Spring Outbreak

Dark Celebrations #8

by Calvin Demmer

Gwen Montgomery has come to Mexico during spring break to clear her mind. It seems like the perfect solution after a difficult breakup. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be more wrong. When she wakes after falling asleep on the beach, the horrific scene she finds sends her running. But she can’t run forever.

A short story.
(Collected in Dark Celebrations)

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Short Stories, Fiction

23 pages, ebook

First published March 12, 2017

About the author

Calvin Demmer is a South African author of horror, dark fantasy, science fiction, and crime. His books include the flash fiction collection The Sea Was a Fair Master and the short story collections Dark Celebrations, Her Heart Beats for Ancient Beasts, Through the Ravenous Night We Ride, Duel the Darkness for Nightmare Rule, and The Town That Feared Dusk. When not writing, he is intrigued by that which goes bump in the night and the sciences of our universe.

You can find him online at calvindemmer.com or sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date with his latest projects.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwendy has problems with her life and love. Her brother died from Leukemia, she quit her ex-lover, her parents split. Now sitting on the beach she tries best to come over all this hardships. All of a sudden the site is deserted and strange creature are marching towards her. What is going on here? Can she escape that army of Zombies? The story comes up with a nasty twist at the end! Interesting, fast paced, surprising, uncanny elements, well, this is a rather good horror story (it has a rather good cover too, hasn't it). Recommended!

[Lady MacDeath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good, quick read, with a message which is somewhat true today.

‘MAN IS THE CRUELEST ANIMAL!’

So true!!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed spring break vacation to the sunny beaches of Mexico turns into a living nightmare for college student, Gwen Montgomery. So much for fun in the sun as Gwen falls asleep only to be haunted by her past and the devastations of her once happy family. While her nightmares were bad, the reality she awoke to was even worse. Alone, she was alone on the beach, or so she thought, when she discovers she has awoken to ….Zombies…bloody, gory zombies and they want her. Will she survive? Will help come in time to save her?

Calvin Demmer, a prince among horror authors adds another short tale to his Dark Celebrations series with SPRING OUTBREAK that brings, fear, terror, bloody zombies to life in graphic detail. Follow as one girl attempts to survive what should have been a rite of passage for students everywhere. Here I thought Montezuma’s revenge was bad…A fast read that will make lunch breaks a lot more interesting!

I received this copy from Calvin Demmer in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Dark Celebrations - Book 8
Publication Date: March 12, 2017
Publisher: Calvin Demmer
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Print Length: 23 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable, horror-filled, fun read from Calvin Demmer. His short stories pack such a punch in just a few pages. He does that so well and effortlessly— it’s why I keep coming back!

SPRING OUTBREAK takes you on a short journey with Gwen, who only wanted to get away from the stressors of real life for a few days. Well, she gets more than she ever could have imagined. Bittersweet ending that reminds me why I prefer animals over people!!

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Demmer short story!
So much suspense in so little time and the ending was just unexpected and bittersweet! Brilliant!

[Angel Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY, Very good zombie story

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this story would be better told in novella format. I loved the idea, and I absolutely love zombies, but I just felt that there were questions that I needed answered...like firstly, how in the world did she nap on the beach through a zombie uprising? Anyway, good story but it felt a little rushed (something a few more chapters could have helped with).

[Sydney’s Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those short stories that I would have liked to be longer. A lot goes down in a short amount of time, very good read!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy these short stories that take place on certain holidays or special occasions. The fact that they are always in the horror genre is an added bonus for me because I love all things horror. The characters are not always very well defined but most of the time you can decide how you feel about them good or bad. In this instance, she is rather one-dimensional but manages to elicit some sympathy and understanding before and during her ordeal. The location is generic, somewhere in Mexico, so no big deal. Her companion is also generic since we get nothing about her other than she is a friend.

Gwen Montgomery went to Mexico on spring break to help clear her mind after a breakup. She is also still thinking about her younger brother who died and just needs some time away. It seemed like a good idea but it turns out to not be in the end. After falling asleep on the beach she wakes up to a world filled with horrors that send her running. But how long can she continue?

I love the fact that this is very descriptive and pulls me in based on that. The ending is however a little disappointing since I had a feeling that was where it was heading and sure enough it happened just like I expected. Even so, I still enjoyed it. Nice read!

[Zoë Damacela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sad one!

I love that you never really know what to expect with these. Some endings are happy, some are brutal, some are bittersweet.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like zombie stories, I think you’ll like “Spring Outbreak.”  After a rough breakup, Gwen goes on vacation with her best friend over spring break.  She naps on the beach and upon waking, finds herself in a much different world. 

I’m picky about zombie stories and I generally don’t read them unless they’re part of a collection (this is part of Dark Celebrations).  But I really liked this one. This is one of those zombie stories that has me considering that maybe I would enjoy more from this genre.

The story has a nice "dreamlike" element to it. Is it just a nightmare? Or are zombies really taking over the world?

Well worth a read espeically if you like zimbies.

Thanks to Calvin for this story in exchange for an honest review :)

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Outbreak was another enjoyable quick read from Calvin Demmer. I’ll be honest and say this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating, but I enjoyed it enough to round my rating up.

Spring Outbreak was a story that contained more elements than I expected. I confess, I worked things out – including how it would end – very quickly, but the way things played out kept me hooked throughout. It gripped me, I enjoyed it, and it more than won me over.

All in all, another enjoyable read from Demmer.

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the latest instalment of Calvin Demmer's epic Dark Celebration series we are introduced to Gwen who's struggling to deal with her past

Gwen has her whole life ahead of her, she's done brilliantly in her first year at college yet all she can think about is her most recent heartbreak. Her friend Haley suggests getting away for Spring Break and takes her off on an extraordinary adventure to Mexico. Even her parents reluctantly agree it is a good idea.

Yet Gwen is still finding it hard to forget and move on and look forwards to the next chapter in her life. Haley drags her to the beach for a sun-blessed day but that's when her problems really start.

After a nap she wakes up only to find her friend disappeared.

I really enjoyed this tale. I really felt I was inside Gwen's head and the characterisation was really good. There was a lot of depth despite it being a short story. There was a lot of twists and turns which really keep hold of you throughout.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-done horror short story that fits some character development into its twenty pages. It follows a zombie outbreak on a beach due to unknown causes. It manages to make you care a bit about the protagonist by briefly exploring her personal problems, which lifts this work above the typical generic zombie story. Although the ending twist is rather easy to predict, it is a good quick read.

[Alondra Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Really!!?? What kind of ending was that!?? So not cool!

Zombies on the beach during spring break, you can’t make this stuff up. It was fun while it lasted.

[Airaology · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick story with a message that slaps you in the face: men really do suck

[Artist_carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach zombies

This was a cute little short story that proves mankind is the most terrifying of all creatures. I really don't like zombie books however this was short and I love the cover.

[Robin Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire short story was a surprise with a “WOW” shocking ending. Takes place in Mexico on Spring Break with the beaches packed. (It made me wish I was somewhere hot right now). He captures the main character’s deep emotional sadness, loss and feeling alone. How grief and death can cause destruction to your whole world. Yet, the core of the story asks the question who is more a monster?


Man, or beast…….

Gwen is on Spring Break in Mexico with her girlfriend. No one understands her depression and grief over the loss of her brother. They think it’s over the break-up of her boyfriend. When her brother died so did her world. She falls asleep on the beach only to awaken to it being completely empty like her life. She stands up and surveys the entire beach and all she sees is beach towels everywhere. While looking, she sees a huge crowd that now sees her. Now she goes into survival mode for she is not alone anymore.


reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com/

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fadt paced, a bit odd

This short story started out very interesting and engrossing. It quickly gets very odd with a zombies vs. sharks situation. While somewhat plausible, it was abrupt and awkward.

Additionally, the back story switches quickly from getting over a breakup to mourning a lost sibling. If one or the other of these had been utilized, it would have been more concise. As written, there seemed to be too much going on to really focus.

Also...the zombies were supposed to be real people, yet they are described as having wildly colored, crazy hair. It would be a bit more plausible, if the entire situation hadn't transpired in the space of a nap.

[SUSAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but definitely NOT SWEET! XD
Is there anything worse than waking up from drinking waaay too much alcohol? YES, in fact, and this story proves it.

#interestinghairchoices

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, and I get what the author was trying to do, however, the story needed more build up.

It needed more details, longer transitions and most importantly an origin of where the outbreak came from. Without these things, the story felt incomplete.

I’m very curious to see how all of these stories are connected with the last story in this collection. So far, I’m not seeing the connection.

[Alyssa Theile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite from the collection. Absolute terror would fill my body if I woke up from a busy beach alone. All personal things- valuable or not.. left behind. The zombies were scary enough and then the shark attach was a perfect twist. One of my worst nightmares to die in water let alone run from zombie and sharks. I honestly thought this one would have a “happy” ending but nope. Loved it!!!

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

sharks vs zombie vs human

This started out with a lot of potential. Then fell flat with something so over done. I was excited til I was disappointed. Not a bad story writing wise. Just a tale over done and flat.

[DecayingPumpkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

95

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not prepared for this short story to have so much in common with The Mist. For those who know, know.

[Faith Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧟‍♂️ vs. 🦈
Favorite one so far

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad but not a favourite either. I love zombie games (Mature girl gamer here) but am not a fan of zombie books. Glad I read it though.

3 stars. Kindle unlimited.

[S.E. Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced zombie story. An enjoyable read, Demmer throws obstacle after obstacle at the main character.

[Sunshine Somerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how quickly this turned horrific.
And even though you know zombies are coming because of the cover and the title, there was a whole extra danger that added an unexpected level of "Oh, crap."
Good stuff. Nice quick...well, maybe not the best beach read. (wink, wink)

[Sheilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Outbreak flowed the smoothest and was the most enrapturing of the stories from this months horde. There was a better lead up to the crazy that follows. I enjoyed this story the best because I felt the emotions of fear the most. The isolation was the most compelling of all the emotions and I believe Demmer captured it well. Demmer’s endings can be somewhat abrupt at times, but this time it did not bother me. It felt appropriate. Demmer has great ideas, I look forward to when he expands on them into a longer length tale.