He strolled down the mountain road, whistling, enjoying the breeze on his face and the ground beneath his feet. It had been to long, this was him now. It had been a struggle to gain control but it had been well worth it so far. His body was strong, not fresh but new to him.

He was told to gather an army. He wasn’t told how or why, but that didn’t matter. His position was not to question. There were numerous ways to coerce the humans into joining him. Killing there bodies was the easiest, the way he felt like going was to destroy all of there minds but the carnal desire. He could control them easily enough that way and they would only want to eat, which would mean death to anything in their way. The last way was to turn them, it takes the most energy but makes the strongest army.

He decided a mix would be the most appropriate, the slow and unstoppable dead, the strong and controllable, and the eternal. Not sure how long he had walked for he came upon a town. He took a deep breath, tasting the flowers and trees on the back of his tongue.

“I’ll destroy the minds first, easiest to make. Oh that’s my voice is it? I think I will enjoy my time here.” Walking into the village he began lashing out at all the voices and thoughts he heard in his head. Dominating and destroying their free will. It was a simple enough task for him. Having done it to thousands before when he reined.

“On to the next,” he yelled, just to see what it sounded like, hoping to find one strong enough to survive the change. He knew he would, he had eternity, there was bound to be someone out there.

“I’m coming for you,” he whispered into the night. Spreading his arms wide, “You hear me world? Your souls belong to me now.”

Corporal Guerrero was a typical guy; he grew up in northern California. He didn’t think being Hispanic was a bad thing, it had influenced how he was treated growing up. He had dark black hair, with a deep natural tan. He was almost 6’ tall but only with his boots on. He wanted to join a gang but couldn’t find one that was violent and structured enough for him, getting caught was a bad thing in California. He had been in fights most of his life, it was what he enjoyed and was good at. He did ok in school, good enough to pass but not good enough to get into college. Then at the age of 18 right after he got out of high school his father forced him to join the army, “teach him some discipline and respect” he said. He wasn’t really mad about it; he was now going to be paid to kill people in other countries and he couldn’t get into trouble for it. His ASVABT was way to low to be anything but a foot soldier. But he had heard that military women were easy, and what could be better then killing people and having sex.

Corporal Guerrero was bored out of his mind. After being ordered to sleep during the attack that morning he had the honor of day guard. He and three other soldiers were on guard today. Not really considered a hard job since the zombies hard already attacked, and they never attacked twice in the same day. It had been like this for the last few months, being attacked then waiting for the next one. He was tired of the same old thing; he wasn’t even allowed to patrol with his fellow soldiers. He would be alone until mess at 1200, Corporal Guerrero needed something to keep him engaged, keep him focused and alert. He heard some young guy came into the camp a few minutes ago. He had been walking around the front of the camp and overheard the two guards there talking about him. Nothing new ever happened to him though, just the same old stuff every day.

All he wanted to do was kill some zombie scum, he was told they weren’t zombies because they attacked when it was advantageous for them and didn’t smell like rotting flesh. He didn’t really care though; he just wanted to kill something. Well kill something or get a shot at 2nd Lt. Morris. He had been with a few girls in the company and one refugee who paid him with sex for some extra food, but the Lieutenant was beyond him. She didn’t even know he existed, but that was going to change when he enacted his plan.

He had a chance to prove himself. To show the ladies and officers of his company he was a hero. The guy that saved the company, his goal was to find the zombies base of operations, were they hung out when they weren’t attacking his company. He had a pretty good idea were it might be. He just needed to kill a few of the things and report back to Captain Todd, he stopped to check his gear. He had his M4 rifle with 2 extra clips and 2 40mm grenades; there was no way he would get surprised or overwhelmed. He started down the hill; all he could think about was the praise he would get and about Lt. Morris.

*****

2nd Lt. Morris saw the young man walk into camp, the guards at the entrance of what little perimeter they had asked him to stop and explain why he was there but he just looked at them with eyes as cold as a winters storm and kept walking. She knew at that moment that she wanted him, the way he carried himself, not as if he were above everyone, but as if he was driven by some inner fire that that couldn’t and wouldn’t be stopped. He walked straight past her without even glancing her way; he went straight up to Sergeant Defuss and said something she couldn’t hear. She knew he wasn’t a random person walking into camp; the way the moved she knew he was someone important. He had an air about him that said get in my way and you’ll be dead before you draw your next breath.

His clothing wasn’t tight but she knew that he had an extraordinary body, by watching him walk with such grace and strength she could tell he was in peak physical condition, not an ounce of fat on his body. She was imagining what he sounded like, how his lips tasted and feeling his strong muscles with her hands. She was in a day dream practically drooling when one of the other women in the company came up behind her.

“What a fine piece of ass I see walking into our camp.”

Lt. Morris turned around to see Private Sarah Rose, a 19 year old girl, she was about 5’6” with bouncy red hair, she was fit but not amazingly attractive. She had a southern accent but wouldn’t say what state she was raised in.

“I like the new guy, hopefully he stays around. I could use someone to keep me warm at night.”

Private Rose was considered the slut of the company, having been with almost every guy she found slightly attractive, including that freak Corporal Guerrero. The higher ranked men in the company wouldn’t go near her except to give her orders.

“Sorry sweetie but I saw him first; you can have him when I’m done with him. If he hasn’t fallen in love with me that is.”

“Ohh so your staking you’re claim are you? Well that’s fine by me, just don’t tire him out too much, I really could use some fresh meat.”

“You know you’re pretty disgusting, I was thinking of an actual relationship with the man.”

“Ha-ha like you would ever get into a relationship with anyone that couldn’t get you exactly what you wanted, whenever you wanted. He was fine but didn’t look too loaded in the money department.”

“Well I guess I’ll just have to find out then wont I shouldn’t take to long.”

“I’m guessing you’ll know about half way through the night, either a fun fling or an actual keeper.”

“Exactly, either way it should be pretty good. He looks like he is in amazing shape.” Lt. Morris looked back over at the new arrival just in time to see him go into the Captains tent. “Hopefully that doesn’t take to long, I have duties to attend to you know.”

“Yes ma’am,” she said with a smirk on her face “I understand where would you like me posted today? Just not guard duty please, Guerrero is on that today and he won’t stop asking me for a round two.”

“Well Private you shouldn’t have made the bed you didn’t want to sleep in a few cold nights.” She laughed quietly knowing Private Rose regretted her decision to lay with the Corporal. “But today I want you on ration duty, start counting what we have left and find out how long it will last us.”

“Yes ma’am, thank you ma’am.” She walked off with a smile on her face, knowing there would be a little extra noise during mess that would just barely be heard.

Second lieutenant Morris decided to walk over to the Captains tent to see if she could be of any help to her commanding officer.

*******

The Corporal walked towards what he believed would be a perfect spot to hide the amount of zombies that came at them each day. There was more then one hundred of the creatures because no matter how many they killed they just kept coming. It was a cave in the side of a mountain he saw when the army company and refugees where heading to there current camp. It wasn’t a large entrance, but he had hope it was big enough inside for what he thought was in there. He had been walking for close to 2 hours when he finally reached the cave opening. Being in what he considered perfect physical health he wasn’t even tired, he stopped outside the entrance to prepare himself, he ate a nutrition bar and drank some water. He put the flashlight attachment onto his rifles rail and turned it on.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Having talked himself into believing that those creatures were going to be in that cave he was shocked when it was empty. The cave itself was extremely dark; his light barely penetrated what seemed to be a fog. The main entrance to the cave was about 15 feet by 12 feet. With what he believed was another entrance farther back under the mountain. He stayed near the middle of the first room, listening for sounds of proof that this was the camp of the zombies. He never heard the creature behind him as it slowly stalked him. He didn’t even feel it as the beast put his hand on his right shoulder. But he did feel the absolute pain as his mind went black and he fell to the floor.

He awoke 30 minutes later to the sound of laughter reverberating throughout the cave.

“Who’s there? I know you’re not one of the zombies. They haven’t talked since we first saw them. If you want money or weapons I can give you some.” He started to turn around looking frantically into the dark corners of the cave. Noticing he didn’t have his gun or flashlight he began checking the rest of the items he brought, no grenades no knife. He had nothing to defend himself but his fists, and since the person who attacked him likely had his stuff he knew he was dead.

He turned toward the light part of the cave and started running, thinking it was the entrance he had come through earlier he ran towards it. He was quite surprised when he almost ran into a man standing over a pile of his equipment with the flashlight on. “You! You attacked me, give me my stuff back or I’ll kick your ass.” The man began to laugh, a deep sound that echoed off the walls, he stopped and turned towards the corporal and smiled. Then he disappeared, it almost looked as if he vanished into thin air but the corporal had seen him move to the right, so he swung his fist hoping to hit the man. He did hit him but when he focused his eyes he saw that he had just hit his hand, which had caught his fist. He was suddenly jerked down by his wrist on his knees he looked up to see a dark red glare in the man’s eyes and a wicked smile on his face.

“Thank you for coming to my home, I was hoping one of the soldiers would make it down here before they were all killed.”

“What do you want with me?”

“With you?” he said with a voice closer to a hiss. “Nothing too much, just information, like why is the U.S. army here? Why are you protecting the refugees instead of leaving, and what does the man who walked into your camp want?”

“We were here to keep Australia out but now we are staying to keep the people of that city alive, and you’re talking about the young guy who walked in today? I don’t know anything, just some stupid Tasmanian that was lost in the hills who saw our camp most likely.”

“Ohh if you only knew the truth, how about you help me, yes that’s what you’ll do. I want you to spy on that man for me; I want to know what his plans are and why he is here now.”

“Why the hell would I help you? You attacked me and now you’re telling me to help you?”

“Forcing you is more like it, you see I don’t want you to actually do it, I want to use your body to do it for me.”

“What!! How the hell does that work? Use my body but not me, your crazy dude, I’m out of here.” Corporal Guerrero tried to punch out with his free hand to hit his attacker in the crotch. But before he even moved the man was behind him with his hand on the corporal’s head.

“This is how I will use your body and not you.”

The pain he had felt in his head was back, but so much worse, it was like a million bee’s stinging his brain over and over and over again, his body went numb yet he still felt the pain, suddenly he was looking at himself being attacked. He looked up at his attacker standing over his kneeling body, instead of it being a person he saw a glowing black beast. The face and body of a human but wings that looked to be from a dragon, those dark red eyes looked from the back of his bodies head to him standing there and smiled; then it was suddenly gone and so was the body of the man. He looked to his body and it rose up, looked at him, laughed like a demon and walked out of the cave.

It had been no more then two minutes but it felt like he had been standing there for hours. He just stood there, not truly understanding what had just occurred. Hoping and praying it was a dream. That he had fallen asleep at home and his dad hadn’t sent him to the army. Ohh how he prayed, but he knew it was real. He knew he just watched himself die and his body get possessed, but what could he do. Nothing, he could do nothing. His corporeal self sat down on the cave floor and began to cry.

*****

“Captain may I enter?” she said with a sweet alluring feminine voice.

“Please do Lt. Morris I could use your advice in here.”

Opening the tent flap Lt. Morris walked in. The captain watched as his young guest turned towards the entrance and the visitor put his right hand on the blade on his hip. The movement was fluid and without any wasted motion. He didn’t draw his weapon but kept his hand there as the Lt. entered. Captain Todd thought he saw a flash of interest on the man’s face. He didn’t doubt that he did. The Lt. was a very attractive women, being 5’7” with long blonde hair tied up in a bun, even in her uniform you could tell she was in great physical condition, she kept the top few buttons on her shirt undone, since they were working so hard, she said she didn’t want to pass out from being to hot.

“What can I do for you Lt.? As you can see we have a guest, this is… well he hasn’t told us his name,” Sergeant Defuss snorted at that. “Sir this is 2nd lieutenant Morris she one of my three Lieutenants in charge under 1st Lt. Thompson.” Lt. Morris could tell something was wrong with the Captain because his voice was shaky and he was stuttering his words.

“I really don’t see the point in giving a name to you since you will all most likely be dead by the time we part ways, but it is part of your culture so you can call me Luke.”

“Nice to meet you Luke,” she said with a gulp, “it’s a pleasure to see someone who has survived out there without military aide,” she looked up at him and batted her eyes. He was much more appealing from close up, she had a hard time keeping her voice from breaking with all the thoughts going through her head. He seemed a little off though, but from her experience most rich men were a little eccentric. “I hope the group you were with is close behind you so we can protect them from those creatures, there are an awful lot of them” She stuck her hand out to shake his hoping to feel his warm hands, strong but not overpowering, rough but smooth enough to be gentle. He just looked at her, no expression on his face, no emotion showing through.

“I wasn’t even approached, those creatures aren’t that stupid,” he said this with a smug grin on his face that said no one is that stupid. “I’m always alone, I don’t do well with others, and from what I’ve seen of your company I wouldn’t bring a group here if it was my last choice. I found some people hiding in the major cities but they are already on their way to a secure area.”

“What? What did you mean you wouldn’t bring them here, we are the United States army, plus there is no force stronger than ours in existence.” First Sergeant Defuss practically yelled it out to the young man, anyone around could tell he was angry and getting more upset as he went along. “They are now out there alone and with no one to protect them, and who the hell do you think you are talking to us like we mean nothing. I should kill you where you stand and be on my way, I don’t give a shit if your some kind of monster. I don’t think you can move fast enough to dodge bullets but I would really like to test my theory.” He was fuming, hand on his side arm, but when Luke turned toward him all the color drained from his face. The look on the Luke’s face was nightmare inspiring; his eyes had gone pure black, his teeth had all seemed to get longer. The muscles all over his body flexed and grew, stretching his shirt, almost to the point it ripped. He didn’t move, he just stared at the Sergeant.

Lt. Morris and Captain Todd both took a step back in horror at what they were seeing. Lt. Morris hadn’t know what the 1st Sergeant had meant when he had called Luke a monster but now she did, the person standing in from of her was no human. She almost pissed herself looking at him, she had never been so scared in her life.

“If you ever talk to me that way again I swear to the god you believe in I will cut your throat out,” his voice had changed timbre, it was much deeper now, almost like an animal’s growl, “don’t you remember what I just did? I’ll have you dead before you draw your gun, let alone pull the trigger. Are you truly stupid enough to challenge someone who has proven they are your better?” He said, showing the first emotion he had since Lt. Morris had walked in, excitement. “You have an anger problem boy and if you don’t fix it I’ll fix you, and if I thought your opinion relevant or helpful I would have asked for it, but I don’t so please just leave or sit in the corner and listen like a good little boy. On the other hand if you would like to try I would be glad to shed your blood, I could use a warm up before the real fighting begins, plus one less person to get in my way.” He turned back towards Captain Todd, he looked human again, his eyes were still darker color but changing back. “The ship they are heading to is almost a mile out of harbor they have guns, and they aren’t stupid. They know exactly what is going on, and what they need to do to stay alive until I can get back to them.”

“Please both of you stop arguing, he is here to help us and he knows much more than we do about what’s going on, please tell us why you think there will be an attack soon, there is no proof or reason to believe that we will get attacked again. And could you show us where the ship is? If we could get these people and my men to that ship we could get out of here.”

“Wait, what do you mean he thinks there is going to be another attack, is he crazy, I’m not going to listen to some monster telling me what to do, I think we should kill him now. How do you speak to us in such a way? Who do you think you are? I demand that you apologize to the sergeant and leave immedi...”

Before she had finished speaking the man had his hand around her throat with her feet dangling in the air. “You young lady need to keep your arrogant mouth shut, I am trying to keep you and all your little friends here alive, and if I have to kill someone so the rest of you listen to me and do what I say then I will not hesitate.” He sat her down on the ground but didn’t take his hand off her throat. He leaned in close to her and said quietly, “Will you be the one I have to kill to show these men the error of their ways?”

“No.” she said, though it was barely a whisper. Tears were welling up in her eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back.

“Good,” he said with a smile that lacked all emotion, “I hate to waste my energy on someone so pathetic. Now where was I? Ohh yes I was talking to the smart one of the group. Captain I am not going to waste anymore of my time telling you what you know needs to be done, they are coming at us now and by the feeling I’m getting its not just them, the one leading them is coming too. Get ready they will be here momentarily.” He let go of her throat and walked towards the entrance of the tent.

*****

The two guards stationed at the only opening in their perimeter carried larger weapons then the other soldiers, they were M60 machine guns, not that they needed them since they hadn’t been attacked during the day before.

“Ya know, I’m really glad we have this shift this month. I was getting tired of fighting for my life every day.” The man speaking was 2nd Lieutenant Wayne.

“I agree,” said staff sergeant Johnson. “I’m getting to old for this crap.”

“You’re not that old staff sergeant, just a few years older than I am. Ha-ha.”

“Well it sure feels like I am, doing this for three months I feel like I’m in my sixties.”

“Why don’t u take a break then, besides that kid that came walking in nothing is going to happen.” As he said those words they heard a sharp screeching noise from down the road, “Sergeant could you please drive the SUV into place, I’ve never heard that noise before but let’s get ready just in case.”

Staff sergeant Johnson grabbed the keys from Lt. Wayne and got into the SUV. They used it to block the entrance as they had no gate or any other way to close the perimeter. As he drove the car into place he looked out onto the road, he had never seen a sight that frightened him more. Because they had never been seen in the day before, and they left no dead behind, no one was actually sure what the things that attacked them looked like. From 200 yards they looked like normal people. But as they got closer he could tell they weren’t. Their skin was almost transparent; you could make out the veins and muscle under the skin. He turned towards the Lt. who was already setting his weapon up on the hood of the SUV. “Sir?”

“Go tell the Captain Sergeant. I’ll do my best to hold them off, run!”

“Sir you’re younger and faster I’ll stay, you should go.”

“That was an order Sergeant, you’ve been doing this longer and are more valuable than I am, plus I’ve already got my gun set up,” he said that in a serious tone but with a childish smirk on his face. “Now please hurry, I don’t want to die alone.”

The sergeant set his gun down on the hood next to the Lt.’s and started to run, as he entered the Captains tent he heard the first gun shots go off.

*****

One of the guards came running in then and ran straight into him. The guard was on his back with the wind knocked out of him. The other three in the tent just stood there and stared at Luke.

“That was rude,” the smile on his face looked almost genuine. “Are you ok young man?”

Barely able to talk he looked to the captain and said “Sir they’re coming more than I’ve seen come at us before, I really don’t think we can survive sir.”

“I tried to tell you Captain, but now it looks like it’s too late to run, ohh well, I can test myself against them. It Should be pretty easy until the one in charge shows up. Then I can have some fun.” The emotion on his face was easy to read, excitement and joy. No fear or hesitation, like he truly wanted to fight. “I can’t protect everyone, better close your mouths and get out there.”

He ran outside, Captain Todd reached down to help up Staff Sergeant Johnson. Who had a confused look on his face.

“Sir, I ran straight into him and he didn’t move an inch, it felt like my body ran into a solid brick wall. Who is he? And why did he say young man?”

Wondering the same thing Lt. Morris walked outside to the sound of gunshots. Luke was a devil, she knew it, not only did he have extraordinary strength but his body changed and made him into a nightmare. That shouldn’t have just happened she thought to herself. All her thoughts about Luke and what he was were swept away when she saw what was coming towards the camp