All Chapters of The Hungry Dead: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

"What the heck are you doing!"I let out a shriek and lunged, knocking the pâté straight into the trash.With eyes red and raw, I demanded, "Have you been dreaming about my dad again?"How many times have I told you not to listen to him?"Chester looked like he was struck by lightning, then his face crumpled into a mix of confusion and fear."Babe, don't freak out! I didn't dream about your dad, I just got a sudden craving, that's all."What's the big deal with liver pâté? Why are you freaking out so much?"All the fear and grief I was bottling up came crashing down, and I just lost it, sobbing uncontrollably.Finally, I spilled the beans about the dream where my dad asked my mom for steak.Chester wrapped his arms around me, whispering words of comfort."You're just stressed, that's all. The New Year is around the corner. Let's think about where we can go to unwind, okay?"It's just a dream. Forget it, and everything will be alright."I swear I'll lay off the pâté and booz

I was rooted to the spot, drained of all strength.Why was it just my daughter who was affected? I could not understand.That piece of fish was meticulously deboned.The relatives, seeing my daughter's violent reaction, turned ghostly pale.They shook me hard."Silvia, what did you give her?""Don't just stand there, get her to a hospital!"However, I was frozen, and in the chaos, they called for an ambulance.Yet, that day, hospital after hospital told us they were understaffed.In a state of utter despair, I fumbled for Jane's number and called her.The ambulance screamed into view almost immediately.Jane leaped out, her face etched with panic, as she scooped Wendy from my limp arms."What's she choking on?"I could only gaze at her, my eyes hollow, lost."Fish."Without wasting another second, Jane hauled me into the ambulance.I sat there, watching my little girl, silent and soulless, as if she were already gone.The emergency room's red light flashed urgently.N

They finished their confessions and looked at me anxiously.I did not give them the outburst or the breakdown they were bracing for. Instead, I was unsettlingly calm."What's the deal with our daughter? What happened to her?"I caught Chester off guard; he clearly did not expect me to brush off his fling with Jane so easily.Panic flickered in his eyes before he stammered out, "Wendy's death; It was an accident."I did not let him finish. In one swift motion, I yanked back the white sheet from the cart next to us, revealing my daughter's body.Her small form lay there, stark under the harsh light."The doctor said she choked on a fish bone, and that it slashed her throat."My eyes were razor-sharp as they cut to Jane's pale face and then settled on my daughter's still form."However, look at this cloth—just a few random spots of blood."I examined my daughter's throat. The cut was too clean, no sign of a jagged fish bone wound.I knew better; the fish I gave her was boneless

Jane shrieked, rushing to his side. I seized the moment to back off, putting some much-needed distance between us, my phone still recording. "Hold it right there! We're still rolling, Dr. Harris," I smirked at her, "The cops will be just as interested in this little performance as the insurance company." Jane went stiff as a board, her face draining of color. "You set us up!"Chester, gritting his teeth against the stabbing pain, spat out the words, his gaze filled with such malice it seemed he could tear me apart. I scanned the area warily and edged toward the fire escape. As Jane stooped to assist Chester, I seized the moment and dashed down the stairs. Chester, fighting through his agony, shoved Jane aside. "Go after her! If she escapes, we're done for!"Jane stumbled after me, and I intentionally slowed my pace. Just as she was about to grab me, I sidestepped, sending her tumbling to the ground. The wail of the siren grew from a distant hum to a deafening roar. Piece by