ZOMBIE UNIVERSITY III

CHAPTER 9

SPENCE WOKE UP from a short doze. He was confused, thinking he was in his comfortable bed back at home. Then his body shook as he realized he was hiding from the zombies. That and that he was up at the top of a tree. He peered down, terrified. How had he climbed up here?

"Oh right." He remembered that there had been a couple dozen zombies after him. He had tossed a rock against a window of a local business, shattering it. Then he'd raced to the back where several trees were located.

Fear must have powered his climb. He doubted he could have done that in regular life. When he looked down, he couldn't see any zombies, fortunately.

He slowly shook his arms and legs which had fallen asleep.

Then he carefully lowered himself to the next branch. This tree was huge. He gained confidence as he slowly worked his way down the tree. Then he finally reached the final branch. From there, it was only four feet to the ground. He let go and dropped.

"Ahhhh!" he screamed, as his foot landed in a small depression in the ground and twisted. He fell back. And then he remembered the zombies and shut his mouth.

He frantically looked left and then right. "No one heard me?" He got up and then hopped on his good foot, uncertain if he'd broken the other one or not.

He hopped ten meters ahead, then stopped and hid in front of a doorway to a retail business.

"Ow!" he whispered to himself as his ankle throbbed. He was reluctant to take a look, but he had to. He looked down, but there was no blood, so that was a good sign.

He untied his shoelace and slowly slipped it off without swearing too loudly. Then he slid his sock down.

Definitely no blood and no bone sticking out. He felt relieved. He felt around his ankle and his foot. The right side of his ankle was red and swollen. He couldn't feel any broken bones inside though.

He smiled. "Must have just sprained it." Still, he probably shouldn't be walking on it. "I have to get to the University!" By now, it was nearly dark outside.

There were the sounds of a vehicle in the distance. He was uncertain if he should hide or not.

An SUV stopped in front of him. The window slid down. "Hey, you need a lift?" an older woman called out to him.

"Sure," he said slowly standing up. "I'm injured though, so be patient while I get in." He hopped over to her vehicle. She had already opened the door for him.

He managed to get inside and close the door.

"Where are you going?" she asked him. She reminded him a bit of his grandmother.

"To the University!" he replied.

"Wow, wish I had a grandson like you. You have your priorities straight!" She drove off in that direction.