Book One

Zombie Tom


Prologue

The Alley was one you might pass every day on your way to work, it was not overly cluttered with trash but something made you want to pass it quickly. This was Brottor’s home, and he didn’t mind the place at all. Brottor stood near the bonfire trashcan to warm himself. This year the cold came in a little early. Not even the end of September and at night the cold creeps in and chills you to the bone. Near the fire a small group of rats and bugs have come in to take their places and enjoy the warmth that Brottor shares with them. He of course knows them all by name. “I’m sorry but if my calculations are correct, I should be getting a call soon and you know what that means. The end is near.” Brottor proclaimed to the rats. As if on queue Brottor vanished in a flash of brilliant white light.

The light blinding in its brilliance took a few moments to get use too. It was not so much that the light diminished it was instead that Brottor’s eyes became use to the bright daylight shine that this new place was bathed in. “I hate when I’m right.” Brottor stated to himself aloud. “Welcome Brottor.” A loud booming voice sounded coming from the next chamber. Amazing how that room was even brighter than the last one. But for some reason the light did not hurt Brottor’s eyes. This new chamber was a throne room of sorts in its center was a brilliant white light. Surrounding it were many smaller lights dancing and floating just out of the main light. These lights all seemed alive. “The time has come for you to once again witness the events as they unfold.” The voice coming from the light itself, yet the voice was not heard with your ears alone. It was a powerful voice and each word was sung with the voices of thousands of perfectly played instruments. After hearing one word you hoped that the voice would never stop. ‘How can I help you?” Brottor failing to find the words he wanted to speak to the light he has seen so few times in his life. As if in answer to the question darkness started to form in the light growing larger quickly till in only a few moments it was the size of a man. And a man it was. The man emerging from the light had white hair and full white beard. Dressed in a white robe with a symbol of a hammer on it and in his hand was a hammer covered in runes. He paid little attention to Brottor as he walked from the light. His eyes were on fire with white energy and he seemed to walk with a purpose. Brottor had to step out of his way or be trampled. This was Brottor’s father and he was surprised to see him. He died many years ago… “Father?” Brottor began yet realized he was not seeing or hearing him. He walked to the other room and when he got to the room he started to chant something that was not in any language Brottor recognized…And Brottor knew most if not all the earth languages from ancient times to current. The chanting continued for a moment then he raised the hammer and with a great scream slammed it down right in the center of the floor. The whole room boomed with thunder and lightning as it hit and it knocked Brottor to the ground. When he stood up once more a crack had split the floor and wall opening a chasm into darkness with a far off light at its end. Brottor’s father jumped into it with the same purposeful urgency. Brottor hurried to the chasm and was pulled into the hole by invisible forces. Together they fell thru darkness and emerged into the night sky that was my world. The landing would not be an easy one as the ground was still quite some distance below me. But as he suspected they slowed as they came to the rock pile that would be the landing location. As soon as Brottor came to with in a few feet from the ground we stopped and began to float with a bit of speed away from the area we landed, well sort of landed anyways. It took me a few moments to realize that we were in Jerusalem.

Chapter 1

Tom watched as the herd of the finely dressed church people entered the store. Every Sunday around this time Wal-Store was filled with these people. You know the one’s, they dressed in their finest clothes in hopes for being saved…Truly pathetic. The very next day these same people return to the scariest thrift store cloths one can find. Tom didn’t work for Wal-Store instead he worked for SmartPet. Jimmy, Tom’s Boss was not a smart guy. He bought the franchise thinking it was the other store, you know the one. But it turned out to be a bogus franchise. So he did what he could and rented space in this store only he again wasn’t thinking when he signed the contract…Turns out the store never claimed to stop selling pet supplies so we are now selling pet stuff out of a larger store that sells pets stuff cheaper…As least they don’t sell hamsters. To say the least Jimmy out of pure embarrassment never comes to the store, which is fine with Tom. Tom takes care of the store and since little is bought and sold except hamsters and a few extra things that SmartPet carry that the Wal-Store doesn’t, keeping a good stock in the store was not a big deal.

Life for Tom was more or less boring. Wake up, get dressed, go to work, come home, mess around on the computer, and go to bed. Each day was the same on the few random days off that he had each week; Tom would go to the Store and shop. Truth be told Tom was lonesome and really couldn’t stand being alone with himself. He often felt like he had nothing in common with his life. Their was a girl, of course their always is and like most in Tom’s position she was the kind of girl the made Dream Weaver play when ever she entered the room. Tom often would go to the store on his day off in hope that he might be able to say hello to her. Yeah, I know pathetic. But that was his life. Her name was Sarah and she was what most would can a EMO or Goth chick, but really she was just a bitch. She knew that the many man boys that worked here would all do as she commanded. She had a tattoo and a reputation and Tom was hoping that she would someday join him and live with him and have his babies…I know pathetic. But it was his dream. Tom lived in geek hell, the place were the girls never came. But the sad part was that Tom was a great guy if only he could find a woman to teach him to be great.

Tom lived in a pathetic apartment. It had only two rooms, the kitchen, and the other room which was bedroom, living room and dining room. And as far as a bathroom the studio was sharing bathrooms with two other studio apartments…that’s right a public bathroom. A biker named Harry, and Melissa. Both lived in apartments that were next to Toms and were bigger apartments. Melissa was not a pretty girl and spends her whole life in the apartment as she had an internet business that let her stay home. Harry was a bass player and often not home. I think he pays for the place for his sexcapades. Often bringing a groupie home or a slut and then his encounters would leave little to the imagination. Melissa would sometimes come over and watch scary movies with Tom. But they were not interested in each other…Tom was pretty sure Melissa was a lesbian or at least Bi. But when ever Tom brought up Sarah she would kind of act like one of the guys. Mel and Tom even played their favorite MMO together. Funny if you watched them together you would think they were a couple but instead they were sharing their loneliness together.

The alarm sounded and I found the buzzer button an impossible task to hit. Try as I might the thing just wouldn’t turn off….Finally I hit it and the buzzing stops. God the alarm was the worse noise I had ever heard, but as you can see I’m wide awake. I had planned on a few snoozes but I’m up so really no point in fighting it. Today is Wednesday and tomorrow I have off…So looking forward to just resting. But that’s tomorrow… I really don’t want to go in today. Sometimes you just know that today will suck and really nothing you can do will change it. The world, on those days is simply out to get you.

I stumble into the shower and get myself ready for the day from hell and of course right after I get the shampoo in my hair the water turns to ice. I should have taken that as my clue to return to bed pull up the covers and stay there. But I don’t… As I always do I head to the coffee pot to brew a nice pot of java in hopes that the magical power of caffeine will some how save me. But again as I go to pour the water into the pot the pot drops and shatters on the floor. Fuck it I don’t even clean it up…Today’s going to suck.

Its now 10 to 9 and I start at Nine. Luckily the traffic usually is not too heavy at this hour but Murphy’s Law kicks in and sure enough the traffic is thick as molasses. So to get me a little closer to my clock in time I ride the shoulder and as I pass the sheriff a few cars a head of me I see the lights. GOD DAMNIT! AND FUCK YOU! I knew I should have stayed in bed. I stop because im already on the side of the road. And reach for my wallet that has my license and insurance and that’s when I realize because the coffee incident I broke form my usual routine and didn’t grab it from my desk….This is just great so far it’s a wonderful day!…

Chapter 2

Teotihuacán the Pyramid of the sun as it’s called stood before us. A moment ago we stood in the heart of Jerusalem the place we returned to Earth. My father was possessed with a mission to what end only he knew. And of course he wasn’t wasting any time. He hasn’t touch the ground yet instead be hovers above in on a white energy. And as we traveled up the face of the pyramid I knew that this place, this tomb would be our destination.

I have never traveled here in my many years. Why I can’t really say I guess in the days that it was at it majestic best. The people were so hostile that outsiders were often sacrifices. Others did travel to the place and so I never felt the need. And once a few years had past I forgot about it. Really it was simply not my responsibility.

As we reached the top of the large pyramid we slowed, and finally stopped. It was then, that we found our first footing on the ground. As I listened and watched him, I saw my father once again begin to chant. This time it was almost a recognizable language. A few words stood out Horseman cometh. The ground near the center of the Pyramid started to glow and symbols formed on the ground in red energy. My fathers chanting grew loader and the hammer once more lifted to the heavens. In a dooming voice my father shouted, “Meztechnolic! Rise!” followed by a loud BOOM! The hammer came down on the center and lightning and thunder erupted across the sky. Once again I was thrown to the floor from the blast.

As I came back to my senses I tried to find my footing and was amazed to see the hole that was now opened before me. A red energy was glowing form the center of it and it was getting brighter. A moment later a very larger snarling behemoth glowing in red energy erupted form the hole. He was the size of a double-decker London bus and covered in Red fur. He was a Wolf-like creature with jet black teeth as long as swords. His eyes were red as flame and his drool was black as night…He came out of the portal and in a few leaps was on the ground below. The ground where his paws touched was decaying and seemed to be turning back to sand. I saw him charge to the end of my vision but I could hear his carnage a few moments longer.

My father then turned toward the north east and we disappeared….

Chapter 3

Meztecnolic charged into the small village with one goal in mind. He needed energy to use his ability to travel north. And it took quite a bit of death to charge him with enough force to make the jump. Killing was not his concern instead he hoped their would be enough to make his jump. The small town was just settling in for the night when the monster came in. he was so fast and so powerful that nothing here could stop him. He charged through the city finding the life sources he needed to leave. In less that a half hour the city was destroyed and all the citizens drained of life…they were not destroyed though. It was not his way instead he would wound them and let his poison infect them sealing the soul in to the body in a mystical torment that would force these humans to seek life force to find a way to release their captured souls. No creature will know the pain and suffering that these…Zombies would feel. They would be forced to seek that which was taken from them…Life. So they all started crawling and walking to the closest life they saw. To them they only knew that life was taken and they needed it back. Like a person held underwater seeking air…they would do anything to get that air. Zombies saw Life and no matter how far or how faint it was they would do what they could to get at it. Funny how the most powerful source of a humans life was inside the head….

Meztecnolic took the life force and used it to jump. It was not enough as he had feared the destination was still some miles form here… But he was in a cow field and a cow would do nicely to finish his need to jump…

Chapter 4

Jeb was not the youngest boy in the family nor was he the oldest but he was the one that got the shit work around the house. His father had asked him to go out to the wire on the far end and fix it. The bull was getting out way to much and that could only mean the wire was loose somewhere on the side. Jeb really hated doing this crap if it were up to him he would just leave the farm and take his brothers girl Darla with him. He knew she liked him always letting her breast get exposed in his presence. She once even tripped on her robe and fell naked into his arms for a moment he almost didn’t let go and she was in no rush to leave. Jeb knew with out a doubt that she would follow him if he left.

The wire was completely down on three poles something big had ripped it loose. Damn the repairs would take at lest an hour and Darla was coming to the house. Jeb just got started when he noticed that the wire was covered in blood. He took a quick count of the cows and as he suspected one was not here. In the thicket next to the farm Jeb saw a set of cow tracks. So a stupid cow decided to push the wire until it bleed to get out. So he grabbed a stick and went out to find it. No point in fixing the wire with the cow on the wrong side the field gate was far from here and would be a bitch to move her to it. Jeb traveled a short distance and found her she was cut pretty good on the side he saw. So he walked in slow to get close. She was grazing on something out here in the woods. As Jeb got closer the cow looked up. Jeb noticed the eye on the cow and then he saw the blood it was every where. He ran up to help her and she turned and bit him right on the neck he quickly pulled free and ran off. The cow continued to eat the leftover remains of Jeb’s Brother who had set out to fix the same fence earlier today.

Jeb made it back to the house and grabbed a bandage to stop the bleeding. He was just finishing up when his father called him to the kitchen. “Damn I can’t tell him I left the cow out their in the woods he would do far worse that the cow did. I would have to go back and get her later. ”Jeb said to himself. Jeb’s father asked what happened to him and he told him the wire cut him while he fixed it. He seemed to believe him. He then asked Jeb to run into town and get his bothers prescriptions form Walstore. Jeb never minded getting off the farm it mean a chance to forget the misery that was his life for a little while. Oh and take John with you he needs stuff too. John was Jeb’s younger brother and he was nothing but a hand full. Now Jeb knew why his father wanted him to go he wanted to get the boy away from the farm so he could nap.

Chapter 5

So my day never really got any better. I was of course real late and it would be the one day that Jerry decided to show up. Turns out that Jerry wanted to check in on the inventory to make sure we had enough for the week. He was not very happy to see me arrive almost an hour late. While he waited he learned how bad Jay our other employee was and he fired him, which means that I would be working a double today. It’s ironic that Im an hour late and Jay gets the axe. One thing’s for sure if I’m working the night shift Ill get to see Sarah. Not sure how she always ends up on the night shift but I have never seen her is the day. Sarah was the most amazing person I have ever meet Some times when I see her in the stock room or while I take a break in the break room She would show up and I would simple not remember the encounter at all. She totally had me enthralled that was for sure. But she wouldn’t be here until at lest dinner time.

Around lunch time Jerry decided he was done for the day so he headed out. I’m ok with that because he really only complains while he works anyways. It’s been a telling day so far and I really only expect it to get worse, I’m an optimist… So it was time to get a lunch break and wouldn’t you know it some kid opens all the hamster cages and the damn hamster get out. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him I would guess I could have told the judge how the rest of my day had gone and he would let me go free. The damn hamsters bite I really hate them. Every time I cornered one to catch it I would grab it and it would draw blood. 12 hamster got free I caught 10 and got bite 13 times. I hate Hamsters. So it was getting pretty late and every time I wanted to leave for lunch break some idiot would come in and start asking questions about the hamsters. I even told one guy that hamsters are the devil you should kill them and eat their guts. So I’m sure that he will be calling the store to complain. One more thing today And I swear….

So its dinnertime and that means no lunch but at lest I’m makin money. I have exactly twenty dollars and that has to get me thru the next few days until I get paid again. I have to tell you just how much I hate Walstore you really can’t walk thru this store to the other side and back with out spending twenty dollars. And the only thing worth eating for dinner in this store is on that far side of this hell store. Well I’m hungry and the need for food has me way to edgy to not go and get a sandwich from the deli. I promised myself as I leave the pet store that I wouldn’t fall into the normal traps that this place has. But as I walk into the store pass the video area thought of traps drift and wouldn’t you know it the awesome movie Mel was telling me about was on sale for $10 dollars and that would still leave me enough for dinner tonight. I’m sure I have something in the house to eat tomorrow. So Ill just brown bag it. I get my sandwich and proceed to walk to the front. As I start towards the registers I see a farmer with blood on his shirt. Wow this guy really looks rough. I’m telling you the people that shop here really scare me some times.

I finally get to the register and as I know to expect the worse today the line I chose is way to long and the one person in front of me has a price check. Great IM standing in the one place that is build to make you grab and buy the most ridiculous stuff. Like these batteries for my wireless keyboard that I was using the other day. So much for my 20 bucks….

Just then I notice that unusual farmer I saw a few minutes ago jump in line behind me and he stinks. I don’t know about you but in my world I like to keep a 1 foot minimum rule in affect if I can, but this guy was so close I could smell his breath. I turn to him and go to push him out of the way and the freak bites my arm. I was shocked I mean who does that? I didn’t even know what to do so I pushed him away. A big night stocker grabbed the guy and lead him away. The women in the next line pulled out her phone and asked if I wanted to call the police. I told her that the guy would be dealt with the security already has him. I was bleeding pretty good so I paid my 19.94 and grabbed my stuff and headed to the break room. I grabbed a few napkins and covered the bite. I sure hope this asshole didn’t infect me with something.

I arrive in the break room and of course it’s empty. But not for long as I start to wash the wound Sarah shows up. I must be pretty tired because the next thing I remember I’m at my seat and my arm is bandaged. Sarah smiles at me and dabs a napkin on her lips. You should be ok now. And then she leaves the room…I swear I hear Dream Weaver again as she turns to the door. Her ass is perfect… I decide to take the rest of the night off. Screw Jerry if he doesn’t understand.

I actually feel a little weird as I get in my car just then I vomit out the window. I knew it I’m sick I could tell…And why not after the day I just had. I get home with out any trouble…again I’m real surprised I didn’t get in an accident. I really starting to sweat and I know I have a fever now. I walk stumble in the door and collapse on the couch, well I tried to at lest I actually land on the coffee table and as soon as I hit the table I fall into a deathlike sleep…