The Revenant Mutation

Chapter 4: Alpha Zombie

The roars of the undead shattered the eerie stillness, filling the city with chaos. The once-quiet streets became a battlefield of snarls, growls, and piercing screams as hundreds of zombies swarmed the vehicles. Decay hung heavy in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of fear.

Amid the melee, it became clear these zombies were no shambling remnants of humanity. While most stumbled clumsily forward, a select few exhibited terrifying speed and strength. They hurled themselves at the school bus with bone-jarring force, shaking its reinforced frame. Others leapt with predator-like precision, their target the team leader and his companion atop the Hilux.

The leader stood his ground, his machete slicing through the air in sharp, lethal arcs. His movements were precise, his resolve unyielding. But his partner wasn’t as fortunate. A snarling blur of undead flesh slammed into the man, sending him tumbling from the vehicle’s roof into the writhing horde below. His scream was cut short as blood sprayed, the zombies tearing into him with savage hunger.

From the shadows of a nearby building, Victor froze, his breath catching in his throat. The sight of blood struck something deep within, primal and overwhelming. A low growl escaped him unbidden as his vision swam with red. Veins darkened beneath his skin, his canines lengthening into razor-edged fangs. Hunger surged—a maddening, insatiable craving.

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to resist the pull. His nails dug into his palms, sharp pain grounding him as he fought to claw back control. Slowly, his face returned to normal, but the effort left him shaking, sweat streaking down his temples. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself perched on a windowsill, poised to leap into the carnage below.

Victor staggered back into the shadows, heart pounding. The bloodlust had almost claimed him. How long could he hold it at bay? The question lingered as he drew in a ragged breath. Yet amidst the turmoil, he noted a faint glimmer of hope: he could block out the scent if he truly focused. It was a fragile victory, but one that brought the smallest flicker of resolve to his grim expression.

The leader’s battle cry pulled Victor’s gaze back to the street. The towering zombie at the center of the chaos—a grotesque, eight-foot-tall monster of distorted flesh and bone—lumbered toward the raiders. Faces pressed against its wrinkled skin, as if trapped in eternal agony, and a single horn jutted from its skull. The monstrosity roared, drawing more undead to its side.

Victor moved without thinking, leaping from the building with a predator’s grace. His feet hit the ground silently, and he darted through the wreckage until he emerged directly in the path of the colossal zombie. Its hollow eyes locked on him, recognition sparking like a challenge.

‘Stay calm, Vic… Stay calm. Damn it, why did I jump in front of it? What if it wants to fight?’ The thought was fleeting as the zombie roared and charged.

The impact was like a freight train. The creature’s bulk sent Victor flying, crashing through the wall of a nearby building. Dust filled the air as bricks tumbled around him. Pain flared through his body, but as he staggered to his feet, he realized there was no lasting damage. His body was tougher than it had any right to be.

The zombie, momentarily confused by his resilience, roared again and rushed forward. This time, Victor was ready. As its massive hands swung down to crush him, he surged forward, catching its wrists with a feral strength. The air seemed to shudder around them as they grappled, the zombie snarling in disbelief at his defiance.

Victor’s fury ignited, boiling over as his grip tightened. With a bone-snapping crunch, the creature's wrists gave way. It howled in pain, lunging forward with a desperate headbutt. The blow sent Victor reeling, but he steadied himself quickly, rage sharpening his focus.

He darted behind the creature, seizing the horn jutting from its skull. With a snarl, he yanked, throwing the beast off balance. The zombie crashed to the ground, and Victor seized the opportunity, hurling it into a nearby building.

His eyes caught a glint of metal—a gate with sturdy rods. Sprinting to it, he tore one free with a sharp pull. The zombie emerged from the rubble, charging once more, its bloodshot eyes burning with rage. Victor hurled the rod like a spear, and it pierced the creature’s skull with a sickening thud. The zombie staggered, then crumpled lifeless to the ground.

The horde faltered without their leader, their collective direction unraveling. Victor climbed to higher ground, watching as the zombies scattered aimlessly.

“Idiots,” he muttered under his breath.

The rumble of engines drew his attention. The truck and school bus barreled through the remnants of the horde, the survivors clinging to their vehicles as they sped away. Victor stood frozen, torn. This was his chance—a way back to humanity, to something more than this lonely, cursed existence. But rejoining civilization carried risks, not just to him but to anyone who took him in.

“What now?” he murmured, his voice lost in the wind. Standing there, surrounded by decay and silence, Victor realized one thing: he needed a plan. And fast.