I will never forget the moment I met him. Nothing has impacted my life more. He is my friend in life, and my brother in battle. He is a Ghost, unseen and unheard by most. I did not name him, as much as his actions did. He appears out of thin air, coming and going as he pleases. I cannot yet explain this phenomenon, and it matters not. I am still at a loss as to how anyone could not see such a glorious animal. Ghost is larger than life and without him by my side, I would almost certainly be dead and gone. He has saved me more times than I could ever count. The thing I have grown to realize the most in our brief time together is he needs me, as much as I need him, and together we are an invincible force and the whole world shall tremble at our feet…

On their ride to freedom, Morgan thought back to the battle. The dead made short work of the living. They barely fired a shot in defense as they were cut down. The dead were definitely the victors in this massacre! Of that there was no doubt. He shook the visual image of those creatures feeding. It was the most grotesque thing he’d had ever seen in his young life. Morgan knew those demons had no chance of catching him, not on THIS horse, but he knew they were still coming regardless. He knew he’d see them again, which meant he more than likely would see the General again! Morgan thought halfheartedly that the General most likely was not happy he stole his horse. He chuckled a little at that, but maybe it was much simpler, and the General just wanted to chew his face off like the others! He shook the repulsive thought away abruptly. Whatever the reason, Morgan could feel it in his bones he’d see him again. The only thing he knew for sure was the once divided armies were now united in one cause…the annihilation of all the living! He had no idea what happened or what could have caused this. He tried to imagine the cause as he continued to ride fast, leaving the burning field far behind. The only thing he could remember was why he was there in the first place, and nothing more significant than that. Morgan enlisted into the Confederate Army for no other reason, but to hunt down and kill two men. He was not a bounty hunter by trade, but these men owed him a debt and he was fixing to collect it. Morgan was beginning to realize his only reward of removing the scum of the earth was to know they were dead, and they could no longer hurt anyone. That was his payment, and he was truly okay with that. He remembered when he enlisted. The recruiter asked where he was from, and Morgan laughed quietly when thinking about it, because he lied of course, using his best fake southern accent, plainly telling the man he was from Baton Rouge Louisiana. The fact was Morgan was from Boston Massachusetts. Morgan knew the man didn’t believe him, but they were desperate for soldiers, and it mattered not where you were from at this point in the game. The war was about over anyway and the Confederate’s had been all but beaten. President Lincoln and his boys in blue would own this country very soon! Well, that was before this all happened of course. Morgan knew most men would have never thought something like this was going to happen. It would be hard for anyone to imagine who would win in this new war against the rising dead. Both armies were not equipped to defeat a third army, especially one that was already dead! It appeared as though the dead would have the upper hand against both, given that both armies continued to donate to its cause by killing each other and replenishing its numbers! Morgan followed along with these southern boys for about a month, and he was getting close to finding the two men he was looking for. In fact, just yesterday Morgan discovered their location, and had manipulated the group he was with to go right where he wanted. Most of the men he ran with in the past month weren’t too bright, and they were all filled with greed, and Morgan obviously used this to his benefit. Morgan remembered telling them about the gold he heard about from his granddaddy being up in those hills just beyond the battlefield. One of the men knew of another rebel battalion in that area, and this was when Morgan discovered the location of Brett and Bobby Williams. The brothers were together, and Morgan knew it wouldn’t get much easier than this. The plan of course, was to slip away from his battalion while they became enthralled in the battle. Then slip into the rebel camp under the shade of darkness, and kill both men before anyone suspected his presence. He figured he’d ditch his uniform and take one of the horses, riding like hell back to his home in Boston. It was a good plan, and it was going well until Morgan realized rather quickly the battle they entered was much larger than he anticipated. He never had a chance in hell of making it around the Union Army to that hillside. Not a chance in hell…

The sun was falling fast behind the mountains and Morgan knew they had to find refuge somewhere before the darkness engulfed them. Morgan did not want to be out here in the open with the General and his dead army walking around. He sensed the horse knew this as well. They slowed to a mere trot, causing the flames beneath to slowly dissipate to wafting smoke. Morgan glanced up ahead in the distance, and he could see a light. He got off the horse and walked slowly down the road towards the light. Was it a town? Was it a house? It was some sort of life…Morgan hoped. He knew he was well into northern Kentucky, which could mean Yankee territory. He hoped for something neutral, but he doubted his luck was about to change anytime soon, especially after the day he had thus far! He did not slow, and he would not be deterred. “Death finds us all, my friend” Morgan said out loud to the horse. The horse followed close behind him. He looked back and smiled, hoping he made himself a new and valuable friend. “I don’t care who lives up here, we aint’ going back the other way!” Morgan whispered back to him. As they got closer to the light, Morgan could see it was just a lantern hanging from a tall post. At the top of the post flapped the stars and stripes of the Union army. Morgan winced, knowing his luck truly did not change. He disgustedly glanced at his attire, speaking out loud to the horse once again, “Well, I guess that answers that question ole’ boy.” Just then, a deep commanding male voice came bellowing out from the darkness of the bushes ahead, “Stop where you are! Turn around and go back the way you came!” Morgan stopped abruptly, as did the horse. “Did you hear my brother, or are you deaf!” A different man in a much whinier voice, “Turn and run and we won’t shoot you!” he continued. Morgan glanced back to make sure the horse hadn’t left him alone with no possible escape. He was still there, not even ten feet away. “That’s right Mister, turn around and start walking” The first man again. Okay, Morgan thought, why on earth would I try to run, when I could jump on that huge white horse standing right in the middle of the trail behind me? Morgan looked back again. Yep, he’s still there. The second man spoke again, “Daniel, just shoot him! He’s a damn Confederate, look at his uniform! He’s acting weird and looking back at nothing. I bet he’s got his boys sitting back there in the dark just waiting for a signal!” “Calm down Johnny, he’s gonna turn around and walk back the way he came, aren’t ya Mister?” Okay this has been a pretty weird day already, but Morgan could see the horse, he could hear the horse, and he could even smell the damn horse! Why do these two men not see this pure white champion of a horse, any man would kill for, standing right behind him in the middle of the damn road! Then it suddenly occurred to him, these men had no intention of letting him leave with such a magnificent horse...they wanted it for themselves! “You can’t have my horse boys” he replied dryly. The men looked at him strangely, as they stepped out into the open. “What horse is that pal? Are you okay Mister?” asked Daniel with a slight laugh. “Come on Daniel! He’s stalling and we both know it!” Johnny declared. Morgan knew it was high time he said something to these men. Anything at this point or these boys might just do something stupid. “Okay fella’s, I just want to get on my horse, gesturing behind him, and continue on my way to wherever this road takes me. I really don’t want any trouble” Morgan replied. “What is wrong with you Mister? Did you bump your damn head? What horse are you talking about exactly?” Johnny asked. They glanced at each other dumbfounded, looking back behind Morgan with puzzled looks on their faces. Either they were messing with him, or they really did not see the horse at all. He glanced back once again…yep there he is. “There’s no God damn horse, you crazy son of bitch!” Johnny screamed. “What’s back there Mister, are you’re boys really back there, like my brother says?” asked Daniel. Not sure of what to say and equally as confused as these two men clearly were, Morgan slowly answered, “Look boy’s, I am having a REALLY bad day. I am not sure WHAT is going on, but you both seem like very reasonable men to me. Just let me pass, and you will never see me again.” Morgan determined these two were anything but reasonable men. “Oh, and by the way, there’s a God damn horse standing right behind me! If not, heck…maybe I’m the crazy one.” Morgan muttered, shaking his head. “I told you Daniel, he’s losing it, and he’s up to something!” Johnny said. Looking as though he’d had enough, Daniel spoke, “Look Mister, you can’t’ pass through okay, so please just go! Go before my brother does something stupid!” Morgan was out of time. He had to tell these men the truth about the dead coming, no matter how unbelievable it may seem, “You boy’s, and whoever is with you, need to leave this area now. If you don’t, you are all in serious danger.” Morgan said plainly. “Alright Daniel, I’ve heard enough from this crazy son of a bitch! Let me shoot him!” cried Johnny. “Shut up Johnny! Just stop it! Let him finish!” answered Daniel. “You boy’s are never gonna believe what I tell you anyway. Heck, I’m not sure I even believe it, and I saw it with my own eyes!” He knew what he was about to tell them would most likely get him shot, but Morgan realized they needed to know… everyone needed to know. “Understand, what I am about to say is gonna sound crazy beyond belief. I need to tell you, before it’s too late for you and your family.” He knew he held both men’s attention now, as they stared silently back at him. He continued, “There is something coming this way…some men, well…I mean they were men. Now I-I don’t know what they are, but they are all dead for sure. I mean, they are not quite dead. I-I don’t know how else to explain it!” The men just stared at Morgan, again not saying a word. They looked, as he knew they would, not believing a word he was saying. Morgan couldn’t blame them of course. “What are you saying? Are our boys okay? Are your men coming? Who’s dead exactly mister, our guys, your guys, everyone, who!?” Daniel frantically asked. Morgan knew the moment was becoming very tense, “You might say that, but then again, I am not exactly sure, but yeah…I think so” He replied. “Our father and our brother both dead by this rebel bastards hands!” screamed Johnny. He raised his gun and placed the barrel just inches from Morgan’s face. That was unexpected and very deliberate Morgan thought. The man pulled back the hammer as the tears trickled down his face, “It’s time for you to join them, you rebel bastard!” Daniel shoved the gun aside abruptly, just as Johnny pulled the trigger! The gun blared loudly, but harmlessly into the nearby forest. Daniel cursed angrily at Johnny, ripping the gun from his hand and slapping him in the face hard with his open hand! Daniel yelled, “You friggin idiot Johnny! The man possibly knows what happened back there and you almost ruined any chance we could ever know of finding out the truth!” Morgan chuckled a bit, “Not to mention you probably just woke up the dead with that shot. If they weren’t coming before…they are definitely coming now.” Daniel turned back to Morgan, filled with anger and frustration, “YOU…you just shut up! Listen Mister, you need to start making sense of things right now, or I will shoot you my own damn self!” Here goes nothing, Morgan thought, “You’re right Daniel…you deserve to know what happened to you’re kin back there in those fields. I wish I knew for sure myself, but what I do know is…everyone is dead. And I can’t explain it, but they’re coming back to life…every one of them. I am not crazy and this is very real boys. If we stay here any longer, we will have no choice but to face them, and that’s not gonna be easy from what I’ve seen so far.” Daniel looked at him with the doubt he expected. Morgan continued, “Our armies have combined and like it or not, they are united as one and we are their enemy now. This is real and it’s coming…they’re coming!” Johnny was looking like he was going to explode with anger and screamed at his brother, “Daniel! Really! You’re buying this shit, seriously?” “No Johnny, I’m listening! I am just listening! Nobody said anything about believing! We have to sort this out! So just let him talk, okay?” Daniel angrily answered his brother. “Like I said, they are coming. I watched them all die, and yet they are not dead like they should be…t-they have changed into something…something evil. They aren’t like you and I anymore. They walk around aimlessly…and all they seem to want to do is kill the living. And that’s not all fella’s…they feed as well.” Daniel’s face changed, “Feed? What the heck do you mean feed? What do they eat Mister?” Morgan stared back hard at both brothers, “Us boys…they eat us.” Daniel now looked as though he couldn’t listen anymore. Morgan put both hands up, “I know how crazy it sounds, I do, but it’s the truth fella’s” The two brothers just looked at each other and Morgan knew they decided he was clearly out of his mind. “Look Mister, it’s obvious you have been through something crazy today, but I have to ask you to leave at once, I can’t hold off my brother much longer” replied Daniel. Morgan turned around, looking defeated at the horse behind him. And then he saw it. Across the field, back in the woods, in the darkness, Morgan saw movement! His heart sank and he pointed to the woods, “It’s too late fella’s, they’re already here” he said very solemnly. The woods were alive, and Morgan noticed that Daniel and Johnny could see it as well! Both of their eyes were as big as saucers. All three men watched as the entire tree line came to life moving forward out into the field. Out stepped the dead into the bright moonlit evening. The brothers looked horrified and confused. Morgan knew the feeling. “What the fuck is it Dan! What is it brother?” Johnny asked. “I don’t know little brother, I-I just don’t know.” Morgan turned and ran straight by both men. He was no longer worried if they were going to shoot him or not. They did not stop him. They really didn’t even see him go. They just looked at each other like they were two little school boys, hearing for the first time there really was a boogie man. Soon after Morgan fled the scene, the truth had found their feet as well, and they ran too! The field quickly filled with the dead. As slow as they moved, Morgan knew they would not stop. Like he said, THEY were coming.

Morgan’s gut tightened when he realized the horse had not followed him as he had before. He sadly could not see him anymore. He grimaced knowing that the horse would not survive back there. He made it to the building where the lights were coming from, and could see it was just a simple horse farm. There was a big white house and a huge red barn with a couple of smaller sheds. As he examined his surroundings, the brothers caught up with Morgan. Johnny yelled, “I can’t believe what I just saw! You were right Mister, you weren’t lying!” Morgan looked back down the road and could see the dead coming steadily, not slowing down for one second! He didn’t take his eyes off of them, asking, “How many people you got here fella’s?” Daniel hesitated, “What? Oh. Ahh seven total…I-I g-guess, two women, one child, two men…and us of course!” Morgan smiled slightly and said, “Well fella’s, you now have eight, because I’m not leaving you, even if I wanted too. You have my help whether you want it or not!” He extended his hand, causing both men to smile a bit, and Daniel eagerly shook it. Morgan told them to get everyone into the barn as quick as they could. He told them both that he felt it would be safer than the house and much easier to defend as a group. Daniel, watched as Morgan quickly walked back towards the advancing dead army. With a curious glance, he asked, “Where in the hell are you going…are you crazy Mister?” He turned back for a brief second, “I’m going to buy us some time, hopefully…and I’m gonna go get my horse.” Both men stared at Morgan in disbelief, and Daniel yelled out to him, “There’s no damn horse Son! Only death awaits you down there!” Morgan never looked back and rapidly began to run back towards the creatures, He yelled back without turning for a second, “He’s down there, and I owe him my life!” Both men knew Morgan was not going to stop, “Hey Mister!” yelled Daniel, “What is your name?” This stopped Morgan for a second, and he did look back at them, this time, “Morgan Black!” he yelled, and into the darkness of the nearby forest he veered off from the trail. Johnny was scratching his head, “What horse is talking about? Have you ever seen anything so crazy in your entire life brother? He’s probably high tailing it ya’ know? After all, he is a rebel son of a bitch Dan.” Daniel looked hard at his brother, “All I know Johnny, is we need to get to the house, and we need to do it now, because we don’t have time to get everyone in the barn like he said. It’s too late! And it’s too late for him! They’re already here!” he cried. The grounds around the farm began to fill with the walking dead soldiers, leaving them very little choice but to run to the house. Running side by side, Johnny asked, “What about the reb’, and what about our brother Hank!” Daniel answered his younger brother with heaviness in his heart, just as they made it to the front door, “They’re both in God’s hands now John...let’s just hope he’s watching today.”

Soon after he ran into the woods, Morgan made it back to the field remarkably unseen by any of the dead. He was able to skirt the entire hoard by running through the woods to get back to where he left the horse in the field. He prayed the horse survived, even though he wasn’t sure how he could have. There were so many men and they all looked pretty hungry. As he approached the moonlit field, he crept along the edge of the tree line. He could not believe his luck, or rather the horses luck! There he was, just standing off the road grazing on the edge of the field! “Unbelievable” he thought out loud shaking his head. He was just grazing, like nothing ever happened! How in the world does that happen? Morgan approached the horse as cautious as ever. The stallion did not seem bothered by his presence whatsoever. Glancing all around him, Morgan realized the horde had moved on to the house. He quickly examined the horse and found no injuries anywhere, not one scratch! He continued to examine the horse. As he did, Morgan discovered things he did not notice previously on the fast ride to freedom earlier. Its saddle was polished leather and it shone blacker than the night. The leather was quite soft, but high quality, expertly made for sure. It was completely covered in strange markings. All the markings were tooled into the leather. Morgan had never seen such a mark. “Very fancy” he thought to himself. A horse this spectacular, deserved better than even a General for his owner, Morgan reasoned. How does a man of his stature obtain such a creature anyway? It was a horse likes Morgan have never seen before. Likely he was very valuable as well. He continued to search, and he found a sword strapped to the right side of the saddle. It was sheathed in a case made of the same black leather as the saddle, giving the appearance as though it was actually part of the saddle. Morgan assumed this was the intention. He noticed right away, this was no ordinary sword! Why would it be? This was no ordinary horse! The slender blade had a slight upward curve to it. It appeared old, but the condition was immaculate! It seemed like it had just been freshly forged, but Morgan knew this weapon had seen many a battle. The pommel was white, and he assumed it was made of ivory, from the tusks of the great elephants across the seas. It had been hand carved into the head of a large lizard like creature. Morgan immediately remembered seeing pictures of such a creature, in books he had read when he was just a boy. He knew immediately it was a dragon from mythological lore, rumored times, since long forgotten. Set within the dragons eyes, were two blood red jewels. They sparkled bright, giving the dragon head life and breathtaking beauty. Morgan knew what these jewels were as well…they had to be rubies! He slowly slid the sword from its sheath, bringing forth a ringing sound that may have been the sweetest sound he had ever heard. It sounded just like a beautiful sonnet and it was truly mesmerizing! The hand guard was polished gold, and set within the guard were four large white diamonds, two on each side. These, he had never actually seen them before, but he knew what they were…diamonds!!! Morgan imagined they must be several carrots a piece. Between the two diamonds on one side of the sword, was one word etched into the guard itself, VERITAS. A four digit number was etched on the other side of the sword, 1124. The number was also centered between the diamonds. Morgan could not begin to understand what the two things meant, but he was pretty sure the number could possibly represent a date. Then there was the blade. Morgan was pretty damn sure the blade itself had been dipped in pure silver. The silver had been hone into the blade perfectly. The whole blade was polished to a mirrored perfection! He touched the outer edge of the blade very lightly, causing the skin on his thumb to separate. Morgan wiped the blood from his thumb, staring at this great treasure. He had never seen such a blade in all his life! It was so stunning! He could not imagine the fortune he held within his hands. Transfixed, Morgan could see the blade had more of the same strange markings etched into the steel itself. The words ran down the entire length of the blade, almost kissing the very point. He was still unsure what they were, but he said the words aloud, “Modo iste Mortuus Scire iste Veritas.” As soon as the words left his lips, the horse reared and whinnied! Very strange, he thought and he abruptly slid it back into the sheath realizing the horse’s sudden uneasiness. He felt it too. He soon began to realize the horse appeared to have similar markings like the saddle and sword. They appeared to be tattooed slightly into…or just beneath its hide!? These were words and markings Morgan could not begin to hope to decipher, and they covered the horse entire body! The strangest part was it was like they really weren’t there at all! Morgan could barely see them through the horse’s course white hair. They appeared almost as shadows if anything. How could someone accomplish this? Did they shave the hair from this animal? They had to of course, he thought to himself. “What are you, my friend?” Morgan asked. He was now facing the horse. “Where on earth did you come from?” He lightly patted the horses face. Those intense blood red eyes stared back at him! “I don’t understand how you survived. I don’t even know what you really are. You’re definitely not like any horse I’ve ever seen! You may be some sort of a ghost…or whatever, but it doesn’t matter to me. Morgan’s eyes widened with his last thought. “Are you my guardian angel big fella’? I definitely don’t know what you are…but you saved my life and that’s enough for me boy.” He quickly mounted the horse. He sat on him for several minutes in silence pondering the strange horse that had suddenly appeared in his life from out of nowhere. He felt so at home upon this great animal, and strangely it was almost like the horse knew it as well. He leaned down and quietly whispered into the horse’s ear, “My name is Morgan…I am not sure what your name is, but…” Suddenly a thought or a word entered into his head, “Ghost”. Morgan was awestruck, but he knew what he heard. The words were plain as day…but how? He paused, and then inquired…“Ghost?” He said it as much as he asked. The horse snorted in reply, and without another word he reared up, almost knocking Morgan completely off his backside! Before Morgan even knew what was happening they both were riding hard into the woods just behind the Anderson family barn.

Morgan stood directly behind the barn, using the trees as cover. He knew from all the gun fire coming from the house, the family never made it to the barn as he had hoped. He cringed with every bullet fired, realizing the rounds were being wasted on these undead beings. Ghost stood behind him waiting in the darkened silence. He turned and whispered, “You should hide my friend, you were lucky before, but please do not tempt fate, as it does have a way of finding you in the end.” Ghost did not move and just stared blankly at him. Morgan realized he may have even seen a smile on his new friend’s face. He sighed, knowing the horse was gonna do what he wanted, and then he slowly crept out to the backside of the barn. He looked back one last time at the horse, which still had not moved. Ghost stuck out like a sore thumb, just standing there like a beacon in the full moonlight. He knew this horse was not stupid, but his decision to stay in the open was definitely cause for concern. Morgan hoped the horses luck would not run out and he’d see the stallion once more. However, remembering the task at hand, he peered around the barn towards the front of the house. Morgan could not believe his eyes! The house was completely covered with dead! A few had made it onto the roof, and they were all over the porch, banging on the front door, and breaking out windows! They clawed at every possible opening to get inside! They were hell bent to get into that house, one way, or another. The shots continued, but the ravenous army never seemed to slow down one bit! Morgan knew he had to do something, he feared the worst for those who may still be alive inside that house. Unfortunately, he felt like the family was not going to get out of there alive! Morgan decided he needed to go through the barn and get closer to the house to have any chance of saving them all. He found a small door at the rear of the barn. He slowly opened the door, and it made a slight creaking noise. This made Morgan move even slower as he crept lightly into the barn. He did not want to alert any of the dead he was now inside the barn. The barn was dimly lit by a lone lantern, which hanged on the wall just across the way. Though it was darker than he would like, it appeared empty to Morgan. He worked his way to a window at the front of the barn to look out into the yard. Disgusted, he watched them again, as the dead soldiers attempted to get into the house. Morgan was on high alert and his senses were bursting from every seam in his body, which caused him to cringe when he felt the presence of something nearby. He realized he was in immediate danger! He whirled around just in time to see the blurred motion of something swinging through the air and coming straight for his head! Ducking instinctively, Morgan realized he was face to chest, with the largest man he’d ever seen in his entire life! Being a shade over six foot himself, Morgan was not a small man, but this man towered over him all the same! The large man held a wooden club in his right hand. He slowly raised it up above his head again! He was smiling and preparing for another violent swing, and the moment had come for Morgan, a man colder than ice…to once again do what he was born to do

Next Chapter: Chapter 2 "Collateral Damage"