A Zombie's Heart

Chapter 10

     We walk down the quiet hallways, each step echoing. The windows are all boarded up, along with some doors. The building smelled like rotten flesh and must. The zombies were here before, but theres no sign of them now, just the skeletons of highschool students and teachers piled in classrooms. Taehyung takes my hand, knowing that im feeling uneasy about the school. We find the rest of the group in an empty classroom already setting up sleeping bags. When Taehyung starts helping, I step out and into the hallway. I walk down each hallway looking at all the trophies and awards for the sport teams. Each display case was either shattered or had bullet holes in it. This school reminded me of my highschool, long hallways, uplifting quotes hung on every wall, the smell of concrete and old textbooks. I find a shattered picture of a group of dancers. It was this schools company team. I remember how badly I used to want to be on company. I come across many old photos of graduating classes and it comes to my attention that i would never be a graduate. I would never go to college. I would never achieve my dreams. Tears well up in my eyes when I see a torn prom poster hanging. It reminds me of him, my first love, on our prom night, how we decided to ditch and cause trouble. The first night where he held my hand in the back seat of a police car, telling me that everything would be okay. Memories of him fill my mind and I collapse to the ground. I cry with my head buried in my hands and I can't stop. After crying for a few more minutes I get up and get a drink. Luckily at least one fountain is working. I walk back to the classroom and stand in the doorway.

     

      Abbi looks up from fixing her bed. "Hey, its been a while. Where'd you go?" 

     "I just got a drink. That's all." I sit down on a sleeping bag and lay on my back as I let out a long sigh. "Why are we doing this?" 

     Abbi looks over at me. "Huh? Doing what?" 

     I sit up and look at her in the eyes. "All of this! Why do we keep running? Theres no way we're all going to survive! We already lost four of us and Im certain we'll lose more! We cant run forever! Im ready to give up and just kill myself! I cant keep going on like this!" Everyone is looking at me but I dont care. 

     Abbi walks up to me and smacks me. "Dont think like that! We promised each other we would keep going together! We will live and we will get through this! Dont you dare even consider killing yourself!"

      My eyes tear up and I look down and whisper, "I'm sorry."

      Abbi sits down and hugs me. "Look, we love you so much Celeste. We dont want to lose you because we need you. Now its time to get some sleep. We need rest if were going to find a new hideout in the morning. ADDI YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BAG!! GET OUT OF JIN'S! GOODNESS, GIVE THE POOR GUY SOME SPACE!!!" I laugh as Addi goes to her own sleeping bag and Abbi goes to Suga's. 

     Addi glares at her. "Wow, what happened to space?"

      "Well...im cold. Goodnight."

      I lay down and stare at the ceiling as I listen to everyone's breathing slow down as they each fall asleep. After an hour of nothing but silence I roll onto my side and whisper. "Taehyung. Are you awake?" 

     "Yeah, are you okay?" 

     I sit up."Taehyung im scared..."

      He sits up and scoots over. "Come here." 

     I stand up and walk over to him and climb into his sleeping bag. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer to him. I get that same feeling of warmth and comfort again. Pretty soon I can tell he fell asleep. I turn over to look at him as he peacefully sleeps and I smile. I've felt what love feels like before, but not the same as I feel now, with Tae. For the first time ever, I start to wonder if what I had with my boyfriend was even love at all, or just obsession. I lay my head on his chest and finally fall asleep.