PRESENT TIME:
“OK, ONE…..TWO…..THREE!” I shouted.
Paige threw some empty vegetable cans in the opposite direction and successfully lured half of the herd away from our desired path. Then I lead the group with Cayson, Braeden, and Paige behind me, guns in hand, towards the parking lot.
Like a scene out of the Walking Dead, a freaking zombie came out of literally nowhere and latched itself onto my arm. “GET IT OFF ME!!” I screamed.
“I’M TRYING! I DON’T HAVE A CLEAR SHOT!” Paige yelled back.
The zombie dug its fingernails into my arm, causing me to bleed as I continued to struggle with it. “Just run! Go without me! I’ll be the distraction”, I said.
“We’re not leaving without you! Remember what Varney said? We’re sticking together”, Braeden responded.
“You’re wasting valuable time! Cayson, get them out of here!” I said continuing my assault on the zombie, trying to force it off of me. The group listened to me and ran away; I could still hear Braeden arguing with them to let her go back for me.
I honestly couldn’t believe that I was about to die in this god awful place. I made up my mind right then and there; I REFUSE TO DIE. Not here, not now.
I wrenched my arm back, my body flowing with adrenalin. I retrieved my gun from the ground and I shot the creature in the head. I then ran towards the parking lot, hoping to catch the group before they left. I saw them in the distance, kneeling on the ground. They were holding a body. It was Paige…
I ran as fast as my little legs could take me; and I dropped to the ground on my knees. Tears in my eyes, I tenderly swept the errant curls off of her face. “You didn’t deserve to die Paige, you were too sweet”, I whispered.
“How did you get away Jessica?” Cayson asked.
“I survived of pure adrenaline. I tried to catch up with you as soon as I got away”, I answered.
“Paige was attacked by a teacher-zombie”, Braeden explained.
“Was she bitten?” I tentatively asked.
“I think so”, Cayson responded.
“I’ll take care of it” Braeden offered. Kissing Paige’s forehead, Braeden stood up and took out her gun. Breathing in deeply, Braeden sighed “I’m sorry” and pulled the trigger.
We left Paige’s body lying on the ground near the parking lot entrance. I really wanted to bury her, but I knew we didn’t have much time. We put all of our supplies in my trunk and got in my car- I thankfully remembered to put my keys in my pocket before we left Mrs. Varney’s classroom.
I was planning on being selfish with our destination. I needed to go home; I needed to make sure my family was ok. I don’t think I could survive without them, even my annoying brother. Once I got home my dad and I could form a plan for getting my brother, grandparents, and my mom. My dad would know what to do.
Driving down the familiar streets on my way home, I wondered if the whole town had gone down the toilet. Was this an isolated incident? Did anyone make it out of the high school besides us? Would the zombie virus spread around the country???
Pulling into my driveway, I felt excitement course through my veins. My dads’ truck was parked in the driveway as well. Unlocking the front door with Braeden and Cayson behind me, I called out “DAD, WHERE ARE YOU? YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL!”
Then, the most horrific, soul crushing thing happened. My dad, the person who gave me half of my DNA, the person who helped me with my homework when I was little, the person who taught me how to drive, came stumbling out of the kitchen with bloodshot eyes that held a blank vacant expression, growling.
“OH MY GOD NO!!!! NO, NO, NO, NO! WHY??” I sobbed.
“Jess, I’m so sorry, I’m soo soo sorry”, Braeden said.
“You know what needs to be done, I’ll do it” Cayson stated.
‘NO. He’s my dad. I’ll do it” I responded as my dad came closer to us, growling even louder with a snarl on his face that could curdle milk. I stepped forward, gun in hand; just vaguely realizing that this man is the reason I know even how to handle a gun in the first place.
“Daddy, I’m sorry. I love you”, I whispered.
Then I pulled the trigger.
*BANG*
