Undead Genesis: Zombie by Colten Steele Read Free Book Online Page B

was a skill all boys were
educated in. Marik was particularly good at it, and he knew how to
keep from leaving any sign for others to follow. He turned into a
smaller stream feeding into the one they were walking, and followed
it for a while before forcing the creature up a rocky bank to
shore.
    Here the forest canopy was thick and light
filtered in only sporadically. The foliage on the ground however
was sparse and the two were able to increase their pace. After
hours of anxiety Marik was finally convinced he had gotten away and
slowed their hurried pace.
    He estimated they were still a day or two
away from the battlefield at their current pace. Many weeks ago the
warriors had run half the day to reach their camp before the
battle, and today the two unlikely travelers were forced to travel
at a brisk walk by the awkward stride of the creature.
    Just before crossing over a slow running
creek, he secured the monster to a sturdy limb and walked to the
water. Now that he was again calm, Marik realized he had forgotten
to bring anything to eat or drink in his haste, but as he stooped
down to scoop up a handful of water he knew this was not going to
be an issue for him. He could easily live off the land around
him.
    Without leaving sight of his prisoner, Marik
scouted around and his sharp eyes found some small berries he knew
to be delicious. He was able to eat a small meal before returning
to his task.
    It was only when he was approaching the
creature to resume their journey that he realized he had made a
much bigger mistake than forgetting to bring his own meal. The
monster’s eyes were no longer quite as dull. His stance was no
longer quite as submissive.
    And Marik did not have the green bottle.
     
    ~ Chapter
XVII ~
     
    The boy was unsure what to do. The creature
staring back at him did not attempt to attack him, but something
had changed. There was a spark of life in it that had not been
there before. Maybe it was simply that the eyes now followed him
where before they stared blankly into oblivion.
    He walked over and secured the long pole
again to his own wrist. On the other end the creature turned,
swiveling its own neck in the loop, to watch him.
    Marik nudged it ahead and the monster
stumbled a few steps in the right direction before stopping again.
Another harder nudge resulted in the creature falling to its knees,
but not obeying. Marik tried another solution. He moved around the
creature and started to pull it towards him in the direction he
wanted to go. Though this was slower since Marik was forced to walk
backwards, it worked better as the creature willingly followed
him.
    The boy’s mind raced. A few minutes ago his
biggest concern was being discovered by his tribe who was surely
looking for him by now. Being caught by them would have resulted in
a lecture, a beating and a few bruises. Now a new threat would soon
be after him, but the punishment would be an agonizing death if he
was caught.
    At some point the Jombi had gone from being
pulled along to following him willingly. Occasionally a limp arm
would straighten towards him and the hand would grasp the air in
his direction. After another few minutes Marik found he had to
hurry a little faster to stay ahead of the creature attempting to
get to him.
    Marik knew he soon would no longer be able to
lead the monster. It would become more insistent until it was
uncontrollable with the simple pole. The pole may keep it at a safe
distance for a time, but the creature would stop at nothing to get
to him. He was going to have to come up with another solution.
    Low growls were starting to emanate from it.
After another few minutes, both arms were raised towards him. The
creature slowly increased its speed. The deadly jaws seemed to
reach and the neck pushed forward. Deep ragged gasps continuously
dragged in great gulps of air as if the creature was consuming the
scent of fear coming from the boy.
    Over the next hour things continued to
unravel and Marik had to make a