My Zombie Sister's Diary, Part 1

Who doesn't love a good zombie story?

I actually didn't like zombies for a long time. I just didn't get them. But over time, after watching some pretty good zombie movies and TV shows (anyone else a Walking Dead fan?), I grew to like them, understand them maybe a little...

I wrote this story a few years ago over a series of Instagram posts. It was super fun to create. Now I'd like it to live on forever here on my blog. I've added only a few edits, but for the most part this is the same story I published in 2019.

What do you think? Should I bring back original stories on my Instagram?

My Zombie Sister's Diary, Part 1

Entry 1

Today, I watched from a semi-truck as my mom was torn to pieces by a dozen infected. I still remember her screams. They won't leave. They are seared into my brain.

The outbreak was two weeks ago. It spread so fast. We thought we were safe. We thought we had gotten away in time.

Last night we slept in a motel. Asher, my little brother, was so excited because we didn't have to pay. No one was there--just us, our family of four, and a few other families we traveled with. The place was deserted when we entered. Or so we thought.

6 a.m.--we heard the screams in the room next door. Mom's best friend Rhonda was in there. Before dad could stop her, mom ran in, only to be met by two infected. Dad went after her--told us to wait, then left, shut the door, and came back two minutes later, shouting for us to follow him. He had mom; she screamed and cried in his arms.

We made it to a semi parked in front of the motel. Luckily it wasn't locked. Asher and I jumped in. An infected grabbed mom--wouldn't let go, and it bit her in the shoulder while ripping her out of dad's arms. He shut the door to the semi, shutting me and Asher inside away from the infected, away from him and mom.

Those screams. I can't get them out of my head. And the look in her eyes. I just watched.

Entry 2

Dad woke us this morning by tapping on the windows. Asher screamed.

We slept in the semi, next to where we last saw mom and dad. I didn't think I would sleep. I was crying so much. But then I was out. Exhausted. I guess a person can only cry for so long.

Dad told us that he tried to get to mom and then couldn't. And then tried his best to get back to us, but the herd was so big. The infected kept coming. So he ran back to the motel and locked himself in a closet.

Asher and I thought he was dead.

Mom's body was gone, except for a half-eaten arm. We know it was hers because the wrist wore a bracelet from Asher. Asher bawled. Cringing, I knelt down and removed the bracelet. I held it out to Asher, but he wouldn't take it. I put it in my pocket. Maybe he'll want it later.

Now we're on the road again. Dad found a small care for us to travel. He wasn't said anything all day. We haven't stopped. Asher and I are hungry.

Entry 3

I found this notebook in the semi-truck. The front was filled with random notes and doodles. I ripped them out. I don't know why I started writing the night mom died. I just felt the need.

It's just me, Asher, and dad now. Everyone in our party is gone.

I'm Anna. I'm 17. My little brother Asher is 8. My dad is Henry. My mom was Trish. We didn't have a funeral for her. I wonder if she's wandering around out there with the other infected, or if she was... I don't know. I don't want to think about it.

I wonder how Kendel is doing. I haven't thought about him since we broke up. It was kind of an ugly breakup--mostly with me ugly crying. But now I wonder--did he make it out?

Our town is run over now--full of infected. We heard it on the radio. The anchor said that if anyone was still there, anyone not infected, they wouldn't survive long.

I asked dad where we are going. He didn't say anything--just started crying. Asher cries a lot too. I don't. Not since that night. Maybe something's wrong with me. I think I'm too terrified to cry. I don't know. I just can't--like if I cry, I won't survive.

Entry 4

We made it to an outpost today--our first one. Some say they have been to a few others. They all ended up the same--run over by the infected. But this place seems pretty safe. I think we'll be okay.

We have a small tent for the three of us. I think it's supposed to be a two-man tent. Dad says we'll have to make it work. No privacy. I hope Asher doesn't kick me all night.

Entry 5

I woke up screaming last night. Dad asked what was wrong. I told him I couldn't remember why I was screaming. But I did. I do.

I dreamed about mom. I watched as the infected tore her arm off and threw it. I watched as they bit every inch of her body. I watched and I heard everything. She looked at me, pleading for me to help her.

I did watch, for real. But, for real, I didn't see much other than the herd of infected surrounding mom's body. I couldn't look away. Asher and I crouched low in the semi so we wouldn't be seen. I covered Asher's ears. But I peaked and listened to it all.

Asher woke from my screams. He started crying. He's always crying. Dad hugged him and started crying. I just watched. Then I laid down and went back to sleep.

I slept a long time. When I woke up, it was afternoon. Asher and dad were gone. I stayed in the tent and just stared at the light and shadows moving across the walls.

Entry 6

Dad made me get up this morning and go help in the kitchens. Blah. I hate kitchen work. Kill me now, zombies. KIDDING!

I met a guy in the kitchens who told me that's what they really are--zombies. It's obvious, he said. But no one wants to call them zombies because no one wants to accept that our worst nightmares have come true.

I think he's right.

They guy's name is Jonathon. He's nice but a little weird. While we peeked potatoes, he told me about the books and video games with zombies. He considers himself a zombie expert. Maybe he is. Or maybe he's just a nerd.

I helped in the kitchen all day. I hated it. But I didn't think about mom. Maybe I'll go back.

Entry 7

Early this morning--maybe 4, I don't know 'cause I don't have a watch and my phone's dead--we were woken by a gentle tapping on the tent. Dad got up to see what was going on. It was a guy from the military. He told us we needed to quickly and quietly follow him.

Dad's eyes were so big when he looked at me and nudged Asher awake. I wasn't quite sure what was going on but I knew it wasn't good.

Dad helped sleepy Asher out of the tent and the three of us followed the military guy. He walked fast. We had to run to keep up. He gathered a few others along the way. Other military guys were doing the same thing.

We followed them inside a small grocery store. The soldiers told everyone to go to the back of the store, crouch low, and keep quiet. They placed cardboard in the windows and then crouched low themselves with their guns ready.

We stayed that way for three or four hours. I'm not sure, but it was a really long time.

We heard noises outside. It sounded like gurgling and growling--like the infected that ate mom.

Finally, a tap sounded on the windows. The soldiers peaked out through the cardboard, nodded, and motioned for us to leave. We went back to our tents. I would have slept but I was hungry. I went back to the kitchens and worked and ate.

Jonathon said a large herd came through. Instead of trying to fight them off, we hid. Seemed to work, I guess.

Entry 8

A new group of people showed up today. And can you believe Kendel was in the group? We were so excited to see each other. He didn't even care that my hans were covered in purple beat juice when he hugged me.

After I was done in the kitchens, I found him again. We talked for hours. He told me about his grandpa, how he died. He was bit, but not eaten. His dad killed the infected that bit him. His grandpa asked his dad to shoot him 'cause he didn't want to turn. His dad wouldn't do it. So his grandpa did it himself.

Kendel saw the whole thing. He cried as he told me.

Even Kendel cries.

I let him cry in front of me.

Entry 9

Kendel came to the kitchen with me to help out. Jonathon didn't seem happy about Kendel being there. Whatever.

It was like old times. Kendel and I laughed and sang and danced. He brushed my hair away from my face while I was cutting watermelon and blowing loose strands out of eyes. I looked at him. He looked at me, like he used to.

After dinner, Asher made me go with him to a near-by tent where a mom told stories. I told Asher I thought he was too old for story time. He said there was nothing else to do.

I actually liked it. The stories were ones the mom had memorized, not kid books, but adventures. The story tonight was about an orphan girl with red hair and a fiery spirit. I think I'd like her.

Entry 10

This morning I went to find Kendel to see if he wanted to walk to the kitchens together. He was already gone. I went to the kitchens, but he wasn't there.

He didn't come all day.

I found him at dinner. He said his dad made him go help with building a wall. He said it's not really a wall so much as a gathering of large objects, like truck containers, cement blocks, or sheet metal, and putting it all together to form a kind of wall.

He said it's probably better work for him anyway. He doesn't like the kitchens much.

He didn't say anything after that, just turned away and started talking to another guy.

I stayed a moment, but he didn't seem to notice.

Whatever. We did break up after all. Who was I to think... Whatever.

That's it for today.

Come back next week for My Zombie Sister's Diary, Part 2.