Jason had this penthouse apartment that was centrally located in Beverly Hills. He was incredibly clean, but in an overwhelming kind of way. The carpet and stuff were spotless, the cabinets were plastic, and the paint was not chipping. I felt like I was in a Doctor’s office waiting room.

He was snoring loudly, and just at the right moment he opened his eyes.

“Ha! You are dead! This is a dream, right?”

I felt a bit offended, as I was obviously the one snoring.
“No, no!” He pointed at the clock. “It’s 4AM!” (Lucky number 8!).

“You’re a zombie! You’re dead and you’re dreaming!”

“I’m a zombie, alright!” I yawned and started to hack up zombie gore.
“Watch out!” He screamed and jumped out of the bed.
“All right, you monster! I’m dead and I’m dreaming! I’m dead and I’m dreaming!”

He chased me around the room.

“You’re not dead, you’re a zombie! You’re a zombie, that’s just what you are, a zombie, so it’s a dream!” He threw up his hands. “You can’t win!”

“I can’t win, yeah? That’s right, I can’t win. That’s my luck, ha-ha!”
I hope you like midnight horror flicks.” His face crinkled with confusion; the zombies smile that I was always afraid of flashing on.

“Well I didn’t say I was a horror movie person. Oh, that’s right, but you said, I’m dead and I’m dreaming, so that’s a horror movie, right?”

I thought about it.

“Okay, I guess it’s more like…like if a zombie comes to my door…”

As the sun began to rise, we finally settled down and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of zombies and horror movies, but when I woke up, I found myself in Jason’s sterile penthouse once again.

As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, Jason suddenly appeared, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry about last night,” he said. “I can get a bit carried away sometimes.”

I smiled and shook my head. “No need to apologize. It was actually kind of fun.”

Jason’s face brightened. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”

I chuckled. “No, I’m serious. It was a unique experience, to say the least.”

We said our goodbyes, and I left Jason’s apartment feeling a bit dazed. As I walked down the street, I couldn’t help but wonder what other strange and wonderful experiences awaited me in this crazy city of dreams.

Maybe I’d even run into some real zombies along the way. Who knew? Anything was possible in a place like Beverly Hills.

As I walked down the street, a shiver ran down my spine. The streets of Beverly Hills, usually bustling with life and activity, were strangely empty. There was an eerie silence that hung over the entire city, broken only by the occasional sound of a car passing by.

As I turned a corner, I saw a group of people huddled together in front of a nearby building. They were all looking up at something, their faces twisted in fear and disbelief.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I walked closer to see what had caught their attention. As I got closer, I realized that they were all staring up at Jason’s penthouse apartment.

I felt a sense of dread wash over me. What had happened? Had something terrible befallen Jason in the night?

Without thinking, I pushed my way through the crowd and ran towards the building. The front door was unlocked, and I made my way up to the top floor, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I approached Jason’s apartment, I could hear strange noises coming from inside. It sounded like something was scratching at the door, trying to claw its way through.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should turn back and call for help. But then I remembered Jason’s zombie antics from the night before and wondered if this was all just some elaborate prank.

Summoning up my courage, I slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside.

What I saw next made my blood run cold.

Jason was lying on the ground, his eyes rolled back in his head. His skin was cold to the touch, and there were deep scratch marks all over his body.

But that wasn’t the worst part.

Standing over Jason was a figure unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was tall and gaunt, with eyes that glowed a sickly green. Its skin was a sickly grey, and its teeth were long and sharp like knives.

It turned to face me, and I realized with a start that it was a zombie.

I tried to run, but it was too fast. With a sickening crunch, it sank its teeth into my neck, and everything went dark.

Just as I thought I was going to die, I heard a voice in my head. It was a voice I had never heard before, but it was clear and strong.

“Stay calm,” the voice said. “I am here to help you.”

I opened my eyes, and to my surprise, I saw two figures standing in front of me. One was dressed in white, with shining wings and a peaceful expression. The other was dressed in black, with black wings and a menacing glare.

The white figure spoke again. “I am an angel of good. This is an angel of evil. We are here to help you in your time of need.”

The evil angel snarled. “Don’t listen to him. He’s lying. I’m the one who can help you. Together, we can take down this zombie and save your friend.”

I was torn. Part of me wanted to trust the good angel, but another part of me was drawn to the promise of power that the evil angel offered.

But then I looked back at Jason, lying on the ground with blood pooling around him. I knew that I had to do something, and fast.

Without thinking, I closed my eyes and reached out to the good angel. I felt a warm, comforting presence surround me, and suddenly, I felt stronger and more powerful than I ever had before.

Together, the good angel and I charged at the zombie. With a fierce battle cry, we attacked it with all our might, using every ounce of strength we had.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally emerged victorious. The zombie lay dead at our feet, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

But then the evil angel appeared once again, his eyes filled with anger and resentment. “You should have listened to me,” he said. “I could have given you so much more power.”

The good angel stepped forward. “Power isn’t everything,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s better to do what’s right, even if it’s not easy.”

I nodded in agreement, feeling a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. As the two angels disappeared into the ether, I knew that I had been changed forever. From now on, I would always strive to do what was right, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

As the dust settled and the danger passed, a new sound filled the air. It was the unmistakable voice of Kurt Cobain, singing a haunting melody that echoed through the halls of Jason’s penthouse.

“I’m a soul lost in tarpit traps, sinking deeper every day,” he sang. “The weight of the world is crushing me, but I can’t seem to break away.”

I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but there was no one in sight. It was as if the music was coming from another dimension, a world beyond our own.

As the song continued, I felt a sense of sadness and despair wash over me. Kurt’s voice was so full of emotion, so raw and real, that it was impossible not to feel the pain and anguish he was expressing.

But then, as the chorus came around, something changed. Kurt’s voice grew stronger, more determined, and I realized that this wasn’t just a song of despair. It was a song of hope, a call to rise up against the darkness and find the light.

“I’ll keep on fighting, though my heart may break,” he sang. “I’ll keep on searching, for a better way.”

As the song came to a close, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It was as if Kurt’s music had given me the strength and courage to face whatever lay ahead, to overcome any obstacle and find my way home.

And with that, I turned and walked out of Jason’s penthouse, ready to face the world once again.

|| 09.24.2020 ||