The ground exploded, blazing alive with fire. I threw my arms to cover my face as the smoke dispersed around us and rubble rained down on us—
As the hallway began to fall down.
"Run!" Mason shouted, and he took off.
We followed him toward the science lab. I coughed, staggering as we dodged falling pieces of stone. Sophie screamed as a piece of marble fell from the roof, catching her in the arm.
"Sophie!" Abigail yelled, as Sophie tipped to the side and slowed down. I looked back at the both of them and sprinted to help Abigail with Sophie. Her arm was bleeding; a deep gash ran along the underside of her arm.
Meanwhile, Mason was still ahead of us, with Sterling, who had just noticed the injury and widened his eyes. "We're close!" he shouted. "Come on!"
Panting, the three of us ran faster into the science lab.
I locked the rusty doors behind us.
We stalled in silence, listening to the sound of destruction behind us.
"Sophie, let me see your arm." I told her.
Still breathing in fast, she held out her arm, which was turning slightly blue. Sterling walked over to us, his eyes narrowing.
"We need to clean the wound," he instructed, glancing around the room. "Is there a water faucet in here?"
"If there was, it wouldn't be working anymore," I answered, frowning.
Mason looked at us and grinned. "Hey look! A coffee machine. I got dibs!"
"Mason! We need to help Sophie!" Sterling yelled in frustration, tugging at his hair. "No one cares about your stupid coffee machine!"
Mason sighed. "Fine. But I get the leftovers."
I went over, grabbing a nearby cup, pouring coffee into it. "This is the closest to water we can get to clean the wound," I told them.
Sophie grimaced. Her face was paling. "Won't it make it worse?"
"It's the best we have," I repeated, blowing on the coffee—which was cold by this time, anyway. "Here. Watch out, it may hurt."
Sterling watched as I tipped the coffee onto the open wound.
"Owch!" Sophie quickly moved her arm away.
After a while, we cleaned it, wrapping a makeshift bandage around the damaged arm.
We all exchanged nods, then headed out for James.
YOU ARE READING
Despair
ActionA zombie apocalypse that is overturning, killing and ultimately destroying the world shouldn't be something that kids (teens) should need to handle. Yet that is exactly what Evan, a young 12-year-old with his life ahead of him needs to face. But no...
