Half Dead [WattpadZombies Contest]

Half Dead

I ran as fast as I could. It was easy to outrun them. But I had dropped the supplies from the Mart. Again.

I dashed to the parking lot. I had parked far away, just in case I had to escape a Zombie takeover of another Mart.

I was glad that I did. These Zombies were everywhere. Was I among a last few unturned?

The virus had spread fast. The Government had owned up that their little experiment had failed. It had turned people into lifeless Zombies, instead of 'super-humans', they were aiming to create. Infections spread, much faster than 2020's corona-virus.

And here, I was. Fighting for survival.

I had read enough Zombie Apocalypse novels. I knew what to do in case of such epidemics. But for how long? I saw no rescue anywhere in sight. The radios were silent, there was no authority left for help. I felt all alone.

For a moment, I had thought of giving up. I was separated from my father when we were attacked in our campsite. I searched for him for a week, but all I had found was a half-eaten corpse in the jungle.

Could be my father's, but I decided to be optimistic. I was a fighter. I couldn't break down so easily. After all, I had been the best boy scout at school last year.

I reached my car and pulled the door handle.

Locked.

What the heck! The blackened window rolled down. I froze.

A Zombie was in my seat. He was wearing my sunglasses and rested his arm on the window frame in a cool way. He flashed his rotten teeth at me, in a smile.

I reached for my gun.

Dang. I had no bullets left. And my frying pan was broken. I had no weapons!

I started looking around for sticks to defend myself with. The noise behind me made me jump.

Groans and hisses. Disgusting spitty hisses out of the horde's mouths made my stomach churn. I decided to abandon my car.

"Get In", he hissed.

"WHAAATT!" I was dumbstruck. A talking Zombie? I was surely hallucinating.

"I'll explain everything. Trust me, I'm safe", he urged, opening the door for me.

I debated what to do, but gave up thinking seeing the horde catching up. A talking Zombie was better than a hungry horde, wasn't he?

To be on the safe side, I got in at the back. The Zombie stepped on the gas and we drove off.

"I'm Sam."

"I need some explanation to be able to trust you", I said.

"Of course!", he laughed. "Look. I am on your side. Yes, I look like a Zombie, but I have human elements left in me."

He flashed his smile again at me through the rear-view mirror, but saw the suspicious look on my face.

"Wait, let me explain."

"I was a soldier. When this virus spread, the Government had a vaccine ready too. I was out on duty, being a hero, saving citizens." He smirked. "Zombies bit me". He showed me his arm.

He seriously expected me to spot bite marks on his decomposing skin?

"I was turning, but they administered the vaccine to me. I turned. But my consciousness stayed. My body couldn't 'un-decay', but from the inside, I was still human. They saved me!"

"Okay", was all I managed to say.

"The research facility was attacked. The Zombies ate all humans. I was spared. Turns out, Zombies aren't cannibals. They don't eat their own kind", he smirked again.

"That's great news", I said. "But where are the humans? What should I do? I haven't seen one for quite a while now. And where are you taking me?"

"I'm gonna eat you", he said making an animated motion and a hissing sound. He burst out laughing.

I scowled at him.

"Come on, old man. Why you so grumpy? Aren't you thankful that I saved you?"

"You know I'm not able to trust you yet?"

"Okay, sorry", he said, making a crying face.

"Me and other soldiers who were administered this vaccine, have set up a camp. We have weapons, but Zombies don't attack us anyway, so we're safe."

A camp? With these – what are they even called? Zomboids? Would it be safe? I couldn't trust this person–Zombie–whatever, yet. What if he attacked me?

"And by the way, I forgot to mention. We've found another human. Seems to be a man in his fifties. Kept saying he's looking for some Sam."

My eyes lit up.

"Dad!", I shrieked in joy.

"Oh, so you're Sam too? Wow, we're Sam-to-Sam!" He burst out laughing at his own, dumb joke.

I felt a ray of hope. It was my father. I had to get to him!

"So that's where I'm taking you", Sam continued. "Of course, with your permission, grumpy lady", he howled with laughter.

I sat back in my seat. I was seeing my dad again. I was relieved. Tiredness seeped in. I would see my dad again! I fell asleep.

"SAM!"

It was my dad's face at the window. I burst into tears, opened the door and hugged him tight.

"Sam, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Dad I missed you! Please don't leave me like this!"

"Sam, listen to me. You shouldn't be her–"

"WELCOME, SAM NUMBER 2!", a commanding voice boomed.

It was a Zomboid, dressed in torn Military attire. Sam was standing beside him, smiling at me.

I looked around, there were a dozen Zomboids. Each had rifles on their backs.

"I am Commander. We welcome you to our camp!"

"Sam, listen to me", my dad whispered. "These guys are crazy. I don–"

"Join me guys, in welcoming another human!"

All Zomboids cheered. Two of them carried me and dad towards a high platform. Wait, it wasn't a platform. A pot.

They threw us into the huge pot. It was filled with water. Warm water. The water slowly got unbearably hotter.

"BON APPETIT!", the Zomboids cheered.