The Hybrid's Tale

Chapter 1: Saved by a Wizard

Shit...

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

While my body is locked in eye contact with the thing in front of me, my mind races with questions on what to do, how to escape, and what the hell it is.

And comes up blank.

Absolutely blank.

I'm not ready to die...but then again, is anyone ever?

Snapping out of some of the initial shock, I take several steps back and away from the creature. My fear not as crippling with the added distance.

As if in response, the creature straightens up and takes a step forward into the moonlight. With that step, any rational thought I once had evaporated.

The creature before me had the body of a man, but I can assure you it was anything but.

Other than the unnatural blood red eyes it possessed, filled with that burning desire to cause harm, it had dry grey skin that seemed to be flaking off in multiple places. Several bulging black veins raced through the visible skin not covered by its tattered clothing.

It's limp black hair hung down a vein covered face, which hosted a mouth full of yellowed, rotted teeth.

Not to mention the stench of decay that oozed out of it.

It's a freaking zombie... I'm about to get eaten by an actual zombie... shit.

After a few moments of paralyzing fear, instinct and adrenaline kick in and I do the only thing anyone can do when being stared down by a real life zombie.

I turn around and run.

I run as fast as my legs can carry me. I run down alleyways, dash in and out of shadows, leap over obstacles in my way all in a bid to get away from the monster chasing me down.

Not long after I take off, I notice that there are other footsteps other than those that have been tailing me from the start. I look around me whenever I can and see nothing, putting it down to my imagination.

Then I see them.

Red lights flashing through the darkness in parallel alleyways, in shaded corners, and on the roofs of shorter buildings.

No, not lights...

I glimpse shadows darker than my surroundings moving with the lights. Then I come to a realization that leaves me filled with dread.

Eyes...they are eyes.

I'm completely surrounded.

I almost give up at the hopelessness of my situation, but fear and the desire to live ensure I keep running.

That is, until I hit a dead end.

No, no, no, no, no!

It can't end this way!

I pound on the brick wall and search for a way out frantically even though I it's pointless. Screaming my throat raw in the process with my cries for help.

I feel the presence of the zombies weigh down on me and turn to face them, unwilling to go down without a fight for all the good it would do.

Then a miracle happened.

As the zombies closed in on me, there was a blinding flash of white light and a resounding boom filled the space between the buildings.

After taking several seconds to recover from the light, I finally open my eyes to find a cloaked figure taller than I am by half a head standing in the space between the zombies and I.

While I'm still contemplating whether I'm in more trouble or being saved, the newcomer stretches his arms out and several bolts of burgundy coloured fiery energy shoot out into the mass of zombies.

The howls of the creatures rend the air as they are burned to blackened husks and ash. The whole thing taking just two minutes to play out.

Fear and awe war for dominance in me as I assess the thing that can only be described as a wizard in front of me.

But I get saved from the trouble when the figure turns around and a deep, rumbling voice fills the quiet.

"Ben Miller, I've been looking for you."