A New World in Ruin

Two months had passed since a mutated strain of mad cow disease began infecting humans, transforming them into violent, flesh-craving zombies. What had started as an isolated epidemic quickly escalated into a global collapse. Survivors were scattered, cities fell, and chaos became the new normal.

In this broken world, a rule had been adopted among survivors: use the name of one’s hometown as an alias. The guideline, meant to prevent emotional bonds, was intended as a psychological defense against the constant grief of losing others.

A young man, known only as Columbus, had survived by adhering to a personal list of detailed survival rules. Once a quiet and anxious college student, he was now making a dangerous journey from Austin, Texas, toward Columbus, Ohio, in the hope of finding his parents. Along the way, he encountered a rugged, gun-wielding man known as Tallahassee. With reluctance, Tallahassee agreed to give Columbus a ride.

An Unlikely Partnership

Tallahassee appeared fearless, aggressive, and unusually fixated on finding Twinkies, a snack he had not eaten since the world fell apart. In a rare moment of vulnerability, he mentioned missing his dog, Buck, who had been taken by the outbreak. Despite their contrasting personalities, the two men continued to travel together.

Soon, they encountered two sisters: Wichita and Little Rock. The girls feigned distress, with Little Rock pretending to have been bitten. The men were tricked, disarmed, and left behind while the sisters stole their vehicle and weapons.

Not long after, a yellow Hummer H2 was found, loaded with an arsenal of firearms. The two resumed their journey, only to fall into another con by the same sisters. This time, they were taken hostage at gunpoint. However, when a stand-off erupted between Tallahassee and Wichita, Columbus stepped in and called for a truce. The argument was defused, and the four formed an uneasy alliance.

The Road to Pacific Playland

The sisters revealed their destination: Pacific Playland, a Los Angeles amusement park rumored to be zombie-free. For them, it symbolized a return to happiness, or at least a final hope. Columbus and Tallahassee decided to accompany them after Columbus learned that his hometown had been overrun. The possibility that his parents had not survived removed his previous goal.

Their travels led them to Hollywood. Tallahassee, acting on impulse, guided the group to the mansion of actor Bill Murray. To their surprise, Murray was alive and had survived by disguising himself as a zombie. Tallahassee and Wichita appreciated the humor in the ruse and invited him to prank the others.

Disguised as a zombie, Murray entered a room where Columbus and Little Rock were playing Monopoly. In a moment of panic, Columbus shot Murray, unaware it was only a joke. The accidental death cast a shadow over the group, revealing the fragility of trust and the risks of humor in a world so grim.

Later, during another game, Columbus discovered the truth about Buck. He had assumed Tallahassee’s “puppy” was a dog. Instead, Buck had been his young son—taken by the infection. The revelation added emotional weight to the hardened persona Tallahassee carried.

Paths Divide and Reconnect

Though a growing connection was forming between Columbus and Wichita, she chose to leave with Little Rock early the next morning. Her actions reflected a deep mistrust of forming attachments, even as the world grew lonelier. Columbus, disheartened but determined, resolved to find her. He convinced Tallahassee to join the rescue.

By the time they reached Pacific Playland, the sisters had already arrived. Believing it to be safe, they activated the amusement park’s lights and rides. The music and brightness quickly drew the attention of nearby zombies. Surrounded and unprepared, Wichita and Little Rock became trapped atop the drop tower.

Columbus and Tallahassee arrived to chaos. Without hesitation, Tallahassee began luring the zombies toward a shooting gallery. He fired at the incoming horde, holding them off with quick reflexes and heavy firepower. Meanwhile, Columbus navigated his way through the undead to reach the drop tower. Fighting through waves of infected, he managed to reach the controls and help the sisters descend to safety.

New Bonds and Forward Paths

In the aftermath, Wichita expressed gratitude and kissed Columbus. She revealed her real name—Krista—signaling the breakdown of the emotional walls she had carefully maintained. The group, having endured trickery, death, and survival together, chose not to part ways again.

With Pacific Playland no longer the safe haven it was believed to be, they abandoned it. But they left together—united not by blood or background, but by shared survival and a reluctant trust.