Zombies Happened

Chapter 2

As Stacy pulled up to her parents’ house, her heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination. She dropped her phone onto the passenger seat, her mind racing as she reached beneath her own seat and pulled out a twelve-inch machete. The cold steel felt heavy and reassuring in her hand. Without wasting a second, she sprinted to the front door.

In this neighborhood, people never locked their doors—everyone knew everyone. It was the kind of place where you could walk into your neighbor’s house to borrow a cup of sugar without knocking. Stacy was thankful for that now as she pushed the door open and slipped inside.

The house was eerily quiet, the only sound her own rapid breathing. She tiptoed across the hallway towards the stairs, moving as silently as she could. Her mother would likely be in the bedroom, watching one of her shows or lost in a book. Her father would be in the study, both rooms located upstairs. She knew which steps creaked and carefully avoided them as she ascended, the machete poised and ready.

As she neared her parents’ bedroom, a low scratching and pounding noise from the front door made her freeze. She hesitated for only a moment before quickly pushing the bedroom door open and stepping inside. The brightness of the room—sunlight streaming through the open shades—momentarily blinded her. She blinked, her eyes adjusting, and took in the familiar, neat surroundings. The bed was perfectly made, everything in its place. But it was empty.

A wave of anxiety hit her, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Stacy closed the bedroom door behind her and moved toward her father’s study. As she approached, she heard soft whimpering on the other side of the door. Her grip on the machete tightened, and she braced herself for what she might find.

She pushed the door open cautiously, heart in her throat, ready for anything. But instead of an attacker, she saw her mother huddled in the corner, clutching their cat tightly to her chest. Relief flooded through Stacy as she lowered the machete.

“Mom, thank God!” she exclaimed, rushing over to her. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where’s Dad?”

Her mother looked up, eyes wide and brimming with tears. “I’m fine, Stacy, I’m fine. Your dad—he told me to stay here. He said he’d be back soon, but he hasn’t come back yet. I’ve been waiting, but I’m so worried,” her voice trembled, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Stacy swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. “I’m sure he’s fine, Mom. He can take care of himself. But we need to go now. Start packing—grab clothes, toiletries, anything essential. We’re going to my place, where it’s safe. I’ll check the rest of the house to make sure everything’s secure.”

Her mother nodded, her hands shaking as she set the cat down and hurried to gather their things. Stacy left the study, closing the door behind her. She paused, listening closely for the scratching sound she had heard earlier. The house was still, but unease crept into her chest. She headed downstairs, making her way to the front door. As she approached, she saw smears of blood on the glass—a crimson trail as if someone had clawed at the door in desperation until their fingers were raw. But the person—or thing—that had done it was gone.

Stacy’s pulse quickened as she locked the front door. She moved toward the back of the house, heading for the kitchen. Just as she reached it, the back door slammed open with a violent crash, and she whirled around, machete raised.

Mr. Wilson, the neighbor from next door, stumbled into the kitchen, blood dripping from a deep bite wound on his arm. His face was pale, his eyes wide with terror. Stacy nearly gagged at the sight of the gruesome injury.

“Stay back!” she shouted, her voice sharp as she took a step forward, the machete gleaming in her hand.

“P-please, help me,” Mr. Wilson stuttered, his voice choked with fear. He took a shaky step toward her, snot and tears streaming down his face. “I—I don’t want to die.”

Stacy’s mind raced. He had been bitten. The implications were terrifying, and she knew she couldn’t take any chances. “You were bit! What if you turn into one of them? I can’t risk it!” she yelled, panic creeping into her voice.

“Don’t k-kill me, please!” he cried, trembling uncontrollably.

“For God’s sake, I’m not going to kill you, but you can’t come with us! I’m sorry, but I can’t endanger anyone else by helping you!” Stacy’s heart twisted in her chest as she saw the despair in his eyes. She hated this, but she had to stay strong.

Mr. Wilson nodded, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. “I—I understand,” he whimpered, defeated.

Stacy’s resolve softened slightly as she watched him crumble. She couldn’t just leave him like this. Acting quickly, she rushed to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit. Returning to the kitchen, she dragged Mr. Wilson to the sink, ignoring the bile rising in her throat. She flushed his wound with water until the flow ran clear, then wrapped his arm tightly in a bandage and secured a tourniquet above the bite.

“I don’t know how this thing spreads,” she said, her voice strained, “but keep this tight. If it’s the bite that turns you, maybe this will stop it from spreading to the rest of your body. I’m sorry I can’t do more for you.”

Mr. Wilson looked at her with a mix of gratitude and despair. “Thank you,” he murmured weakly.

Stacy nodded, though she couldn’t meet his eyes. “No problem. Mr. Wilson—did you see my dad out there?” she asked, the urgency in her voice cutting through the tension.

“I’m sorry,” he replied, shaking his head. “I didn’t see him. The only person I saw was…my wife. She—she had this crazed look in her eyes. She attacked me, Stacy! She bit me! I didn’t know what to do, so I pushed her into the bedroom and ran here. I’m so sorry!”

Stacy’s heart sank as she heard his story, the reality of the situation sinking in deeper. “It’s okay, Mr. Wilson,” she said softly, though her voice was laced with sorrow. “I’m really sorry about your wife.”

She turned away, her thoughts snapping back to the present. “Mom!” she shouted up the stairs, urgency cracking through her voice. “We’ve got to go, now!”

She glanced out the window and froze, her eyes widening at what she saw.

A/N:

 So there's the second chapter.. yay! Thank You for reading If you like it please comment and vote. Tell me if you have any suggestions!

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