Speaker 1: Welcome to the Dark Doors uncovered season two, and we
are now in chapter eight of the Zombie Ale Wide
to the Living Dead. The air was thick with the
stench of decay, and the once idyllic landscapes of the
Isle of Wight were now shrounded in shadows. Life as
we knew it had crumbled, replaced by the unrelenting struggle
for survival. Chapter eight, the new reality plunges us deeper
into the haunting aftermath of the outbreak that has turned
Tranqui Wiland into a desolate wasteland. Our survivors, battered and broken,
face their greatest challenge yet, adapting to a world where
the dead refuse to rest. With each passing day, the
line between humanity and monstrosity blairs. In this grim chapter,
Allegiances will be tested, secrets will surface, and the promise
of hope may finally be may finally be within reach?
Or could it be a cruel illusion. Step into a
chilling new chapter of Zombie or Wide to the Living Dead,
where choice could mean the difference between life and becoming
one of the walking nightmares. Will the survivors find a
way to reclaim the humanity or is this new reality
their final descent into darkness, Chapter eight, The New Reality.
The boat glided gently through the water, the distant share
growing ever closer as the sun began to break through
the morning fog and the rays of light sparkled on
the surface of the sea, casting the horrors of the
previous night into the almost into almost surreal memory. The
tension that gripped the group began to ease, slightly, replaced
by exhaustion that came with survival. Emma leaned against the helm,
her eyes fixed on the lane ahead. The coastline was unfamiliar,
a rugged line of cliffs and pebble beaches that stretched
out onto the horizon. It wasn't the Isle of Wight,
that much, she was sure of, but whether it was
sanctuary or another place of danger and may remained to
be seen. We're almost there, Mark said, breaking the silence.
He had taken up a position at the bow, his
eyes scanning the approaching shore with a mixture of hope
and wariness. Let's just hope what ever's on the island
is friendlier than what we left behind, anything's better than
what we left behind, George muttered, still visibly shaken by
the encounter of the creature. He had taken up the
oars again the waters. Though the waters had calmed, the
boat needed little guidance. Now. Rachel sat quietly, her knees
drawn up against her chest as she stared at the
land with vacant eyes. Her face was pale, her mind
clearly still reeling from everything that had been through. Emma
had tried to comfort her, but there was little comfort
to be had. The world they had known was gone,
replaced by a nightmare that were only just beginning to understand.
As they approached the shore, Emma's heart began to pound
with a mixt of fear and anticipation. They had escaped
the other white but what awaited them there? What awaited
them here? Was this a new land free of the undead?
Or had the curse spread even further than they feared.
The boats scraped against the pebbles of the beach, bringing
them to a halt. Group remained silent for a moment,
hesitant to leave the relative safety of the boat. Finally,
Emma stood, taking a deep breath before stepping onto the shore.
The beach was deserted. The only sound to the gentle
lapping of the waves against the stones. The air smelled
of seaweed and salt, a sharp contrast to the rotting
stench of the undead that still lingered in Emma's memory.
The cliffs rose steeply from the beach, their tops obscured
by the remaining mist. Mark and George followed Emmare on
to the shore, their eyes scanning the area for any
signs of movement. Rachel remained in the boat for a
moment longer, as if unwilling to leave the vessel that
had carried them to safety. Eventually, she climbed out to
her movements slow and deliberate. Stay close, Emma said, her
voice low so as she led the group away from
the water. We don't know what we're walking into. They
moved cautiously across the beach, the pebbles crunching beneath their feet.
As they neared the cliffs, and had spotted a narrow
path leading upward, winding between the rocks, towards what looked
like a flat plateau above. Up there, she said, pointing
to the path, we'll get a better view of where
we are. The climb was steep, the path uneven and treacherous.
They made it to the top without incident. The plateau
was covered in tall grass and wildflowers. The landscape bathed
in a golden light of the rising sun. In the distance,
a dense forest stretched out towards the horizon, and beyond
that the faint outlines of mountains. Mark shielded his eyes
from the sun as he surveyed the land. This place
looks untouched, he said, a note of awe in his voice.
It's like we stepped into a different world or a
different time, George added, his gaze lingering on the ancient
trees that dotted the landscape. No signs of civilization, but
that doesn't mean it's safe. Emma nodded, her mind, racing
with possibilities. Could do this? Could this be a part
of England that had somehow it's been spared the outbreak?
Or was it a new land entirely, some remote corner
of the world they'd never known existed. The idea seemed impossible,
yet so everything, so did everything else they had encountered.
We need to find shelter, she said, her tone practical.
Someone we can rest and figure out our next move.
They followed. They followed the plateau as it gradually sloped downwards,
leading them towards the forest. The air was cooler here,
the shadows of the trees provided welcome respite from the sun.
Birds chirped in the canopy above, and small animals rush
rustled in the underbush, sounds that had almost been absent
for so long on the Isle of Wight. They seemed
to almost be now, they seemed almost foreign. Rachel finally
spoke as he entered the forest, her voice trembling. Do
you think we'll find any anyone else? Survivors? I mean,
I hope, so, Eva replied, though she wasn't sure what
would be worse, finding survivors and risky new dangers, or
finding no one at all, or realizing they were truly alone.
The forest grew thicker as he moved deeper into its heart,
the trees towering above them like ancient sentinels. The ground
was soft, her the foot covered in a thick layer
of moss and fallen leaves. It was a peaceful place,
almost serene, but the memory of the island's horrors clung
to them, making it hard to fully trust their surroundings.
After what felt like hours of walking, they came across
a small clearing. At this at the center stood the
ruins of a stone cottage. Its walls crumbling and overgrown
with ivy. A few charred timbers suggested that it had
burned down a long time ago, leaving nothing but a
skeleton of what once was. This might be our best
bet for shelter, Mark said, cautiously, approaching the ruins. Emma nodded,
though she was still warriers staying in a place so exposed. Still,
they needed rest, and the ruins offered them at least
some protection from the elements. They made camp inside what
the remains of the cottage, using what little they had
to create a semblance of comfort. Ever, took first watch,
sitting on the edge of the clearing with her back
against one of the stone walls, her eyes scanning the
forest for any signs of movement. The hours passed by,
the forest around them quiet and still. As the day
wore on, the sunlight filtering through the trees began to fade,
casting long shadows across the ground. The air grew cooler,
and the once warm breeze turned cold, biting. Emma's mind
wandered as she sat in silence, replaying the events of
the past days over and over. Escape from the Isle
of Wight. The creature in the mist, the mysterious figure
that had saved them. All of it felt like a
fever dream, something out of a nightmare that she couldn't
wait from. But this was their reality now. The world
was no longer the place it once was, and the
rules they had lived by were gone. Survival was all
that mattered, and Emma was determined to keep the group alive,
no matter the cost. As dust settled in, Mark relieved
Emma from her watch, allowing her a few hours of rest.
She laid down on the cold ground, exhaustion pulling her
into a fitful sleep, filled with dark, twisted dreams. In
her dreams, she was back on the Isle of Wight,
the island's cursed heart beating beneath her feet. The fog
rolled in, thick and heavy, and the undead emerged from
the shadow, their lifeless eyes fixed on there. The creature
from the pit loomed above the island, its monstrous form
blotting up the sky, and the heartbeat grew louder and louder,
until it was all she could hear. Emma jolted awake,
her heart pounding in her chest. The forest was dark now,
and the only light coming from the dim glow of
the moon filtering through the trees. She sat up, a
breathing coming in short panic gasps that she tried to
shake off the remnants of the nightmare. It's okay, Mark said, quietly,
noticing her distress. It's just a dream. Emma nodded through
the fear, though the fear still clung to her. The
dream had felt so real, so vivid, it was hard
to believe she was truly awake. She stood, stretching her
stiff muscles as she walked to the edge of the clearing.
A forest was silent, and the only sound of the
soft was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
But something felt different, a sense of unease creeping over,
like a cold shadow. Do you feel that, she asked,
her voice barely above a whisper. Mark frowned, looking around
for what. Emma couldn't quite put it into words. It
was as if the forest itself was holding its breath,
waiting for something to happen. The peacefulness they had felt
earlier was gone, replaced by a sense of foreboding that
set her and nails on edge. And then she heard it,
a distant, rhythmic thumping, faint but unmistakable, echoing through the trees.
It's the same sound they had heard on the Isle
of Wight, and the heartbeat of the island's curse. Emma's
blood ran cold. No, it can't be Mark heard it too,
his eyes widening in fear. How is that possible? We
left it behind. But the sound grew louder, reverberating through
the forest like a drum beat, relentless, anonymous and ominous.
It was coming to them, even here in this seemingly
untouched land. Emma's mind raced, and the terror she had
fought so hard to suppress surging back with full force.
The curse wasn't bound to the Isle of Wight. It
was something more powerful, something that couldn't be escaped. It
was a darkness that would follow them wherever they went,
a shadow that would haunt them until the end. We
need to move, she said, her voice trembling as she
backed away from the edge of the clearing. Now the
others woke with at the urgency in her voice, quickly
gathering their belongings. As the pumping grew louder closer, the
forest that at once seemed serene and untouched, now felt
like a trap. The towering trees closing in around them
as the heartbeat of the Island's curse reverberated through the earth.
Emma led the way, sprinting into the dense underbrush without
a second though. The others followed close behind, their breath
coming in ragged gasps as they pushed themselves to keep up.
The forest was e labyrinth for shadows and twisted roots,
but the terror driving them forward was too strong to
allow for hesitation. The thumping continued, relentless and oppressive, as
if the ground beneath them was alive with the island's
malevolent pulse. The sound seemed to come from all directions,
confusing the sense of their direction. Emma knew they had
to keep moving, but where could they go? Was there
even a place on earth where this curse couldn't reach them?
They stumbled through the forest, branches, clawing at their clothes
and skin. The thumping grew louder, more insistent, as if
drawing them towards something or driving them away. Emma could
feel the curse tightening its grip, as if the island
itself was extending its reach across the sea to claim
them once more. Rach was stumbled, crying out She caught
her foot on a twisted roote. Mark quickly, but the
brief delay cost them precious seconds. The heartbeat was now deafening,
now pounding in their ears, vibrating through their bones. Emma's
vision blurred with fear and exhaustion, her thoughts a chaotic whirl. Suddenly,
the forest opened up before them, revealing a steep drop
off below, a river cut through the land, its waters
dark and fast moving. The cliffs on the either side
were sheer and jagged, with no clear path down. Were trapped.
George yelled, his voice panicked as he looked back towards
the forest, where the heartbeat seemed to pulse even closer. No,
we can't be and shouted back, desperately searching for any
way out. But the river offered no safe passage, and
the forest behind them was closing in on them with
the relentless beat of the curse. Just as all hope
was seemed lost, a new sound cut through the oppressive thumping,
a low, mournful wail that echoed through the cliffs. It
was an eerie, bone chilling sound, but it was also
different from the cursed heartbeat, as if it belonged to
something else. Entirely. Emma spun around, trying to locate the
source of the sound. Out of the mist that clung
to the cliffs, a figure emerged. It was the same
ghostly woman that had been on the boat, the one
that had driven the creature away. She glided towards them,
her form ethel and glowing faintly in the darkening light.
The heartbeat faulted, growing fainter as the woman approached. The
oppressive weight in the air seemed to lift slightly, and
for a moment, the fear that consumed them ebbed. Who
are you? Emma whispered, unable to look away from the
spectral figure. The woman's eyes, glowing with the same soft
light as before, met Emma's. There was sadness in her gaze,
a deep sorrow that spoke of untold suffering. She raised
one translution hand and pointed to the river below. You
must cross, she said, her voice like a whisper carried
on the wind. The curse cannot follow you where the
water runs deep. But how Mark asked, looking down at
the rushing waters, There's no way across. The ghostly women
didn't respond with words. Instead, she began to sing, a
haunting melody that resonated with the land itself. The cliffs
trembled in response, and the river seemed too slowly, it's
dark waters parting slightly to reveal a narrow path of
stones leading to the other side. Emma hesitated the sight
before her, too surreal to fully comprehend, but there was
no time for doubt. The thumping was growing louder and louder,
the curse fighting back against the women's influence. Go Emma urged,
stepping onto the first stone. The others followed their movements,
careful and hurried as they made their way across the
vicarious path. The stones were slick with moisture, and the
river surged, angling around them as if trying to sweep
them away. The ghostly woman's son grew louder, pushing back
against the curse, holding it at bay as the group
reached the far side of the river. Once they were
all across, Emma turned back to see the woman standing
on the opposite bank, her form flickering like a fading light.
Thank you, Emma whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude and sorrow.
The woman's eyes met her one last time before she
vanished into the mist, the song lingering in the air
for a few moments longer before fading into silence. The
thumping stopped, the oppressive presence of the curse receded, and
the forest returned to its eerie stillness. The river, now
back to its full rushing force, stood, stood as a
barrier between them and the malevolent force that had pursued it.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sound
was the rushing water and their own labored breathing. Finally,
Rachel broke the silence, her voice shaky whisper. Is it over?
Emma shook her head, though she wished she could say otherwise.
I don't know, but we're safe for now. They were
on the other side of the land, in a land
untouched by a curse, that the memory of the island,
of the curse and the horror they had faced would
not be so easily forgotten. They were alive, but the
world had changed in the ways that they couldn't yet understand.
Emma looked out across the forest, the mountains in the
distance standing tall, anonymous, and I'm not standing tall and ominous.
They escaped the Island of Wight, but their journey was
far from over. The darkness that had awakened in the
world would not rest, and neither could they. We need
to keep moving, she said, a voice resolute. There's more
out there. We have to find out what's happening and
if there's a way to stop it. The group nodded
in agreement, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of
an uncertain future that lay ahead. Together, they turned away
from the river and began to walk deeper into the forest,
towards whatever awaited them in this new reality. The thumping
of the island's curse was behind them, but the shadow
of what they had unleashed would always follow them.