No one knew how fast the end of the world was going to be. The creatures moved so slow, yet they caught everyone by surprise. We didn't know who they were. We didn't know what they were. A day ago, I would of never even talked to those people, they are a handful of the people who managed to escape their homes alive, and now they are some of the only people I know of left.
Mac woke up in his bed, he stretched under the covers and grabbed his phone from the small bedside table beside the bed. It read "9:44am" and he noticed he had no wifi bars. He got out of bed, wishing he could lie down all day everyday, but he knew that is a bad lifestyle. He was completely naked, thankfully his sister Kate didn't pull the covers off him like she did a few mornings ago, she learned the hard way.
Mac got dressed and pulled the curtains and the sunshine rays danced on his skin as a warm glow. He smiled and walked into Kate's room, realising it's a weekday and she's at school. Living just the two of them was a break from their dysfunctional parents, those two became best friends and he distracted Kate from their parent's broken marriage and the horrific aftermath of fighting. Mac then walked to the wifi router and realised there wasn't any lights on at all. "Power outage?" he thought to himself.
That's when he heard the noises of the dead.
The moans and groans. He walked to the window and saw three human-like creatures walking down the street, one has a broken leg and another is drooling blood from its groaning mouth. Mac's eyes bulged and he backed away from the window and tried calling his parents. Dial tone. Mac then tried to ring Kate, who was at school. Dial tone. Mac's heart was racing, he started to get an anxiety attack as he became shaky and he was losing control of his breathing. Alone, with creatures outside, this wasn't some prank or celebration, this is real life.
Mac closed his eyes and started thinking. "I need to get out of the city" he thought and grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down a list of things to pack. He grabbed a large backpack, he knew something was up. Suddenly one of those creatures started knocking on the door. The groaning haunting him as it rings in his ears. Shit. Mac had a small handgun under his bed incase of people trying to rob people. He ran under his bed, where he found empty soda cans and chocolate wrappers and a cheeky condom wrapper too, until he grabbed the loaded gun. He inspected it. He opened the magazine and six bullets were in there as they should. Mac isn't a gun fan and maybe never will be. But he wanted something to protect Kate and himself. He heard muffled noises and the door opened.
"MAC? KATE?" the voice yelled. He knew that voice, it was his neighbour Nick. A strange guy, he kind of acted like he knew the end of the world was going to happen. Mac kept the gun's safety on off and walked into the living room. Nick was standing there with a shotgun and his own pistol with a holster on his belt. This was the first time Mac was ever really impressed with Nick, and he's so glad Nick is here right now.
"Where's Kate?" Nick asked. "She's at school, we need to get out of the city Nick, take as many people with us and go somewhere else" Mac explained. Nick thought for a moment. "Okay, we'll use Mike's bus, he's just down the road" Nick suggested. "Yes! Yes okay I'm going to quickly pack and leave a note for Kate. If she finds it she'll know I'm out of the city and I'm safe". Mac said, and Nick could tell how panicky Mac is as he spoke and moved. "Those things, they're people, but dead. They're the walking dead. Killing the brain will kill them, body shots do nothing I've learned. Mac, please keep calm. Go pack a change of clothes, a couple bottles of water, toothbrush and toothpaste, all canned food and some food everyone can eat today" Nick explained calmly. Mac nodded and went into his room.
Nick left the house and closed the door. The three creatures were lying on Mac and Kate's lawn, a bullet hole in each of the creatures foreheads. Nick saw carnage in the lovely white picket fenced suburb of the city. There were at least twenty of the things, scattered along the street. One woman he knew and had a fling with one drunken night was being devoured by two creatures, one creature biting into her cheek and another in her abdomen. Nick looked away, it was too painful to watch. He raised his shotgun and shot both creatures, killing the woman in the process.
Nick ran into another home, and he was immediately smacked in the face with something wooden. "Oh my god I'm so sorry!" Keizo said, dropping his wooden katana to the floor and looking at the damage he just caused. It was just below the cheekbone, hitting Nick's upper teeth also. "Please forgive me I thought you were one of those things!" Keizo explained. Nick held his cheek with one hand. "Me and Mac are planning on leaving the city using Mike's bus, we want as many people as possible and as many supplies as possible, that includes canned food, tents, water, personal hygiene and other important things, weapons included" Nick explained.
"I want to come too, I'll pack a suitcase, bring my actual katana and this training one, please let me help, I'm very sorry for hurting you" Keizo apologised. "I forgive you, now hurry I want to be away asap" Nick said and left, holding onto his shotgun and letting the pain in his mouth and cheek continue and adrenaline kicks in, going door to door gathering people.
Mac finished packing. He left a note to Kate and grabbed his pistol. He opened the door to find chaos. He saw Nick far down the street, it seems he wants quite a lot of people, hopefully not too many, only enough to fill a bus. Creatures were walking everywhere. Mac raised his pistol and shot the nearest creature, it hit the creature's neck, which seemed to only attract it's attention. "Fuck!" Mac yelled and fired again, this time in the creature's bloodied and soulless eye. Blood splattered on the concrete and it fell on its back, dead.
Mac started running down the street, hoping not to be grabbed by those things. Keizo stepped outside, this time holding a real katana and he had a suitcase with wheels with him. Mac ran to him for safety. "Mike's bus" Keizo said. "Yeah, we just need to avoid these creatures as much as possible". Mac said. Keizo unsheathed his katana from its holster and dropped his luggage. He ran up to a walker, raised it high in the air and split the walker down the middle up to its nose. Keizo put his leg on the walker and pried the katana from its head. Mac decided to carry both his backpack and the luggage as Keizo would kill any creatures nearby.
Nick finally reached Mike's house. Mike opens the door holding a rifle. "I've got some people coming over, we want you to use your bus and drive us out of the city" Nick asked. "Why can't we stay?" Mike asked. "Because before the power went out, there were reports on a virus in Washington D.C. I think those creatures are infected with the virus. Heavily populated places are in danger, which means us. We need to get to the outskirts and find somewhere safe to camp out and decide what to do next" Nick said. Mike realised Nick was right, and lowered his rifle. "Come on in" Mike said and let Nick inside.
Mac and Keizo had killed most of the creatures on the street, a couple went into empty houses or feasting on a dead body. They reached the bus and saw a korean girl get onto the bus, with Mike at the wheel and Nick holding his shotgun out, shooting any creatures that get too close. Mac noticed there were quite a few people on the bus already, he guessed at least 10 others, not a huge amount of people, but he realised not everyone would want to leave their home, or they may of been killed already.
"You are the last two, hop on!" Nick said. Mac gave Keizo their luggage and the pair walked onto the bus, with Nick behind them. The bus doors shut, and Mac, Nick and Keizo saw all the pairs of eyes staring at them. Mac saw the shock and fear in those eyes. Those fearful eyes saw Mac's fear and anxiety too. Mac sat down, Keizo sat beside him and Nick sat behind the wheel.
Mac introduced himself to everyone as the bus started to leave their street. He met Xavier and Bailey, brother and sister who's aunt was killed not long ago, Bailey is crying with Xavier. Bertha is alone and paralysed, who helped Xavier and Bailey escape from the creature that killed their aunt. Mac noticed Bailey was holding a teddy bear under her arm. Seeing Xavier and Bailey like that makes Mac think of Kate, and if she is alive. Bertha sat by herself, she stared out of the window, at the horrors outside. Mac didn't dare look.
Mac then introduced himself to two girls, a younger korean girl, who's named Brittany, and an older mid/late 20's woman named Kylie. Both dressed like they hate their fathers and possibly sell their body on a street corner. "Hey, I'm Brittany, I'm so glad you're here to keep me safe" she said in an innocent tone. "Just trying to do the right thing Brittany, whatever's happened we'll survive it" Mac said to the girls. He kept walking and behind those two was a mother he's seen but never talked to named Leona. Her kids and husband is out there somewhere, dead or alive, or undead. She didn't seem to be in the mood to talk.
Mac walked down more and saw a guy with his hands on his face, either crying or trying to hide it. He noticed the engagement ring on his finger. Mac sat down next to the man. "Hey, I'm Mac. Is your fiancée missing?" he asked bluntly. The guy lifted his head and sobbed. "Yes, her name is Jessica and she left to go to the mall before this all started, I don't know if she's okay" he sniffed before adding "I'm Bret by the way". "I'm missing my sister Kate too, she's at school right now, I have no idea where she is now or if she's safe and sound, I just need to hope" Mac said, hoping to cheer Bret up. "I know she's okay, I just need to find her!" Bret snapped. "Sorry, hang in there" Mac said and walked down and met two people, one named Harmony and a cute guy named Jackson.
Both are alone in the world, either dead or missing parents. "We'll be out of the city in no time, we'll be safer out of here" Mac said to Harmony and Jackson. Jackson smiled and Harmony replied "Logically you're right. Those creatures aren't what's gonna be the death of us, the monsters inside of humans will be" Harmony warned, something Mac never thought about.
Mac saw the last person on the bus, a girl around his age, he knew her from high school. Her name is Tyger and she has a twin sister named Iona. Mac sat beside Tyger. "Is Iona okay?" Mac asked. "She was hanging out with friends, I don't know if she's alive or..." she left the sentence unfinished. "We'll find her, but for now we need to leave the city, it's the best thing for us" Mac said. "Yeah, I know" Tyger replied. "You're strong, and so is Iona. You two are almost never by yourselves, we'll find Iona" Mac said reassuring and walked to the front of the bus and sat with Nick again.
The bus drove out of the city where dozens and dozens of walkers roam the streets. Car crashes and fires are everywhere. Mac looked out of the window, the city is turning into farmland as the houses disappear as they drive away. Depression fills the bus like tear gas, or a virus. "Where are you Kate?" Mac thought to himself.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode:
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long:
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse:
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable:
Any storylines you think will happen:
Favourite 3 characters introduced:
Areas of improvement:
but I have a feeling a certain character will go to "protagonist immortality status" as I call it.
The one main character who in all the shit that happens, just won't die.
wolven6974 You talking like Mac's gonna be the "Rick Grimes" of the series? In a way, he's the closest to Rick, but no characters are immortal. After writing a few episodes, I know some characters who I want to see survive season 1 or maybe even season 2, and some that may be getting good airtime but that doesn't mean I don't want to kill them off. In my previous series I had a "Mac" and "Kate" character who were seen as the "Rick" and "Carl", until shockingly they were both killed off in Season 2/3, and the series progressed without them.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: Very much! Good writing.
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: I love the length! Even longer would be great also.
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: Yes!
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: No! Kylie should be the main character.
Any storylines you think will happen: Kylie fucking every single guy while they all die one by one.
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Kylie, Kylie & Kylie.
Areas of improvement: Giving other characters more character development.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode:AMAZING
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long:Length is good. Not to long not to short
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse:Yup!
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable:
Any storylines you think will happen:Actually Yes
Favourite 3 characters introduced:Mac, Keizo, Nick (For Now)
Areas of improvement:Hmm I think you're choice it's your story you need to be comfortable with it :3
Macda27
tbh true. But i can't add much cause you said it all already.
only person who has the slightest clue of what could happen is you.
You are the one making the series after all!
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: Yes I did! I really liked it!
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: It is good!
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: Yeah, it was pretty nice!
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: I dont know yet lmao
Any storylines you think will happen: Mac finding his sister, Bret finding his husband, Tyger finding her twin
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Mac, Tyger and Nick right now!
Areas of improvement: Giving other characters more character development, as Mickie said
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: It was really amazing
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: I enjoyed and no it's not long at all. It's like reading a page in a book. :)
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: It seems like a great way for someone to wake up too.
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: I'm not sure yet. I need more action lol.
Any storylines you think will happen: I think Jackson and Mac could possibly get together
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Mac, Jackson and Tyger
Areas of improvement: I think you are fine so far.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: It was a really good start
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: No it was good. There are many characters so it's a good length.
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: Very American haha
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: He is relatable
Any storylines you think will happen: I'm assuming Mac and Bret looking for their loved ones is one.
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Mac, Kelzo and Nick since they got the most development.
Areas of improvement: Atm nothing. I'm surprised so many people had such an arsenal already haha but I keep thinking it's america
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: It was nicely descriptive and was easy to read, so yeah.
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: I liked the length, for me the longer the better and this was a great length.
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: Honestly, it did feel a bit rushed. It felt like everyone instantly understood it was the apocalypse when I assume that many people would be more hesitant.
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: I mean, I just see him as another person who is trying to survive. Everyone has their own unique story but we just saw the most of Mac's. I find him as relatable as everyone else at the moment.
Any storylines you think will happen: Not entirely sure, but the connection of the three groups will probably be a large event.
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Mac, Nick, and Keizo since they are the only ones besides Mike who got more than a simple quick introduction.
Areas of improvement: I understand you can't develop everyone, but it would be nice to see more of the minor characters.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: Yeah
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: I feel like the length of the episode should revolve around how much is going on in that episode.
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: It was pretty good.
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: Hes fairly relatable.
Any storylines you think will happen: I believe that they will go to the shcool while the people at the school go to the neighborhood and realize they missed eachother
Favourite 3 characters introduced: Mac, Nick Keizo.
Areas of improvement: Your series bro.
Overall, did you enjoy the episode: I thought it was fine overall, but the fatal flaw I’d found while reading this is that there was WAY too much focus on Mac! Other blog series such as Aydanmac01’s Descendants and melindaMrskk’s One Killer are so successful because one of things they do is spread the wealth throughout the cast (although the former does have its bits where Tisha gets a bit too much screentime). Therefore, one thing I would suggest is spreading the wealth between the entire cast since you are attempting to write a blog series, not a novel.
Do you enjoy this length or is it too long: I was fine with the length of the episode. Actually, I felt like it went by pretty quick.
Did you like this introduction to the apocalypse: I felt like it could have been approached better because there is no way Mac should have known right off the bat the correct way to kill a zombie. He should have taken due time before learning this because as it is right now, it’s almost as if Mac has God-like powers to see the auras of zombies or something to know that you should aim for the brain, and in zombie apocalypses, you probably shouldn’t have all-knowing protagonists. But how the zombies come from the outside I could guess is how an apocalypse should be introduced and so I do give it points there.
Do you find Mac someone to root for or find relatable: I’m going to be honest with you here, and I am about to sound like a broken record. I really don’t for a huge reason: the story is basically all him in Episode 1, and while this might be fine in a third-person limited novel, it is not okay for a blog series. I know this because I have taken part in NaNoWriMo, and one thing I have discerned is that in blog series, you cannot put all your chips into one person. You have to spread the wealth. Because of this, I’d found I had a hard time really wanting to get to know him.
Any storylines you think will happen: I can’t really guess that one
Favourite 3 characters introduced: I don’t have a favorite 3 at this moment in time lmao
Areas of improvement: Like I said, spread the wealth of development with your cast. Don’t just focus on Mac and leave all the rest of the characters in too much of a background! Also, Mac probably should know a lot less about how zombie apocalypses work and instead should be more of a guy who tries to learn what the new world is going to be like.
Icarus_Mark Mac doesn't have god-like powers and he doesn't know how to kill a walker off the bat, his neighbour Nick knew, but that's mainly because the way Nnewman's bio only gave me "An expert monster hunter and Mac and Kate's neighbour", so in the story Nick is well equiped with a shotgun, and tells Mac what he's learned about the walkers, which is barely anything.
I'm gonna make a quick blog but I do really appreciate what you're saying.
good episode but I'm sure the next one will be better since im in it, lol xd