Kindle Vella: Where Did My Story Go?

No Longer Published

Back in the summer of 2021 I released a post speaking about the new Amazon reading experience, Kindle Vella.

My Kindle Vella Launch Experience

I was super stoked, not because I was one of the first bloggers to write about the experience, but one of the first people to upload one of my stories for people to read. In this case, I used a story I had written back in college, Team Lightning Versus the Virus (appropriately named during that time), to be the tester.

With the Kindle Vella experience, it was a pay by chapter which meant the author had to have at least four chapters to be able to publish their story. Even though mine was a short story, it was easy to break up into four sections. The overall upload experience was great and once I hit publish the story was live.

Now with the new program it seemed that the platform became saturated within a matter of weeks, so for short story writers like myself, my story was buried without advertising. People who regularly updated their stories were often seen at the top of the list for reads.

But then, just as fast as it came, a notice was sent in 2024 revealing it would be shut down come February 2025. Any leftover credits could be used elsewhere. I was bummed to see it go as the concept was great for new writers, but the knowledge of how content is consumed these days just wasn’t enough for readers to stay.

So with that, the question still lies, where did my story go? Well, it’s honestly simple… it’s gone. No longer published, as if it hadn’t been there at all.

Luckily, to upload on the platform you had to have a file type and couldn’t just write straight into the program where I could have potentially lost my entire story.

So with it gone and a story I’m not particularly attached to, I figured I would post it here for people to read instead! If you like zombies and viruses give it a read!

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Team Lightning Versus The Virus

Part One

Imagine a campus filled with busy bodied students making their way to class. Laughter in the air as others nonchalantly chat. The feeling of being safe as people surround you.

Now imagine it all gone with the snap of your fingers. A campus once filled with happiness now an abandoned wasteland. For those who got out, they were lucky, as for the rest of us….not so much.

That’s what happens when the Neurodetrimitis virus takes over.

We heard rumors of this so-called virus spreading across the states, but never really thought much of it. “The problem was taken care of before it got out of hand,” said government officials. But when something so tragic strikes a small college town, 200 miles from the nearest city, it is devastating.

It started off slowly. People thinking their sickness was just the flu, but by the time everyone figured out what was going on, it was too late. The campus grounds were unsafe leaving those who had no way out to fend for themselves.

My first witness of the full-blown virus left an everlasting image in my brain.

I was raiding leftover food from the dining hall a block over from my dorm. It was the first time I’d been out in weeks scared to leave in fear of being bitten. As I cautiously made my way back to the safety of the dorms, two girls attacked. Their faces horribly deformed, slimy with green goo oozing from open sores, left me terrified. One girl moaned as if in pain while the other slowly dragged her limbs. Once they spotted me though, the emotionless looks they held disappeared as grins formed; their teeth filled with brown gunk. The slow pace they gaited was instantly gone as they sprinted towards me.

I was paralyzed.

I shot off in the other direction as flight overtook the fight instinct. I could see the door to my safe haven coming closer into view as the pounding of their feet closed in on mine.

Almost there I told myself as I pushed harder. Thinking I had out run them I realized the door was locked and the only way to get inside was with my student ID. Still running I reached for my right pant pocket but found it empty. “Shit!” I yelled knowing I wasn’t going to have time to search for it before they overtook me. I was about to change my course when I spotted the door to safety open.

A girl held it wide motioning to hurry the fuck up. I, not changing my pace, plowed my way through the entrance. I heard the door slam and the lock click behind me. I turned, trying to catch my breath. The girl spied me suspiciously, arms crossed. Suddenly, a slamming of what sounded like bodies hit the door rattling the frame. The girl and I jumped in response as the slamming continued. High streaks of laughter rang out with some gargled words, “We will get you. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Bitches,” the girl muttered under her breath kicking the door. She gazed back at me arms still crossed. “Did you get bit,” she asked seriously. I shook my head back and forth still unable to respond. I inhaled a few more times to try and calm myself.

“Here, I think this is yours. I found it inside by the door,” she handed over my ID card. I stuffed it into my right pocket for safe keeping.

“How did you get in here?” I said realizing if she could get in then any one of those monsters could.

                                                                    Part 2

Come to find out the girl, nicknamed Rebs, had been across campus, stuck in her boyfriend’s dorm when the virus broke out. They’d been there the last few weeks when they realized food and safety were going to be an issue. So, they devised a plan. Sticking to the shadows they snuck across campus with Rebs’ dorm as the final destination. All while infected students roamed the grounds. Rebs’ boyfriend, Old No Name, took a detour half-way through when he decided to break into the campus’ rifle and gun room.

This room held student’s weapons which they could come and get anytime during hunting season. Taking all they could collect, Rebs and Old No Name somehow managed to get back without being spotted or so they thought. As they rounded the last corner they ran smack dab into Flash, another college student, who was running for somewhere safe. A horde of infected sprinting after her. They took off for the dorm relieved when they were all inside safe. The three of them hadn’t been settled for long when Rebs spotted me running for my life.

All of us deciding it would be better to stick together built our headquarters on my floor. I was living on the second level which was entirely vacant except for the crows who’d been keeping me company outside my window. The second floor gave us the advantage to easily escape if necessary while being able to get a good bird’s eye view of the outside. Using furniture from the other rooms, we blocked off two of the three stairwells making it harder for the infected to attack.

After a couple of days, our food supply had run low. We would have to leave our hide out, but from the looks of it, the mission was going to be much harder than before.

From the second floor look out, I could see the infected had increased in numbers as more wandered aimlessly outside waiting for any form of movement to arise. We set up a plan to have Old No Name head out first to check the surrounding conditions. He would walkie us when the coast was safe. 

He set out, weapons in hand, stealthily moving in and out of the dark shadows. He was almost to the safety of the dining hall when they pounced. Laying low in the trees, pressed against the building walls, their gnarled bodies emerged. The three of us yelled out, but it was too late.

Old No Name was taken to the ground as they surrounded him. Their mangled bodies laughing in excitement.

Gun shots rang out as he tried to save himself. Rebs flew past us wanting to reach Old No Name, but more of the infected were sprinting their way to the scene. Flash and I ran after her. Catching Rebs by her shirt collar and ripping her back we struggled to get inside. She screamed out trying to fight us, but it was no use. There was just too many of them.

Flash was about to lock down the entry when bullets blew past her. A girl rounded the corner, her massive gun, firing rounds left and right. The infected dropped like flies as the bullets connected. The girl rushed in grabbing Old No Name from the chaos. The infected starting retreating as she dragged him from pile of bodies still shooting. Flash ran out, retrieving his other arm and pulled Old No Name to safety. Once inside, I swiftly locked the door and propped heavy objects against it.

Behind me Rebs scrambled to hold Old No Name. Flash and the new girl stood back taking in the scene.

“We need to get him upstairs now,” I stated. Staying calm, I moved toward Old No Name wrapping one of his arms around my shoulder. Rebs did the same and together we made our way up the stairs with blood trailing behind us. We placed him in the tub and while Rebs rinsed him off the rest of us stayed outside.

“Hurricane,” the girl placed out her hand.

 I gripped hers firmly. “They call me Mom. Together we’re Team Lightning.”

“Cool,” Hurricane paused taking a look around, “You have a pretty nice set up here.”

“Thanks. If you need a place to stay you’re more than welcome to stay here,” I said knowing increasing ours numbers would only work in our favor.

At that moment Rebs came out of the bathroom, her head low. Her blood shot eyes met mine, “It isn’t good.”

I pushed the door open. Old No Name’s body laid in the tub, eyes closed. His left arm dangled from the side and there, right below the elbow, were indents of teeth. I turned to Rebs, her arms were crossed, and a single tear fell from her check.

“You know what we have to do,” I replied.

“I know,” is all she said staring at him.

“You have less than 24 hours,” I turned to leave. I walked into the hall with shoulders slumped knowing this was the end for Old No Name. Even though the four of us had only known each other for a few days, they were my family and losing a family member was never easy. This is why we set our list of rules. All 13 of them. In case this exact moment took place.

“How is he?” Hurricane asked.

“I have a favor to ask you and you may not like it,” I said. It was hard for me to say the next words, but it had to happen.

Part 3

                The next day Hurricane left with Old No Name. When she came back she nodded her head reassuringly tossing her gun to the side. Rebs turned, closing her room door softly behind her, without saying a word. I let out a breath knowing this was what we all agreed to, but it still felt wrong.

                Hurricane decided to stay with us, but we were still low on food. Hurricane, Flash, and I came up with a plan in hopes to avoid the same situation Old No Name found himself in.

Later that night Rebs, Flash, and I snuck towards the dining hall, the moon was our only source of light. Hurricane waited in the safe haven on the second floor. She sat silently as she watched for any movement. Her gun aimed and ready for action.

                Without any trouble we scurried to the kitchens where the canned food was kept. Rebs and I stuffed our packs as much as possible. Flash threw hers towards us as she scanned the adjacent rooms for any infected.

                “You guys!” Flash screamed from a few rooms over. Rebs and I darted in the direction of her voice with our guns ready to shoot. Flash had her back to us, but slowly circled with a small grin on her face.

                “What is it?! Where are they?” I asked eyes flashing this way and that.

                “Oh no, sorry! False alarm. I didn’t mean to scare you guys,” Flash said seeing our reactions.

                “What is it then?” I threw my arms in frustration in hopes of a good explanation.

                “Cheesecake!” Flash squealed. There in front of her laid three perfectly round cheesecakes.

                “Seriously, Flash. You gave us a heart attack over cheesecake,” Rebs crossed her arms over her chest.

                “What, cheesecake is delicious!” Flash pointed towards them.

                Rebs and I looked at each other and started laughing. It shouldn’t have been funny, but it was. “Grab them and let’s head out. I think we have enough,” I walked back to the grab the packs full of food.

                We were back in hall when Rebs decided to walkie Hurricane to inform her of our whereabouts. “Crap, my walkie is dead,” Rebs tossed her walkie in her bag. I tried mine but with the same result.

                “What the heck?” I hit the walkie with my palm hoping it would magically work. Flash, still munching on cheesecake, gazed out towards the window.

                “Guys, Hurricane isn’t at her post,” Flash whirled around.

                “Shit! Something’s wrong. We need to get out of here now,” I whispered as I went in the direction of the exit.

                “Fuck! Run!” Rebs shouted behind me. A quick glance showed a handful of infected sprinting towards us.

                Not hesitating, I ran for the door, but there outside gathered more oozing bodies. I dodged left into a connecting hallway before they could see me.

                “Faster!” I heard Flash yell as her and Rebs followed suit. I pushed myself harder turning this way and that down the maize of halls trusting we would be able to lose them. Finally, an exit sign illuminated brightly at the end of a hall. Hoping no one, or thing, was on the opposite side I slammed my body against the door. My eyes adjusted to the moonlight as I dashed towards a block of dark empty houses across the road. I quickly ran into a back yard, and jumped the fence landing me in an alley way. Shortly after, Rebs and Flash were over the fence landing on either side of me. We crouched holding our breaths.

                Suddenly, a body hit the other side of the fence with a loud gurgling noise. I recognized the voice as it gargled angrily, “It’s your fault we lost them!”

                I peered through the slot, between the fence posts, eyeing the same two girls who tried chasing me down before. Behind them, the others who had been after us gathered. The girl who had gargled managed to push the other to the ground. The other’s faces, if fully reconstructed, would’ve been smiling. Instead, green nastiness poured from their mouths and something along the lines of laughter followed. I shivered.

                The infected began their journey back; probably in the hopes a few of us had been left behind. We sat quietly for several minutes waiting for the coast to clear. Without a word, we scrambled in the direction of the safe haven.

Part 4

  The night was quiet other than the crunching of our feet as they hit the ground. Then out of nowhere a loud laugh erupted from my mouth. Flash and Rebs jerked from the sound.   

         “Mom, shut the fuck up!” Rebs gritted through her teeth slapping me with the back of her hand.

         “Yeah, that scared the shit out of me,” Flash had one hand placed on her heart as she whispered.

          “Sorry,” I tried saying through my bouts of laughter, “This whole situation is just really messed up, and I don’t know what else to do.” 

         “Well, right now you can shut the hell up and laugh once we get home,” Rebs had her gun pulled out now ready for any infected who might’ve heard me.

Backtracking, we carefully maneuvered our way home.

         “I hope Hurricane is okay,” I said reaching the entry, “I feel like something is really wrong.”

I reached into my pocket for my ID card. As I placed it into the scanner a rustling came from the nearby bushes. Before we could get our guns up, a single infected jumped for Rebs’ arm. A high shrieking came from its mouth as it struggled to hold onto her. It’s eye’s wild with joy. I ripped the door open while reaching for Rebs. I snatched her from its grip as Flash set of a round into the monster’s chest while pushing us inside securing the door behind us.

         “Are you alright!” I exclaimed examining Rebs who held her arm.

         “I’m fine,” she angrily nodded heading up the stairs. Flash looked at me with worried eyes. I raced after Rebs in hopes of finding Hurricane safe.

  We reached the second-floor landing where Rebs and Hurricane were talking. “What happened?!” Hurricane asked searching us up and down.

“We were attacked, and our walkies stopped working,” Flash responded. “Where the heck were you? You weren’t at your spot!”

“We had a break-in on the east wing. I was able to hold them off and secure all the exits. I think I hit most of them, but I’m sure a few more are still done there. This entire west wing is secure. They shouldn’t be getting in any time soon,” Hurricane reassured us.

“Well shit,” I said throwing my hands up. “I didn’t think they would be able to get in after all this time. I focused my attention to Rebs who was scratching the arm the infected had grabbed. There was a deep scratch several inches long, crawling up the length of her arm. “We need to get that washed out now.”

Rebs stormed off to the bathroom as I faced the others who looked surprised.

         “What if she gets the virus from the scratch? What are we going to do?” Flash questioned. She and Rebs had become close, and I could tell she didn’t want to lose her.

          “I guess we will find out in the morning. You know the rules. We do what we must,” I headed to the bathroom waiting to see what the next day would bring.

Part 5

All night we were up tending to Rebs as she broke out with a fever. She was in and out of consciousness as she tried to fight it off. It wasn’t looking good.           

        “These aren’t the same symptoms Old No Name had when he started turning,” Hurricane replied. “He was fine one minute, and then the next, he lashed out at me. That’s when I knew he had become infected, and BOOM I put him out of his misery.”

         “Just because she isn’t having the same symptoms doesn’t mean she doesn’t have it. There could be several strings of this virus which can cause different symptoms. It depends on how well the person can fight it off is what counts in the end,” I dabbed a washcloth to Rebs’ forehead thinking of Old No Name. “And stop talking about Old No Name. You’ll upset Rebs.”

          “She has to have it. The thing scratched her arm, Mom,” Flashed pointed towards the wound.

           “We also don’t know that for sure. You might have to be bit for the virus to actually work. Who knows if this is even a virus. Maybe it has something to do with the bacteria on our teeth. We don’t know anything. That’s why we’re waiting until morning. See how she improves. If not, we let her go, okay,” I was done with the conversation and turned my attention back to Rebs.

By the morning, Rebs fever broke. “How do you feel?” I asked.

         “Fine, actually. What do you think happened?” She questioned hoping I would have an answer.  

          “I’m not sure. Either you’re immune or just have really good luck, because that thing didn’t bite you,” I replied. I smiled at her glad she was going to be okay.

Part 6

One year later…

I don’t know how it happened, but I had gotten separated from the group.

After Reb’s scare we had joined forces with another group who called themselves, Normies. Their set up was much more elaborate than ours, and in a better part of the campus. So, we left our safe haven behind. It was for the better since not even a week later the infected broke through the barriers we set in place.

Now with safety in numbers we decided to hunt the infected. To eliminate the threat. Once, every few days, we would emerge from camp to find more infected roaming the grounds. It had become a game amongst the group to see how many we could kill.

Somehow I managed to end up by myself. The camp lingering in the far off distance.

I was slowly making my way back checking around every corner as I went. I was about to enter the old mathematics building to cut through the courtyard when I heard a noise behind me. I whipped around ready to shoot, but there was nothing there. I let out a deep breath. Taking on an infected by yourself was no joke.

I turned back ready to head inside when a flash of movement caught my eye. I couldn’t even get my gun raised in time before the body slammed into mine. I was knocked to the ground, but I began kicking and fighting instantly. I was not going down without a fight. At one point, I held the girl’s neck away from my face as her teeth snapped furiously. Ooze from her sores splattered on me and the smell of her decaying skin made my eyes blurry. Not until then did I realize it was the girl who had been after us from the beginning. I tried harder to roll out from under her or bash my gun to her head, but it was no use. She was stronger and her maniacal laughter rippled to my core.

The next thing I knew I was coming too. “Fuck,” I said as I rolled over onto my stomach pushing myself gently up. Next to me laid the girl’s dead body.

The last thing I remembered was firing off one round right before she slammed my head into the ground. I touched the back of my head, it was soaked in blood. I staggered dizzily to the dorm. “What the hdskdoc?” I spewed out. I surely had a concussion.

I looked to the sky. I must have been out for sometime as the sun had started lowering over the mountains on the outskirts of town. I started walking again, this time letting out some moans from the pain that coursed through my body. That was one tough fight, but that crazy bitch got what she deserved.

I hadn’t made it very far when the blood began dripping down my face and into my eyes. I ducked into a bathroom to check out the damage. I looked in the mirror, but my eyes were so bad I couldn’t even make out my own reflection. I wetted a paper towel and wiped away as much blood as possible. Looking down I could see the greenish ooze the infected girl splattered on me. Gross.

Finally, I gathered enough courage to look in the mirror to see how bad the damage was, but what I saw I wasn’t ready for. “Son of a bitch.” Looking at me was the face of an infected.

Part 7

A few months later…

The only member that resides of Team Lightning is Flash. After the virus took over my body my instincts to kill kicked in. My mind still fully functioning while my body gradually decays. It didn’t help that I knew all of Team Lightnings secrets.

Knowing this made it easy to capture the rest of Team Lightning. I figured Hurricane would come looking for me and when she did I attacked. Rebs on the other hand was not as easy. I waited outside the camp knowing she would have to leave eventually with Flash to get food. Her mistake was leaving alone. That was one of our rules, not to leave without someone. She should have known better as I took her out pretty quick. As for Flash, we are still trying to get to her. It’s just going to take some time. Until then, our laughter fills the silent night’s giving her a reminder her day is to come.

THE END.