Change of Pace

Zack woke up coughing, and held his throat carefully. The number of times he's had it ripped out is disturbing, and very unsettling to say the least.

He had lived this day for at least 5 months now, but he was close to losing count. After so much horror only the unique deaths stand out. Like getting crushed by a fallen billboard, or shoved through a wire fence - an experience Zack doesn't recommend.

He looked around the room, feeling odd and out of sorts, until his eyes hit his text books on the desk.

Quickly Zack glances at the clock, and found he was extremely early today. But that just means he can enjoy this change of pace for longer.

So, like he once lived this day before, Zack got ready and headed off to college.
•••
The familiar halls were everything he remembered, but they somehow felt smaller. Or perhaps, Zack has just been soaked in too much blood to suit this place.

He found a random lecture, and sat in the back, listening to the class without taking notes. Why would he? This isn't his class. But he's already heard 'today's lessons for his classes before, so hearing those would be boring.

People kept looking at him strangely from the corner of their eyes, and Zack just smiled back at them peacefully. It was good, seeing all these kids alive - and tonight when he sees them dead, he'll be kind and bash their heads in. The thought didn't bother him much anymore.

After the lecture finished, Zack casually left to find another. He decided to be here all day. He didn't care that listening to lectures halfway through the syllabus didn't make much sense for him - it was just a bit of fun. Something he could do to pretend that tonight wouldn't end in gore.

He went to lunch early, and felt surprised when his 'old' friends gathered around him to eat. He listened to their conversation but didn't talk much - all the words he wanted to say, they would never believe.

When they noticed his strangeness, and asked what was wrong, there was only one thing he could say - "I dreamed last night that the apocalypse happens today, and my throat got torn out by a Zombie."

"Dude, are you alright? Maybe you should see the councillor?" One suggested. Zack expected them to take it as a joke, but perhaps he was just a little too serious for that to work.

"Nah, mates, I'm fine. Just remember, according to my dream it started at 8pm sharp. Do yourselves a favour and stay out of the rain." Zack advised them solemnly, and slowly the kids around him nodded. Maybe tonight he won't have to bash their heads in.

"Aww, did Zack have a nightmare? Poor baby. Ha ha ha. Suck shit Kane! Only little babies care about nightmares!" A passing jock yelled, causing the cafeteria to quiet as all eyes turned to them. The other jocks gathered, like sharks to blood, ready to have their hunt.

Zack just sighed. "Hello Abel. If the world ends tonight, and you turn Zombie, you should be very thankful. Perhaps if you hunt well enough you might actually get a brain." He replied sarcastically. The room filled with laughter, and the jock glared murder. After seeing Zombies, this jock is just a kitten, and can't faze Zack at all.

This guy has been a minor jerk to him because their names fit the same bible story. Abel Thomson was an annoying, mildly good looking meathead, who knew more about sports than basic mathematics.

"Wow Kane, you got a mouth on you today. Let's go outside and I'll give you another use for it." A casually sexy voice sounded from behind Zack, and he shook his head in disgust.

It's the head jock, Claude Jamison - the acknowledged number 1 sexy boy of this college. He's also openly bi, which means this statement could be a threat, a flirt or both. Claude's weird like that. He also likes to catch weaker guys with his pals and beat them up. If they're pretty boys, they wish they were beaten up.

"Kinky Claude, you should know better than to stick your nose into other people's business. It might get bitten off." Zack replied, feeling bored. This conversation was far less interesting than random lectures.

Claude and Abel each grabbed one of Zack's shoulders, and dragged him up from his seat. He could have stopped them, he has more than enough strength now to do it, but he was done with conversation. Better to go outside and beat them up. They provoked him, right? As long as they don't die, it should be fine.

"Mind my bag guys, I'll be back soon." Zack said calmly over his shoulder, even as the two jocks tried to frogmarch him out. Just to piss them off, he walked slowly, like he was going on an afternoon stroll.

"You really are dumb today, Kane. We're gonna have a lot of fun with you." Claude crooned by Zack's ear, and chills spread down his back.

Suddenly it was playing again in his mind - the dreadful gangster event. The humiliation, the pain, the fear, the torture and the despair of waking up with something left behind. In an instant, Zack didn't want to play anymore. He wanted to kill these kids. Take his fists and bash their heads, break their ribs, their legs - mess them up until they turn into broken meat and can't hurt him anymore.

The three left the building, and the Claude's group of sycophants followed eagerly. They went to the usual place, where the CCTV cameras can't see. Zack stood in front of the crowd, with his back to the wall, and couldn't help smiling. This would be fun.

"Take off your clothes, Kane, and we might go easy on you." Claude said with a smirk. It was clear that he thought everything was already decided.

"Why don't you strip, Claude? Or aren't you kinky enough to do it outside?" Zack replied, and grinned widely.

"If you won't do it willingly, then don't blame us that you have nothing to wear when we're done with you." Claude threatened, and his pets took that as the signal to move in.

Zack just smiled and stood waiting for them. Compared to the Red Zombies, these kids are too easy. He dodged the first grab, sidestepped a punch and casually kicked someone's knee. He didn't put much force in it, but a sickening crunch rang out, and the boy started screaming. The group backed away, spooked, as the boy was left on the ground crying with pain.

"Where are you going? I thought you were going to strip me? Toy with me? Break me?" Zack asked Claude with a large smile. Such lovely screams from an enemy gave him a light thrill. He wanted to hear more. "Kinky little Claude, it's time for your lesson, so be a good boy and stay put while I finish with your friends." Zack giggled cheerfully, and watched as the group of jocks before him trembled.

"What are you waiting for? Get that bastard!" Claude glared at Zack, even as he turned pale. He would never get his hands dirty, it wasn't his style. As some of his dumber friends ran past him at Zack, Claude slowly backed away.

The boys tried to tackle Zack, but the Zombies were much faster and more reckless which made these kids easy to dodge. A few punches, a couple of kicks, and they were all laid out screaming and crying just like the first. One boy had a particularly piercing scream, so Zack kicked his throat to quiet him. After a crunch, the boy made no more sounds, and all the watchers trembled. Zack didn't know if he killed him, and he honestly didn't care - just one less Zombie to kill later. It's not like he won't be up and walking around in the morning.

Casually Zack grabbed Claude's throat and stopped his escape. His grip was tight enough to make the boy gasp and claw at his hand, but Zack didn't let this small pain faze him. He glared at the rest of the group - the cowards and the smart ones who didn't try to fight him. "Beat it."

They scattered like ants and fled in all directions. Some of the braver ones actually walked past Zack and took their wounded away with them. He almost admired their courage.

As the bell rang the time for the next lesson, no one was left in this hidden place except Zack and Claude. Casually Zack threw him towards the wall, and stood watching him with a smile.

"Take off your clothes, Claude. If you don't behave, this lesson will go worse for you." Zack said with a wide smile. Claude's eyes were wide with fear, as he stumbled to his feet, rubbing his throat to try and ease the pain. He met Zack's eyes and froze.

This person in front of him wasn't the weak little nerd from yesterday. It was a monster dressed in a human skin, and seemed quite insane. So Claude thought of what happened to his friends, and the madness in these eyes, and swallowed his pride. He did exactly what Zack told him to do.
•••
That night, as he waited for the rain, Zack was humming a cheerful tune. He finally understood why the gangsters got off on torturing an average guy like himself. Seeing confident Claude fall into such a pitiful state - it was a rush almost as good as killing Red Zombies. Best of all, Claude is weak, so catching him is much easier.

Zack decided he had to go to college more often. There were so many games he wanted to play with Claude, and it didn't matter if he broke him - tomorrow would be a blank slate and they could start all over again.

Zack was looking forward to it very, very much.