Numerical Apocalypse

four

Theo.

Argh, focus.

I trained my eyes on the glowing laptop screen in front of me, trying to do homework.

Theotheotheoheaskedyoutocallhimtheo

shut upppp

"I give up." I shut the laptop screen. "Besides, tomorrow's Saturday," I told myself.

I turned the light off and tried to go to sleep.

My mind kept racing, but eventually I drifted off to dreamland.

My mom shook me awake the next morning, the 5 over her head bobbing innocently.

"What?" I deliriously turned over in bed and looked at the clock. 12:03.

"I need to go get supplies from school. You need to come with me." Mom smiled.

I groaned. "Fine."

None of my jeans were clean, so I layered thick tights under my leggings and tossed a tunic-length shirt over them, not really caring how I looked.

I looked in the mirror, sizing up my reflection.

The same brown eyes stared back at me as always.

Boring brown.

I ran my brush through my short, fluffy dark hair, then dabbed some chapstick on my eternally-cracked lips.

"Alexandra!"

I turned away from the mirror, envisioning my mom's number rising. "Coming."

We got to the school building, and I watched my mom turn off the car. "Can I just stay here?"

She sighed. "Sure. Keep a window open, though."

Mom handed me the keys and walked inside. "Also, don't drive away."

"Okay."

I obediently cracked the backseat driver's side window, then took a book from my bag and flipped to the bookmarked page.

I was deep in fantasy-land when something rapped on the window.

"Hang on, i-"

Midway through opening the doors, I locked eyes with the creature at the window and nearly screamed.

Its blood-red eyes searched me hungrily, its body semi-transparent.

I could see its organs.

EW!!!

An emergency alert lit up my phone.

DO NOT GO OUTSIDE, it read.

MUTANT CREATURES HAVE ESCAPED FROM A CONTROLLED RADIATED HABITAT AND ARE ATTACKING CITIZENS.

I watched the thing scrape the window as I desperately tried to get the car to start.

No kidding.

A text from my mom came as soon as the engine roared to life.

Circle around to the Carline door, the things aren't here yet

Hurry, sweetheart

I jammed my foot on the gas, the creature squealing as I moved beyond its reach.

I nearly crashed into the curb, but hit the brake just in time. My mom jumped into the driver's seat , nearly squashing me as I moved to the passenger seat.

"Okay let's-" My mom stopped short, pale and wheezing.

I followed her gaze and saw the creatures surrounding Mrs. Clay, who waved a broomstick at them. Her number dropped to a 3.