One Shots and Challenges

The Zombie Infection

A/N: Okay, this was an actual dream that I had. The day before I had an awful day at school/work. My students were very challenging. Don't get me wrong, I do love my job, most days. (Names were changed) As dreams go, it was somewhat disjointed, so I tried to fill in the spaces. Please excuse the writing because I know that it is not going to be my best, but I had to get this dream out of my head. Hopefully, you will be entertained.

1:15 pm. Only an hour and a half until this day from HELL is over. I am exhausted. My paraprofessional has been out all week and they have not sent a sub. The kids look like angels when they are sleeping. Unfortunately, Jim does not sleep. He is a sneaky little thing too. I can't take my eyes off of him. If I do, he is up out of his seat and getting into something, including my desk drawers, my backpack, the closet, and whatever else he can get into. Today was particularly bad. He stole the snacks from 2 different students and then drank my water at lunch. When he took the papers from my desk, I had to take them back. This caused him to get angry and try to hit me with his shoe. The shoes got taken as well. I am so glad that he is still relatively small. Some days, I wonder why I ever decided to become a special education teacher. With this group it is more like being a baby sitting than teaching. At least most are potty trained now.

BUZZ, BUZZ, BUZZ

Three long buzzes means hard lock down. Crap, what now. Last time it was because someone escaped police custody and came our way. Time to lock the door and get the kids into the corner away from the door. Mia is going to be the hardest since she is on the floor sleeping and I need to lift her into her wheelchair. Before I can lock the door, it opens. Standing in front of me is a really big and rather young guy. He has dark hair and a tanned complexion. His dark brown eyes are kind looking and, as he speaks, his voice is gentle. He is a wearing a Visitor's badge, so I know that he has checked into the office. "Do you need help?" No one comes to see if I need help. My class is the red-headed step child of the school.

"Who are you and why are you here?" To be honest, he looks like a character from a series of books that I am reading.

"My name is Silas Korba and I was helping one of the PE teachers with a project." Get out...that is impossible, but I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Well, Silas, can you get Mia into her wheelchair while I get everyone else up. I need to get my key to lock the door since we are now in lockdown mode."

"My friends are here too. Can they come in?" He asks as he is gently getting Mia into her chair.

"This is highly unusual and I have no idea what the procedure should be, but everyone is supposed to be in a room with the door locked. They need to get here now, if they are coming in."

The tones of the intercom interrupt his next thought and he pulls out his phone to send a text. Mr. Jay comes on the intercom, "Teachers, staff, students and visitors, please proceed to a secure location. The school will be on lockdown until further notice. Please check your email for additional information." As the announcement ends, there is a knock on the door, 2 then 4 then 3. Academy protocol, at least that is what I have read. This is too weird.

Silas opens the door and in walks several more guys. The first is almost as big as Silas with a gruffer look about him. He glances around the room. Jim is up from his mat and getting into one of my desk drawers. "HEY! That is not yours!" the new guy's voice is like a cannon scaring several of the students, just not Jim who laughs and runs across the room. Typical.

"Thanks for trying..." I pause while in my head I think North.

"North Taylor," a deep voice provides the name for me. "And this is my brother Lucian." Luke, "And our friend Kota." Okay this is too weird. I am meeting the guys that I have literally obsessed over that are supposed to be FICTIONAL characters. No guys like this really exist, and even if they did, they are only a few years older than my own son in the stories. I could be their mother, yikes! These guys seem to be in their mid twenties...still too young and I am happily married. Gotta remember that. 88th