Welcome to Zarth

Exclusive #1 Character Contribution

WRITTEN BY @TheatreBandGeek

PREQUEL TO TOOTH AND NAIL, from Lori's perspective.

(**Unedited**)

I've heard it on the news. It's everywhere. People turning into monsters. Cannibals. Why don't I just get it over with right now, they're zombies. It's not like a Hollywood film with happy endings. I smell rotting flesh outside my house, the water is contaminated, and worst of all I'm missing band camp! I hope Connor's okay. French horn players like to play truth or dare a lot and it's not the safest game during a zombie apocalypse.

Mom and Dad are dead and Xavier is missing. He walks home from the elementary school down the street every day, he's only nine years old, he has a life to live. But that life could be snatched away any minute, any second. He just HAD to sign up for that robotics camp. I want to look down the street and see his little grin he always has on his face, but I could also see a pile of flesh and bone lying on the street.

There's a sudden knock on the back door. Xavier? I walk slowly toward the door, knife in my right hand. I turn the handle and it creeks open slowly. It's Cade. How does Cade know where I live?

"Why do you have a knife?" He asks

"Zombies?" I reply

"Who knock?"

"Good point"

He walks in and points down the road. He signals for me to come over.

"Lori, your brother's body is right down there"

It feels surreal. Like a weight in my heart. Xavier can't be... not living. It's not possible. All-time he was there for me, but I wasn't there for him when he needed me. I'm a coward. But I have to be a leader. More people will die if I don't act brave and survive.

"At least he didn't turn" I reply coldly

Cade looks at me in shock, but notices the tears lining my eyes. He pulls me in for a hug and I hold onto him knowing he's the only person I still have. I hated him an hour ago, but that doesn't matter any more, that life is over and I know hugging the gay guy is the closest thing to comfort I have.

We need to make a safe place. A haven. Jezebel's house is the first thing that pops into my brain. My house is one of those 'my daddy's a rich lawyer' kind of houses, it's lined with Windows which are obviously not the safest things during a zombie apocalypse.

I drop my knife and head for my room, Cade follows.

"We're going to live at Jez's house" I say, grabbing my old duffel bag and shoving anything I can find into it.

"Why?" He asked

"It's the safest place I can think of"

"Lori we're not going to live with Jezebel because last time I checked she wasn't very open to guests"

"We'll wait until she decides to leave. She might say she wants to stay at her house but I know she will jump at any mention of adventure"

Cade just turns around and walks into the living room. He turns the television on and listens closely for any news on the situation at hand. None.The screen is just blank.

I grab the keys to my dad's car. I would rather ruin his brand new Jaguar than the old minivan full of so many memories. I really need to stop with the sentimentality, but I know I never will.