This part was written by: Mai
It was an ordinary day at Evergreen High, an all-girls school bustling with the usual chatter and laughter. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the red-brick buildings and the manicured lawns. In the middle of a busy lunch period, a strange news alert pinged on everyone's phones. Reports of a mysterious illness spreading rapidly across town filled the air with a sense of unease.
It started with a fever, followed by an unrelenting fatigue. By the time the first student collapsed in the middle of the cafeteria, panic had already begun to spread. Within hours, what seemed like a simple illness revealed its true, terrifying nature. The afflicted students, now pale and vacant-eyed, began to turn on their friends, driven by an insatiable, primal urge.
The virus had been carried unknowingly by a delivery truck driver, whose route included several schools. With each delivery, the contagion spread silently, until it reached Evergreen. The normal school day turned into a frantic struggle for survival as the disease turned the familiar into the horrifyingly unknown.
As the chaos unfolded throughout Evergreen, two students, Mai and Aki, were hidden away in a bathroom stall, sharing a forbidden moment.
"Shhh, stop laughing so loudly. We'll get caught," Mai whispered to Aki, stifling a chuckle of her own.
Aki glanced at Mai, a mischievous glint in her eye, and took another puff. "Who cares? What's the worst that could happen?" she replied, her voice tinged with carefree defiance.
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: Oh, I almost forgot to introduce these two-it's us.
Mai and Aki have been best friends for the past three to four years, despite the skepticism of those around them who doubt the authenticity of their friendship. For now, they prefer to keep their true relationship private, not yet ready to share it with the world.
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"Why are there loud sounds out there?" Mai whispered, reaching for the stall door handle before Aki could stop her.
"Should i say it again? Who cares?" Aki replied, pushing Mai gently away from the door and leaning against it. "We don't get moments like this often, Mai. Let's just enjoy our privacy for now and deal with whatever is happening outside later."
"I'm just curious," Mai mumbled, exhaling a cloud of smoke from her last drag before tossing the cigarette butt into the toilet and flushing it.
Aki watched Mai with a look of quiet admiration, a glance that didn't go unnoticed. Mai met Aki's gaze and offered a small, reassuring smile.
"What?" Mai said softly.
Aki shook her head slightly, still leaning against the door. "Nothing," she replied, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Just... glad we're here together."
Mai nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her despite the tension outside. "Me too," she murmured. "Now, let's find out what's causing all that noise."
Aki nodded as Mai took her hand, intertwining their fingers. They stepped out of the stall, hoping no one would notice them.
Little did they know, the hallways were eerily silent, void of the usual bustling activity. Outside the bathroom, the world had already descended into chaos, with people fighting for their lives and running from the undead.
As they cautiously emerged from the bathroom, the stark silence sent a shiver down their spines. The absence of their classmates' usual chatter was unsettling.
They exchanged worried glances before stepping into the hallway. The sight that greeted them was one of pure devastation: overturned desks, scattered books, and traces of blood smeared across the floor. The realization hit them hard-something had gone terribly wrong.
Mai gripped Aki's hand tighter, her voice trembling with fear. "Aki, what... what's happening? Where is everyone? Why did everyone suddenly disappeared?"
Aki squeezed her hand reassuringly, though her own voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty. "I don't know, Mai. But we need to stay calm and figure out a way to get out of here."
Mai nodded, her eyes scanning the empty corridor nervously. "Okay," she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let's stick together."
