Welcome to the Hell Zone (101 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse)

Chapter One - The Outbreak

There I stood, with wide eyes as I watched what was happening on the television. There were people – well what looked like people – running around, trying to eat other people like they were food. I knew exactly what was happening. Those people – who weren't really people – were someone else, something else. They were sick. Infected. What some people would call Zombies I guess. I don't know what happened to them, and I don't know how it happened. But honestly that's the last thing on my mind.

    What's funny about all of this though, is people told me all this time, 'it isn't possible,' whenever I had told them I wished that the Zombie apocalypse would happen. (Yes I do notice that sounds incredibly stupid.)

But I wanted to feel my heart beating faster than ever, my blood, pumping through my veins and that feeling in your bones and muscles, when they ache and you haven't done a thing. I wanted to experience that feeling when you are scared shitless. (I guess you could say I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie.)

But now, now that I'm seeing it happen right before my eyes, I'm not so sure anymore. This isn't pretend anymore, this is actually happening.

I turned my focus back to the television screen. People were running around like maniacs, screaming and yelling. You could see their faces, the fear in their eyes. They were so far away but I couldn't help but feel a connection with them. They were scared.

A woman ran up to the camera. Tired and out of breath she spoke, "The world as we know it is ending. We're all going to hell! Save yourselves while you still can."

    And within the blink of an eye, an Infected came up behind her and bit her neck, causing her to scream out in pain. She fell out of sight along with the Infected, but her screams were still there, piercing through my mind.

I took a step back, falling into the embrace of my couch. All I could do was watch, feeling as my bones and muscles froze in place, unable to react to my body telling me to move.

    The news broadcaster had spoken up suddenly after watching everything unfold before him, "If you are at home, watching this right now, stay where you are. You are safer at home than you think. The Outbreak began in the city. Don't go near the city!"

He glanced behind him quickly, "I REPEAT, DON'T GO TO THE CITY!" and then, just like that, he was attacked too. Then the camera fell to the ground. All you could here was the shatter of glass before the screen went black.

    "We have to get out of here," I stated, looking at my parent sitting before me.

    "Didn't you just hear what he said?" My mom said, standing up, pointing to the blank TV screen.

    "Mom, it's not safe here." I paused, gathering my thoughts, before I stood up and walked over to the back door. "You see this door?" I questioned with the taste of malice in my mouth. "It's made of glass."

"I'm sure it hasn't even reached us yet," my dad said, full belief in his convictions.

I walked over to the front door angrily and opened it – thank god for screen doors. "You hear that? It's reached us alright."

The sound of screams made me cringe. There's something about the sound. It's probably because it hurts my ears and makes me want to scream too.

I jogged to my room and looked through the window. "Jesus Christ," I whispered under my breath. The Infected weren't everywhere yet, I just noticed one. But it still was a sight. It's the first real 'Zombie' I've ever seen.  And it's all for real now, no more fun and games, and no turning back. Welcome to the Hell Zone.

I looked around the room, taking it all in one last time. I sighed, grabbing my backpack off the floor and dumped all my school stuff on the floor. "Won't be needing this crap anymore."