1979, University Of California, Berkeley, Public lecture by Professor John D. Callaghan from the University of California's Department of Culture and Society...
"Mankind has always been fascinated with the idea of the dead coming back to life, but as creatures that defies the divine rule of earth. From the Chinese Jiangshi in the Eastern part of the globe, to the Germanic Wiedergänger. Why is that? Why are we so obsessed with the idea of the dead rising up with a grudge against the living? Before I get to that part, let me say this; The idea of the undead rising up and feasting upon the flesh of the living has been around since ancient Mesopotamia. In the Descent of Ishtar, the Goddess Ishtar said:
"Gatekeeper, open the gate!
Open the gate that I may enter!
If thou open not the gate to let me enter,
I will break the door, I will wrench the lock,
I will smash the doorpost, I will force the doors.
I will bring up the dead to eat the living.
And the dead will outnumber the living." The overhead projector blasted the image of the manuscript onto the white blank wall behind the professor.
"Like every myth in the world, there must be a core made out of truth. So where do they get that truth? Was there perhaps a parasitic creature that has the abilities to take over man's thoughts? Was there perhaps a disease? Or perhaps even magic?" Murmurs grew loud. The professor smiled.
"Why are we so fascinated with the dead rising up and shredding the living into ribbons of flesh and skin? The history of the undead is deep within our bones. Perhaps there was once an undead apocalypse, or a zombie apocalypse for our modern viewers that watched George Romero's Dawn of the Dead last year, in the time of our ancestors? Perhaps not and that we only have ourselves to blame for making us fall asleep harder. We can never know because we couldn't really go back in time and interview those people now do we?" The crowd burst into laughter.
Present Day 2037, Heathrow Airport, London...
"I'm okay mom, I'm already in Heathrow," I said into the phone. "It's alright really, this is my third year here already. I have friends," I smiled. God it's cold. "Really, I'm alright. Luna let me stay at her London house, like always, I'm really fine mom, you should take care of yourself." I sat down on the bench, waiting for a taxi to come snatch me up. "Alright, bye, love you." I ended the call and I shoved the phone in my jacket pocket. "Fuck it's cold,"
"OI!" I felt someone grab my shoulder from behind me. I looked behind and I saw Sean, the Irish dickhead I happen to be friends with. "Lily Loud, caught you before you started monologuing," He laughed as he sat next to me. I punched him playfully.
"You dumb piece of shit, you almost gave me a heart attack," I laughed. It's nice seeing this prick again after a holiday of having to filter my external thoughts. Do you know how hard it is to not give in to the intrusive thoughts? Thank God I can release them with this guy. Mom and dad would never approve of what I'd do to the Christmas tree. Not saying I didn't do it in secret.
"Worth the half-assed reaction I got from ya," He said with a smile. "Waiting for the taxi?" He asked.
"Yep,"
"It's not 'yep', it's 'aye', who the fuck says 'yep'?"
"Nixon said not to negotiate with terrorists, so me, I'm gonna say yep,"
"Eejit," He smacked my back playfully. "Are ya gonna wait for the taxi or do ya want to save a few pounds by getting in the Panda?"
"That rusty piece of shit fucking works?"
"You better believe it, it hums the fuckin' anthem,"
I got off the bench and I pulled him off. "Lead the way then, Paddy,"
"You don't have to pull me nuts to get me off the bench," He stood up.
"When you said pounds were you referring to my weight or to the sterling?"
"Definitely your fat arse," I punched his back playfully. "You asked, I have to be honest,"
"How am I fat? I'm literally the skinniest person in the entire country,"
"Not true, Max Henderson is the skinniest person in the United Kingdom,"
"And who the fuck is that?"
"I dunno, some dead skeleton somewhere in the countryside?" I punched him again.
We went to the car park and Sean unlocked the doors to his red Fiat Panda. I got inside and he started the engine. "I forgot to ask, how was your Christmas?" Sean asked as the engine hummed to life.
"Pretty great actually, I got this Casio hiking watch from Lincoln, pretty fucking durable," I showed the wristwatch strapped to my right wrist. "Made out of titanium," I said excitedly. "I love gift trading."
"Then what did you get for the poor soul that had to trade gifts with you?"
"A cheap gift basket I got from Walmart,"
"You're a fuckin' arse Lily," He laughed.
"It fucking works," I smiled. "Why aren't we moving yet?"
"I need to let the engine heat up, can't force her to do hard labour right after waking her up from sleep."
"She's probably cream-crackered having to carry around a bastard like you everyday," I joked. "So how was Christmas for you?"
"Pretty dandy, met Father Christmas at Westfield London, pretty nice chap, a bit grabby though," He replied nonchalantly.
"So you got sexually harassed by a guy dressed as Santa at a mall?" I smiled.
"More like 'forceful affection through physical contact', besides, I went to a Catholic high school,"
"Childhood trauma aside, I really don't know if you're joking or not." I laughed.
Sean drove the car out of the multi-leveled parking lot. The city streets are busy today. The moment we arrived in Marylebone, my ass was sore.
"I still can't believe your sister paid for that house with cash." Sean said as he parked the car beside the sidewalk. We got out and he dropped my luggage in front of the door. "2 million pounds, cash, upfront," He continued.
"And the fact that she rarely stays here made it even more shocking."
"It really does add to the shock factor." He continued. "Does she sell drugs after making music?"
"I don't fucking know,"
"Oh yeah, Paul and the other twats from our class wanna grab a few pints at the pub, wanna join us?"
"Which pub? There's like a few thousand of them here. Be specific."
"The Timekeeper, the one with the large grandfather clock right by the busted up jukebox,"
"Ah, that one. Sure, what time?"
"In about 5 or 6 hour," I looked down at my watch. I nodded.
"Cool."
"I'll pick you up later, bye!"
"See ya!" I got in the house, pulling my luggage with me. Fuck, the jet lag finally came knocking. I threw my coat on the hanger, and I threw my boots at the corner. "Holy fuck I need a nap." I dragged the baggage up the stairs and I got in my room. Luna rarely comes here, so she gave me the master bedroom. Funny to think that my older sister used to have hot lesbian sex on this bed with Sam before giving this room to me. I jumped on the bed, didn't take long to make my worldview dark. Shit, now that I think about it, I have so many fanfiction ideas for the Avengers.
LONDON TIMES: BRITISH ARMY MAJOR GENERAL WANTED IN CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE CROWN - SATURDAY, 17TH OF JANUARY 2037
MOD WHITEHALL - Major General Phillips H. Martin is currently wanted by MI5 after an insurrection that occurred at Catterick Garrison earlier this week on the 15th of January. Maj Gen Martin murdered an RMP officer, Captain Henry Whitaker, before stealing top secret military documents from the base's research department. No further developments have been released to the public other than the fact that the documents may include research papers regarding the domestically produced, Mark 78 Spy Plane and the to be announced; Spartan-700 project, an ambitious modernisation of the British Light Infantry system. Director General Henry Hansen has stated in a press conference in response to the American intelligence agency, CIA,'s offer to help in the manhunt:
"This is a matter of domestic terrorism, we do not need the help of America to handle our own domestic issues. Hence, domestic."
