PROLOGUE

CHAPTER TWO

– CHAPTER TWO –

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Luke awoke to the sound of scratching. He sat up in bed, scanning the room for the cause of the sound.

Seeing nothing unusual, he quietly got out of bed and walked over to the window. Then he halted. He had a thought. What if it was the zombies?

He shook the possibility. It was probably something else.

Peeking out the window, everything seemed normal. Suddenly, he heard the scratching again. It sounded like it was coming from the door.

Looking out the window again, he thought he seen a flash of green.

Nah, it couldn’t be…

He stood, watching for a few more minutes. When nothing seemed to show itself, he silently crawled back into bed.

Just when he was about to drift back to sleep, something banged at the door. He jumped out of bed this time, not caring if he woke his parents. He dashed to the window again, and his parents groggily awoke.

“What’s going on?” Dad asked.

Luke didn’t reply yet. He stared out the window, dreading what he saw.

Dozens of zombies roamed through the village, attempting to break in the houses. One stood at their very door, banging on the door with all it had.

“ZOMBIES ARE ATTACKING!” Luke screamed.

His father leaped out from underneath the covers and dashed to the window. He gasped.

“We weren’t ready yet!”

He then snapped into action, practically flying toward the chest that sat on the left side of the room, near the door. He rummaged through it quickly, then pulled out an iron sword.

“Luke, there is a loose plank in the far right corner. There is a secret room underneath it. Hide in there and don’t come out until I say it’s OK.”

Luke was surprised that there was a secret room he didn’t know about.

Everything in him wanted to do just that, hide away where he would be safe. But he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, leave his family in danger.

“No. I’m fighting with you whether you want me to or not.”

His father sighed. “Son, I can’t let you do this. It’s-”

“Dad, I’m not a coward. And I don’t plan to be. Now hand me a sword.”

After a few seconds, his father reluctantly handed him a stone sword from the chest.

Wielding the weapon, Luke felt a surge of confidence. It was the first sword he had ever held. Though it was merely a stone tool, he didn’t care. As long as he was helping his family, he was content.

The zombie continued furiously attacking the door. Eventually it would break through, but it would take some time.

Mom had been preparing behind their backs. She stepped up with an enchanted bow in her hand, a stack of arrows in the other. Luke wondered what enchantments it had, but he didn’t get the chance to ask.

The door burst open, and not one, but eight zombies poured through the opening. His dad fought with all he had, but four of the rotten monsters ganged up on him. Luke stood frozen with fear. He couldn’t move.

A terrified expression covered his dad’s face. Then the zombies overcame him. That was the last thing Luke seen of Theo, his father. The zombies clawed at the last of him, and it was clear he was gone.

Luke stood in shock. Was this real? He hoped not. He hoped it was a nightmare and that he would wake up any second.

Was his dad really dead?

Was this a dream?

Was there something he could do?

These questions swirled around in his head.

He was still in shock when he seen the zombies disperse from where his father had been, and head toward mom. She was still attacking the four that had challenged her. With all eight upon her, she stood no chance.

Luke couldn’t let both his parents die. He forced his body into action, swinging his stone sword at the closest threat. It missed, but it got the zombie’s attention. It moved toward him, and he swung his sword again. It hit this time, bringing the monster to its knees.

This didn’t go unnoticed by the others. They turned and walked menacingly toward him, desiring revenge for the death of their friend. This brought most of the zombies away from his mom, but directed them to himself.

He was soon surrounded by zombies. He saw arrows land on some, but they didn’t do much damage. Swinging his sword once more, he managed to bring two to their knees. The others growled in frustration.

One punched him. Hard. Luke stumbled across the room, landing in the corner. He had been hit so hard he thought he might pass out at any moment. Delirious, he pried the loose floorboard his father had told him of up, revealing a small, dimly lit room below.

The zombies were closing in.

He pushed through the opening, falling into the hidden room.

They were almost to the hole.

Luke used the last of his energy to put the floorboard back in place. He then collapsed on the ground, and everything went black.