The Van: A Tale of Survival [Gritty, Realistic Zombie Horror]
When a fast‑moving viral outbreak turns ordinary people into raging flesh-eating creatures in a store parking lot, eleven-year-old Isabella and her seven-year-old brother Mateo end up trapped in their family minivan after watching their mother die horribly in front of them.
With the infected outside, no van keys, and almost no supplies, they’re left with an impossible choice: slowly starve in the van, die of hypothermia, or risk everything to reach the keys lying near their mother’s corpse.
But the monsters outside aren't the only things tormenting Isabella. She is haunted by her memories of every harsh word she threw at her mother and every time she was mean to her little brother. Now, to keep Mateo alive, she is forced to use the very lessons her mother tried to teach her: discipline, patience, and selflessness. Lessons Isabella ignored when her mother was alive, and which now serve as a bitter, daily reminder of what she lost.
What to expect:
⸭ Claustrophobic Survival: The van is their shelter, their prison, and their whole world. Every decision, such as when to move, when to stay, when to open a door, can kill them.
⸭ The Weight of Guilt: This isn't just about surviving zombies; it's about surviving yourself. Isabella’s character arc is defined by the regret of being a "brat" when life was normal, and the painful realization that her mother was right all along.
⸭ Child POV, Adult Stakes: The main characters are kids with no superpowers. Their fears are real, and they have to grow up fast, navigating a world that punishes every mistake.
⸭ Psychology over Power Fantasy: Hypothermia, hunger, and fear hit harder than jump scares. There is no leveling up, no system, and no upgrade screen coming to save anyone.
Notes:
⸭ Plot lines and different events were brainstormed and developed by me, my wife, and my two kids
⸭ Cover art and any chapter art were generated with Galaxy.AI and edited in Canva
