 
 
 He stammered an okay as he glanced at the clock on his office wall. Thirty minutes until he could leave. He had 45 minutes to find a way to make the relationship with Carla work. His mind returned the phone. 
 
 ``... dinner. Bye Tommy.'' 
 
 He did n't even say good-bye as he pressed the red button on his phone. He loved the way she said his name. He leaned back in his chair. He looked at his computer screen through the side of his eyes. He could n't focus on work now. He let his mind drift to all the good times he and Carla shared. 
 
 They had been together for two years. He was saving up money for an engagement ring. They were supposed to get married and spend life together. Jan, his friend and secretary, told him that he was moving too slow. She could cover for him if he left work now. He walked to the door determined to make whatever compromises needed to make things work. 
 
 Thomas pulled up to the apartment complex thirty minutes later, since he took a long route to get there as he planned his words. He was ready to win his fair lady's heart again. He walked up to the door searching through his key chain for the spare key. She wanted to wait until marriage before living together. He smiled as he remembered the way she looked in that summer dress when that conversation came up last year. The smile turned into a frown as he turned the door knob. 
 
 The aroma of incense invaded his nose. He did n't mind the scent, but it struck him as weird that she would be burning incense. She hated the smell of candles and preferred opening the window when the place needed to smell fresher. He looked around the living room. The coffee table was pushed against the couch. Concern replaced the sadness on his face. 
 
 `` Thomas, honey? Is that you, `` Carla's voice asked from the kitchen. 
 
 `` Yeah. Why did you move the coffee table?'' 
 
 `` I did some yoga earlier and just have n't moved it back.'' 
 
 `` Really? I thought you said yoga was for the easily deceived, `` he asked confused? 
 
 She walked around the corner. She was sporting another summer dress; her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Carla looked at him. `` I made you a plate, but I could n't wait. It smelled so good.'' She was either ignoring the question or did n't hear him, but Thomas decided not to push the issue. 
 
 Thomas sniffed, but he could still only smell burning incense. `` This little old man was selling a bunch of organic fruits on the side of the road. I never stop, but I wanted to make you a special meal. Anyway, I asked him if he knew any unique recipes. He gave me one and said that it was guaranteed to keep a couple together forever.'' 
 
 `` What are you talking about? What's going on? You called and said'we need to talk.''' 
 
 Her body immediately tensed as her playful expression changed to one of regret or sadness. `` You are going to want to sit down.'' 
 
 Thomas glanced at the inaccessible couch. `` I think I'll stand.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry. Thomas, I'm so sorry.'' Tears ran down her face. `` I'm pregnant.'' 
 
 `` How can you be pregnant? You said we were waiting until we married.'' The shock was quickly replaced with devastation. Thomas wished he was sitting. 
 
 `` I know, `` her words were barely audible. `` It was a one-time mistake. I was drunk.'' 
 
 `` Drunk?!'' The devastation was slowly being replaced with anger. He was prepared to give anything to make the relationship work, but this was not a scenario he was ready to handle. `` You do n't drink at bars. You said you never trust the bartender.'' His voice was slowly rising. 
 
 `` I was n't at a bar. I was at Mary's. She had invited Barry.'' 
 
 `` Barry. Barry Golds. You slept with our small group leader.'' He realized that his voice was definitely yelling. 
 
 `` It's not like that. I do n't even remember it.'' Her voice was rising in defense. 
 
 `` How do you not remember it? Do n't lie to me.'' He was certain that neighbors could hear, but he did n't care. 
 
 Carla's heart began beating faster and faster as the panic set in. This was n't happening as she planned. `` They said I blacked out, but I only had a couple...'' The words were n't coming anymore. The panic of losing Thomas was replaced with the panic of getting the next breath. 
 
 Thomas ran to her and caught her as she fell. The anger was replaced with fear and concern for her life. Her body convulsed in his arms. `` You ca n't die.'' He repeated the words over and over. He pulled out his cell phone and tried to dial 911, but this thumb was n't working. In frustration, he threw the cell phone at the wall and turned all of his attention on her. `` Do n't leave me like this.'' Tears streamed down his face as her body stopped moving. He held her close and wept. 
 
 Five minutes later, he recovered enough to realize that he still needed to call someone. He looked over at his phone, the cracks were evident. Thomas' phone was a lost cause. He began feeling his girlfriend's pockets for her phone. 
 
 A twitch. Thomas felt her body twitch. She was still alive, he thought. Relief tried to grip the back of consciousness. He turned his head to Carla's face hoping against hope that there would be signs of life. Her eyes were open and looking at his. She was alive. He sat up and turned to pull her close. 
 
 As his hands reached for her, he noticed that eyes were n't right. The life was n't there, but they were n't empty either. Reason told him that it was safer to not hug her. She slowly sat up and turned to look at him. The motions were n't right. 
 
 He scooted back, `` Carla?'' 
 
 There was no response. Carla opened and closed her mouth like she was chewing. Her eyes consumed him hungrily. She twisted toward him and began crawling, her mouth still chewing the nonexistent food. 
 
 Thomas stood up and backed into the kitchen. Carla slowly stood up. He grabbed the largest knife from the knife block, `` Carla? Sweetie? Do n't do this.'' 
 
 There was a knock on the door, but Thomas ignored it. Carla's body took another step. Thomas held the knife in front of him defensively. Another knock. Another step. 
 
 `` Hello? This is the police. We got a call about a...'' the voice from the other side of the door called out. 
 
 Carla lunged. Thomas reached forward with his knife hand. The knife slid into the underside of the jaw. Carla's body went limp and fell into his hands. 
 
 Shaken. He turned and dropped her body. Another knock. 
 
 He walked to the door and opened it. Officer Charles Pentz and Officer Benjamin Baily stood surprised to see a man unaware that he was covered in his girlfriend's blood. Help was the only word Thomas could mutter. Both officers drew their guns. Officer Baily kept an eye on Thomas, while Officer Pentz slid around him. 
 
 After a quick survey of the apartment, Pentz told Baily to arrest Thomas for the murder of Carla. Thomas could barely process the next few hours. He remembered being told his rights, but that could have been his mind saying that it happened because all the cop shows show the Miranda rights being read. He had a better memory of the in-processing. 
 
 `` Thomas Carter,'' asked a voice. 
 
 Hearing his name shook the remaining shock off his brain. He turned to see who had called him and registered that he was indeed under arrest and sitting, handcuffed, in a mostly empty room. 
 
 `` According to the statement you gave at the scene, your girlfriend died and then... tried to eat you. I'm going to be honest, her neighbors heard the argument. This does n't look good for you. Why do n't you tell me what happened?'' 
 
 Thomas focused on the woman speaking. He opened his mouth and began telling the investigator what happened. He remembered the argument and worked through her last words again. His brain finished her thoughts. He believed that she was going to say she was drugged and raped. He wanted to believe it. He had to believe it. He had n't realized that tears were streaming down his face. 
 
 `` So you after you argued,'' she prodded. 
 
 Thomas did his best to continue. Before he reached the point of saying he stabbed her in the face, there was a knock on the mirror. The investigator turned to the door, opened, and stepped through it. Thomas could hear the sounds of an argument outside. The door opened, and two other people walked through. 
 
 The man was dressed in a suit. The woman wore a business skirt. She approached the table, while the man stood at the door. 
 
 `` I know you've had a rough day what with your wife eating the root of the cadaver flower. We know what happened, we believe you, and we can help you.''
