Ten short story writers were given the topic of two characters, Ed and Lily, on a rainy afternoon in Blackpool when there was a Zombie attack. Each story takes a different direction but they all include ZOMBIES!
Here are some extracts:
There was a time when Blackpool Tower was packed every day, filled with people having a good time. Television shows were filmed here, right in the ballroom where people danced and laughed and clapped. But I am the only one here now. (Towered by Jacquera Black)
My best friend had just had her throat ripped out and the person who did it was in an orgasmic state. As my mind started to process the scene, I could hear more screams coming from all around me... (Not Another Zombie Story by Rowanne Carberry)
'Get out son! The shipwreck's full of 'em!' Father shouted. A black rotting corpse broke a hole through the ship's wall in front of me. Staring at me with blood-red eyes, its shrivelled purple lips curled back, mouth opening wide baring teeth black with rot. (The Black Poole by A Isaac)
"It's weird there's nobody around - well I can see a couple of people over there, but they look like they're staggering a bit. Must be the wind, or maybe a lunchtime pint or several!"
"It's probably because Blackpool's dead in the winter and you know why that is!" (Zombietown by Deb Jacobs)
'Mum! Mum!'
'Just a minute, Ed! Mummy needs to do this.' Facebook quiz to check which Strictly celeb I’m most like, Lily added silently, flicking through the questions on her phone. (#Zombies by Leigh Keating)
You could come to Blackpool and just let yourself merge into the miasma of broken dreams and empty promises. Here you could let things fade away slowly hanging onto a façade filled with wild smiles and madness with nothing underneath. (the violence calls up silence by Mark Keating)
Lily knew she had to get off the street. The smell of rain was in the air and the creatures seemed to like the rain. Maybe it was something about the sound all around them, they were always attracted to any kind of sound. (The Pier by Bec Pearce)
I remember thinking to myself, No, no, this isn’t happening, it’s just something else, someone in the crowd getting too rowdy or something. But off in the distance, we could see the soldiers hurrying, getting their guns ready…shooting towards the beach. And we could hear screams now. (Day One by Richard Southworth)
Lily watched through a pane of unbroken glass, terrified, as the first Zombie to reach Ed ripped off her husband’s leg and slid off the yellow trouser covering like taking a wrapper off a bar of chocolate. (Deliteful Donuts by Glenis Stott)
The Ecclesiopians had been putting up beautiful posters of a world returned to nature. Piles of clothes scattered around the landscapes, everyone who had real faith being gathered by angels and returned to the Kingdom of Heaven.
“We just misunderstood,” Lily muttered disconsolately. (Remains by Angel Wedge)
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