A meteorite fell into the Tennessee River in Decatur, Alabama. A fissure inside the lump of stone contained parasitic microbes that were released into the water. Small fish ate the parasite colonies. They were in turn eaten by larger fish, which were caught by a local fisherman. This introduced them into the human food chain and initiated a zombie apocalypse.It began with a 911 call in Decatur. When the caller didn't speak to the dispatcher she sent the police, who called an ambulance after finding Roy Akins unconscious on the floor. Patient zero died in the Emergency Room of Decatur General Hospital.The cadaver was taken to the hospital morgue. Inside Mr. Akins' body, the parasitic microbes that had killed him began to starve due to the lack of nutrients, normally provided by the host. This caused the clusters located inside his skull to become more active. They generated nerve impulses that they sent throughout the body. One by one, the parasites were able to reanimate Roy's central nervous system. Brain damage from the lack of oxygen had destroyed the victim's cognitive ability, and his circulatory system had collapsed and had to be restarted, all of which took time to happen.Two hours after his death, Roy awoke to a ravenous hunger.