Shadows of JiangXi

[mtjsmith]

Chun had run through the night to get to where he was now. He was taking a more South-Easterly route than the others, but he did not know this. He was merely running and trying not to breath through his nose. The stench of the bearskin on his back was beginning to become overpowering. Suddenly, he came to an abupt halt.

"Those buildings, in the distance.. New HangZhou!"

He quickened his pace through the jungle, until he reached a small road. The tarmac was still visible underneath the sheets of overgrown grass and shrubs - but it was clearly a road. It was almost like a corridor underneath the dark branches of the overgrowth. Ling saw a smashed sign by the side of the road, his senses were heightened as he checked for booby traps or imminent death. Satisfied the sign was merely just that, he removed the overgrowth and shot back in terror.

"Anshan! Home!"

He walked along the lonely road till he reached what was his home. The village where his parents had raised him to be a simple farmer. Where during the mass hysteria and confusion of the evacuation took place, they had died saving him and his sister. When he arrived in the centre of the village, he was greeted by a gruesome sight. Black skeletons littered the village, some had turned to dust - others were still decomposing. Some had died quickly and others died much more slowly and painfully. Ling tried to hold back the tears as he made his way to his parents shack.

It was never grand or beautiful this house, it could barely house the four Ling's at the best of times. The roof had caved in, and the front windows were smashed. The door was ajar, but overgrown with a thin layer of bush. He unsheathed his Jian and cut his way into the house. Once he stepped in, he felt something prick his skin at the ankle. He hit the floor with a loud thump. Dusting himself off - he looked around the living room. Pictures were still on the table, Ling picked up one of the whole of his family and held his head. He thought the toil of the last few days was beginning to take their toil, his head was aching. He made his way to the bedroom, and his fathers chest was at the bottom of the bed. He slowly opened it, wishing for it to have been untouched. He was mistaken and disappointed. The chest had precious little in it. His fathers pistol was missing, as was the ammo. There were only clothes and a first aid kit in it. Ling's head was throbbing by this point. He gazed down at his ankle.. The spine of something was in it, and the area around his ankle had turned blue. He yanked it out and was greeted by the impossible.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE!"

The screech of a hideous zombie like creature was standing at the door to the bedroom. It's eyes glowed a deep orange and the black flesh on it was rotting and dead. Ling was in shock, he did not move or scream - but merely spoke a single word.

"Fa.... Father?."
"TRESSPASSERS ARE SHOT"
"Father! It's me, Chun! Father!"

Ling picked up the picture, but when he turned back to the doorway - the creature had gone. Ling opened the first aid kid and bandaged his ankle and took some pain relief and what he hoped was an anti-biotic. He left his village speedily, the roars of things in the distance scaring him away.

He did not know if what he just saw was real, or the fabric of his imagination.

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