Cooties

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: (better yet?!)

"W-what?" Maggy stammered out in clear hysteria.

"I said, I can HELP you!" The clear eyed boy whispered back feircely. Maggy stared at him in utter shock and despair. He had shaggy Carmel colored hair with natural chestnut highlights. His clear eyes were blue with dark navy flecks. Aware that she was staring Maggy quickly turned way to asses her surroundings. She stared all around her gawking as she turned in a slow circle. Tarps hung everywhere in various colors ranging from burnt red, to faded orange, to forest green. There was evidence of several other teens living here but not a soul in sight. "Where am I?" "Umm... Well..." He stammered, rubbing his neck.

"We call it the rat hole. I live here with my brother and sister, but some other people live here too. I've been here ever since my parents died." Maggy felt a pang of guilt for scratching him, and her thoughts wandered back to her mother.

"Your face..." She reached out to touch the scratch, but he waved her hand away.

"It's my fault." He said, a small smile on his face.

"I shouldn't have grabbed you like that." Maggy shrugged, her fear fading away.

"So... What did you mean when you said you could help me?" A sly spark ignites in his eyes, and he motioned her forward with his hand.

"Come with me."

Hesitantly Maggy followed the strange boy. He led her through some curtains and back into a small room. As they went Maggy started to noticed small things about the clear eyed boy. The silent way he walked. His gracefulness as he glided his small dagger out of its hip sheath. The steadiness of his hand as he held the small knife in a defensive position. Her stomach began to twirl and she quickly dismissed all admirable thoughts of this strangely wonderful boy. (...after all, they were the ones who started the dreaded cooties disease. ) Images flashed before Maggy's eyes. She could picture her mother warning her of the dangers of the male species.

"Now remember, my darling, you must avoid them at all costs. Men want to destroy you, to take advantage of you. They will be the downfall of this race." She looked at the boy and tried to picture him as a vicious monster, a threat to her. But all she saw was a boy. A friend. Somebody who wanted to help her. Somebody who could save her life, not end it. "By the way, what's your name?" He asked, turning to meet her.

"Maggy. Well, my name is actually Margaret, but my mother..." The boy interrupted, a smile spreading on his bloody face.

"Maggy. I like that."

"And what is your name, mystery boy?"

He answered with another lopsided grin.

"You can call me Zach."

{ I smell a romance brewing }😍

Once inside the room Zach closed the makeshift sheet door. "So-?"

"These are our plans!" Zach began with immense pride. Located all over the room were dozens of hand drawn charcoal maps. Red dots were splattered in random formations on each one. "Each dot is where we've spotted an attack." Zach explained. "Each attack had some sort of correlation to the next, this has allowed us to map out patterns and methods as to where, when and why these "zombie" like creatures attack."

"I see..." Maggy replied half of her alert and listening and the other half still caught up in memory of her mothers warnings.

"... So by mapping out these patterns-"

"-you can figure out roughly where the cootie attacks will be and how to stay away from them!"

"Exactly!" Zach cheered! "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Maggy blushed, looking at her feet. She suddenly became self conscious of her girly-ness, looking up at Zach and grinning.

"So... Tell me about these patterns."