Undead Genesis: Zombie by Colten Steele

decision. Should he continue on his
quest to avenge his father, or attempt to get away now before
things truly got out of control?
    He knew the creature would relentlessly
follow him and, though he had never actually tested the theory,
Marik suspected he was faster than the shambling monster. He
decided to go on, knowing he would regret it for the rest of his
life if he gave up now. There was still hope for revenge if it
continued to follow him. He just hoped he was able to stay ahead of
it.
    Marik held on to the safety pole as long as
he was able, but he let go to devote his efforts to staying out of
reach. Without the pole forcing him to walk backwards, Marik was
able to greatly increase his speed. The rope on the other end of
the pole remained securely looped around the monster’s neck and the
long bamboo pole dragged the ground behind it. The creature was
able to walk quickly, but often stumbled and fell as it single
mindedly pursued its prey, ignorant of anything else in its way.
Marik had no problem staying ahead of it as the day wore on.
    As night approached a new problem loomed. The
boy’s first thought was to climb a tree to get out of reach until
morning, but as he contemplated the many difficulties involved,
another opportunity presented itself.
    Marik made a long jump across a slow running
stream. When the creature attempted to cross after him, it became
hopelessly bogged down in the muddy bottom. Its legs were buried
almost up to the knees. As hard as it struggled to reach Marik,
there was no way to remove itself from the muck. Marik jumped back
across the water and secured the bamboo pole to a thick cotton tree
root sticking out from the stream’s bank.
    Looking high up at the towering branches of
the tree he laughed in wonder. He had unintentionally arrived at
the same cotton tree where he found the larvae.
    “This is where it all started,” he said to
himself while running his hands over the gashes in the trunk he had
made only weeks before.
    He moved away from the creature upstream to
get a drink. He realized as he moved away the monster calmed down
considerably. Once he was beyond a certain point the creature
seemed to be unable to perceive him as a target. At this point, it
just stood there serenely staring into the woods. It did not even
seem interested in escaping the muddy trap.
    Marik scouted around finding fruits and
berries to eat. As night fell he contemplated sleeping on the
relatively comfortable ground, but instead located a large tree
with wide branches and was able to climb into the lowest limbs. He
spent a restless night worried about falling out of the tree and
wondering if the creature could climb.
    In the morning Marik was exhausted. He headed
back to the stranded creature gathering breakfast as he walked with
senses tuned to the slightest sound. Back in the stream nothing had
changed. As he silently approached from behind, the creature
somehow sensed him and turned its head around. Immediately it
resumed the ultra-aggressive behavior Marik had seen the day
before.
    When the boy got close he noticed a handful
of white larvae crawling away from the creature. Looking closer, he
noticed some larvae had already made it over the muddy ground to
the shore and were crawling towards the giant cotton tree on the
bank. Others lay unmoving in the mud as if dead or already
pupated.
    Unconcerned, Marik untied the bamboo pole and
pulled towards the far side of the stream as the monster struggled
to reach him. Its neck was extended with chin up as Marik gave it
the extra pull it needed. First one leg, then the other came free,
and slowly the creature worked its way towards him.
    As he turned around to start the day’s
journey, the boy came down awkwardly on an egg-shaped stone and his
ankle twisted savagely. He heard a slight pop, but found he was
still able to run with only a little discomfort.
    Determined, he limped onward with the pursuit
close behind.
     
    ~
Chapter XVIII ~
     
    Hours ago they had