The audio/podcast listed here is a discussion on this short story, don't listen to that before reading the story below.
By Matthew Nemeth
The Closet: A Short Zombie/Horror Story is about a family of 3 surviving the start of the Zombie outbreak, the 3 characters are Elena, Michelle and Jack. Elena is a 10 year old girl living with her Mum and Dad, its the weekend, Dad is at work, Michelle and Elena are at home all living their normal lives.
Suddenly Michelle and Elena hear a disturbance from the neighbours, a crash and a bang, neither of them think much of it and continue their normal day, Michelle is washing the dishes and Elena is playing with her toys, just then, Elena spots a strange looking person walking through the street coming towards the front door, Michelle still washing the dishes is making a little too much noise and appears to be attracting this strange looking person, the stranger approaches the front door making strange gnarling noises starts scratching and banging on the door.
Elena at this point seems to be more concerned about the stranger than her Mum, Elena nervously and quietly says "Mum there is a strange man at the door", "maybe he's just had a little too much" Michelle replies, the stranger starts growling even louder and banging and scratching at the door. Elena raising her voice and lighty screaming "MUMMY!", "ALRIGHT!" Michelle replies, Michelle opens the door and is immediatly attacked, Michelle overpowered by the stranger is bitten on the ankle, Michelle still wrestling with the stranger urges Elena to go and hide, Elena replies "But Mummy? are you sure?"
"yes sweetheart, in the closet over there", Elena does so. Michelle kicks the stranger against the wall and grabs the knife from the kitchen, falling over just as she does so because of her injured ankle, the stranger charges towards Michelle but she manages to stab him in the head and the 2 have a momment of relief, the threat is gone.
Michelle realises that this is no normal injury and that she is going to bleed out, "Elena, sweetheart, I don't think I'm going to be ok, you need to go and try to find your Dad or someone you can trust, but not the neighbours, don't trust them", "Mummy?" Elena replied, "I know this is all strange sweetheart but I need you to trust me and go find help" Elena is silent but begins to cry.
