ZOMBIES IN AFRICA

ZOMBIES IN ACCRA

A Novel by [KRATOS DIOS]

PART ONE: THE INITIAL DAYS OF THE OUTBREAK

Chapter 1: The First Attacks

The sun had started to dip below the horizon in Accra, stretching long shadows over the lively streets of Ghana’s capital. Kofi rested against the doorframe of his house, observing the energetic buzz of the market just beyond. Children were playing, vendors were calling out their goods, and the sounds of daily life filled the atmosphere. It was an ordinary evening in the city, and for Kofi, there was nothing more he could desire. Inside, his wife, Ama, was busy preparing dinner, while their four children—Kwame, Adwoa, Kojo, and Abena—were having fun in the yard.

Everything seemed… typical. However, normality was temporary.

Kofi's focus was drawn by a faraway sound, a soft noise that cut through the city's din: a scream. It wasn’t unexpected—Accra, after all, was a bustling city full of energy and disorder, but this cry felt distinct.

Keen. Fearful.

He scowled and narrowed his eyes at the road. A tiny group had assembled, and in the middle stood a man—no, a being—tripping down the path, his expression contorted in pain. His mouth was foaming, his complexion was ashen, and his eyes were wide, gazing into emptiness. However, it wasn't the fair complexion or the grotesque visage that drew Kofi's gaze—it was what occurred afterward.

The man rushed ahead, colliding with a woman passing by, accompanied by her child. The audience shouted and dispersed, yet Kofi focused on the terrifying sight before him.

The man bit into the woman's neck, blood streaming out in cascades. The kid yelled, attempting to drag the man off, but the beast tore free. His actions showed no compassion—only an insatiable desire.

Kofi's pulse quickened as he swiftly took Ama's hand. “We have to leave, immediately!”

Within, the dwelling was brimming with chaos. Ama, already tense from the ongoing news about unusual illnesses, didn’t require any additional clarification. She took hold of the children, and in no time, they were in the heart of the house, securing the doors and pulling the curtains.

Kofi looked out the windows—chaos reigned outside. The streets were crowded with people fleeing, yelling, and—more horrifying—bodies sprawled in pools of blood.

It wasn't merely a singular occurrence. The illness was disseminating. Individuals were perishing, and then… returning to life.

"Is it going on, Kofi?" Ama inquired softly. She was nearly in tears, her breathing shallow as the outside world fell apart.

Kofi was unsure of how to respond. His thoughts raced, searching for any logical reason, but none existed. The world was evolving, and it was evolving rapidly.

“We must remain composed,” Kofi stated, his tone unwavering, yet a sense of panic welled up within him. The city was no longer secure. The family needed to depart, but to what place would they travel?

The noise of the streets outside intensified. Individuals were yelling, some in fear, others in rage. A few were battling. Looting.

Chapter 2: The World Crumbles

Kofi walked repeatedly into their living room, his fingers gliding over the machete handle he had stored in the corner for safety. Ama sat on the sofa, her arms securely holding their kids. Everyone was quiet, attempting to understand what was happening outside. Though the sun was still up, a thick sense of approaching disaster hung over the home.

The radio buzzed back on, a reporter's voice breaking the quiet: “...and in Accra, conditions are worsening quickly. Reports indicate that the deceased are coming back to life, and we advise residents to remain indoors. The government is making every effort to manage the outbreak…

The message faded away, overtaken by static.

"That's all," Ama replied, her tone quiet. "We have to go." "We cannot remain here."

Kofi faced her, his forehead creased. “The streets will be crowded with the infected.” "It’s overly hazardous."

“And what if we remain here?” she inquired. “The city is set to break down.” Individuals are losing their sanity. The deceased are all around. "It’s just a question of time before the infected arrive at our doorstep."

Kofi’s heart missed a beat. He understood that she was correct. However, exiting the house signified entering a chaotic world, and the thought of facing that nightmare overwhelmed him with fear.

However, there was no option. No longer.

Kofi knelt down next to his kids, who were on the floor, their eyes filled with terror. He drew them near and kissed the crowns of their heads. “We’ll be fine,” he murmured, although his tone wavered.

“We're going to go south,” he said, looking up at Ama. "Towards the shore." There are reports of a military installation in that location. “They could have nourishment, housing… safety.”

Ama nodded, but the expression in her eyes indicated that she was uncertain. However, there were no alternative choices.

The family collected their scant belongings—clothes, some food, a couple of water bottles—and Kofi picked up a small duffel bag, filling it with whatever they could require. He inspected the windows again before securing the door.

Chapter 3: Departing Accra

The following morning, the streets were silent—disturbingly silent. Accra, a city recognized for its unending hustle, was now empty, except for the rare scavenger or the sporadic groan of the infected.

Kofi guided his family along the roads, their steps the sole noise in the quiet. As they neared the city's boundary, Kofi's anxiety started to increase. They remained overly near to peril. The further they walked, the clearer the effects of the infection became. Houses were deserted, and shops had been ransacked. Charred vehicles filled the roads, and sporadically, the contorted shapes of the infected were visible, wandering aimlessly or devouring whatever they encountered.

“We need to exercise caution,” Kofi cautioned, glancing back every few moments. His grip on the machete grew firm, his knuckles turning pale.

They encountered their first meeting with the infected just an hour into their journey. A man staggered across the street, his body marked with bruises and scrapes, his garments ragged. Kofi swiftly indicated to his family to take cover behind a deserted vehicle. The man lurched forward, and as he approached, the terrifying truth dawned. He was lifeless, but he moved with a frightening haste, grasping for anything that was alive.

A cry shattered the silence. The infected discovered an individual. Their numbers were increasing.

Chapter 4: The Journey to Takoradi

The atmosphere was heavy with the foul smell of rot, a nauseating scent that appeared to infiltrate every part of the devastated landscape. The streets were damaged and bumpy, scattered with the debris of flipped cars, and the formerly lively cities and towns had turned into barren wastelands. The dispersed remains of society remained quiet beneath the overwhelming burden of the apocalypse.

Kofi’s gaze continually shifted, surveying the skyline, the vacant roads, the far-off bushes. He quickly discovered that the world beyond Accra was just as dangerous as the city itself. The infected were widespread. There was no distinct pattern to their wandering, no safe haven, nor any shelter that was genuinely safe. And the individuals—those who had not yet transformed—were equally perilous, if not more so. It was a realm where trust was a privilege that no one could obtain.

They had abandoned the town, traveling along a slim, neglected trail that directed them to the shore. The sun positioned itself low in the sky, creating elongated shadows on the parched ground. The road was largely deserted, except for some vehicles left behind in a hurry, but Kofi understood that danger might be lurking just ahead. It was impossible to predict when the infected would emerge, their guttural groans breaking the silence like a death rattle.

Ama strolled next to him, her complexion sallow and tired, yet she maintained her rhythm. Her power, while not limitless, had provided solace for their kids. Kofi noticed the fatigue in her gaze, yet she persevered, for their sake. On behalf of her family.

Trailing behind, the kids stumbled forward, their energy fading. Kojo started to cry an hour ago, his little legs worn out from the trip, but Kofi couldn’t halt. Not at this time. He couldn't allow them to take a break. The more time they spent in one location, the higher the chances were of facing danger. Survival required action, necessitating a continuous progression forward.

Kofi paused for a short time to survey his environment. Vacant. He sighed, rubbing his eyelids. The exhaustion was becoming apparent, but he couldn’t reveal it. His family required him to be resilient. They required him to be the one to guide them through this ordeal.

He looked back at Ama, who was cradling Kojo, attempting to comfort him. "We have to locate a secure place," she remarked, her tone gentler than it was yesterday. "The children cannot continue walking in this manner." "They're worn out, Kofi."

"I understand," he responded, his tone tight with worry. "However, if we pause at this moment, it could be the final error we ever commit." We must continue onward until we locate a safe place. "Just a bit more time."

Ama chose not to dispute. She just nodded, her lips coming together in a narrow line. They pressed on, advancing quickly yet silently, the soft crunch of their footsteps on the parched ground being the sole sound that broke the tranquil atmosphere. From time to time, a slight rustling in the bushes would make Kofi’s heart race, yet it was always just an animal—a rat or a stray dog—nothing further. Nevertheless, his instincts stayed heightened. He discovered through tough experiences that threats never announced themselves.

The road eventually bent, and Kofi could see the slight silhouette of a far-off village on the horizon, its shape barely discernible against the setting sun. It was too distant to arrive at before dark, yet it was their greatest chance. Based on the rumors he’d encountered, Takoradi—located further along the coast—exhibited a degree of order, or at the very least, a collection of survivors who had succeeded in maintaining their position against the infected.

He accelerated his steps, anxious to arrive at the village. The trip to the shore had been a risk, but there was no alternative. The military installation in Takoradi was their sole opportunity for securing safety.

As they neared the village, the vibe felt strange. It was excessively silent. Kofi strained his eyes, looking for any signs of activity, but all he could spot were vacant homes. Not one movement.

Something didn't seem right.

"We'll reach the perimeter and survey the area initially," Kofi whispered, his tone subdued. "Remain nearby, and be prepared to act if necessary."

Ama nodded, her gaze cautiously scanning the village. The kids remained near her, their expressions serious, their eyes large and alert. The anxiety that had previously been hidden by the rush of the escape was now apparent, obvious as daylight. They felt it as well—the weighty tension that lingered in the atmosphere.

They proceeded carefully through the deserted village, the stillness pressing upon them like a thick quilt. Silence—no voices, no far-off shouts. The village seemed deserted, but it was not.

As they were walking by a little store at the street corner, a soft growl emerged from an adjacent alley. Kofi halted, his body rigid as he held the machete tightly with both hands.

"Step back," he urged Ama quietly.

However, it was already too late. The growl intensified, succeeded by a screech that unsettled Kofi’s stomach. Something was approaching.

He glanced to witness the initial infected lurch into sight from the alley. Its features were a hideous blend of blood and flesh, its eyes large and obscured by insanity. It advanced gradually, yet with intention, its mouth twisted into a hideous smile.

The kids inhaled sharply, and Ama pulled them back with her. Kofi’s heart raced as the infected creature approached, its horrifying motions flooding him with adrenaline. He didn't contemplate—he merely took action.

Letting out a roar, Kofi charged ahead, wielding the machete against the infected. The sword struck the beast on the side of its head, and it crumpled with a nauseating sound. Kofi didn’t pause to look; he could already hear the far-off moans of more coming near.

"Go!" Kofi yelled. "Reach the edges of the village." At this moment!"

They didn’t waver. Kofi took hold of Ama’s hand, and they sped over to the next building. The kids, although frightened, walked closely behind. They were left with no option. There was no secure spot, no shelter—they needed to stay on the move, continually moving.

Behind them, the snarls of the infected became more intense, nearer. Kofi did not have the courage to glance behind. He simply continued to run, urging his family onward.

The village that once appeared to be their rescue had become their nightmare. However, they had no alternative. The route ahead remained the sole option forward. The desire to discover Takoradi—to locate a secure refuge—was the only thing that motivated Kofi to continue. He was unable to halt now.

The path was stretching more, and each step felt tougher than the previous one. However, what truly mattered was that they continued onward—each step taking them further from the infected and nearer to whatever hope still existed in the world.

Kofi realized at that moment that departing Accra was the sole choice. However, at this point, the issue was no longer simply about survival. It was about determining the next destination. The world was disintegrating, and nothing—nothing—would ever return to how it was.