"Zombie Cookies"

An excerpt by Christopher Chapman
For more by Christopher check out his Blog here

           I never thought myself different, that is until the night I crawled into bed and had the most messed up dream ever. And I know what you're thinking, my dreams are probably more messed up than yours. You're probably right, but I've never had a dream like this before.

           It was the same as every other night. Hanging up the phone, after talking to my only living friend, and settled into bed. I still haven't gotten used to sleeping in such a nice bed. After running from a coven of witches and being homeless, a nice, warm bed is just what the doctor ordered. As I drift off into slumber, I have the strange feeling that I'm being watched, but I cannot keep my eyelids from slowly closing, and the darkness finally takes me under.

          I find myself standing in front of a church, a familiar looking building. A faint howling comes from my left hand side. I glance and there was nothing there, it's probably just one of the dogs that live down the road, I think to myself. But just as the words go through my mind, another howl. This time it came from behind me. I turn quickly to see a beast, much larger than any dog I've ever seen in my life. I start to back up slowly towards the building. It turns to face me, as if it knew I was there. Of course it knew you were here, you idiot. You're standing in an empty parking lot in front of a church, I think the devil himself knows where you are. It howls again and charges.

           I turn and boot it to the doors, please be open, please be open. Oh god, please let the doors be open! I pull the door hard, it opens. I get in and slam the door as hard as I can.
            BANG! The beast slams into the closed door. My heart races, I can feel my pulse in my ears. I look out the small window at the beast. It's huge! It lifts it's head and stares at me, and I have to move away from the door. Those eyes. Where have I seen them before? Certainly not in a beast! My mind yells at me. No, not in a beast, but the do look familiar.

            I creep away from the door and in between the pews. I notice that there are people sitting down.

          “Hello,” I call out, hoping that someone would be able to help me. Not one of them moved, they all just stayed in the position they were in. I walk closer to one and realize that he is not living. Get out of here! My mind yells at me, but my legs do not listen. I'm frozen, staring at this corpse that is sitting in the house of God.
           SLURP... GARGLE...

           I look around for the noises, so I can run in the opposite direction. I back up slowly, and back right into something hard. A shiver runs down my spine as I turn around to look in the face of a crazed looking old man. His hair thin and unwashed, hanging lifeless around his thin boney face. He lifts his hands to my face runs his stick like fingers down my cheek. His eyes a dull gray, looking into my soul. He pulls a plate out of no where, and holds it in front of my face.

            “Zombie cookies?” he coughs.

            I jerk upright, sweat dripping from my brow. Oh thank god it was only a dream. I reach for the glass of water I have sitting on the bedside table, but all that is there is a plate of cookies...