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  “Me”. I said. She looked at me, astonished. She stayed wide eyed for a couple of seconds.

  “W-w-w-wha”!? She asked in a loud voice. I tried to cover her mouth with my hand. She struggled. Her arms flailing in the air.

  After a while she calmed down and looked at me with soulless eyes.

  “What? It’ll be fine. Trust me”. I said. She shook her head. I smiled and took my hand away. She stood silently. I then patted her head.

  “Trust me”. I knew she didn’t like this plan but, just for a bit let me be the main heroin Elise.

  “On 3”. She nodded. Gripping both knives to her sides. I jogged over to the end of the hallway on the other side of the gym. I was facing out looking beyond the sea of undead. I waved over at Elise who was positioned on the opposite side. I took one deep breath in and exhaled heavily.

  I raised my hand up. I started the countdown.

  “1...” Elise tensed up. Facing the closet.

  “2...” In that moment everything stopped. My chest was tight.

  My heart beating against it, faster and faster. Beating harder creating a lump in my throat. I breathed in.

  “3...”! I Shouted. I saw Elise sprint for the supply closet. The bodies began to move towards me. And the ones behind me as well. Everything, with my own two eyes...everything seemed as if it was in slow motion. Elise’s legs slowly stepping against the wooden floor. I also began to move away from the room.

  “Come at me you undead mongrels”! The Dead Sea began to rush in towards me. (It looks rather deep) I thought.

  Small drop let’s of sweat started to fall from my face. It glistened against the dim lights. I looked back. More...more of them rushed

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  after me. Limping or even crawling with so few limbs attached, they came after me. Gasping for human flesh.

  “Elise”! I was at the end of the other hallway. I drew farther and farther away from the gym. If I were to shout loud enough maybe she would hear me.

  “ELISE! IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, MEET ME BEHIND

  THE SCHOOL...NEAR THE SPORTS FEILD”. I waited for a while. No answer. I kept running the first floor of the building started to swarm with the undead.

  “This isn’t looking good”. I ran faster, with my lungs trying to supply oxygen. It became harder for me to breath. Was I going past my limit? I was gasping for breath my throat began to burn. A metallic taste in my mouth with each huff. As I got to the second floor. More of them showed up. I dashed beside them heading for the closest classroom. Locking the door behind me. I scanned the room for any remaining bodies. I ran to the window. And looked down, since this was the second floor it wasn’t that high up. I got on top of the small book shelf. The sudden banging of the locked door shook me. I looked back, and they started pounding on it.

  One of them managed to break through the glass. Arms went flying between the broken windows.

  “Impatient are we”. I chuckled. I took the metal bat and smashed the window in front of me. I hit it again with more force, only cracking the first layer.

  “This isn’t gonna work is it...Oh”! I grabbed a lone backpack next to the desk beside me. Weighing it, it seemed heavy enough.

  “Sorry about this...but it’s an emergency”! I threw the back pack against the window shattering it entirely. I whistled at the amount of power it had, to break the window.

  “The heck did they put in that? Bricks...no encyclopedia books”.

  Sounds like something Elise would do. I adjusted myself on the window seal and jumped, landing hard on my feet. Any normal person without the right muscle could damage their ankles. As for me the impact felt like nothing. I dashed across the fresh cut grass leaving trails of detached grass to blow in the wind. I looked

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  around for Elise and Nika. A few of the infected roamed behind me, seems they haven’t notice me from the noise yet.

  “Guys”? Trying to catch my breath. I gazed at the bright sun.

  “Jesus, if it was gonna be this sunny I should have put on some sun screen”.

  I placed both my hands on my hips.

  “Does it really matter, you’re already tanned out”. Nika showed up behind me, she hooked her arm around mine, leaning her head on top of my shoulder. I chuckled and looked at Elise. She gave me the death eye. Yeah, I know we don’t really have any time for this.

  I placed my hand on top of her auburn brown hair and petted it.

  “Are you okay”? I asked.

  “Yeah”. She said using her high pitched voice. Something she’d usually do from time to time.

  “How’d you get into that situation”? She looked up at me and smiled.

  “I have my ways”. She said. You know the thing I’m mostly jealous about are her and Elise’s eye colors. It’s like looking into a clear glass bowl filled with aquamarine sea water. Almost like water colors. Orange, blue, and green. Mixing together to create something beautiful. I’m really jealous.

  “Idiots”. I whispered under my breath.

  In a world full of mess, why am I worried over something so trivial...?

  I’m dumb.

  The sun’s warm rays burned against my skin, over time it began to turn red.

  “You okay Jade? You’re uh, looking a little bit red there”. Elise poked my arm, the stinging sensation made me twitch.

  “Wow”. When she removed her finger, a pale mark was left in the spot. I glanced over at her. She bit her lip and grinned motion-ing her finger to poke me again in a different spot.

  “Stop it, whatever you’re doing”. I grabbed her hand and jerked it away.

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  “Okay, okay”! She snickered. When she would do this her nose would scrunch up revealing lines on her nose bridge. We continued to make our way to the school bus. I scanned the area around us, nothing in sight.

  “I guess that distraction from inside the school managed to get their attention”. I felt like I just did something awesome. Since it was my plan from the start, I feel pretty smitten.

  “Stop grinning like that with your bazonga bosom shot out”.

  I gasped. Placing my hand on my chest I knew I was acting a bit dramatically but it was the only way I knew how to react. Plus I was wearing a tank...it wasn’t showing that much.

  “How dare you! I’m actually very proud of these girls. And what the heck is a “Bazonga” From which dictionary did you pull that one out of”?

  She looked at me coldly.

  “A new word I just made up” she said in a monotoned voice, “From my book of insults just created for Jade”. She finished bluntly.

  Before I had anytime to say anything back she dashed inside the bus.

  “When a zombie grabs you by the hair one day. .I’m gonna leave you there”. I said in a hushed tone. I made my way into the bus and settle down on one of the seats in the very front. I looked over at Nika who was standing in the back.

  “Where to next”? Elise shouted from the driver’s seat.

  “Read the paper stupid, that’s the reason why we made it in the first place”. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

  “Why are you so irritated”? Nika sat next to me on the seat beside me.

  “I dunno”. I said, as I yawned I felt a cold stare on me. Elise was looking back at me.

  “Start the blasted bus already”! I yelled back at her kicking the back of the seat in front of me. Her head shot forward. The bus began to move.

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  “Is it that time of the month again”? Nika said bluntly. My eyes grew wide, I turned my head slowly to the side facing her.

  Shocked at her sudden question.

  “No...” I sighed. I slouched in my seat. Nika moved herself closer to me.

  “Then what’s wrong”? She asked using her high pitched voice.

  I paused and finally said,

  “It’s because I’m Bipolar”. I smirked, crossing m
y arms against my chest as I relaxed.

  There was silence for a while. I bet they were both shocked by my answer.

  Nika was staring blankly at me.

  “What”? I asked. She placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.

  “Bipolarity is a serious condition, don’t make little of it”. Her face was serious. I raised both my brows.

  “It’s true though...” I closed my eyes in frustration.

  “Really”? Her voice rang through my ear.

  “Yes...really”. I was actually very tired. That’s why I’m so irritated. Plus it’s hot out, I hated this intense heat wave. The indoors where it’s nice and cool is the place for me.

  “Weren’t we headed to Walmart”? I said with a long sigh. If I remember correctly, we were supposed to head over to our homes and check for our parents where around.

  Elise glanced at the rear view mirror in front of her. Looking at me she grinned.

  “Yup, But before that we should head over to your place first”.

  I looked over at Nika who was fast asleep on the seat next to me.

  “Why is she so carefree in this type of situation”? I grumbled under my breath. “Should I wake her up”?

  “No, let her sleep for a bit”. Elise sighed heavily. We were all tired after just one day of this chaos. But, sleeping is an unimaginable thing right now. I’m actually quite afraid to sleep, because once I close my eyes all I see is darkness. I’m afraid to rest because

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  of those “Things” out there. Chasing after us, chasing after the living. And If I dream, I wouldn’t be able to wake up from it. I looked out the window, the sun started to hide itself behind gray clouds.

  “Looks like it’s gonna rain”. I knocked my head against the window.

  “Yeah”.

  I soon got tired of sitting down and got up to get our bag. Sitting back down I unzipped it and checked the contents.

  “Did you bring you’re cell phone Elise”? I shouted from the back seat.

  “Yeah, but it’s running out of battery”.

  “Once we get to my apartment wanna charge it for a while”?

  I asked.

  Elise turned her head slowly.

  “Yeah, I wanna check my tumblr and Instagram”. She said this sarcastically.

  “#killingzonbieslikeapro”. In the same tone. (Hash tag) I heard her giggle, it was quiet. Making jokes like this, it was fun. Sometimes these type of things make me forget about what’s really going on. I grabbed my cellphone and checked the battery.

  “Mines still fully charged”. Since I don’t go on those applica-tions as much as she does. She’s a freakin psycho. After a while we finally arrived at my apartment. I leaned over Nika shaking her shoulders gently.

  “C’mon let’s go”. I said in a still voice. She winced.

  “Mkay”. Rubbing her eyes, she struggled to get up from the seat.

  “Did you sleep well”? I pinched her cheek. She nodded.

  Before we got off I made sure to grab the keys, wouldn’t want anyone to drive away with our ride.

  “You have everything, weapons”? We talked to each other quietly. Making sure not to cause any disturbances. Being here, isn’t the right location for a hoard. The area around our neighborhood was small. There was a large intersection in the center. Trees covered most of the apartments. By my bedroom window a tree

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  branch blocked the view. I was happy about that. Reason was is that our place faces the sun, in the morning it was show through a blind me once I enter the living room.

  “Be cautious. Don’t let your guard down”. I clutched the iron bat in my right hand tightly. Securing two kitchen knives against my belt.

  “Let’s go”. We made our way across the street. Nothing in sight.

  “I don’t see any Bodies walking around”. God I still feel a bit weird using that plain word as a nickname for those things. I told Elise to wait outside the apartment as a look out. Nika was stationed in the back near the alleyway. I jogged up the stairs to the first floor. It was dark. It had nothing to do with the lighting. But the atmosphere. I noticed that the door to the apartment across from us was open. The door had been ripped off right from the hinges. I wanted say I felt calm about this whole situation but I would be lying. I wanted to investigate it further, but the voice inside my head was telling me no.

  Ignoring it I headed inside my apartment. Everything seemed normal, nothing was misplaced.

  “Don’t think anyone cleared this place out yet”. I walked around the corner into the kitchen. My eyes grew wide, the inside was completely covered in blood. The back door wide open. I took in a deep breath. The stench was horrid. Looking down at the floor, you could make out slight scratch marks.

  “Struggle”. I whispered under my breath. Someone must have tried to escape from one of those things but eventually got caught.

  I placed my hand against the door. Gliding it against the splin-tered wood. Red hand marks covered it completely it trailed off into the neighbor’s apartment. I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to see. Without looking back I closed the door and locked it with the chain. How stupid, why did I lock it.

  “It’s meaningless”. I walked over to my mom’s room. Once I opened the door, the scent of cinnamon filled the room. I glanced over at the scented bamboo sticks my mom had put up a week ago. The room was clean, everything in order. And then I felt a

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  warm liquid trickle down my left cheek. It dropped down onto my bottom lip.

  “Salty”. Man, I shouldn’t be crying. This is pathetic. Every time I think about it I start crying.

  “I need to stop, I don’t want them to see me like this”. I hope you’re safe mom.

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  Chapter 6

  Nika2 hours before the spread

  Sitting on my arse for such a long time, nearly broke me. It was like, if I had to sit much longer I’d fall asleep and I wouldn’t be able to feel it the next time I get up. And trust me the feeling isn’t pleasant.

  Ms. K spent half of the class time explaining to us about the importance of safety when handling the needles. When I mean needles I mean like, sewing needles. I’ve already gotten down the basics and what not. Heck I can even make my own clothing now. All we ever do in this class is sew together pillows and plush toys. And some of the others works are...pretty half- assed.

  At least some of us are trying to pass the class. It’s like the easiest class besides the cooking part of the subject. Pretty sure my sister couldn’t even pass that class. She sucks at it.

  Right now, I’m working on a dog plush toy, I haven’t done something like that before.

  Minding my own business, I noticed that the room had gone totally silent. Like, one of those “awkward silence” type moments.

  Except the mood was kinda intense. I was so engrossed with what I was doing, it took me a couple of seconds to find that my teacher Ms. K, was sprawled on the floor. I didn’t even hear a thud when her body dropped to the floor. Not with all the sewing machines

  JOHN EDWARDS

  making noise. We all just sat there, for a couple of minutes. And all I heard was the loud ticking of the clock behind me. I got a bit nervous and worried. Then one of my classmates got up from his seat and walked over to Ms. K. I realized that my hands were shaking. But why, she’d just fainted. From exhaustion?

  But, she seemed fine not too long ago. Ranting on about sewing. This and that.

  Not one of us even thought about going outside to ask for help.

  We just froze. It’s like one of those moments when you experience fear. Sometimes you scream, you face it, and sometimes you just stay still. Unable to move. Unable to think.

  I got curious and walked over. Once I got closer she didn’t look normal. Her skin turned a pale gray. And her arms were covered in bruises. They might have showed up just now, because before those w
eren’t there are all.

  Her head was on its right side, she must had hit head first.

  There was blood oozing from the bottom of her head. It was dark, and thick. I thought normal blood was supposed to be brighter. It was almost black. I looked up at the guy that was beside her.

  “D-did you see her fall”? I asked. My voice was shaky.

  “I wanted to ask her a question and just like that-she landed on the ground in a second”. He said.

  I knelt down beside her, observing. Hesitant, I placed my fingers close to her nose. She wasn’t breathing. Then I felt her wrist for a pulse. Also nothing. She can’t be...dead.

  “Is...She dead”? He asked, his face scrunched up with worry.

  “I-I don’t know”. I leaned in to open her eyes. When I did, I could have sworn my heart stopped for nearly a second. She had such cold-dead eyes. Both heavily blood shot. It was like gazing into the eyes of a dead fish.

  I turned my attention to the others behind me. At some point one of them started to cry. If one person starts to freak out then the others will follow after. It got noisy. Their screams pierced my ears. Let’s see: there’s a probably dead person lying on the floor in front of me, about 15 screaming shiznit heads behind me, and I’m

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  about to freak out too. Losing my patience, I got up and smacked both my hands on the table.

  “Shut up, I can’t think with you all shouting in my ears”. The room went quiet. I sighed in frustration, doing that it I was finally able to shut them up for the moment.

  I turned my attention back to Ms. K. I noticed that her mouth started to open and close. I leaned in closer, which obviously wasn’t a very good idea. My nervousness grew worse. My heart pounded against my chest, I could hear it. After a couple of minutes, I could have sworn her arm twitched. Then again, and again.