Escape the Undead (Choose Your Own Adventure)

[InfestLithium]

When you're reading a good book, you find yourself absorbed into it. Not necessarily because the story is phenomenal, but more so because the author has done such a brilliant job using the right diction and phrasing of senses that you almost feel like you are in that world itself. One writer knew how to do this very well with the horror universe - R.L. Stine. You may recall that name from his beloved Goosebumps series back when you and I were only small children, still afraid of things like the Boogeyman or ghosts or monsters lurking around the dark shadows of a street corner. 

 

It's 10:17pm here, and I think a few of my co-workers are drinking out behind the building. Work is very tedious and boring around this time of night for me, so I've begun a little bit of experimentation with Stine's "Give Yourself Goosebumps!"-esque stories. The format will be confusing for those who have never read those books, but it's nothing more than a choose-an-option-and-see-where-it-takes-you adventure. Every excerpt will contain various situations within a post-apocalyptic world filled with the undead. Make several decisions, which each one having their own outcomes. The fun is continuing the path set before you by following the color-coded storylines. Beware - one bad decision can lead to the end of your tail. If you finish this episode, please post how your story ended and see what others have reached!

 

You control your decisions because in tonight's episode, you are the star because you've just entered...

 

...The Twilight Undead Zone

 

Episode 1: A Trail Long Forgotten

 

You pull your hoodie over your head. The sky is starting to darken as the sun slowly sets over the collapsed hills. The ground beneath your feet feels jagged against the soles of your boots. On both sides of the uneven dirt path, you see charred branches of what used to be a lush landscape full of trees. Despite the smoke being cleared for some time now, the smell of rusted metal and burnt greenery is still fresh in your nose. Your backpack feels heavier and heavier despite only having a few empty canteens, flint, and an old family heirloom. It's killing your back.

 

The path eventually starts sloping upwards to a small hill. In fact, it's more of a divided hill intersecting each other, except for a small unmarked trail winding left and right to the top. As you approach the broken landscape, the sun has set so low that no light is shed in front of you - only reflecting shades of the sunset from the rocks laid on the side of the hill.

 

You hesitate, looking at whether you should just attempt to climb the hill when a low gurgling sound creeps far behind you. Dammit, you think to yourself as you turn your head. Despite the area around you darkening, you make glimpse of a dark outline staggering from behind the decayed trees. It's hard to tell what the figure is, but you can make a good guess by its limping movement towards you. As it rears a bit closer, it suddenly stops. Sweat begins to form on your forehead as you try to keep your breath low. You begin to take a small step back.

 

Suddenly, you feel your foot hit something on the ground which causes you to flop backwards on your rear. The sound of the thud makes the figure lift up its head. You stare in horror as you see its glowing, blue eyes protrude from its oblong head. It releases a bloodcurdling scream that no ordinary human could possibly make and begins to charge at you.

 

You take a quick look at the monstrosity which is still a good distance away from you and notice a small but chipped slab of rock sitting before your feet. You're already at the foot of the hill though...maybe there is still some time to escape if you take off now.

 

Take a stand against the creature (# 3)

 

Make a break for the hill (# 8)

 

"You won't do shit," you stammer. "You'd be stupid to kill another human being." Yeah, that's right - there's no way a survivor could possibly kill another survivor! The person stands quietly for a couple of seconds and lowers their gun. You smirk. Put that gun away, you think.

 

"You're right. I would be stupid," the figure says. They offer their hand to pick you up. You grab their hand, and they start to pull you up. As you stand up, they turn their mask towards you.

 

"That's why I'm not the one who will kill you."

 

In a flash, you see nothing but their leg spin around and their foot land straight to your chest. The impact knocks you backwards, sending you spiraling down the hillside you worked so hard to climb. As if karma really hated you that day, you can feel the peaking rocks jam nearly every bone in your body as you fall down the hill. Your body eventually hits the ground. Blood crawls up your throat, causing you to cough it out. There is a tremendous pain that arises from your sides and you feel totally numb waist down. 

 

You attempt to move your head in the direction of the hill but can't seem to move anywhere. You're paralyzed. You can hear yourself breathing what breaths you can take without the pain piercing every nerve in your body. But that's not the only sound that you can hear. Rustling is heard from the sides, and you swear you could even hear footsteps. A small grumbling noise reaches closer and closer to you. It's not just one grumble...it sounds like multiple. The grumbling sounds heavier and heavier with each seconds that passes and your eyes lock onto the foot of the hill. You realize that there are shadows moving - multitudes of them, getting bigger and bigger.

 

Suddenly, you realize that your body is slowly being dragged and feel something clamp onto your arms and legs like sharp talons. You try to scream in agony but no sound emits from your broken neck. Your head manages to roll face up as the dragging stops and you lock contact into a crowd of glowing blue eyes. For the first time ever, you witness the creatures that lurk the wasteland of the world. It becomes the last sight you will ever see as you feel your body slashed away by their fangs.

 

Maybe you're the one who won't do shit.

 

Life over.

 

Whoever that person is, or where they came from concerns you. If they came out and saved your hide from that...that thing, then you should have every right to follow them.

 

Your make your way up the hill, zig-zagging against the sides trying not to make a bad step. Most of the hillside is nothing but jagged rocks sticking out, so you use them to basically rock climb your way to the top. Hey - maybe you could put rock climbing as a hobby or profession you amuse. It takes a good 7-9 minutes to reach the top of the hill. Once you finally grab footing at the top, you overlook the scenery before the hill and heave a big sigh.

 

The hillside eventually pans in a flat landscape all the way to a monolithic steel gate stretching as far as your eyes can see in the darkness. Past the gate, large structures that resemble buildings like the old days stick out in multitudes with light spouting all around them. It's hard to tell, but there seems to be several of them. Taken aghast by the sight of what may be a safe haven with food or water or simply other survivors, you begin to take a step forward when something cold pushes against your throat.

 

"Don't move or you'll regret it."

 

"Don't move" towards # 9

 

You grab the slab right next to you. There's only one of them and one of you - it's do or die!

 

The creature scrambles closer to you, windmilling its arms in the air as it moves. You quickly jump to your feet, waiting for it to get closer with your hand firmly gripping the rock. It is only in arms reach as you swing your arm to clonk the beast. You feel a sharp breeze travel the side of your cheek and the creature suddenly stops dead in its tracks before crumbling before your feet. A sharp stick that resembles an arrow is sticking out of its head.

 

 

You turn your head to see another figure standing atop the hill. Unlike the one just killed, this one seems to be holding a crossbow. The outline looks a bit obscure with nature's last light poking underneath its legs, but it's easy to tell that it's wearing some large cloak. You stay frozen in your tracks, not daring to make a move. The figure turns the other way and descends behind the hill.

 

Start heading past the hill (# 2)

 

You don't care what that thing is, all you know is that it's going from your leg and onto the rocks. You ease your leg back and forth in order to rock your legs into the boulder as to gain momentum. Each sway you make, you can feel the creature's claws scratch deeper into your skin. The pain shoots up your body and you grind your teeth. It's unbearable but there's nothing you can do but keep moving it.

 

You swing your legs back and - with all your might - push your legs straight into the cliff side. The impact not only hits the creature, but your shin as you feel your bone crack against the rocks. You scream in pain, but manage to hit the creature with enough force that it smashes against the boulders. Bloods splatters all over the side of the hill and the thing finally lets go of your leg. Its lifeless corpse drops down and lays motionless.

 

You squint your eyes, trying to block out the pain. Tears swell in your eyes but refuse to let go. There's no time to hang around, you mutter to yourself as you look at your bloodied leg. You face upwards and pull yourself up the rock ledge, finally getting to the top. As you struggle to propel yourself over the final ledge, you feel a sharp pull by your backpack. Your body glides against the rocks and lands right back on solid ground. You struggle to take a breath until you fix your gaze on the starry night sky.

 

I made it, you sigh.

 

A voice suddenly chimes in from behind you.

 

"You did it. Impressive."

 

Locate the voice (# 10)

 

"Listen, I don't know what's going on!" you stammer. You feel the pressure of the person's foot press harder into your chest, making it almost impossible to breathe. Their face gets closer to yours, with the gun now pressing into the skin of your forehead. You can hear their heavy breathing through the mask.

 

"Then why are you here?"

 

As much as you'd love to answer them, it's rather hard with a heavy boot on your chest. You strain your neck to grasp for any air possible. Their grip is too tight. There's no way you could possibly make a sound. 

 

Your eyes shift to the side and you notice your backpack laying to your side. It must have fallen off when you were slammed down. You stretch your arm out and point at it. You turn your gaze back to the person to see them look at the pack. Suddenly, you feel them lift their foot off you and you can finally breathe again. Air has never tasted so sweet.

 

You roll to your side as to regain breath when you see the person begin rummaging through your backpack. In fact, you didn't really care at this point - you're just lucky to be alive. The person stops rustling in your pack and freezes their movement. 

 

"...why do you have this..?"

 

Their voice catches you off guard. Their tone somehow went from rough and ghastly to soft and gentle in a single second. You try to lift up your head but feel all the blood rush down from your brain and you plop yourself back onto the ground, taking a large gasp for air.

 

"I...I don't know what you're talking 'bout" you gasp, clenching your chest.

 

The person turns around, holding a small object in their hands. You look over to see what they're holding. It's your family heirloom - a ragged, rusted piece of metal with a small jewel encased in it. The only reason you even have it with you is because it was the last thing your father gave to you before the incident. 

 

The person faces towards you, their gun still in the other hand.

 

"Why do you have this? Where did you find it?"

 

Now you sense a disturbance. You manage to prop yourself up, but slowly as to not make the person shoot you dead between the eyes.

 

"Why does it matter?" you ask. "It's just a personal thing from my family."

 

At that moment, the person takes off their mask while still facing towards you. The moonlight is set perfectly over the top of the hill - as if this were fate. You finally see them in the flesh. 

 

"It matters because it's the key to salvation."

 

Stay tuned for incoming options!

 

The pressure of the situation is too much to bear. You frantically race through your head what you could possibly say, but nothing comes out. The person heaves a sigh through their gas mask and shakes their head.

 

"Too terrified to even mumble so much as a word, huh?"

 

Suddenly, a loud bang erupts the quiet atmosphere and you feel a sharp pain blast at your leg. You quickly grab onto your leg, holding it tightly. They shot you...they actually did. You try to grit your teeth but it doesn't stop the sound of pain and agony from escaping your mouth. You look at the shooter, your leg throbbing at its max.

 

The shooter shakes their head again, placing their revolver into their cloak.

 

"Shame. For a second, I thought you weren't a straggler."

 

They turn around, whipping their cloak into the air as they slowly move towards the open wasteland. Blood slowly stains your pants as you attempt to stop the bleeding from your leg. 

 

"What the fuck is your problem?!" you yell at them, still grimacing. 

 

The shooter stops dead in their tracks, but continues to face forwards.

 

"You should start moving, lest you'd like to be dinner."

 

They begin to move along the hill until you lose vision of them entirely. Your leg is in no shape to go mobile, and you haven't the supplies to help you move quickly. You turn over and see a fairly large stick sitting a few feet away. Surprisingly enough, it seems sturdy and not too charred. It might be a good support beam for you to get moving to the walls. There is still a possibility that you won't get there safely, especially in the dark of night.

 

On the other hand, you still have some flint. You might be able to set up a small camp until then with a potential fire. Who knows? Maybe someone might see your fire and come out to rescue you. 

 

Grab the stick (# 12)

 

Set camp here (# 20)

 

This is not how you go out, you think to yourself as your slide your shoulders to relieve the backpack off you. The creature rips its claws into your skin, forcing you to let out a yell. You manage to let go of one arm, and attempt to pull the backpack using the other arm. It's not easy, but you slowly shift your arms in such a way to get the backpack off. You look down at the creature, its blue eyes staring right into your face. 

 

You grip you backpack with your dangling arms.

 

"Sayonara, you bug fucker."

 

With a large heave, you swing your backpack down at the creature as hard as you can. The force of the pack causes it to swing on your leg some more, but it refuses to release its grasp. You keep swinging your pack at it in hopes it will finally give up. What you don't realize, however, is the stump slowly cracking. As you keep swinging the pack, you fail to notice the crack getting deeper and deeper until it's too late. You finally shake off the creature and it goes sliding down. You look up, trying to put your other hand onto the stump with the backpack dangling near your elbow.

 

The stump gives way and you go tumbling down the hill, losing grasp of your backpack. The last vision you have is the big boulders laying at the foot of the hill. Had your hoodie been made with helmet material, perhaps you could survive this fall. Sadly though, this isn't a fairy tale. That backpack sure was heavy, you think as your skull gets crushed against the rocks.

 

Life over.

 

There's no time to hesitate - you have to run to the hills. You quickly flip yourself over and make a mad dash to the hillside. Remembering that there is no straight path up the hill, you make a swift leap to the nearest large boulder. Most of the hill is covered in long, jagged rock edges so all you need to do is latch onto each rock like you're rock climbing.

 

You move from rock to rock, forming a z-formation while ascending to the top. You look back to see the creature attempting to crawl up the hill. It seems too stupid to recognize how steep the hill is, you think to yourself. You make your way side to side of the hillside. Only a few more feet to go, you think to yourself as you see the final ledge.

 

On your way to reach it, you feel a sharp tug at your leg. You look down to see the creature dangling onto your leg. Its blue glowing eyes look straight up to you and it makes a sharp shriek, with its jaw hanging off to the side. 

 

"What the fuck is that?!" you yell as you attempt to swing your leg away, hoping the thing will release. But it doesn't - in fact, its grip around your leg only gets stronger. You can feel blood trickle down your leg as its claws scrape against your jeans. Whatever this thing is, it isn't human, you realize.

 

The top of the hill is only a ledge away, but you'll never make it with the thing latched onto your leg. The only thing that's keep you up is a dead tree stump sticking out from the side. You see a large boulder stuck in front of your feet. Maybe there's a chance that you could slam the creature into the rocks. At the same time, you don't know if the stump can handle you moving around. You remember that you still have your backpack, and how heavy it is. Perhaps you can swat it at the creature.

 

All you know is, you don't have much time.

 

Slam that freakbag into the rocks! (# 4)

 

Lug your backpack at it (# 7)

 

Right away, you notice that the voice is quite rough and low. You want to turn your head but the cold metallic object is still pressed against your skin.

 

"Don't move or I'll make sure nothing left of you moves," the voice whispers harshly into your ear. After what seems to be about a full minute of silence and pressure, you are finally relieved from the grip and almost stumble to the ground. You rub your neck, still feeling choked. "What the hell is your pr-"

 

You can't even finish your sentence as the person quickly slams you into the ground face-down. You can feel their foot pushing down on your back. Suddenly, your body gets flipped over like some kind of burger patty and you finally see a person hovering over you. The figure stands with a large cloak wrapped around them, a crossbow sitting snug on their back...or at least that's what it looks like. They appear to be wearing a large mask with goggles attached and half of a gas mask. The person hovers over you, slowing craning their head left and right. A voice emits from the cloaked figure.

 

"Why did they send you out here to scavenge? They know this is our territory."

 

You have no idea what the person is talking about. You try to make a sound but the air is still knocked out of you. The person flips their cloak swiftly and reveals a small revolver pointed right between your eyes.

 

"Better say something before I blow your goddamn head apart," the person snaps.

 

There is no time to reason with someone that has a gun pointed at your brain. What should you say?

 

"I don't know what you're talking about!" ( # 5)

 

"You won't do shit." (# 1)

 

-silence- (# 6)

 

You turn your head around to see a mysterious figure, whose face is concealed by some kind of gas mask. In an effort not to alarm the person, you slowly get up. The pain in your leg forces you to keep shut, but you are curious about this person.

 

“I know what you’re thinking – you’re curious, aren’t you? Wouldn’t you like to know who I am, I suppose?”

 

Their voice is deep but rather suffocated, probably from how thick the mask is. But they aren’t wrong – you are indeed curious and have a few questions in mind. The only problem is, what should you ask them? You wouldn’t want to make a bad impression.

 

“Who are you?” (# 15)

 

“Why are you here?” (# 13)

 

-silence- (# 6)

 

You fix your vision to see in the dark where Gauge is pointing. In the far distance, you notice a large ring of walls with what appears to be lit-up buildings within the interior. You squint your eyes.

 

“…buildings?” you mutter still trying to figure out what you’re looking at.

 

At this point, Gauge steps to your side.

 

“Yes. Buildings. But it’s those that dwell in it. People that used to be like you or I.”

 

Used to be? What was in there that suddenly created tension in the air? “What’s wrong with that place?” you ask. “We can get shelter or food or even-“

 

Suddenly you feel Gauge’s heavy hand clasp down on your shoulder. For an old man, he has a strong grip, you think.

 

“That’s no sanctuary, kid. That’s Hell on Earth. And you’d be damned if you went there.”

 

It doesn’t make sense to you. Anything is better than staying in this desolate wasteland with those freakbags.

 

You turn to face Gauge, who is still looking out to the walls.

 

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you and that place but safety from this place is kind of a big deal. I appreciate your help and all but…”

 

It’s then that you notice Gauge losing grip on your shoulders. Instead, his arm drags right back to his hip, clenching against the outside of his cloak. His voice darkens in a gravely tone.

 

“If you decide to go there, I cannot promise that you will be alive tomorrow.”

 

Nothing he says is making sense. Does he have some kind of beef with the inhabitants of that guarded town? Or is he just trying to scare you off?

 

+ Decide to go anyways (# 19)

+ Stay back with Gauge (# 14)

 

The sun is gone, and the only light that’s left comes from the moon. There’s no time to build a campfire, you say to yourself as you crawl towards the stick. It’s fairly sturdy and feels pretty thick. Enough to hold you up as you walk.

 

You use it to propel you back to your feet. You can feel your leg throbbing intensely. Walking is not an option unless you keep yourself well balanced, you think. Suddenly you have an idea. You take off your boots and pull off your long socks. Thank goodness they were still fashionable even after the apocalypse.

 

Placing the stick against your damaged leg, you wrap the socks around the leg and stick to make a brace. You test it out a bit, taking a few steps around the area. It doesn’t cease the pain, but at least you can stagger. Hey, it’s movement, right?

 

Slowly and carefully, you make your way down the hill and follow straight. As you continue the path, you see a large shadow in the distance with gleaming lights shining behind it. The sun already? As you get closer, you realize that there are large structures arising at the top of it.

 

They’re buildings! You get excited and pick up the pace despite the surge of pain rising throughout your leg. 

 

Move onward towards the structures (# 17)

 

“Who are you exactly?” you ask while you wince in pain from shifting your body to fully face them. The figure cranes their neck to the side slightly, still fixing their gaze on you.

 

“I suppose I could tell you…after all, you did a decent job showing that you aren’t a straggler,” they say.

 

You begin to object, wondering what they meant by calling you a straggler when they suddenly remove the mask. From beneath it shows an older man with a gray, scraggly beard. Dirt is smothered all across their face, and their pale green eyes continue to rest upon you. Their hair is disoriented but short, the same color as their beard. In fact, he looks old enough to be a grandfather.

 

The man interrupts your concentration.

 

“Just call me Gauge. You don’t need to know anything else. You’ve seen my face and now know my name…I think that’s about enough information for you.”

 

You’ve never seen this man Gauge before, but you can tell based off his rather large and sturdy cloak that he’s not a simple wanderer. Apparently, he’s never seen you either – his eyes shift up and down your body.

 

“Why did you call me a straggler?” you ask calmly. “I mean, I don’t even know what that means.”

 

Gauge heaves a sigh and points out into the open.

 

Take a look where he’s pointing (# 11)

 

As you get closer, you begin to hear crunching noises. It sounds irregular, as if something is moving and stopping every so often. You stop for a second to listen again, but the sound disappears. With it gone, you begin to move some more when you suddenly hear the crunching noise even louder. Now you’re not imagining things.

 

You refuse to stop moving, continuing on despite the sounds. Whatever it is, you don’t exactly want any part in seeing it face front. Eventually the sounds begin to emerge behind you from what feels to be only a few feet. Frustrated and scared, you stop, slowly turning your head around to witness a group of glowing blue eyes pacing forward.

 

Oh god. They’re back.

 

Run! (# 16)

 

This old man is bonkers, you think to yourself as you face back to the walls. He may not trust that place, but it can’t be as bad as he’s making it out to be.

 

“I’m sorry,” you stammer to Gauge as you turn to face him. “Since you won’t tell me what’s going on, maybe I just need to find out myself. Even if there may be consequences.”

 

You can see his eyes grow narrow and his pupils enlarge. His expression becomes tense and he grits his teeth.

 

“Fine,” he grunts as he turns the other direction. “You’re gambling with your life here.” With a flip of his cloak, he puts his mask back on and start to descend to the side of the hill.

 

There is no other choice but to move, you guess. You make way down the steep hill and follow the unmarked path towards the walls. Your head can’t wrap around what Gauge said. What did he mean that the people inside the walls weren’t like you? Aren’t we all survivors here?

 

As you keep walking, you can head crunching sounds a good distance away from you. Your ears are just playing tricks on you, you think as you try to pick up the pace. Your leg is practically throbbing at this point but there isn’t any time to stop and rest, especially with God knows what out there.

 

Despite moving a bit faster, the sounds are getting louder with each second that passes. You are too anxious to turn around, afraid of what may lurk behind you. Still, you continue onward getting closer and closer to the walls. You’re almost there.

 

Suddenly, you trip and fall face first into the ground. It was so dark that you weren’t paying attention to the ground. You turn yourself around to see what you fell over. Your body tenses up and eyes widen as you see what you tumbled across.

 

It’s a dead body.

 

Stay tuned for more!

 

Note: I will keep making updates to add more parts to the adventures. As of now, there are only a total of: 9 options.

[Mr. Jay]

You know work sucks when you spend down time writing a novel.

Been there done that....

[BrayJayTheZombSlaya]

I can tell already this is going to become mildly addictive for me. *sigh*

[Onecooldude123]

#5 .is that how i choose or what??

Sent from my SGH-T599N using Tapatalk

[InfestLithium]

You know work sucks when you spend down time writing a novel.

Been there done that....

I don't get laid enough to stare at computer monitors while designing, haha.

I can tell already this is going to become mildly addictive for me. *sigh*

Haha, I take that as a good thing. These kind of books always kept me occupied.

#5 .is that how i choose or what??

Sent from my SGH-T599N using Tapatalk

The objective is to start at one point, and "follow" the numbers from there on. This episode starts off with either two options: #3 or #8. You choose the option that you'd take, and then go to that number then click the spoiler. In each spoiler, you will have more options or just one lone option. A bad decision can cause your death. ;)

[Slade]

F*** you Festo.

I had the idea of a branching storyline back in July. 

brb Changing my iCloud password and putting my story drafts through the shredder.

 

Thread bookmarked. Trabajo excelente, puta.

 

9 options?

 

Slade approves your awesome reference. 

[Tasha]

Awesome story, mr. Lithium !! ;D

 

"That backpack sure was heavy, you think as your skulls gets crushed against the rocks."

Made me laugh, I feel bad now. ^^

 

not really, > : )

[WolfHeart_99]

Smash That Freakbag!!!

STF