Undead Paradise

Runner

“…One minute. In just one minute the entire hospital had been swarmed with Infected. The tight corridors and small rooms were perfect for quick transmission. Barreling through the exit, the doctor was relieved to have escaped to safety. Suddenly, glass shattered from a third-floor window, as an infected corpse tumbled to the ground, and to the doctor’s horror, leaped up and sprinted towards him…”

When the zombie plague began, the host bodies were weak and frail. The infection had eroded the person’s immune system and sapped their strength. During the first stage of the zombie outbreak, zombies were slower than the average person’s running speed. Contagion required physical contact, therefore it relied on elements of surprise and overwhelming numbers.

However, as humanity introduced ranged weaponry into the fight against the zombie spread, the virus saw the need to mutate.

In a select number of infected, the disease focused on incapacitating the host while maintaining – and in some cases enhancing – the leg muscles. Mould-like ligaments extended outside the body, wrapping around the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. The soles of their feet peeled away the skin, letting hard bone contact the earth. The skin around their eyes rotted away, erasing their eyelids; their need to rest was eliminated. They were able to pursue potential prey relentlessly across vast distances. These zombies would focus on cutting off the front of  crowds, as well as traveling long distances to find new locations to spread the infection. They were great in urban environments, zigzagging through streets and strafing through gunfire. Because of their incredible speed, they were given the classification: Runner.

Brute

“…Quickly grabbing a metal pipe to bar the double doors, the soldiers collapsed from exhaustion. Through the window, they could see the horde stampeding down the street, chasing the rest of the battalion. Suddenly a booming crash reverberated, as the doors buckled under immense pressure. Before the soldiers had a chance to escape, the metal pipe snapped and speared into the back wall, as the double doors burst off the hinges, revealing the hulking silhouette of a Brute blocking the sunlight…”

Diseases typically weaken the host. During the first month of the mysterious plague, thousands had been rendered hospitalised, allowing the virus time to completely break down the human immune system and take control of the body. Following the first wave of zombification, a noticeable obstacle to contagion was the fragile state the zombies were in. As long as the target was not outnumbered and had some means of weaponry, the humans were able to escape. The plague needed to adapt.

Therefore it mutated to create a stronger variant of zombie. These powerful undead not only retained their flesh, but their muscle mass increased immensely. Their bones likewise grew and strengthened. Distinctly, a set of horns sprouted out of their skulls. Instrumental in the fight against human resistance, these undead were the catalyst in breaking through the initial city-wide quarantine. Because of their impressive strength and size, they were given the classification: Brute.

Troll

“…Gathering around the warmth of the campfire, the survivors surveyed the national park map, looking for the safest path north. The wind howled and shook the tree branches, spooking the group despite their repeated assurances that the undead never strayed this far from the cities. Taking turns to watch over the sleeping camp, it was during the third shift when a large mass of moss broke through the treeline, claws tearing through the nearest tent…”

Breaking away from the populated cities and towns, some zombies began converting other biological creatures in the wilds. This was accomplished through implanting mutated cells in dead prey to spread through the ecosystem, decaying and converting the flora, and contaminating water sources. In the process, some undead went through a metamorphosis of their own.

Isolated wanderers throughout the forests and jungles, these undead mutated to take on more animalistic traits. Their finger bones grew to extend out like claws. Their facial structure mutated to form a snout equipped with razor-sharp teeth. Their moss-covered hides helped camouflage them from prey, as they ravaged the ecosystem. As the decades passed and the environment morphed, these zombie mutants merged with the new plant-life forming. Creating a symbiosis with nature, these undead guardians of the forest were given the classification: Troll.

Stalker

“…The concrete walls were 15 feet thick and the gates reinforced with steel. The army had spared no expense securing the base. Each morning a platoon would stand atop the wall and open fire on a fresh group of zombies that had gathered overnight. Relaxed in their confidence, they found themselves terrified when one night, a swarm of horrific four-armed undead had simply crawled up the wall, like spiders…”

After the initial shock of the zombie outbreak, hordes of undead were either bombed or gunned down by the military. Barriers were quickly erected each time the infection zone expanded, halting the horde’s advancements. Thousands of undead were exterminated at these border walls, granting enough time for people to evacuate to the next safe point. At the rate of attrition, the zombie plague would be eliminated in a matter of weeks. A new weapon was necessary to expand infection; one that could avoid detection. 

Nimble and silent, these evolved zombies are specialized hunters that prefer the underground tunnels or prowling at night. For this reason, their eyesight has rapidly evolved to see in the dark. As silent predators, this new undead classification succeeded in sneaking past the military border and spreading the infection to new cities. Their most notable mutation is a second pair of arms grown from the midsection. These additional limbs, combined with their deft maneuverability, grants them the ability to crawl along walls and ceilings unimpeded. Featuring long-pointy ears, they have excellent hearing to track down their prey. Because of their terrifyingly impressive hunting and stealth skills, these zombies were given the classification: Stalker.

Bright Eyes

“…Entering into the gymnasium, the soldier didn’t react quick enough before the lasso tightened and lifted him up off the ground. Dangling upside down, the soldier spotted a pair of bright yellow eyes peeking from behind the gym equipment. The rope dug painfully into the man’s ankle, as the undead creature walked cautiously towards him. To the soldier’s shock and horror, the zombie picked up the rifle with the ease of a trained professional and emptied a round into the man’s chest…”

One interesting anomaly amongst the infected was that not all zombies were mindless. In a handful of cases, the undead could think and strategize. They set up traps, understood the layout of cities, and most importantly, could work man-made tools. These resourceful undead acted as commanders for zombie hordes, instructing strategies for overcoming the human resistance. They could assess how best to expand their numbers and territory. They understood humanities dependencies, their vulnerabilities. When the undead took over and shut down a city’s power station, it struck a new sense of doom into humanity; a realisation of how existential of a threat the zombie plague truly was..

Able to understand humanity and the mutation, these smart undead were instrumental in humanity’s extinction. When the bombings began, they knew to find safety below ground. When remnants of humanity hunkered into shelters, it was these zombies that were able to sabotage the defences. These undead were identified by their signature bright yellow eyes. For that reason, they were given the classification: Bright Eyes.

Hive Core

“…The battalion had never seen so many zombies centred around one building. Hundreds of undead standing perfectly still, all facing towards the small dilapidated gift shop. Curious, the battalion infiltrated the building, surprised to discover an undead sitting in the middle of the room, humming as if in meditation. The creature had a fungal mutation growing over its face, patterns reminiscent of butterfly wings. Raising a gun towards the zombie’s head, the soldiers were startled when it raised its hand, commanding the horde to storm inside…”

As the infection expanded and eventually reached global, the zombie hordes began to split into smaller groups crossing into various populaces. Single zombies were sent out as scouts, searching for survivor communities and military weak-points. Several years into the Global Infection, the military observed that lone zombies could relay information back to their horde. This was possible thanks to a special type of undead; one that could telepathically connect with its’ horde. These special undead could perceive everything its horde experienced. It held the memories of all those who had been assimilated into its’ horde and was able to share these memories with each member.

This special mutation incorporated insectoid-like features, with their faces entirely overtaken by the colourful modification. They appeared dazzling to those who beheld them, casting an alluring effect on potential prey. Their movements appeared graceful rather than erratic, hinting at an inherent intelligence. Some soldiers reported a feeling of comfort upon encountering these undead. In some cases, these mutations inhabited a makeshift lair of sparkling luxury, decorating their new homes with shiny metals.

Acting as a communication relay, these central zombies would broadcast orders to their horde within a 1 mile radius. Without this communicator, a horde would be mindless and disunited, acting upon their own impulses. For this reason they were given the classification: Hive Core.

Ooze

“Scouting the abandoned military base, the soldier was shocked to find the experimentation room. A dozen cages lined the space, each containing the rotting corpses of undead. In one cage near the corner, a puddle of gore lay remaining of what was once a person. Continuing his search, the soldier failed to notice the puddle move. Guts, blood and skin reassembled, slipping through the bars of the cage. Hearing a noise, the soldier spun around to find a perfect copy of himself lunging towards him…”

Within a year of inception, the plague had caused enough turmoil that many governments were shut down and evacuated to strongholds. The military led the fight against the zombie outbreak, employing every means necessary to eliminate this existential threat. Nuclear bombs were dropped on entire cities. Chemical warfare was enacted to stave off the spread. No expense was spared, and every idea was considered.

As the fight for humanity’s survival intensified, several scientists chose to study the undead in the hopes of understanding their weaknesses and potential replication. Capturing several different mutations, the researchers examined the infection on a cellular level. They attempted to comprehend the nature of the plague, how it worked and how it kept the undead active.

Among these studies, was the experiment to create the military’s own controlled undead variant. Many living humans were sacrificed in this endeavour, leading to the creation of a new form of monster. These undead beings could manipulate their structural form to maneuver more freely and, more importantly, disguise their appearance. Unfortunately, these monsters were not under the control of their creators. These amorphous shapeshifter zombies were given the classification: Ooze.

Vulture

“Rationing the supplies, the group of survivors would have enough to last until the end of the month. By next morning they were all so very hungry that they ate an extra portion. Through the windows, they could see a strange undead, crouched in the trees. By evening, the group were starving again. Some murmured of nightmares related to food and famine. At the end of the week, the group had consumed half their supplies. Throughout the entire ordeal, they could barely hear the whispers from outside, instructing them to eat, and eat, and eat…”

Humanity’s extinction was drawn out over several generations. Those who had not fled underground or to sanctuary strongholds were eventually turned within the first half-century. The remote corners of the world were the last hopes for humanity. Far enough away and difficult to reach, these bastion camps held long in their isolation. Adapting to the apocalypse, these bunkers became self-sufficient; farming within the confines of their fortress. In order to hunt down the remaining remnants of humanity, a last mutation was born.

Designed for ranged infection, these creatures could remotely affect their prey, influencing the mind to be overcome with hunger. Overconsumption of food and resources became the undoing of many of these communities. Equipped with strong leathery wings, these horrifying creatures could traverse great distances and reach high altitudes. They exuded an aura of dread, and heralded the end of humanity’s era. Because of the nightmarish hallucinations these undead can wreak, they were given the classification: Vulture.