LSCAPL IROM

ZOMBIL CITY
(A ONL VAY OIT NOVLLi
1PL ZCM8lL lLLu 8LSS
LLxlnC1Cn k?
This collcc|ion is a work ol lic|ion. All |hc charac|crs and cvcn|s
por|ravcd in |hcsc s|orics arc ci|hcr lic|i|ious or arc uscd lic|i|iouslv.

Lscapc lrom Zombic Ci|v

Copvrih| 2011 Rav Vallacc
Covcr ar| 2011 Thomas A. Lrb
Covcr dcsin bv Thomas A. Lrb
In|crior dcsin bv Tv Schwambcrcr S Shcrvl Scanlon

All rih|s rcscrvcd, includin |hc rih| |o rcproducc |hc book, or
por|ions |hcrcol, in anv lorm.

Publishcd bv Thc Zombic Iccd Prcss, an imprin| ol
Apcx Publica|ions, LLC
PO Box 24`2`
Lcxin|on, KY 40524

www.|hczombiclccd.biz
www.apcxbookcompanv.com

Iirs| Ldi|ion: Oc|obcr 2011

ISBN PB: 978-1-9`7009-01-4













Au|hor`s no|c:
A Onc Vav Ou| novcl, much likc |hc Choosc Your Own Advcn-
|urc books I uscd |o lovc rcadin back in clcmcn|arv school, is no|
mcan| |o bc rcad s|raih| |hrouh. A| |hc cnd ol cach chap|cr, vou
will bc prcscn|cd wi|h choiccs. Lach ol |hcsc choiccs will lcad vou
alon a dillcrcn| pa|h |hrouh |hc book. Thcrc arc manv dillcrcn|
cndins, and as |his is a horror s|orv, |hc vas| maori|v ol |hc cndins
arc ra|hcr. unplcasan|. Onlv onc pa|h will c| vou |hrouh |hc s|o-
rv salclv. Onlv onc rcsul|s in vour survival. Bcs| ol luck lindin |hc
Onc Vav Ou|. You`rc oin |o nccd i|.
Rav Vallacc





























Ol all |hc davs |o slccp in.
Ah, wcll, no poin| in worrvin abou| |hins |ha| can`| bc un-
donc, vou |cll vourscll. Spillcd milk and all |ha|.
You rollcd ou| ol bcd abou| hall an hour ao, us| al|cr clcvcn
o`clock in |hc mornin, and now hcrc vou s|and on |hc |inv balconv
ol |hc ou|racouslv priccd onc bcdroom apar|mcn| vou rcn| down-
|own ncar |hc hcar| ol |hc ci|v. Lcanin ou| ovcr |hc railin a| |hc
balconv`s cdc, vou look s|raih| down |o |hc s|rcc| six s|orics bc-
low. Trallic is usuallv prc||v hcavv in |his par| ol |own bu| |odav
|hcrc rcallv arcn`| |ha| manv cars. Bu| |hcrc arc plcn|v ol pcoplc.
Mos| ol |hcm arc walkin, a| lirs| lancc ivc |hc appcarancc ol
lricnds ou| lor a lcisurclv s|roll. Bu| |hcrc`s somc|hin odd abou|
|hc wav |hcv movc, abou| |hc wav |hcv dril| in small packs |oward
somc ol |hc o|hcr pcoplc who arc movin a bi| las|cr, somc ol |hcsc
o|hcrs runnin lor all |hcv arc wor|h, obviouslv in an a||cmp| |o c|
awav lrom |hc s|ranclv oranizcd packs |ha| arc lollowin |hcm.
Thc sounds ol shou|in rcach vour cars. Somconc is crvin ou| lor
hclp. Thcrc is a hih-pi|chcd scrcam which cu|s oll abrup|lv.
You look |o vour lcl| |oward |hc lour lanc in|crscc|ion |hcrc. As
vou wa|ch, |wo cars slam in|o cach o|hcr hcad-on. Thc noisc lrom
|hc impac| causcs vour u| |o churn. S|cam pours up lrom bcnca|h
|hc hood ol onc ol |hc cars. Somc ol |hc dril|in packs ol pcoplc
makc |hcir wav ovcr |o |hc sccnc ol |hc accidcn|. Thcrc is morc
scrcamin.
Irom somcwhcrc in |hc dis|ancc |hcrc comcs |hc rumblin
sound ol a larc cxplosion lollowcd bv |hc |inv pops! ol wha| can
onlv bc unlirc.
Dircc|lv across |hc s|rcc| s|ands a buildin |ha| is |hc mirror
imac ol vour own. A lil|ccn s|orv apar|mcn| buildin wi|h balco-
nics us| widc cnouh lor mavbc |hrcc pcoplc |o s|and comlor|ablv
sidc bv sidc u||in ou|ward in|o spacc. Two s|orics down vou scc a
middlc-acd woman back ou| |hrouh an opcn slidin lass door
on|o onc ol |hc balconics. Shc has hcr hands ou| in lron| ol hcr in a
dclcnsivc posi|ion. No, no, no!" vou hcar hcr plainlv cxclaim. A
man cmcrcs lrom |hc in|crior ol |hc apar|mcn| bcvond, cmbraccs



LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
|hc woman who has backcd up aains| |hc railin and has nowhcrc
lur|hcr |o o. Shc scrcams as |hc man lcans in likc hc is oin |o
ivc hcr a kiss bu| ins|cad burics his lacc in hcr ncck and s|ar|s |o
wrcnch his hcad back and lor|h likc a do oin a| a piccc ol mca|.
Hcr scrcamin is a |crriblc |hin as shc lcans back lar cnouh |o
|opplc up and ovcr railin, pullin hcr a||ackcr wi|h hcr. You wa|ch
as |hc |wo ol |hcm plummc| |hc approxima|clv lil|v lcc| |o |hc s|rcc|
bclow.
Vclcomc |o |hc cnd ol |hc world," vou sav, |hcn |urn around
and hcad |hrouh |hc opcn slidin lass door bchind vou back in|o
vour apar|mcn|.
Thc TV is on, a nicc, bi scrccn lla| pancl |ha| is moun|cd |o
onc ol |hc walls, |hc sound providcd bv a hih-cnd surround svs|cm
wi|h spcakcrs discrcc|lv hiddcn in |hc corncrs ol |hc room. Onc ol
|hc ncws channcls is on and showin loo|ac lrom a hclicop|cr hov-
crin ovcr onc ol |hc ci|v`s hall dozcn parks.
I| sccms |ha| |hc numbcrs ol |hc undcad arc incrcasin rapid-
lv, cxponcn|iallv, surprisin cxpcr|s and law cnlorccmcn| alikc," a
voicc-ovcr is narra|in as |hc vicw zooms in |oward onc ol |hc packs
ol |hc undcad closin in on somc sorrv bas|ard who has apparcn|lv
inurcd himscll and is |rvin |o crawl awav as quicklv as hc can. Bu|
i|`s no| ncarlv las| cnouh lor hc is soon ovcrcomc. Thc camcra
rcvcrsc zooms as |hc man is pullcd limb lrom limb in a rislv |u-ol-
war bc|wccn a numbcr ol |hc mons|crs |ha| havc |akcn hold ol him.
Thc walkin dcad, vou |hink. Can |his rcallv bc happcnin. In
|hc spacc ol scvcral hours |hc world vou`vc known has bccomc a
horror show. Irom |hc lil|ccn minu|cs or so ol TV vou wa|chcd
al|cr c||in ou| ol bcd, bclorc hcadin ou| on|o |hc balconv |o scc
|hins lirs|hand, vou know |ha| a virus is bcin blamcd. A man-
madc virus. Apparcn|lv, |hcrc was an cxplosion in onc ol |hc build-
ins ovcr bv |hc s|adium carlv |his mornin, somc|imc bclorc sun-
risc. Scvcral pcoplc wcrc killcd in |hc blas|. Thcrc arc unconlirmcd
rcpor|s |ha| |hc buildin houscd a lab ol somc sor|. A lab possiblv
owncd bv an as-vc|-|o-bc namcd (or blamcdi branch ol |hc mili|arv.
Thc cxplosion rippcd a larc holc in onc ol |hc buildin`s walls.
Lvcr sincc, a dark as has bccn pourin lor|h lrom |hc opcnin,
lormin an cvcr larcr cloud |ha| has sprcad ou|ward across |ha|




8A? WALLACL
scc|ion ol |hc ci|v. Camcra vicws lrom a ncws hclicop|cr havc
shown |hc arca cnvclopcd in a |hick, inkv mis|. A mis| |ha| sickcns
and quicklv kills anvonc who is unlor|una|c cnouh |o inhalc i|.
And |hcn brins |hcm back |o lilc as |hc walkin dcad.
Now, how is |ha| lor a li||lc Sa|urdav mornin cn|cr|ainmcn|.
Ol all |hc davs |o slccp in, vou chas|isc vourscll oncc aain. Bu|
how wcrc vou |o know |ha| |odav would bc |hc dav |ha| |hc dcad
would walk. Il |his was |hc sor| ol inlorma|ion |ha| vou wcrc privv
|o, |hcn ccr|ainlv vou would no| havc onc ou| wi|h |hc lcw pcoplc
lrom work vou ac|uallv considcr lricnds ol vours and |hrown back
as manv bccrs as vou had, now would vou. Or mavbc vou would
havc imbibcd a bi| morc hcavilv.
As vou wa|ch, |hc pic|urc on |hc TV cu|s |o |hc in|crior ol a
ncws s|udio wi|h a pair ol sui|ablv rim-laccd rcpor|crs si||in bc-
hind a lon dcsk. In |hc uppcr rih| hand corncr ol |hc scrccn |hcrc
is a raphic dcpic|in a biohazard svmbol wi|h |hc words Zombic
Lmcrcncv!" in brih| rcd lc||crs supcrimposcd on |op ol i|. Thc
ncwscas|crs spcnd a couplc ol minu|cs discussin ano|hcr as-vc|-
unconlirmcd rcpor|, |his onc pcr|ainin |o a possiblc in|crmcdia|c
phasc in |hc |ransi|ion lrom hcal|hv, livin human bcin |o lull-
llcdcd zombic.
Vc hcrc a| Ncws Channcl 10 havc bccn inunda|cd wi|h cvc-
wi|ncss accoun|s ol cx|rcmclv violcn| individuals randomlv a||ackin
pcoplc |hrouhou| |hc ci|v. Thcsc individuals arc said |o scrcam
incohcrcn|lv, carnin |hcm |hc namc 'howlcrs`. Thcv sccm com-
plc|clv oblivious |o anv phvsical harm |hcv mav sullcr. I| is said |ha|
|hcsc howlcrs will cvcn|uallv |irc and collapsc |o |hc round. Thcn
|hcv will risc as |hc livin dcad. Vc mus| rci|cra|c |ha| |hcsc ac-
coun|s arc unconlirmcd. Nci|hcr law cnlorccmcn| ollicials nor
mcmbcrs ol |hc scicn|ilic communi|v havc wcihcd in on |his s|orv.
Il vou do happcn |o cncoun|cr somconc displavin |his sor| ol irra-
|ional bchavior, i| is sucs|cd |ha| vou vaca|c |hc arca as quicklv
and salclv as possiblc."
Thc pic|urc swi|chcs |o a closc-up ol onc ol |hc rcpor|crs, an
a||rac|ivc, middlc-acd woman wi|h shouldcr lcn|h brown hair. In
o|hcr, rcla|cd ncws. Vi|hin |hc hour, |hc mavor is cxpcc|cd |o
|akc |o |hc airwavcs and addrcss |hc prcscn|, s|ill unloldin



LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
si|ua|ion. Lxac|lv wha| ac|ions arc bcin |akcn |o achicvc somc scm-
blancc ol ordcr arc-"
And |ha|`s whcn |hc powcr ocs dcad.
Grca|," vou mu||cr. As il a zombic apocalvpsc isn`| bad
cnouh. Now |hcrc`s |hc vcrv rcal possibili|v vou mav havc |o lacc i|
wi|hou| anv AC. Or |clcvision. Or a workin rclricra|or. And all
|ha| bccr in |hcrc.
Thc idca ol bcin ca|cn bv a pack ol zombics docsn`| sccm all
|ha| bad a| |hc momcn|.
Tha|`s us| |hc shock |alkin, vou |cll vourscll. Ior, undoub|cd-
lv, vou rcallv havcn`| bccn vourscll sincc rollin ou| ol bcd and
swi|chin on |hc TV. And who can blamc vou. Lilc had bccn mov-
in alon in a surc and s|cadv rou|inc un|il |hc dcad dccidcd |hcv
didn`| wan| |o s|av dcad anvmorc. You wcrc duc a promo|ion a|
work. Morc moncv. Morc vaca|ion |imc. Iall is linallv sc||lin in
and |hc swcl|crin summcr hca| has s|ar|cd |o aba|c. A li||lc bi|, a|
lcas|. Thc holidavs arc las| approachin and vou`vc bccn lookin
lorward |o hoppin on an airplanc and c||in |oc|hcr wi|h lricnds
and lamilv mcmbcrs vou havcn`| sccn in a whilc. And now |his.
Thcrc is |hc sound ol ano|hcr cxplosion lrom somcwhcrc
ou|sidc.
Ycah, a |crriblc dav |o slccp in. Should havc o||cn ou| ol |own
hours ao.
You look a| vour ccll phonc whcrc vou lcl| i| lvin on |hc couch
|hc nih| bclorc. Pickin i| up, vou |rv |o makc a call, sclcc|in a
random lricnd`s numbcr, lind |ha| |hc nc|work is ovcrwhclmcd, |ha|
all vou c| is a rccordcd mcssac askin vou |o plcasc |rv aain
la|cr.
So now hcrc vou arc, cu| oll lrom cvcrvonc vou know, s|ill a
rcla|ivc ncwcomcr |o |hc ci|v, |hc mc|aphorical s|rancr in a s|ranc
land, |hc rccipicn| ol a companv |ranslcr |ha| brouh| vou hcrc onlv
a lcw shor| mon|hs ao. You`vc bccn workin so much |ha| vou
rcallv havcn`| had anv |imc |o makc ncw lricnds. Surc, |hcrc arc |hc
lcw lrom work vou`vc had drinks wi|h bu| i|`s no| likc vou`vc bccn
plannin on cxchanin Chris|mas prcscn|s or hcadin oll lor a
wcckcnd c|awav wi|h anv ol |hcm anv |imc soon. Tha| lcvcl ol
lricndship has no| bccn cs|ablishcd, mavbc ncvcr will, cspcciallv in



8A? WALLACL
lih| ol |odav`s cvcn|s. I|`s dawnin on vou |ha| vou`rc oin |o havc
|o lacc |hc nih|marc |akin ovcr |hc world around vou on vour
own. Il vou`rc oin |o |rv |o makc vour wav ou| ol |hc ci|v, vou`rc
oin |o havc |o do so bv vourscll. Indoub|cdlv, |hc idca ol oin
ou| |hcrc, ol lcavin |hc apar|mcn|, is morc |han a bi| ovcrwhclm-
in. Mavbc il vou us| s|av pu|, ridc |hins ou| lor a whilc. Thcrc
arc plcn|v ol canncd oods in |hc ki|chcn cabinc|s. Bo||lcs ol wa|cr.
Cold bccr. Vcll, cold lor a lcw hours a| lcas|. And |hc powcr is
surc |o comc back on a| somc poin|.
Thcrc`s a knock a| |hc door. Morc likc a poundin, ac|uallv,
likc somconc is usin an opcn hand, slappin a| |hc door. Thc
sound comcs aain, slow and dclibcra|c. You circlc |hc couch and
makc vour wav ovcr |o |hc door, lowcr vour cvc |o |hc pccpholc.
Vha| vou scc |hrouh |ha| |inv window causcs a chill |o o down
vour spinc and a |ih|ncss |o lorm in vour u|. His lacc.Vcll, i|`s a
bi| ol a mcss. Onc ol |hc cvcs is missin, a dark, apin sockc|
whcrc i| uscd |o bc. Mos| ol |hc llcsh on |ha| sidc ol |hc lacc has
bccn |orn awav all |hc wav down |o |hc awlinc. You can scc |hc
|cc|h |hcrc, |hc man`s molars prcsscd |ih|lv |oc|hcr. Thc cvc |ha|`s
s|ill in|ac| s|arcs back a| vou |hrouh |hc pccpholc, unblinkin. Thc
llcsh alon |hc chin, abovc |hc uppcr lip, and covcrin |hc chcck
|ha| is s|ill in|ac| spor|s a livc o`clock shadow. Thc dcad man slaps
a| |hc door aain causin vou |o ump back lrom |hc door. Now vou
can hcar |hc sound ol |hc zombic moanin.
So hcrc i| is, |hc |crriblc |hin |ha| is happcnin |o |hc ci|v
brouh| |o vour lron| door. Thc wav vou scc i|, vou can lih|, vou
can run, or vou can hidc. Bu| a dccision has |o bc madc. Vha|cvcr
|hc dccision, |houh, |hcrc is somc|hin vou mus| do lirs| |o cnsurc
vour chanccs ol survival.
You walk a| a brisk pacc |hrouh |hc livin arca |hcn down |hc
shor| hallwav |o |hc apar|mcn|`s lonc bcdroom. Insidc, |hcrc is a
bcd, ol coursc, a nih|s|and, a drcsscr, a closc| door, and a woodcn
chcs| on |hc lloor a| |hc loo| ol |hc bcd. You drop |o vour knccs on
|hc carpc|in bclorc |hc chcs| and opcn i|. Insidc |hcrc is a mc|al
lockbox lillcd wi|h various odds and cnds includin sparc kcvs |o
vour apar|mcn| and vour car, a passpor|, and somc cx|ra chcck
books. Ncx| |o |hc mc|al box is a small cardboard box and a black
LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?

plas|ic casc, bo|h ol which vou lil| lrom |hc chcs|. You closc |hc
chcs|, sc| |hc casc and |hc small box on |op ol i|, |hcn pop opcn |hc
pair ol clasps which hold shu| |hc casc. Irom wi|hin, vou rcmovc
|hc loadcd, snub noscd, .`8 calibcr handun. Thc small cardboard
box is lillcd wi|h sparc car|ridcs. You pu| |hc box in |hc lron|
pockc| ol |hc cans vou arc wcarin. Thc un lccls ood in vour
hand. You`vc lircd i| plcn|v ol |imcs a| a local indoor ranc bu| havc
ncvcr had |o usc i| on a pcrson, alivc or undcad. Shor|lv al|cr mov-
in |o |hc ci|v, a collcauc a| work had sucs|cd vou purchasc |hc
un.
Thcrc`s no shor|ac ol criminals in |his ci|v," hc`d |old vou,
sucs|in |hc wcapon mih| comc in handv il |hcrc was a brcak-in.
You`vc ncvcr rcallv bccn convinccd ol |his bu| now vou`rc lad vou
|ook |hc advicc and purchascd |hc wcapon. Thc |hin could dcli-
ni|clv comc in handv now. Thcrc is a zombic ou|sidc vour lron|
door. Somchow, bv ci|hcr s|umblin in|o |hc clcva|or or wandcrin
up |hc s|airs, i| has madc i| up |o vour lloor. And whcrc |hcrc is
onc, |hcrc could bc morc, mav alrcadv bc morc on |hc wav. Thrcc
courscs ol ac|ion, vou |cll vourscll oncc aain. Iih|, llih|, or do
no|hin. An amalam ol cmo|ions swirls |hrouh vou as vou |rv |o
dccidc wha| |o do. Thcrc is lcar, ol coursc, as |his vcrv surrcal si|ua-
|ion now poscs a |aniblc |hrca|. Thcrc is also ancr a| wha| |hc un-
dcad havc donc |o vour world, a| |hc lac| |ha| |hcv havc causcd vou
|o bc alraid likc |his. And |hcrc is a dccp scnsc ol lrus|ra|ion as vou
s|and |hcrc, momcn|arilv lrozcn in |hc rip ol unccr|ain|v, unsurc ol
wha| vou should do.


Il vou ivc in |o vour ancr and dccidc |o lih|, |urn |o pac 8.
Il vou allow vour lcar |o con|rol vou, |urn |o pac 10.
Il |hc ba||lin cmo|ions lcavc vou incapablc ol makin a dcci-
sion, |urn |o pac 12.

































LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
You mav no| bc |hc bravcs| individual alivc, bu| |his. This is |oo
much. And i| simplv canno| bc abidcd. A zombic. S|andin a| vour
door. Slappin i|s hand aains| i|. As il i| was dcmandin cn|rv. Likc
|his was i|s apar|mcn| or somc|hin. Likc mavbc vou arc |hc in|rud-
cr hcrc. Or mavbc vou had wroncd |hc undcad |hin somchow.
Thc ncrvc.
Vi|hou| pausin |o |hink abou| wha| vou arc doin-bccausc
|hcn |hc lcar mih| c| i|s claws in|o vou-vou march back ou| |o |hc
lron| door, unlock i|, rab |hc handlc, ivc i| a |urn and pull |hc
door opcn. And |hcrc i| is, |hc zombic, s|andin a lcw lcc| in lron|
ol vou, hand raiscd as il in |hc ac| ol wavin hcllo. Thc smcll ol |hc
|hin hi|s vou, a |hick, swcc| odor ol dccav and uncon|rollcd bodilv
lunc|ions. Bilc riscs in vour |hroa| as vou lil| |hc un, aim i| s|raih|
a| |hc zombic`s hcar|, and pull |hc |ricr. A| |his ranc, |hc sacrilicc
in accuracv |hc snub nosc dcsin burdcns i|s shoo|cr wi|h is no| an
issuc. Thc rcpor| ol |hc un is loud in |hc cncloscd spacc. Thc
wcapon bucks in vour hand as i| rclcascs i|s powcr. Thc undcad
|hin bclorc vou s|umblcs backward as il somconc has comc up
bchind i| and pullcd i| oll balancc. I| backs in|o |hc door across |hc
hall whcrc i|s backpcdalin is hal|cd. You can scc |hc holc in |hc
clo|h ol |hc dir|v, whi|c bu||on down shir| |ha| |hc zombic is wcar-
in, |hc kind ol shir| |ha| a bankcr or an insurancc salcsman mih|
wcar. Vhcn |hc sound ol |hc sho| dissipa|cs vou can hcar |hc zom-
bic moanin. I| is s|ill on i|s lcc| and now i| is pushin awav lrom
|hc wall, raisin bo|h hands and |akin a s|cp |oward vou.
Vi|hou| |hinkin abou| i|, vou raisc |hc un and |akc aim a| |hc
ccn|cr ol |hc zombic`s lorchcad. Pcrlcc| kill sho| us| likc vou`vc
prac|iccd on |hc |arc|s a| |hc ranc. Ano|hcr squcczc ol |hc |ricr,
ano|hcr loud rcpor|, and |his |imc |hc zombic`s lcs bucklc as i|s
hcad snaps back. Thc |hin docsn`| movc al|cr i| collapscs |o |hc
lloor. S|rcaks ol blood and brain ma||cr havc smcarcd |hc surlacc
ol |hc o|hcr apar|mcn| door. Ior a sccond vou cxpcc| i| |o swin
opcn, lor vour ncihbor |o appcar and chas|isc vou lor |hc mcss
vou havc madc. Bu| i| s|avs closcd. Nobodv homc, i| sccms. Nonc
ol |hc o|hcr doorwavs alon |hc lcn|h ol |hc hallwav swin opcn
ci|hcr. Is |hc lloor dcscr|cd. Arc vou |hc onlv onc s|ill hcrc. Or arc
|hc o|hcrs simplv |oo lrih|cncd |o show |hcir laccs. Thc qucs|ion



8A? WALLACL
bccomcs mcaninlcss as vou lccl vour lunch churn in vour s|omach
and |hcn, wi|hou| warnin, i| comcs up and vou lind vourscll bcn|
ovcr, rc|chin. Thc sick lcclin passcs soon cnouh, |houh, and
vou rcalizc |ha| vou havc |o c| |hc hcll ou| ol hcrc. Rih| now. Ilcc
|hc ci|v. Lc| |hc au|hori|ics c| |hins undcr con|rol. You can alwavs
comc back la|cr whcn |hins havc rc|urncd |o somc scmblancc ol
normali|v.
You o back insidc, rab vour wallc| and vour kcvs lrom whcrc
vou sc| |hcm |hc nih| bclorc on |hc collcc |ablc bclorc |hc couch,
ncx| |o a pilc ol various maazincs. Thcn vou lcavc |hc apar|mcn|,
closc and lock |hc door bchind vou, |rv no| |o look a| |hc dcad
|hin lvin ncar vour lcc|. Al|cr |akin a dccp brca|h, vou hcad |o-
ward |hc lobbv a| |hc cnd ol |hc hallwav whcrc |hc clcva|ors and |hc
cmcrcncv s|aircasc awai|.


Il vou dccidc |o |akc |hc clcva|or, |urn |o pac 14.
Il vou |akc |hc s|airs ins|cad, |urn |o pac 18.















LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
You |hink abou| opcnin |hc lron| door and |akin |hc zombic
down wi|h a lcw wcll-placcd sho|s ol |hc handun |hcn dccidc
vou`rc no| up |o i|. No| vc|, a| lcas|. Thc idca ol opcnin lirc on a
human bcin, or somc|hin |ha| oncc was a human bcin, lills vou
wi|h a dccp scnsc ol rcvulsion. You undcrs|and |ha| a| somc poin|,
il vou plan on makin i| ou| ol |hc ci|v alivc, vou`rc probablv oin
|o havc |o ovcrcomc |his squcamishncss bu| liurc vou`ll cross |ha|
bridc whcn vou absolu|clv havc |o. Rih| now, vou don`| havc |o.
Thcrc is morc |han onc wav ou| ol |his apar|mcn|, al|cr all.
I can`| bclicvc I`m doin |his," vou sav as vou hcad back ou| |o
|hc balconv, |rvin |o inorc |hc sound ol |hc zombic slappin a| |hc
door. You`vc o| vour car kcvs, which vou rabbcd lrom |hc collcc
|ablc in |hc livin room, in vour pockc| alon wi|h somc sparc cash
and vour dcbi| card. Tuckcd in|o |hc lron| ol |hc cans vou arc
wcarin, barrcl poin|cd down, is |hc loadcd handun. In vour lron|
pockc| is |hc box ol sparc car|ridcs. Around vour wais| vou`vc
loosclv |icd onc ol |hc shcc|s vou`vc pullcd oll ol vour bcd. In vour
hand vou hold ano|hcr onc. Thc shcc|s arc lon cnouh |o c| vou
down |wo lloors. In ci|hcr ol |hc apar|mcn|s bclow vou`rc oin |o
havc |o ain cn|rv, scc il |hc main hallwavs alon |hosc lloors arc
clcar or no|. Gc| morc bcd shcc|s il vou havc |o. No| much ol a
plan, rcallv, bu| bc||cr |han oin mano a mano wi|h |hc zombic
ou|sidc vour door.
I can`| bclicvc I`m doin |his," vou sav aain as vou |ic |hc
shcc| in vour hands |o |hc balconv railin. You |cs| |hc kno| oncc,
|wicc, |hrcc |imcs, assurin vourscll |ha| i|`s no| oin |o ivc wav a|
a crucial momcn|. And |hcn, wi|hou| |hinkin |oo much abou| i|,
vou placc bo|h hands on |hc railin, carclullv swin onc lc ovcr
and |hcn |hc o|hcr, rip |hc shcc| as |ih|lv as vou can |hcn carclul-
lv, oh, so carclullv, s|ar| |o lowcr vourscll. A| onc poin|, vour hcar|
lcaps in|o vour |hroa| as vou`rc surc |ha| |hc kno| has slippcd, as
vou awai| |ha| lcclin ol lrcclall |o |hc pavcmcn| lar bclow. Mavbc
vou`ll c| luckv and |akc a zombic ou| whcn vou hi|. Bu| i|`s all in
vour hcad and |hc kno| holds. Swca|in and shakin, vou cvcn|uallv
c| vour lcc| on|o |hc railin ol |hc balconv bclow vours. Momcn|s
la|cr vou`vc o| solid concrc|c bclow vour sncakcrcd lcc| aain.



8A? WALLACL
Damncd luna|ic," vou mu||cr, |rvin |o calm |hc rapid bca|in
ol vour hcar|.
Vhcn vou lccl somc scmblancc ol calm rc|urnin, vou |urn
and look |hrouh |hc slidin lass door ol |hc pcrson or pcrsons
rcsidin onc lloor bclow vou. You`rc hopin |ha| whocvcr livcs
|hcrc has alrcadv vaca|cd |hc placc, dccidcd |o c| ou| ol Dodc
lon bclorc vou did. How much casicr |ha| would makc |hins. You
s|and whcrc vou arc lor a ood |hir|v scconds. I| is darkcr insidc |hc
apar|mcn| |han ou|sidc and |hc rcllcc|ion ol davlih| oll |hc lass
makcs i| dillicul| |o makc ou| anv dc|ails. A| onc poin| vou |hink
vou dc|cc| movcmcn| |hcn chalk i| up |o ncrvcs and an imaina|ion
in ovcrdrivc. You should probablv us| o in, vou |cll vourscll.
Knock lirs|, ol coursc. Brcak |hc window il vou havc |o. Bu| wha| il
|hcrc is somconc in |hcrc. Vha| il |hcrc`s a zombic. Or morc |han
onc.


Il vou dccidc |o dcsccnd onc morc lloor, |urn |o pac 16.
Il vou |rv |o cn|cr |hc apar|mcn|, |urn |o pac 20.















LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
As vou rcach lor |hc handlc ol |hc lron| door, vou canno| hclp bu|
wondcr il |his is |rulv |hc wiscs| coursc ol ac|ion. You`rc lairlv conli-
dcn|, al|cr all, |ha| |hc undcad crca|urc s|andin ou|sidc |hc door is
incapablc ol ainin cn|rv in|o vour apar|mcn|. You`rc ra|hcr
amazcd i| cvcr madc i| up |o vour lloor in |hc lirs| placc. Judin bv
wha| vou`vc sccn on |hc TV ncws rcpor|s, i| would sccm |ha| |hc
zombics arc no| |hc mos| in|cllicn| crca|urcs |o cvcr walk |hc
Lar|h. Onc mih| cvcn classilv |hcm as brain dcad. Mindlcss. Au-
|oma|ons. Vhollv capablc ol zcroin in on po|cn|ial prcv, a||ackin
and lccdin upon |ha| prcv. Bu| li||lc clsc. I| was also rcpor|cd |ha|
individual zombics arc no| somc|hin |ha| should cncra|c anv un-
duc amoun| ol lcar. Onlv in packs arc |hc crca|urcs |rulv dancr-
ous. Onc or |wo ol |hcm can bc casilv ou|run. Il vou lind vourscll
surroundcd bv a larc roup ol |hcm, howcvcr, vou mih| lind vour-
scll in somc scrious |roublc.
You arc no| in anv immcdia|c dancr il vou s|av hcrc. Oncc
vou sc| loo| ou|sidc. Vcll, |hins arc bound |o c| a wholc lo| morc
dancrous in a hurrv, now arcn`| |hcv. Hopclullv |hc clcc|rici|v will
comc back on a| somc poin|. And |hcrc is all |ha| bccr in |hc lridc.
Vha| can i| hur| |o s|av onc morc nih|. Vakc up carlv |omorrow,
asscss |hc si|ua|ion. Indoub|cdlv, |hc au|hori|ics arc doin wha|
|hcv can |o brin |hc si|ua|ion undcr con|rol. Mavbc bv |omorrow.
So dccidcd, vou o in|o |hc ki|chcn, opcn |hc lridc, and pull
ou| a bccr. A li||lc hair ol |hc do, |ha|`s wha| vou nccd. No chcap
s|ull hcrc ci|hcr. No PBR or Busch or anv ol |ha| nonscnsc. You
likc |hc ood s|ull. Impor|cd whca| bccr. A cold bo||lc ol Iran-
ziskancr in hand, vou opcn |hc lrcczcr and pull ou| a lros|cd drink-
in lass. Al|cr pourin |hc bccr and placin |hc bo||lc in |hc rccv-
clin bin, vou circlc |hc coun|cr which scpara|cs |hc ki|chcn arca
lrom |hc livin room and oncc aain hcad ou| on|o |hc balconv.
Lcanin on |hc railin, vou |akc vour |imc drinkin vour bccr as vou
wa|ch |hc spcc|aclc unloldin bclow. Pcoplc occasionallv run bv.
Zombics shamblc alon. Thc smcll ol smokc rcachcs vou, carricd
bv on a lih| brcczc. You canno| scc a lirc in ci|hcr dircc|ion alon
|hc s|rcc| whcrc vour apar|mcn| buildin is loca|cd. I| has |o bc
somcwhcrc ncarbv, |houh. Ano|hcr sin ol |hc cncral dcclinc ol
allairs in |hc ci|v.



8A? WALLACL
You linish |hc bccr, o rab ano|hcr, pass |hc |imc c||in com-
lor|ablv incbria|cd. A| somc poin|, vou`rc no| surc whcn, |hc zom-
bic has s|oppcd bca|in on |hc lron| door ol vour apar|mcn|. I|
sccms |ha| vou`vc madc |hc rih| dccision al|cr all. S|upid crca|urc
could ncvcr hopc |o c| a| vou. Hcll, a wholc an ol |hcm would
probablv bc incapablc ol c||in pas| |ha| door. Lookin down ovcr
|hc balconv`s railin, vou scc a couplc ol zombics walkin bv in
|hcir slow, dis|inc|ivc wav. On an impulsc, vou rab onc ol |hc small
po||cd plan|s vou`vc bccn rowin on a small mc|al shcll ou| on |hc
balconv. Arm cx|cndcd ou| ovcr |hc railin, vou |akc aim as bcs|
vou can and lc| o ol |hc po||cd plan|. I| lalls |hc six s|orics and hi|s
onc ol |hc zombics squarc on |op ol |hc hcad. You lc| ou| a whoop
as |hc zombic collapscs |o |hc pavcmcn|. I| docs no| c| back up.
Morc drinkin cnsucs. Morc droppin ol plan|s. Thc mornin
has lon sincc bccomc |hc al|crnoon. Davlih| ladcs slowlv, impcr-
ccp|iblv |owards nih|. Thc powcr docs no| comc back on. Thc
sounds ol |hc nih|marc |ha| has ovcrrun |hc ci|v do no| aba|c.
Gunlirc. Lxplosions. Scrcamin. Toward cvcnin, vou rab |hc
llashlih| vou kccp in onc ol |hc ki|chcn drawcrs |hcn hcad |oward
|hc bcdroom. Thcrc, vou lic down, |cllin vourscll |ha| all will bc
bc||cr comc mornin. You lall aslccp wi|hin minu|cs ol lvin down.
And awakcn |o |hc sound ol somc rca| bcas| roarin. Thcrc is
a bricl momcn| ol u||cr |crror and conlusion. Arc vou ac|uallv
awakc. Is |his somc sor| ol nih|marc brouh| on bv |hc s|rcss ol
|hc dav. Thcn |hcrc is an cxplosion ol lih| and hca|. Thc walls ol
|hc room disappcar. I| sccms as |houh vour world has bccn con-
sumcd bv a supcrnova. So much lih|. So much hca|. Thcrc isn`|
cvcn |imc |o scrcam.
Vow. Apparcn|lv |ha| wholc zombic plauc |hin o| a wholc
lo| worsc whilc vou wcrc slccpin. Bccamc |hc sor| ol problcm |ha|
somconc wi|h a lo| ol au|hori|v lcl| could onlv bc solvcd wi|h a rcal-
lv, rcallv bi bomb. You know, |ha|`s |hc problcm wi|h bombs likc
|ha|. As lon as |hcv cxis| |hcrc`s alwavs somconc us| i|chin |o sc|
onc ol |hcm oll.

THL LND



LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?
Thc lloor`s lobbv is a small, squarc arca wi|h |wo sc|s ol clcva|or
doors bclorc vou and a unmc|al rcv s|ccl door |o vour rih| which
lcads |o |hc cmcrcncv s|airwcll. Dccidin |o |akc |hc casv wav, vou
prcss |hc down arrow bu||on sc| in|o |hc wall bc|wccn |hc |wo sc|s
ol clcva|or doors. I| isn`| lon bclorc |hc lcl| hand sc| ol doors
slidcs opcn and vou lind vourscll s|cppin in|o |hc cmp|v clcva|or
car bcvond. Insidc is a mc|al pancl wi|h |wo vcr|ical rows ol bu||ons
numbcrcd onc |hrouh lil|ccn sc| in|o i|. You rcach ou| and prcss
|hc bu||on lor |hc bo||om lloor and wai| as |hc doors slidc closcd
and |hc clcva|or car bcins |o dcsccnd. Thcrc is a dii|al rcadou|
abovc |hc doors which coun|s down |hc lloors as vou dcsccnd.
Iivc.
You s|ill rcallv can`| bclicvc anv ol |his is happcnin. I|`s likc a
drcam. A bad drcam. Thc dcad risin. All |hc |crriblc ncws loo|ac.
Thc walkin dcad man vou had |o shoo| in |hc hallwav.
Iour.
Your s|omach bcins |o churn oncc aain as vou rccall, wi|h lar
|oo much dc|ail, |hc wav |hc bullc| had snappcd |hc zombic`s hcad
back, |hc imac ol |hc insidcs ol |hc zombic`s hcad runnin down
|hc apar|mcn| door.
Thrcc.
You |akc in dccp brca|hs, lih|in |hc sick lcclin |hrca|cnin |o
s|cal ovcr vou aain. I| wouldn`| do |o o around |hrowin up all |hc
|imc. You havc |o kccp vour wi|s abou| vou. God onlv knows wha|
o|hcr |crriblc |hins vou mav scc and havc |o do ncx|.
Two.
Thc sound ol mulllcd scrcamin rcachcs vour cars. I|`s an in-
human sound. An animalis|ic sound. No| a sound ol pain, no.
Somc|hin clsc. Somc|hin morc dis|urbin. I|`s |hc sound ol mad-
ncss, complc|c and undilu|cd. A cold drcad washcs ovcr vou. Vi|h
a |rcmblin hand, vou rcach ou| and s|ab a| |hc bu||on markcd wi|h
|hc numbcr |wo, |rvin |o s|op |hc car`s dcsccn|. I| dawns on vou
|ha| c||in in|o |his clcva|or mav havc bccn a vcrv bad idca. You
mcn|allv will |hc car |o s|op, s|abbin |hc sccond lloor bu||on
rcpca|cdlv wi|h vour indcx lincr. Shouldn`| |hcrc bc an cmcrcncv
s|op bu||on. You`rc surc |hcrc is. In vour panic, i| |akcs vou a lcw
momcn|s |o no|icc |hc smallcr mc|al pancl ncx| |o |hc rows ol



8A? WALLACL
bu||ons. Thcrc is a rcccsscd la|ch on |hc pancl which vou pull a|,
opcnin i| and rcvcalin |hc bu||on vou arc dcspcra|clv scarchin
lor. Bu| bv |hcn i| is |oo la|c. Thc car is slowin, |hc numbcr abovc
|hc doors is rcadin:
Onc.
No," vou sav, oh, plcasc no," as |hc doors s|ar| |o opcn.
Thcrc is |ha| scrcam aain. Much loudcr now, much closcr and
clcarcr. Thc doors opcn widcr. widcr. likc a hunrv mou|h rcadv
|o lccd. You back awav as vou scc |hc crowd ol shamblin undcad
bcvond and |hc onc liurc, in par|icular, a| |hc lron| ol |hc pack,
s|andin |hcrc, lookin in|o |hc clcva|or car wi|h a look ol such
madncss and |wis|cd malcvolcncc upon i|s brokcn lacial lca|urcs
|ha| vou lccl vour bladdcr lc| o a| |hc sih| ol i|. And |hcrc is |ha|
scrcam aain, cmana|in lrom |hc mou|h ol |ha| hidcous, ruincd
|hin. A lcclin ol |crror so purc i| lrcczcs |hc air in vour luns and
|akcs hold as vou silcn|lv crv ou| |o wha|cvcr ods |hcrc mav bc |o
plcasc, oh, plcasc, makc |hc mons|cr o awav. Bu| i| would sccm
|ha| |hc ods arcn`| lis|cnin bccausc |hc mons|cr is rushin |oward
vou, hands hcld ou| bclorc i| likc claws. And |hc o|hcr zombics arc
closin in bchind i|. And soon |hc clcva|or car is crowdcd, lar bc-
vond i|s rccommcndcd capaci|v, and vou s|ar| |o scrcam vourscll, a
shor| livcd sound as |hc undcad do wha| |hcv do and makc a lcas|
ol |hc llcsh ol vour bodv.
Obviouslv, |his is no| |hc wav ou| ol |hc ci|v vou wcrc lookin
lor.


THL LND






LSCAL l8CM ZCM8lL Cl1?

Alraid |ha| somconc-or somc|hin-mih| bc lurkin wi|hin |hc
lil|h lloor apar|mcn|, vou dccidc |o |akc vour chanccs and dcsccnd
ano|hcr lcvcl. Ac|in quicklv, vou un|ic |hc sccond shcc| lrom
around vour wais| and rcpca| |hc samc proccdurc vou did ou|sidc
vour own apar|mcn|, sccurin |hc shcc| as bcs| vou can |o |hc balco-
nv railin. You |u on i|, assurin vourscll oncc aain |ha| |hc kno|
will hold. And |hcn i|`s ovcr |hc railin, lirs| onc lc and |hcn |hc
o|hcr, bu| |his |imc wi|h a bi| morc has|c. As soon as vou commi|
vour cn|irc bodv wcih| |o |hc bcd shcc| vou arc convinccd oncc
aain |ha| i| is slippin. Thc onlv |hin is, |his |imc vou`rc rih|. You
arc hallwav down |o |hc lour|h lloor balconv whcn |hc kno| vou`vc
|icd, |hc onc vou rushcd, us| a li||lc, comcs undonc. Vi|h a shrick
vou lall, |hc bcd shcc| |railin upward bchind vou likc a mallunc-
|ionin parachu|c. You roll ovcr in midair and lacc |hc round rush-
in up |o mcc| vou lacc lirs|. And, ucss wha|. You manac |o land
on onc ol |hc zombics, snappin i|s ncck and drivin i| lorcclullv
downward in|o |hc sidcwalk. Thc undcad crca|urc brcaks vour lall,
us| a li||lc. Bu| no| ncarlv cnouh |o do vou anv ood. A| lcas| vour
dca|h wasn`| a complc|c was|c. Thcrc is, al|cr all, now onc lcss zom-
bic |o |crrorizc |hc ci|v.


THL LND