(A sincere thank you to Hopeful @helainked for letting me share her Zombie photos here for my story. See her original post here, and make sure to go follow her, check out her posts, leave likes and comments and 'extra.' She's really incredible, one of my favourite people and worth the support.)
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For an explanation of what this is and the background, please see part 1, and once more, a thank you to @headshot for her sensational support and inspiration. I wouldn't be doing this without her, so also make sure to go follow and support her, too.
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(Previously, from After the Flesh - Pith - 001)
The horror. Eve’s bloated and dead face grinning in a rictus as she reaches up and grabs the priest around the torso and pulls him into the half-opened lid, still saying “Roger, please help me.” You can’t see everything that is happening inside the casket now, but judging by the loud crack, the priest folding in half backwards and his scream ending abruptly, you just know you didn’t want to see more. Years of pop culture stories instantly jump to the forefront of your brain, and you think "Well, this is it. This is the Zombie Apocalypse."
(and now…)
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After the Flesh - Pith - 002
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You stand in shock for a moment, still not quite able to grasp what just happened. A thin, tattooed man from the crowd is the next to react. He grabs a nearby shovel (why is there always a nearby shovel?), and rushes towards the casket. It causes everyone to snap out of their trance. Sharon flips up her phone and struggles to call 911 with her shaking hands. Several other people from the crowd do the same. Some men start to rush towards the casket, as do you.
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Tattooed Man hesitates just outside the casket, his shovel nervously raised above his head and ready to come down in a strike. Another funeral goer gets himself at the head of the casket and grabs the casket lid, ready to swing it open. He looks up at Tattooed Man. They make eye contact and nod. Tattooed Man says, “We go on 3,” and the other man responds, “I got it.” Before anything else can occur, the lid flies open and the broken and partially devoured body of the Priest (“Father Steed,” you suddenly recall his name) flies out, knocking Tattooed Man over.
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Eve reaches up and grabs the other funeral goer and hauls him down to tear out his throat with her bloody teeth. You turn away as you see the blood explode out of him, and shout “Everyone, RUN!”
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You turn to escape, and run right into Roger, as he is slowly approaching the casket, mortified at the scene folding out in front of him. “Roger,” you shout at him, “You have to run!” His eyes are vacant as he finally stares at you.
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“Eve’s still alive…” he mutters in shock.
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You start to push him towards your car, as you see Sharon semi-running away, slowing to look behind her and not sure what to do. “Sharon!” you shout, “Get the car ready!”
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You turn back to Roger and grab his shoulders. “Roger, man, I know you hate me, but you have to listen to me. Eve is gone. I don’t know what the hell that is, but it isn’t her. WE HAVE TO RUN!”
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Roger nods weakly and turns to hesitantly walk towards the car. You can hear screaming behind you as Eve finds the Tattooed Man on the ground. As you approach the car, you see that Sharon has already started the car and has left both the front and back doors on the passenger side of the car open in front of you. She’s in the Driver’s seat and has managed to grab a tire iron. She looks terrified and is barely keeping herself from fleeing without you, but she still had the wherewithal to arm herself.
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You keep pushing Roger forward towards the car. You look up and in a surreal moment, you see an Air Balloon way above you in the sky. Your thoughts are distant, but you find yourself thinking, “Probably some Austrian Security Guard taking his dream vacation. Good timing, buddy, you decided to take a vacation right when the fucking Zombie-Apocalypse happens. Hope you brought a gun.”
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You finally get Roger to the car, and he stands with his hand on the back door, about to get in. Then you hear an approaching voice that sends ice down your spine.
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“Roger, please help me.”
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You both turn and see Eve, covered in blood and entrails, walking towards you both, reaching for Roger. She’s about 30 feet away and moving at a walking pace. Roger reaches towards her, “Eve, my love…”
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What is your next step?
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Thank you my friends and future friends.
@missy, @penny, @eirenne, @lust
Check out part 3 - After the Flesh - Pith - 003
