Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

A new day

The warm sun filtered through the windows of midtown High, casting long shadows across the emptying halls. It was the last day before the midterm break, and most students had already rushed home, eager for a week of freedom. But not Zach Drake. Towering at 6'4", with piercing blue eyes and an athletic build that made him stand out in any crowd, Zach sat alone in the gym, the squeak of his basketball echoing in the silence. He dribbled absentmindedly, thinking about everything but school.

Across the hall, Anastasia Parker sat by the window in her nearly empty classroom. At 6 feet tall, with striking green eyes and a composed presence, she had long been admired from afar, but few ever got close enough to know the real her. Anastasia preferred it that way—school wasn't about popularity for her; it was about preparing for a future beyond this small town. She had dreams of becoming a doctor, of helping people. She just didn't realize how soon that opportunity would come.

Neither Zach nor Anastasia knew that this peaceful afternoon would be their last taste of normalcy.

Zach's phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. A news alert flashed on the screen, something about a strange outbreak in a neighboring city. He shrugged it off, assuming it was another exaggeration by the media. His plan was simple: finish up his workout, head home, and maybe catch a movie later. The gym was his sanctuary, and he wasn't in a rush to leave.

Meanwhile, Anastasia finished her final report for biology, her thoughts already drifting to the weekend. She glanced at the clock—almost time to leave. As she packed up her things, a distant scream echoed from the far end of the school. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. The school was nearly empty—there shouldn't be anyone left to scream.

The scream was followed by a loud crash.

Zach's head snapped toward the noise. His body tensed instinctively, years of playing basketball honing his reflexes. He tossed the ball aside and jogged toward the source of the commotion.

At the same moment, Anastasia hurried toward the sound, her curiosity outweighing her caution. As she rounded the corner, she nearly collided with Zach. She hadn't noticed how tall he was up close, or the sharpness in his blue eyes. For a split second, they just stared at each other, a mix of confusion and unease hanging in the air.

"Did you hear that?" Anastasia asked, her voice steady despite the growing unease in her chest.

"Yeah," Zach replied, his gaze flicking down the hall. "I was just heading to check it out."

"Mind if I come with you?" she asked, her green eyes locking onto his.

Zach hesitated. He barely knew her, but something in her calm, determined expression told him she wasn't the type to back down. "Sure," he said, nodding.

They walked toward the source of the sound together, their footsteps echoing in the empty halls. As they neared the cafeteria, they saw it—students were stumbling out, bloodied and dazed. But these weren't ordinary injuries. Their eyes were vacant, their movements jerky and unnatural.

"Oh my God," Anastasia whispered, instinctively stepping back.

Zach's pulse quickened, his instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. He grabbed Anastasia's arm gently, pulling her away from the growing chaos. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice low but firm.

Anastasia didn't argue. Together, they turned and ran, weaving through the hallways as the chaos spread behind them. Screams echoed through the halls, and more students—those who hadn't yet fallen victim to whatever was happening—rushed past them in a panic.

They reached the back exit, but it was barricaded, the heavy doors locked. Zach cursed under his breath, scanning their surroundings for another way out. That's when they heard the guttural groan behind them.

Zach turned first, his body positioning itself between Anastasia and the figure stumbling toward them. A boy, or what was left of him, his face half-covered in blood, his vacant eyes locking onto them like prey.

"Stay behind me," Zach ordered, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.

Anastasia didn't argue. She stood just behind him, her heart racing. Despite the terror of the moment, she felt a strange sense of security with Zach in front of her. He was calm, collected, his athletic body ready to protect her if it came to that.

They had no weapons, no real plan, but in that moment, they knew they had each other.

"We have to stick together," Zach said, glancing back at her, his blue eyes intense. "No matter what happens."

Anastasia nodded. "I'm with you."

And with those words, their fate was sealed—two strangers, caught in a nightmare, now bound together in a fight for survival.

But as the world around them crumbled into chaos, something else began to take root. In the midst of the terror and the violence, there was a connection—unspoken but undeniable. It was just the beginning