The Outsider (Original Version)

Chapter 3- Zombie Encounter

My eyes flutter open, hearing the sound of horses.

I've gotten so used to the sound that it makes me smile every time I hear it.

Then I rethink that.

Horses.

Plural.

I look across to see not just Spirit, but a pure white horse in the next stable.

Beside my make shift bed is another stable, and inside is a brown horse with black hooves.

In the next one is a redish brown horse.

Finally, at the back two stables sounds two horses, but it sounds odd, almost like it shouldn't be alive anymore.

I take my steps forward slowly, not wanting to make any more noise as I approach the stable.

The sun is only just beginning to rise, or the fake sun, shedding light through the windows behind the two stables.

My hand stretches out infront of me, opening the doors.

The horse infront of me rears up and it's hind legs and stamps at me, making me back up, the strange shadow covered horse followed.

As soon as it takes a step into the main room, my jaw drops.

It's flank is covered in rotten skin, looking like it might fall apart any second.

I fight the urge to gag at the smell as it corners me against a wall.

"No, no, no." I breathe, trying my best to keep space between the two of us.

Suddenly, Spirit pushes the zombie back, butting heads with the rotting horse.

The other stable at the back bursts open, and an angry looking skeleton horse running over to the aid of one of the two horses butting heads infront of me.

I stay in the corner, feeling my heart beat out of my chest.

The skeleton pushes the two horses apart, Spirit standing his ground infront of me.

I rub his neck, trying to calm him down.

The skeliton realizes I'm there and struts up to me, sniffing me, which sounds weird considering he is a skeleton.

He rubs his head on my hand, making the zombie horse come over and do the same, both feeling odd.

They both retreat to their stables, the doors swinging closed behind them.

Spirit turns, rubbing his head against mine.

"Its okay boy. I think its fine." I say, looking at the shadowy figures.

I hear a knock on the door, whipping around to see Tucker standing there.

He takes one look at my freaked out face and smiles lightly.

"Bad dream?" He asks, making me nod.

He will think I'm crazy if I told him the truth.

"Yeah. Hate those." I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

Lieing probably isn't a great way to fit in, but I also don't want to look insane.

He smiles, pointing behind him to the dirt road.

"We should probably head over to city hall, we need to get permission for you to stay." He says, leading me outside.

I feel a bit awkward.

There has never been someone telling me that I should stay.

"Just, don't get your hopes up Tucker." I mutter as we walk towards the main street.

People now walk the streets.

Big and small, all going somewhere doing something.

Every town is the same in this way.

As soon as the sun rises everyone is up and doing something, even the kids.

"Come on Petra. Are you coming?" He calls from the sidewalk.

I catch up, seeing all eyes turn to me.

My breaths go shallow, not liking the attention.

Obviously these people don't get many visitors.

"Come on. Its not far from here." He says, walking down the street.

I follow, hearing whispers from everyone I pass.

We walk through the streets, passing large buildings.

From what I can tell the one beside the road that leads to the barn is a giant food growing facility.

Interesting.

The roof is flat, and looks almost like something might be up there.

I'll check that out later.

I pick up one of the whispers finally.

"Why would Tucker bring her into our town?" One lady whispers to who I assume is her husband.

I frown, not liking the people in this town already.

Then I pick up a little boys exclamation.

"Awesome! Did you see that cool scar on her right cheek?" He says to his friend, making me smile.

Any town I went to I always got in better with the kids, they seemed to like my stories of traveling and my scars from battle more fascinating than the adults did.

Everyone in the town has a different reaction to me, but almost none are "I wonder if she will be my friend?"

Like that'll ever happen.

He stops in front of a large white building that looks beautifully made, and very oddly familiar in some way.

We walk up the steps while many people stand at the bottom, staring up at us as we walk through the spinning doors.

I take a deep breath and we walk inside, the doubt of this working filling my chest.