(WEDNESDAY)

 The crazy storm had ceased by the time it reached 9:00 am, but it had left two female visitors to Clifton Falls stranded during the night because their vehicle had stalled on the side of a country road. They had gotten little sleep after listening to the rain pelt against the car they had taken refuge inside, so hoped that a few hours hiking through the sodden grass forest would be enough time for the engine to hopefully dry out for them to continue their journey.

Amy, the eldest of the women, stared awkwardly at the car, cringing to see the paintwork had been chipped away.

“I don’t think my insurance will pay for a new paint job,” she said, touching the bonnet to feel more paint slide off. “How am I going to explain this?”

“How can anyone explain that freak rainstorm,” Paula replied, yawning into her hand. “We’ve wasted half a day’s travel because of it.”

Amy and Paula were cousins looking for a little adventure in their lives. They were sick of their normal, daily routines, so had packed up to go on a road trip, but neither had carried a mobile phone to call for help. It was Amy’s idea to have a phone-free zone during their timeout from people they knew but right now was regretting it.

“Do you want me to call the AA?” Paula asked, smirking. “Oh no, I can’t can I because you wanted to live like a friggin’ cavewoman for a few days.”

“Okay, okay, stop rubbing it in…It will be fine once we’ve had a walk.” Amy glanced at the sky. “See, the sun’s out…Keep the bonnet up and the engine will dry in no time.”

“But if we see anyone in the meantime, we ask for their help. Agreed?”

Amy nodded as she opened up the boot; unzipping a small suitcase to fumble inside.

“What are you looking for?” Paula asked, becoming annoyed at having to wait. “I thought we were going for a walk?”

“We are,” Amy said, retrieving a pair of trainers from the case. “Did you think I was going to walk across the wet grass in the wrong footwear?”

Paula just sighed as she watched Amy place on the trainers, but she jumped nervously once the boot was shut.

“Damn!” she said, yawning again. “I could do with a few more hours sleep.”

“No. I need you…You are my sidekick, so, if I’m going into the forest then so are you.”

Paula nodded as Amy reached into the passenger seat; returning with a backpack before placing it on and smiling. She then shut the door and walked off.

“Let’s do this.”

“But aren’t you going to lock it?”

Amy shook her head. “Nah…Who’s going to steal something that doesn’t start?”

 ***

They walked for fifteen minutes before Paula stopped to rest against a tree. Her stomach was calling out for some food, but Amy was too excited now to want to rest.

“Come on. You can’t be hungry again,” she said, pulling on Paula’s arm to get her walking. “You only ate last night.”

“Yeah! Exactly!.” Paula pulled back. “Last night was ages ago. I need something to eat now.”

“I told you to lay off the pot…You always get the munchies after smoking the stuff.”

Paula sighed. “I’ve not taken any recently.”

“Sure you haven’t.” Amy stared at the pockets on Paula’s jacket. “So, I won’t find any spliffs if I check those then?”

Paula giggled, but Amy knew she always did it when guilty of something.

“…I knew it,” Amy said, placing a hand inside one of the pockets. “I bet you have a joint in here….”

Paula backed off as Amy pulled one from her pocket.

“…I told you taking drugs while on your meds was a bad idea, but you never listen to me.”

“I know, I know, but can we please take a break and have some food?”

Amy glared at her. “Okay. Let’s find a spot where we can sit down, but we’re only taking time out for a few minutes…Okay?”

Paula smiled and nodded.

They moved towards a large log spread out across the grass; sitting on it as Paula eagerly watched Amy remove the backpack.

“You did put food and drink inside there?” Paula asked nervously.

Amy smiled and reached inside, pulling out sandwiches and cans of pop before handing them over.

“We’ve still got these,” she said, watching Paula grab them. “They should stop your tummy from rumbling for a while.”

Paula began to eat a sandwich but kept staring at something Amy couldn’t see.

What are you gawping at?” Amy asked, feeling freaked out. “Are you high right now?”

Paula choked on her food, coughing to make Amy nervous. But seconds later she stopped to take another bite of her sandwich.

“Don’t be daft,” she said, spitting out breadcrumbs. “I think someone’s watching us…Just don’t stare.”

Amy was more freaked out after seeing Paula point.

“Stop pointing,” she said, slapping Paula’s finger. “You’ll make it worse.”

They listened out for a sign of movement, but whoever Paula saw wasn’t coming out into the open. This made the situation worse.

Amy was close to losing her nerve as the silence inside the forest sent a shiver down her spine, but she slowly relaxed after noticing Paula was still eating her sandwich. She shrugged at Paula, feeling it was just a joke upon watching her swig from the can; becoming annoyed that Paula’s game almost caused her to wet herself.

“Very funny,” Amy said, rising to grab Paula by her jacket. “You almost had me.”

“But it’s true. I saw someone. I think.”

“Just look around you,” Amy said, racing a finger in a circle. “There are loads of animals out here…Maybe you saw a squirrel, or a fox, or one of the other mammals that live here.”

“Who are you? You’ve turned into a presenter of the Animal Planet channel.”

“Stop being sarcastic,” Amy said, moving away to sit down again. “I’m just making a point.”

While they bickered about whether or not a person had been seen, a repugnant looking man was closing in, walking as if inebriated.

His name was Rodney Wilson. The homeless man who the robber pushed over. But Rodney had died a few weeks ago. He had collapsed on the edge of the forest, just yards away from the field that was sprayed with the new fertiliser, but no one had known. Maybe it was because most of the people had suddenly stopped noticing Rodney since he’d lived on the street - unlike when he was with his family in the large farmhouse at the edge of town, but the local police chief still did. Or he did until a few weeks ago. He’d often check up on Rodney whilst bringing food and drink to him, but he hadn’t told anyone the reason behind why the man had quit his home. He wanted Rodney to do that. But, for the past six months, he’d chosen to keep quiet about his wife taking the children away from him. He said that the house never felt the same after that day so couldn’t stay there anymore.

The police chief had checked Rodney’s home a few weeks ago to find someone had been there, so assumed the man had come to his senses and had either gone home for good or had packed up a few things before moving on.

The corpse of Rodney Wilson glared at the women through the only eye left, because the other had been eaten by a bird, upon dragging the left foot along the ground in an attempt to stay upright. The corpse wore tattered clothing that revealed its decaying flesh, as insects crawled across cigarette stained teeth with advanced signs of infection because the top lip was missing. 

It snapped at thin air upon producing a faint moan; staggering from one tree to the next to get closer to the women as they carried on eating.

“Paula…Did you hear that?”

“Yes, I did…But what kind of animal makes sounds like that?” Paula smirked. “Maybe it’s a large bear that wants a good shaggin’?”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m being serious…What if it’s a dangerous animal that’s very hungry?”

Paula shrugged her shoulders upon desperately scanning the forest, but nothing was seen.

“Just cool it, yeah…I can’t see anything. But, if a hungry animal was coming this way then we can give it some crisps and an apple…”

Amy panicked to the point of sweating; wanting to pack up and go as quickly as possible as Paula smiled.

“Come on. I’m kiddin’.”

“The fun’s over…It’s time we moved on,” Amy said, grabbing the backpack. “We’ve been here long enough.” 

“Are you worried that I’ll give the animal the crisps you like?”

Amy shook her head frantically upon hearing the moaning sounds closing in; turning to see the corpse appear from behind a tree as Paula bit into an apple.

“You were right about seeing someone,” Amy said pointing, watching the corpse slobber. “He must be the local farmer.”

Paula gawped at the corpse as it staggered from side-to-side; hearing the moans drill through her to make her cringe.

“You did say I can ask someone for help,” she said, laughing at how awkwardly the corpse moved. “But that person looks fucked up…I can’t see him being much help.”

“Just ask him.”

“Hey!” Paula shouted as the corpse held out its hands upon closing in. “Do you live around here?... Do you know anything about cars?”

She waited for a response but the person who was now a reanimated, living dead zombie was just walking towards her, moaning and snarling.

“Hey!” Paula shouted again. “Are you listening to me?”

“Let’s just leave him alone,” Amy said, not wanting to upset anyone. “We’re probably on his land.”

She placed the backpack on the grass watching as the zombie got closer-and-closer until its disfigured face spooked her to fall back over the log. But Paula burst out laughing. She walked over to help Amy but was soon rubbing her nose after a revolting smell wafted nearby.

“Damn, woman, have you just shit yourself?”

“No, I haven’t,” Amy angrily replied, holding out a hand for Paula to pull her up. “That person just scared me.”

“Smells like rotting meat.”

But, before Paula could help, a hand gripped her shoulder, forcing her to trip over the backpack to fall and crack her head on the log. Amy stared horrified at the skinless, weightless being growling at her until finding her voice to SCREAM. But her shouts only enraged it. She returned to her feet, shaking as more drool dropped onto Paula; happy to see her recover enough to rise and throw a punch, but her fist was left embedded in the zombie’s right cheek. Amy puked as Paula removed her hand to see maggots crawling over it; shaking them off to YELL as the zombie pounced on her, dragging her to the ground.

Amy froze as the zombie snapped teeth at Paula; shedding tears because she was too scared to help. She backed away as Paula screamed again before turning to run in the opposite direction; not looking behind upon remembering where the car was.

“I will get some help!” she shouted, as her legs kept going. “You need to fight him off.”

Paula gripped the zombie’s arms as it pinned her to the ground before lifting a knee into its face, but it shook off the attack, moving at speed to try to bite her.

“Fuck off and leave me alone!” she hollered upon trying to kick it.

She became soaked with the wetness from the ground as the grip on the zombie’s arms began to slip; leaving her in tears upon desperately trying to break free to get up. She screamed out again, but a torrent of maggots dropped from the hole in the zombie’s face to land in her mouth. She tried to spit them out but was forced to swallow some as the zombie wriggled more frantically; getting closer and closer to biting her face as its toxic breath momentarily strangled her.

Paula lashed out with every ounce of energy she had but the zombie remained on top of her; snapping its teeth and snarling. She shook her head as more maggots landed on her face before cringing hysterically when one of her hands let go; crying loudly as the zombie ripped its nails off against her cheek to release blood. It sniffed it as it dripped down Paula’s face before moving in to lick it to leave her almost fainting; the taste exciting the zombie to thrash about even more until Paula’s other hand let go. 

She stared at its eye-socket; watching it get closer and closer until feeling a sharp pain in her neck; listening to the zombie drink the blood that was pouring out of her as it chewed on her flesh. She tried kicking out again, slapping at the zombie’s face to get it to back off, but it growled, biting her throat for a second time.

Paula was too weak to move so let the zombie bite into her shoulder; her eyes flickering to remain open as she released her last breath.

The zombie growled like a wild animal upon sniffing the air, rising with blood covering its face to glare towards where Amy was last seen. It licked its bottom lip and began to walk.

 ***

Amy stopped running to catch her breath, as her mind overflowed with the recent trauma. She cried into her hands after a reminder of the echoing pleas for help from Paula almost sunk her to her knees; dripping sweat fast upon sadly looking over to where she’d come from.

“Paula! Paula! Are you okay?... Please answer me?” 

She shouted for the next few minutes, waiting for a reply she knew she wasn’t going to get; fearing the worst as more tears fell. She felt guilty, cowardly, and disgusted with herself for her actions, wanting now to run back, but her feet wouldn’t move. She knew she was in deep trouble if she remained inside the forest but was too heartbroken to budge.

She heard the zombie’s groans closing in but couldn’t pinpoint where it was. She knew it was slow, but, as it appeared from a cluster of trees, its movement increased and it was close to running. The sight petrified her, even more, making her legs heavy to feel like they were encased in concrete, as her heart pumped faster and faster. She could see the bloodstains and chunks of flesh trapped between the zombie’s teeth as it howled at her; snapping them to leave her cursing in fear as it reminded her of Frankenstein’s monster. But this monster was picking up speed.

Amy shivered as sweat dripped down her brow, but didn’t move until the zombie almost reached her. She screamed at it and ran as fast as she could, not looking back until knowing she had made some distance; scanning the area to see a fence she recognised before smiling nervously upon following it back towards the car. But her heart skipped a beat after finding no car keys in her pockets.

“Shit! Fucking shit! Where are they?” she bellowed.

She sobbed some more upon kicking the car until remembering she’d left the keys in the ignition; wiping her eyes dry before reaching for the driver’s door. She sighed when it opened; feeling thankful for being stubborn enough to leave the keys behind upon leaping into the seat and shutting the door. She locked it quickly and turned the key, but the car still wouldn’t start. Again and again, she tried, but nothing was happening. She slammed a fist against the steering wheel before making sure all the doors were locked; her heartbeat slowing again after feeling safe. She swiftly looked all around her, hoping and praying that the thing she saw had gone down another path; thinking that maybe someone would pass by soon to save her from the madness.

There must be farmworkers around these parts. Perhaps my knight in shining armour will appear on a tractor and save me from the madman.

She leaned over the passenger seat before opening the glove compartment; rushing a hand inside to flip items out of the way in the hope of finding something she could use as a weapon in case the strange weirdo attacked. But something shuffled outside the car that briefly froze her again. She breathed deeply upon slowly moving towards the passenger side window to lift her head; smiling to see a rabbit run away. She sighed again and moved back into her seat, but, as she returned into an upright position, became freaked out by the sight of the zombie glaring at her, drooling down the window as maggots squirmed around on its face. Amy frantically bounced up and down in the seat as fear for her life overtook other emotions; screaming louder and louder until her voice croaked.

The zombie slobbered some more before sending out a droning moan upon slamming a fist against the window; scattering glass particles over Amy’s face and body as its fingers clenched her hair tight to pull it inside an insect filled palm. But Amy just placed hands over her face, crying until the tears stung her eyes. 

The zombie pulled harder on her hair until it was close to being ripped from her head; leaving infected scratches in her scalp to make her cringe upon plucking up the courage to slap at its arm in a desperate attempt to gain freedom. But it was no use; the thing wouldn’t let go.

Amy yelped when her hair finally tore away, but, instead of escaping out of the other door, she bit deep into the zombie’s colourless hand to draw lifeless blood. She stared at the monster as the redness trickled from her mouth, hoping her bravery would spook it to back off. But the zombie snarled at her. 

She spat out the rotten, maggot tasting blood as her hair was grabbed again, but this time the zombie retreated its arm to pull her head towards the broken window. Amy yelped over and over again but the zombie wasn’t letting go. She tried punching the arm but her head was still closing in, getting nearer and nearer to the jagged edges of glass still embedded into the window frame. She knew there was no escape now.

She took a deep breath as her head entered the window frame before her right eye punctured to leave dark juice seeping down her face. She wanted to scream again but her effort was weak, so, just gritted her teeth as glass tore flesh from her face and body before she was finally tossed onto the ground.

She lay on her back with blood draining out of her; too weak to move as her damaged eye hung over her blackened face. The grass around her slowly turning crimson as blood spluttered from her mouth.

She watched the zombie through her only functioning eye as it picked up a shattered piece of glass; gulping to see it stand next to her to make her quiver as the blood-filled her mouth faster than she could spit it out.

The zombie watched her closely, grinning sadistically upon slowly kneeling to almost touch her head before raising the piece of glass to thrust into it; pushing and pushing until the point sunk into the grass.