Brain Dead

Chapter One

 

I relaxed on my friend Connor Dawson’s couch as we scrawled down drafts for our graduation speech. “This is exhausting, Alex. Why did I agree to do this with you in the first place?” Connor complained, crumpling another paper and tossing it in the trash. “Because if we don’t, we’re dead, Connor.” I responded, looking up at him through my bangs. “Right...I think I prefer being dead. Can we go get pizza?” I laughed, folded up my paper and slid it in my pocket. “Sometimes you treat me like a guy.” I protested as I stood up and walked over to the door. “Well you seem like one! Short hair, your personality, hell, I haven’t seen you in shorts since middle school.”  I grinned and nodded in agreement. “I’m proud of my masculine personality if -you please, and yes, I would love to get pizza.” Together we headed out the door and into his Prius. “Hey, when’s graduation day again? Next Friday, right?” I adjusted my arms on the armrest of the passenger seat and leaned back. “No, this Friday. Tomorrow, in fact.” Connor froze in his position as he was just about to turn the key into the car. There was a moment of silence for a few seconds. “I’ll help you write it when we eat, but for now, let’s go.” I offered, hoping I would be munching on pizza sooner. The car started and we took off.

 

Graduation came quick, and all of us seniors sat in the hot, baking sun, waiting for our names to be called. “Connor Dawson.” We exchanged looks. “Go!” I said, gesturing to the stage. His face lit up and he unfolded his paper with shaking hands. He was nervous. “You’ll do great.” I reassured. He slightly smiled and went up onto the stage. My eyes followed him to the stage until something else caught my attention. A man, not much older than the age of 30 lazily walked by, tripping over his feet. The man looked as if he where sleep-walking. I scanned the audience for someone who seemed to have noticed the middle aged man too, or if anyone had the same scaley, pale skin the man had. He walked past the stage, when my eyes drifted to Connor who was staring at me, glancing at the paper and then back to me. I showed a thumbs up and smiled. He smiled back and looked over back to the crowd. “...So once again, I would like to thank this wonderful school for four fantastic years with even more fantastic people.” Numerous amounts of people applauded to his speech, including me. Connor sat next to me. “What where you staring at?” he asked, looking in the direction I had been staring. The man was gone, though. and had disappeared behind the stage. “N-nothing.” I responded, distracted, trying to find the man again. Before Connor could protest, my name was called. “Alexis Wilson.” I took a deep breath. Quickly, I jogged over to the stage and spread the paper neatly so I could see it clearly. I cleared my throat. “Each day, for four years, we came to this red brick building. It was often hot in the fall and cold in the winter, but the climate was always right for making friendships, relationships and gaining knowledge. There is a line in the song ‘Thunder Road’ that goes, “You’re not a beauty, but hey, you’re alright, and that’s okay with me.’ This school was not the biggest or newest or most moderate high school around, but it was our school, and it was alright. Today, the class of-” I was cut off by screaming in the back. Shrieks filled the air. Heads turned to the screaming groups of people. The leathery skinned man had reappeared once more, but this time he was munching on what was left of Maria Kelly’s arm. Now, Maria Kelly wasn’t exactly nice to me, but I didn’t exactly want her to get karma in the form of a man-eating zombie guy. Then it hit me. Zombie. That man was a zombie. People began to run. “ZOMBIE!” Maria yelled before I could, sobbing and clutching her throbbing arm. I glanced to where Connor was. He was gone. Instinctively, I screamed his name. “I’m so going to infect you if you don’t come back for me.” I muttered to myself. Crowds of people ran to the school’s parking lot. I stood frozen on the stage. I began to walk down the stairs when I heard someone call my name. I was halfway down the 3 step staircase when someone grabbed my ankle. “AHHH!” I screamed as leathery-skinned-Maria closed in on me, struggling to take a bite out of my leg. I shook her off and kicked her face in defense. She snarled as she toppled to the floor. I ran quickly through the crowd, looking for pale people tripping over themselves to avoid. Finally I made it to the parking lot. I scanned the lot for Connor’s Prius. It was impossible to spot anyone’s car through the thick, bustling crowd. An engine revved and I spun around. Someone grabbed my wrist. “Let. Me. GO!” I yelled, and dug my thumb nail the hand. The hand let go. “Jesus, Alex!” A familiar voice yelled. Connor. He grabbed me again and pulled me in close to the window. “Connor!” He smiled. “Get in.” I ran to the opposite side of the car and crawled in the passenger seat. He closed the windows. Screams leaked through the closed car. I gasped for air, watching people fall to the floor and eat each other. Connor drove through the crowd, trying to get to the highway. Gnarly looking creatures that where no longer human pounded on the glass of Connors Prius. My window slowly got covered in blood that dripped down the glass, almost completely blocking my view. When we made it to the highway where few cars had escaped to as well, Connor turned to me in shock. “What just happened?” He asked, panting. “I- I don’t know.” Connor gripped the wheel and sighed as we drove down the road. “What was it that you where staring at, Alex?” He asked. I looked straight ahead at the oncoming road. “A zombie. I didn’t know what it was, I- I’m sorry I should’ve told you-”