The Will Of Instinct

Entry 08

I know that I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, and made more than my share of bad decisions. I’ve learned from many painful experiences that I can be incredibly naive and inconsistently aware of what should be immediately considered life-threatening. I’ve paid dearly for many of those mistakes, and the scars and broken bones are the least of it. Looking back at that moment, at the minutes I spent in that closet, I realized that none of my past mistakes had provided me with anything tangible that I could use to prepare for the new world ...

Entry 07

The pale hand that reached out of the largest pile of clothes was latched firmly onto my leather booted ankle, and I could feel its grasp tighten as it tried to pull me from my feet. I stepped back instantly and partially dragged the body from out of the pile. Clothes and shoes fell around me, slowing me down as I tried to get away. My attacker was wrapped up in all the junk on the floor, looking like a mockery of an ancient mummy as it awkwardly tried to stand and a muted scream erupted from beneath the layers of ...

Entry 06

It wasn't a small bedroom, but it felt that way immediately as my light swept inside and the smell of decay washed over me. The small body laid out on the bed made me feel cramped even though I was still in the doorway. I focused the light on the bed, and realized that I'd likely found the woman who once owned the hand in the living room. She must have been twenty-something when she'd died, young and in great shape from what I could see. Her arms were spread out away from her, as if she'd just fallen back ...

Entry 05

Not looking out the window after pulling down the dark blankets to let in some light ranks right up there on the list of things I should have known to avoid. I should have known to look at everything carefully, to check my surroundings whenever possible, and then to constantly recheck them. I have to know better. My heightened sense of danger should make me more alert. My adrenaline should speed up my responses and make me focus my attention with laser accuracy. It didn't. I wasn't use to being in constant survival mode yet. I was rushing to leave ...

Entry 04

Door number three was marked "1A", and the nameplate beneath the gold painted unit marker had never been changed as it still showed the generic "Occupant's Name:____________" placard behind the plastic cover. The door was open roughly three inches, and I could tell that the security chain was not in place. This apartment faced the western side of the apartment complex, so it wasn't getting any direct sunlight at the time of my exploration. This meant that the interior was going to be in shadow and I couldn't rely on the lights working. The power hadn't come on for over ...

Entry 03

What a crazy few days it’s been since my last entry. I ended out sleeping straight through the night, the lack of coughing and sweating finally let me get some real sleep that recharged my batteries and strength. I awoke with a clear head, and decided that it was time to start exploring my apartment building. Maybe some of my neighbors are still here, and they might have some news or updates for me that I'd missed while sick and stuck in bed. First things, first. I had decided that just pushing my bookcases up against the window wasn’t going to ...

Entry 02

I’m so fucking tired today I can barely think straight. My slow recovery from the flu has left me a hot mess right now. At least I’m alive. I keep telling myself that; “at least I’m alive.” I don’t know if that’s really something to feel lucky about, but it’s something at least, and sometimes that's all you need. Let me backtrack a little bit. I’ve spent the last two days recovering from a cold, sweating in bed and sleeping almost the entire time. It started off with cold chills shortly before I went to bed after writing my last entry. ...

Entry 01

The sounds of occasional gun-fire continue in the distance as I sit here in the last few minutes of daylight, my journal finally finding a use. I found it in the bottom of one of my old backpacks that I'd emptied out to use for my scavenging, and it was like a light bulb came on. I’d had this damned thing for a year, but I’d never written anything in it. I’d always meant to start writing, meant to put my English degree to good use, but I’d never actually done it. Now, I find there’s not much else for ...

Prologue

The sun shines warmly through my study window as I sit at my desk, the coffee in my hand steaming into the cold morning air as I sip cautiously of the too hot dark liquid. No one else is awake in the house yet, and I enjoy the few quiet moments afforded me by being an early riser. Soon the sound of small feet will patter down the hallways, dogs will bark and beg for breakfast, and my wife will check on me to ensure I’m content and well caffeinated and working diligently on a project I have too often ...