Age of the Dead

Alone

"I was just wondering exactly the same thing," I whisper, stepping away from the creature. "Maybe it's just a guy who was hurt by the bus. Maybe he needs our help." I reason.
"Arggg..." A gurgling sound erupts from the monster, while it continued to step toward us.
"I don't think so," Mason says, shaking his head to the contrary.
"In the zombie movies I've seen, they always stab them in the brain to kill them. I don't know about you, but I can't just kill someone." I say.
The others walk up, joining Mason and I near the creature. No one says a word as it advances toward us.
Separating from the group, I head to the side of the road, looking to escape in the woods.
I step back, autumn leaves crunching under my feet. The corpse turned, focusing on the sound, and takes a step, now heading directly for me. I backup without looking, trip and fall in the debris on the roadside. Struggling to regain my breath from the knock, I pull myself up, dizzy, wondering how to kill something that is already dead.
"Hey!" Luke yells, "Over here!"
The tactic works, and the zombie turns for Luke, while the others stand adjacent to him, frozen in horror.
​"Somebody help him!" I yell, urging my friends to take action.
​Julie is the first to respond. Summoning her courage with an obvious breath, she shouts, rushing toward the zombie. In a quick move Julie grabs the base of it's head, swings it around, and slams it into the bus. The skull crushes to pieces, blood and gore splattering over the side of the vehicle. Julie wipes away blood, oozing down the side of her face, as the creature drops limp to the ground.
​I run out of the brush, joining my friends across the road. No one is talking, the shock of the bleeding corpse rendering everyone speechless. 
Brandon was the first to break the silence "What was that?" he asked.
   ​"A rotter," Mason answers.
   ​"A what?" I demand.
   ​"A rotter. Well, that's what they call them in the TV show I watch," Mason responds a little too confidently.
     ​ I simply nod my response. "Does anyone know where we are?"
"I know it takes an hour to drive to school today because of that detour," Brandon moans.
I step over to Luke. "Are you okay," I ask.
He nods yes, offering a thumbs-up sign.
I turn to the other kids standing behind me, "What are we gonna do now?" I ask. "Anyone have any ideas?"
  ​No one responds. Frustrated, I feel like I'm talking to myself.
        "We're near my grandma's," Brandon says. "Her house is about a mile away." He points to a dirt road ahead.
    ​"Great, let's go there," I say.
Again, no one responds. My friends stand there, mute, wearing blank faces.
     ​"Anyone have a better idea?" I ask, " Clearly, were kinda lost."
Again, silence.
​"I think it's better than standing out here waiting for another rotter," Brandon says, walking toward the dirt road. "I'll lead the way."
​Everyone huddles together, walking after Brandon as a group. I follow him, hoping he knows the way to his grandmother's house.