Zombie at Number 56

Zayne covered his head with his hands, but not before a slither of rotten skin slid off and splatted onto the ground.

His face looked as though it had been tie-dyed purple and red, and his lips were blue. He reminded Marla of her papier mache self-portrait from the second grade.

Marla thought she was the only different kid in small town Morrington, until she discovered Zayne, a real-life Zombie at number 56.

Zayne thought he’d never have any friends, hidden away in the attic. Then he met Marla, a self-confessed loner bookworm from across the street.

Their friendship started in a dark and dusty shed. Marla admired Zayne’s curly red locks but recoiled from his icy skin and rotted teeth. Worried that he might lose his new friend, Zayne agreed to attend the Country Carnival with Marla.

Could Zayne be a regular kid again, or was the town about to find out his monstrous secret?

Written by C. V. Aramakutu. Cover art by Sophie Blokker