UNDEAD

Change blew in on the air that morning, whispering through a sleeping town. An eerie quiet rested along the main road, early commuters not yet disturbing the grey dawn. A wisp of waning moon, brushed pink with the gentle glow of the coming sun, hung low in the ombre sky.

A subtle shift rocked the heavy foliage of scattered trees, rippling between the houses. The cool silence of night still clung to the shadows. A lone ginger cat stalked between the sentinels of bins guarding the curbs. It paused, hair bristling along it’s back as it sensed a disturbance rushing past.

A lone mournful howl echoed in the streets, erupting into a sorrowful symphony as others took up the canine call.

Not a single harsh bark interrupted the lament that awoke the town that morning.

Back doors opened onto gardens, not quite the same. Concerned residents in an array of dressing gowns, coats and slippers, padded outside to find the same, inexplicable sight.

Theo hadn’t been home in months. He had told his mum he was getting clean. It was a lie. He hadn’t been clean in years.

The dark country road snaked before him, a twisting river of retreating night. She had insisted he came home for the wedding. Theo couldn’t stand her boyfriend, but his mum had half chewed his ear off over it, and he couldn’t deny, he owed her this.

He swore under his breath. The rising itch was dancing across his skin. The hard edge cutting inside him. He needed another hit. He had been driving since 1am, he loaded up before he set off, but the ragged scraping of the comedown was consuming.

He glanced at the road, he hadn’t passed another car in hours, and he knew these twisting roads.

One hand on the wheel, he fumbled through the bag on the passenger seat. He couldn’t face that c*nt sober, Aunt Hazel would help.

His skin flushed with the intense bliss coursing through his veins as he approached the sleeping streets.

Dawn was pushing towards the horizon, her soft pink glow catching the clipped moon.

Theo was speeding when he got to the town. He heard the hair-raising call of neighbourhood dogs, raising their cry as one.

Then he saw it. The change. He couldn’t look away. He didn’t see the tree.

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He had been driving under the influence of alcohol, and he had watched them with amusement until it was a little late. He heaved a big sigh. His blurry eyesight and blank memories were starting to clear off totally, he had a little cut on his forehead from the accident and he was quite sober. Then he heard it. Theo could hear dragged footsteps approaching and ominous sounds in the distance, several but of one accord.

He was still glued to his seat. He wasn’t really satisfied the way the whole incident went down, he knew he would have to tell his mother another lie sooner. He wanted to get out. He stretched across towards the opened door dangling, he got a hold on the rim, then two cold hands grabbed him suddenly, he retrieved his hand impulsively, retreating back to the corner he had stretched out from. His heartbeat raced tremendously. He waited and stared in the direction where the hands had come from.

Theo could see a figure trying to creep inside through the opening. It was very dark inside, so he fumbled his hand in the dark for a while in search of the switch, he was partially glad and nervous both at the same time when the bulb glowed, he screamed monotonously when he saw the face of his assailant. It was a horrifying look, the two eyeballs were white and plain, a part of the face seems completely washed off and rotten, a severe foul stench fills the air - a Zombie?

Theo was battling really hard to restrain the Zombie inside his vehicle with just a hand whilst the other fumbles with the door knob, and he yanked the door open, squeezing his way out.

God damn you! He muttered furiously.

He could feel the cool morning breeze blow across, daylight has pitched its tent in the sky, he could see the road ahead, but was stupefied at the sight of Zombies littered over the once peaceful street. He bent low and ran his hand below the driver’s seat, and his hand caught a bottle of alcohol half finished, he tightened his grip around it and maneuvered his way around, he sank the bottle deep into the skull of one Zombie in his way and continued his journey towards home.

The sun was beginning to rise, Theo had ran several miles, he knew he had to get home to his mum at all cost, his footstep were somewhat unsteady now, he slumped, dropped limp to the ground and arose several times, he rested against the street lighting stand, he could see home in the far distance but he couldn’t proceed, suddenly he saw people rushing towards his direction chased by a vast army of Zombies, they signaled him to flee in the direction he came from, he couldn’t move his legs even if he wanted to, they were nearer now and his anxiety heightened, he dropped limp for the umpteenth time and blacked out.