I am writing a series of horror short stories. This one is up for preorder. Here is a sneak peek. Coming out September 1, 2023.

Melissa had been staying in her bunker for days, but the scratching sounds kept coming back. She didn’t know how long she could stay there. The food would run out at some point. She hadn’t heard from Edmond in days, but she figured that when the power went out, she would be able to talk to him. It wasn’t like she could write a letter or anything. The government had all but shut down. No mail, no police, no nothing. She wondered if the president was still alive. This was happening all over the world. What was the world like now?
I had to leave. I had to find out what was out there and see what I could do. I crept out of the bunker and into the house. The darkness was so oppressive, it felt like it was suffocating me. My entire body shook as I walked through the house, my footsteps echoing in the silence. I could hear the faint sound of my own breathing, but it seemed too loud in the stillness. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stay here.
I wandered through the house, collecting items and stuffing them in my backpack. There was more food still in the bunker, but I couldn’t take it with me. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to come back. I hated being alone, but I was more afraid of what might be out there.
As I was about to leave, I heard a noise. It was a low, guttural sound, like something was growling. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound came again, closer this time. I could hear something moving around in the darkness. I slowly turned around, my eyes darting around, trying to see anything in the shadows. Was this my imagination? I needed to get out now. Though I had no idea what was waiting for me outside. The streets were empty, which made no sense to me. Dead people covered the streets the day before, so where had they all gone?
James watched the world from his apartment window. Nothing was moving. The dead that had been there earlier were no longer there. Maybe someone had cleaned it all up, but was there anyone left to do that? He knew he had to leave. Anyone could get into this apartment. He had to find a place to hold up.
As he looked out the window, he saw a girl he recognized from school walking by. “Melissa, why is she by herself?” James knew he had to help her, plus he didn’t want to be alone either. Just knowing that someone else was alive gave me a little hope. He quickly grabbed a few supplies and headed out of his apartment. He was careful as he went into the hall, making sure no one was there. There had been someone in the hall a few days ago, so he had to be extra careful.
He peered around the corner and saw that the hall was empty. He started to walk towards the girl, but he stopped when he heard a noise. He turned around and saw a figure standing in the shadows. The figure was too dark to see, but James could tell that it was big. He froze, not knowing what to do.
The figure took a step towards him. James’s heart started to race. He knew he had to do something, but he was too scared to move. The figure took another step towards him. James could feel the fear rising inside of him. He knew he had to do something, or he would be killed.
The figure moved slowly, making some grunting sounds. James could see that it was a large man, with broad shoulders and a thick neck. The man’s eyes were wild, and his teeth were bared in a snarl. James knew that this man was not right in the head.
The man took a step towards James, and James finally found the courage to move. He turned and ran for the front door. The man roared in anger and chased after him. James could hear the man’s heavy footsteps getting closer and closer.
James reached the front door and threw it open. He ran outside, but the man was right behind him. James looked around frantically for a place to hide, but there was nowhere. The man was gaining on him.
James knew that he couldn’t outrun the man, so he turned and faced him. The man roared again and charged at James. James braced himself for impact, but then he heard a noise. He turned and saw a car coming down the street.
The car was going too fast to stop, but the driver saw James and swerved to avoid him. The car hit the man, knocking him to the ground. James ran to the car and got in. The driver sped away, leaving the man lying in the street.
Selda got out of her dad’s truck and looked at the body lying on the road. “Oh my god. I mean, what is that? Did I just hit that?”

Melissa ran up to the truck, knowing both James and Selda from school. “Are you okay?” she asked as they all approached the remains of the person Selda hit.
“I don’t know,” Selda said, her voice shaking. “I didn’t see anything until it was too late.”
Melissa looked at the body and felt her stomach turn. She quickly walked to the side and promptly threw up. James stood in shock as he watched all of this unfold.
“Um, this man?” he asked. “He chased me out of my apartment. At least I think it’s a man.”
Melissa wiped her mouth and walked back over to them, but kept her eyes averted from the body.
“He looks like he had the virus,” she said, pointing to the lesions on the man’s skin. “See how his skin is falling off? I don’t know why he would run at you.”
James’s eyes widened in fear. “The virus?” he asked. “Are you sure?”
Melissa nodded. “I’ve seen pictures,” she said. “It’s definitely the virus.”
James looked at the body again, his fear growing. “What if he’s still contagious?” he asked.
Selda took a step back. “I don’t know,” she said. “But I’m not sticking around to find out.”
She turned and ran back to her truck, getting in and starting the engine. “Come on,” she said, rolling down the window. “I think someone else should drive though. I’m a little spooked.”
James and Melissa both nodded and headed to the truck, feeling much safer being inside than out on the street. “I can drive,” James said, knowing that Melissa wasn’t feeling well and Selda was too upset to drive. He could see it in her eyes and how her body shook ever so slightly.
Selda handed James the keys and James got into the driver’s seat. He glanced in the rearview mirror at the body lying on the ground. Instinctively, he locked the doors of the truck and turned the truck on. He put the truck in gear and then the same man that was hit with the car ran into the passenger side window where Selda was sitting. She screamed as the man kept banging on the door, trying to open it.
James slammed on the gas and the truck lurched forward. The man’s body hit the window with a sickening thud and then bounced off. James floored the gas pedal and the truck sped away, leaving the man’s body lying in the street.
Selda was still screaming, her eyes wide with fear. James reached over and put his arm around her. “It’s okay,” he said. “He’s gone.” But he wasn’t gone.
As they drove down the road, James could see the man’s body in the rearview mirror. It was still running after them, its legs pumping furiously as it tried to keep up with the truck.
James sped up, but the man kept pace. He could see the man’s face now, twisted with rage and hunger. His teeth were bared, and his eyes were glowing red.
“What the hell is he?!” James screamed as he drove faster and faster.
Melissa curled up in a ball in the back seat, trying to calm herself. “This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.”
Selda watched the road as more of these things seemed to appear. “What are they?” she asked. They had all watched horror movies, but they did not want to admit what they were.
The things were getting closer. They were running as fast as they could, but they were no match for the truck. James could see them in his rearview mirror, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.
“Okay, we need a plan,” James said. “Where are we going?” He looked in the rearview mirror, seeing that at least the one man was gone.
Melissa, who was sitting in the back seat, spoke up. “I don’t know,” she said. “But we can’t stay here.”
“I agree,” Selda said from the passenger seat. “We need to find a safe place to hide.”
“But where?” James asked. “The whole city could be overrun by now.”
“I don’t know,” Selda said. “But we have to keep looking. Maybe the school? They have a fence around it. If we could get in, then we can fortify it. Plus it has a kitchen and a back up generator.”
James nodded, “That sounds like a good idea. Let’s head that way.”