[ WP ] Its been five years since the zombie outbreak was put down by the world military . A reporter for your national news comes to your house to ask for your story on how you and your family survived the outbreak .

`` May I show you something Ms. Barber? ” Edward inquired with a faint grin. 
 
 “ Please do. ” spoke Emma as Mr. Alexander escorted her out the front door and onto his home's cement walk way. They begin walking and talking toward a large pole barn. The barn sits adjacent to a small white chapel, on top of which, a snake wrapped cross protrudes from the chapel's roof, sticking out like an ivory fang. 
 
 “ As you are probably aware I come from a long line of snake handlers. My father, my father's father, and my father's, father's, father have all, at some point or another, felt the power of death in their hands. ” Going off topic, Edward continued, “ Have you ever played hot potato Emma. ” 
 
 “ Maybe once or twice, in my youth. ” 
 
 “ It's exciting is n't it? Well, for a child it is at least. Would n't you say so? I'm mean tossing around a beanbag is not all that fun, but once you get that music going and there is no telling when it's going to stop, it gets them excited. Is it going to be me, you? As a child it was always thrilling. ” 
 
 “ Yeah, I guess it was pretty fun. ” she agreed reminiscing. They progressed from the walkway, onto the grass, as small talk continued and their stroll lead them walking along a brown wooden fence. 
 
 “ Oh yes, the young boys and girls always find the game exhilarating! Handling snakes is like that too. ” As he says this, Edward spots a petite gardener snake which he grabs and uses to display his snake handling abilities. 
 
 “ Oh, I'm sorry but I ca n't stand snakes ” Her comments lay deaf on the ears of Mr. Alexander. 
 
 “ But unlike a game of hot potato I am not allowed to just pass a rattle snake to the person next to me. ” Mr. Alexander feigns throwing the green reptile at the already startled reporter, her hands raise to catch nothing but the air as she squeaks in terror. With a fixed glare on the snake, almost in a trance, he speaks more. “ I have to hold it in my hands and stare right into its eyes, as it tries it's damnedest to sink its teeth right into my ever so vulnerable skin. ” He snaps out of the act “ So I guess snake handling is more akin to playing hot potato with a gun, loaded, and with the safety off. ” Edward gives a smile and releases the serpent back into the tall grass. “ And for over a hundred years, my family has handled deadly and terrifying snakes. Now, we do this in order to show people that god will protect us from danger. That god will watch over us and keep us safe from all of the unnatural, unholy, and unsafe predicaments we might find ourselves to be in. Now do n't get me wrong, I pray to god, Oh I pray. But when my boat is sinking, I know that if I row, I just might make it all the way to the shore. Do you see what I am getting at? ” 
 
 Curiously Emma spoke, “ Little by little. ” 
 
 The two halt in front of the pole barn's sky blue metal door. “ Well this will help you understand. ” With the press of a button, obnoxious motors rumble while raising the lumbering door. Inside, a creature waits. He groans but the muzzle that masks his dilapidated skin muffles his non-sense. 
 
 “ Holy shit. You are n't allowed to have those. ” 
 
 Edward was shocked to hear such blasphemy, “ Honey, this here is my land, and on my land I will have what ever I please. So stay calm, he wo n't bite. He ca n't now at least ” 
 
 “ What are you doing with him. ” 
 
 “ Shhh... patience. This here is my live in guest, Jeffery. He used to be a real good neighbor. That is until I caught him on top of my wife. But it is n't what you think. It turns out Jeffery was not out to'covet thy neighbor's wife' but instead, he wanted to eat thy neighbor's wife's brain. So long story short, when I found out about all of this zombie hooey, I took Jeff hear and chained him up for, shall we say, experiments. ” 
 
 “ What have you done to him.? ” 
 
 “ Nothin' too much. It was n't him I wanted to work on, it was me. Take a look, here. ” Edward lifts up his sleeve on his right arm. `` You see this scar. That was the first time I was bit by a diamond back.'' lifting his pant leg, Edward shows more, `` This is from a cotton mouth and next to it a cobra, ” reviling his neck from under a scarf, “ a black mamba. And last but not least, ” Edward takes off his baseball cap revealing a chewed on scalp that has healed grotesquely. `` This last one is from that green S.O.B behind me. I forgive him though. It's not healthy to hold grudges you know. Now I have a few more but you'll need to get me drunk to show you. ” 
 
 “ Oh my god, How are you alive? ” Emma questioned, astonished to see this man walking before her. 
 
 “ It was n't by the grace of god that's for sure, although I am sure he tried his best. No ma'am, this is what the Alexanders are taught, fed, hell, this is what we are bathed in. Snakes do n't hurt us no more. These bites did n't kill me because I saved myself. ” 
 
 “ How? What about your head? ” 
 
 After a beat Edward responded. “ Ms. Barber, Are you familiar with a practice known as Mithridatism? ” 
 
 “ I ca n't say I am. ” 
 
 “ Mithridatism is practiced by zoo keepers, circus folk, snake handlers, and many many others. You see, by administering small amounts of poison, for me, snake venom, an immunity can be built against these vicious toxins. Over time I have built such a tolerance as to not even care when I am Bitten by most snakes. I've done this with over a dozen poisonous snakes. Would you like to know what the latest monster I have become immune to is. ” With a self satisfied smirk Edward nods toward his un-dead neighbor. 
 
 “ You haven't. ” 
 
 “ I have, ” after her amazement Edward speaks again. “ I'm immune. So are my children, wife, and my cousin. ” 
 
 “ That's amazing! ” 
 
 “ Maybe, but it's also a problem. ” 
 
 “ Why? ” 
 
 “ Do you know how many types of venomous snakes there are. These are not humans. These are something else. These are a new species. What happened five years ago was not the end. Do you know there are parts of the world that have n't gotten rid of them yet and there's even been reports of them reproducing now. The dead are reproducing. It's is only a matter of time before they start mutating more than they already have. Zombies have been eradicated here, but only here, in the U.S. Go ahead and mark these words in your little notepad there. Five years ago was not the end, it was just the beginning. ” 

