Cameron
Alpers sprinted into the Utah State University Junction at 9:25 p.m. Thursday
night, out of breath and alone.
“I
can’t believe I made it,” said Alpers, who wore only running shoes, red shorts
and a large Texas flag draped over his shoulders. “My adrenalin is pumping.”
Out
of 707 humans who began the war Alpers was the only survivor.
“I
started the mission in a group of 14 humans,” Alpers said. “It was a sprint the
entire way. I never stopped.”
Throughout
the week, many humans had a strategy of staying together to defend against The
Horde.
Plans
changed on Thursday, though.
“It
was every human for themselves tonight,” Alpers said. “You couldn’t worry about
your friends. I did what I thought was best for myself.”
With
blood dripping down his cheek from taking a gun to his face during the final
battle, Alpers knew luck was on his side.
“Along
the way I could hear human screams,” Alpers said. “I could hear The Horde
crushing the human skulls as they gobbled up the brains.”
One
of those screams came from James Merrill, who started the night in the same
human group as Alpers.
“I
was running right next to Cameron in the shadows by The University Inn,”
Merrill said. “The next thing I know I am on the ground getting eaten alive.
It’s amazing Cameron made it through. I didn’t think anyone would.”
Alpers
did his best to block out the horrific images he saw along the way.
“I
am out of bullets, I have no grenades left but I made it,” Alpers said. “The
zombies are brutal. They won’t give you anything. I had to earn this.”
Not
even those who hunted him could deny the feat he had accomplished.
“He
watched his friends die as he sprinted through hell,” said Omega, a zombie
captain with bits of human flesh stuck in his teeth. “I give the guy mad
props.”
Although
Solomon, who previously was a human leader, was now part of The Horde, he
couldn’t help but feel proud to see a former comrade survive.
“That
kid is a stud. He rocked it going through,” said Solomon, who had oozing claw
marks gashed in his face. “With that many zombies you have to be fast to make
it and he was.”
While
Alpers survived the battle, he realizes the war is far from over.
“I
don’t know what is next. There’s no one left to fight and I am the only
survivor,” Alpers said. “I am not going to live in fear anymore; it will be
nice being able to walk around without being paranoid. But I’ll be back with
reinforcements to make another stand.”
UnDeadline
reporters Michael Royer, Becca Golver, Paul Christiansen, Jessica Wardell and
Joseph Meadows contributed to this report.
