i check one last closet in the kitchen , opening the door and a yellow eye bulges in a puce socket , the skull showing through in patches on the right , the other eye missing , the remaining skin taut and dead like melted plastic , the teeth broken and jagged in silver-gray gums ; and its coming forward , the jaws open and ready , an abomination , a thing that should never have been allowed the grace of motion ; and my heart is screaming the same silent scream emanating through that single soulless pupil , and im tripping backwards over my own feet , squeezing the crossbow too soon , the bolt is flying and missing and thudding uselessly into the wall , and im deader than dead and the zombie jerks to a stop .