Bab 1: The Encounter

Just down the hill was the first store, a liquor store, its windows boarded with no light to be seen. The town had to have been occupied by no more than a hundred people at one point. The sun had just begun to rise to the left, and in the peach-toned light, the houses almost seemed cheery. As I stared intently at the liquor store, the first rays showed the store's front door to be shattered and left hanging slightly askew. However, there was no one to be seen. I walked up to the door and peered inside. There was a thick layer of dust on everything as if no one had been in the store for years. All the shelves were empty, the cans and bottles neatly arranged in the aisles. I walked around the store, inspecting it from every angle. There was no one to be seen, not even a single footprint. The town must have been abandoned not long ago. I was about to leave when I heard a sound coming from the back of the store. I peered through the dusty window and saw something moving in the back. The man was tall and bulky, like a gorilla. He had a barrel chest, and his arms and legs were like they belonged to two different people. His skin was tan and rough, like the hide of an old cow. The man's form was thick with blood, his hair matted with it and stuck to the side of his face. He was swaying back and forth as if he was looking for something He turned slowly, his eyes holding a glaze that appeared to be a mix of resignation, shock, and confusion. His eyes were wide and unfocused as if he had just awoken from a long sleep. His blood-stained overalls hung in tatters at his waist, slipping over his hips and down below his knees. He had no shoes, and his feet were covered in dirt. It was a man, his entire body covered in blood. He was swaying back and forth as if he was trying to find something. It tasted like salt. I couldn't tell if it was salt he was covering himself in or if it was sweat. The man's clothes were saturated with blood, the clothes clinging to his skin, yet not damp or dirty. The blood was fresh, with a sharp taste that could cut you in half. Suddenly, he saw me and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He continued to sway as if he was about to collapse. I stepped back, my heart racing. The man in the blood-soaked clothes was a zombie. [Leylin Fauk is the main character. He is a skilled hunter and has a strong sense of smell. He is also a survivor, having been through many dangerous situations.] [Leylin has been investigating the town of Carpenter's Mill when he comes across a zombie. He's not afraid of zombies, but this one is different. He's seen the man in the blood-soaked clothes before and knows he's a zombie. Leylin freezes when the man sees him and watches in terror as the man falls to the ground and starts to sway. Leylin runs away.] The man in the blood-soaked clothes must have been the former owner of the store. All his belongings were still in the store as if he had just left. The man must have been bitten by a zombie, and in his state of confusion, he must have wandered into the store and been bitten. I didn't hang around to find out what happened to him. I quickly left the store and the town, not looking back. I had the feeling that the man in the blood-soaked clothes was going to pursue me, but I was able to run away before he could. The zombies in this town were all different, some with fresh blood, others with dried blood. It was as if they were all in different stages of decay. It was as if they were all waiting for someone to come and take them away. It was a horrifying thought. I had the feeling that this town was going to become my grave. I couldn't help but feel like I was going to be their next victim. I'm the only one left in this town. This is the first time I've faced an abnormal zombie. I felt like I had been injected with poison, and my whole body was aching. I had no idea what to do. I needed to get out of this place as soon as possible. I had never experienced anything like this before. I was scared out of my mind. So far, so good. I don't seem to be getting infected by these undead creatures. That should be good news. That shouldn't be so bad either. It's really strange that none of the dead were chasing after me. They didn't seem to be hungry or thirsty. If they were zombies, then wouldn't they attack me? But they haven't attacked me yet, which means they aren't zombies. It's only now that I realize how tired I am. My strength is starting to fade. I can't help but wonder if it will continue to decline. It would be fine if I didn't have to worry about being chased by zombies, but since there are plenty of them in this town, it's inevitable. And now I'm thinking about all the other things that may happen. If there are any remaining normal humans in the town, maybe they will notice what I'm doing. Maybe they will try to help me. Will they even be able to survive in this place? If I manage to escape, where will I go? The only thing I can think of is running to another town. Even if I ran somewhere else, I'd still have to hide from the zombies. A large group of them could easily catch me if I'm not careful. But I don't have a choice. I have to find someplace safe, and soon.