"Mortified"

Chapter 4: The Other Monster

"Urgh...." The floor, spotted with his coagulated blood, thicken with oxidized decayed blood cells... The darkness of the outside corridor and my dim bedroom lights amplified the zombie's image.
Mr. Lim, with a retarded raise, looked at me, with his blood thirsty and bloodshot eyes. As his line of sight fell on me, he intensified his invasion. Cold beads of perspiration cloaked me, the adrenaline glands pumping like mad. Shit... My legs do not need repeating.
I ran out of my room, jumping over some of my dumped school books and the blood smeared brick. I dashed in an ungracely manner towards the living room, naturally began flipping the door latch open, I got to get the heck out of here. Strange, my legs were excited, i could have ran the physical education 2.4 kilometers in less than five minutes... However the rest of my body parts made me feel like a freakin' hypocrite. I was already sweating like it was raining indoors, my brain exhausted from all the mind games, the fumbling fingers not getting a grip on the door latch...
Calm down Ivan... He's not going to get you if you just CALM down and open the door! "uuuhhhh...."
I stole a glance at spot of the origin. Mr Lim lumbering towards me. His huge figure made the doorway look small, intimidating me further. Click! Finally the latch is off! farewell Mr Lim, I pray that someone puts you out of your misery soon. I flung the door wide opened, and took a step towards the gate. My eyes were still fascinated with the fact that I am looking at a real life out of the movie monster, All sympathies for the old man is lost, I only wanted to see him as an interesting threat to my survival. Farewell Mr Lim, it was nice knowing you. Peeling my eyes off him, I synchronized my feet and hands to the gate. I spin for the quick getaway, only to stop shortly. I let a small yelp escape from my mouth,
However it was not enough to dodge the arms of those determined to rip you apart... Arms so desperate for a human flesh, Karen, Mr. Lim's young grand-daughter... Karen not you too...
Her slender hands, already showing some signs of decay, groped tightly on my arm. She gripped me with unspeakable strength, I never knew she possessed such monstrous brawns; it was unexpected from the slim and beautiful lady. I stared at her beautiful face, studying what fascinated me time and time again. If I were not a Christian, I may have done something unpardonable because of her. Her long jet black hair, tempting big eyes, tight pouting lips, and her perfectly chiseled face. Her body was flawless, making her the perfect goddess of Singaporean girls.
Now here she is, Still as beautiful as ever, just that she has a chunk of lower right jaw missing.
Mr. Lim must have got to her, how could he!? such cruelty, he definitely has no taste for true beauty... and Karen definitely do not show the right tastes to satisfy her appetite.
I shook the fantastical impressions I had for her out of my head. Mr. Lim already is about 4 meters away. I began to pull my captured arm with the same intensity that Karen is gripping my arm with.
3 meters, I could see that there is some form of unforeseen cooperation here. Karen let go of me! I kicked the gate with all my weight, the impact threw Karen off guard and she fell away into a pot of my mother's favorite herbs.
I side step in quick reflex, slipping under the lard filled arms of Mr. Lim. continuing the strife to the kitchen, that’s when I saw it. The gleaming beauty, my silver lining in this storm. The sharp kitchen knife laid on the stove side table, like the sword prepared for the king. I grabbed the handle and examined the blade. Despite the kitchen darkness and my vision fueled by the moonlight... The simple kitchen knife glowed in a simple radiance. The foot long knife looked like the weapon meant to kill, not to be insulted by facing daily chopping of vegetables or mishandled by using it for other purposes. That’s right, It’s a weapon, And now its my weapon that will grant me the freedom that I so long to have...
The opponent has arrived, I never felt so ready in my life to do something as significant as this... 2 monsters standing face to face, except that there is a possibility that the other may be immortal...
Welding the blade with my stronger right arm, I thrust into the monster's chest; I could feel the edge of the tool piercing into his flesh, passing meat, bones, organs... Yet, the same expression on his face, cept' for his sudden excitement for the fact that i am extremely within his reach. With a wide swing of his arms, he complacently attempted to grab me. This only gave me the chance to dive below the dining table, and in a quick succession, appeared behind him.Then with all my might, crowding the small handle with both my hands, I plunged the knife straight through the cranium, pushing in with all my body weight. Crack! I could hear loud splintering of bones, the smashing of organic matter, I know that i have hit home.
With the same effort i pulled the bloody blade out, and it made a sick slushy sound. Astonishingly, I realised that there wasnt much blood on the blade. I kinda expected blood to be all over the place... but this may be a blessing in disguise, i am still not sure how you will turn into one of them, it could be like the movies where if your blood is expose to their's you could get infected... I am not taking that risk...
Mr Lim stayed in the position for quite a while... I got no idea what is his condition like... I pray that he is finally put out of his misery. After all this, I am not really sure what to expect, I mean i never knew that zombies possesses any form of intelligence, but if I recalled correctly, Mr Lim did throw a brick to smash my bedroom window.
Out of curiousity, i took a step and stood near his front. Cold sweat from the adreline rush rolled down my arms, suspense made me gripped the knife harder. Peering at his face, I saw that his eyes were wide open and motionless, There wasnt much life in them in the first place. yet i could tell that he was more dead than he was just now. His lips curled into a snarl, as if something bad just happened to him. I wonder what went through his head just now. Haha, Hahahahaha, hahahaha... ha...I could not help it but laugh at my little joke. "Ughh" Mr Lim suddenly lunged at me, grabbing hold both my arms at the shoulder, I was petrified and could not respond. Isnt he suppose to stay still? I was suppose to win, what is going on? I was pretty sure he was dead!
Bearing teeth that had blacken from decay, he tried to take a bite at me, Crap they really do eat human!!!!!!!! He plunged his head towards my neck's left side, subconsciously I responded by pushing at his face. The force of Mr Lim's weight and thrust threw me to the ground. Landing hard to my back, I accidentally let out a small groan of pain...with all my might, and fueled by fear, i pushed like as if I were going to die, literally. I was nearing tears, yet continue to struggle to keep his head just distant from me, and the stench of rotting flesh is beginning to make me sick. Mr Lim, energised by some unknown force, pushing with uncoordinated, yet still as mighty, forward, trying to bite anything in his way, including the hands that placed around his neck. Crap, there's still so many things i wanna do in life, I do not want it to end here... God please I know i was complacent with myself just now, I really believe that i have things ahead that i have yet to accomplish, Lord save me.....
Suddenly there was a loud crash, sounds of metal crashing into the concrete ground. Mr Lim seemed to be too engrossed with trying to feed himself to notice. Struggling, I continued to push on with equal strength, somehow i do not think i could hold on forever... Then i heard it, a second one. Karen! she must have managed to push down the gates! that means no one is ever safe even in their house, who on earth can push down a door gate!? Yet Mr Lim still has not noticed his grand daughter, she stood upright next to him, as if she were here to greet him... This is bad, I got my hand full with one guy and she wants to join the party... This is getting from bad to worse...

End of Chapter 4

"Mortified"

Chapter 3: The encounter Part 1

Bloody Hell! What the heck was that?
THUD! I could make vague judgments of the silhouette outside my opaque bedroom window. THUD! A sickening sound of something soft, squishy yet hard at the same time. THUD! Whatever it was its continuing its regime of tapping my window, i could sense its desires of intrusion. I leapt to my feet. I am starting to get numb from all this...
The sickening attacks on my window intensified. Bang! Bang! Bang! I fell , plying myself to the wall... my feet seems to have lost control. Cold perspiration rolled down my forehead. Then I heard it...
The groan of a zombie, there's no doubt about it. Its amazing how accurate all those movies are, the groans really do sound alike. The discovery however was not at all motivating...
I knelt and started to pray... ' Dear God, I really believe in you, whatever is your will, let it be done, but please help me , and all those whom i love to survive...' CRASH!!!
I opened my eyes, in front of me was fragments of acrylic form of glass, and specks of blood. My ears caught clear sounds this time. I reluctantly looked at the window. Zombie! In fact its my neighbor! Uncle Lim, Crap, they managed to get him? We stay on the fourteen story for crying out loud! Shit, poor uncle Lim.
But poor me, Here am I going to face the grim reaper himself. He managed to push his arm through the small whole he made on the window. He does not seem to mind the sharp edges of the whole slicing through his arm as he struggle to reach me, but in vain. My window is barricaded with a weak aluminum frame.
Poor me... And i have yet to tell my mum how much i really care for her... she might think i have turned into a juvenile deliquint since i do not talk much... Mum... I hope you are alright....
Standing in front of the struggling monster, i began to study it. His face were not decaying, but his skin color had turned to a dull grey, kinda like the color when you leave meat out in the air too long... his eyes however, were of extreme bloodshot. he do not seem to have abilities to move its mouth, or blink, however, i could tell its still breathing. Everytime it groaned, i could smell a slight putrid stench, like rotting flesh. Mr Lim, when i KNEW him, was rather frail for his size, for he is big, with a bulging stomach to match his pudgy arms. The Mr Lim i see now is nothing of his former self.
Suddenly he pulled his arm back out. I could tell from his groans that he is getting frustrated. For what? Do zombies really eat humans? Suddenly he began to drift away. I heaved a sigh of relief. I started to fall to the ground to rest from the intense encounter. Is it over for now?
CRASH!!!!!!!!! My eyes were wide open in wonder. A red brick flew past my face, just missing it by a few centimeters.As the destroyed window frame and fragments of my window seem to fall in slow motion, revealing Mr Lim, slumping forward from the throw, I picked myself up and ran to the living room. SHIT!!!!!! What on earth am I going to do now!? Stay at home, you will be most safe, YA RIGHT! thank you news casters. you just made my day worse.

Alrighto, I finally got some life back... must be becos i see no hope liao in some of the things i do. Bwa hahaha... Ok, I am thrilled to know i already have ONE fan for "Mortified". I wonder how well my story can proceed. Lets go.

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"Mortified"

Chapter 2: Reality Check

My spine shook, the grievous face of decay lay flat on the screen. A face of A middle aged lady, I could tell that she was beautiful once, not anymore. It has to be a sick joke, or a movie. I cannot take this anymore, how bad can this day be?
"...Scene in which you see, the dead are walking again...", The background shows a mass of people, walking in a sloppy manner, in the bright street lights of Woodlands Area, people screaming, there's total chaos. " The Police are trying what they can to stop them" The scene looks like its taken from a helicopter, the reporters must be wimping out too. Funny, This scene is so satirical, in all stories, the police never win...
I dashed to the door, bolted it and made sure every window was shut, I do not want a single one of them to notice my presence. The poor kid, I can only pray that it really was just a bad joke, that did not went wrong...
I blacked the house out, and shifted the tv to a more secluded part of the living room. There i continue to watch, out of fear, and out of panic.
"... to stay in your home, all citizens who are watching this program, are to remain calm and to stay in your home. Lock all doors and wait for the police presence..." Stay calm? How to stay Calm? This is a nightmare, Got to be a dream...
I firmly pressed the power button. A Queer sound of the screen fading out , made me realise that there was another distinct ringing... My Handphone!
" Ivan! you ok? Thank God! Where are you now?" "Teng Yao! Teng Yao right? I am at home! I cant believe this is happening man, whats going on" I could feel my hands trembling, yet my heart beat calmly after hearing a familiar voice.
" I also don't know what is going on lah, My area quite badly affected, got many zombies near the east coast area... I thought this would be cool... I guess those games really are just games..." "I know man, don't chicken out, you should be safe. You stay in a terrace home, you better go make sure all those doors and windows are shut tight." "Kay, you wait ar..." A heavy tone of a gently dropped phone vibrated through the earpiece. teng yao's house is pretty big, he better make sure he lock down the entire house...
Hmmm, a minute passed, still no reply. This is rather annoying, In this kind of situation, you would be dashing around like a fool.
Ring Ring!!!
What the... my handphone rang, someone is calling through the second line. What! Its Teng Yao!
"Ivan! Shit! Shit! They got through the back door! Shit! ( I could hear him choke at his breath, fear dominated his voice) They got my Dad and silvia, Shit! Ivan, cant really talk to you now... If we ever do meet again, shit what am i saying, FREAK! ugh, whatever it is, God bless you, pray for me, i will be heading for the marine parade neighborhood police post!"
Silence, a awkward silence. the ground showed droplets of moist, I did not realize the tears flowing. This has got to be a nightmare. This cant be real. This cant be happening. What the hell is going on!?
I knelt, and begin to crumble myself into a tight ball. I could feel the pain of my clenched fist, and the uneasiness building up in the stomach. All this is happening too fast, Everything seemed fine just ten minutes ago, And now my whole world seemed to turn upside down.
'Get a grip idiot! Why do you always crumble in difficult situations!?' I remembered a time, probably two years ago, I was still in secondary school. I was not the brightest of the lot, could tell by my class, it seemed we were all on par. No one could get along, and cliques were blood brotherhoods. There were at least three dominant cliques in the class, one could see a Bermuda triangle in the class...
Everyone would mind their own business, even the teachers could not care less about whether we graduate or not. Although we were a Express stream class, we were seen as the black sheep of the school...
Then there was this day, Lionel, tall but of mediocre built, began flicking bottle caps around in class after a bell rang. it was pretty normal, i wasnt bothered, i continued to talk to my close pal, mervin. while engrossed talking about the latest console game, a stray bottle cap flew between us, knocking the window pane with a loud noise. We naturally replied with annoyed faces, And continued talking. Then another one came. Now that pissed me off, i began to shift my chair, but halted sharp before i could get up. What was i thinking, Thats lionel, I dont have the guts to talk to him. I began to calm down and face mervin again, however, as soon as i turned my head, i could feel the impact of a tiny round shape item at the back of my head.
That was it... I could not stand it anymore... I really want to just beat the idiot up. My eyes was red in anger, I could have killed someone without conscience. But i could not... I am just too afraid. I looked at mervin. He was already standing up.
" Oi! Asshole, you wanna pick on my brother here? Pick on someone else lah! Like your size!" Lionel's face twisted with rage. He came charging, flinging aside the table that stood between mervin and him. The flying table crashed into the teachers table, simultaneous with the powerful shove i felt by my side. I fell to my right, my arm cushioning my fall. Lionel grabbed Mervin by the collar, " So now you think you are my size? Punk! You are nowhere near me!" He pounded mervin's face mercilessly, the class stood in shock... no one could respond. I cant blame them. It was a Bloody sight... then mervin looked over at my side... "Ivan... Help me..."
I would never forget how i ran away in fear that day. I was gutless... Mervin was hospitalised, and had a some damage in some area of the brain. Now he would have sudden spasm attacks, and he cant talk properly... He got transfered to a special school. As for Lionel, he got expelled... From that day on until we graduated, noone seriously confided in me. I was an outcast.
The tears flowed a agony, I curled myself up and lay on the floor. I suddenly lost all motivation to move.I would just lay here till help arrived...
Suddenly, A loud thud banged against my bedroom window.

End of chapter 2

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Woah, ok this time the story a little draggy , 2 chapters and its based on just fifteen minutes of activity. interesting... now i am pretty satisfied once again. Alright till next time. Night!