Zompocalypse

Echoes of the Past

Ivy and I quietly snuck through the unfamiliar town, the dilapidated buildings a stark reminder of our world's descent into hell.

I turned to Ivy, watching her carefully look around. Suddenly, her head swiveled, and she stared off. My eyes traced her line of sight, landing on a group of zombies. There were close to 20, shambling around and bumping into each other. You could hear the crunching of bones as some walked on broken limbs. The stench turned our noses and twisted our stomachs, threatening to bring up our breakfast.

My grip tightened on my makeshift weapon as I took a step forward, ready to fight. Ivy grabbed my arm, and I snapped a glare at her.

"What?" I gritted my teeth, voice barely above a whisper.

Ivy shook her head and silently pointed across the street to an abandoned building.

I sighed and followed her across the street. The windows and doors were boarded up, leaving us no way to peek inside. We couldn't know if the dead were in there too.

I looked back at the small horde slowly making their way towards us.

"Ivy..." I warned, bouncing on my heels, ready to take them on.

"Be quiet." She hushed me before placing her ear to the boarded door.

I glanced back and forth between her and the horde, then watched her pull a small lock-picking kit out of her back pocket. She skillfully picked the lock just in time. We slid in just before the horde passed. Ivy gave me a glare, opening her mouth to scold me, but quickly shut it as the sounds of the zombies passing filled the room.

Noiselessly, I slid my pack off, making a soft thud on the ground before reaching and taking out a flashlight. I turned it on, the beam filling the room.

The once vibrant bowling alley was now a relic of a forgotten past, thick with mildew and abandonment. The polished lanes were warped and splintered, their glossy surfaces dulled by dust and grime. The automatic pinsetters were frozen in mid-action, rusting as they clutched broken pins.

Overhead, many lights were burned out or broken, casting eerie shadows. The once colorful murals on the walls were faded and peeling, their cheerful expressions contrasting with the desolation. The seating area was a mess of overturned and broken plastic chairs, their bright colors muted by dust.

I sat down on the floor, the bowling alley a haunting reminder of a lost world. My eyes darkened as a memory pulled me back.

Flashback - Six Years Ago

I opened my eyes to Bree's radiant smile.

"Don't tell me you fell asleep," she joked, nudging me. "It's your turn."

"Sorry, baby. I had a long night at the shop," I chuckled, getting up and grabbing a bowling ball.

I steadied myself at the top of the lane. I could hear Bree giggling behind me.

"Why'd you have to wake him up, Bree?" Jason boomed. "I could've had a chance at winning a game for once."

My back was to them, but I knew Bree was laughing and shrugging her shoulders.

"They're on a team, Jas," Lola poked. "Of course, she's going to wake up her only chance of winning."

"Hey," Bree shrilled.

The three of them laughed. I chuckled to myself as my arm swung forward, letting go of the ball. It rolled perfectly down the slick lane, knocking all the pins. I turned around, grinning ear to ear as the pinsetter reset our lane. Bree jumped, running to me and squealing with glee. She planted a smooth kiss on my lips as I wrapped my arms around her thin torso.