Zombie Reign: A Fake Zombie Story Read online

  The man kept screaming as he felt the blood pouring out of his wound. Shit! He wasn’t dead. Looking around, Clarence knew Brody would be returning with the others soon. He knelt back down and began stabbing the man repeatedly but he wouldn’t stop screaming. Finally he slashed the knife across the man’s throat as the screaming was replaced with gurgling. Finally he fell limp as Clarence proceeded to disembowel him.

  Brody and the Marine actors finally appeared just over the hill making their way. Brody stopped in his tracks when he saw what Clarence had done. The rest of the actors slowly walked up to see what was going on.

  “Are these guys dead? What the hell happened?” one of the fake Marines asked.

  “Oh no. These are props. They just arrived right after you left. I’d ordered them weeks ago. I was just getting them set up. Let’s go! This is going to be great!”

  Chapter 12

  Brody couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The bodies of the dead actors had all been mutilated. He’d known Clarence was a bit off, but it was obvious now he was completely insane. Brody’s stomach lurched as he took some deep breaths, trying to keep from throwing up. Between the heat and seeing these bodies cut all to pieces it was almost more than he could handle. It was too late to back out at this point.

  “All right guys, get back into positions. Zombies, go kneel down next to a body,” Brody said.

  “Aren’t those other actors?” one of the zombie actors asked. “Are they dead?”

  “Oh no, not at all,” Clarence said. “We had molds made. Just spread out kneeling down by the bodies and when we say action, you’ll chew on their guts and organs. The Marines will walk up and shoot you all.”

  “Then where’d the other guys go?”

  “They left after the props got here since they can’t be in the same scene together.”

  “Their cars are still here.”

  “Do you want to be in this film or not?” Clarence said. “I’m the director. I say what goes on. If you don’t want to be a part of this, feel free to leave now.”

  “Chew on their guts?” another actor asked.

  “Yeah! It’s all fake. It just looks real. One of the investors paid for all this. It will be awesome.”

  They all looked at Brody who shrugged.

  “You heard the man. It’s his show,” Brody said.

  They all got into position as Clarence took out his phone and nodded to Brody who shouted, “Action!”

  The zombies began chewing on intestines and one bit into a heart. Brody felt some vomit shoot into his mouth, but swallowed it back down. Just as they were filming one of the zombies began gagging and looked up.

  “This doesn’t taste like corn syrup! It tastes all coppery. This is real blood!”

  “No! They didn’t use corn syrup. It’s commercial fake blood like they use in Hollywood. Trust me! The stuff is all legit. Keep going!”

  The zombie went back to chewing as the others did as well. Flies were buzzing around the bodies and another zombie fell over as he threw up.

  “Cut!” Brody called. He looked at Clarence. “This is ridiculous. We can’t do this.”

  “It’s fine Brody. Quit being such a little bitch.”

  “Being a bitch? You’re making actors eat dead human remains. You don’t see a problem with that?”

  “The only problem I see is anyone interfering with this production. So you can continue, or I can call the cops and tell them what you did.”

  Brody shook his head. This day was never going to end. All he wanted to do at this point was go home and wash this mess off himself.

  “All right everyone. Get ready!” Brody shouted as the actors got back into position. “Action!”

  They commenced to doing the scene. Thankfully it only took three takes before Clarence was satisfied. The bodies were already starting to smell. He wasn’t sure if the actors were buying that these were props. They all wanted to be a part of this film and hoped it was their ticket to Hollywood, so they went along.

  Once the actors had left Clarence walked over to the bodies.

  “All right Brody. Give me a hand burying them,” he said.

  “Are you kidding? Just burying them in some field?”

  “You got a better idea? We can’t just leave them here.”

  “What do we tell their families? People will come looking for them.”

  “Just say they left here just fine. I’ll take care of their cars.”

  “Fuck man.”

  “I’ll run and get a couple of shovels. I’ll be right back,” Clarence said.

  They spent the next several hours digging holes. Clarence had wanted to just dig one large one. Brody talked him into separate holes for each body. He’d at least agreed to that much. Once the bodies were buried, Brody drove home. Just before he left, Clarence gave him the usual reminder.

  “Remember,” Clarence warned. “Confidentiality agreement.”

  “Yeah. I know.”

  Once he got home, his mom was already asleep.. It was already getting dark outside. This was not at all how he wanted to spend his Saturday.

  Brody got undressed and placed his clothes into a plastic bag before stepping into the shower. The water poured over him as blood, dirt, and sweat ran down the drain. Once he felt mostly clean, he stepped out and dried off. After putting on clean clothes, he felt slightly better. No part of him wanted to begin to process what he’d been a part of today. He didn’t think his mind would handle it.

  There was no way he wanted to continue with this film. Yet he had no idea how to get out of it. Contracts were supposed to be coming soon, and then paychecks. Once he got his check, he’d cash it and disappear. That was one plan. The other was to see this thing out and hope it made some money and led to his big break. After today, he didn’t see how that was possible. In the past, he’d questioned Clarence’s judgment. Anything having to do with good judgment or good taste was completely out the window with him. The guy was capable of anything.

  That’s what worried Brody. Clarence had no trouble working a group of actors to death and then using their bodies as props. No telling what else he would do. Plus he only shoots on fucking cell phones and tablets. Brody had been involved with several short films and some commercials. Never in his life did he see people filming with phones.

  He went to the cabinet and took out a bottle of tequila. He unscrewed the top, put the bottle to his mouth and let it run down his throat. It burned as went down, but it only took a few seconds for his head to feel the tingle. He normally didn’t drink it straight but this was a special situation. After several more swallows, he went to his room and sat on the bed. By the time the bottle was half empty, he didn’t remember anything about what he’d done that day.

  Chapter 13

  Allen Moore sat in the meeting staring at the clock. In just two more hours he was out of there for good. He’d worked for over twelve years selling oil drilling equipment to various companies. It paid well, but not something he’d ever dreamed of doing for the rest of his life. At age fifty-two, he had pretty much resigned himself to working for the company until he could retire. That is, until “Zombie Reign.”

  He’d heard about the open auditions a few months before while watching a local morning show. The director, Clarence Ringo was there talking about how this film would revolutionize the zombie genre and bring much needed acclaim to the city of San Antonio. A city often overlooked by the film industry. Allen had tried his hand at acting in his youth. Not long after high school, he’d spent a couple years in Los Angeles auditioning for everything under the sun.

  It was just too tough. He was handsome enough in his twenties, but handsome young men were a dime a dozen out there. At most auditions it felt as if they had written him off the second he walked through the door. As he’d read his lines, they were writing, looking at each other, or anything else that didn’t involve watching him. It was always followed with a: “We’ll be in touch.” Which of course, they never got in touch.

&nbs
p; So he tried out for “Zombie Reign” where he somehow got a call back. He was as stunned as anyone. It had been years since he’d tried to act or audition, so he figured it had been a disaster. Regardless, he got his callback where he did much better. They offered him a role right on the spot. Strange thing was, the lines he read weren’t for the part he’d be playing. Clarence had told him he’d be playing a Texas Ranger.

  At first they said it was a small, independent film. Later on after a few shoots here and there, they said it was a TV pilot. In recent months, Clarence said the investors wanted to make it a big budget, feature film. With The Lurching Deceased doing so well, they didn’t want to start another zombie show trying to compete. So they decided on a film with a budget of around $20 million; they’d all be paid handsomely and he’d finally be able to quit his job and live his dream. Clarence told them many of their characters would be getting action figures! He remembered as a kid playing with “Star Wars” action figures with his friends. The idea of kids playing with his “Zombie Reign” action figure made him smile so wide, his face hurt.

  A few weeks ago, they had finally gotten their contracts. Allen almost jumped out of his skin when he saw what his pay would be. He’d be making $30,000 over three months of filming. Most of it would be paid up front. Between that and his 401(k) he should be set for a while. Once the contract was in hand, he put in his two weeks’ notice at work. Filming was set to begin the next month, so this would give him a few weeks to relax before his days got much longer for the next few months.

  Many of his co-workers were skeptical though, but they were just jealous.

  “Movie star huh?” one co-worker had said. “In some zombie movie? Who is this Clarence guy? I’ve never heard of him. He ever done anything else?”

  That was the question people kept asking him. This was Clarence’s first film, so people were skeptical. Not him though; Clarence was the real deal. He had no doubt of that. Making a movie takes time and patience. Clarence was working his ass off to get them the budget they needed along with locations and other cast. Clarence had even told him at their last meeting that Matthew McConaughey would even have a small role in the film. That was a huge deal. Clarence told him to keep that part quiet for now.

  Others at work teased him about it, but he wouldn’t let that get to him. They’d all still be here while he’d be filming movies, attending Hollywood premieres and other parties and events. Things were heating up too. They had a panel at a local comic convention in town. Allen didn’t get to sit on the panel, but he got to work at the “Zombie Reign” table and sell t-shirts. It was a lot of fun. He’d had to buy a twenty dollar Zombie Reign t-shirt for himself as well as pay for his own admission to the convention. Other than that, it was well worth it. Got to get the word out.

  Finally it was five, and he raced for the door. Once in his car, he couldn’t stop smiling. “Zombie Reign” was about to happen and his life would change forever. Maybe this would lead to other big roles. As he drove home he pictured himself on the “Tonight Show” doing a sing along with Jimmy Fallon. This just goes to show what happens when you follow your dreams. It’s just like Clarence had told him. If you can believe it, you can achieve it.

  There had been other cast who had got frustrated and quit over the last several months due to delays. It would be their loss though. They lacked faith, will, and determination. Allen had stuck it out, and would be rewarded handsomely. Clarence had even told some of them, their pay would go up since so many had quit. It meant more money for the rest of them.

  Once he pulled into his driveway, his phone was buzzing. There was a group email from Clarence. He glanced at it to see Clarence was calling an emergency meeting that night at seven. Emergency meeting? He wondered what that could be about. Maybe it was good news. Even though he couldn’t help feel concerned, worrying would do no good. Had to be positive, if you think it will happen, it will happen. This was meant to be.

  Chapter 14

  Jerry was excited to head to his first acting workshop. It was so cool this production offered classes like this. It was his first ever acting role, so even though he managed to land the role he still didn’t want to screw anything up on set. His only performance experience had been doing stand-up comedy. Even then those had been open mic nights at a local club. This was an actual paying gig.

  When he walked in, he was surprised at how many people were there. At least forty people were sitting around the large room. There were children there as young as eleven, and actors well into their sixties. Shortly after he walked in, an older bearded man came walking in with a younger woman.

  “Listen up folks!” the man shouted. “I’m Carl Carlisle. Some of you may have heard o’ me.” He paused as much of the cast looked around at each other. Jerry had no idea who this guy was. “I’m the casting supervisor here as well as a fellow cast member. Any problems or questions you have, you come directly to me! You do not go to Clarence! Clarence is extremely busy making our dreams come true. He’s working with investors, making changes to the script and working to get us all paid. Who does not understand that?”

  Jerry looked around, as one girl raised her hand.

  “Do you know when we are getting paid?” she asked.

  “Pay will come shortly after you get your contracts. They have a lot of them to do, so everyone will be taken care of. Some of you have gotten yours already. Clarence and Lisa will go over pay dates at that time. Anyone else?” he asked, but no one asked anything. “Good. So let’s get started. I’ve been in some feature films myself as well as an extra on some hit TV shows. You all want to know the secret of my success?”

  Once again, everyone mostly looked confused. Jerry kept wondering if he should know this guy from somewhere other than a biker rally. Whoever he was, the guy thought highly of himself.

  “I’ll tell you. Practice, hard work, and dedication. You never give up, and when things get you down, you hold your head up high, dust yourself off and just keep on goin’. Do that, and one day you all can be where I am.”

  From there he talked even longer about his experiences and how he got to take his picture with Quentin Tarantino after playing a dead guy in a recent film. Jerry knew this was a tough business, but he hoped by the time he was Carl’s age, that the highlight of his career would be something other than playing a dead body or taking a photo with Tarantino

  Looking at the clock, Jerry noticed the workshop was half over already. Carl had managed to talk for an entire hour, though nothing useful about acting and everything about himself so far. Just as Jerry was getting ready to leave, Carl finally divided them up into pairs to start working on some exercises. He was disappointed to see the kind of stuff they did was things he’d learned in high school drama class.

  It was things like, taking turns trying to make the other laugh; doing improv skits, and other things. They had little time to work on much of anything since the workshop was over before long. As Jerry was leaving he walked by a group of girls just outside the building. One of them turned and pointed at him.

  “Hey, I’ve seen you before!” she said.

  Jerry looked around, slightly confused.

  “Me? Do I owe you money? If so I can pay you next week.”

  “No! See? You’re so funny! I saw you at the Monkey’s Ass Comedy Club! You were doing open mic.”

  “Oh right. Yeah, I go there a few times a month to try and brush up. I didn’t think anyone was paying attention to my act.”

  “No way! I thought you were hilarious. I go every Thursday with some friends of mine. I always wanted to do stand up, but I’m too chicken. I’ve seen how the crowd can get when someone really sucks,” she said.

  The girl was extremely beautiful He doubted anyone would boo her even if she just stood there.

  “Oh, I’m Chloe by the way.”

  “Hi, I’m Jerry. Nice to meet you. So you’re in this movie too?”

  “Yep! I sure am!”

  “Awesome! I just got cast not too long a
go.”

  “Yeah? Nice. I’ve been here almost a year.”

  “A year? Are you serious?”

  “Yeah. I guess they had some delays with funding or something. It happens, but seems to be taking longer in this case.”

  “I wouldn’t know. This is my first movie,” he said.

  “Really? Cool! Who are you playing?”

  “I have no idea. For my audition he had me do some of my impressions. He loved it and said he had the perfect part for me, but wouldn’t say what. How about you?”

  “I’m one of the leads. I think I’m the main character’s girlfriend or ex or something. He hasn’t given me much to go on either.”

  “Is that normal?” Jerry asked.

  “Not really but who knows. I stick around because I’m supposed to get paid pretty well.”

  “Wow, well I’m way behind I guess. I don’t even know if I’m getting paid.”

  “I’m sure you will. Hang in there.”

  “Thanks. Hey, I gotta run but it was great meeting you Chloe.”

  “You too. See you around!”

  He headed to his car smiling. She seemed nice. That’s cool she was the lead actress in this thing. He wondered when he’d see a script since they were supposed to start filming next month. One of his friends who had been in a few independent films told him it sounded bogus if they wouldn’t even give him a script. Jerry just ignored him; the guy had a point but he was probably also frustrated about getting nothing but small and unpaid roles. Here Jerry gets a paying role in a big movie his first try. Can’t let people like that get you down though, haters gonna hate.