Jazzy opened her bleary eyes and found a pair of crystal-blue eyes meeting hers. "Balta?" he asked in a croaky voice. "What's going on? Did I fall-?" She stopped speaking, remembering the zombies that were waiting outside.

Keep your mind off it, Jazzy.

Jazzy yelped and sat up sharply, banging her head on the table she'd been hiding under. She groaned and got out from under the table, careful to avoid looking out any of the windows. "Balta?" she asked carefully.

Yes.

"Let me get this straight. You can speak telepathically. You didn't even bother to tell me the zombies were coming?!" Jazzy snapped. She was more frustrated than awestruck at this point.

I'm no fortune teller, Jazzy. I saw them at the same time you did. I'm just trying to comfort you. Keep your mind off of this. Just… feed all of the animals. Do that.

Jazzy rolled her eyes and walked into the massive kitchen. She opened three cans of kitten food and called, "Jasper! Boots! Minnie!" She didn't expect the three kittens to come scrambling around the corner happily; they were aloof. She went through the motions of feeding and calling each animal to its breakfast, with Balta following her.

"Balta?" Jazzy asked at one point.

Yes.

"Can all animals do what you do?"

No. Not that I know of. I'm special, I suppose you could say. Can I suggest that you shut blinds? Not that I don't like the views of the zombies pressed up against the glass, but-

Jazzy shrieked and proceeded to zip from one end of the expansive house to the other, shutting blinds with her eyes closed.

Thank you, Jazzy.

Jazzy nodded, sweating. She was about to open her mouth to speak when there came a harsh pounding on the door. "LET ME IN! LET ME IN!" a voice cried.

Jazzy cut a look at Balta. "I don't think zombies can talk," she said slowly.

Balta nodded. I suppose you should see what whoever is knocking at the door wants.

Jazzy edged over to the door and peeked out of the peephole. She saw a boy about her age on her wraparound porch, kicking a zombie in the face. "Please!" he screamed. She wrenched open the door, grabbed him by the back of his sweatshirt, and slammed the door shut. She locked it and turned around.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" she shouted.

The boy took a deep breath and stammered, "Dreamy."