Fiend summary

Surviving the Apocalypse

In Fiend by Peter Stenson, we are introduced to Chase Daniels, a meth addict who is trying to get his life back on track. However, his plans are derailed when he and his friend Typewriter are invited to a party by a drug dealer named JD. At the party, they discover that a zombie apocalypse has broken out, and they are forced to fight for their survival.

Chase and Typewriter manage to escape the party and head to Chase's ex-girlfriend's house, hoping to find her and her daughter. They find the house empty but are soon joined by a group of survivors, including a young girl named Sadie. The group decides to leave the house and head to a safe location, but their journey is fraught with danger as they encounter zombies and other hostile survivors.

Struggles and Survival

As they struggle to survive, Chase and the group face numerous challenges. They must scavenge for food and supplies, avoid the zombies, and deal with their own personal demons. Chase, in particular, is haunted by his past and his addiction to meth, which he believes has made him a better survivor in the post-apocalyptic world.

Despite the odds, the group manages to find a temporary safe haven in an abandoned house. However, their peace is short-lived as they are soon attacked by a group of hostile survivors. In the ensuing chaos, Typewriter is killed, and the group is forced to flee once again.

Dark Revelations

As they continue their journey, the group faces more hardships, and their numbers dwindle. Chase becomes increasingly paranoid and violent, and his relationship with Sadie becomes strained. He also begins to experience disturbing hallucinations, leading him to question his sanity.

Amidst the chaos, Chase makes a shocking discovery about the cause of the zombie outbreak. He learns that the virus was created by a pharmaceutical company as a cure for addiction. However, the cure had an unexpected side effect, turning people into mindless, flesh-eating monsters.

A Desperate Bid for Survival

As the group's situation becomes increasingly dire, Chase becomes more desperate. He begins to believe that the only way to survive is to embrace the darkness within him. He starts using meth again, believing that it will make him a better survivor. However, his addiction only serves to further alienate him from the group.

In a final, desperate bid for survival, Chase decides to leave the group and strike out on his own. He believes that he is the only one capable of surviving in the brutal new world. However, as he sets out on his own, he is forced to confront the true nature of his addiction and the darkness within him.

The End of the Road

In the end, Chase's journey comes full circle as he returns to the party where the outbreak began. He confronts JD, the man responsible for creating the virus, and in a violent confrontation, he finally lets go of his addiction and his need for survival at any cost.

As the novel concludes, Chase is left alone, surrounded by the undead. He accepts his fate, realizing that his addiction and his obsession with survival have led him to this point. In a final act of defiance, he lights a cigarette, attracting the attention of the zombies, and embraces the end.