During an archaeological dig in the wetlands of Northern Europe, a mummy was found by a digging team in a bog swamp. Because of the harsh conditions of this barren land, very rarely does archaeologists want to dig and study here.

"Let's cook it and eat it!" jokingly said by one of the local digger from the team as they laughed.

The team was led by an archaeologist called Dr. Helman Newport. He is the sole archaeologist for this project. From childhood he has always been sickly and always had trouble with physical activities. He poured his time in refining his knowledge about history and found his love for archaeology at an early age. Now at his late fifties, he is still hoping to make a name for himself in the field of archaeology. Dr. Newport further studied the mummy.

Having a background in post-mortem investigations from his previous work, his findings show signs of extensive muscle use that are even greater than what humans are known for being able to do.

"Strange..." he uttered to himself.

All thoughts rushed through his head, mainly being able to extend the muscular lifespan of the human body way past it's usual expiry and even strengthening the physique and immunity of frail children similar to his childhood self. A way to become stronger and live longer for humans.

Although he is talented and knowledgeable in his field, he has yet to find an archaelogical artifact that would put his name in history books. Somehow deep in his heart, he feels that this one particular mummy is what would make this dream possible.

Throughout the years, he found a few more bog mummys, some are humans, some are animals, and some are in similar state as the first one. Several years of arduous study and research has been poured by Dr. Newport, gathering the resources and data needed to formulate a hypothesis and theory as to how this mummy was able to do such physical feat.

Years have gone by without meaningful progress, with its DNA and cellular structure degraded by centuries passed, Dr. Newport has decided that maybe it's for the next generation to continue his work, and that he is just a small cog in the wheel of scientific and medical progress. As he was about to give up, a very startling realization came to his mind.

"...These mummies who have shown great muscle useage, not only were using them extensively, but they are also using them even after physical deterioration and decomposition!" exclaimed by Dr. Newport on his voice recorder.

They all have a bitemark somewhere on their bodies. Not from any wild animal or predator known for that period, but a bitemark from another human. Initially thought to be a strange religious ritual from this ancient society, he didn't pay much attention to this detail, but with his latest findings, he came to a startling conclusion:

"These weren't just ordinary dead bodies... these are..... ancient Zombies."

"Impossible..." he thought to himself.

Draugr of Norse mythology, Revenant from Medieval Europe, Ghoul of Arabia, Rakshasa from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Jiangshi of Chinese mythology, Onryō of Japan, Zombi of West African origin. These are different names from different cultures used to describe the same thing. The Undead.

He submitted his thesis about the proof of the ancient undead to the scholars and institutions hoping to find support and recognition for his work.

Anxiously waiting for the results of his hardwork, he was skeptical but still very optimistic that this would be it, his big break. However, reality has a different plan.

'Breaking News! An amateur archaeologist found ancient zombies! Run for your lives!' mockingly shown in one media channel.

Countless articles and news was written and shown to the world about his work, and instead of studying his thesis and actually showing the facts that he discovered, it was sensationalized, but not in the way that he hoped for. It grabbed a lot of attention from the public, because the news and the media and majority of the scientific community made a mockery out of it. From the scientific and archaeological community, he was shunned and shamed and became a laughing stock in the entire field of study.

His life was ruined by the bad publicity, and no investor wanted to fund any further digs or future projects that are associated with him or his name. This has caused him to spiral down into depression and inflict massive amounts of self-harming habits to himself. It drew him mad.

'Deranged Dr. Helman Newport's laboratory, shut down after failed archaeological findings.' says one news article that the country have seen on the internet.

One night as he was about to take his own life in his cramped dilapidated rodent and roach infested apartment, he suddenly came to a realization. There is still one thing left for him. Revenge.

Drunk in the adrenaline of making them pay for what they did to him, he came up with a way to enact his revenge. He posed as a waiter for a catering service that is hired to serve a large gathering. This gathering is for announcing the Nobel prize winner. The same thing he would have won if only his thesis was not ridiculed and him with it.

Hours before the gathering in his old closed up and abandoned laboratory, he chopped up samples of the cadaver of the ancient undead, and carefuly hid them in the sleeves of his clothing.

During the serving of the buffet, he positioned himself to be the one bringing the cooked food from the kitchen to the guests. Unbeknownst to the unsuspecting public and caterers, he was discretely dropping bits and pieces of the remains of the ancient mummy into the meal that is about to be served.

The special guests were the veterans from the archaeological field. They were served with food by the waiters on their tables. They didn't have to stand in line. They are also the ones who are about to receive the awards. Some were laughing as they chatter, others guests are lining up into the buffet. Others were excited and patiently waiting while savouring the aroma of the buffet that they are about to partake in.

Minutes later I ran back into the dining hall. I saw people have already eaten the soup. My whole body went numb.

Chatting, laughing, telling stories.. I was there when one man on the table of special guests fell slowly to the floor holding his throat as if he was choking.

People went to help him, the next thing we know, two more people around us also fell. And then three, and then five.

People started panicking as almost a quarter of the guests has already eaten the food, and are worried that it might've been poisoned.

We found ourselves outside, calling for help. Those who choked and got poisoned have passed away right there and then, on the floor. We were not prepared for the wrath that was about to come to us that night.

Minutes later, help arrived to the scene. Ambulance, medics, doctors, and the police. As they were trying to help what was left of those who dropped dead, suddenly the man who first fell ill has started moving again. He moved as if he was having muscle spasms all over his body with every movement.

When he opened his eyes, it was bloodshot and the pupils are almost white as if it is in the process of decomposition.

The medics tried to help unknowing of the dangers that they are putting themselves into.

The man who first fell ill was being comforted by a medic when suddenly, he bit the medic on the face.

Everyone was shocked.

The medic cried for help, one by one, those who were lying dead on the floor started moving again, and started biting those who were trying to help them.

People panicked, and started running away from the scene, as if instinctively acknowledging the existence of what was thought to be a mere product of the human imagination. They feared for it, they ran from it. WE ran from it. It was Zombies.

I found myself running away towards the direction of my father's house just a few blocks away from the venue. I own a bungalo type house on the opposite side of it.

Many of the fallen ones have already re-animated and have bitten at least two more people each.

Some people went inside houses, and were quick to find out that it was not the best of ideas as the zombies has followed suit inside and they have nowhere else to run.

People who have seen these scenarios have even shoved those who were just bitten or were just showing signs of illness. I saw a frail woman who was pushed intentionally inside a house filled with zombies just because she couldn't keep up with the crowd.

As much as I would have liked to be a hero and save them, I am engulfed in this overwhelming fear of the reality, that I, have no power to do otherwise. I am just a waiter. One of the people who served the buffet to the special guests. I didn't know what was about to happen until after I came back to the server's area and a fellow waiter whispered to my ear.

"'Tell them it was me, Dr. Helman Newport.'" he proudly whispered to me with a satisfied grin on his face.

As soon as I heard that name, I froze in fear. We all know who Dr. Helman Newport is from the news. He had been missing for some months now, rumored to have gone crazy and committed suicide, but there he was, and I was the last one to see him.

It has been three days since I hid in this pantry. I have nearly exhausted everything in here. I still hear them outside. They are coming close. One thing I noticed different from zombies in the movies than the zombies here, is that in movies they stop trying to eat you when you shoot them in the head.

These things however, keeps biting you even after having their brains blown out. Destroy the mouth, and be careful getting scratched. I have yet to see any other human in the past days that I have been hiding. I don't know why I'm writing this, but to whoever may have the unlucky faith of reading this letter, HIDE.