Perhaps it's because the possibility of turning into a zombie is not unlikely. The fear of zombies often connects with a strong worry about losing our self-control. The prospect of becoming mindless, driven solely by instinct, matches our fear of losing the rationality that defines us.

These fictional stories are empowered by our minds' ability of visualizing and elaborating based on the atmosphere manufactured by the author. By employing familiar scenarios from everyday life, encountering these scenes in the real world triggers a sense of fear, as we recall the fear and terror prevailing within the story's atmosphere.

"Afraid" reminds me of a book named "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" in this book Harari explores how fear played a pivotal role in the survival of Homo Sapiens. By focusing on fear's role in shaping human behavior and societies, we can realize the connections between our emotions and the structures we build. In each phase of human existence, fear undergoes transformations, adapting as life evolves. This pattern highlights afraid human, towards the unfamiliar and unknown.