Zombie Apocalypse | A Writer's Haven

Welcome to the romance Writers Weekly blog hop, where every week a great group of romance writers answer questions and accept challenges. Diverse in what we write, we are unified in the quest to bring you, the romance reader, a very happy ever after.

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If you’ve wondered in from Gemma Brocato’s blog post or are just starting your hop here with me, get set for some rewrites. And check out her new release, A Spirited Love:

Our challenge comes from Dani Jace – Flash Fiction: Pick a short scene from a book, movie or TV show that didn’t go the way you wanted. Rewrite the scene the way you would have written in 500 word or less.

Okay, maybe it’s just Halloween in the air, but my head went here:

Today I’m doing a rewrite on a classic romantic film. Stop this video at the 1:30 mark, because that’s where I’m giving them a different reason to be Sleepless in Seattle:

Sleepless in Seattle.

(Rewrite)

Dumbstruck in the road, Annie struggled for words. A car horn blared in her ears. Sam’s eyes widened.

She turned to confront an approaching taxi. The driver skidded his breaks while motioning, pointing toward the curb.

She spun and took a step toward her car, ready to escape, as embarrassment washed over her. But the bushes on the hillside were alive, moving and shaking though there was no discernible wind.

Rank purification filled the air as a host of figures shambled out of the foliage. They’d once been people, or at least that’s what it looked like. Now gray skin hung shriveled on loose frames. Tattered clothing barely covered the animated skeletal remains.

Zombies? It was the only explanation that fit.

Annie backed away, back into the traffic. Speeding cars held only a fraction of the terror of the things that approached her.

“Come on.” A deep male voice from behind.

A warm hand clasped hers, pulling. Annie turned to stare into the piercing gaze of Sam.

“I don’t know what these things are, but we’ve got to get out of here.” His voice a calm oasis in the storm of terror that whirled through her mind.

He dragged her across the highway. Horns continued to blare around her, but whether they were honking at her or the hoard of zombies that pursued her, she couldn’t say.

Sam reached out and took the hand of the small boy waiting on the other side of the roadway. Is that Jonah?

“Everybody get in my truck . . . now!” Sam’s commanding voice compelled Annie to rush toward the vehicle. The woman . . . the one he’d hugged . . . clambered in to sit beside her in the back as Sam hoisted Jonah into the front seat then climbed behind the wheel.

The woman beside her was shaking, her eyes wide. “Where are we going?”

By the time Sam had backed out of his parking space, the creatures were flooding the street, the foremost already across and coming straight for the vehicle. He floored the accelerator, mowing down three of them before reaching the highway. “There’s a Wal-Mart about a mile from here. It will be our best hope of surviving this. They’ll have food, guns, and thick walls.”

He weaved through the heavy traffic as more and more of the restless undead appeared on the side of the roadway ahead. An invasion. An Apocalypse.

“I’m Sam, by the way.” How the hell could he be in such control?

“Annie.” She replied.

***
So, did they make it? Of course. Did they end up falling in love? Of course. Did anyone else survive? Hmm…

Okay, hop on over to see what Dani Jace rewrote as the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop continues at: http://www.danijace.com

I have written before about my role in the crisis that looms just over the horizon. See my blog Gardening and the coming Zombie Apocalypse at: https://scmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/gardening-and-the-coming-zombie-apocalypse/

Well I’m proud to announce that my new weapon of choice in the war against the Zombies is . . . The Blue Lake Pole Bean!!!

Yup, this little beauty will help win the war, and preserve the planet for those of us who survive the rampaging zombie hoards.

Now maybe I’m centered on food growing because I have no skills with a gun, or (and this is my preferred theory) I could be part hobbit. When a crisis looms, I think of my belly first.

In any case, I was out picking this little beauty in my garden just this morning when it occurred to me, the Blue Lake Pole Bean is the perfect food to be growing to feed the masses of starving refugees, and preserve my own skin.

It’s versatile: It can be eaten raw, boiled to tender perfection, or even deep fried as a replacement for unhealthy French fries.

It’s easy to grow: Once you get the vines started, food just appears like magic.

It’s unlimited: Yes, truly, and this is the important point. You probably only need one plant. Go ahead, pick every bean on the vine and eat your fill. Still hungry? Go look again, there’s more. Where did they come from? I’m not sure, probably magic. All I know is that even when I’m sure I found every mature bean on the stalk, I just have to look again to find more. These things pop out faster than bunnies, and hide better than chameleons. There are always more beans to pick.

I’m sure the magical nature of the Blue Lake Pole Bean inspired the wondrous tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Magic beans indeed, these things are a wonder.

So, to recap: In your Zombie survival kit (you do have one, don’t you?) make sure you add a package of Blue Lake Pole Bean seeds. Plant them as soon as you hear that first ‘strange’ news report of sections of the country suddenly going dark. Water and Nurture. These will be your most effective weapon when the mindless hoards come knocking at your door seeking brains.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Stockpile all the guns and ammunition you want, but when your house is surrounded by a sea of mindless undead, and your kitchen cupboards are bare, you’ll realize you can’t eat bullets. Meanwhile I’ll be across the street with my rooftop garden, sitting comfortably, doors locked, windows boarded up, and (as always) full of beans.

Until next time,

Steve