M-ZONE

Prologue

The doors swung open and everyone in line piled into the compact tour jeep. I found an empty seat and set my bag down below my feet. The seats were threadbare and torn apart, making the experience a bit uncomfortable. I peaked out the side of the jeep since there were no windows looking into the vast Kalahari desert. The tour speakers blasted a muffled voice.

"Hello, I am Joshua and I will your tour guide for today. I have only a few safety hazards and as long as you follow them our tour should go smoothly. Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, if there is an emergency situation and we need to evacuate the vehicle proceed to the four exits, and please remain calm around the animals."

The jeep's engine started up and we were on our way to the first sight. Desert elephants were to the right, drinking water from their long trunks in the lake. For the last stop we all safely exited the vehicles with our packs and slowly walked toward the minuscule herd of giraffes. By this time the sun was almost finished setting leaving an amazing view. Everyone stopped to grab their digital cameras, but it seems I left mine inside the jeep. Leaving group I walk back entering the jeep searching for my camera, but it cannot be found. As I exit I turn to the left and standing there is a baby hyena.

I couldn't move, I was paralyzed with fear. Where's the mother? I try to slowly back away towards the tour group, but the hyena spotted me and started to charge towards me. Dropping everything I sprint the opposite way of the group falling into a black ditch. I couldn't see, feeling around the ditch entered into a tunnel. Maybe thats the way out? It was pitch black, I dropped my pack behind that contained my flashlight. Afraid the hyena would trace my scent I started to jog into the underpass. What was that? A near shrieking sound was approaching me. I couldn't find the source of it because of the tunnel's echoes. The sound drawing closer, my face felt frigid, and my hands were colorless. It was here. I started to scurry back from where I came, tripping over a branch in the ground. Rapidly, I get up limping outside, but it was still behind me. Using my arms I lift myself up and out.

I open my eyes, my head is throbbing, and I can't feel my right leg. I tilt my head up, everything is blurred, but my leg is gushing red. What happened? I slowly get up, looking around I noticed the sun is still setting. I haven't been gone too long hopefully the tour group is still near. I take off my jacket making a bandage around the wound to slow the bleeding and make my way to the jeep.

I find the jeep and start making my way toward where the tour group was last. Scouting the nearby area I look around finding a few sets of foot prints, shoes. I follow them finally the group. As soon I get there everyone drops what they are doing and looks at me. I start to feel light headed falling over, but someone catches me. They help me to the jeep to get me to medical services. I lay down in my seat with a jacket on top of me to keep warm.

Twitching I sit up looking around, there is a young man sitting next to me. Oh my gosh. I just bit him, I don't know why. What is happening to me? The man's screams strained my ears, everyone looked at the both of us in fear, of me. I am a monster.

This is how the end started.