Chapter 1: Bite Marks

Narrator: Unknown, Setting: Woods near Fernville, a town near the Undead Woods but on the outskirts of the kingdom of Killmoore.
Smoke filled the air as the man stumbled and lurched towards the forest. A deep gash was sliced into his leg, from which he was bleeding heavily. A fire blazed behind him. It had once been a town.

Just the trees. I just need to get to the trees. He assured himself, over and over. The pain in his leg reminded him of how the monster had torn through his friends, his family, and everyone he’d known. He stumbled and limped, but he kept running, forcing himself to push past the pain and keep running.

Just the woods. I’m almost there. He crossed the treeline, and began to slow down, panting heavily.

Then he heard a noise like something chasing him, and he started to run again. His wounded leg ached with pain causing him to stumble and hit the ground hard. He whimpered and tried to drag himself to safety but there was none. A shadow fell over what little moonlight was filtering through the leaves. The vampire watched him as he tried to crawl away. It dropped from its perch on a fallen tree without a sound. It silently approached him, and stepped on his back to hold him in place.

“You. Are. An Idiot. And now you’ll die with the rest of Fernville.” Those were the last words the man heard.

Narrator: Quinn Vale, Setting: The Undead Woods.
The woods Quinn walked through seemed to embody the phrase, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” The trees were like giant wooden fingers reaching towards the sky and the leaf cover was so dense the middle of the afternoon seemed to be as dark as night. Quinn was walking along a gravel path, but she hadn’t seen any travelers for days. It had been hard to fall asleep during her journey because of the groans of the undead and the gnawing hunger she felt. She still had some water in a flask, but it too would soon run out. She was lucky to be wearing a large trench coat or the cold may have already claimed her life. Quinn heard a soft creak and realized a wagon was approaching behind her. A man with a wide-brimmed hat covering his face was driving it. Another man sat in the back with a lady, and he was nervously fiddling his hands. The lady had a big smile on her face and waved to Quinn.

“Well, hello there!” The lady said as they got closer. “You lost?” She said it in an amused tone, as if it was a joke.

“No.” Quinn replied. “I’m going to Bludhog.”

“Wow, what a coincidence! So are we! You want a ride?” The lady continued, ignoring her nervous friend frantically shaking his head no. Quinn stared at her trying to assess if the woman was a threat. They were closer now, and Quinn could see that the lady and the man in the back were wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with a sleeveless buttoned vest over it. Both wore long pants, but the lady’s vest and pants were a dark red, and the man’s was a navy blue. The lady also had a brown leather bag at her side. The driver wore a simple pair of overalls with a red and white checkered shirt beneath. His wide straw hat completed his stereotypical country man look. Quinn almost smiled when she also saw he had a wheat stalk in his mouth.

“I think I’m good.” Quinn said, waiting for the wagon to pass by.

“You sure? I mean, it’s pretty far.” The lady pressed.

“Is it? I’m pretty sure I’m close.” Quinn wondered whether the lady was being friendly or if she wanted to kidnap her.

“Well, what if a vampire gets you?” The lady continued. “They roam the area near Bludhog, y’know.”

Quinn laughed. “Vampires aren’t real. Simple stories for kids to keep them in their beds at night.”

At this the nervous man spoke up. “How could you not believe in vampires?” He said shocked. “They’ve literally been hunted in villages every day.”

Quinn shook her head. “People think they’re hunting vampires, but they’re really just killing normal folk who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Yeah, mobs do tend to kill the wrong people, but trained hunters can spot a vampire miles away.” The man replied.

Quinn side-eyed them. “Since vampires aren’t real, then wouldn’t a hunter just be looking for someone a little different so they could use vampirism as an excuse to kill them?”

“Well,” The lady interjected, before her companion could say anything else. “The least we could do is give you some food! We’ve got plenty to spare.”

The thought of food made her mouth water but she still felt suspicious.

“I don’t take food from strangers.” Quinn responded.

The lady laughed and replied, “Well, my name’s Cleo, my brother here is Harry, and the driver is Murphy. Could you tell us your name? Then we won’t be strangers anymore.” Cleo’s smile never wavered as she stared at her.

“That’s not how it works.” Quinn said, then sighed. “But my name is Quinn.”

Cleo’s smile somehow grew even wider.

“Well, now that we know each other’s names, would you like to ride with us?” Cleo said as she continued to smile.

“No.” Quinn replied, firmly.

Cleo looked disappointed, but she grabbed a bag from the wagon and tossed it to Quinn as they passed her.

“Hope you make it to town!” Cleo called out as they drove away. Quinn looked inside the bag and saw a red apple, a loaf of bread, cheese, and a water flask. Quinn looked back up and saw Cleo staring at her. Hunger and exhaustion washed over her as she looked back inside the bag.

Her journey through the Undead Woods had been taxing. Aside from the lack of food, the undead seemed to wait around every corner. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to survive walking all the way to Bludhog.

*A wagon would be nice, if I could trust the riders.* Quinn thought to herself.

The groan of a living corpse echoed through the trees. It sounded like it was too close for comfort.

Quinn shuddered, and turned to walk towards the wagon.

*I’d rather risk riding with them, than being bitten by a zombie. I know they’re heading in the right direction. If they seem dangerous, I’ll run away.* Quinn thought to herself.

“Wait! I changed my mind. I’ll come with you!” Quinn called aloud, as she ran up to the wagon. Cleo gave her a big smile.

“I knew you’d change your mind!” She said as she helped Quinn jump up on the wagon.

Between scarfing down the first good meal she’d had in days, Quinn learned some new information about her traveling companions. Murphy, the driver, used to be in the army with Harry. After leaving it, they decided to travel to Bludhog as a way to start afresh. Cleo decided to come with them. They said they once had family in Bludhog, before it had been abandoned. Quinn told them she had found her late mother’s diary in the attic of her old house. She had learned that her mom was raised in Bludhog, and wanted to learn why her family, and everyone else in town, had left it.

Harry laughed and said, “And since Vampires aren’t real then the town must’ve just abandoned itself, huh!”

“No, but maybe the paranoia instilled by leaders of the town caused people to leave.” Quinn said through gritted teeth. Harry ignored her explanation and continued.

“Why don’t you believe in Vampires anyways? Is it really just me that finds that odd?” He asked, looking around the wagon.

“Harry…” Cleo said in a warning tone, looking at Quinn’s expression.

“What’s the big deal?” He asked. “I just want some answers. Wouldn’t it be our responsibility to confirm a suspicious traveler isn’t a Vampire.” Cleo snapped her head to stare at Harry, her expression darkening. Harry ignored that too.

Quinn clenched her hands into fists. I should punch him. She thought to herself. That would shut him up.

“Here, let's do a little test.” He grabbed some garlic from his pocket and held it out. “Eat this.”

“I’m not going to do that.” Quinn said, glaring at Harry.

“That’s just going to prove my point. I’ll put it this way. If you don’t chew on this garlic, I’ll just drive a stake in your heart. Then we’ll see if you’re a vampire or not.” He said, reaching into another pocket with his left hand.

Cleo opened her mouth to say something, but Quinn moved first. She reached over and gripped his left arm and held to it tightly.

“It’s people like you,” She spat out the word like it was particularly disgusting. “That got my mom killed.”

An awkward silence hung over the wagon. Harry looked uncomfortable, and Cleo was surprised.

“We’ve arrived.” Murphy’s gravelly and monotone voice broke the silence. He hadn’t said a word the whole ride. Quinn looked forward and saw Bludhog. Its walls towered over the abandoned buildings inside. In the dead of the night, the empty homes and vacant businesses looked like massive sleeping beasts, except for one which was oddly awake. Yellow light poured out dirty windows, along with music and laughter.

“Well, I wonder who’s in there?” Cleo asked, and hopped out of the wagon, eager to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Quinn and the others walked to the tavern. She could smell the scent of food wafting out. Her mouth watered and she felt the tension and rage in her body fade. Their small group walked up and into the tavern. Cleo opened the door and Quinn could see a small group of five people inside. One was playing music but stopped to watch their arrival. The bartender looked up from cleaning a glass, a surprised expression on his face.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting more guests for our little party.” He said, and began to smile.“I’m Jonas. Who might you be?”

“Well, I’m Cleo, and these are my friends Harry, Murphy, and Quinn!” She gestured to each of them respectively.

“Cleo, I’m your brother.” Harry said in a half-whisper. Cleo laughed.

“Sorry I forgot. Harry here is my brother actually.” She announced it to the rest of the tavern-goers. The bartender laughed.

“I take it you’re the type to forget things often then?” He asked, in a mockingly innocent tone. Cleo smirked.

“Only when it’s unimportant.” She replied. Harry looked offended.

“Now, I’m pretty sure I’ve got room for all of you, somewhere on the second floor.” He said when he’d finished chuckling. “But if too many people show up, would anyone be ok with sleeping outside?” He looked around the room, amused.

“Do you live here?” Quinn interrupted, before anyone said anything else.

Jonas nodded and replied, “I’m currently the only resident of the town. This tavern’s been in my family for generations, and nobody wanted to abandon it.” Quinn found it odd that the man seemed so comfortable around a large group of people despite living alone for a majority of his life. He had a white shirt on, with the sleeves rolled up to his shoulders.

Quinn looked around to observe the tavern. A man stood on a small stage with a trumpet. He began to play it again, and filled the room with music. Tension faded as the notes started and a man and a woman in a booth began to talk to each other again. A lady wearing a black long sleeved dress sat quietly on a stool in front of the bar, remaining tense and silent. Cleo walked over and sat in the stool next to her. Quinn also walked over to sit at the bar because she wanted to listen to what Cleo said to the quiet girl, and maybe order food. She subtly pretended to be paying attention to something else as she listened to what they said to each other.

“I’m Cleo, what’s your name?” Cleo asked. The lady glanced at Cleo, blushed, then turned away.

“I’m… I’m Belladonna. But I just go by Bella.” She whispered.

“What brings you to Bludhog?” Cleo asked, smiling.

“I… I don’t know.” When Cleo looked at Bella oddly, she looked worried and continued saying, “I mean, probably the same reason as you? Right…?” Bella glanced at Cleo, worried.

“Yeah, everyone wants to bring life back to this little town, huh?” Cleo nodded, still smiling.

“Heh, yeah…” Bella replied. She seemed to suddenly wince in pain, and rubbed her arm like it was bothering her.

“Are you ok?” Cleo asked, concerned.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I just tripped while walking here, that’s all.” Bella responded quickly and smiled at Cleo.

Bella changed the topic after an awkward silence, and Quinn quietly listened in to what they were saying to each other. After a while, Jonas walked up to Quinn, and handed her a piece of paper and a room key.

“Here’s my menu. The bar is for eating. Not eavesdropping.” He said, passive-aggressively. He dropped his voice to a whisper and glanced at Bella and Cleo. “So if you’re not gonna order anything then you can just go to bed.” Quinn glared at him.

“Why did you think I was spying on them?” She says, accusingly. When Jonas didn’t respond she huffed and ordered something to prove him wrong. She felt embarrassed for being called out.

She had ordered beef stew and some random drink that had sounded good. As she absentmindedly stirred the stew, a storm started outside. Rain pounded against the cracked windows, and the conversation around her grew more animated. Quinn quietly sipped her stew. It was disgusting. The beef was too chunky and the stew wasn’t hot enough. It was also desperately in need of some flavoring like garlic or salt or something.

My Mom’s stew was better. She thought to herself. She closed her eyes and winced to try and avoid another painful memory.

Lightning lit up the tavern, shortly followed by a loud crash of thunder which silenced the room.

Quinn held her breath, waiting for someone to say something, but a knock came at the door before anyone could.

Nobody moved to get it.

A soft clink sounded and Quinn realized she’d dropped her spoon into the stew. She turned to get it out, and saw Cleo reach into her bag.

The knock came again.

Nobody moved to get it.

The knock came again, slower this time and resonating through the room like a bell ringing at the end of a funeral.

Finally, Jonas walked from behind the bar to answer it. His steps seemed loud in the quiet room, and Quinn quietly wished he had just ignored the knocking. His hand rested on the doorknob, and he seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then he opened the door.

Wind and rain pushed the door and it hit the wall making everyone jump from the sudden loud noise. The room dropped several degrees in an instant from the cold air blowing into the room. A lady stood at the threshold. She wore a dark cloak, wet from the rain and billowing in the wind.

The lady looked up at Jonas, her eyes dark and uncaring.

“May I come in?” She whispered, her voice soft and deceptive.

Jonas was quiet for a second, and Quinn hoped he’d close the door.

“Of course.”

Quinn was dismayed as the lady took a step into the tavern. She brushed past Jonas to enter all the way, and suddenly looked at him again. He cocked his head and stared back at her. A conversation that Quinn couldn’t understand passed between their eyes, and the lady finally looked away from him when Jonas shook his head.

The lady looked frustrated, and began to walk towards the bar, towards- oh no.

Quinn didn’t move as the lady seemed to approach her, but mentally she was going into overdrive and incredibly panicked.

Thankfully, the lady pivoted and walked behind the bar. She grabbed a room key, glared at Jonas as if asking him to stop her, then walked upstairs to whatever room she had chosen.
Quinn noticed a glint of metal in Cleo’s hand. Before she could see what it was, Cleo had put it back in her bag.

Jonas walked behind the bar, and opened a door behind it. His hands were balled into fists.

“Wait a moment, do you know who she was?” Quinn asked, before he could go.

“Keep your nose out of my business." He glared at Quinn, before closing the door behind him.

Quinn stared at the door as it settled to a stop. She felt a hand on her shoulder and flinched, looking over to see Cleo with a worried expression on her face.

“Are you-” She started to say, before being cut off by Quinn getting off her stool and going upstairs to the room Jonas had given her. As she walked up the stairs, she could hear people begin to talk again behind her. She quickly went to the room given to her, only guided to it by the number on its key. She came to a simple wooden door, exactly the same as the other doors in the hall except for the number 207 engraved in a brass plaque on the door. The room’s door unlocked with a soft click. Quinn opened the door, and went inside to rest.

Narrator: Belladonna Crane, Setting: The Bludhog Tavern.
As Quinn walked up the stairs, Bella began to feel nauseous again. Pain, like a thousand claws tearing into her skin, scratched and stabbed into her skin. She used her good arm to clutch herself and steadied herself with her elbow on the bar’s counter.

“Well, that was awkward.” Cleo said, and Bella quickly tried to compose herself as Cleo turned to look at Bella. Cleo’s brow furrowed and her smile was replaced by an expression of worry.

“You ok?” Cleo asked, reaching out to put a hand on Bella’s forehead. Bella flinched away. Cleo’s eyes widened in surprise. Bella gave her a wide and pained smile

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just… tired.” Bella said, then faked a yawn. I don’t want to worry her. *She’s so kind to me… kinder than someone like me deserves.* The pain seemed to fade away as Cleo’s large and beautiful brown eyes worriedly studied her.

“Are you sure? I can help get you to bed if you feel too tired.” Cleo replied.

“No, I'm fine, thank you.” Bella said as she stood to get off the stool.

Another wave of pain washed over her. Bella buckled over, and she looked around the tavern wildly. She breathed quicker and more frantically. The storm outside seemed to grow louder. Wind howling and rain pelting the window. She could feel the raindrops hitting her, soaking her clothes. The raindrops were just so warm, just so hot like magma. The wind was tossing her left and right. Then she felt something wrap around her and draw her into an embrace.

“You’re alright.” A soothing voice whispered to Bella. “You’re in a safe place. Nothing will hurt you here.” As the voice whispered encouraging and comforting words, Bella felt herself calm down, and her breathing slowed. She became lucid enough to realize that Cleo was holding her in a hug, and everyone who hadn’t left the bar was staring at them.

“Would you like it if I helped you get to bed?” Cleo asked, softly.

“Ok.” said Bella, nodding.

Cleo helped Bella off the stool and, keeping her arm across her back, led Bella up the stairs and down the hall. As they walked towards Bella’s room, Bella looked over at Cleo to try and read her expression. She didn’t want to be a bother to her. Cleo had been so kind to her during the party. Coming over and talking with the quiet girl, treating her like a human, and smiling the whole time. Even now, Bella only saw Cleo’s grin as she helped Bella. Bella noticed that Cleo had two dimples on her cheeks.

#2 (read #1 first)
She reapplied her bandages and, laying on her back, tried to fall asleep. A knock at the door woke her right as she was drifting off. She remained silent, wondering if they would go away. They did not. Instead they knocked again, this time more frantic. Bella left her bed and walked to the entrance of her room.

“Hello?” She asked through the wooden door.

“Can I come in?” Cleo’s voice came from the other side. It sounded odd. Devoid of any emotion that she was usually filled with. Bella hesitated before gripping the doorknob to let her in. She swung it open and her eyes went wide with shock.

*That’s not Cleo.* She thought as the shadowy figure lunged at her, and sunk their teeth into her neck.

#1
They were almost hidden by the many freckles on her face. Cleo’s long brown hair framed her pretty eyes. Bella had noticed during the night that it was rare if Cleo’s smile ever reached her eyes. When it did her whole face would light up. Bella liked to think to herself that it was something special just for her. Something only she got to see.

“Well, we’re here.” Cleo said, coming to a stop with Bella at the front of her room. Bella realized she felt disappointed. She had wanted to walk with Cleo longer. She had wanted to talk to her more.

“I guess I’ll see you in the morning then…” Bella said, stepping towards her door. If I make it. She thought to herself.

“You know, I just had an idea.” Cleo started in the tone of someone who had wanted to share something for a while.

“What if we explored the village together tomorrow. I really enjoyed talking to you today and would love to spend more time with you.” Cleo smiled at Bella, waiting for her response.

The door was half open already but Bella turned back to look at Cleo and she smiled at her as well.

“That’s ok with me…” She said before stepping inside her room.

“Well I’ll see you in the morning then.”

“Yeah, see you.” Bella closed and locked the door, her cheeks warm and her heart fluttering with excitement about spending more time with Cleo tomorrow.

Unfortunately, she was barely able to take a step into the room before exhaustion and pain washed over her. It seemed to scratch and itch at the bandages Bella had wrapped around her left arm. She quickly took them off and clutched her wound. She sprinkled some of the oil she kept in a vial onto her hands and spread it across her throbbing arm. She rubbed the oil into the wound which, at first, only seemed to make the pain worse, like a thousand tiny needles poking the inside of her skin.

Eventually the pain faded away and Bella got up from the fetal position she had curled into on the floor. She walked over to her bed and sat on it. Looking at her wounds she noted the green pus and boils that covered them, all stemming from the bite on her wrist.

*I wish I’d never been bitten by that zombie. No, I wish there was a cure for necronosis or that my friends and family cared about me so I wouldn’t have to go on this stupid journey that was all for nothing.* She squeezed her arm in anger, and then remembered Cleo.

*Well, almost nothing.*

Interesting

gracias

CULLLT

sup

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