Chapter One

I was fifteen when the infection struck. I was sitting in chemistry when the principal’s voice came over the loud speaker. Or at least, what sounded like his voice. He got out a few words about evacuating the school before the moaning came. It was deep and rough as if he had something large and wet caught in his throat. The speaker shut off in a burst of static and we all spun toward the classroom door, from which the moaning seemed to be emanating. A boy named Tommy went to the door and peeked out through a small opening he made. His eyes grew wide and he fell backward onto the teacher’s desk. “M-monsters,” he stammered.

I was next to look through the crack. What I saw I did not believe. I could not manage to wrap my mind around the creatures limping slowly through the hallways. Their pale skin. Their tattered clothing. Their eyes did not glow like they had in the movies and video games I had always enjoyed so much, but had a glazed look as they stared blankly in front of them, unseeing. I shut the door and walked to the rest of my class. I gulped and looked at all their terrified faces. “We’re going to need weapons. Grab anything you can find.”

We were lucky that our chemistry class doubled as the wood shop class. I ran into the back closet and grabbed the fire axe as the other students went for pieces of wood, saws, nail guns, and screw drivers. By the time we were prepared there was screaming coming from the other rooms and scratching at our door. I stepped to the front of the crowd, because no one else seemed willing. I turned toward them.

“The monsters, zombies, whatever you want to call them are coming from the entrance to the left, which means we’re heading right. They move very slowly, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get away from them if they come after you. However, on the offhand chance that they catch up to you, do not be afraid to kill them. Land any blow you can on them, because we have no idea what can and can’t hurt them. My best guess is to aim for the head. Are we all ready?” The students looked up at me in fear, but nodded.

I let out a heavy breath and clutched the axe in my hand as hard as I possibly could, then threw the door open. The walls of the hallway were splattered with blood, the posters which had once lined them were torn. A few bodies lay on the floor, and one of the creatures was bent over a freshman girl, his teeth sunken into her shoulder, tearing the meat from her bones as she cried out in pain.

It only took a few seconds for the zombies to notice us, and once they had, they began to advance. A few of the kids froze at the door, but I, along with most of my classmates, sprinted down the hall, knocking the creatures to the ground as we went. I heard someone behind me fall to the floor, but didn’t stop to look. There was no time for that. A cold hand gripped my shoulder and pulled me back. I spun around and passed the axe clean through the monster’s torso. I winced as I felt the blade tear through its skin and paused for a moment, looking down at the beast I had leveled.

But then I saw the number of them; all of them advancing toward me and the ten others left alive. I bolted down the stairs and out of the school, but they were there. All around. They were pulling themselves after the people left in our town. They were feeding off them. I looked behind myself to see the students leaping down the steps behind me. I recognized one of them as Jesse, a senior boy. I grabbed him and we got into his car. One of the creatures was banging on the window as he started the car and we sped out of the parking lot.

I pulled out my cell phone and called my brother Evan. He picked up, his voice panicked and his breadths heavy and quick. “Emmy? Is that you? You’re alive?” My eyes welled up with tears at the sound of his voice.

“Evan,” I choked out. “I’m coming home. Be prepared to let me in the house, okay? I’m bringing a friend with me. His name is Jesse, he’s from my school. He has to bunk with us. Are mom and dad okay? How’s the baby?”

I heard a short sigh on the other end of the phone. “Dad...” Evan paused. “We were attacked in the house during lunch. Dad didn’t make it. Mom took Becka and her car. They’re on their way to Canada. She asked me to go with her, but I told her I would stay here to wait for you. Dad’s car is still in the drive way so when we get the chance we can head up there to meet them. God, Emmy, I’m so glad to hear you’re okay. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had been killed or…turned.”

I let out a breath. Dad was gone. At least mom and Becka were safe. I told Evan I had to go, then gave Jesse directions to get to my house.