Self Preservation
| Published on Creepypasta.com | July 2010 |
|---|---|
| Length | 828 words · about 4 minutes to read |
| Story level | Short |
| Reader rating | 8.7/10 from 670 votes |
| Category | Deaths, Murders, and Disappearances |
If you’re reading this, then I am hopefully long gone. It’s been… two months now since the meteor struck Mississippi. There was a lot of public interest in it, astrologers and the like all gathering around for a look. They took samples of the rock and shipped them all over the world to museums in every country. Hell, I almost made a trip to have a look myself, but I had an interview with a potential employer. If he hadn’t called me up the previous day, I’d be dead now. Three days later, after the initial hype died down, the news reported nothing on the meteor for a couple of days.
The next thing I heard about it was when I got home from the pub and turned on the late-night news. I was just in time to catch a breaking news article. The worried-looking reporter informed me that almost everyone who had been in the vicinity of Mississippi when the meteor went down had been hospitalised. Their symptoms were similar to those that a corpse experiences during decomposition. Ten people had already died, mostly the elderly and the very young. Scientists and geneticists from all over the globe were working frantically to try and find a cure. Being smarter than the average bear, I gathered some supplies and prepared for an epidemic. Years of being paranoid beyond reason was finally about to pay off.
The news the next day had a lighter tone. A Chinese scientist had worked out that the meteor had contained an alien strain of bacteria that slowly broke down flesh tissue. The scientist also remarked that the bacteria were only affecting humans. He had also worked out that if a victim consumed a living being, such as an insect, it would delay the progression of the bacteria, giving the scientists more time to figure out a permanent cure. Anyone who thought they may have contracted the infection was to eat as many live creatures as they could. The reporter also explained that the US Army was attempting to contain the infection.
They failed.
Anyone who has read Stephen King’s book, The Stand, will have an idea of how the bacteria made its way around the world. It passed through the air, but to catch it, you had to be near someone infected. Because the symptoms took between three to five days to kick in, people didn’t realise that they were infected. In a week, Victus Somes Disease, as it had been named, was global.
Also read: The Scuttler
I had barricaded myself in my house, with towels and blankets stuffed into every crack. I had the TV tuned to the news all day and night. The scientists had not predicted that the bacteria would adapt to the infected people’s efforts at trying to keep it at bay. Victims all over the world were claiming that the insects were no longer working. People were starting to catch small mammals and eat them.
As the days went by, people were slowly eating larger and larger animals. The first reported case of cannibalism was, ironically, the last broadcast made. The anchorman’s hair was falling out and he was missing three teeth. He nervously told America that there had been a reported case of cannibalism in Southern Europe. He also said that there would be no further broadcasts. All survivors were to lock themselves in their house and not let anyone in.
For the next week and a half, I watched the infected shamble up the street, knocking on doors. One of my neighbours, a couple of houses down from me, was stupid enough to open the door. Three people dragged him out and started biting his flesh. They started with his arms and legs, trying to keep him alive for as long as possible. They were crying as they ate. Their meal was shrieking in pain, and the three people eating him were apologising furiously through mouthfuls of his arm. I don’t think they were unable to control themselves; it looked more like they were disgusted by what they had to do to stay alive.
They tried to break into my house five or six days later, but my barricades held. They were outside, begging me to let them in. “Just one bite. Please, be generous.” I listened to their pleading all night, too scared to sleep.
I suppose I should explain why I’m writing this. I’m infected. Yesterday I coughed and lost a canine. I spent the night pulling out my teeth, easing them out one by one. It didn’t hurt; they just slid out, like pulling up carrots. Anyway, as I was saying, I’m infected. The bugs have stopped working, and all the wild animals have long since run away. I have decided to lure someone into my house and attack them. It sounds so wrong writing that out, but I don’t want to die. And I’m so hungry.
I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.
//
Credited to BananaCorn.
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I like this pasta a lot. Gives you some good food for thought.
Sooo, the world basically gets a Canadian zombie outbreak?
Doctor who quote at the end ;)
I liked this. The end is quite creepy too. 8/10
cool pasta
Make into a movie? this could be like Contagion gone zombie? ehh?
I have to say, this pasta was actually well done.
That phrase (“Just one bite; Please, bt generous”) shall be added to the biggest lies ever, right next to “I’ll just put it in once!”
So why did he pull out his teeth? so that he would not kill anyone? i do not understand
I loved the beginning; I was so excited to read on. The beginning made me think it was the best pasta I had ever read…then it went downhill. This could have been draaaaagged on for a long while and still be interesting. I think it would have been better if it were in a journal-like set up; it would have worked well with this story.
I think the creepiest part for me was that the people eating the man retained human emotion and were apologising for eating him…
So, how is he supposed to lure people in and eat them if he has no teeth?
Enjoyed it, 10/10
A zombie is a reanimated corpse, these people haven’t died yet, they’re just extremely sick
So are they really zombies bnjskdg
And it kept me entertained till the end, not exactly *gripping* but I enjoyed it. Concept is slightly cliche, but not bad
Ending was a bit of a let down
Seemed a bit rushed
Alternate fallout timeline.
You don’t tend to see zombie stories on creepypasta and when you do its usually bull but this is pretty good.
Pretty good, could have used a bit more fleshing out (pun intended) but not bad,
A solid7/10
Meh. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t original at all. It was like the classic zombie story except they were aware of what they were doing. Not bad but was not very original. 6/10
bigger mammals, like Cows/ Steak.
and then john was a zombie
I didn’t appreciate the ending. I don’t see how he got infected. The rest was pretty good. Not the best though.
basically, good concept potential, ruined by bad writing
darn it normally i can\’t fall asleep past midnight for no apparent reason but now it\’s gonna be worse i hope i can fall asleep b4 2 o clock at the latest
darn it normally i can’t fall asleep past midnight for no apparent reason but now it’s gonna be worse i hope i can fall asleep b4 2 o clock at the latest
nazi zombies?
Oh, btw, he pulled out his teeth because he didnt WANT to eat people but later, he HAD to.
WHOAH!!!
8.7/10.
This ACTUALLY made my bowels uneasy.
Very nice. Very twisted.
HURR DURR FIRST DERP.
Seriously, though, good pasta. I\’d say… 9.5 out of 10, because the only bad thing was: how is he going to eat the guy? Suck his arm until it turned to mush? Nice pasta, would eat again.
See what I did thar?
I really liked it, especially since these people are not regular Zombies, and are aware. Scary though to be stuck in a situation like that. But how did the guy get infected if he barricaded himself in? I was just wondering about that part….8/10
I just have to say that that is one of the funniest things I have ever heard of. The idea of a polite zombie apocalypse is just hilarious. It gave me the greatest mental image of some proper English genteel eating some guys arm with a spot of tea and a monocle.
Jolly good show, old chap. Jolly good show.
How did he get infected if he was barricaded in his house the whole time? I thought you could only get it if you were near someone who was infected.
Meh pasta is meh.