Chapter 1: The Final Hours
Ashley
Shuffling footsteps echoes through the stairs. My heart beats loudly in my chest , the groaning stopped midway as the wind whistles down the corridor. The footsteps following the whispering wind disappearing into the dark empty rooms.
We rush down the stairs when a deafening scream arises behind us as a body lunges towards me. I lost my footing as the body crashes. My vision turns blurry as a figure tries to reach for me but fails. We smash towards the glass window and the outside building comes into view.
Splat
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What happens when an insect is trapped?
what do they start thinking?
Run? Hide? Escape?
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Ashley
It was breaktime when one of the big hospitals was bombed by terrorist taking countless lives. It was broadcasted by helicopters by DZM Live News and we were watching it. Videos of running patients and some coming from the operating room where a patient was being strapped down , he was bleeding from the waist and doctors couldn't get close to him.
You could hear the screaming from the hospital hallway and multiple authorities running and even police shooting before the video was cut short. Static replaced the video and then it was changed to the studio news before announcing that the hospital exploded. The news anchors were just as shocked as we were.
"Everybody shut that off, Class is about to start" the assistant teacher commanded before we return to our seats. Outside the windows was black smoke seeping out a house and firetruck sirens rings through the area. Fires and terrorist attacks. A few kept glancing out the window which seemed to anger the TA.
"You kids! Already at the lowest section and still focusing on random stuff! Class E focus on the board!" the voice boomed around which sent us all in a sudden shock. They don't usually shout at us like this.
The next day there was a case of multiple children and students being sick. Three from our class was gone too. The hair behind my neck was feeling cold and goosebumps kept pestering me.
"Earth to Ashley!, Your Fries are getting cold", Zoe sneaks a fry into her mouth, this was her favorite shop to eat chips and smoothies. A small snack shack just two blocks down the main road from school.
"She's daydreaming of Matt again", May enthusiastically jokes before stealing from my plate too.
I swatted their hands before they empty my plate before I can even take a bite. "I was not!" we laughed as rain starts to drip from the sky. It was getting eerie somehow and I don't like it and I'm not just talking about the rain, I hated it when I get wet and my clothes sticks to my skin but something metallic hits my nose.
The table beside us collapsed when an adult man suddenly chokes and vomited blood. Reaching towards us but we were too terrified to move. We got a special interview when the police arrived. Being escorted back home by handsome young men was in our bucket list- but not in a police car.
"Call me when you get home, okay?" May waves goodbye and Zoe also leaves with a weak smile once we arrived at her house, her parents at the doorstep. They lived near the area while I was a bit further downtown, on the way to my house was a small protest group holding signs saying "Save the Cows" we proceeded to pass by a shadier part of the streets before stopping.
They dropped me off in front of a large dorm building. I thanked the officers before dashing into the stairs. I would say that I was okay, but I saw something I shouldn't have. I was greeted by my dormmates who gracefully opened the door for me with a toothbrush stuck in her mouth.
"Your mom made a call this evening, Something about visiting home" Annie ,my senior by two years explained before preparing to go out wearing a tight fitted backless dress. "Don't wait for me, I'll be home by 6 so lock the door when you leave tomorrow" she wears her heels before shutting the door and leaving me alone.
She didn't return home either.
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The Third day... The Final Day. No, The Finals Hours. How would I know? The rain drowns the noises of screaming from the school field. My head keeps getting fuzzy over the details leaving remnants of what's left of blood trailing to the building.
Zoe in my arms with my hands on her mouth and my back to the locked door of the janitor's cleaning supply room under the 3rd floor's stairs. It was a small room but a small window to my right and it was filled with cleaning materials, it was my hiding spot. Screaming and shouting echoes the corridor, my heart was beating so loud I thought the walking corpse limping outside the door could hear me.
Zoe stopped struggling and my heart dropped when we saw a familiar face pass by the window falling down the building. She stopped kicking and her screams turned into sobs.
May Davidson fell from the 4th floor. The dull pain in my chest gnaws it's way into my hands as they start to shake from Zoe's mouth. It took us a while to calm down.
Sneaking out the room we managed to reach the stairs and slowly made our way to the upper floor. We heard gasping and found Danny under the table. The room is canvased with red paint almost in par with Picasso.
"Dan, Tell us what happened here?" Zoe shakes him but he wouldn't budge. I heard moaning out the corridor and pulled Zoe away hiding behind the curtains when Dan suddenly stood up and ran away outside directly to the sound. Crying about dreaming.
"Dan!" I pulled Zoe one more time to hide as Dan's screaming echoed through out the room. A surge of courage raged through me, while the zombies were eating our friend I stealthily moved and hid behind tables. I managed to get close to the door but as I got out
I was pushed and the door closed behind me.
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I walk around the corridor. I don't understand.
I was pushed out the room and before I could even react the zombies rushed towards my direction. I managed to slip and sprint my way. Waves of zombie cornered me when I reached the stairs but what I didn't expect was.... they ignored me. No, They passed by me and dashed away to my back. They fell down the stairs like dominos, the sound of bones cracking resonates through the stair .
My hands are shaking.
My tattered and dyed red uniform does not help, my stomach grumbled which kept me moving looking for food. They crawl their way to me but I ignored them. They were harmless as long as they don't bite me.