Mary walked briskly, clutching her coat tightly around her. Her heart skipped a beat when a shadow shifted in the corner of her eye. Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth, and she was dragged into the darkness. Struggling to break free, she felt panic surge through her as the world around her faded into an eerie silence.
The kidnapper, a gaunt figure with piercing eyes, whispered incantations under his breath. He picked up the apple, its surface glistening under the flickering candlelight. Mary lay motionless on the floor, her eyes wide with fear. "This apple will grant you eternal life," he murmured, offering it to her with a sinister grin.
As Mary took a hesitant bite of the apple, a wave of coldness washed over her. She felt her body go numb, and a deep, unending hunger consumed her. Her skin turned ashen, and her eyes clouded over. Desperately, she tried to scream, but no sound escaped her lips. The transformation was complete; Mary was now a mindless zombie.
Her mother clutched a faded photograph of Mary, tears streaming down her face. "I can't believe she's gone," she sobbed, her voice breaking. Her father sat silently, staring into the fire, his heart heavy with sorrow. The news of Mary's demise had shattered the family, leaving an emptiness that could never be filled.
Friends and family gathered, their heads bowed in respect. The priest murmured a solemn prayer, his voice barely audible over the soft patter of rain. "She will always be remembered," her mother whispered, placing a single white rose on the grave. As the ceremony came to a close, the mourners began to disperse, their hearts aching with loss.
Despite the tragedy, Mary's memory lived on in the hearts of those who loved her. Her family planted a tree in her honor, its branches reaching skyward, a symbol of hope and renewal. As the seasons changed, the tree flourished, its leaves whispering stories of a life cut too short, yet forever cherished.
