“Courtyard or hallways?”

“Courtyard. Ready CJ?”

Now in a triangular formation we open the double doors to the courtyard.

“Vic, know what else we could do?”

“What?”

“From the science building we can try to figure out a way to hop over to the high school. It’s right next door and it’d be easier to roof hop than fight off zombies, if it comes down to that.”

“It’s a good idea. CJ, think you’d be up for that?”

“Parkour! My brother goes to Bradshaw High, maybe we’ll meet up…”

 

Vic and I look at one another concerned as we crouch behind a wall.

“We can try CJ.”

“It’s almost two. Haven’t heard any of the bells from over there go off.”

“Maybe they were turned off?”

“Maybe. Crap.”

“What?”

“We didn’t get food.”

 

 

“There’s a vending machine just past Mrs. Bright’s class guys. It’s the one with the best stuff.”

“Got any cash CJ?”

“A…a little.”

“Haha, I’m kidding. We’re gonna smash-n-grab.”

 

“We’ll smash it open and you fill us up, got it CJ?”

“Got it.”

 

“Make it quick. Won’t be able to hold ’em for long.”

“Let’s go!”

 

*SMASH*

*RAWR*

*ARRRGGG*

 

“Two crawlers.”

“You know… *CRACK* “There was never a wack-a-mole zombie edition.”

*WOMP*

“We’re living it now Flo.”

*GRAWRRR*

 

“Um, Vic…”

“I see them.”

“They’re starting to run.”

“Almost done CJ?”

 

“Yeah, why?”

“We gotta go, now!”

“Alright, rea…AH!”

“CJ!”

 

“Get it off!”

“I’m trying…Vic, help!”

 

“Flo… *WHACK* *SMASH* *GURGLE* “We might’ve bitten off more than we can chew.”

*SCREEEECH*

*WOMP WOMP* *TUMBLE*

“What?..Who?..”

*SCREECH*

 

“Come on, get on!”

*SMASH*

*THUD*

“Everybody on? Hang on!”

 

“Where are we going?”

“The goal is the parking lot. We need a car, cause well, a golf cart is really more of a temporary zombie apocalypse transport.”

“Who are you?”

 

“How you doing C? Any bites or scratches?”

“No…ripped my sleeve but no blood.”

 

“You know him CJ?”

“Yeah. This is my brother Connor.”

 

“How you guys doing?”

“Um…good…how did you find us?”

“Pretty much by accident.”

 

FLASHBACK

“It all hit the fan fourth period. The bell rang and we were walking to english when I heard a scream from down the hall. One of the teachers was biting one of her students…

“At first I thought it was some weird prank but…the student was trying their best to get away. Kicking, punching and reaching out to anyone passing by for help. We all stood in shock…

“The sound…the sound is what shook me out of it. The kid pulled away as hard and fast as he could in one jerk…he landed on his side…the teacher held his detached arm in her hands, chewing away at the socket. The kid was leaned up against the lockers, trying to stop the bleeding, growing more and more pale in the face.”

PRESENT

“How are we gonna get into a car?”

“Break a window.”

“What if there’s an alarm?”

“Gotta be quick.”

“Any suggestions?”

“A durable car or suv would be best.”

“How about that one?”

“Nice eye little brother.”

“Let’s go. CJ…”

“Hammer time?”

“Haha…yeah. I’ll unlock the doors then everybody in quick.”

“You know how to hot-wire a car?”

“Nope. Process of elimination outta do it though.”

Vic and I rush CJ into the back as the alarm sound echoes. “Guard the food and supplies CJ.”

“What about Connor?”

“We’ll take care of him.”

“Think you should kill the alarm first.”

“No. Jumpstart first, I’ll kill the alarm on the road.”

“They’re coming.”

“Where from?”

“Sounds like behind us…”

“Both sides too.”

“Almost there…”

“Connor…”

“Thirty seconds…”

“…Connor…”

*RAWR*

*VROOM*

“Got it. Load up, let’s go!”

It’s been ten minutes of us driving, and the alarm is finally off. Of all the things to ride around in in the land of the living dead, we somehow pick a minivan.

“It’s roomie. Lots of space back here.”

“Where we going Connor?”

“No idea. My plan was to get put of the school.”

“My house is close. I have more adequate supplies there.”

“And your parents?”

“My step-dad is most likely at work.”

“And your mom?”

Vic continues to stare out of the window. His faded reflection has a look of both sorrow and fear. “…I dunno…”

As we pull into Vic’s driveway the front door is open but there’s no sign of zombie attack. “Maybe it hasn’t spread this far Vic…”

“Then why were we the only car on the road?”

“Want us to go in with you?”

“We should all take time to regroup. Stock up on whatever we can and toss it all in the van.”

“Good thinking C.”

Despite the mid-spring heat, the air inside is cold and damp. A smell hits us as we begin to make our way upstairs. It’s a mix of stale coffee and moldy fruit.

“Vic, where’ your stash?”

“My room, hall closet and game room.”

“Connor and Cj get the closet, it’ll be a small box of knives with a few flashlights. But stay quiet, might not be alone here.”

“I’ll get the game…”

“No Flo. Go to my room. Two backpacks full and ready, you know where they are.”

“Vic, be careful.”

“You know me Flo. We’ll meet back up in the kitchen.”

The house is eerily quiet. I’ve been here at least a hundred times but now it’s a whole new house, unwelcoming.

“No!”

Vic stands a foot into the game room. Face to face with his mom.

“Mom…no…not you. You always said you’d never let yourself turn…”

“Vic…”

She steps towards him, arms outstretched. He’s frozen, tears run down his face.

“Not…not you…”

She’s inches away from him. “…Vic…”

In one motion he plunges a knife into the side of her forehead. I place my hand on his shoulder. “I’m…I’m sorry Victor…”

We’re all gathered in the room around him, silent.

*                                                                     *                                                                     *

“Hey man…how’re you doing?”

“Eh…trying to plan.”

“I know that wasn’t easy.”

“…Yeah…thanks…”

“I mean it. I haven’t told CJ yet but…the first one I killed was my boyfriend Matteo.”

 

“I think we’re all set Vic.”

“Yeah, last pack loaded up, much better food too.”

 

“Awesome job little brother.”

“Connor, I’m sorry about Matteo.”

 

“Wait…what? What happened to Matteo?…Where is he?”

FLASHBACK

“After we saw the kid get attacked we ran to the nearest classroom. We thought we’d be safe in there.

“We sat quietly waiting when one of them smashed through a window landing right onto Lindsay. It took out the front of her neck in one bite. Matteo grabbed a hand full of sharpened pencils and stabbed it in the head.

“It seemed like we’d only been hiding a few seconds. We left the room and walked into the hallway where it was the scene of a massacre. There were seven of us when we opened the door, by the end just Matteo and I were left.

“Jake was the last one out of the room and he knocked into the metal drinking fountain while trying to close the door. The dull thud echoed down the hallway. We stared at him panicked. Then as if we read each other’s minds, we all took off in a sprint down the hall. A bunch of them were heading towards the water fountain. Jake was looking back when he started running and slipped in a pool of blood, loosing his footing and balance instantly. I looked back just in time to see the fear overcome his face, just as two of them began their frenzy.

“Michelle ran for the stairs and one of the zombies chasing us broke off to go after her. We heard a scream and then the zombie fell all the way down the stairs behind us. The five of us pushed through the doors to the courtyard. Michelle was standing on the roof, she dove head first from the top of the second story.

“When I was heading back towards the middle school I passed by her body. Her eyes were black, she’d begun to turn.

“Matteo wanted to make a dash for the car but Izzie, Sheryl and Zane wanted to go to the field in the back. Head for the trees for easier cover and hope to find shelter.

“Matteo and I were on our way to the parking lot when we had to duck into the office. A mob of undead were headed straight at us. We held the doors closed and kept as low as possible. The doors shook as the hoard sped past.

“Our backs were turned away from the door…one of us should have been watching our backs.

“A turned office assistant snuck up on me. Matteo wrested him back. He lunged for Matteo but Matteo countered with a right cross sending the zombie flying back.

“We were asking one another if we were okay. When the zombie launched back up at Matteo, knocking him against the wall and then onto the floor. That was the first time I’d seen one up close. The smell of them…wet, rotting flesh.

“It was on top of Matteo jerking its body, trying to get its head past Matteo’s arm barrier.

“It happened fast: I grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed it in the head. Matteo pushed it off of him.

“I thought he’d be relieved but instead…his face showed a look of panic.

“What’s wrong?”

“I got some of its sweat in my eye and in my mouth…”

“But did it bite you?”

“No…but I don’t…”

“And that was it. Within thirty seconds his eyes went black. He quickly took the scissors out of the zombie’s head and handed them to me.”

“Get it done quick.”

“…O…Okay.”

“It’ll happen soon.”

“…Okay.”

“I love you babe…”

PRESENT

“I stabbed him as soon as he turned. It took me a while to regain my awareness. But once I did, I ended up finding you three.”

“I’m so sorry big brother.”

“Thanks C. At least we still have each other.”

“…At least you got to say good-bye.”

“Very true. I’m sorry Vic.”

“Are you…okay?”

“I’ll be fine. We need to close all the windows and doors. Make sure we’re secure in the house.”

I sit with Vic next to him on his bed. “Vic, I’m here.”

“It’s just, I thought I knew. I thought I had a plan for everything and then…my mom…and I just, didn’t realize how much I was still…”

“Unprepared…”

“Yeah…”