The city of Gotham was no stranger to chaos and darkness, but nothing could have prepared its citizens for the horrors that were about to unfold. The Joker, Batman's arch-nemesis, had devised a diabolical plan to infect the city with a deadly virus, turning innocent citizens into jokerized zombies.
It began on a stormy night, as lightning streaked across the sky and thunder rumbled ominously. The Joker, with his maniacal laughter echoing through the abandoned streets, released the virus into the city's water supply, ensuring its rapid spread. As the contaminated water flowed through the pipes, the unsuspecting citizens of Gotham unknowingly consumed the deadly concoction.
Within hours, the effects of the virus began to manifest. People who were once ordinary, law-abiding citizens were transformed into grotesque, zombie-like creatures, their faces twisted into deranged smiles resembling the Joker's own visage. Their laughter, a haunting symphony of madness, filled the once vibrant city.
News of the outbreak reached Batman's ears, and he sprang into action, donning his cape and cowl to confront this new threat. He knew that Gotham's survival depended on his ability to find a cure and put an end to the Joker's wicked scheme.
Navigating through the darkened streets, Batman encountered hordes of jokerized zombies. Their movements were erratic and unpredictable, making them formidable adversaries. Batman fought with unwavering determination, his fists an
Antique store owner Liz brings home a Victorian taxidermy hound from auction, unwittingly unleashing dark forces on her wife and son.
*****
Nat Loman has finally married the love of her life, Liz, and is getting used to her role as stepmother to Liz's 5-year-old son, Liam. The Loman family runs a bustling antique business so they attend a sale where a striking, black taxidermied hound is up for auction. Liz picks it up for the business, but it ends up being stored in their home, where Nat notices strange things occurring. She quickly discovers the past residents had died violently. Then she hears from a friend about the myth of "the devil's dog", a hound that perches in the shadows, tearing families apart from the inside. Soon, people around the Lomans are dying, and Liz is changing, darkening. It's up to Nat to save the woman she loves from the darkness closing in, and to save Liam from danger no matter what she has to sacrifice.
[[Winner of the 2018 Wattys "Hidden Gems" category]]
[[word count: 60,000-70,000 words]]