As you reach him, he reaches out to grab you. You notice that, even though he isn't very decayed under all that makeup, he's still what you thought he was. You realize too late that he is a zombie after all!\n\n[[Fight him!|7A]]\n\n[[Seriously, fight him! You have no choice!|7A]]

As you turn to fight, you also struggle with the conundrum before you: How does an actual zombie without the slightest hint of decay end up dressed in a zombie costume? Who gets close enough to do that? What's the point? Is it some sort of plain sight camoflage: Will no one believe he's a zombie because that's just too obvious?\n\n[[Who cares!? Try and get free!|8A]]

As the melee continues, you piece it all together. This fellow was obviously alive when he put on his costume. He must have been going out dressed as a zombie before he was bitten, or scratched, and then turned into one. After that, he was too busy trying to eat people to worry about taking off his makeup... Yes, that makes sense. You've figured it out and you can at least die satisfied that you've solved this one last mystery...\n\n[[Except for one last thing...|9A]]

You could mull this question over for ages, you think, and possibly never find the answer. You won't, though, because the zombie is already eating your arm and making his way up to your shoulder. You don't have ages. You've probably only got seconds, and that's probably only just long enough to regret that you never fully figured out the answer...\n\n...and now he's up to your neck...

As you struggle to get free, you also struggle with the conundrum before you: How does an actual zombie without the slightest hint of decay end up dressed in a zombie costume? Who gets close enough to do that? What's the point? Is it some sort of plain sight camoflage: Will no one believe he's a zombie because that's just too obvious?\n\n[[Who cares!? Try and get free!|8A]]\n

You figure whatever he's up to is his business and it's high time you minded your own, so you leave. After a while you notice he's following you. Slowly, shambly and surely, he's on your trail and you can't seem to shake him off. You're tempted to turn and confront him, but the notion of just turning and fleeing for your life is also appealing...\n\n[[Flee|3B]]\n\n[[Turn and confront him.|5B]]

Just as you become content to die, another question occurs to you: Were you right at first? Was your belief that this fellow was a zombie, based on the fact that he looked like one, both justified and true? If his visage was all an illusion, and that illusion was the basis for your belief, you couldn't be right.\n\n[[Or could you?|10A]]\n\n[[Yeah, you're pretty sure you were wrong.|11A]]\n

You keep pushing yourself, hoping to get just a little bit further, but you soon collapse. As you lie there, gasping for breath, your lungs burning in your chest, you take comfort in the fact that all this fear and pain will be over soon. That zombie is catching up. In fact, he's only a few more shambles away. Soon you will be at peace.\n

But maybe you were right, even if for all the wrong reasons. He didn't really look like a zombie, but he was one, but he was made up to really look like one. So, when you thought to yourself there's only one possible explanation for the way he looks, you were right! ...right?\n\n[[Right! You were right all along.|11A]]\n\n[[What was the question?|11A]]

Getting a little closer reveals the reason for all the moaning and shambling. His eyes are dark and sunken, his skin is pale and parts of his face seem decayed. A corner of his mouth has rotted away to reveal a jawbone set with yellowed teeth that look stained pink in spots. The stains must be from blood. In fact, although he's still too far away to make a firm judgment, you're beginning to figure this out. There's only one possible explanation for his looks: He must be a zombie!\n\n[[But that's impossible. You'd better make sure.|2A]]\n\n[[Now it's time to turn and walk away.|2B]]

You're walking down the street minding your own business when you notice a peculiar fellow coming toward you. Although he's still a good distance away, something about him seems strange. It's almost as though he's half asleep. He's just sort of shambling around. It also sounds like he's moaning. Given what you can tell at this distance, he might be injured. He might need your help.\n\n[[Choose to help him.|1A]]\n[[Turn and walk away.|1B]]

You do the sensible thing: You turn and walk away. He's far enough off and wrapped up enough in his own shambling that he doesn't even seem to have noticed you. You count yourself lucky that, whatever trouble he was up to, it doesn't involve you. Still... Maybe he does need help. Maybe you should go back and check...\n\n[[Go back and check on him.|1A]]\n\n[[Forget it. You've got your own problems.|2B]]

Everyone knows zombies aren't real, so you get closer still. Whatever this man is up to, you aim to learn the truth. You're near enough now to see the blank stare in his clouded eyes as they fix on you. He groans as though stomach gas were travelling up through the esophagus and escaping through his mouth. Also, through the hole in his neck.\n\n[[No. There must be some other explanation...|3A]]\n\n[[Whatever this is, it doesn't concern you.|12A]]

You've decided to just let it go. Whatever that shambling fellow was doing, it didn't involve you. You go on with your day, secure in the knowledge that you've made the right decision, and you brag about it to all your friends for weeks to come. After those weeks, though, you're overrun by a pack of shambling, flesh-eating zombies, who promptly eat you. They remind you an awful lot of that shambling fellow. In fact, you spend your last few moments wondering if he was the source of this zombie outbreak, and if you could have prevented this had you only gotten involved sooner.

You run, but he's in pursuit. His slow, shambling gait is no match for your fear induced sprint at first, but you soon grow tired. As your pace slows, his stays steady.\n\n[[Keep running!|4B]]\n\n[[Turn and face your fear.|5B]]

The Zombie Always Wins

Still, zombies aren't real. Even if they were, what are the chances that a real life zombie would look just like they do in the movies? That's about as likely as real life astronauts going to space and meeting real life ewoks: It's not going to happen. Even though you know this, deep down, your instincts tell you otherwise. There's no other explanation for the looks of this man.\n\n[[Get just a little closer.|4A]]\n\n[[Accept him at face value and flee.|3B]]

Rob Callahan

Having nothing to fear, you walk right up to him and tell him how he really had you going for a minute. You really were starting to believe the dead had risen and were walking among us! Oh, what a laugh the two of you are about to have. (Except you're not...)\n\n[[Continue...|6A]]

You inch closer still as he shambles your way. Upon closer inspection, you notice that the exposed teeth and jawbone are not real. They're makeup! Nothing about him is decaying. He's just wearing a zombie costume! Obviously, this fellow is merely dressed up as a zombie. He must be on his way to a party.\n\n[[Ask him where the party is.|5A]]\n\n[[Run from him anyway.|3B]]

Turning to face him, you get a closer look. That's when you notice that the exposed teeth and jawbone are not real. They're makeup! Nothing about him is decaying. He's just wearing a zombie costume! Obviously, this fellow is merely dressed up as a zombie.\n\n[[Yet still he seems like a zombie under that zombie costume.|6B]]