Story #1

(Lek the Creator)
"Just take a deep breath." Those were his last words, the last words before it all happened. From this point on, he takes control of his life.  This moment is his. The countless hours of planning have finally come to a close. The only thing that now is unknown is the feeling, the expressions yet to be created. He tried to predict how he would feel afterward, but nothing could prepare him for it. What he thought he would feel he didn't. Nowhere to be found was the excitement, the rush, all that occupied his body was anxiety and second guessing. 

But it hasn’t happened yet. The moment, it hasn't occurred. He is still standing, waiting to catch his breath, waiting for his pulse to slow, waiting for his mind to clear. And now, after taking his deep breath, after calming himself and basking in his man made moment, he can begin. Now stands Saffron Holmes, old life gone, new life beginning.  

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(Harley Stout)

His finger hovered over a button on his homemade console. Holmes had been working in total isolation for years to build his machine. His family and friends abandoned him his first year into his project. He recently found someone that was willing to help him with his work. Jarred, who refused to give his last name, stood in a narrow glass tube like chamber. Saffron slowly relaxed. His anxiety turned to rage as he thought about why he was working on this project of his. His finger lowered onto the white, unpainted button, and the long awaited click was heard.

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(Milk Man) Jarred was not calm by choice. Holmes gave him somthing to help him with that. The assistant was not clearly thinking, in fact, he was not thinking at all. Holmes didn't want to risk the possibility of his only assistant quiting when he discovered his true plans. An intense static sound filled the secluded warehouse where the final stages of this project were taking place. There was a single flash or light, then complete darkness. The assistant gave an inhuman howl from the chamber. There was a sound of glass shattering. Light returned to the room. Curious to see the results, Holmes checked the status of Jarred. Jarred lay, face down on the cold concrete covered in shards of glass. "Jarred?" Saffron asked. with all the excitement os success, he forgot that his assistant was unable to speak. He helped Jarred to his feet. Jarred stood, foaming at the mouth. Holmes was expecting this. He knew he now needed to leave. He needed to get as far away from his former assistant as possible. Jarred slowly staggered twards Saffron, with one thing in mind, hunger.

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(Lek the Creator)

One would think that a word such as "hunger" could not determine someone's life, but for Jarred it did. Having grown up in the Ozarks, life was all about hunger. Yes trapping and hunting brought in a little money, but life there wasn't about money. It was about hunger and trying to keep it at bay. Once the hunger set in, then people stopped abiding by the unwritten rules of the land. What you grew and what you caught was yours and if anyone tried to change that then there would be severe consequences. When you are out that far, you don't ever worry about a body being found. 

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(Harley Stout)

This hunger though, was different. For Jarred, it was unbearably painful. It was like nothing he had never experienced before. the greater his hunger became, the further all memories and norms were pushed out of his mind. This was a new hunger. Holmes was fully aware of the situation he was in. The project was time consuming, but successful. Saffron knew it was time to go. His work was almost done. Jarred needed to be released. Holmes knew he had to concentrate on more important things at the moment. he had to get away from his assistant. Saffron's nervousness returned. He moved twards the door behind him, which was the only exit. Holmes opened the door and ran for the main exit. Jarred slipped further from humanity with each passing second. Jarred made his way to the exit at a very slow pace. He was having troble walking with a consistent pattern. Saffron was long gone by the time Jarred made his way to the door. The abandoned assistant left the warehouse, and followed the scent of meat.

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(Milk Man)

David closed the trunk if his father's car in frustration. David was unable to tell one car company from the other. To make things more difficult, the car was foreign. David made his way back to the tent he set up earlier that day. "I thought I told you to keep that trunk closed", said David, failing at his attempt to not appear angry. "I thought I closed it", Melissa said in defense. 

"Whatever, it's not a big deal, just double check next time. We are running low on bug spray", David finished. 

"Where's Matt?" Melissa asked. 

"He ran down to the service station", He replied. 

In the distance, Melissa heard the sound of twigs breaking. "Did you hear that?". 

"Hear what?"

"Behind the tent", she paused so David would hear. "Go check it out". 

David went on his routine, "go find the source of this noise", mission. Nothing was visible behind the trees and brush past the rear of the tent. Anything could be hiding there. David started to make his way down an imaginary path. About ten feet in, somthing was hiding behind the tent that startled David. "Just a deer", David anounced. Just then, a man came up from behind him. He moved very aggressively. The man was covered in blood, looked as if he had deep cuts along his body and he was foaming at the mouth. He staggered towards David.

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(Heather Richmond)

"Look out!" Melissa gasped in horror as the bleeding man savagely lunged

for David.

David was gasping for air, the weight of his attacker pinning him to the ground. Suddenly,

an immense pain richocheted from his ankle all the way up his leg.

"He bit me!" he managed while trying to fend off his attacker with a swift kick

to the head.

He scrambled up trying to run, but the loss of blood from his wound was

making him almost as unsteady on his feet as the unnamed fiend desperate to

taste his flesh again.

Melissa ran towards David, realizing she was still holding the canister of bug repellent.

She turned the can toward the stranger spraying him in the face frantically. He let out a feral growl, blindly reaching for either of them.

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(Alex P-R)

As the blind fiend snarled his frustration at losing his prey, Melissa tried to pick up David, but he was too heavy for her to carry. He slumped to the floor, finally succumbing to the loss of blood. Melissa bit back a sob and dragged David into the shelter of the trees.

Like a deadly game of hide and seek, the stranger sniffed the air and staggered towards them in a cruel parody of human gait, pausing to listen for them and leering inhumanly as he did so.

Melissa looked around her surroundings for a weapon, and found a stone amongst the foliage on the floor. She hurled it with all her might at the threatening stranger, but the stone just glanced off him. He didn't seem to mind.

Worse, she had alerted him to their immediate position.

With a strangely bestial roar, he charged. 

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(Tenz)

Matt kicked a stone which cartwheeled into a shrub as he walked past the car. Wisps of smoke hung in the air from the smouldering embers of the dying fire that sat by the empty tent. A bird chattered as it landed on a branch, cocking its head as it eyed the bag in Matt's hand.

He placed the bag on the ground, and took a can of soda which hissed as he cracked it open.

"Typical," he muttered, "couldn't wait five minutes for me before they went fishing."

Shaking his head, he took a deep swig from the can. He jumped as a brittle twig in the fire snapped, and soda fizzed from the tin and ran down his shirt. Cursing, he shook his hand. In the corner of his eye, he saw one pf David's walking shoes lying on its side behind the tent. Despite there being no wind, some of the tall grass behind the tent was swaying, and Matt walked towards it.

"David?" said Matt.

A noise that reminded Matt of his dog Winston at supper time was coming from behind a tree.

"Melissa?"

A man rose from the grass, his white shirt stained red. He turned slowly. There was a finger in his mouth. 

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(Harley Stout)

Matt took the hint that this man was not friendly. He looked for something to defend himself with. The first thing that stood out from the brush was an aerosol can, which was approximately half the distance between David’s borrowed car andMatt’s current position. He eyed the can of insect repellant without turning his head away from the disturbed man. Matt had no idea how to deal with this situation. Matt started to slowly walk towards the car. The demented man jerked his head towards Matt, following him with his eyes. Matt panicked and moved with greater speed. The man started to stagger towards Matt. His stagger became a trot. The bloody man’s rapidity increased, quickly closing the distance between him and Matt. Matt turned, picked up the can, and applied pressure to the cap in vain. It was empty. The insane man dove for Matt, knocking both of them to the ground. Matt tried to push the man off, but failed. He kicked the man, and knocked him back. Matt got to his feet. The man charged again. Matt’s fist met the man’s face this time, but his attack went unnoticed. Matt was knocked to the ground again. “Help!”, Matt yelled. The man’s face moved closer to Matt’s. Matt held him back with all his strength. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold him back. The man was knocked back again, by a crowbar to the face. Melissa repeatedly struck the man with the crowbar.

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 (Milk Man)

Matt grabbed Melissa. She shoved him back. Matt stepped towards her again. Melissa struck Matt in the face with her crowbar she took from the car. Matt tackled Melissa, “Stop! It’s me.” Melissa struggled to break from Matt’s hold. She screamed. Matt covered her mouth with his hand. Melissa’s teeth dug into Matt’s hand before Matt could realize his mistake. They screamed together. Matt let go. Melissa immediately jumped to her feet. She looked at Matt. “It’s Okay now”, Matt said calmly. Melissa looked to the bushes where she left David incapacitated. All she could see through her teary eyes was a red blur. She dropped to her knees, and screamed as loud as she could. “What happened?” Matt asked. Melissa sat silent. Matt looked to the bushes Melissa was looking at. “Jesus!” Matt ran to David. David was torn almost beyond recognition. “We need to tell someone!” Matt yelled at Melissa. Melissa still sat motionless. “I… I… left him,” she sobbed. Matt helped her up and led her to the passenger seat of David’s father’s car. Matt got in the driver’s seat. Melissa was still crying. “What was that?” Matt asked. Her only response was sobs. There was a loud thump against the car. The crazed man jumped on the hood of the car. He smashed his fists onto the wind shield. “Buckle up!” Matt yelled.

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(Harley Stout)

Matt started the car. Melissa shrieked in horror with every clout to the windshield. Matt started to move the car. He slammed on the accelerator. He saw a bulky tree just a few feet from the lake they were supposed to go fishing later that day. Matt drove straight for the tree. He and Melissa braced for impact. The tree made a cracking noise as the two tons of steel collided with its base. The undead man was thrown into the lake. “Go!” Melissa screamed. Matt wished he would have thought of another way to get the man off the car. “I can’t!” he yelled as he franticly tried to restart the car. The engine sounded, then went silent, then sounded, then went silent again. “David!” Melissa screamed as she saw David’s former corpse lurch towards the car. “Oh my god,” Matt was in shock. David ignored the fact that he no longer had two arms, he was missing his right thumb, and pieces of his legs were gnawed away. Matt continued to start the car. David was slowly reaching his destination. Melissa screamed again. The engine started, and when it didn’t die, he started to back up. David was still closing the gap. Matt realized the driver’s side window was broken on impact. The car died again. “What is wrong with him?” Melissa asked in a panicked confusion. David reached for Matt. “Get out! Run!” Matt demanded. Melissa, then Matt ran from the car. “To the water treatment plant!”