Crimson Awakening

The morning had started like any other. The sky was a gentle blue, the air was crisp, and the soft hum of city life filled the background. Eighteen-year-old Leo Grayson stood at the gate of his school, backpack slung over one shoulder. At 170 cm, with black hair that slightly curled at the ends and deep-set black eyes, Leo carried an aura of calm detachment. His pale skin and quiet demeanor gave him the look of a bookish loner, though those who truly knew him understood he was sharper than he appeared.

"You think Ms. Carter's gonna spring another pop quiz today?" came a voice beside him.

Leo turned. It was Damien Blake, his best friend since middle school. Damien was everything Leo wasn't—tall, athletic, charismatic. With his neatly combed blond hair, lean muscular frame, and sharp hazel eyes, he was the textbook definition of a high school heartthrob.

"Wouldn't surprise me," Leo replied, his voice calm. "She's probably still pissed about last week's test scores."

Damien laughed, slinging an arm around Leo's shoulder. "Then it's a good day to sit at the back. Let the overachievers take the hits."

They walked into the school together, weaving through the noisy corridors until they reached their classroom. The atmosphere inside was typical—students chatting, some dozing, others buried in textbooks. At the far end of the room, near the window, sat Riley Cross, her crimson hoodie pulled over her head, earphones in, foot tapping lightly to whatever music she was blasting.

Logan Hayes greeted them with his usual big grin and a wave. The energetic kid was already munching on a protein bar, his oversized backpack leaning against the desk like it had just returned from a mountain hike.

"Yo! Damien! Leo! You guys ready to die in math class today?" Logan joked.

Leo smirked faintly. "Speak for yourself."

Near the front sat Evelyn Blackwood, a strikingly beautiful girl with icy gray eyes and jet-black hair that fell like a curtain down her back. She never talked much, and the others often whispered rumors about her being a genius, a model, or some rich heiress. No one really knew. She barely glanced at Leo as he walked in, but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in her eyes.

Across from her sat Miles Thompson, hunched over a small tablet. Glasses slightly askew, he typed furiously, muttering calculations to himself. The school's top tech geek, Miles was the kind of person who could hack into the cafeteria vending machines just for fun.

And in the center, casually twirling a pen in her fingers, was Ana Fisher. Athletic, brilliant, and drop-dead gorgeous, Ana was something of a school legend. Her calm confidence and strategic mind had led their chess club to the nationals, and she was equally ruthless on the basketball court.

The bell rang. The teacher entered.

And then—

It happened.

Without warning, the sky outside turned a deep, blood-red. Thunder cracked, and a chill ran through the room as students rushed to the windows.

"What the hell is that?" Riley muttered, pulling out her earphones.

A loud boom echoed from the west—far louder than thunder. The ground trembled as if something massive had detonated miles away. The lights flickered, then died. The classroom plunged into darkness.

And then the door burst open.

A figure stumbled in. At first glance, it looked human—but only just. Its skin was grayish-green, parts of it rotting away. The eyes were completely white, lips peeled back to reveal yellowed, bloodied teeth.

A zombie.

Someone screamed. Students bolted toward the back door, chaos erupting instantly. Desks toppled. Papers flew. Leo grabbed Damien's arm.

"Move!"

They ran, pushing past the panicked crowd. But in the chaos, one student tripped. The zombie lunged.

Leo stopped. His instincts kicked in. He grabbed a broken chair leg from the floor and charged. The zombie turned just in time to be slammed in the temple.

"HHRRAAAAGH!" it screeched, swinging its arms wildly.

Leo ducked, the wooden leg crashing into its side again. It staggered back, snarling. Another swing—this one to the skull—and the creature crumpled.

Breathing hard, Leo backed away. The student he saved scrambled to their feet and ran.

Then—

[ You have killed a Level 1 Zombie. +50 XP. You have leveled up! ]

A translucent screen hovered before Leo's eyes. A system message. His hands trembled.

More groans echoed from the hallway.

"Leo! Come on!" Damien shouted, dragging him by the arm.

They rounded a corner and ran straight into another three zombies. One lunged—Leo shoved Damien aside and took the hit. The two crashed against a locker.

"Ugh!" Leo groaned, jabbing his knee upward into the creature's stomach.

Another grabbed his shoulder. Damien came in swinging with a broomstick, shattering it over the zombie's head. Logan appeared out of nowhere, holding a steel rod from the gym equipment.

"Get down!" Logan shouted.

Leo ducked. Logan swung with all his strength, caving in the zombie's skull. The creature collapsed.

The other two weren't done. One leapt at Riley—she sidestepped smoothly, slamming its jaw shut with the fire extinguisher in her hands and jamming it into the creature's mouth before releasing the gas.

"Freeze in hell," she muttered, pulling the lever.

The pressure blasted through the zombie's throat. It collapsed, twitching.

The final one charged at Evelyn. She stood frozen for a split second, then raised her hands. The emergency axe from the wall—forgotten in the chaos—was now in her grip. She swung it low, slicing through the zombie's knees, then brought the axe down on its neck with a cry that shook her own soul.

"That's...not normal," she whispered, staring at the blood on her hands.

Then came the system messages. All of them saw it.

[ You have killed a Level 1 Zombie. +XP Gained. Level Up! ]

Their gazes met—fear, disbelief, and realization.

By dusk, only thirty-four students remained.

The gym had been secured, windows barricaded with desks, and doors locked tight. Some students sobbed quietly. Others sat in silence, clutching makeshift weapons.

Leo stood before them, bruised, shirt torn at the sleeve, but more alert than ever.

Damien stepped forward. "We need to organize. We can't just wait here until something else breaks in."

Riley leaned against a wall, blood on her hoodie. "I say we stick together. Numbers matter."

Ana crossed her arms. "Fine. But we need roles. Scouts, defenders, medics. If this is a game now, we play it right."

"I'm good with tech," Miles said. "If someone can get me to the server room, I might get access to city surveillance. See how far this chaos spread."

"We'll also need to ration supplies," said Evelyn. "Food, water, and anything usable."

Logan, still catching his breath, said, "And I'll start a weapon group. Who's with me?"

There were murmurs of agreement. People raised hands. A plan, or the beginning of one, was forming.

Leo stepped back, listening, observing.

"You're awfully quiet," Ana said, approaching him.

Leo gave a faint smile. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"How the world changed in less than an hour."

She narrowed her eyes. "You killed the first zombie, didn't you?"

He nodded.

"What did it feel like?"

He paused. "Necessary."

She studied him for a moment longer. "We'll need someone like you. People listen when you speak."

Leo didn't respond. Inside, his thoughts were far darker.

They would survive. They would grow. But someday, this group would become more.

And when the time came, he would rise.

Not as a leader they chose.

But as the ruler they would need.

A new world was being born in blood.

And he would wear the crown.