Ahh! Zombies

A Story by Josh Starcher

What do you do when you wake up and the world you know is gone and consumed with walking corpses. Melanie and Jessica will soon find out if they have what it takes to survive in this new world.

A Saturday morning at 8:30 am in Whitefish, Montana is usually calm and quiet. The sounds of the occasional jogger, dog walker and elderly speed walker are not uncommon sounds. By no means are the squealing of emergency sirens, panic stricken screams and gunshots normal Saturday sounds for the small mountain town. This is what had awakened Melanie. As a frequent visitor to Whitefish, but not resident of the town, she had grown accustom to the normal noises.

On this particular morning however, normalcy was no where near. There was no jogger, no barking dogs and certainly no elderly speed walkers. She could hear what had to be at least 10 emergency vehicles outside. Still groggy from the previous nights activities, Melanie crawled out of her bed and walked to the window to see what was going on. Her best friend Jessica was still in bed, fighting a growing headache caused from poorly made decisions from last night.

Melanie opened the blinds on the second story apartment window and caught her first glimpse of the chaos. Panic in the streets, and emergency vehicles scattered everywhere. People fleeing and the sounds of gunshots rang out all around. From what Melanie could see there were people running from… people. People shooting… people, and some people…. eating other people.

It didn’t make any sense. She had seen this before but it only existed in movies and on TV. There was no way it could be real. No way it could be…. Zombies.

Zombies? No way! Zombies didn’t exist outside of stories. But yet there was no other explanation for what Melanie saw below her. Normal people didn’t walk around without arms or legs, Normal people didn’t continue to chase you after hitting them in the torso with an axe, and normal people most assuredly did not eat other people. Well… Normal people anyway.

Melanie could feel her breath escape her as the room closed in around her. All the light seemed to disappear and she felt cold but was sweating at the same time. She closed the blinds in a rush and jumped back into the bed to wake up Jessica. As Melanie shook and rattled Jessica awake she tried to explain what she had seen but the words escaped her. Jessica looked at her with confusion in her eyes.

“What are you going on about?”

Melanie still couldn’t form words into sentences

“If this is a joke, I’m not laughing” Jessica blurted out as she rolled over under the covers.

Melanie continued to shake her and speak inaudibly.

“OH MY GOD! WHAT IS IT!?” Jessica yelled still feeling the effects from last night.

As Melanie continued to ramble, her words started to become more clear.

Jessica could hear something about police…guns… and did she hear the word Zombies?

As Jessica became more and more lucid she could see the panic exuding from Melanie. She got up and tried to calm Melanie down but to no avail. Melanie drug Jessica to the window and threw open the blinds. Now it was Jessica’s turn to discover the horror that has become her home town.

Jessica could not believe her eyes. She stepped back form the window with a blank look on her face. Tears dripping from her widely opened eyes. Her mouth quivering as if to say something but no words escaped her lips. She could see that Melanie was trying to tell her something but all she could hear was her own rapid heartbeat. The world faded away from her as she was consumed with shock.

A series of loud bangs on the door brought Jessica back to reality. As she stood up, Melanie grabbed at her arm and pulled her back into the bedroom.

“Please don’t open the door. What if its one of those things?”

I don’t think Zombies, or whatever those are would knock Melanie.”

Truthfully Jessica was a bit hesitant. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and by the looks of things outside it may be someone or something she didn’t want paying a visit. Suddenly the banging was accompanied by a familiar voice.

Melanie pushed past Jessica and ripped open the door.

“Avery! Oh my God! Are you okay?”

Avery was a long-term friend of the girls who usually spent his time behind a camera lens as an amateur filmmaker looking to make his mark on the industry. Avery sounded panic stricken and was pleading with the girls to let him in. Jessica pushed past Melanie and grabbed for the door.

“For some one who was scared to death about who was here you sure opened the door quick”

“Its Avery, Jessica! How could I not open the door”

Jessica knew that Melanie had been in love with Avery ever since the 5^th grade and even if he was a bloody re-animated corpse, she would still open the door.

Jessica was shocked to see that Avery was not alone and was holding up a bloodied and beaten familiar looking guy.

“What the hell happened to you two?”

“I’ll explain later Jess, just please let us in”

After a few moments Jessica recognized the worn and torn person as Avery's friend Robbie. Robbie was leaning on Avery and was having trouble catching his breath. Jessica helped Avery get Robbie through the door and onto the couch.While moving Robbie to the couch, Jessica had noticed that his neck was covered with a blood soaked towel. With Robbie safely resting on the couch, Avery and Jessica went to the bed room and he began to explain to the girls what had happened.

“Robbie and I tied a few on last night and then crashed at my place after our last round.” Avery began. “We woke up the morning to the sounds of sirens and screams. Robbie went outside to check things out and the next think I knew… he was being attacked by a group of people.”

“Who would do that?” Melanie asked as she walked in and sat down next to Avery.

“I don’t know, but Im pretty sure I saw our old principle Mr. Flemming in the group.”

“Mr. Flemming? He would’t hurt anyone, he is the nicest man I have ever met.” replied Jessica shockingly

“I’m telling you Jess it was him, and I’m almost certain he was the one that bit Robbie on the neck.”

“How did he get free?” Melanie asked;

“I grabbed a ski pole I had lying by the porch and hit them until Robbie was able to break free. I even pushed the spike into one of their arms and it didn't seem to phase them.”

Melanie explained their theory on what was happening and Avery could not offer any other explanation. As crazy as it seemed all of the evidence pointed to it being a Zombies. The resiliency of those infected, the missing limbs, the shuffling gaits and most of the all… the biting. Suddenly it hit Melanie… zombies bite… those bitten by zombies turn into zombies… Robbie was bitten by a zombie...

Melanie ran into the living room only to discover that Robbie was no longer on the couch. She cautiously walked into the living room but cold not see Robbie anywhere. Suddenly she heard a loud thumping noise in the kitchen. She called into the kitchen for Robbie but there was no answer. Fear stricken she walked towards the kitchen trying to stay upright on her shaky knees. She reached the entry way and peered her head in but could not see anyone there. She walked through the entry way, sighing in relief. Melanie grabbed an apple off the counter and turn to rejoin Jessica and Avery.

As she turned to exit the kitchen Robbie was standing in front of her. His eyes glazed with a yellow hue, his lips snarled with saliva draining over his snapping teeth. With his outstretched hands he grabbed a hold of Melanie’s upper arms and grasped her like vice grips. Melanie tried to break free but couldn’t. With a strength that was almost supernatural the corpse that used to be Robbie pulled Melanie towards his eager mouth. No amount of struggling could break her free from his grasp. Melanie was close enough to him now that she could smell the decay already forming around the corners of his mouth. She closed her eyes, let out one last gasp and… Robbie's gip released.

Her head hit the hard cold linoleum floor as she fell. The impact was hard enough to stun her and knock what little breath she had oft out of her lungs. Melanie opened her eyes to see Robbie standing over her with a fire poker rammed through the back of his head and coming out of his frontal lobe. Behind him stood Jessica holding the other end of the fire poker, her face splattered with blood. Avery grabbed Melanie off the floor and helped her to her feet.

“Are you Okay?”

“I think so, just get me out of here”

Jessica dropped the fire poker and with it Robbie fell to the ground with limp thump.

“W-w-what is going on?” “None of this can be real, can it?”

“This seems very rap to me Mel.” Jessica said while holding up her blood stained hands for Melanie to see.

“I never though this would be possible.” Chimed in Avery. “Ive seen TV shows and movies with… Zombies, but those are just stories”

“I guess they are based off of true stories then”

“Listen ladies, we need to get out of here. It’s only a matter of time before something else happens”.

“And where exactly would we go Avery? In case you haven't notices it not exactly Disney World outside.” Melanie protested.

“My uncle has an old hunting cabin just outside of the national park and its always stocked with food and plenty of weapons. We just have to get to my car.”

After several moments filled with arguments and emotions , the trio decide that their chances of survival would be better out of the apartment and out of the city all together. But not until things outside calmed down.

It had been hours since Melanie had heard a police siren or a person screaming. She decided, along with Jessica and Avery that staying in the apartment was no longer an option, especially with Robbie’s limp corpse lying in the other room. Avery’s cabin was their best bet.

Melanie was still shaken from almost being an afternoon snack. She sat next to the window where she could keep an eye on Robbie’s body through the doorway. She remembered enough from the movies that a blow to the head incapacitates the walking dead. The only problem was that 3 hours ago zombies only existed in the stories and movies and not real life.

It was make believe…Right?

How was she to know for sure that a head shot would keep a zombie down for good. For all she knew they could be allergic to garlic like vampires or silver like werewolves. There was no telling what would keep a zombie from raising again because there was no telling what caused the zombie to rise in the first place. All Melanie was certain of is that she was not going to take the chance of being caught in a zombies clutches again. Once was enough for her.

The silence was finally broken by Jessica who suggested that it was time to make their move for Avery’s car. Avery agreed and after a few tense moments Melanie did as well. It was decided that the best way out was through the window and down to the parking lot. The hallway and stairs to the apartment seemed like the easiest way, but the uncertainty of what was waiting for them outside the front door was enough for them to consider other options. Avery grabbed the sheets and comforter from the bed and tied the ends together. He then tied one end to the furnace mounted in the room and draped the other end out of the bedroom window.

The two girls climbed down with ease as Avery was holding onto one end inside the apartment. With the girl safely on the pavement it was Avery’s turn. As Avery lumbered out of the window the knot in the first sheet came loose. Avery fell to the pavement below. He landed on his feet and immediately buckled over in pain. What used to be his right ankle now resembled a jigsaw puzzle. Avery's tibia had broken through the skin and was now exposed. He let out a scream and was met with Melanie and Jessica covering his mouth to muffle the sound. After a few moments of screaming and thrashing about, Avery was able to calm himself long enough for the girls to remove their hands.

Jessica tore off the sleeve of her shirt and wrapped it around Avery's ankle. They helped him to his feet and helped him walk to the nearest lawn chair. While Jessica addressed Avery's injury, Melanie started to look around. Luckily there was no one, alive or dead-alive, in sight and it seemed as though no one or nothing had heard the commotion. Melanie could see the car about 300 yards away parked along the street. It was a straight shot and would not have been a problem is they were not hindered from Avery's’ injury and the dozens or corpses lying in the street.

Melanie returned to where she left the others and saw Jessica finishing the shirt bandage on Avery’s leg. Avery’s eyes were closed and he was breathing heavily.

“How is he?”

“I think he’s in shock. I don’t know if we should move him”

“We can’t stay here Jess. We have to get to the car. It’s not that far away, we can carry him”.

“We can’t Melanie. He’s way too heavy and if he moves he will scream again.”

“I’m not leaving him Jess, and besides he’s the only one who knows how to get to the cabin”

“We will never make it Mel! We are not capable of this. You’re a bartender and I’m a student. We don’t know how to survive this. And even if we did, there are too many of those things out there and we don’t know what its like on the road.”

“All the more reason we need Avery. He grew up here and has been in the woods his entire life.”

Jessica was getting frustrated with Melanie’s persistence and could see the desperation on her face. No matter what she said, Melanie would not leave Avery.

“Okay, we will take him but we can’t move him let alone carry him that far.”

“There is nothing moving out there. Every thing is dead. We can do this Jess.”

Jessica looked down at the 6 foot tall man in in the lawn chair. His shaggy brown hair matted to his forehead and temples with Robbie’s blood. She estimated he weighed at least 185 pounds. She was an exercise enthusiast but was certain that her 125 slender body could not hold him up and Melanie was not much bigger.

“The only way this will work is if you get the car and bring it to us.”

“I-I-I’m not going out there alone. You have to come with me”

“I have to stay here and keep Avery still. If he starts screaming again he will attract whatever is left out there.”

“You have to do this Mel. It’s the only way we can take him.”

Jessica reached into Avery’s pockets for his car cars and handed the to Melanie.

“Just make it quick, I don’t know how much longer he will stay quiet”

Fear showed on Melanie's face as if someone had painted it there. She stood up and took another look around the corner towards the car. Still no movement. “Go Mel, NOW!” Jessica insisted

Melanie walked out from behind the corner and made her way towards the car. She could see dozens of lifeless bodies. Men, women, even children that hours ago were getting ready for their routine Saturday. An overwhelming feeling of dread struck Melanie. All of these people would never again have a typical Saturday.

Step by step she came closer the Avery’s car. She could faintly hear Avery moaning behind her and Jessica frantically trying to keep him quiet. She knew she had to move quickly but no matter how had she tried, her feet would not carry her any faster.

Melanie clumsily stepped over and around each body as she came to them. Only 100 yards to go and she was at the car. As she took her next step she heard Avery scream. She whipped her head around to see what was going on and tripped over an obese man lying face down in a puddle of blood. She sprawled her hands out to prevent her face from smashing onto the street and the car keys flew from her hand

Avery continued to scream louder and Melanie could hear Jessica yelling for her to hurry. Melanie pushed herself to the knees and frantically looked for the keys. She could see them lying next to a small child sized body 15 feet ahead of her. She got to her feet and scrambled towards the keys stumbling over mutilated corpses.

She reached the keys and noticed that the body was in fact a child. A small boy that couldn’t have been more than 7 years old. His right arm shredded with teeth marks and abdomen splayed open. Remains of his internal organs scattered around him. Melanie had seen the boy before, riding his bicycle on the same street as Jessica’s apartment. She would share an occasional smile with the boy when she saw him.

Melanie could not take the sight of the young boy. She sat down, covered he face with her hands and began to weep. Melanie could hear Jessica yelling and urging her to get up, but she couldn’t move. Thoughts of the boy on his bicycle, his innocent face and sweet demeanor consumed her. He didn’t deserve this. No one did. Suddenly she was jerked backwards. She looked up and saw the little boy standing over her, his teeth snapping and intestines hanging from his ripped abdomen.

She pulled away and began to shuffle backwards on her hands and feet. They boy moved towards her with an slow and unsteady pace. She looked back towards Jessica and saw her pushing and elderly man with no arms away from Avery. Melanie gained enough distance from the boy to get to her feet. She darted past him and grabbed the keys. As she grasped the keys in her hand she clumsily pressed the button for the alarm. 80 yards away the alarm for the car began to sound. Melanie could now see drones of bloody dismembered bodies raise up from the street and gaze towards the car. Some were only 10 feet away from the car and making their way closer.

“Damn it Melanie! Hurry up!” Jessica yelled while shoving the white haired, snarling attacker away from her with a folded lawn chair.

Jessica could see Melanie close to the car but she wasn’t moving. “Get your a*s moving, Now!”

More and more zombies were rising from the streets and headed her way. It didn’t help that Avery had begun screaming in pain from is ankle. She had to do something and fast.

Jessica turned the lawn chair so the legs were caring the old wrinkled zombie. She thrust the chair as hard as she could towards the zombies head. The blow rocked the old corpse backwards causing the it to fall on its back. Standing over the body, Jessica opened the chair and shoved a leg through its right eye. The zombie stopped moving and laid limp below her.

Turning around Jessica saw three more zombies closing in on the screaming Avery. He was awake and trying to scramble away on his hands and one good foot. He was not going to get away, as slow as these things moved, they were still faster than Avery with a broken ankle. Jessica looked towards Melanie and could see her finally on her feet and making her way towards the car, weaving between outstretched hands. A couple hundred feet ahead of her the car was now swarming with the undead.

Author's Note

This is the first short story I began working on. Its no where near done and I would appreciate any and all feedback to help get me motivated to finish it.

My Review

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Reviews

TornadoWarning

Your story is really gripping. I love how you create such vivid images. Also, i really enjoy how you touch on the human emotions, often books or tv shows involving zombies spend to much time focusing on the fighting and not enough time on the emotional stability of the characters, so great job. I could see this becoming a very interesting story. My suggestions would be to look for grammatical errors but other then that this is a really well written and interesting story. One request, if you have time, please finish it. It is really good and I want to see how it ends.

Posted 9 Years Ago

Briana O'Connor

Wow. This is really thrilling. I love the word usage that creates a vivid picture of the characters, the scenery and the actions taking place. The is very well written. My only suggestion is to read through this a couple times, say it out loud. There are quite a few grammar errors and misuse of words. However this is an excellent start to what could become a future book. Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work. Please return the favor by reviewing one of my pieces.