by Terry Mayer
"I'm alright, but a little help would be nice. This thing is still trying to bite me."
Jay moves to Nate's side and uses his sword to pry the zombie from his arm. "He bit you Nate, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Jay, it's just a scratch."
"Yeah, it's not the wound I'm worried about, it's the virus. Jack, how long after getting bit do you turn?"
"Straight away in the game I played."
"You sure?"
"Yeah Jay. The moment someone is bitten by a zombie they turn into one too."
Looking at Nate's wound then looking at his teeth and into his eyes, he proclaims. "Well Nate you may have got lucky. There's no sign of any infection." Turning to Jack, he tells him to go get the others as Nate jumps on his back and starts biting his neck.
"No," screams Jack rushing to his brother's defense. Grabbing Nate in a bear hug, he pulls him off Jay, being careful to stay away from his teeth. "Jay, you ok, did he get you?"
Reaching around to feel the back of his neck, he pulls his blood-covered hand away. "I'm afraid he did little bro. Seems this zombie virus takes a few seconds to kick in. Let's get Nate somewhere safe before I turn."
Dragging Nate over to the tower they open the first door they come to, check inside to make sure it is empty, then push Nate in and slam the door closed. Rushing to the next room, Jay opens the door, checks inside then steps in and closes the door. Shouting through the closed door he yells, "Jack, you have got to get the others and tell them what has happened. You need to make a cure and inject us. Tell me what happens at sun up if the zombie is ...urh."
"Is what Jay, if the zombie is what?"
"Urrhh, urrhh," is the groaning reply and scratching on the door.
"No Jay, no!"
*****
Checking the last door in the corridor Natasha and Jethro charge into the room, swords drawn, and run straight into six zombies clustered in front of the entrance. Slashing with utmost precision, Natasha cuts the first zombie head off in one clean strike and takes another on the backward swing. Smiling she shouts to Jethro, "That's two for me, come on keep up," and turns and lunges at the third zombie, cutting his belly open and allowing his intestines to fall out onto the floor. "Yuck. This doesn't normally happen." Reversing the blade she slices his head clean off and he tumbles to the floor.
On entering the room, Jethro is shocked as he runs into the zombies. After so many empty rooms, he just assumed that this room would also be empty. Stumbling straight into the outstretched arms of the first zombie it takes all his strength to keep the disgusting creature off him. As he fights, another zombie stumbles around behind him and grabs him from behind. Screaming in fear he almost misses Natasha's instruction.
"Duck now, or lose your head."
Ducking just as a sword slices above his head he sees the zombies own head roll to the floor, swinging around, he hits the zombie attacking him from behind ,in the head with the pummel of his sword and it drops to the floor. Turning, he sees Natasha finish the last zombie and wipe her sword on its decapitated body. "Nice Natasha, you really know how to handle yourself."
"Five zombies is child's play, although next time I suggest you just stay out of the way. Having to save you just complicates matters."
"Well at least I managed to kill this one," he replies kicking the zombie on the floor which immediately grabs his foot , pulls him over and takes a huge bite. "Arrggh, get it off."
Jumping over the fallen zombie, Natasha draws her sword and swings in one fluid motion, slicing the zombie's head that is attacking Jethro.
"Get it off, get it off."
"I thought you said you took care of this one," she asks sarcastically as she pry's the zombie's teeth out of Jethro's' foot.
"I thought I did, thanks Natasha, you really saved me that time."
"Right, well next time make sure you cut off their heads, at least then you know they are dead. Come on, let's go check on the others." Turning she walks from the room, looking back over her shoulder she sees that Jethro is still sitting on the floor. Stopping, she leans back into the room. "Hey, Jethro, you coming or what?"
Jethro raises his head and groans.
"Oh Jethro, what the heck have you done?"
As 'zombie' Jethro stumbles to his feet, Natasha slams the door and runs back up the corridor to the courtyard.
*****
Running back to the courtyard Natasha finds it empty, so continues on to the tower. Running through the door she sees Jack slumped against a door, crying.
"Jack, what happened, is everything ok?"
Looking up at Natasha, he sniffs. "It's Jay and Nathan; they were bitten and have turned into zombies."
"Not them too. Where are they?"
Pointing at the two doors, Jack replies. "I put one in each room. Before Jay turned, he said we had to make a zombie virus cure and inject him before morning. Where's Jethro, he'll know what to do."
"Jethro has been turned too. It's just you and me now kid."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Tell me once again how to make the cure."
"You need to make a syringe on the crafting table by combining two glass blocks and an iron ingot. Then you need to add seeds and some zombie flesh."
"What type of seeds, pumpkin, or watermelon?"
"No idea, sorry."
"Don't worry, we'll sort it out later. Right, we have plenty of zombie flesh but we are all out of iron and glass. How about you?"
Reaching into his inventory Jack pulls out an iron ingot. "I've got iron but that's it."
"That's great Jack. Do you happen to have a furnace in there?"
Pulling the furnace from his inventory Jack smiles. "Yep, you need anything else?"
"Don't suppose you have any sand in there do you?"
"No sorry, I'm all out of sand." Laughing he hands the furnace to Natasha."It is still weird being able to carry all this stuff. I've still got over 300 cobblestone blocks in here from when I was mining on the first day."
"I know, I'm carrying enough tools to equip a small shop and yet I can't even feel it until I reach into my inventory, and don't even start me on that. Where are we reaching anyway? It's not actually on us, you just put your hand inside yourself, and there it is. Right, back to business. Can you go and get me two blocks of sand. You'll find some sand over in the north corner behind the trees."
"Ok, I'll be back in a minute." Dashing from the tower Jack runs over to the north corner and locates some sand. Taking a shovel from his inventory he digs up two sand blocks then grabs another six just in case. Rushing back to the tower, he hands the blocks to Natasha, who puts them in the furnace with some wood she had in her inventory. Instantly the furnace lights and the sand starts to melt, slowly turning to glass. Removing the glass blocks from the furnace one at a time, as they are ready, Natasha makes a pile of eight newly made blocks then moves them to the crafting table. "Right, you said two glass blocks and one iron ingot, yes?"
"That's right."
"Ok, let's hope this works." Placing the two glass blocks side by side, she then adds the iron ingot at one end and instantly it transforms into a large syringe.
"Cool. I'll never get bored making stuff on this crafting table. Right, you any more iron?"
Reaching into his inventory Jack removes one more iron ingot. "This is my last one but I think Nate has some more." Handing it to Natasha, she places it on the crafting table, adds two more glass blocks and makes another syringe.
"Do you want to go ask Nate if you can borrow his iron ingot?"
"No!"
"Thought not. Ok, let's go find a cure."
Placing the two syringes and the crafting table into her inventory, she hands the furnace to Jack.
Standing outside the door to the room that houses Jay, Jack shouts, "hold in there Jay, we'll back with a cure soon, ok?
All he gets as a response is groaning and scratching at the door. They walk from the tower over to the castle wall. Natasha smashes the cobblestone b
locking the door.
"Ok, get your sword out. We move fast and stay together. Don't stop and fight unless you have to. It's better and quicker to run around them than stopping to engage them. Don't let the zombies get too close or they will lunge at you. We are looking for a house with a garden or a farm. Once we find one, we need pumpkin and watermelon seeds, as we don't know which ones work. Is everything clear?"
Nodding, Jack takes a deep breath and gives a little shudder, knowing what he is about to do.
"Just one second," says Natasha walking over to the dead zombie in the courtyard. Raising her sword, she slices a few pieces of zombie flesh and puts it into her inventory. Walking back to the door she looks at Jack.
"Ready?"
Seeing him nod she slaps him on the back and says. "Well let's go then."
Opening the door, they both step outside the castle and close the door behind them.
*****
13 - Zombies
The scene that confronts them as they step through the castle door is straight from a horror movie. Dead bodies lie everywhere, but since they have been infected, they are undead. Twitching arms and jittery legs are lying around, ripped apart, and dropped by the power of the whirlpool.
"Watch out for any whole zombies on the floor. Until their heads are cut off, they can still bite."
Removing two torches from her inventory, she lights them and passes one to Jack.
"Ok, no more talking unless it's urgent, let's go."
Running in the direction with the least amount of zombies, they head off into the night.
Dodging zombies as they run they soon develop quite a crowd following them. Dozens of shambling figures groan and move in the dark, all heading in their direction.
"Keep the lake on your left Jack, we're safe from attack from that side," Natasha whispers.
Nodding, Jack follows her example, constantly looking to his right, alert to any attack. As they come to a thick grove of trees, a zombie lunges at Natasha but she quickly decapitates him without breaking stride. Chopping some low hanging branches to make a passage they continue until they reach a 10 block high wall, blocking their way.
Quickly reaching into her inventory, Natasha removes a pickaxe and starts making some steps, looking over her shoulder she can see a hoard of approaching zombies.
"Jack, replace the blocks as we go up, that should stop the zombies from following us."
Putting his sword back into his inventory and choosing cobblestone, Jack replaces the blocks behind him as they climb higher.
"Great idea Natasha, I wouldn't have thought of that."
As they reach the top of the wall, they pause and look down at dozens of zombies milling about at the bottom of the cliff.
"Well that takes care of them for now but we'll have to find another way back. No way can we fight our way through that lot."
Running on into the night, the two continue to dodge the odd zombie and soon they have quite a following again.
"I've never seen so many zombies before, where are they all coming from?"
"It's the mod pack," Jack replies. "They just keep spawning, guess in the game this is supposed to be fun."
"Yeah, well, are you having fun yet?" she asks.
"Not really, so where are we heading?"
"No idea. Just keep your eyes peeled for lights, that should mean a house or village."
"Uh, Natasha? It might be a little late to ask but how do we find our way back after we find a house?"
"Look behind you Jack."
Looking back over his shoulder Jack sees a glowing tower in the distance.
"Cool, you placed torches all over the tower. We can see it from hundreds of blocks away. When did you do that?"
"When I built it, I placed torches so I could see at night, pretty smart huh?"
"Absolutely."
Smiling for the first time since he had left the castle, Jack finally has confidence that their plan could actually work.
Running forward for another couple of hundred blocks, dodging zombies along the way, Natasha finally whispers.
"There Jack, see the lights?"
Looking in the direction that she's pointing, Jack sees a glow in the distance.
"What is it?"
"Looks too big to be a house, must be a NPC village. Keep your eyes open now, things are about to get interesting."
*****
As they near the village, they can see what appears to be hundreds of shapes moving around in front of the houses.
"Oh no! There are too many Jack. No way can we fight our way through that lot."
Crouching to avoid detection, he asks. "So what do we do?"
"Just hang on. Give me a second to think."
Crouching on the ground Jack takes a quick look behind him.
"Uh, Natasha?"
"Hang on Jack, I'm thinking."
"Yeah, but we have a whole load of zombies behind us that are getting closer. Don't think for too long."
Looking back over her shoulder Natasha puts her sword in her inventory and removes a dozen torches.
"Light the place up Jack, let's draw them all here."
Placing the torches in the ground, they both start jumping up and down, waving, and shouting at the zombies.
"Over here meat heads. Yeah, that's right. Come and get us."
All the zombies from the village look up and start shambling towards them. The other zombies that were following them are almost upon them when Jack asks. "Good idea Natasha, but what now?"
"Just wait a few more seconds Jack, when they all follow us, run to the left, get them all to follow then, when I shout, head for the village. Get your cobblestone ready, we are going to build a wall and keep them out."
As they stand in the dark, groaning fills the air as hundreds of zombies descend on them.
"Wait for it, not yet. Get ready, now, run!"
As the first zombies that were following get to within a few blocks, they run to the left. All the zombies follow, including the ones from the village.
"Nice, but you do know we now have hundreds of zombies chasing us?"
"Yeah Jack, that's the idea," shouts Natasha over her shoulder as she decapitates a zombie who stumbles into her path.
"Just keep running but be ready to head back when I give the order."
Looking over his shoulder, a nightmare vision greets Jack. Hundreds of zombies are shambling after them. Man, I can't believe I used to enjoy this back in the real world.
"Ok Jack, get ready. We're going to make a run for the village. When we get there make a wall, 2 blocks high, between any buildings at the edge, you take the front, and I'll go to the back. Work your way to the left and I'll do the same and with a bit of luck, we'll meet up before they get there. Keep your eyes open though, there could still be some zombies in there."
"Ok"
"You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," he replies, checking his inventory.
"Ok, go!"
They both turn direction and run as fast as they can towards the lights. The zombies turn and follow.
"Quick Jack, they are trying to cut us off, "shouts Natasha."They shouldn't be that smart."
Running like their lives depended on it, and in this case, it did, they head towards the lights.
"Get ready Jack, we're not going to have as much time as I hoped."
As they run into the village, Jack stops and starts placing cobblestone between the first two buildings. Running straight past him Natasha shouts. "Build fast Jack and I'll see you shortly. I hope." And then she is gone.
Finishing his first wall, Jack immediately moves to the next building and builds another, blocking the entrance. As the first zombies arrive, they mill around, testing the defenses they fail to gain entry. As Jack moves to the next building, the zombies follow. Placing the blocks quickly, he is only one block high as the first zombies reach out for him. Jumping back, he realizes he is safe as long as he stays back from the wall. Building methodically, Jack enclo
ses all the buildings until he reaches a house that has a wall already in place.
Way to go Natasha, we're going to make it, he thinks as he hears a cry in the night.
"Jack, over here, quick!"
Running towards the voice Jack finds Natasha battling a dozen zombies. As he draws his sword, Natasha glances at him and shouts.
"No Jack, I'm out of cobblestone. You build the wall and I'll take care of them."
Retrieving cobblestone from his inventory, Jack closes off the last building then turns to see three zombies bearing down on him. Quickly grabbing his sword he defends as the first zombie lunges, teeth, and claws trying to gain purchase on his body. Knocking aside the attack Jack swings for the head and is delighted to find it rolling across the floor in front of him. Before he has time to congratulate himself, the next zombie is on him. Swinging wildly he back pedals, defending as he goes. Suddenly there is an almighty scream and Natasha jumps in front of him and decapitates the remaining two zombies. Breathlessly he looks around. Now enclosed within the cobblestone wall, with all the zombies dead, it is finally quiet inside. Looking up at Natasha, he says. "Girl, you are one hell of a fighter."
"Save it for later Jack, we need to clear the village before we can stop."
Moving through the village, house by house, they find many NPC's sheltering in their homes. At the fourth house, a zombie lunges from the shadows, trying to bite Jack, but Natasha's' sword soon finishes him off.
"Ok Jack. Two houses to go. Keep alert now. We don't want any casualties at this point."
Advancing slowly on the next house, they stand either side of the door.
"You ready?" asks Natasha.
Nodding, Jack reaches for the door handle and pushes it open. Inside it is empty, apart from the three bodies on the floor.
"Check them Jack, I've got your back."
Advancing into the room Jack looks at each body. The first two are obviously dead, heads missing, arms, and legs eaten. As he approaches the last one, it gives a small twitch and tries to sit up. Swinging his sword, he cuts the head off the zombie as it tries to bite him.
