Part 1 - 2021

"Mhm...Exactly! Girl..listen I'm telling you, if there would ever be a zombie apocalypse, the first place that it is hitting is Georgia!" The woman on the phone explained in the most convincing tone to another woman on the phone as she was making breakfast in the kitchen.

"Mhm..mhmm..I mean c'mon now, look at every zombie movie and TV show..it's always georgia where the CDC is!" She continued to go on as Terrell walked out of the black room, fully dressed and ready to go outside.

Terrell walked past the other two bedrooms and stared for a second at the room where his big brother Imami had.

"Moma you know there ain't gone be no zombie apocalypse..pshhhh pshhh." A teenager said in a joking way while sitting on the couch with the television on.

"Alright you saying that now but don't be surprised when shit hits the fan..all I'ma say is you better be ready." The woman responded with a slight chuckled as they continued going back and forth in a joking way.

Terrell walked in the living room with earphones in his ear as his sister ran up to him and smacked him on the leg, then running off with a devious smile.

Terrell looked at her in annoyance as most older siblings do. He walked in the kitchen and looked over at his mom. "I'm about to take out the trash." He said before his mom walked over to him, tasting the breakfast she was cooking.

"Alright take this stuff too please son.."

She said with a wide smile and flattery eyes.

Terrell looked at her for a second, knowing what she was trying to do. "..really?" He said and before he knew it, he was taking out all the trash.

As he walked outside he immediately felt the October fall breeze hit his skin and face. It felt good considering Georgia is usually pretty hot and humid. "Oooo that feels good.." he said to himself with a bit of a smile and over exaggerating face.

Terrell began walking down the stairs from

His apartment, and as he walked he saw and heard all of the kids playing outside along with the adults that sat on their porch and had a good time at everytime this year, and the man across the street that he could hear playing music. He always plays classic R&B songs and most people know of him.

"There's a lot of people outside, probably because of how cool and breezy it is." Terrell said to someone through his earphones as he made his way to the bottom of the stairs and started walking on the sidewalk towards the dumpster.

"Yeah that's really good, I know you like that weather." A girl said to him on the phone in a cheery tone.

"Did you hear what my mom was talking about, about the whole zombie apocalypse?" Terrell asked while waving at some of the neighbors that were greeting him.

"Yeahhh..though I don't think it's very likely." The girl on the phone responded with a slight chuckle. "Hey do you wanna see my new socks? They look really cool!" the girl on the phone, Lexa said in an excited manner.

Terrell laughed a bit with a smile. "Oh sure, and all I'ma say is, if there was ever a zombie apocalypse, just give me a gun and I'ma be blasting zombies left and right." Terrell responded as he threw the trash in the dumpster with the two of them laughing from the conversation.

Later at night in the middle of the living room, Terrell was on the phone with his girlfriend. The room was pretty silent besides the usual AC unit and jet engine of a PlayStation he forgets to turn off.

"Literally tell me what other reason I have to keep you around me..because I'm my eyes, you're just a demon as of right now." Terrell said on the phone in a very aggravated way as he frowned and laid down on the couch.

"I'm sorry, I know I can do better just give me a bit more help and time I-" his girlfriend Lexa tried explaining her actions as Terrell could tell through the phone she was worried for the worst case scenario but he cut her off from aggravation.

"Alright literally don't text me, you're just the most annoying person right now." Terrell demanded before hanging up the phone and cutting off whatever she was trying to say to him.

As he hung up the phone he put his phone on the charger and tossed it on the floor while shaking his head in annoyance. "She just doesn't understand anything.." Terrell thought to himself slightly as he pulled the blanket over himself and tried getting comfortable.

He then grabbed the remote from the side of the couch and turned the TV off, causing the living room to become pitch black. The PlayStation then went into rest mode causing it to get quiet, and lastly the AC went off.

It was pitch black and silent in the living room as Terrell thought about everything that took place with his girlfriend. He looked over at his phone and saw it turning on over and over again from her constant messages to him.

However, he was to angry to reply. "I'll just respond to her tomorrow.." he thought to himself as he closed his eyes and began dozing off into sleep. As he did he began feeling guilty about getting mad at his girlfriend and why he did in the first place, but there's always tomorrow right.

Suddenly he opened his eyes. However it felt different to him, his vision was very fuzzy and it looked like he had tunnel vision no matter where he looked. The living room was pitch black silent but he knew something was up.

Terrell thought about his girlfriend and decided to text her until he immediately realized he couldn't move. He knew of this sensation before, causing his heart to beat out of his chest and leaving him feeling like his vocal chords wouldn't work. He couldn't even hum from underneath his breath from the fear he felt.

He began scanning the room with his fuzzy eyesight for whatever he could see until he immediately saw a dark figure in the corner of his eye. Even though the room

Was pitch black, he caught a glimpse of the outline, it seemed to be atleast 7 feet tall with a long neck, lanky figure, and sharp fingers, along with white dots for eyes.

Quickly closing his eyes his heart sped up even more and thoughts began to race in his head. "Did he see me? There's no way he saw me right? Is he gonna come closer? Just keep your eyes closed." His anxious thoughts were the only thing keeping him from losing his mind. Oddly enough it made him feel less alone. And closing his eyes made him feel safer.

As his mind continues racing and his heart continued speeding up, he could feel the presence of the dark figure moving closer and closer towards the couch in a slow manner

He held his breath in fear and heard the footsteps move closer and closer towards him until it…

Stopped…

Now the only thing that he could hear was the beating of his heart and the racing thoughts in his head that remained. "Is he gone? Maybe he's gone? I should check if I should move to know if this sleep paralysis is done." Terrell thought to himself, a bit nervously. He didn't want the figure to see him move his fingers if he was still there but he told himself to man up and do it so that's what he did.

Relief came across his body as his fingers

Moved. He decided this would be the right time to open his eyes since the figure is most likely gone. He began counting down as his body felt like it was starting to tense up.

1

2

3…

He quickly opened his eyes..nothing was there. "Oh my goodness I am so glad.." his heart rate began to slow down and his breathing became more relaxed until suddenly he looked up.

The dark figure was right at the head of his bed, his long neck stretching down to stare Terrell directly in the eyes.

In this moment Terrell felt frozen…frozen…frozen…

As white dots for eyes from the dark figure seemed to stare down into Terrells soul, filling it with corruption and deep fear, he anticipated in his head what was to come.

The dark figure charged directly at Terrell causing him to scream and immediately jump up and start looking around and putting his guard up.

He finally came to his senses, the fuzziness in his eyes were gone along with the tunnel vision, and the living room was bright from the morning sun beaming through the window.

"Oh my goodness..why now of all times? I haven't had that in months.." Terrell thought to himself as he yawned and rubbed his face, before looking at his phone and thinking of his girlfriend.

Guilt filled his head as he was ready to text her and apologize. He picked up his phone and pulled it from the charger, discovering there were over fifty messages from her.

'I'm so sorry I know I can do better for you, you deserve the best and I keep screwing up.'

'I love you. I know you may not believe me and I understand if you don't but I'm sorry, you deserve better.'

The messages from her went on like that and Terrell felt like such a scumbag. He started texting her back quickly in hopes she'd get the message soon.

Once he finished, he tried sending the message but it wouldn't send. He tried over and over again before questioning what's going on. "Maybe the wifi is off…" he thought to himself so he turned on his mobile data instead.

That didn't work.."she just paid the bill.." Terrell thought to himself before groaning and jumping out of bed.

"Mother I have a bone to pick with you!!" Terrell yelled out in a joking way as he made his way through the hall and over to his moms

Room. "Hey moma.." he said to her before noticing her facial expression.

She had a deep stare..

It wasn't sadness or fear, or anger..just a deep focused stare towards the TV. "You good?" Terrell questioned before noticing his little brother Kayden, big brother Imani, and little sis Paris in the room staring at the TV as well.

"What's going on?" He questioned then looked at the TV to see what was going on.

"Stay off of the streets as much as possible! Stock up on food and water! Get supplies and everything you will need! Thousands and thousands of these things are roaming the streets, killing and devouring any and everything that's alive! They multiply this way and no matter what has been done so far, they will not die! Because of this outbreak, cable, internet, and things of that nature have been cut off and will be checked back on in further notice! We will be back to update you on the situation if possible but until then, this is John Kempt..signing off." The news reporter on the TV said in the most fearful and anxious way.

The TV suddenly cut off and SMPTE color bars came across the screen along with the loud beeping sound that filled up the quiet room. All family members in that room were quiet and couldn't believe there eyes.

"…what?" Terrell said quietly with a worrisome expression across his face.