Las Vegas, a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife, endless entertainment, and high-stakes gambling, recently played host to a guest of the most unusual kind. A zombie, known to locals as “Fred the Dread,” stumbled into the neon oasis for a night that would go down in undead history.
Fred’s evening began innocently enough. He wandered into the bustling Strip, drawn by the glittering lights and the intoxicating buzz of human life—or what he could make out of it through his hazy, undead vision. Despite his appearance, which included the stereotypical tattered clothing and a distinct shuffle, Fred was warmly welcomed. After all, in Vegas, it’s all about how much you’re willing to spend, and Fred had pockets full of chips. Where he got them, nobody asked.
He shuffled into the Bellagio and made his way to the blackjack table, causing quite a stir among the other gamblers. The croupier, a seasoned professional who had seen it all, maintained his composure and dealt Fred in. As the night wore on, Fred’s methodical, almost mechanical way of playing began to pay off. His winnings piled high, drawing a crowd fascinated by the spectacle of a zombie cleaning up at blackjack.
Fred’s success at the tables was just the beginning of his adventure. After a few hours of gambling, he decided to take a break and explore more of what Vegas had to offer. His wanderings brought him to the “Zombie Escape Room Experience,” an attraction capitalizing on the undead craze. Intrigued by the idea, Fred lumbered inside, carrying his hefty winnings in a duffle bag.
The escape room staff, mistaking Fred for an exceptionally dedicated participant in a top-notch costume, handed him a waiver to sign. Fred’s illegible scrawl was taken as part of the act, and he was ushered into the escape room along with a group of unsuspecting tourists.
Inside, the escape room was a maze of puzzles and eerie props designed to simulate a zombie apocalypse. Fred, being an actual zombie, found the setting quite cozy. His fellow participants, however, were less at ease. They initially admired Fred’s “commitment” to his role, until they realized that his groans and shuffling were disturbingly authentic.
As the group tried to solve the puzzles, Fred, oblivious to the objective, wandered aimlessly, clutching his duffle bag. When they encountered a particularly tricky lock, Fred stumbled into a wall, revealing a hidden compartment containing the key. His accidental success made him the unlikely hero of the group, earning him the nickname “Brains” for his inadvertent cleverness.
The escape room culminated in a climactic moment where participants had to fend off a horde of simulated zombies. Fred, confused but cooperative, joined the fray, accidentally swatting at the props and adding to the chaos. His fellow escapees, initially terrified, couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation—a real zombie helping them fend off fake ones.
Eventually, the group escaped, and Fred, ever the courteous undead, waved them goodbye as he exited into the cool Vegas night, his duffle bag still in tow. He had not only survived a night of gambling and an escape room but had also won the hearts of those he encountered.
Fred the Dread’s escapade became the talk of the town, a legend in the making. Casinos marveled at his luck, escape room enthusiasts debated his true identity, and Vegas had another wild story to add to its collection. Fred, on the other hand, returned to his undead wanderings, perhaps contemplating his next adventure, leaving behind a trail of laughter and puzzled onlookers.
Photo: Freepik
