ABQ-Episode 11- WTF - ECCIE Worldwide

If you missed Episode one thru ten They are all scattered in the Sandbox. And have provided the links as well.
Episode 1- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=852037
Episode 2- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=860786
Episode 3- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=872510
Episode 4- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=879098
Episode 5 http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=885633
Episode 6- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=905614
Episode 7- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=925055
Episode 8- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=940471
Episode 9- http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=954859
Episode 10- http://eccie.net/showthread.php?t=967986

Otherwise none of this is going to make any fuckin sense. Drama...aint no drama like what ABQ has gone thru. Feel me? I suffer from dramaitis. Episode ten must be read to understand what is going on in this episode.

Disclaimer…. This is for entertainment purposes only anything else that happens between the author and the reader is purely fictional in nature. This is a purely fictional dramatic tale End of Disclaimer.
The question becomes is this episode real or fiction? It is long so my apologies. This sequence is so long it is has been split into two parts. This is part two but will have a bit of overflow into the next episode. Sorry about that. Episode is long enough as it is. Only a few episodes left.

What this club is and the pills and powder is more of a hybrid answer to an extreme fetish. A chemically mixed synthetic form for those with this fetish. Not totally undead but enough to have such a rush and not knowing what is happening is a major turn on for some people. Cabron tells me it is better than sex. I told him he was bat shit crazy but to him and a bunch of other still lying down on the blood covered floor it is all about the metamorphosis.

Something known as Bokors are featured in many Haitian tales and are often associated with the creation of this fetish dream for them by the use of a deadening brew or potion usually containing poison extracted from puffer fish. This potion makes the drinker appear to be dead and thus he is often buried; later, the bokor will return for the "corpse" and force it to do his bidding, such as manual labor. The "corpse" is often given deliriant drugs, mainly datura, which puts them in a detached, somewhat dreamlike state. Its state is likened to being mind controlled. The person is alive but in a state where they cannot control what they say or do; at this point, when the person has been "reanimated" from the grave, or at least is moving about working for the bokor, they can be termed something else.

With that being said when all of these people wake up they will be sprayed with a synthetic form of datura. All Datura plants contain tropane alkaloids such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine, primarily in their seeds and flowers. Because of the presence of these substances, Datura has been used for centuries in some cultures as a poison and as a hallucinogen. There can be a 5:1 toxin variation between plants, and a given plant's toxicity depends on its age, where it is growing, and the local weather conditions. This variation makes Datura exceptionally hazardous as a drug.

In traditional cultures, a great deal of experience with and detailed knowledge of Datura was critical to minimize harm. Many tragic incidents result from modern recreational users ingesting Datura. For example, in the 1990s and 2000s, the United States media contained stories of adolescents and young adults dying or becoming seriously ill from intentionally ingesting Datura. Children are especially vulnerable to atropine poisoning, and their prognosis is likely to be fatal.

In some parts of Europe and India, Datura has been a popular poison for suicide and murder. From 1950 to 1965, the State Chemical Laboratories in Agra, India, investigated 2,778 deaths caused by ingesting Datura. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported accidental poisoning resulting in hospitalization for a family of six who inadvertently ingested Datura used as an ingredient in stew. In some places, it is prohibited to buy, sell, or cultivate Datura plants.

Due to the potent combination of anticholinergic substances it contains, Datura intoxication typically produces effects similar to that of an anticholinergic delirium (as contrasted to hallucination): a complete inability to differentiate reality from fantasy; hyperthermia; tachycardia; bizarre, and possibly violent behavior; and severe mydriasis (dilated pupils) with resultant painful photophobia that can last several days. Pronounced amnesia is another commonly reported effect. Since those in the club will get a synthesized version of this it will only last less than 24 hours.

No other psychoactive substance has received as many severely negative recreational experience reports as has Datura. The overwhelming majority of those who describe their use of Datura find their experiences extremely unpleasant both mentally and physically and often physically dangerous. This is another reason why only a small amount is sprayed on each person in this club. It is to feel that sense of control leaving your body temporary and not knowing how said body will react. It is all fucked up if you ask me.

Twenty Minutes Later:

Slowly the first of many begin to try and get up. But all fall back down because of the slipping on the blood. Before I know it some guy in full riot gear begins to spray every single person my guess is with Datura. After he finishes he runs down some catacombs to his right and I hear a door shut behind him. As more people slowly stagger and I mean stagger upwards I motion to Pete to lets go. It is time to move to higher ground. I shake my head as much still stumble to the ground.

“We will be safe here.” I tell Pete

“Safe?” He wants to say more but his voice just will not let him. The DJ area is a good fifteen feet up from the main dance floor and look protected by thick glass that may also be bulletproof.

“Close that door now please.” Says the DJ as a song from The Dead boys is playing. Ahhh gotta love punk rock.

The DJ puts out his hand to me and shakes it. “Name is Raymone and you will be safe here as long as that door is shut. In half hour or so when this club gets in high gear and that door is open even I cannot save you.” He then shakes Pete’s hand.
“So this place does not scare you? If I had to DJ here I would be shared shitless.” I tell the DJ who is Jamaican and about five foot seven and maybe about 170 or so but seems to be all muscle. Damn must be nice.

“Look the both of you I can feel have negative energy, bad juju. But why can I work here. I am at peace, harmony, tranquility with myself. I know my sense of self. And when I look out those windows negative thoughts do not flow thru. They are just objects. They cannot hurt me when I am here. You see dudes the worst enemy is ourselves. How many times can you not go to sleep because of so many thoughts going thru your head? Now I am not talking about hearing voices as that is different but thoughts all kinds and mostly negative. I am able to take a step back and realize those are just thoughts and observe and live my life. I do not let those thoughts eat at me and consume me. Some of those thoughts are playing devil’s advocate. Sometimes we just do not realize it. It is all about channeling ones emotions.

Let me give you an example say you do not hear your from your girl in like four or five days. Do you realize how many thoughts are going thru your mind at one time? Is she seeing someone else? Is she fucking some other dude? Is she out of town? Did she get into an accident? Should I call a bunch of hospitals? Should I go over there and see what is wrong? Fuck her I am going to find a new girl? Hell maybe I should go to the club with my boys tonight and hook up with some random girl? So say you exteranlize those thoughts into another person. Say that person was sitting next to you on a bench you would then think that person was certifiably crazy? Right? Thing Is you do not know what is going on with your girl and waiting and not knowing is causing your emotions to be completely out of whack and you are then being consumed by it. You have reached out to her and she has not gotten back to you so let it go. Control your life and not let your thoughts control you. So you ask how can I work a job like this because I know who I am. I know thy self and do not let external things or objects control me.”

He pauses and put on a new song this time by Drowning Pool.

Raymone turns his attention back to us. “You see it is all about being in tune with your consciousness. It refers to your individual awareness of your unique thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations and environment. Your conscious experiences are constantly shifting and changing. For example, in one moment you may be focused on what is about to go down here. Your consciousness may then shift to the memory of a conversation you had earlier or an experience you had recently. This ever-shifting stream of thoughts can change dramatically from one moment to the next, but your experience of it seems smooth and effortless.

I once read a book by an author named Michael Singer and did have a deep and profound effect on me. I was not living my life as I should. I was letting things and extreme emotions and objects run my life. So I set about to center my conscious. Do you know what Singer said? That what differentiates a conscious, centered being from a person who is not conscious is simply the focus of awareness. That all consciousness is the same just as all awareness is the same. It is neither pure nor impure. You see it has no qualities at all. It is just there, aware that it’s aware. But here is the key that helped me. The difference my two new friends that that when your consciousness is not centered within, it becomes focused absolute on the objects of consciousness. Yet, when you are a centered being, your consciousness is always aware of being conscious. Your awareness of being is independent of the inner and outer objects you happen to be aware of. Which is why a job like this has no immediate impact on me. I do not have nightmares when I go home. It is just a job and no more and no less.

Also remember that consciousness can focus on anything. You know what dudes that Singer also said is what if consciousness were to focus on itself? I stopped and thought about that for a few moments and had a whoah that shit is deep. However, when that happens, instead of being aware of your thoughts and emotions, your aware that you are aware of your thoughts. You have in fact turned consciousness back onto itself. We are always as humans contemplating something, but this time the contemplation is a source of consciousness. And that my friends is true meditation.

True meditation is much more than just a simple and straight concentration. For you must have the ability to focus your consciousness completely on one object. Yet also have that ability to make awarenes itself be that object. In the highest state, the focus of consciousness is turned back on thy self. And that is why I am at peace because I found true meditation and yes Yoga helps immensely.

I can tell you want peace but have no idea of going about it. I can also tell that your friend is more of a free spirit. He lives his life from day to day without fully understanding the consequences. But you may think that is a good thing but he has even more negative energy than you.” The DJ finishes his long rant. Well at least I learned that I still want to find peace. I just do not know how.

With that Raymone turns his back on us and focuses on his mixes for the next twenty hours or so. What I hear is a mix at least to start out with of Super Suckers, Velvert Underground and Doom Riders.

I look out the window as everyone is now on their feet. I see a few hot chics starting to take off their clothes but they do it in almost a non human way. Like it is the first time they have ever tried to take off clothes. I focus my attention on this five foot four goth chick. Her eyes are red, she is unbalanced and unable to unbutton her blouse. She tries to eat at it without much luck. But after a few minutes she rips it off. Luckily for her, she is not wearing a bra. She does have big tits though. Looking around the room they all seem to be in unisom of wanting to be naked. Which is caused by what they have taken as their bodies have risen in a high tempature. A majority of their motor skills have vanished and because all are very unbalanced right now and blood is over their naked bodies. Some just stay on the floor rolling around and grunting. The music is now louder. Some are smelling each other and then slowly and with almost a limp walk over to another and smell them.

I look back at Pete who is next to me and just shakes his head in amazement. If this was the first time I was here and looking at the naked chicks in blood and trying to touch other women and smell them I might get aroused. Then looking at the men here and their limp dicks walking around aimlessly. One is on the ground on top of a girl yet he looks like this is his first rodeo when it comes to wanting sex. He is thrusting his head time and again onto the woman’s boobs. Yet his head keeps sliding off because of the thick blood. He turns her over and smells her ass and then buries his head sideways. Looking around there are plenty of people trying to do similar things but their motor skills will not allow them any sexual pleasure.

“This is a fetish club and everyone out there whether they go thru pain or the misery of skin being missing in 24 hours still have an insane thirst for what it feels like to be somewhat undead and yes to be a zombie. So what this club provides is that feeling, that loss of many motor skills and the feeling of being undead but not quite. It is the closest feeling for them to being a true zombie.” Raymone tells me.

If we're going to talk about zombie-like diseases, we first need to decide what the symptoms of being a zombie actually are. Obviously, the big one - you know, being literally, actually (un)dead - isn't something with any real world medical parallels, so we'll just have to restrict ourselves to diseases that make people act like the walking dead. That would include traits like rotting or dead flesh, a trance-like state that would rob people of any sign of higher cognitive function (Datura), an inability to communicate in anything more than moans and grunts, a slow, shuffling gait, and (if we're really lucky) a taste for human brains, or at the very least the desire to bite people. Yet because of how these pills, powder and eventually spray are being used they will not turn into full on zombies that can do nothing but moan and groan, there will be a bit of cognitive activity taking place. For those in this club it is all about having that zombie-like effect and having a good time. Even though at the time they will not realize it.

Is there a single disease that can do all that? Well...no. But there are a whole heap of diseases that can do quite a few of those, and that's plenty terrifying enough. Indeed, let's start with the most horrific possibility of them all:
Sleeping sickness is the stuff nightmares are made of. The headline of some british newspaper in 2006 pretty much says it all: "The disease that makes people zombies." Prevalent in Africa, sleeping sickness is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by the tsetse fly.

"At first it will cause headaches, aching muscles and maybe itching. But in the late stages, when the parasites have invaded the brain, the signs become more obvious and ominous. Victims find it hard to concentrate. They become irritable, their speech is slurred and they stop eating. Their daily rhythm becomes disrupted to such an extent that they can't sleep at night and find it almost impossible to stay awake during the day. It even becomes very hard for them to do simple mental tasks, such as drawing a straight line. This is an infection that carries nightmarish qualities, reducing many of its victims to a zombie-like state before they go into a coma and die. Those that do survive can be left with irreparable brain damage."

Worse, there are still no vaccines or ways to prevent infection occurring once the tsetse fly bites a person. Even the available treatments are - to be charitable - less than perfect. Melarsoprol is one of the few treatments available (and that rather dubiously assumes that the average infected person has access to any medical care), but it's over fifty years old and contains enough arsenic to kill 1 in 20 people that are treated with it. And even if a patient survives the ordeal, they remain at risk of contracting the disease again later.

About 50,000 to 70,000 people die of sleeping sickness every year, although it is suspected that estimate was actually much too low. In Uganda, one in every three people is at risk of getting the disease, and some sixty million people remain under constant threat. So then, there are about 50,000 examples of the walking dead each year, although (perhaps mercifully) they don't remain walking for very long.

Thankfully, there is some hope. The genome of Trypanosoma brucei was sequenced, and it is currently being compared to another strain of the parasite that only affects cows. Researchers at the Sanger Institute who carried out the sequencing hope this comparison will yield hugely useful data on just why one strain infects humans and the other doesn't. This could pave the way for new drugs that would greatly reduce the mortality of sleeping sickness and hopefully decrease the incidence of the most severe, zombie-like symptoms in the afflicted.

Rabies

There isn't a disease, be it mental or physiological, that makes people want to eat other people, at least none as currently recognized by medical science. (Cannibalism isn't considered a mental illness in its own right, but rather as a part of a larger web of psychoses.) There are certain culture-specific mental conditions, observed in certain native American peoples, is one of the better examples - that make people think they are turning into cannibals, but that's about it.

Still, rabies can, under certain conditions, approximate some of the conditions of the zombie lust for brains. The rabies virus causes massive inflammation, or swelling, of the brain, and it's most often transmitted by bites from infected animals. About 55,000 people die annually from rabies, with almost all of these deaths occurring in Asia and Africa. Although vaccines do exist (indeed, it was Louis Pasteur's successful treatment of a rabies-infected child that brought us into the modern age of vaccinations), they have to be administered before the onset of symptoms if the patient is to survive.

Again, the symptoms of rabies sound rather like those of the walking dead: full or partial paralysis, mental impairment, agitation and strange behavior, mania, and finally delirium. It takes a bit of cherry-picking of symptoms, but one could put together a rabies patient with an inability to think clearly or communicate, difficulty walking, and manic aggression that takes the form of frequent attacks on humans

Although such a zombie-esque sufferer is medically possible, such a hypothetical patient is apparently really, really unlikely. Human-to-human transmission of rabies is incredibly rare, and it almost always occurs thanks to insufficient background tests before organ transplants.

So there aren't very many, if any, people going around biting other people. But, to be fair, rabid animals do act a whole lot like extras in 28 Days Later, with uncharacteristic behavior, aggression leading to attacks, and an apparent loss of all reason. Until human rabies manifests itself more like animal rabies - and it's not something I would like to see - that's about the closest we're getting to real world brain-hungry zombies. This was talked about in the book “World War Z”

Necrosis

Those of you who are up on your Greek roots already know where we're going with one: necrosis is death, specifically those of individual groups of cells before the organism as a whole dies. This isn't technically a disease but rather a condition with a lot of different possible causes. Cancer, poison, injury, and infection are all possible causes of premature cell death.

If we're being super-literal about what the walking dead really are, then a patient with necrotic tissue is maybe the closest equivalent. After all, a patient suffering from necrosis technically is partially dead, albeit still very much alive in all the important areas (the brain, the heart, and the rest of the vital organs, for a start) that we generally associate with the living.

Whatever its external (or, in the case of cancer or infarction, internal but extraordinary) cause, necrosis triggers a series of event that can lead to even greater negative effects outside the affected area. The dead tissue stops sending signals to the nervous system, and necrotic cells can release dangerous chemicals that hurt nearby, still healthy cells. If the lysosome membrane inside the cells is damaged, enzymes can be released that can also harm surrounding cells.

This chain reaction can cause the necrosis to spread (and if it spreads over a great enough area, it becomes gangrene) and can ultimately be fatal. The only way to cure the condition is through a process known as debridement, which is simply the removal of necrotic tissue. If the dead area is too large, this may require amputation.
If there is any sort of bright side to all this - and I'm not sure there is, at least necrosis isn't contagious, meaning it's not the sort of thing that could spur a faux-zombie outbreak.

Dysarthria

I have mentioned about possible causes of zombie-like trances, cell death, and hyper-aggression. What about something a little more innocuous, like the iconic moans and grunts of the oncoming zombie horde? What could cause that?
Well, the best real-world equivalent is probably dysarthria, which is a disorder affecting the motor controls of human speech. Dysarthria is particularly appropriate because it's neurological in its origins, which ties in with the brain-based aspects of zombie lore. There are a lot of different causes of dysarthric speech, but all are characterized by a malfunction in the nervous system that makes it difficult to control the tongue, lips, throat, or lungs.

This in turn causes difficulty in articulation, which can take the form (among many possible manifestations) of an inability to communicate in more than unintelligible noises. The condition can be brought on by traumatic brain injury, metabolic diseases like Lou Gehrig's or Parkinson's, or a stroke, all of which lead to a loss of control over the vocal muscles. Possible affected areas include the ability to regulate the volume of speech, the ability to create the proper inflection, and, most importantly for our purposes, the ability to create the correct sounds of speech.

To be sure, in and of itself dysarthria is not a particularly zombie-ish condition. However, coupled with any of the other diseases on this list, it gets you frighteningly close to a real approximation of the sight and sound of the walking dead.

Leprosy

Both zombie folklore and leprosy have a long, long history. Armies of the flesh-eating undead can be traced all the way back to the roughly tenth century BCE Akkadian work The Epic of Gilgamesh, which drew on earlier Sumerian mythology and was one of the first substantial written works in human history. Cases of leprosy have been reported going back some four thousand years throughout Eurasia and northern Africa, including China, India, and Egypt. Considering a common feature of zombies is their rotting flesh and decaying body parts, it would seem like leprosy and its similar-sounding symptoms would be a natural inspiration for such stories.

Well...sort of. The truth is (as usual) rather more complicated. First of all, it's a myth that leprosy causes body parts to rot away and fall off - indeed, there really aren't any diseases that can actually make limbs fall off (although, as discussed earlier, necrosis can necessitate the amputation of dead limbs). Leprosy can cause damage and numbness in its victims, which could cause a slow, shuffling walk that might have inspired the gait that we associate with zombies. The main external symptom of leprosy is the outbreak of extensive skin lesions, which gives the skin a diseased, decaying appearance not unlike that of the common conceptions of zombies.

Fortunately, leprosy is pretty much under control at this point, certainly compared to sleeping sickness. Over 95% of people are naturally immune to the disease, and over fifteen million people have been cured of the disease in the last two decades. It's a remarkable turnaround for once of the most feared and stigmatized diseases in human history - indeed, for centuries leprosy evoked the same kind of irrational dread that we might now feel towards the dead rising from the graves en masse, ready to devour our brains.

Rabies Virus Mutation Possible?

Unlike movie zombies, and the show “The Walking Dead”, which become reanimated almost immediately after infection, the first signs a human has rabies—such as anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, and paralysis—don't typically appear for ten days to a year, as the virus incubates inside the body. Once rabies sets in, though, it's fatal within a week if left untreated.
If the genetic code of the rabies virus experienced enough changes, or mutations, its incubation time could be reduced dramatically, scientists say. Many viruses have naturally high mutation rates and constantly change as a means of evading or bypassing the defenses of their hosts. There are various ways viral mutations can occur, for example through copying mistakes during gene replication or damage from ultraviolet light.

Airborne Rabies Would Create "Rage Virus"

But for the rabies virus to trigger a zombie pandemic like in the movies, it would also have to be much more contagious. Humans typically catch rabies after being bitten by an infected animal, usually a dog—and the infection usually stops there.
Thanks to pet vaccinations, people rarely contract rabies in the United States today, and even fewer people die from the disease. For example, in 2008 only two cases of human rabies infection were reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So yes, it is possible that the start of a zombie outbreak can on the outset be caused by airborne Rabies.

Cabron told me his obsession with this started in group chats on Yahoo. And he found out some people shared the same weird fetish. For some unknown reason the majority of the people were located on the west coast. And more specifically in Las Vegas. So the slogan what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas would certainly hold true here even though we are on the very outskirts of the city.

· The zombie craze seemed to start with an attack in Miami on a Saturday, when Rudy Eugene, 31, was killed by cops while in the process of eating almost the entirety of a homeless man’s face off. The victim, Ronald Poppo, miraculously survived, but doctors at the time were having a hard time figuring out how to put his face back together.
· Then, on the next Tuesday, 21-year-old Alexander Kinyua of Maryland allegedly admitted to dismembering his roommate and then eating his heart and brain.
· Cops in Canada are also searching for a low-budget porn actor who allegedly killed a young man with an ice pick, dismembered the body and then raped and ate flesh from the corpse. Luka Rocco Magnotta is still being hunted I believe after he allegedly mailed some of the body parts to Ottawa. He’s also accused of killing cats on video and posting the footage online.
· Zombie-like characteristics have been confirmed in the animal kingdom, just not in humans. A newfound fungus in a Brazilian rain forest — called Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani — is known to infect an ant, take over its brain so as to move the body to a good location for growth, and then kill the insect.
· So far, it seems that the WHO and the CDC have managed to keep it under control. The strange thing is that they have released a statement in the past in response to stories like these, outright denying the existence of a zombie virus.
· “CDC does not know of a virus or condition that would reanimate the dead (or one that would present zombie-like symptoms),” wrote agency spokesman David Daigle in an email to The Huffington Post.
· I would say they are doing so to avoid panic, but that’s never been the CDC’s style. When the swine flu broke out, the CDC slathered its website with all sorts of precautionary steps they wanted people to take, all while admonishing us to not panic. The CDC has a history of going overboard, apparently living by the axiom that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
· So why the denial of a zombie virus even though it’s obvious that more and more cases are surfacing and that it’s only a matter of time before an infected person gets loose? If I had to wager, I’d say it’s because unlike the swine flu and other outbreaks, the CDC and the WHO don’t know what to do about it.
· Time to go out and buy a new pair of running shoes. You’ll need them. And those who say that a Zombie apocalypse is nothing more than science fiction may be fooling themselves.

Within the urban sprawl of St. Louis lies a remote area called “Zombie Road”. Urban Legend tells a variety of eerie tales which include being host to ritualistic and occult practices which spawned inhuman and demonic entities while other tales tell of those who met their peculiar demise and still roam this desolate road in the afterlife.

With centuries of erosion forging a transversal path through the bluffs along the “River of Death”, so named by those who use to call this their home centuries ago, this area has seen many come through its natural carved corridors to a crossable fork in the River below. Its flint enriched bluffs offered an abundance of the raw materials necessary to make the tools and weapons needed for survival through time.

Some say this is called Zombie Road because the railroad workers who once worked here rise from their graves at times to roam about. Some insist that they have heard old time music, seen anomalous moving lights and other ghostly sightings from that forgotten era. Another tale tells of a patient nicknamed “Zombie” who escaped from a nearby mental facility never to be seen again. His blood soaked gown was later found lying upon the old road later named after him.

Other tales include one of an original settler who met their demise upon the railroad tracks. Another includes a pioneer who lost his wife in a poker game then went back to his homestead and took his own life. Many still report seeing these lonely spirits even today.

The railroad still shows “Death hath no mercy” as many have met their final fate upon its tracks. Local lifelong residents can still remember multitudes of tragic occurrences dating back to the 1950’s. One of these occurred in the 1970’s when two teens were struck by an oncoming train. Some of the local residents were used in search parties to find the body parts scattered about the area.

During the 1990’s a mother and her five year old child were crossing a bridge when an oncoming train met them. The mother’s last action was pushing her five year old child off the bridge. The engineer was able to stop the train and save the child. Although the mother died, this is still one of the happiest endings to a story this area will provide.

More recent past has seen this area become refuge for those wanting privacy to practice the occult and other rituals. Who can really know what true doorways to the darkness or unknown were opened here. This area also became a beacon for teens looking for thrills. In the 1970’s a group of teens engaged in a practice called “huffing”. While using a can of cooking spray to “huff” one of the boys fell unconscious and took his last living breath. Other such drug related deaths have been noted as well over the years.

During the 1960’s a couple in their late teens were on top of the bluffs overlooking the road below. The male somehow lost footing and during the fall caught his face in a fork of a small tree growing out from the side of the bluff. His face and scalp remained while the rest of him fell to his death upon the road below. Others have also met their demise from the high bluffs above.

The area has also seen its share of suicides and murders. In the 1970’s a hunter stumbled across a car still running at the end the road. Closer inspection revealed a hose running from the exhaust pipe to the inside of the car with the driver slumped over the steering wheel.

One can agree that there is no lack of legends or tragedies surrounding this area which can explain the bizarre and eerie encounters of those who visit. I was one who became truly intrigued and attracted by such lore and was determined to either prove or disprove the Urban Legends surrounding it.

Missouri Paranormal Research (now a division of Paranormal Task Force, Inc.), the paranormal investigative team where I heard all of this from, investigated this area on several occasions. They say their visits converted many true skeptics into true believers of the paranormal. I was one of those the first time and even remarked “This was going to be like Winnie the Pooh looking for a ghost in 100 Acre Woods” prior to descending onto the old road.

Within an hour several people observed a human sized shadow figure as it descended upon them from a small bluff nearby. It then ran onto the road, stopped, then disappeared into the darkness of the night. Throughout the night others heard unexplainable voices, were touched by the unseen and witnessed the unexplainable. This was one night that everyone could conclude that indeed some Urban Legends actually are real! Who would have thunk it!

But going back to The “Miami Cannibal” who has been described as a sweet, kind and loving man by his mother and girlfriend. So what happened that caused him to turn savage, take off his clothes and viciously attack a homeless man by eating his face for a grueling 18 minutes? Witnesses described the attacker, Rudy Eugene, as a “zombie” because the attack was so horrific and gruesome. Even after police were on the scene and shouting for Eugene to stop he “growled” and continued to tear at the man’s flesh.

The Twitter universe was on fire with speculation about the Zombie apocalypse and the Zombie Virus! How can we protect ourselves from the Zombie virus or LQP-79? Unlike measles or the flu you can’t go to the Doc in a Box on the corner and get a vaccination for it. What exactly is LQP-79 anyway and what caused the Miami man to go mad?

All it took was for someone to say “Zombie” and enthusiasts of a Zombie apocalypse began to blame the attack on the Zombie virus aka LQP-79. According to some on Twitter, LQP-79 is not a real virus but something that was created as a Pop culture phenomenon as an increasing number of people become fascinated/obsessed with Zombies/Vampires and the walking dead as fueled by Hollywood. What was interesting is after a short while the Miami Zombie attack was taken off twitter by the government.

The facts are horrific and some might find comfort with a valid explanation, but I’m not sure discovering Eugene was a “Zombie” and this is the beginning of something bigger is comforting. Here are the facts that have fanned the flames of Zombie fans: Eugene was consuming the flesh of another person, he was unresponsive when ordered to stop and did not react after being shot, and he growled at the police officer.

How can you explain his behavior other than to say he was a Zombie? Eugene’s girlfriend says he was either drugged without know it or a victim of Voodoo Maybe a victim of some sort of Haitian Zombie powder?. The girlfriend say she’s never believed in VooDoo until now but can’t think of another explanation. Can the story get any stranger?

Well, actually yes it can, toxicology results were never released but authorities believe he might have been high on the new designer drug of choice called “bath salts.”

My eyes grow wider as I hear the elevator close downstairs and a man screaming. He has on shorts and a t-shirt which has a bit of blood on it. He is pushed into the crowd by two men who run away. Shortly, I hear the elevator go back up. Both the semi undead men and women at first look at him in a almost hypnotic trance state. Soon all come closer and want a smell. At least four or five people rip his shirt off.

“He must have pissed someone off real bad.” The DJ says.
“Holy shit this is about to get real interesting.” Looks like Pete’s voice is coming back.

I see Napoleon and two other guys push him onto the ground. The guy screams can even be heard from the DJ box.

Episode Twelve- Sunday