HOTD: The Dead Walk On

When my world ended, a new one took its place. Leaving the weak and feeble to die at the hands of monsters. Monsters who, just like the weak, were turned into those gruesome reincarnations unlike their former selves.

"Aaaarrgghh!"

The sickening crack of their pitiful skulls are all that is required to relieve them of their title of "Monster". To revert them back into the people they once we're before their unfortunate rebirth. Back into the humans that the monster had hidden under its terrible form. Which allows eternal rest to once again be gifted to the lost human hidden in that darkness.

"Come on! This way, hurry!"

the pounding feet of the weak attracts them. Their cries of fear and despair drive them into a bloodlust that is insatiable. Where their dead eyes look at pleading faces, unable to see the fear of their unfortunate victims. Even their surroundings are lost to them. All lost to the monster that holds them.

"Quickly in here! We can barricade the door!"

And what had become of our once normal, slightly safe world?

"Hurry they're coming!"

To the daily struggle of trying to figure out which candy bar to buy from the vending machine?

"Come on, come on!"

To the funny sitcoms on the television set?

"N-no! Stay back! No! Aaaggghhh!"

It's all gone...

For the monsters who were once our loved ones now hold control over that world. And they intend to keep it that way. But what could you possibly be able to glean from this if you have not been told about the beginning of this terrible takeover? For the story I have to share is a long and arduous one. Forged through blood, faith, and friendships that lead to betrayal and love.

No, the beginning shall do for now. In a school that was unprepared for the gruesome attack that we now face. And it all started with an eccentric prepper, who was a great ways away from home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The grinding whine of a drill pierced the normal silence that the school campus usually possessed. It's sharp pitch died when its task was completed, the wielder setting it back in its original resting place.

And after the user examined his finished task, "phew." He gave a sigh of satisfaction, blowing away the leftover metal shavings from his work.

"Finally! Finished at last."

And with a smirk of accomplishment I, Marc Paleo, grasped the scrap metal shield I had been working on during the last few days. The school's wood and metal workshop essentially becoming my official hang out spot during my time in Tokonosu, Japan. Where I am currently spending my senior year as an overseas exchange student.

And while Fujimi Academy was definitely not like the American schools I was used to. It certainly had it's own little charm to it. With a campus the size of, what I had called it, a small village. Sporting a large track, tennis courts and even an archery range. An archery range! I bet you a buck-fiddy that you would only find an archery range at only a handful of private schools in the states. And none as equipped as this one.

But alas I rarely, if only to watch a friend practice, go to the range. For where I made my bread and butter was the carpentry and metal work shop. Where I would constantly create, ahem, various pieces of misunderstood tools. But I guess I can't blame the teachers for fussing over my various weapons and pieces of armor that I had forge in here. Especially that halberd... But what confuses me the most is that they merely just tap their foot and tsk tsk tsk when they catch me in the act. A knowing smile on their faces every time they find me working on a new project.

Not that I'm complaining though. Because my current residence in the city doesn't have half as many of the tools that the school does!

So here I am, holding the newest addition to my homemade arsenal. A decent sized square shield that is, in all reality, a riot shield while in my right hand, a modified lawn mower blade turned machete. And I could only smirk and giggle with glee as I held it in a battle ready stance. Imagining the scrap metal armor that I had converted from one of my old leather jackets. Only to pout when the bell for fifth period rang. Making me sigh in frustration as I put my new toys down and move to exit the shop.

That is if Mr. Hikemashi didn't stop me first. His gruff voice calling out to me "Marc! Come here for a sec will ya?" I complied with his request "Yes Hikemashi-sensei?" I asked, tilting my head in a rather dog like fashion.

He smirked at my rather innocent act when he knew that I had once again been working on another project. Wasn't like I was hiding it though seeing as how they're lying on the table. Clapping my shoulder like a father would his son "you've got a lot of talent working with those tools and whatever you can get your hands on," he praised, only to start shaking his head with his next sentence "but couldn't you make something more practical?" He asked. I rolled my head once more "Practical?" I asked "But all of my tools are practical, like how I made that bottle opener last week, or that scrap metal stove-" Mr. Hikemashi held his hand up, halting my sentence with a chuckle.

"I meant your more deadly tools, Marc." He said with a smile. About to continue with his teacher student pep talk on why it's "inappropriate to make buzz saw tomahawks, when his radio crackled to life. The sound of one of the other teachers coming from the speaker. "Mr. Hikemashi!" The voice of Ms. Kyoko Hayashi in her usual stern, yet soothing voice called "We have a situation at the front gate, and we need your help dealing with it." Pulling his radio from his belt he replied with an affirmative before putting it back in its usual place. Looking back at me as he left for the door "I would like to speak with you after I'm finished helping the others. So don't wander to far away you got it?" He questioned, getting a mock salute and a sharp "YES SIR!" from me. And with a final chuckle he left the shop.


having left the workshop to go hang out on the stairs near the gate so I could watch the teachers "handle" the problem. As I knew that Mr. Teshima, the school's Phys. Ed teacher, would be at the scene and was known to have a crush on Ms. Hayashi. And as I climbed the stairs I could only imagine what show of strength he would use to try and woo the well endowed teacher. It makes me snicker just thinking about it. But sadly my humorous thoughts had to come to an end

"You're so stupid!" Only one person could have such a condescending tone. Saya Takagi. Who was storming down the stairs with a look of anger on her face. And when she saw me it became a sneer of disgust. Which in turn, made her angry target me, "Move it Psycho!" She growled, shoving past me with a huff, before disappearing into the school.

Reeling with the shock that I had survived the notorious Saya Takagi's anger, although it wasn't the first time I had done so, I continued my climb up the stairs. Only when I came to the next flight I saw a friend of mine who was having a rough time.

"Takashi?" I asked, the teen in question looking to me "Oh, hey Marc." He mumbled looking back down to the ground, self pity heavy on his face. Making it look like he had just lost everything he valued in life. Which in hindsight was kinda true seeing as how his childhood sweetheart, Rei Miamoto, had dumped him. But before I could try and take his mind off of his troubles, a loud Clang drew our attention.

Both of us turned our heads to look at the front gate, where Mr. Hikemashi, Mr. Teshima, Ms. Hayashi, and two other teachers that I didn't recognize were standing at the gate. All of their attention focused on the man who continuously walked into the gate. But even from our perch on the stairs I could tell that he looked... off. As if he wasn't really there. His arms outstretched slightly, moving into the gate as if it wasn't even there. Something was definitely wrong.

"Who are you?" Ms. Hayashi questioned, her voice audible even from up here "Stop this immediately!"

Takashi tapped me on the shoulder, getting my attention "What's going on? Is that an intruder?" He asked, looking a might confused. But all I could do was shrug "I don't know, but right now," I said " I don't think anything good is going to come from this... "

By now Ms. Hayashi was pretty angry "Please leave! We're going to call the police!" Yet she still seemed to hold a modicum of politeness. But I knew that Teshima would definitely try to step up soon.

And not a second later, my theory was proven correct. As Teshima began to roll up his sleeves. "Hold your horses Hayashi-Sensei." He said advancing on the intruder "We don't have to call anyone just yet. We just have to show him who's boss." And with that Mr. Teshima grabbed the intruder and slammed him into the gate. So hard that I could hear the loud clang reverberate off of the school's walls. And for a second afterwards, everything was completely still. The birds stopped chirping, the slight breeze from before has faded into silence. Even the sounds of the city were unable to be heard.

And then it happened.

With a quick movement, the man in Mr. Teshimas grip grabbed ahold of his arm and sunk his teeth into it. A spray of blood erupted from the large wound, sending Mr. Teshima to the ground in a screaming fit.

Takashi stumbled back, his face pale as a sheet "Holy Shit!" I yelled in fear, also backing away slightly as I watched Mr. Teshima writhe on the ground in agony. His cries for someone to stop the bleeding and get Ms. Shizuka, the school nurse, echoed off the school before he went limp. Unmoving. As if that single bite had sucked the life out of him.

I was shocked at how fast he had seemingly died, shaking my head in disbelief "Ain't no way he could be dead!" I whispered. But then there was movement. And Ms. Hayashi moved forward to aid the downed teacher. Only for Teshima to reach up, grab her by the collar and take a chunk out of her neck.

"What the FUCK?!" I yelled, averting my eyes from the grisly scene of cannibalism, turning my focus towards Takashi. And with one look into his eyes I knew what he was going to do. "Takashi, hold on a sec," I said pulling my bag off my shoulders and retrieving one of the walkie talkies I always kept in my bag in case of emergencies like this. Handing Takashi my spare "I'll contact you in ten minutes!" He was already running before I had finished the sentence.

Looking back down at the front gate, I watched with sad, grief filled eyes as teachers devoured one another. And with only one thought in my head, I began to jog down the stairs, stopping to look in a windows reflection. Revealing my light brown skin black curly hair and facial scruff and slightly chubby frame. A body that would only allow me to survive what I kept denying for if I pushed myself to the limit. What I was hopelessly trying to convince myself that wasn't happening was that this...

Was the start of a zombie apocalypse.

And with that final thought I began my jog back to the workshop. Because now wasn't the time to sit in despair, nor the time to try and flee from the threat. No. It was time to gear up, and get others to safety. Because that was what any other good human being would try and do. Even as the words of my father and others telling me that my kindness would get me killed flashed through my mind.

I had only just gotten a third of the way to the workshop when the intercoms blared to life. The panicked voice of the principal coming from the other side

"All students and Faculty, all students and Faculty! There has been an incident on campus." I could already tell that something bad was about to happen "Faculty, please lead the students through emergency procedures and evacuate immediately!"

Takashi, who was accompanied by Rei and Hisashi, also listened in to the announcement.

"Now everyone knows." Takashi said, looking at the nearby classrooms as if waiting for panic to strike the students into a frenzy. Only to put his attention back on the intercom "Again," the principal spoke once more "there has been an incident on campus." Suddenly a door opened in the background and the intercom screeched briefly. Everything going quiet.

"GAAAAAHHHH!" Until the principal screamed bloody murder, his voice cracking from the strain he put on it. "No, Ah! Help me! Stop!" By now I could see the girls on the track and other courts looking around in fear. And not wanting to wait and get my stuff when it was too late to act, I began to jog to the workshop. The screams of the principal pushing me to get my ass in motion.

Closing the distance to the workshop had slightly winded me, but I was working on too much adrenaline to even notice. I only focused on pulling on the 20 pounds of steel plated leather on my body, strapping a single metal gauntlet on my hand, and a pair of quality knee guards as well. And when finished I lifted the near 30 pound hunk of protection off the workbench, strapping it to my left arm before grabbing my machete and sheathing it into my custom fitted scabbard. Also tying a black bandana around my face and putting sunglasses over my eyes

And when I caught a glimpse of myself in the large mirror that sat in the corner closest to the door, I felt a large sense of pride and satisfaction for my ability to create things out of scrap that other people thought were useless. But deep down, I felt a sense of dread at the aspect of having to actually use them in real combat. Something I never thought I would ever have to do in my life.

But now wasn't the time to think. It was time to act! So after pulling my walkie talkie from my belt and adjusting the frequency I called out. "Takashi? Takashi you there, over?" I whispered into the talkie, hoping that he was alright and uninjured. But I got nothing. So, I tried again "Takashi! Takashi answer me man, over!" I pleaded, fearing that the worst had happened to him. Once again, nothing. But before I could even think of giving up; the talkie crackled to life

"Marc?" Takashi asked, making me sigh in relief "Takashi I'm here brother, what's your position and status, over?" I asked, silently hoping that they weren't inside the school.

"Marc, were holed up on top of the roof. But the whole school has gone to hell!" Takashi replied with a sigh "It's not going be easy finding a way inside since all of 'them' are on the lower levels, but... But Hisashi got bitten man!" I growled, slamming my gloved hand onto a table. After retaining my composure a little I began to talk again " how long ago was he bitten? Over."

Silence.

"About five minutes ago..." Was the solemn reply. And I began to curse in every language I knew at the news. "Alright," I said after calming down "I'm going to head into the school and help any survivors that I can." I said, moving to the door and getting ready to head out. "I'll contact you in half an hour. Over."

"And Takashi," I added "don't take any chances with Hisashi... Alright!"

"Alright..." I heard him mutter, and with that I turned off my walkie talkie.

And after taking a breath, I pushed open the door into a completely different world. One where the weak would die, and the strong would survive. One where the undead now roamed the living world as if it were their own.

As soon as I opened the door a shambling corpse turned towards the soft tap of the door hitting the wall. And without hesitation, I swung my makeshift blade, cutting is head clean off its shoulders. And as I watched the corpse fall to the ground, unmoving once more. I knew that life would never be the same.

AU

Hello everyone and thank you for reading the first chapter of HOTD: The Dead Walk On. I started writing this story a long, long time ago. So long that I cannot even remember when the idea first came to mind. So it has just been sitting in a document in my computer for who knows how long! But when I stumbled across it, my interest in the story rekindled itself to a nice little flame. Eventually growing into a fire full of ideas and ways to change up the story that I just had to start writing it again!

Sadly, the chapters may not be at their complete best until I can find a Beta Reader for this little project of mine. But I can assure you oh reader, that chapters will continue to be posted until I can find one or more people for this lofty task!

So once again, thank you for taking the time out of your day to give this a read. the next few chapters are already written, but still need to be checked over for any grammatical errors and funny mishaps within the spaces. So without further ado! Until next time.

Isidrio