Race to Refuge

Chapter Two: Ty

Ty

I was playing a zombie RPG when I heard about the attacks. A weird coincidence. Even weirder, I was playing the part of the zombie, not the zombie hunter, in the role play.

It was about time to leave for school. Most of the time, my parents didn't want me to play before school, but this morning they were distracted. It took me ten minutes to get ready for school, anyway. I scooted off real quick in the shower, pulled on jeans and a tee shirt, grabbed a granola bar and a glass of milk, and was all set. I'd even packed my backpack and made my lunch the night before, which was practically historic. But there was an online player that I knew was going to play this morning and I wanted to have a quick match with him if I could make time.

I'd signed in and was starting out with the game when a chat box popped up. Captain Crunch was the player. He usually sounded real chill whenever he chatted online. Just real laid back. I think he might have been an older dude ... maybe in college. This time he sounded urgent. Don't go to school.

I hesitated. It's not like I trust people online or think they're like my real life friends. I'm not stupid. They're friends. But they're different. I'm not giving out my home address or doing something idiotic like that. But I've played with this guy a while. If I felt like I really knew anybody online, it was him. "Why not?" I typed.

There's some crazy stuff going on out there, dude. I'm in New York. I know you don't live here, but there's some kind of sick virus or something. They said on the news it's almost like rabies. People attacking other people. Seems more like zombies to me. I know it sounds nuts. But look outside. Check the news. Skip school so you're not trapped there. Don't go.

He signed out of the game and I sat there for a minute, staring at the screen. Did Mom and Dad know I was playing games? Or could I still get away with saying I felt sick?

"Mom?" I called out.

I could hear Mom and Dad talking to each other downstairs. They had that morning-stressed tone where they were flinging things around, trying to find their stuff so they could get out the door. Of course, they were usually stressed when they were around each other, anyway.

"I don't know where that business card is, Dan," said Mom in a reproachful voice. "It's not my job to keep up with your things."

"Mom?" I asked. "Hey, I'm not feeling so well. Could I stay home today to keep close to a bathroom?"

"Nice try, Ty," said Dad without even turning around from pouring his coffee. "I heard you up there playing games."

Mom reached out and ruffled my hair. "Sorry, hon. You've got that science test today, too, so I want you to make it."

"I've got the science nailed, Mom," I said impatiently. Actually, I had it all nailed and they knew it. I spent most of the time in class thinking about other stuff and still had all A's. Which made it especially frustrating that Mom and Dad wouldn't give me a break. So tactic number two, now—the truth. I hesitated for a second before saying, "Okay, the truth is that I'm worried about going to school. And worried about Ginny being at school. You're right, I was playing games. But while I was playing, I heard about some weird stuff going on. It sounded like some weird virus that makes people attack other people." There was no way I was going to bring up the word 'zombie.'

Dad was now doctoring his coffee with a ton of sugar. He snorted. "Ty, these games you're playing are making you break with reality. You're fifteen years old. Your brain is still developing and it's probably getting warped by this stuff you're playing. So you're saying that zombie attacks are happening." He finally turned around to look at me through narrowed eyes. "And what were you just playing?"