Last Days Of The Living

The City Of Ghosts

The world had died months ago, and what was left wasnt worth saving.

A cold wind whistled through the skeletal remains of a once-thriving city. Towers stood cracked and broken, their windows shattered like the hollow eyes of corpses. Cars lay abandoned and rusted, their doors swinging open as if their owners had simply vanished. Fires burned in the distance, their embers dancing in the dull gray sky. And in the streets, figures wandered slow, shuffling, moaning things, their skin sagging, their eyes empty.

Amid the ruins, he moved like a shadow.

Jace pulled his jacket tight around his body, his breath barely a whisper in the dead air. He stepped carefully, his boots crunching on broken glass. He had spent too long alone to be careless now.

The last time he had gotten reckless, he lost everything.

Yesterdays Ghosts 

Jace ducked into a convenience store, scanning the shelves. Most of the food had been looted long ago, but perhaps something was left behind.

A faint memory played in his mind as he walked through the aisles.

He could almost hear the sound of laughter-his own, mixed with someone else's. Could almost smell the fresh coffee from the shop across the street. He had been here before, but back when the world still made sense.

His fingers brushed against a dust-covered candy bar.

"Ayanfe would have loved this," he thought bitterly

Ayanfe. His Son.

He squeezed his eyes shut, shoving the memory away.

Now wasn't the time.

The Hunt Begins

A noise.

Jace froze.

Somewhere in the back of the store, something moved.

A soft scuffle. A dragging sound. A low, wet breath.

Jace slowly reached for his knife, gripping it tight. He turned the corner, pressing his back against a shelf, and peered into the darkness.

A figure crouched over a corpse, its fingers digging into torn flesh. The sound of tearing meat filled the silence.

Jace's heart pounded. A lurker.

He stepped back-his foot caught on a bottle.

It tumbled over, clattering against the tiles.

The creature's head snapped toward him.

Hollow eyes. Blood-slicked teeth. A snarl that sounded almost human.

Jace turned to run-

Too late.

The thing lunged.

Jace barely got his knife up in time. He shoved the blade deep into the zombie's chest-not enough. He yanked it out and drove it into its skull. The creature collapsed, twitching.

But outside, another sound rose-the shuffle of feet, the chorus of moans.

One zombie was never alone.

A Dangerous Stranger  

A hand grabbed him from behind.

Jace spun, his knife ready-

"Whoa, rookie! You trying to stab me?"

The voice was rough, edged with amusement.

A man stood before him, tall, built like a fighter, a shotgun slung over his shoulder. A scar ran down his cheek, and his eyes were sharp and calculating.

Jace hesitated. "Who the hell are you?"

"The guy saving your ass".  The man jerked his thumb toward the entrance. "Z's heard you. We need to move."

Jace glanced back. Outside, figures gathered-more than he could handle alone. 

He didn't trust this stranger. But trust didn't matter anymore.

Survival did.

With a sharp nod, he followed.

The Safehouse.

They ran.

Through alleys, over debris, dodging the dead. The man led the way, moving like he had done this a thousand times before. Jace struggled to keep up.

Finally, they reached an old, abandoned building. The stranger kicked open the door, shoving Jace inside before slamming it shut.

Silence.

Jace panted, catching his breath. "Thanks," he muttered.

"Don't mention it," the man said, peering out through a crack in the wall.

A moment passed before Jace spoke again. "Who are you?"

The man smirked. "Call me Kunle."

Jace narrowed his eyes. "You alone?"

Kunle shrugged. "For now."

Jace didn't believe him. But before he could press further-

A thud echoed from upstairs.

They both froze.

Another thump.

Kunle silently raised his shotgun. He glanced at Jace, nodding toward the staircase.

Jace gripped his knife, his pulse quickening. 

Step by step, they climbed.

At the top, Kunle slowly pushed a door.

Jace held his breath.

Inside, something waited.

And it wasn't a Zombie.

TO BE CONTINUED...