Publisher's Synopsis
What if a zombie apocalypse struck while you were sipping whiskey to jazz music in a rundown bar? Welcome to The Rusty Nail, a decaying vaudeville dive where the notes are soulful, the drinks are stiff, and the night ignites into a horror show of clawing undead. As the city falls to chaos, this gritty joint becomes a crucible for survival, forging an unlikely community of patrons, musicians, and military grit against a tide of terror. Here, transformation isn't just a choice-it's the only way to face the dark.
The evening hums with unease. An elderly spinster, conned by a slick three-card monte hustler, walks a quiet street, her faith a fragile shield against the city's bite. But the stillness splits as blood stains the shadows, a grim signal of the zombie apocalypse unfolding. Inside The Rusty Nail, Luna Nightingale owns the stage, her raven-haired poise and sultry jazz music a lifeline for a crowd of lost souls. There's Jack, a widower trapped in sorrow; Veronica, a sharp career woman sidestepping empty flattery; and Oliver and Clara, young lovers glowing amidst the gloom. The bar's a haven for the weary-until the horror crashes in, and the dead hunger at the door.
Sergeant Kyle "Phoenix" Ramirez and his military fire team storm through, battle-worn and tense, their shouts of a "mass casualty event" lost in the shatter of glass and guttural growls. The air turns thick with dread as the undead press near, their menace a test of survival. Inside, the community frays and fights-Nathan's brash swagger grinds nerves, Vivi's flirty veneer hides her fear, and Reggie, the bar's greedy owner, counts profits as doom looms. Luna's band-Blaze, Felix, Finn, Milo, Silas, Dorian-lays down jazz music, a fleeting balm against the panic. But as the night twists, the walls quake, and every soul faces a transformation to endure the unthinkable.
The shadows pulse with threat. Ramirez, a pillar of military steel, rallies the group-soldiers and civilians bound in a desperate community-while Veronica and Shannon scavenge bar scraps for defense. Jack wrestles for purpose, Vivi hunts for hope, and the band grips their instruments like anchors. Beyond the cracked windows, the city's a slaughterhouse-flickering lights, blood-streaked streets, and a swelling roar of horror. The Rusty Nail stands as their battered stronghold, a stage where survival demands everything-courage, cunning, and the will to change.
"Bad Night at the Rusty Nail" is a heart-pounding zombie apocalypse tale with a jazz music soul. It's survival amid horror, where a community transforms under pressure and humanity teeters on the brink. From a conman's hustle to a singer's stand, this story fuses terror with heart-a raw, atmospheric plunge into a night like no other. Will The Rusty Nail hold against the onslaught, or succumb to the abyss? Step into the haze, feel the rhythm, and confront the horror when the dead come calling.
