A glimmer in a world of zombies [act 1][earth chapter]

Chapter 21: Lady Gray and the Hounds of Hinesville

Earth – The Ghost Town of Hinesville

The RV rumbled through the desolate streets of Hinesville, Georgia, its tires crunching over debris and overgrown pavement.

Something was wrong.

There were no humanoid zombies. Not a single one.

Sam gripped the steering wheel tighter, scanning the area. “Alright… this is weird.”

Dan adjusted his flamethrower, eyes narrowing. “Way too quiet. I don’t trust it.”

Trixie, sitting near the window, shivered. “Trixie does not like this place.”

Pops, chewing on the last of his Snowballs, muttered, “Ain’t natural.”

Starlight gazed out the window. “But the animals… look.”

Scattered throughout the city were infected animals—dogs, birds, even a few twisted deer—but they weren’t attacking.

They just… watched.

Then they saw her.

Lady Gray – The Blind Woman of Hinesville

An old woman, dressed in a tattered gray cloak, walked slowly through the street, her movements eerily calm.

Her long silver hair was tied back, her eyes clouded over with blindness, but she walked with confidence, as if she could see everything around her.

Sam parked the RV, gripping his rifle. “What the hell…?”

Then—

They saw her reach down and scuff the head of an infected dog.

The creature, its flesh rotting, its eyes glowing sickly red, did nothing.

Instead, it wagged its tail.

Dan’s jaw tightened. “Nope. That ain’t normal.”

Lady Gray gently scratched behind the infected dog’s ear, her voice soft.

“There, there, sweetheart… Such a good boy.”

The infected leaned into her touch, purring like a cat.

Trixie’s ears flattened. “T-Trixie is going to be sick.”

Then, as if sensing their presence, Lady Gray turned her head toward them.

Without a word, she walked into an abandoned storage building, her movements slow, deliberate.

Sam exchanged glances with the others. “Well?”

Pops sighed. “Ain’t got much choice. Let’s go.”

The Hounds Attack—And the Whistle That Stops Them

As they approached the storage building, the air grew thick with tension.

The moment they stepped inside—

The infected dogs lunged.

Snarling, rotting hounds charged toward the group, their eyes filled with unnatural hunger.

Dan fired first, blasting one mid-air with his shotgun.

Sam swung his rifle, knocking another dog aside.

Trixie screamed as a massive infected mastiff lunged straight for her—

But before it could strike—

*FWEEEEEEEEEEEET!*

A sharp, piercing whistle rang through the air.

The dogs stopped instantly, whimpering, ears flattening as they backed away.

Lady Gray stood in the doorway, lowering a small silver whistle.

Her voice was gentle, yet commanding.

“Hush now, children. These ones are not food.”

The infected dogs whined, some even cowering before her.

Dan, still gripping his shotgun, muttered, “What. The actual. Hell.”

Lady Gray turned toward them, her blind eyes somehow seeing more than they should.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she murmured.

Sam narrowed his eyes. “Yeah? And why’s that?”

Lady Gray smiled faintly.

“Because the animals listen to me… but the things beneath this town? They do not.”

A low, guttural sound rumbled beneath their feet.

And suddenly—the ground began to shake.

To Be Continued…