Officer Daniel Vandelay had been on the force for a decade, and he had seen it all. A former Marine, he had spent years serving his country overseas before deciding to return to his small hometown of Leonardtown, Maryland. On the force, he had earned a reputation for being a tough, no-nonsense cop who got the job done.

It was a cold winter night, the air crisp and clear. Officer Vandelay was on duty, sipping his coffee, and scrolling through his phone when a 911 call came in. It was 6:00 pm, and the dispatcher, Brianna, was on the line.

“Officer Vandelay, we have a situation near Leonardtown Wharf. A cookout turned violent, and the caller is reporting what sounds like a… zombie outbreak? I know it sounds bizarre, but the caller is terrified. Her name is Jessica, a local teacher. She’s barricaded herself in the basement,” Brianna relayed the information, her voice shaking.

Vandelay’s brow furrowed as he started his cruiser, the engine roaring to life. “I’m on my way. Keep me updated.”

As he sped towards the incident, Brianna filled him in on more details. “Jessica says her neighbor, Pete, came over to their cookout and started acting strangely. He bit another guest, and then that guest attacked someone else. The guests who were bitten began to turn, and now it’s chaos.”

Vandelay gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles white. “This can’t be real. It sounds like something out of a movie.”

As he approached the scene, the quiet suburban street was unrecognizable. Screams echoed through the air, and the flicker of flashlights could be seen from the house. Vandelay grabbed his gear and charged toward the chaos.

“Stay on the line with Jessica, Brianna. I’ll handle this.”

Vandelay moved with the grace and skill of a seasoned warrior, taking down the infected with precision. He made his way through the backyard, dispatching one zombie after another. It was as if he was dancing, each movement calculated, and efficient.

He reached the basement door, his gun at the ready. “Jessica, it’s Officer Vandelay. Can you let me in?”

The door creaked open, revealing a terrified Jessica. Her eyes were red from crying, and she trembled as she stepped aside to let him in.

“Officer Vandelay, thank God,” she whispered, relief washing over her face.

With Jessica safe, Vandelay barricaded the door and contacted Brianna. “I’ve got her. We need backup to contain this situation.”

Moments later, the sound of helicopters filled the air, and a special military unit swarmed the area. They worked swiftly to neutralize the remaining zombies, leaving no traces of the bizarre outbreak.

As they led Jessica and Vandelay away from the now-contained area, a military officer offered him a nod of respect. “You did an excellent job containing the outbreak, Officer Vandelay. You saved lives tonight.”

Vandelay simply nodded in response, his eyes never leaving Jessica’s tear-streaked face. He had faced many challenges throughout his career, but nothing could have prepared him for the horror he had just witnessed. And yet, he had done what he was trained to do – protect and serve.