Flesh: Slovakia

The Skull

Marek was sitting in front of his computer, scanning the news and the forums for any updates on the zombie outbreak. He had been living in his apartment for almost a year, ever since the virus had spread across the world and turned most of the population into mindless, flesh-eating monsters. He had barricaded the doors and windows, stocked up on food and water, and armed himself with guns and knives. He rarely ventured outside, except for occasional supply runs or to meet up with Zuzana, his only friend and ally in this hellish world.

Zuzana was a nurse who worked at the University Hospital of Bratislava. She had witnessed the horrors of the outbreak firsthand, as patients, doctors, and nurses turned into zombies and attacked each other. She had managed to escape with a few survivors and had been helping them ever since. She had also befriended Marek, who lived in the same building as her. She often visited him to bring him medicine, food, or just some company. She was a devout Catholic and believed that God had a plan for them and that they would survive this ordeal.

Lukas was a student who studied at the Comenius University. He had always been a thrill-seeker, always looking for new adventures and challenges. He loved to practice parkour, the art of moving through urban environments with speed and agility. He had used his skills to evade the zombies and explore the city, looking for supplies, survivors, or anything interesting. He had also met Marek and Zuzana online, and had joined them on some of their missions. He was fascinated by the outbreak and wanted to learn more about it. He was often reckless and put himself and others in danger.

Eva was a journalist who worked for the Slovak Radio and Television. She had always been ambitious and determined, always striving to expose the truth and inform the public. She had been investigating the outbreak since it began, trying to find out its origin, its cause, and its cure. She had a lot of contacts and sources, and used them to gather information and evidence. She had also met Marek, Zuzana, and Lukas online, and had teamed up with them to share their findings and resources. She was also a skilled shooter and had a license to carry a firearm. She was often in conflict with the authorities and the military, who tried to cover up the outbreak and silence the dissenters.

Peter was a chef who owned a small restaurant in the Old Town. He had always been friendly and generous, always willing to share his food and his smile with others. He had a lot of friends and customers, who supported him and his business. He had also joined the local volunteer fire brigade, and had some experience in fighting fires and rescuing people. He had met Marek, Zuzana, Lukas, and Eva online, and had offered them his restaurant as a safe haven and a meeting place. He was always ready to lend a hand and cheer people up.

The five of them had formed a group of survivors, who helped each other and worked together to survive the outbreak. They had also become friends, who cared for each other and trusted each other. They had faced many dangers and difficulties, but they had also found some hope and happiness in this dark and desperate world.

One day, they decided to go on a mission to the Bratislava Castle, the historical and cultural landmark of the city. They had heard rumors that there was a secret bunker under the castle, where some important people had taken refuge. They hoped to find some answers, some supplies, or maybe some allies there. They packed their bags, grabbed their weapons, and headed to the castle.

They arrived at the castle gate, which was closed and guarded by two soldiers. They wore black uniforms and helmets, and carried assault rifles. They looked stern and suspicious, and did not seem friendly.

"Who are you and what do you want?" one of them asked.

"We are survivors, and we want to see the bunker," Eva said.

"What bunker?" the other one asked.

"The bunker under the castle, where the president and the prime minister are hiding," Eva said.

The soldiers exchanged a glance, and then laughed.

"There is no bunker, and there is no president or prime minister. They are all dead, like everyone else. This castle is empty, except for us and the zombies. You are wasting your time here. Go away, or we will shoot you," the first one said.

Eva was not convinced. She knew that the soldiers were lying, and that there was something they were hiding. She decided to bluff.

"We know that you are lying, and we have proof. We have a video of the bunker, and we have a contact inside. If you don't let us in, we will expose you to the world, and you will be in big trouble," she said.

The soldiers looked at each other, and then at Eva. They seemed nervous and unsure.

"Show us the video, and the contact," the second one said.

Eva took out her phone, and pretended to look for the video. She whispered to the others.

"Get ready, we are going to fight our way in," she said.

The others nodded, and prepared their weapons.

Eva then threw her phone at the soldiers, and shouted.

"Now!"

The phone exploded, sending shrapnel and fire at the soldiers. The others opened fire, killing the soldiers. They then ran to the gate, and opened it. They entered the castle, and looked for the bunker.

They searched the castle, but they did not find any bunker. They only found empty rooms, dusty furniture, and rotting corpses. They also found zombies, who had been trapped inside the castle. They fought them off, and continued their search.

They reached the chapel, where they saw a large altar, with a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary. They also saw a skull, placed on a pedestal, with a crown and a scepter. They recognized it as the skull of St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary, who had ruled over Slovakia in the 11th century. The skull was a sacred relic, and a symbol of the nation's history and identity.

They were amazed and puzzled by the sight. They wondered why the skull was there, and what it meant.

"Wow, look at that. It's the skull of St. Stephen. I've read about it, but I've never seen it in person. It's supposed to be in the St. Martin's Cathedral, not here. How did it get here?" Lukas said.

"Maybe someone brought it here, for protection or worship. Maybe it has some power or significance. Maybe it's a clue or a message," Zuzana said.

"Or maybe it's a trap or a trick. Maybe it's a fake or a bomb. Maybe it's nothing but a skull," Marek said.

"Or maybe it's something else. Something we don't understand. Something we should investigate," Eva said.

"Or maybe it's just a skull. A skull of a dead king. A skull that has nothing to do with us or our situation. A skull that we should leave alone," Peter said.

They looked at the skull, and at each other. They did not know what to do. They did not know what the skull was, or what it meant. They did not know if it was interesting, or important, or dangerous. They did not know if it was a friend, or a foe, or a mystery.

They did not know that the skull was watching them, and waiting for them. They did not know that the skull had a secret, and a plan. They did not know that the skull was alive, and hungry.

They did not know that the skull was the source of the outbreak, and the master of the zombies.

They did not know that the skull was the enemy, and the end.