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    Valkyrie
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Promptings from Valhalla - 7. Prompt 516 - The Zombie

For LBO and the Putrid One - aka Zombie

Prompt 516 – Creative

Tag – List of Words

Use the following in a story – a zombie, a lab coat, a green car, a rusty bicycle, and a baby.

 

The lone occupant of the pale green Volvo exhaled sharply as her dark blue fingernails drummed impatiently on the steering wheel. She turned off the traffic report, scowling. It wasn’t telling her anything that she couldn’t see during the brief second the wipers cleared the windshield of the driving rain. Traffic hadn’t moved in ten minutes. Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark interior of the car, followed almost immediately by a loud clap of thunder, causing the driver to flinch.

She hoped her new boss would understand her tardiness; her old one would not have. The storm intensified, making her wonder if pairs of animals would start to seek refuge in the stationary vehicles. A few minutes later, the rage of the storm relented, allowing the windshield wipers to do their job and allow the annoyed drivers to actually see their surroundings. Traffic finally started to creep forward at a slow crawl. Fifteen minutes later, the green car pulled into the first available parking space in the small parking lot, and the frazzled operator said a quick prayer of relief to have arrived safely.

Enough rain continued to fall to make the short walk across the hospital’s parking lot unpleasant. The woman hiked her white lab coat over her head, hoping the blue hair dye she had used only a few days before didn’t decide to bleed all over it. She didn’t have a spare with her. Even though the distance from her car to the building wasn’t great, the increased pace in an attempt to stay dry was enough to cause an asthma attack. Once she rounded the corner of the hospital and reached a small overhang, she stopped, hands on her knees, inhaling great gulps of air.

Slight movement drew her attention to the right. A rusty bike that had clearly seen better days lay on the ground as if discarded without care. A man huddled next to it, clutching a small bundle, shivering violently. Concerned, the woman fished out her inhaler, taking two puffs before slowly approaching the stranger. Her wheezing gradually reduced as the medicine took effect. She stopped before the bent figure.

“Can I help you?” she asked, then almost vomited as the breeze picked up, bringing a scent reminiscent of rotting fish that had been sprayed by a skunk. Her eyes widened as the man turned toward her. His black hair was matted with dried blood, and underneath tattered designer clothes looked to be a body that was once quite well cared for. She turned, poised to flee, hoping that her lungs would allow her enough oxygen to make it to the hospital entrance before the creature attacked.

“Wait! Please don’t leave! I won’t hurt you!” The man’s eyes were surprisingly life-like for one of the undead. The hole in his throat made him difficult to understand.

She hesitated, medical training kicking in despite her better judgment. “Do you want help? Most zombies don’t want to be cured.” She desperately wished she hadn’t left her bottle of Pepsi at home. It was very effective as a zombie repellant.

The man stood, causing the woman to take a step backward. “I’m beyond help. But please…help him.” He held out the bundle he cradled.

The woman gasped when the bundle squirmed and two bright blue eyes looked at her trustingly.

“He’s my son. I can’t take care of him any longer. I’m afraid I’ll—“ he stopped, a red tear falling down his pale green cheek. “I’m having more and more trouble controlling the cravings. He needs a new home.”

The woman nodded and reached out for the cooing baby. The zombie kissed his head before letting him go. “I’ll miss you so much, sweetheart, but you’ll be safer without me.”

She held him close to her chest, as the baby squirmed and started to fuss. “What’s his name?”

“Andrew,” the zombie’s voice was a soft hiss. He righted the rusty bicycle and mounted it before pedaling unsteadily away.

She stared after him for a moment before taking in the slight greenish tint to the baby’s skin. Even brief exposure to the zombie virus could be enough to spark the change, especially in one so young. She hurried into the hospital, hoping it wasn’t too late to cure little Andrew.

I'm trying to get more comfortable writing in third person. Please leave a like or review and let me know how you liked my short tale of the zombie encounter. Thanks for reading!
Copyright © 2018 Valkyrie; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Interesting Val... I like this take on the zombie genre .. a bit different in a wonderful way. We rarely see zombies as well.. ex-people. But here you show us a man, being torn apart by the virus.. yet still capable of love and humanity.
What I didn't like was the length.. it's interesting and honestly, you need to write the rest of Andrew's story. I think you did a great job writing in 3rd!
nice job.. tim

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I like your take on the zombie genre. Usually we dehumanize zombies, something we tend to do with anyone we don't know or understand. Your zombie dad could be a stand in for anyone we don't like reminding us that we're not so different. You likely hadn't meant this as a social commentary but it serves. This is well conceived and executed.

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This was a sad zombie tale... To give up your child is so heartbreaking. But I guess even zombies would do anything for their kids.

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Wow. Not your typical Zombie story. I really love the way you ratchet up the emotional energy so effectively and swiftly. Gotta love the Pepsi as Zombie repellant. Never knew that: have there been tests run to see if it works better than Coke?

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Nice job, Val :)

 

yes, even zombies cry :(

 

and rotting fish / skunk spray is much nicer than evil Pepsi spray - yuk! :angry::lol::gikkle:

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That was a very sad Zombie story, heartbreaking that the Zombie gave up his son cry-blow.gif
I don't think the Zombie is beyond help, she must follow him and give him a Pepsi bath ! Good job, Penguin ! :)

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But, but Zombies eat people don't they? They don't beg for help for their kids and make you feel sad in such a short tale. I think it was great how you did that Val.
There was a show In The Flesh in which some of the undead so managed to tug at your heartstrings too.

 

Good job..

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On 07/26/2016 10:45 AM, Mikiesboy said:

Interesting Val... I like this take on the zombie genre .. a bit different in a wonderful way. We rarely see zombies as well.. ex-people. But here you show us a man, being torn apart by the virus.. yet still capable of love and humanity.

What I didn't like was the length.. it's interesting and honestly, you need to write the rest of Andrew's story. I think you did a great job writing in 3rd!

nice job.. tim

Thanks, Tim. I know it's on the short side, but didn't want to get too in-depth since it's a prompt response. There's definitely room for continuation, so let's see what future prompts inspire. I'm glad you liked it. I've written a little bit in third person, but it takes a bit of getting used to for me. I'm glad it worked.

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On 07/26/2016 08:15 PM, dughlas said:

I like your take on the zombie genre. Usually we dehumanize zombies, something we tend to do with anyone we don't know or understand. Your zombie dad could be a stand in for anyone we don't like reminding us that we're not so different. You likely hadn't meant this as a social commentary but it serves. This is well conceived and executed.

Thanks, dughlas. Showing the human side of zombies was deliberate, but the social commentary wasn't specifically planned. Good point, though. The zombie could definitely be a stand-in for anyone deemed 'different'. Thanks for the great review. :hug:

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On 07/26/2016 09:18 PM, Puppilull said:

This was a sad zombie tale... To give up your child is so heartbreaking. But I guess even zombies would do anything for their kids.

I had intended to write a more light-hearted piece, but this is what surfaced instead. The power of parenthood apparently transcends zombieism. Thanks for the review. :)

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On 07/26/2016 10:14 PM, Parker Owens said:

Wow. Not your typical Zombie story. I really love the way you ratchet up the emotional energy so effectively and swiftly. Gotta love the Pepsi as Zombie repellant. Never knew that: have there been tests run to see if it works better than Coke?

Yes, actually. lol The origin of the zombie/Pepsi joke stems from a prompt response I wrote a couple of years ago about the zombie apocalypse. http://www.gayauthors.org/story/valkyrie/2014promptresponses/22

 

I'm glad you liked this take. Thanks for the review! :hug:

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On 07/26/2016 11:59 PM, Zombie said:

Nice job, Val :)

 

yes, even zombies cry :(

 

and rotting fish / skunk spray is much nicer than evil Pepsi spray - yuk! :angry::lol::gikkle:

Speak for yourself...rotting fish/skunk is perfume to zombies. :gikkle: I'm glad you liked it. :hug: from afar

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On 07/27/2016 01:57 AM, Slytherin said:

That was a very sad Zombie story, heartbreaking that the Zombie gave up his son cry-blow.gif

I don't think the Zombie is beyond help, she must follow him and give him a Pepsi bath ! Good job, Penguin ! :)

Thanks, LBO :hug: Maybe a future prompt will inspire a continuation :)

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On 07/27/2016 04:03 AM, Defiance19 said:

But, but Zombies eat people don't they? They don't beg for help for their kids and make you feel sad in such a short tale. I think it was great how you did that Val.

There was a show In The Flesh in which some of the undead so managed to tug at your heartstrings too.

 

Good job..

I never saw that show. I envisioned a zombie holding a baby, then thought it would have more impact if I humanized the zombie and made them related. I'm glad that everyone liked my interpretation. Thanks so much for the review!

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Great prompt! *clap, clap, clap*
I laughed so much thinking about our Zombie and our LBO and the parallels with them :gikkle:
But the end mad me sad and wanting to know more about what will happen to little Andrew :)

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On 08/01/2016 06:33 AM, clochette said:

Great prompt! *clap, clap, clap*

I laughed so much thinking about our Zombie and our LBO and the parallels with them :gikkle:

But the end mad me sad and wanting to know more about what will happen to little Andrew :)

Thanks :) I'm glad you liked it. I may continue this if another prompt sparks my interest. ;)

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7 hours ago, Sherye said:

I know how it feels to give up a son! I put mine up for adoption for a better life! He has Down Syndrome. Great job, Val!

Thank you!  I can't imagine having to make that decision.  :hug:  

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I despise zombie stories as only the ill-educate could believe such a thing can exist.

However, this one was human.

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5 hours ago, alexlittel said:

I despise zombie stories as only the ill-educate could believe such a thing can exist.

However, this one was human.

I'm not a huge fan of the genre myself.  I'm glad you liked this one.  Thank you for reading!

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