Chapter 1 

It all started with a crash.

An unknown substance hit one of the Earth’s satellites late one night, and a few minutes later, the satellite fell from the sky like a burning star.

Nobody knew what was inside it. Nobody expected what came next.

The crash caused a massive explosion near the city. The blast killed hundreds instantly, but some of the bodies didn’t stay dead. They came back, slow, twitching, and hungry for anything alive.

The world changed in one night.

Kurt didn’t know any of this yet. He was just starting his night shift at the gas station, same as always.

He stood behind the counter, half-asleep, scrolling through his phone. The lights outside flickered, and he sighed. “Not again,” he muttered.

Then he heard it.

A weird, dragging sound from outside. Like footsteps, but heavier.

He looked out the window, but the fog made it hard to see. Then, a shadow moved across the parking lot.

Kurt froze. “What the hell…”

He ran to the back and called out to his boss, Steve. “Hey, man, I think someone’s out there!”

Steve walked out of the office, annoyed. “It’s probably some drunk guy, Kurt. Chill out.”

“I’m serious!” Kurt said. “Something’s wrong!”

Steve rolled his eyes and went to check the front door. The moment he opened it, something grabbed him. He didn’t even scream just a short gasp before being pulled outside.

Kurt’s heart was pounding. He watched in horror as Steve disappeared into the fog. A second later, there was blood on the glass.

He ran to the backroom, grabbed the emergency axe from the wall, and smashed open the vent cover. Crawling through the metal tunnel, he could hear groaning behind him. Something was in the store now.

When he pushed out of the vent and dropped to the ground outside, he saw them.

Dozens of people. No, zombies. Crowding the parking lot. Their skin looked burned and melted, their eyes glowing faintly.

Kurt sprinted to his car, fumbling for his keys. He jumped in, slammed the door, and reached into his glove box for the gun he always kept there. His hands were shaking.

He looked out the windshield. More zombies were coming fast.

Thinking quick, he aimed at one of the gas tanks and fired.

BOOM!

The explosion lit up the night sky. Zombies turned toward the flames, moaning and staggering toward it. Kurt used the distraction to start his car and peel out of the lot, tires screeching.

He didn’t know where he was going. He just knew he had to get away.

And that was the night everything changed..