No Time To Bleed

Holding You Down By Your Throat Just Enough To Keep Your Fucking Mouth Shut

“Hello?”

“Why the hell are you talking on the phone right now?” Jessica hissed from behind, looking frantic.

We were still in the school's office.

I cut her a look that said “I'll kick your ass right now. Shut up.”

That got her quiet.

“Jasmine! I need help! They, they, they're everywhere! And I can't-”

“Amanda, where are you?!”

“I'm on the roof! We tried to run out of class, but people got attacked and I just ran up a stairwell.”

I turned back to Jesse and Jessica. “Do you guys know where the roof is? How to get there?”

Jesse shook his head.

Jessica answered. “It's near the gym's east entrance. I go up there to...”

“To what?” Ryant asked.

Her cheeks took a rosy color and she silenced.

I turned back to the phone and spoke, “Amanda, we'll be there as soon as possible. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.” Her voice was only a croak, a sob as the line went dead.

“We're going to the roof.” I stated.

I didn't look back for any responses, especially Jessica. I had saved her life.

We cleared the office and entered the hallway.

Posters were torn from the walls. Blood splashed against lockers. Guts in various places and some ceiling lights even flickered.

It seemed like time had entered some alternate portal.

“Why are we even going to the roof to save your dorky friend? She's not worth it.” Jessica hissed.

“Why don't you shut up already?!” Ryant snapped.

A smirk crossed Jessica's face. “Oh, you really wanna try talking to me like that? I can beat your ass.”

Ryant laughed. “You sure did a great job earlier. I'm glad Jasmine punched you in the face. You're an ugly person.”

“Will you guys stop?! Now's not the time!” Jesse cut in.

I was still ahead of them, gun pointed ahead of me.

I knew a little bit of how to handle it from hunting with my dad when I was younger, before everything had changed with me and my parents.

We reached the end of the black and white checkered tiled hallway.

“I don't think there's anymore in the school. It's really quiet. Dead people make noise.” Ryant reasoned.

I shook my head, looking back to him softly. “Dead people don't move. The living dead make noise. It's zombies.”

“I don't wanna die. I wanna go to college and finish my life. Die in my sleep or some crap like that. Not being eaten alive.” Jesse murmured.

“You won't die.” I promised. “We just have to find somewhere safe.”

A figure came bursting down the hall, blood up and down her arms. Eyes wild and hair thrashed.

“They're coming! They're coming! Everyone's dead!” she sobbed. “Please don't shoot me! They didn't bite me!”

She looked to be about an 8th grader from the school down the street.

The girl stopped a few feet away, hands trembling in red as she held them before her. She was genuinely pretty.