User blog:Ireithien/The Walking Jed - Chapter 1

 THE WALKING JED



Chapter 1

Ire recklessly pulled the car into the driveway, slamming on the brake at the last second, before he crashed into the garage. He pulled the key out, and in one swift motion, opened the door, got out, and closed it. Stumbling, he ran up the steps to his front door. His emotions were a blur.

''What happened to Mr. Edwards? What the heck is going on?''

Ire threw the door open, strode down the hall to the den, and turned on his TV. Grabbing the remote, he scanned the channel guide until he found what he was looking for: local news. Turning it on, he stood back to watch.

He saw a young woman, face streaked with dirt, wearing tattered clothing, standing in front of a partially on-fire office building. In the background, Ire could see creatures incredibly similar to what Mr. Edwards - if he could even still call him that - had become. They were slowly marauding, searching, around the scorched and blackened remains of the building.

"We are getting various reports this morning, from around the world, that these... things, these creatures, have been roaming around, attacking people, and trying to... eat them. Why this is happening and the cause is completely unknown at this time," said the woman.

"However, rest assured we are working double time on this. For now, we advise you to gather emergency supplies, and find a safe place to hide. Our experts ask that you please be careful not to allow the... zombies, I guess, to---"

Her words were cut off, as the camera fell to the ground, giving Ire a view of a zombie attacking the woman, as she ran in terror.

Ire turned off the TV.

"A... zombie apocalypse? A real one?" said Ire, not without a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Suppressing the wave of pure anxiety rising within him, Ire got down to business.

"I'm going to need some spare clothes, some food, and definitely some weapons..."

Minutes later, Ire had gathered everything he might need. Non-perishable foods, mostly canned; a few extra shirts and pairs of jeans; his sword that he had gotten on his vacation last year, and the pistol his father had given him, fully loaded. Tucking the latter into the holster on his belt, Ire picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.

''Probably not the best idea to stay around in this house. They'll find me, and it's not easily defensible,'' he thought.

As he reached for the door handle, Ire heard a shuffling noise outside. Ducking down low, he walked into his living room and looked out the window. A lone zombie was approaching the glass.

When the zombie saw Ire, it came rushing toward the window, and began beating on it. Its face was twisted, and it was wearing a plaid shirt, unbuttoned, over a gray t-shirt. His jeans looked faded and stained, as if he worked a definitely blue-collar, probably muscle job.

But it could also be the blood, the grime, the filth of his new self.

Ire was startled as the glass broke, and a gray, slimy-looking hand thrust its way into the gap, cutting itself on the broken glass shards, dripping blood into the carpet below.

Ire shuddered, pulled out his butcher knife, and hacked at the hand. The zombie roared in pain and continued to desperately thrust its hand inside. It grabbed at the sleeve of Ire's shirt, causing Ire to slash at the hand once more. This time, it came clean off and landed on the floor. The zombie shrieked in pain and retreated from the window.

Ire unbuckled his holster, slid out his pistol, aimed through the hole in the window made by the struggling creature, and shot the zombie square in the face.

Ire ran outside to investigate the corpse. Flies were buzzing around it, and it stank. Rancid. Like old sewage. Shuddering, Ire continued towards his car. Getting inside and placing his backpack onto the passenger seat, he buried his face in his hands and leaned on the steering wheel.

What has the world come to?

A Note
Hey everyone, hope you liked the chapter. I think it might be a bit shorter. This one was a bit more boring, not quite as action-oriented. :P Just trying to bridge the gap till chapter 2.

Anyway, you noticed I centered all of the text. Does this work better? I can't decide if I like it or not. Let me know what you think in the comments, and please answer the polls:

Do you like the centered text? Yes No

Are you enjoying The Walking Jed thus far? Yes! No. It's okay. IT ROCKS! It sucks so bad, my momma could write a better zombie apocalypse fic than you.

Also, one more thing: is it too gorey? Inappropriate? I don't think it is, but I'll let y'all decide.