PROLOGUE
“Oi, Tyler, toss me the amp cable!” I shout across the stage, my accent slipping to British a little again.
“Accent slip!” Tyler laughed as he slid the cable across the stage of the Thousand Oaks High School performing arts center, better known as the PAC. It was almost time for 5th period orchestra, my favorite class, and we were setting up the guitar and bass for orchestra, Tyler on the electric bass and me on the guitar. We were going to play The Prettiest Star by David Bowie, my suggestion.
“Whatever!” I said, plugging one of the cable into the amp, the other into my new Guild Starfire V my dad had given me as an early birthday present.
“Wow... I still can’t believe your dad got you that!” Tyler said, obviously envious of my new guitar.
“Well, I’m going to be 16 Sunday and Bowie doesn’t sound right on my mum’s old acoustic with a mic!” I laughed. The bell rang and I tuned my guitar as the class came in and set up their chairs and music stands.
I sighed as Max and Nora, the first chair violinist and first chair violist, walked in holding hands. They had been together for over a year. I sighed, thinking of Nicola and how much I loved her.
“Mara, you okay?” Tyler asked, chucking our sheet music at my head.
“Watch it!” I said, fixing my wavy dark red hair and chucking his music at his feet.
“CLASS!” Mrs. Williamson shouted. I could instantly tell something was wrong; she only used that tone when she was overstressed. “THERE ARE CURRENTLY ZOMBIES ATTACKING NEWBURY PARK HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THE UNDEAD ARE ATTACKING AND INFECTING THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF NEWBURY PARK HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW! ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO HELP NEEDS TO GO TO THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND GET ON THE WAITING BUSES. BRING ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY USE AS A WEAPON WITH YOU.”
I immediately thought of everyone I knew and loved at NPHS and was out the door with my guitar still strapped across my shoulder without a second thought.
