Zombie's Grip: A Tale of Two Brothers!

Chapter 2: Unsettling Revelations

The ghastly growl echoing in their house seemed to shake Carlitos and Achiles to their core. The sound was coming from the living room. It was the sound of Mr. Rodriguez, only more horrifying. More monstrous.

The boys were alone. That night, La Papa and La Mama were out at a graduation party for Carlitos' cousin, Carlos Alfredo, with Aunt Maria del Mar. Achiles wished they hadn't left.

Emmy, their young Husky puppy, started whining, her tail tucked between her legs. Mango, their eight-year-old Beagle, growled in response to the threatening noise downstairs. Achiles could see the fear in Carlitos's eyes, mirroring his own.

"Achiles, what's happening?" Carlitos asked, trembling.

"We have to be brave, Carlitos," Achiles said, forcing a smile. "We need to see what's going on."

Carefully, they crept down the stairs, the dogs following closely. As they peeked into the living room, their worst fears were confirmed. Mr. Rodriguez was there, but he wasn't himself. His face was distorted in a terrifying way, his eyes bloodshot, and he was growling uncontrollably.

Achiles could hardly believe what he was seeing. This was their neighbor, a kind man who had always treated them with kindness. He looked like a monster now.

They retreated back upstairs, hiding in Achiles' room. Carlitos was on the verge of tears. Achiles held him close, attempting to calm him down.

"Stay here, Carlitos. I'm going to handle this," Achiles said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

He rummaged through his closet and found his baseball bat, a gift from La Papa on his last birthday. Achiles descended the stairs again, the dogs following him protectively.

With a deep breath, he approached Mr. Rodriguez. He didn't want to hurt him, but he knew he had no choice. He had to protect Carlitos.

With a swift, heavy blow, he struck Mr. Rodriguez, who fell to the ground, motionless. Mango and Emmy growled at the fallen man, keeping a safe distance.

Achiles went back upstairs, his body trembling. Carlitos looked up at him, his eyes wide.

"It's done," Achiles said quietly. "Mr. Rodriguez won't hurt us now."

They spent the night in Achiles' room, the door locked, the dogs by their side. It was a sleepless night, filled with fear and worry.

The next day, while Carlitos was still asleep, Achiles did what he thought was unthinkable. He dragged Mr. Rodriguez's body out of the house and buried it in their backyard. He cleaned the living room, erasing all signs of the horrific encounter.

Later that day, while Carlitos was playing with Emmy and Mango, Achiles sat down to watch the news. His heart skipped a beat as he watched the reports - there was a zombie outbreak in Nicaragua. It all made sense now - Mr. Rodriguez's behavior, his transformation.

Achiles decided to keep this information from Carlitos, La Papa, and La Mama. He didn't want them to worry. He knew he had to protect them.

After they came home from the party, life seemed to return to its usual rhythm for La Papa and La Mama, who were oblivious to the terror that had gripped their sons the previous night. Achiles and Carlitos tried their best to act normally, masking their fears.

In the afternoon, a knock on their door broke the silence of the peaceful day. La Papa went to answer it. The man at the door was Don Julio, a neighbor, his face pale and his voice shaking. He had a terrible tale to tell.

With hushed whispers, Don Julio shared the horrifying news - an entire family, the Garcias, found dead in their home, their bodies horrifically mutilated. The security guards had discovered a zombie feasting on them.

A chill ran down La Papa's spine. He glanced back at his family - his innocent young sons, his loving wife. The thought of his family in such a dangerous situation was unbearable.

"I... I don't know what to say, Don Julio," La Papa stammered, his voice barely audible. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. "Thank you for letting us know."

As Don Julio left, La Papa stood in the doorway, staring blankly into the distance. His mind was racing with fear, with anxiety. He realized they had to leave - they had to protect their family.

Just then, La Papa's phone buzzed, a breaking news alert from a local news outlet confirming what Don Julio had just shared. The headline read, "ZOMBIE OUTBREAK IN MANAGUA!"

The news sent a jolt of terror through him. His hands shook as he dialed Achiles' number.

"Achiles," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Pack your things. We're leaving."

"Where are we going, La Papa?" Achiles asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"La Finca," he replied tersely. "Hurry!"

As the call ended, La Papa looked out into the street - their quiet, peaceful neighborhood. It was hard to believe it was under such a dire threat. He turned around and walked back into the house, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

Achiles held the phone in his hand, his heart pounding. He glanced at Carlitos, who was still playing with Emmy and Mango, oblivious to the impending danger. He wished he could keep it that way. But they had to leave, and they had to leave now.

Just as they started packing their things, the power went out, plunging their home into darkness. The cheerful afternoon turned into an eerie twilight, adding to the growing sense of dread.

"Carlitos, let's go," Achiles said, trying to sound brave. He held his little brother's hand tightly. "We're going on a trip."

And that's how the second chapter of their nightmare took a turn for the worse.

To Be Continued...