The untold tales of The Dead Men

Night Of The Living Pandemic: Part 4

"This just in. During the early hours of this morning, reports of unusual and frightening behaviour came flooding in from all across Central London. Our intel describes people experiencing sudden violent bursts of homicidal rage, and assaults are taking place on the streets. Experts believe this new and unstable behaviour originated somewhere in The London Borough of Camden. Our ground corespondent Beck Buckley is now live on the scene. Beware, viewer discretion is advised."

"Hi Cassandra, I'm standing here in Camden's market square as chaos ensues around me. As you can see behind me, a riot of some kind has broken out. It's like a jungle out here Cass. Flaming cars, smashed windows and screaming. The perpetrators responsible are the wildest I've seen. I'm certain I saw a homeless man attempt to bite another mans ear off. Truly horrify acts of violence. While we are unsure why this is happening, I must warn all viewers to stay inside. Lock your doors and don't leave the house. That-"

........

"Beck? Beck? My apologies ladies and gentlemen, we appear to have lost our visual. Scientists are investigating the probable cause and effects of this dangerous behaviour. In the mean to DO NOT leave your house. DO NOT  engage with anyone you do not know. It these times of unsertanty everyone is a threat. Keep you family close, buckle in, it's going to be a long night folks. I'm Cassandra Nickleson and this has been BBC NEWS at 6."

..........

———————————————————————————

"Mum have you heard the news?"
"I know Mel, it's ghastly stuff." A woman's voice cracked down the phone. "The whole street is on the look out, Mr Budgens has told everyone on the neighbourhood watch to -"
"Mum stay away from that dam neighbourhood watch and get inside." Mel told her mother as she sat under a bus stop.
"Oh but you know Mr Budgens, he was in the war and told us to gear up. I've got my crafting scissors ready."
"Mum, Mr Budgens is a 83 years old and thinks the moon landing was staged." Mel snapped, it was starting to rain and she was very cold.
"But darling -"
"Look il be home soon ok. I'm waiting for the bus so put the kettle on alright."
"Ok dear, but I've got a spare pair of scissors waiting for you at home."
"Alright Mum. See you later. Love you."
Melanie hung up and put her phone in her jacket.

It was almost 9pm and she was sitting on an Electric meter box next to the bus stop. It was raining steadily now, and mist rolled along the floor, she shoved her hands into her coat. Melanie looked up at the street light. It cast a small glow of orange around the bus stop. She couldn't see anything beyond her circle of light. For all she knew she could of been on an island, surrounded by the sea. Dam it was getting cold, she thought, where was that bus? She peered at her phone again, 9:20pm.

"RRRAAAGGGH" A gargled screech echoed from the darkness.

Melanie's head shot up. Frozen. Her fight or flight should of kicked in but she stayed on the Electricity box. Listening.

Silence.

She squinted into the void and saw noting. She heard nothing, only the rain.

Melanie suddenly felt very exposed on her island. Her eyes darted from one spot to the next. But she dared not turn away from the direction of the noise.
"Ridiculous." She muttered "Your being ridiculous. I didn't know you were so easily spooked. It was probably an animal or the wind. It's always the wind...dam wind." 

"rrRRAAAGH"

She definitely heard it that time. She stood up and clutched on to the bus stop, her phone in the other hand.

"Hello.." she called, quite timidly into the night.

Nothing.

She was nervous now. Where was that bus!? She whipped out her phone and called her mum.

No answer. That was odd.

She heard scraping on the ground. It felt much closer than before.

She dialled the number again. No answer.

A groan rumbled through the air.

"Stay back!" Melanie warned. Fear froze her. "Stay back I'm warning you."

Something shuffled just outside the lights reach. But she could see it. See something. A figure. Her heart jolted.  "I said stay back! Il phone the police. BACK OFF!" Her heart was in her mouth and the rain was draining out everything else. Her eyes were locked. Should she make a run for it?

The person stepped from the dark. Half of its face illuminated by the orange glow.

Melanie stifled a scream. A bolt of terror struck her body. Run. She thought. Run NOW. But she didn't move.

The creature from the dark was grotesque. Had it once been human? It was sodden and decaying. Mussel tissue was exposed on its face and its skin was almost malting.

What the hell was that thing!? A Zombie?!

She locked with its eyes and the monster screamed. It's shambled corpse lurched out the dark towards her.

Finally, her instincts kicked in and she turned and ran.

"HELP!" She screamed as she fled through the pitch black. "HELP ME! SOMEBODY!" She tripped and fell, her phone clattered out of her hand. She scrambled up but kicked the phone away in panic.

She heard another noise, it was close.

Melanie bolted forward and saw another ring of street lights with houses. She would make it to the doors. A face! Someone was inside, if she could just get into the light, she would be saved.

Melanie sprinted as fast as she could. Adrenaline pumping through her legs. The rain made the ground slippery but she didn't care. So close now she could almost reach out and touch the light's border.
Something suddenly grabbed her ankle and she was wrenched backwards. Her face slammed into the ground. She screemed and felt blood pouring from her nose. Hands wrapped around her ankles but she lashed out and scurried up. Something pulled her down again and a body thrust itself onto her. She screeched and tried to scramble away but one of those things had her leg. Suddenly another one appeared and grabbed her arm. Then another one and another one. Hands clawed at her clothes. She couldn't see anymore. Bodies swarmed her and she writhed and thrashed out but it was no use. "HELP MEEEE!" "HEL-" a Zombie grabbed her face and she saw a mouth. "No I - Mum -.