Dead Earth is A Horror Romance fiction filled with lots of suspense. This is a free version of the book

1. DEAD EARTH
UNLEASHED

3. Dear Reader,
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5. CHAPTER 1
Varlind city had fallen into despair. Its once busy avenues
now stood eerily empty. The towering skyscrapers that
had once scraped the clouds like towering sentinels were
now hollow shells, their glass panes shattered and
fragments wasting their toppled frames. Rusting vehicles
were abandoned haphazardly along the roads, some still
containing the skeletal remains of their long-deceased
operators - a grim memento of the catastrophe that had
stripped the city of its life & vigor.
All signs of the thriving metropolis that was a wonder of
the modern world were now just melancholy ruins,
reclaimed by nature and the ravages of time. Varlind had
withered into a melancholy necropolis, a bleak shadow of
its former glory.
It started on a quiet summer evening at La Italia, one of
Varlind's most popular restaurants. Friends and families
crowded the outdoor patio, chatting as they dined under
string lights. But at one table, something was wrong. Mid-
conversation, Elizabeth suddenly froze with a piece of
salmon halfway in her mouth. She began spasming in her

6. chair, clutching her head in agony. Her eyes rolled back,
the whites turning a sickly yellow color. When she rose,
Elizabeth was no longer recognizable. With a dreadful
shriek, she lunged across the table, sinking her teeth into
the neck of her husband sitting across from her.
Catastrophe erupted as individuals at nearby tables
watched in horror.
Elizabeth's husband cried in agony as she tore off a chunk
of his flesh. Blood sprayed across the table as people
began screaming and running for their lives. But it was
too late. Within minutes, the first of the infected were
rising, their eyes feral and glassy. The contagion spread
through bites and scratches at a rate too fast for
authority response. They descended upon the screaming
diners with unrelenting ferocity, infecting anyone within
reach through bites and scratches.
And so, the virus spread at an exponential rate. Within
days, two thirds of Varlind's population had been turned
into the shambling undead. The infected roamed the
streets in packs, their decaying bodies still driven by an
insatiable hunger. Survivors barricaded themselves in
their homes, listening to the moans and screams that
echoed through the empty city at all hours.

7. The government had made desperate attempts to
quarantine Varlind & eliminate the infected. Helicopters
buzzed overhead, raining fire down on the streets below.
But the virus had already taken hold and was impossible
to contain. Soldiers on foot patrolled the ruins, guns at the
ready, but even their high powered weaponry proved
useless against the never ending swarms.
For the survivors that remained, it was a daily struggle to
find food and supplies amid the roving hordes.
Scavenging parties had to move stealthily, avoiding
detection at all costs. Many good people lost their lives,
torn apart while desperately defending what little they had
left. As time passed, the city transformed into a lawless
wasteland. Without power or running water, survivors
battled not just the infected, but starvation and exposure
as well.
Two months later, Varlind was a silent graveyard. The ruin
of magnificent skyscrapers were standing like
tombstones over the forsaken streets below. Only a hardy
few clinged to life in the city, living with the undead
masses that now outnumber them a hundred to one. It
was a desolate existence amid the remains of what was
once a vibrant metropolis, fighting every day simply to see

8. another nightmare dawn in the city of Varlind.
**********
Dr. Maria wandered aimlessly through the desolate
streets of the fallen city, exhaustion and despair weighing
heavily on her shoulders. Three days had passed since
she escaped the overrun medical facility, and she hadn't
stopped moving since. Her light blue scrubs were stained
brown with dried blood and grime, clinging to her thin
frame like another skin. Long blond hair had come loose
from its braid, wisps clinging to her sweat-slicked cheeks.
Bloodshot eyes darted wildly in their sunken sockets,
scanning for any sign of movement among the
abandoned buildings.
She clutched a tattered black bag tightly, grateful to still
have the vital medical supplies and research notes within.
Finding a cure was the only thing driving her forward as
the last surviving virologist. But without a safe lab, she
was fighting a losing battle. Her thoughts drifted to her
fallen colleagues - brave souls who stayed behind to
barricade the infected and buy her escape. Their final
screams still echoed in her mind.
A metallic scrapping sound jerked Maria from her grim

9. musings. Whirling behind, she spotted a hulking form
lurching toward her at the end of the block. Even from this
distance, she could see the grubby bandages swaddling
its gaping wounds were soaked through with fresh blood
and gore. Yellowed eyes zeroed in on her with feral
hunger.
Maria froze, fingers tightening over the rusted pipe she'd
collected as a makeshift weapon. Her exhaustion
forgotten, adrenaline surged through veins like ice. As the
zombie closed the distance in uneven, shambling steps,
she steadied her breathing and waited. At the last
moment, Maria darted to the side, swinging the pipe with
all her strength. It connected solidly with the walker's
skull in a sickening crack.
The creature roared in pain & snapped slavering jaws,
coming at her again with renewed fury. Maria stumbled
back, narrowly avoiding its outstretched claws. Heart
pounding, she circled warily, searching for an opening.
There! As it lunged, she dropped into a roll and came up
under its guard, jamming the pipe through its empty eye
socket with a wet crunch.
The walker collapsed, twitching. Maria staggered back,
heaving for air as crimson coated her hands. But she had

10. survived another encounter. And with luck, her knowledge
might help others do the same.
Dr. Maria slumped against a crumbling wall, gasping for
air as the adrenaline slowly drained from her body. She
had survived another close encounter, but for how much
longer? As the echoes of the brutal fight faded, a chill
crept up her spine. She was alone in this fallen city with
no safe haven and dwindling supplies.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint, distant moan
carried on the breeze. Maria peered around the corner
with trepidation. To her horror, a massive horde of
infected shambled down the street in her direction, drawn
by the scent of blood and death. Panic gripped her heart
as she realized there was no escape this time.
She turned to flee but stopped in her tracks, spotting
another group cutting off her only retreat. Maria was
trapped between the two seething masses of rotting flesh,
their rasping moans growing closer. This was it - after
everything she had been through, it would end here.
Desperate, Maria brandished her makeshift weapon,
willing herself not to weep. As the first zombie lurched
within striking distance, a deafening crack split the air.

11. The creature jerked and collapsed, a smoldering hole in
its skull. More gunshots rang out in rapid succession, and
several more infected dropped lifeless to the pavement.
As the horde closed in, bullets tore through rotting flesh
with sickening thuds. Maria watched in awe as over half
the zombies collapsed in quick succession. Emerging
from a side street came a group of soldiers, led by a
young woman clad in a military uniform.
With practiced coordination, they picked off the remaining
walkers. Maria couldn't just stand by—she swung her
weapon with renewed strength, caving in the skull of a
zombie lunging at her side. Finally, the street fell silent
once more.
"Need a hand?" The woman asked, holstering her rifle and
offering a gloved palm.
"Yeah, thanks," Maria breathed, dusting off her tattered
clothes. Up close, she observed the soldier's strength and
steady gaze—a true leader in these dark times. "I'm Dr.
Maria."
"Ashley." She nodded in greeting. "We patrol the city daily,
searching for any survivors. You're lucky we came along
when we did." Her eyes drifted to Maria's battered

12. medical bag. "Are you a doctor?"
Maria explained how she had escaped the overrun
hospital laboratory, desperate to continue her vaccine
research elsewhere. "If I can find a safe place to work,
there may be hope."
Ashley considered this. "Our encampment has a
functional clinic. You'd be welcome to use the facilities."
She glanced back at her men. "We've lost too many
already. Anything that gives people a fighting chance is
worth pursuing."
Maria's heart leaped at the prospect of a real lab. But she
had to be sure. "The infected, can you keep them at bay?"
Ashley smirked. "We've held that camp for over two
months now. It's secure as can be in these times." She
held out a hand again. "Come with us, Dr. Maria. Help us
turn the tide against this virus."
Grasping Ashley's strong grip, Maria made her choice.
She had found allies at last—also a place to channel all
her scientific brilliance into destroying this plague once.
Together, they would embrace a glimmer of hope on the
horizon.

13. The approaching dead groans echoed off shattered
buildings as over two dozen shambling figures turned the
corner. Ashley signaled her men and they swiftly formed a
battle line in the street.
"We'll clear a path," Ashley told Maria. "Head to the alley
and stay low till it's safe."
Maria nodded and hurried to her hiding spot. Peering
slightly, she watched in awe as the well-drilled soldiers
opened fire. Bullets tore through rotting flesh and bone
with ruthless precision. Yet still the zombies came,
clawing over the fallen to reach living prey.
When their clips ran dry, the soldiers drew knives and
engaged hands-on. Metal flashed as limbs were severed.
One man cried out - a walker had latched onto his arm.
But Ashley was there in an instant, burying her blade in its
skull with a wet crack.
Maria longed to aid the fight, but she was no soldier. Her
place was in the lab, searching for answers. "I need a
space to continue my virology research," she had told
Ashley earlier. "Somewhere with electricity, sterile
equipment—"
An explosion shook the premises, cutting her thoughts

14. short. One of the soldiers had deployed a grenade. Body
parts rained down as a mangled torso dragged itself
towards Ashley, who stomped its head flat with brutal
efficiency.
Within minutes, the street was littered with corpses once
more. The survivors regrouped, checking injuries. "That's
the last of them for now," Ashley confirmed. "Let's move,
doc!"
Maria emerged, helping an injured private from the
wreckage, setting his dislocated shoulder with care. "Your
courage gives us a fighting chance," she told the soldiers
gratefully. Together their survival seemed more assured.
With perseverance, perhaps her studies could someday
repay their sacrifice.
Leaving the ravaged city, Maria felt a glimmer of hope. At
the outpost she hoped to find strength, her knowledge
and their fellowship joining forces against the darkness.
With allies at her back, answers may yet be found in the
ashes.

16. CHAPTER 2
The sun hung low in the sky as Ashley & her squad
escorted Maria through the ruined city. Their hurried pace
was tense but controlled, rifles at the ready for any
ambush. Maria struggled to keep up, weighed down by
her laden bag of supplies.
One soldier kindly offered to carry it, but Maria refused.
"The contents must be handled carefully. They could hold
the key to ending this," she insisted. Her grip tightened in
determination.
At Ashley's casual mention of other survivors taking
refuge, Maria felt a surge of relief. She had begun to lose
hope of finding allies in her lone search. But now, the
prospect of collaborating with Ashley's community
brought renewed purpose.
As the outskirts came into view, Maria spotted high
fencing topped with coils of barbed wire encircling
multiple sturdy buildings. Within, distant figures manned
the barricades.
Ashley raised her radio. "It's Ashley, we're back. Open the

17. gates." With a groan, the reinforced doors swung inward
to admit them.
Maria gasped. Where she expected a handful of haggard
souls, over a hundred people milled about. Children
laughed and played safely behind the fences. Others
tending crops or mending weapons looked up and waved
greetings to Ashley's squad.
"Welcome to our safehaven," Ashley smiled, pride in her
voice. "We've rebuilt security and community here since
the outbreak began."
Maria stared in awe. "I never imagined finding so many
survivors in one place. You've given them hope again."
"Come, there's someone you should meet," Ashley
countered, guiding Maria deeper inside. "Dagen has a
knack for getting things done."
A muscular man came into view, focused on repairing a
machinery. "Ash, good to see you in one piece." His
rugged hands worked skillfully.
Ashley hugged him warmly. "How's the back wall holding
up?"
"Secure as ever. Who's our new friend?" Dagen asked,

18. eyeing Maria curiously.
"This is Dr. Maria, a virologist. She's here to study the
outbreak & hopefully find a cure," Ashley explained.
Dagen shook Maria's hand firmly. "Any chance of beating
this thing is welcome news. Pleased to meet you, Doc."
"Likewise. Please, call me Maria," she replied with a smile,
glad to make acquaintances.
"Maria needs a lab space," Ashley informed. "Think you
can help?"
"Of course. Right this way, doc," Dagen offered, leading
them to a sturdy building near the medical bay.
Inside, shelves and counters lined the walls alongside
basic equipment and supplies. "This should suit your
needs, I hope?"
"It's perfect, thank you," Maria replied gratefully. At last
she had a proper place to resume her critical work.
"You'll want food and rest. I'll send someone over straight
away," Ashley assured.
"Glad we could find somewhere suitable for your work.

19. Just holler if you need anything else," Dagen added
warmly.
Ashley squeezed Maria's shoulder. "We're all in this
together now. Get some rest - your research brings us
renewed hope."
As the duo departed, Maria smiled at the compassion
shown by these resilient survivors. Here, she had indeed
found purpose once more. These survivors had built a
community whilst the outside city crumbled, and now
welcomed her contributions. She would not let them
down. Determination set her hands swiftly organizing her
new lab. Answers would come; she would ensure it.
The fading sunlight filtered in through the dusty windows
of the temporary lab, casting an orange glow over Dr.
Maria as she sat alone analyzing blood samples. She was
dressed in a simple white lab coat, her dark hair pulled
back in a practical ponytail. Her eyes, lined with
exhaustion yet still sharp & focused, peered through the
microscope at the slide before her - a miniscule droplet
that held the potential cure she had tirelessly developed.
Around her, the desks & countertops were cluttered with
beakers, vials, medical equipment. A centrifuge sat near

20. the back, along with a rack of test tubes and a pile of petri
dishes. Maria wasn't sure if her latest formula would
eliminate the virus plaguing the town, but she was willing
to test it. With a sigh, she lifted her head from the
microscope and leaned back, removing her glasses to rub
her tired eyes.
A sudden knock at the door drew her attention. "Come in,
please," Maria beckoned, expecting Ashley or perhaps the
mechanic. Her eyebrows knitted in concern when instead
she saw two teenagers enter the lab. She recognized
them - the resilient siblings had been eying her curiously
earlier when she'd arrived with Ashley.
The teenage boy, Aaron, leaned casually against the wall
as he looked over at Maria, while his younger sister Claire
eagerly fed her eyes on the medical equipment covering
the desks. She was dressed in a ruby red top and blue
jeans, her brown hair pulled up in a ponytail not unlike
Maria's own. Her brother wore an orange t-shirt that
contrasted with his jet black hair, along with black
trousers.
"How can I help you both?" Maria spoke up kindly,
standing from her stool.

21. "You're Dr. Maria, right?" the young girl asked. Maria
nodded. "I'm Claire, and this is my brother Aaron. We
just...had some questions, I guess."
Maria gave a faint smile. "I see. You're curious about me
and my work." She could read between the lines easily
enough.
"Yeah," Aaron chimed in, stepping forward from the wall.
"Ever since we lost our parents, we've hoped that one day
this nightmare would end. Are you trying to find a cure for
the virus or something?" His eyes were intense, yet
pleaded for an answer, for hope.
Maria's expression softened. She gestured to a couple
stools near one of the lab counters. "Please, sit down. I'm
so sorry to hear about your parents - how did it happen, if
you don't mind me asking?"
The siblings relaxed. Claire took a deep breath before
speaking quietly. "It was back when the outbreak first
started. They tried to protect us, but the walkers got to
them before we could escape. Aaron and I had to learn to
survive on our own, until Ashley's group found us."
"I can't imagine how devastating that must've been, to
lose the people you love like that. I know that pain well - I

22. lost many colleagues when the medical center was
overrun." Maria shook her head sadly at the memory. "For
a long time I wandered alone, believing I might be the only
survivor. Meeting Ashley and the rest of you has given me
hope that we can rebuild."
Aaron leaned forward, desperation in his eyes. "But you're
the only doctor we have now. Are you trying to help find a
cure, to end this for good? You're our only chance!"
Maria turned to her workbench. "I am developing a
potential treatment, yes. I can't guarantee it will stop the
infection entirely, but I remain hopeful." She met their
gazes. "If we work together, combine our knowledge or
resources, I believe there is a chance we can overcome
this plague."
The teens' faces lit up with excitement. Their
conversation continued late into the night as an unlikely
bond formed between them. Maria found renewed
purpose in meeting these two bright, resourceful youths.
With their cooperation, their combined strengths, perhaps
they could find a way to defeat the virus that had turned
their world into a nightmare.
**********

23. The sun beat down on the survivors' outpost, a
dilapidated old warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Sweat dripped down Dagen's brow as he hammered
wooden planks over the broken windows, barricading the
building against the relentless hordes of undead that
shambled through the streets. The repetitive banging of
the hammer punctuated the eerie silence that had settled
over the once vibrant metropolis.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the quiet.
Dagen whirled around to see a zombie that had snuck
into the warehouse, ambling towards a terrified young
woman cowering in the corner. Without hesitating, Dagen
grabbed his rifle and provided cover fire, shouting "Get
down!" as bullets sprayed the zombie's decaying flesh.
Ashley and her team of fighters sprang into action,
descending on the intruder with knives and axes. With
ruthless efficiency honed from months of survival, they
hacked away until the zombie lay dismembered on the
ground. Panting, Ashley turned to check on the rest of the
group. "Is anyone bit?" she demanded. Heads shook,
mouths muttered "no, I'm fine." But underneath her long
sleeves, a woman discretely clutched a bloody bite mark
on her forearm, fighting back tears. She knew if the others

24. found out, she would be exiled...or worse.
Later, in the fading light of dusk, Ashley found Dagen on
the roof, still working to secure the crumbling brick
parapets. She called out to get his attention.
"That was a close call today. We got careless...can't let
that happen again."
Dagen wiped his brow, nodding wearily. "I know. I'm trying
to shore up all the weak spots, but..." He sighed in
frustration. "The walkers always find a way in."
Ashley clasped his shoulder. "You're doing good work.
We'll make it through this nightmare."
Dagen managed a small, grateful smile. At that moment,
they heard footsteps and turned to see Aaron
approaching with an armful of tools.
"Thought you could use some help," the lanky teenager
said, setting down the gear. Ashley gave an approving nod
before heading back downstairs.
As Dagen and Aaron worked to board up holes in the roof,
Dagen asked, "With all this craziness, are you holding up
okay?"

25. Aaron shrugged. "Well as I can be, I guess." He picked at a
hole in his worn flannel shirt. "I just wish things could go
back to normal."
Dagen handed the boy a hammer. "Me too, kid. But this is
our life now. We gotta stick together, watch each other's
backs. It's the only way any of us will survive." Aaron
accepted the tool with a solemn expression.
Meanwhile, Ashley noticed the hushed voices and
downcast eyes of the group. She called for their attention.
"I know tensions are running high. But we can't give in to
despair. Every day we fight is a victory. As long as we
stand united, there is hope." Murmurs rippled through the
survivors. Ashley went on passionately, "So when
darkness falls, we must light the fires of courage and
resilience in our hearts. We owe it to the ones we've lost
to keep living!"
The woman with the bite mark sat silently in the corner,
face pale. She would not be joining them much longer.
But Ashley's speech gave her hope - hope that, even if she
did not make it, the others just might.
The faces of the survivors shone with tentative inspiration.
Together, they would face tomorrow's horrors. And

26. maybe, just maybe, see the dawn of a new day.
The lab was bathed in harsh fluorescent light as Claire
and Dr. Maria hovered over their workstation. An array of
beakers, vials, and equipment was spread before them.
Maria held up a syringe, the vial filled with a pale blue
liquid - the result of months of tireless research into a
cure.
"This is it," Maria stated, her voice tinged with equal parts
hope and apprehension. "If this works, it could mean an
end to all of this."
Claire nodded, unable to tear her eyes away from the
potential savior in Maria's hands. They had both
sacrificed so much for this moment. Endless nights spent
poring over medical texts, gathering ingredients, and
experimenting on the infected rats contained in the lab
cages.
Maria carefully opened one of the cages and pulled out a
snarling, frenzied rat. She deftly grabbed it and injected
the trial cure into its body. Then she placed the rat back in
the cage and stepped back, clasping Claire's hand tightly.
They held their breath, waiting. For several moments,
nothing happened. Then, before their eyes, the madness

27. faded from the rat's eyes. It stopped snarling and
snapping, instead crawling over the cage calmly like an
rodent.
"You did it!" Claire shouted, throwing her arms over Maria
gleefully. "I can't believe it!" Maria laughed, barely able to
contain her delight.
But the celebration was short-lived. Only a minute later,
the rat let out an awful shriek and started convulsing
violently. Foam frothed from its mouth as it scratched
and flailed in agony before finally collapsing, dead.
Maria's triumph turned to horror and disappointment. "No,
no, no!" she cried as she grasped the cage door. Claire
placed a consoling hand on her shoulder.
"It was so close," Claire muttered. "But we can try again. I
know you'll figure this out, Dr. Maria. You're the most
brilliant scientist I've ever met."
Maria wiped a tear from her eye and straightened up.
"You're right, Claire. This was only the first trial. I can
refine the formula and run more tests. I won't stop until
we have the cure."
Claire smiled. "And I'll be right here to help. The others are

28. depending on us. We can't let them down."
Maria nodded plainly, filled with renewed hope. She had
come so far & sacrificed so much already - she would not
give up now when the answer was so nearly within her
grasp. The survivors were counting on them.
To be continued...

30. Dear Reader,
I hope you're enjoying the free/limited version of my book
[Book Title] that was available for a limited time. I wanted
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