"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
Not just light, but there was love, prosperity, peace, beauty, hope, life. Such was the beginning of all things, the beginning of everything.
Then He created Man, in His own image and likeness: "Let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Like a pampered child, man was born. Receiving everything to his heart's content, a garden just for him, a kingdom to dominate, being pleased every day by the Father, receiving what he wanted and, not content, always wanting more.
Then He created Woman to be a companion for the man who felt lonely: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Once again, proof that their Father pampered them too much.
These pampered children grew up, becoming even more greedy and even more disobedient to their Father. Humanity arose from sin, those who would destroy the world, the scum, or as they say: "God's greatest mistake: humanity."
— Rise, dead! Go and consume everything and everyone, condemn them to eternal damnation. Poor penitents, do you believe in repentance? Huh… Fools… This is just the beginning of sorrows!
***
The sun shone like never before, amidst that blue immensity with clouds as white as cotton. A clean and majestic sky, like a sister's veil, a beautiful and pure fabric like the one she wears in the house of the Lord.
"Paradise in heaven, and hell on earth!"
— Argh…
— Argh… Huh?
— Let go of my leg, you damn it! — Kicks.
— Grh—
Running, tripping, groans, screams, gunfire, explosions… Beneath the majestic paradise, lay the impetuous and infamous hell.
The world in ruins: fallen buildings, civilizations reduced to rubble and dust. Car wrecks buried by bones and a morbid, desolate landscape, taken over by thick red vines clinging to everything in their path, along with mushrooms and fungi that released their putrid spores into the air, contaminating it with a blood mist that permeated the entire surface.
And there, amidst the skulls and bones, some still-cold bodies were clutched by those who arrived in droves.
— Argh!!
Hungry humans, or something like that. Filthy bodies covered in festering wounds from which pus oozed through torn skin and orifices, along with worms that fell in droves to the ground.
— Kill me… kill me…!
Amidst their expressions of agony and empty eyes, they cried in pain, showing their last vestiges of humanity. Thin, putrid bodies that, with their stench, brought with them a disgusting cloud of black flies buzzing a song for that filthy march.
The dead walked alongside the living, tearing apart those who fell by the wayside, while a group ran from them. They were led by a man who, though old, possessed quick and precise movements.
— Dom, where to now?!
— The bone pile! Let's climb the bone pile! — the man shouted in response.
There was a pile of human remains up ahead, tall enough to serve as shelter for now.
In the rush, one of them sank his leg into the bones along the way, screaming in pain as he felt the sharp fragments tear his skin. He tried to free himself while the others left him behind. Seeing that his companions abandoned him, he cried for help:
— Help! Help! Don't leave me! Don't leave me!!!
Before anyone could help him, several leprous hands emerged from among the bones, grabbing him and brutally pulling him down. Digging their claws into his skin, pinning him to the point of breaking his bones and pulling out his entrails.
— He… lp…
As his body was torn apart, he saw those he called friends moving forward, leaving him behind. His look of fear slowly turned to despair. He no longer felt his legs, and his eyes trembled with tears, as he struggled not to choke on his blood.
It was too late, he knew it. And with his last strength, he pulled out a revolver, determined to end all that pain:
— Forgive me, Lord… I have sinned!
And with a terrified look and trembling hands, he left behind, with the deafening sound of the gunshot, tears and blood that splattered along with his brain matter.
The old man heard the shot, not daring to look back, not daring to face those he abandoned to death. Instead, he shouted to those who still followed him:
— Run faster if you don't want to die!
He said as he grabbed two children by the waist with both arms, causing a little girl to drop her teddy bear, which was left behind:
— Petucio!! Petucio!!
He ran with some difficulty amidst that rugged terrain. His feet sank into the pile of bones that had buried that place over time. But he knew he couldn't stop or even hesitate there; otherwise, he would be the next to be swallowed by the world.
"Shit. Shit! Who would have guessed that the safest place to be would be invaded by a horde of ghouls?!"
Reaching the bone pile, he helped the children climb first. A woman caught up with them next and, with a jump, used the old man's shoulder as a step for momentum, quickly climbing to the top.
Grabbing the children's hands next, pulling them up in a hurry. She seemed terrified, and the poor children cried.
— It's all right now, everything will be fine! — she said, hugging them.
Two men reached them, dropping their belongings to the ground, they began to fiercely climb the bones. The old man was about to climb when he hesitated, as his left hand trembled with some spasms. And before he could think of his next action, he heard the woman's screams:
— Calvin!! Calvin!!
Looking back, he spotted a young man lying unconscious not far from them. Without a second thought, he threw the backpacks to her, then, holding a hatchet, ran towards the young man.
"Fuck! What the hell are you thinking, Dom?! Since when are you a fucking hero?!"
Hands emerged in droves from among the bones, trying to grab him, but with a few jumps he could easily dodge them. Those that grabbed his legs were easily cut off by him.
A ghoul reached the unconscious young man on the ground, leaping onto him while thrusting its jaw forward, making its hideous teeth pop out.
— Not today!
The old man shouted, spinning, throwing his axe which hit the creature's forehead squarely, causing it to fall dead to the ground. Reaching the boy, he grabbed him by the arms, placing him on his back, as the boy was already waking up:
— Dom, is that you…?
— Who else would it be? God?!
— Ha, he wouldn't come save me! — he said, forcing a smile.
— Hahaha, if anyone deserves salvation, it's you, my friend!
Once again he dodged the hands that surprised him along the way, losing his balance and almost falling.
"An earthquake?!"
The ground trembled as Dom tried to stand there. That's when a monstrous hand emerged from among the skulls on the ground, gripping the surface tightly.
— Dom, what is that?!
Dom, in turn, ran even faster, while the young man felt the nervousness in every step his friend took. Looking back, he saw the creature emerging from among the bones and black sludge on the ground:
— OOOORRRRHHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHH!!!
It was twice their size, with a thin, red body, emanating an aura of shadows that screamed in agony. It possessed five enormous arms, the fifth being on its stomach, where just above it its ribs protruded, intertwining with each other.
Its fifth arm suddenly grabbed one of the ghouls by the neck, which struggled to break free, scratching the monster's armor-like skin, in vain. The hideous beast, in turn, laughed as it watched its prey fight for life:
— Kikikikiki!! — The creature smiled hysterically.
Then, with its other arms, it grabbed both limbs and, as if it were nothing, dismembered it brutally right there.
Blood splattered on its face, covered by a mask of bones, stakes, horns, and barbed wire. It opened its chest, revealing its enormous and grotesque mouth, from which, amidst its rib bones like teeth, a red tongue with baby hands grabbed the creature.
It then devoured its prey unceremoniously, then grabbed others and devoured them right there. Gradually bathing itself in even more blood, as its body increased in size. Calvin trembled before such insanity:
— Dom, what the hell is that?! Dom?!
It didn't take long to reach the bone piles. Dom placed him on the ground while the others threw a rope down to them:
— Hold tight! — the woman shouted.
— Dom, hey! What's that?!
— Shut up, kid! Can't you see you're getting in my way?!
"Shit. Shit! I won't be able to climb with him… There won't be time! And even if there is, the monster will catch us up there."
He stared at Calvin, who was terrified, and made his decision. He tied the rope around the boy's waist, signaling for the others to pull it up.
"It's the only way now!"
They were already pulling the rope when the boy grabbed Dom by the arm:
— Dom, what are you going to do?! You have to grab the rope too!
— Listen here, kid… You owe me one! — he said, forcing a smile.
Turning his back on the boy, who only saw him pulling out a hunting knife. Then, with his eyes blurring, he closed them, shedding his last tears before fainting again.
There Dom stood now, holding a knife with a rosary tied to its handle, covered in red fabric. He tied the rosary around his hand, securing the knife to his fist, holding it firm and assuming a combat stance.
Several ghouls were still coming towards him, while, far in the background, the true threat finally spotted him.
"Did it finally notice me?"
Staring directly at him, puffing out thick black smoke, while its gaze and posture became more serious.
"Come on… what are you waiting for? An invitation?"
The two stared into each other's eyes, as if the others around them didn't matter. The creature roared madly, demonstrating power and presence, but Dom didn't flinch; instead, he gave his wildest smile.
— A barking dog never bites!
Grabbing a flask from his pocket, he quickly drank its contents. A black liquid entered his throat and coursed through his body. For a moment his eyes widened as his nose bled. His body trembled in pain, but he forced himself to assume a new posture as his eyes and veins turned black and his muscles became more prominent; even his body increased slightly in size.
— If you won't come to me, I'll come to you!
With an absurd leap, he ran towards the monster, being the first to take the initiative, which surprised the creature.
— Kikikikiki!!! — It laughed hysterically.
Dom used the red roots on the ground to avoid sinking his feet, running without problems in its direction. The creature, in response, began to shrink its body, contracting its muscles and limbs, with such power that its sweat turned into vapor.
"Damn. Too late!"
Dom thought as the beast, with a monstrous surge, lunged forward, crushing everything in its path. The wind was cut by its speed. It grabbed two ghouls, throwing them at him.
Dom, with a jump and a spin in the air, narrowly dodged them. Then, he continued his way with the same annoyed look.
Grabbing the axe stuck in the head of the ghoul he had killed earlier, he continued towards the creature and the dead who reached him first, throwing themselves in droves to grab him, hungry, trying to bite him, tear him.
— Get out of the way, scum!
He shouted, clearing a path with his hatchet and knife, cutting down the dead in front of him and dodging those who lunged at him. Dom then, taking the opportunity, climbed one of the dead that fell in front of him, using it as a stepping stone to reach his objective.
Where, with a leap, he launched himself onto the creature, which also leaped towards him, already reaching him, exposing its fangs and claws in response, while opening its enormous mouth to devour him in a single attack.
— DIEEEEEE!!!
***
— Damn… Dom is taking too long! — said a female voice.
A bloody hand gripped the edge of the bone pile. Then another hand, which held a knife. The woman, in turn, said, opening a pretentious smile:
— You really are getting old, huh, Dom?
— But... I'm still good for it! — He smiled.
The man climbed up to where they were, sighing deeply, trying to catch his breath, while stretching his shoulders. He was old, and that was a fact, but even so, he had a well-worked and strong body.
Brown skin, long graying dreadlocks, a yellow eye, and scars on his face, one of which was hidden by an eye patch covering his left eye.
— Ah… — he sighed.
He wore a brown leather jacket, a ragged sweater under which he had a white hooded shirt. He was shod in worn black boots and wore ripped blue pants, which at his waist had a belt full of small pouches, making space for ammunition, rosaries, crosses, and almost every type of holy item.
Dom was covered in blood and began to take off his clothes right there. His body, full of scars, displayed a tattoo on his left arm, where he had cigarette burn marks.
The woman avoided looking at him now without clothes, while her face flushed. The children slept peacefully in her lap. He then tossed her a teddy bear, which, upon catching it, surprised her:
— You remembered to get Petucio? How kind of you! — she said, smiling.
A bald man, with burn scars and scratches on his face, walked up to him and handed him a lighter. Dom, in turn, pulled an improvised cigarette from the pocket of the pants he was already wearing.
Then he lit it, taking a long and deep drag:
— Fuuuu…! — A red smoke escaped his mouth. — What's the current situation, Prego?
— Hehehe, glad you asked, Dom.
Prego wore ripped and loose clothes. His face was wrinkled, although he wasn't old; this was due to his scars. He was also short. His green eyes were the only beautiful part of his deformed face, with that toothless smile.
— In total, twelve deaths. We lost Cliff and Diana in the escape from the warehouse! We are seven, and with few supplies: four bottles of water and three cans of beans. I believe it'll last four weeks at best! The situation has never been as complicated as it is now, Dom.
— Calvin fainted again?
— Yes, I believe it was another panic attack!
— Hm… And the pure items?
— Well… We have one incense stick, two believer's candles, and mandrake roots. We've already lit an incense stick to scare away the flies! So, no problems for two hours?
— Maybe! — He looked around. — The ghouls have already surrounded us! They probably won't leave anytime soon, that is, if they decide to leave, which I doubt.
— What do we do then?
— Wait… Now all that's left is to wait for nightfall. And for those who still have faith, I think it's good to pray to your saints for some rain tonight!
Both looked at Dom, all sharing the same feeling. A feeling that has taken the hearts of many these days: the feeling of abandonment.
"Pain, under the beautiful sky, the world was in flames and calamity. Fire coming from the depths of hell, escaping through the cracks in the ground, roaring along with the screams of the damned.
Gnashing of teeth, screams, agony, and the visceral and incessant sound of the dead who were everywhere. Looking for the living, looking for the survivors, looking for their prey, looking for the damned sinners."
***
— Dom, what was that thing? I've never seen that monster before.
— That was a Fallen Priest! They're common in bone fields since the bones belonged to their faithful.
— Faithful?
— Yes, a Fallen Priest emerges when a holy man loses faith! They usually hide amidst the bones of their former faithful, whom they led to ruin and sin.
— It seemed pretty strong!
— That's because you didn't see it in its final form. They say its eyes turn golden, and a crystal exoskeleton grows, covering its entire body, even its weak points!
— Terrifying…
— Well, it's a demon, after all! They're always terrifying.
Dom was now wearing only brown pants. His face and hands were still stained with dried blood, but everything was calm, though the sun was already setting on the horizon.
— Ghhh!
— Tsk… Enough small talk! Begin preparations.
The two men prepared themselves, loading their pistols with ammunition. Emma, in turn, sharpened her knife while whispering a prayer:
— Glorious Saint George, in the name of God, extend your shield and your powerful weapons to me, defending me with your strength and greatness, and may my enemies be humble and submissive to you beneath the hooves of your faithful steed. So be it with the power of God, of Jesus, and of the phalanx of the divine Holy Spirit. Amen!
She prepared, taking position, and Dom smiled, looking at her. He bent down and picked up something fastened to a backpack: some cloths wrapped around a large object.
— That's right, sometimes I forget you're a devotee of Saint George! Hum, hum, hum… Want to hear an unbeliever's prayer?
— And those without faith like you have a right to prayers?
— Of course we do! Although praying doesn't change the fact that nobody cares about us.
— And what's this "prayer" like?
— I learned it from a drunk priest in a brothel once! I guess it goes something like this…
He began to unwrap something amidst those old cloths, slowly revealing a long silver sword. On it, some holy symbols were carved into its blade, and its hilt was covered with some rosaries and white ribbons.
Raising his sword high, he said in Latin:
— "Gladius meus exscindatur per carnem et ossa, sit gladius meus millies acrior et fortior adversariis meis. Sit rubigo eius gladius cum fide tua et mille schedulis effringat! Non servio sanctis aut daemonibus, spiritus gratuitus sum sicut aqua, et sicut aqua, da mihi virtutem ad perdendum matriculas, quae inclusae sunt mihi. Rogo, ut hodie me adiuves ut arma proditoris frangam, ut putridum cor meum gladius transfigere possit, et ut proprio sanguine et stercore suffocationis pereant! Ideo interrogo animas quarum ab eis captae sunt, ut me adiuvet et faciam vindictam suam, ero gladius vester, et vos eritis manus, quae faciam iustitiam. Cataclysmus!"
— And can that be considered a prayer?
— Hahahaha, true.
— Dom, everything's ready! — Prego said, interrupting them.
He placed his weapon at his waist, holding a crowbar. Beside him, a man as big and strong as a bear held a steel beam in his hands, resting it on his shoulder.
He had a robust body, strong arms, a long red beard, and blue eyes. His clothes were simple: overalls and a plaid shirt with brown boots. Looking at Dom, he smiled, revealing his silver teeth.
— All good, Piff?
— Yes, sir! Let's open the way, I've rested enough today.
— Listen here, Emma. — he said, holding the girl on his shoulders — Stay up here taking care of the children and Calvin! Light a candle and don't let it go out, got it?
— All right, Dom, you can count on me!
— You two, give me the last candle and follow me.
Picking up the red candle, he lit it. It wasn't long before melting wax dripped onto his sword, slowly filling the carved gaps in the blade. Finally, filling them all, the sword began to glow.
Dom then put out the candle, placing it in his pants pocket. The darkness of night had finally reached them, although they had light, the purest light.
— AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
— AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Some screams were heard by them, followed by more horrendous screams of pain in endless agony.
— It's started… — Dom said, preparing himself.
The ghouls began to cry blood as darkness covered them, filling their eyes with dread. They screamed in agony as their bones expanded, tearing through their flesh, splattering their blood that now further stained them with sin.
The first ones began to run toward the light at the top of the bone pile. It wasn't long before they leaped, gripping the pile, and quickly began to climb it.
— They're coming, Dom! — Piff shouted.
Dom gripped his sword in his hands and, running, launched himself into the abyss. He forcefully plunged his sword into the ground, resulting in a wave of light that burned several ghouls around, though a good portion of them still ran toward him.
Emma lit the last candle, while Piff and Prego jumped to meet Dom. Preparing themselves, they faced the horde that quickly surrounded them in the darkness, where they could only see in the distance those scarlet eyes approaching the light.
The three didn't seem scared, but rather exhilarated, flashing their most insane smiles:
— Who's going to take off more heads today? — Dom said.