Arthur's eyes remained locked wide with shock, his pupils dilated as his mind struggled to process the horrifying reality before him. The primal fear that had seized his chest felt like a vice grip, squeezing tighter with each labored breath. His body moved of its own accord, taking another tentative step backward as his survival instincts screamed at him to flee from these abominations that had once been human.
The shambling figures continued their relentless advance, their movements creating a sickening symphony of dragging feet and wet, guttural moans that seemed to emanate from somewhere deep within their decaying throats. The sound sent shivers racing down Arthur's spine, each moan like fingernails scraping across the chalkboard of his soul.
