~ Luke ~

"Man my finger hurts." Dom cradled his hand by the wrist, looking the homemade bandage over, "Should've drank some of that alcohol, maybe I wouldn't feel it as much."

"We'll get it checked out when we get back because I'm no doctor," I pointed to the bloody rag wrapped around what use to be Dom's finger, "But I'm sure that wasn't standard procedure."

"It's weird you know?" Dom started, "I know it's gone, but my brain still thinks I have a finger to move. I've heard of this happening, but didn't think anyone can lose a part of himself and have it feel there. It's true though, as weird as it sounds, and feels, or lack thereof."

I didn't know how to respond, so I remained quiet.

The world looked so weird this early in the morning. The road was foggy and there was a slight chill in the air. The fog hugged the trees and shrubs that bordered the road's shoulders. It seems like we were on a back road in the woods with all these trees. As we walked, the fog cut itself and created swirls and pushed away. It wasn't heavy fog, just the right amount that let you barely make out what lay beyond it.

Movement caught my eye. I paused and held up a hand to stop Dom. It was definitely humanoid, but whether or not it was a human or a Z wasn't clear due to the fog.

"Should we call out? Maybe they have a car." Dom said after seeing the figure.

"I don't know. Maybe we should, it'd help us get home." I stepped forward, clearing my throat and was about to speak, but I was silenced by a tug from behind.

"Shh! I don't think that's a good idea. Firstly, if they had a car, why are they walking? And secondly," Dom pointed to the trees. At first, I didn't see anything. The person-thing was walking alone, but then I focused and saw what Dom was pointing at. One more humanoid crept from the fog behind the first, then another and another. "There's a lot of them."

"They aren't holding anything, and they're... not walking right. Are they Z's? Did they follow us?" I whispered as we crouched and began to walk to the opposite side of the road.

"I don't know. But they're certainly not humans, well, not anymore." Dom replied.

"What is that?" I pointed to the group of Z's.

In the middle of the group of walking Z's was a tall, mannered one. The rest slouched as they walked. This one, however, stood upright and constantly looked around.

"It's a good thing they are blind." Dom said with a relieved look.

"Let's hurry up and get out of here. Blind or not, they're not the best company." We began to jog along the road.

The area began to look familiar. Dom mentioned they were about five minutes out from the camp. He's a smart guy, I'll give him that.

Dom was urgent to get going. "They are too close to the camp and are heading right to it. We've gotta stop them or tell the people at home."

"Let's do both." I said without even thinking of my words.

"Okay genius. Good job nominating yourself. He can't stop the walking cadavers with a missing finger... Great, I'm bait... you're better than that, you're LIVE bait. Don't sell yourself short... Yeah, that doesn't help."

"You go ahead and warn home. I'll keep these guys busy." I ushered him with my hands.

"You sure?" Dom didn't sound like I sold him on the idea.

"No, I'm not. I don't want to be a snack for zombies."

"Of course I am. You gotta get home anyway. They walk slow, if bad turns to worse, I'll just walk faster." I shrugged.

"Just don't get cornered, outnumbered, or die. We still got to eat breakfast."

I had to show that I was confident, so I laughed. "I wouldn't miss it." My stomach grumbled a protest, but I paid no mind. "Now hurry and go."

Dom hurried off towards home.

The Z's hadn't noticed yet. The one in the middle concerned me. It wasn't acting like the rest we'd seen. It acted like it knew what to do.

"That's a bunch of bull. They're dead, they can't do that... can they? Considering they're up and moving, nothing can be surprising anymore I guess..."

I took a deep breath and crossed the road, stepping behind a tree that hid me from the group of Z's. The ax was pressed against my chest. I gulped so hard I was sure they heard it. Fortunately, they hadn't.

There was a straggler in the bunch. A man, with black hair and a blue, blood stained shirt. His face and hands were covered in blood, up to his forearms. The eyes were cloudy and seemed to be glued forward as it walked.

That's the one I'd pick off first. The thought of killing again made my stomach do a flip. Was I ready to do it again? Can I do it again? I didn't want to, but it had to be done.

"Either this dead guy or Lucy. And it sure as Hell won't be Lucy, sorry buddy."

I stepped out from behind the tree as the man walked by. I stalked behind him a little bit, watching where he placed his feet so I can place them in the same place, to prevent noise. I inhaled and held the ax above my head. I swung down and connected to the top of the Z's head as droplets of blood sprayed across my arms. It made a soft moan before it's legs gave out and it was only the ax and my grip that held his limp body up.

"Just like the last time. I hope it's always this easy."

A mixture of red and black oozed from the wound in its head. I could only believe it to be blood with that black goop from before. When the ax pulled free, the Z fell at an awkward angle so the body turned and was on its back. It looked human, except the blood on its mouth, grayish skin and black veins that lay underneath. The eyes were wide open, and terrifying. The dark blue iris was surrounded in bright red. The corners of the eyes and the upper lip were caked in dried blood.

"The sickness makes blood seep through your eyes and nose before you die...? Terrible way to go..."

I stepped over the corpse and made my way after them. They hadn't gotten far due to their lack of speed, but the one in the middle increasingly made me feel uneasy. There was something off about it that got me on edge, but what? Was it that it walked like he had somewhere to go? He was standing with good posture? He was constantly observing the area as if he was looking for something? Whatever it was, it was bad.

A loud sound came from the group that made me stop in my tracks. It started out slow and soft, then turned into a growl and a bellow that sounded from the deepest parts of its lungs, and it was from Tall and Creepy. Tall and Creepy began to sniff the air and look quickly from side to side.

"Shit! Did he spot me?"

I pressed my back to the nearest tree and hugged the ax. I steadied my breathing and listened.

Nothing.

I waited a bit longer.

Still nothing.

My body slowly shook as I exhaled the breath I didn't know I held.

I decided it was time to finish them off. I stepped away from and around the tree, "That was close-"

A pale, white face greeted my rotation. The eyes, solid black, pierced my own. The skin was tight against his face, he was tall too. The cheekbones stuck out under those nightmarish eyes. The jaw opened and snapped shut as if biting a chunk of air. He was practically naked, except for the boxer briefs he wore. The tightened skin revealed all the toned muscles he had in his body.

"He must've worked out when he was human."

Tall and Creepy was waiting for me to turn. His arm was resting on the tree, and he sort of, smiled. It felt like he looked into my soul with those pitch black, unblinking eyes.

"What the f-"

Tall and Creepy lunged. I tried to swing the ax, but he was too fast. He was on me instantly, holding my wrists and pushing me backwards, forcing his snapping jaw closer to my face. We stood there in a power struggle. He had no issue pushing me back, he was strong, like really strong. My feet couldn't find any grip on the grass with all the morning dew on it. I did the only thing I could think of to do. I pulled my arms towards me, bringing Tall and Creepy with. I side stepped, pivoting my whole body, making my wrists slip free from the grasp. I felt his rancid, hot breath against my face as he got close. Tall and Creepy fell for it, literally. He face planted the ground behind me.

"Shit! Am I bit? Am I scratched?? ... No time for that, get out of here! That's not normal! ... NONE of this is normal!!"

I sprinted as fast as I could to the road. The grass was wet and it felt like a slip was going to happen with every step I made. Finally my feet hit concrete, but that didn't slow me down. I sprinted faster, daring myself to sneak a peek over my shoulder. I did, and what I saw was terrifying.

Tall and Creepy was up. Not just up, but moving and by moving, I mean he was sprinting after me.

"What's up with this guy?? Why isn't he slow?! Never mind that, I don't feel like asking!"

The others were moving to the road towards all the commotion now. Slowly, but still moving there. I have no idea how long I had been sprinting, but my body hurt. My lungs were on fire and my legs felt numb. Every breath felt like needles piercing my throat and my sides ached, but I couldn't stop.

If I did, I'd die.