Free Zombie Story Collection: Humans Versus Zombies Now Available
The dead walk.
But the real fight?
Staying human.
Humans Versus Zombies is a free collection of gritty, character-driven short stories set during the terrifying early days of a zombie outbreak.
And it all begins with Niamh’s Journey—a tense, emotional tale of survival, motherhood, and the impossible choices made when the world ends.
Niamh’s Story: A Mother’s Fight for Survival
When the outbreak begins, Niamh finds herself alone in a crumbling apartment with a teething toddler and no help on the way.
Her partner is stranded on the other side of the country.
The streets are no longer safe.
And the living might be even more dangerous than the dead.
Armed only with a baseball bat and her instincts, Niamh must decide who to trust, what to risk, and how far she’s willing to go to protect her son.
Niamh’s Journey is a side story to the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy, offering a raw, intimate perspective on the collapse of society from the ground up.
What’s Inside Humans Versus Zombies?
This collection blends post-apocalyptic tension with deeply human drama.
Each story stands alone, yet paints a larger picture of the outbreak’s first wave.
You’ll meet:
A terminally ill bus driver making one final run through infected streets
A pub full of desperate survivors clinging to routine and booze
A delivery driver caught between duty and escape
Families breaking apart under the strain of fear and infection
This isn’t just about fighting zombies.
It’s about fighting for kindness. For dignity. For what makes us human in the face of the unthinkable.
Why Read Humans Versus Zombies?
If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, Black Mirror, or stories where the emotional stakes hit just as hard as the horror, this one’s for you.
It’s grim. It’s grounded. It’s free.
And it’s written by Jon Cronshaw, author of the upcoming Punks Versus Zombies trilogy—launching September 1st.
Get Your Free Copy
You can grab Humans Versus Zombies right now by signing up to Jon Cronshaw’s newsletter.
Not only will you get this gripping collection delivered to your inbox, you’ll also be the first to hear about exclusive deals, new releases, and behind-the-scenes insights.
Download Your Free Zombie Collection Here.
What is Humans Versus Zombies?
A free collection of zombie apocalypse short stories focusing on survival, emotional stakes, and the early days of the outbreak.
Is Niamh’s Journey part of a larger series?
Yes. It’s a standalone side story connected to the Punks Versus Zombies trilogy by Jon Cronshaw.
Who is Humans Versus Zombies for?
Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction with heart—fans of The Walking Dead, Black Mirror, and grounded zombie survival tales.
How can I get a copy?
You can download it for free by signing up for the author’s newsletter here.
Niamh’s Joruney – 1.
Niamh knelt beside the bathtub, her hands moving as she washed Sean, her three-year-old son. The water was only lukewarm—the ancient water heater in their third-floor Philadelphia apartment was temperamental at best—but Sean didn’t seem to mind. He splashed happily, babbling to himself as he played with his favourite toy boat.
“And then the brave pirate captain sailed across the wild, wild sea,” Niamh said. “He faced sea monsters and storms and all sorts of dangers, but he never gave up, because he knew that his crew was counting on him.”
Sean giggled, his chubby hands reaching for the boat. Niamh handed it to him, watching with a smile as he crashed it through the shallow water.
Bathtime was one of Niamh’s favourite parts of the day. It was a chance to slow down, to focus all her attention on her son and the simple joy of his imagination.
In these moments, she could almost forget the constant anxiety that gnawed at her—the worry over money, over Tommy’s long absences, over the state of the world that seemed to grow more chaotic and uncertain with each passing day.
With a final rinse, Niamh lifted Sean from the tub, wrapping him in a fluffy towel and peppering his damp hair with kisses.
In the bedroom, she helped him into his favourite pyjamas, the ones with the faded dinosaurs marching across the front. Sean had picked them out himself at the thrift store.
As she combed his hair, working gently through the tangles, Niamh hummed an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her.
Sean’s eyes were beginning to droop, but he fought against the pull of sleep.
“More story,” he said. “More pirates!”
Niamh smiled, settling him into his small bed and tucking the covers around him. “Alright, my love. One more story, and then it’s off to dreamland for you.”
She spun a tale of daring deeds and narrow escapes, her voice rising and falling with the rhythm of the story. Sean listened, his eyes wide in the soft glow of the nightlight.
When the story was finished, Niamh kissed his forehead, whispering a goodnight. She lingered for a moment, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.
Then, with a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and set about tidying the apartment. She gathered Sean’s scattered toys, stacking them in their designated corner. She wiped down the bathtub and hung the damp towels to dry.
When the apartment was clean and Sean was settled, she could almost pretend that everything was normal.
A quick glance at the clock on the wall reminded her that it was almost time for her nightly call with Tommy.
Niamh felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach, mixed with a now-familiar pang of longing.
These calls were a lifeline, a chance to connect with her partner across the miles that separated them.
But they were also a reminder of how much she missed him, of how badly she wished he was here with her and Sean, instead of out on the road.
Sean burst into the living room, his plastic guitar clutched in his hands. “Mommy, look!” He strummed the brightly coloured strings, producing a series of tinny, off-key notes.
“Wow, Sean! You’re really rocking out, aren’t you?”
Sean nodded. “Just like Daddy!”
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed.
With a swipe, Tommy’s face filled the screen.
She smiled at him. “Hey, how was it?”
“Killed it. The pit was insane,” Tommy said, his voice full of the usual post-gig energy.
“Sounds like it was wild. I bet you had them eating out of your hand.”
Tommy grinned, but before he could reply, Sean leapt into the frame, waving his guitar in front of the camera.
“Daddy! Look at me! I’m playing just like you!”
Tommy laughed.
“He’s been shredding all day. Little guy misses his dad.”
There was a moment of silence. Niamh saw the way Tommy’s smile faltered, how his eyes clouded with that familiar sadness. It was the same feeling that tugged at her heart every time she had to tell Sean that Daddy wouldn’t be home tonight.
“I miss you both too,” Tommy said, his voice quieter.
Niamh wanted to reach through the screen, to touch him, to feel his warmth beside her. But all she could do was smile, trying to keep the mood light, for Sean’s sake, if not her own. “Don’t worry,. We’re saving all the real fun for when you get back.”
Tommy’s smile returned.
They chatted a bit more, talking about the little things—how Sean had finally managed to eat his broccoli tonight without a fuss, how the weather had turned cooler, bringing with it the promise of autumn. But as always, the call had to end.
“Alright, my love, it’s bedtime for Sean.”
Tommy nodded. “Goodnight, Niamh. Kiss the little man for me.”
“I will. Goodnight, Tommy. Love you.”
“You too.”
She lingered for a second after the call ended, staring at the blank screen. Then, with a sigh, she tucked the phone away, turning to where Sean was now sitting, strumming the guitar.
“Come on, rock star.” She scooped him up into her arms. “Time for bed.”
As she carried him back to his room, Sean’s head rested against her shoulder, his small body warm and heavy with sleep. She tucked him in once more, brushing a kiss over his forehead. “Goodnight, my love. Daddy loves you. I love you. Everything’s going to be alright.”
She slipped out of the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
In the quiet of the apartment, her loneliness felt like a physical presence. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply through the ache in her chest.
This was her life now—long days and lonely nights. But she had Sean, and she had Tommy, even if he was far away. They were her anchor, her reason to keep going, to keep fighting for the future they had dreamed of together
She settled onto the couch, allowing herself a moment to unwind after the long day. Sean was asleep, the apartment was quiet, and she had a precious few hours to herself.
She grabbed her phone and leaned back into the cushions, scrolling through her social media feed out of habit.
Friends shared photos of their kids, their pets, their meals. Mundane status updates about work. A few memes made her chuckle.
A fellow nurse shared a post: “Violent Attacks Reported in Downtown Philadelphia – Police Suspect Drug-Related Cause”
She clicked on the link and scanned the article. It was vague on details, but the gist was clear – there had been a series of brutal, seemingly random assaults in the heart of the city, leaving several people critically injured.
Niamh shook her head. This was Philly, after all. Violence was nothing new, especially in certain parts of the city..
She kept scrolling. More and more posts about the attacks, some sharing eyewitness videos, others just expressing shock and fear.
Niamh watched a few seconds of one shaky clip, wincing at the screams and the confusion before she swiped it away.
Another headline caught her eye, this one from a national news outlet. “CDC Investigating Possible Viral Outbreak Linked to Recent Violence.”
Reports of similar incidents in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles.
Videos of people attacking each other in broad daylight, their movements erratic, almost inhuman.
Frantic status updates from friends and family in other cities, warning people to stay inside, to lock their doors.
Niamh’s mouth went dry, her fingers trembling as she kept scrolling, kept reading.
This couldn’t be real. It had to be some kind of hoax, or a misunderstanding.
Things like this simply didn’t happen.
Niamh stumbled upon a live video from a local news station, the feed choppy and pixelated. “…confirmed reports of infected individuals exhibiting extremely violent, erratic behaviour…advising all residents to shelter in place… “
The video cut out, the screen going black.
Niamh stared at it, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
What would she do if this thing, this infection or whatever it was, reached their neighbourhood?
How would she protect Sean?
Niamh shot to her feet. She needed to do something, to prepare somehow.
Her nursing training kicked into gear, her mind racing through the supplies they had on hand, the precautions they could take.
She strode to the kitchen, yanking open the fridge and scanning its contents.
They had enough food for a few days, maybe a week if they rationed carefully. She filled every container she could find with water, her hands shaking as she worked.
She dug out her first aid kit from the back of the closet. Bandages, antiseptic, a few basic medications. Not much, but it was better than nothing.
As she worked, she kept one eye on her phone, watching the news updates scroll by with increasing dread.
The situation was escalating rapidly, the number of reported attacks growing by the minute.
Niamh’s heart clenched as she saw a familiar street flash across the screen, just a few blocks from their building.
She recognised the storefronts, the graffiti on the walls.
People ran and screamed.
Cars lay overturned and burning.
Dark figures lurched and lunged through the smoke.
She turned off the phone, unable to watch.
Her mind was reeling, trying to process it all.
She braced herself against the kitchen counter, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge.
She needed to stay calm, to think clearly.
Panic would only make things worse, would only put her and Sean at greater risk.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to take deep, steady breaths.
An image of Tommy rose in her mind. His warm brown eyes, the curve of his smile, the strength of his arms around her.
She reached for her phone and tried to call Tommy, but the network was jammed.
With a shaking hand, she put the phone down.
She moved through the apartment, checking locks, blocking windows.
All the while, her mind raced ahead, spinning out scenarios and contingencies.
If the power went out, they had flashlights and batteries.
If the water stopped running, they had the jugs and bottles she had filled.
If they had to leave…
She shied away from that thought, not wanting to contemplate the possibility of abandoning their home.
She worked until her body ached and her eyes burned from exhaustion.
Only then did she allow herself to sink back onto the couch, her emergency preparations as complete as she could make them.
The apartment was quiet, the silence broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall and the distant wail of sirens outside.
She hugged her knees to her chest, suddenly feeling very small and very alone.
She didn’t know what the next hours would bring, let alone the next days or weeks.
But she was alive, and Sean was alive, and for now, that would have to be enough.