《The Disease》 Chapter 1: The Loner 10:55 AM Isat in the back row of my Sophomore Geometry class all the way to the right. The bell rang to start class when the teacher started talking in his monotone, deep voice. I then sighed softly as I started to draw small scribbles of art on my notebook as the monotone teacher goes about the lesson. I tuned him out as if it was Charlie Brown¡¯s teacher ¡°Wah Wah Wah Wah.¡± is about the only thing I ever hear coming from him. Not long after, I heard my name ¡°Jake why don''t you tell me what''s the answer to the equation?¡± he smiled and crossed his arms I quickly looked up, clearly not paying attention as everyone looked at me and laughed. I shook my head and looked back down at my paper clearly not caring anymore. A girl with short red hair, and her favorite orange hoodie with the school name on it, as she always showed school pride looked at me as well. I looked up and to the left a bit at her. She smiled wide, and I quickly smiled back a bit and looked back down at my paper. I felt like my face was on fire, as my heart dropped into my chest. She was one of the most enthusiastic, funny, and unique girls in the school. She wasn''t like most girls who wears short clothes and wears piles and piles of makeup. She stared at me a bit more, a simple nerd. I mean this girl was someone who almost every guy likes and she''s looking at ME I thought to myself completely shocked and nervous as I never knew how to talk to girls. I kept drawing in my notebook as if nothing happened, a piece of paper folded up landed on the left side of my desk as I could barely see the girls arm. I looked at the note, my eyes wide as I couldn¡¯t help but be curious and surprised, but on the front it said ¡°DON¡¯T READ YET.¡± with huge, cursive letters. I smiled wide at the note. Her writing was so cute, I thought to myself. I looked over at her as she stared towards the front of the class at the teacher. I quickly looked back down. Drawing on my paper I could sense she was staring at me. she saw me slide the piece of paper under her notebook letting her know I accept her wish, I could hear her softly giggle. Her giggle was so cute, everything in general about her was cute. The bell rang shortly after I heard her giggle. I quickly got up out of my seat, and as the girl was grabbing her stuff she looked over to the right ¡°Hey Jake!¡± she said with a huge smile, she then cut herself off as she looked around for me. I was already gone as her friends quickly surrounded her as she is clearly confused, and somewhat disappointed. She puts a fake smile on her face as she keeps looking around for me as they all walking out of the classroom. Meanwhile, I¡¯m out in the hallway swarmed by big, smelly, stacks of meat known as Juniors. I quickly dodge by them, as I swing a left into the mens bathroom as I go in and up to the first stall I see, as I close the door as I stay standing as I start to open up the complexly folded piece of paper given to me by ¡°the girl.¡± On the other side of the paper I see in her adorable handwriting ¡° - By Riley¡± It said in her well written, and stylish cursive handwriting. I slowly start to open up the note as I smile wide at it as my mind races ¡°What could it be? It could be her asking me out, calling me cute!¡± I laugh quietly like a idiot to myself as I finally open the note, as the note is long, and well thought-out. I start to read the note to myself, the smile disappears on my face as I thought it was going to be a bad note. The note made me felt like I could hear her voice reading the note off to me herself. I could hear her soft, silky, somewhat high pitched voice reading the note to me as if she was reading me a story. ¡°Jake, I know you don¡¯t know me very well.. All you know about me is my name is Riley, and I am on the track team. That¡¯s all everyone knows about me. But I want you to know more about me, I don¡¯t know what it is about you Jake, but I feel something different with you. I feel like I actually mean something, when I see you stare at me I feel like you¡¯re looking at me not for my body, or my good looks but for who I am inside. I hardly know you and you don¡¯t know me, and I understand if you don¡¯t wanna hang out..But if you will accept it, I wanna offer you an invitation to my birthday party, and invite you over to my house tonight to hang out and get to know each other before my b-day tomorrow.¡± I smiled wide as I quickly put the note away as I heard two kind of high pitched boys walk into the bathroom as I quickly walk out of the stall and close it. I turn around to see my best friend Gerard, he is medium sized, and had dark chestnut hair that laid kind of flat on his head. Its combed over to the right a bit to stay out of his eyes, as he wears combat boots, and camouflage pants, with the usual football hoodie. ¡°Hey Jake!¡± Gerard said as he saw me slowly snake the note into my hoodie pocket. ¡°Oh, uh hey Gerard!¡±Gerard looks at me a bit confused as he then laugh softly. ¡°So buddy, what¡¯s in your pocket?¡± he smiled wide as he clearly saw me as I was never good at hiding things. I then take my hands out of my pockets and put them in the air as I smile a bit rubbing the back of my neck with one of my hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Gerard walks closer to me and quickly reaches in my hoodie pocket. ¡°mmmhm!¡± he grabs the note pulling it out, as he starts to undo the note, as my other friend Cody stands right behind him with a light blonde, mohawk with a gray Call of Duty shirt with regular tennis shoes cause he¡¯s a idiot and doesn¡¯t think it''s cold outside. They start to read the note as Cody squints at it ¡°She wants to fuck you?¡± He laughs a bit loudly. Gerard elbows him in the stomach¡°No you dipshit, she wants to get to know him! Cody, you¡¯re always the idiot of this group. You always think pervertedly bro..Maybe that¡¯s why you can¡¯t get a girlfriend!¡± Gerard laughs softly as I kind of chuckle myself. ¡°One of the cutest and most enthusiastic girls in this school wants to hang out with you.¡± Gerard shakes his head at me ¡°Can¡¯t believe it, you are one lucky bastard my friend!¡± He chuckles again as I nod softly. Gerard says ¡°So are you going over?¡± He asked curiously, as he knows that I¡¯m really nervous around her, and we both know I might not even be able to talk to her. Cody laughs ¡°Yeah, you gonna get to first base bro?¡± he hits my shoulder as he towered over me and Gerard, and Cody was one of the smartest guys I know, even though he acts stupid this kid can ace tests like no other! He was smart, Very smart, just didn¡¯t want to show it. I put the note back in my pocket. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I shake my head ¡°Shut the hell up Cody.¡± we all laughed like idiots as we then walk down the hallway heading to our own lockers, I walk behind Cody and Gerard as I break off from them going to my long blue colored locker. The school has it color coded, so one locker would be blue, and the one next to it orange. Cody went to his own locker and Gerard to his, Gerard made his way down the hallway as Cody disappeared into one of the classrooms to talk to his teacher. I got into my locker. As I started to put my books in my locker bending over, I looked down to the left seeing light pink tennis shoes. I then look up to see Riley standing there with her beautiful smile as if she was an angel. ¡°Hi Jake.¡± She said kind of shyly as she had her books up to her chest. Looking up at her I could feel my face becoming hot, and my heart dropping into my stomach. ¡°Oh um, Hi!¡± I said kind of enthusiastically as I went back to putting stuff away in my locker and she looked upset as if I was ignoring her. She kneeled down next to me,with her best friend Kenzie standing behind me as she listens to the conversation. ¡°So, did you read my note Jakie?¡± She said giving me a nickname without my consent. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, I usually hate nicknames, but when it escaped her lips I couldn¡¯t help but love it. I looked to my left and smiled wide ¡°Oh Yeah! Of course I did, and yeah I¡¯ll come.¡± I grinned at her as I stared into her deep, dark blue eyes and then quickly looked away to not look suspicious. ¡°Great!¡± She smiled wide, clearly happy as I jumped up instantly quite excited as her friend Kenzie giggled quietly looking over my right shoulder. ¡°Oh hi Kenz.¡± I said kind of sarcastically as she waves quickly and Riley waves at me ¡°Okay, Meet me outside in thirty minutes and my mom will drive us home okay?!¡± She giggled loudly with Kenzie as she waved me bye as they both walked away. Gerard smiled as he walked up to me as I shut my locker. After putting everything up, Gerard nodded towards Riley,surrounded by all her friends hearing them giggling and everything while she told them about how we were going to hang out. ¡°What¡¯s that all about? They act like they just won a million dollars.¡± I laughed softly ¡°Well..I just told Riley that I¡¯ll hang out with her in thirty minutes.¡± He laughed loudly ¡°Ah, dude..she loves you!¡± he said sarcastically. ¡°Can you not tell? She¡¯s madly in love, she¡¯s staring at you now..¡± I turned around and she looked away as Gerard slapped me playfully across the face. ¡°You idiot, she ain¡¯t gonna keep looking at you if you look at her, that isn¡¯t how girls work!¡± he laughed as I rub my cheek, laughing a bit myself. We walked down the hall more since was lunch time, and we both headed down to the common area with a lot of circular tables and benches attached to it. We sat down together, and not long after Riley walked up to our table and sat down next to me, as I could feel her leg rub up against mine I jumped a bit and looked over a bit seeing her ¡°Hey boys!¡± Kenzie said as she took a seat across from us. ¡°Hi Jake!¡± She said excitedly, as she stared at me a bit. I couldn¡¯t help but stare back before I finally snapped out of it and said, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± She shrugged as she had her friend Kenzie next to her. ¡°Soooo..Jakie..¡± Kenzie said smiling wide interrupting the conversation, as she giggled. I look over at Gerard and shake my head laughing a bit. I smiled wide towards Gerard and I see him just smiling, staring into Kenzie¡¯s blue eyes. Kenzie was much like Riley, except with dark blonde hair and freckles across the cheeks and nose. I snap my fingers in front of Gerard¡¯s face. He shakes his head and smiles¡°Oh sorry broski, guess I dozed off.¡± I laughed a bit ¡°mmmhmm..¡± I shook my head at him clearly knowing what he was staring at or rather who he was staring at. I smiled wide at him and then turned to look at Riley as her eyes caught mine, and I couldn¡¯t help but stare into her almost crystal colored eyes. Kenzie smiles wide and giggles softly. ¡°Soooo..You guys gonna kiss?!¡± She giggled loudly, as Kenzie was always the gossip girl of the group. Kenzie dragged the word kiss out as I could hear it ringing in my head. I quickly looked away from her as I curled my lips in. ¡°What? Of course not!¡± I said nervously rubbing the back of my neck looking towards Gerard with wide eyes hoping for him to get me out of the situation. Riley looked back at Kenzie with a look that could kill. Kenzie giggled loudly ¡°Sorry! Sorry!¡± She smiled as Riley shook her head and laughed a bit herself. I smiled wide at Riley and stared into her blue eyes with her staring back back. I felt like I was in hell, the most beautiful girl sitting right next to me, but I can¡¯t even talk to her! We sat there in lunch until we heard a loud screech ¡°Heeeeelp!¡± My head quickly shifted up. I saw a girl, a senior almost a week off from graduating she limped out in front of the people in cafeteria crying. The principal ran up to her and asked her a series of questions knowing she could have a serious injury. The girl had a large bite wound, festering on her shoulder, the skin oozing and bubbling from the bite. Everyone spoke amongst themselves as I turned towards Riley and she looked back at me. ¡°This could be a problem.¡± I mumbled softly, I looked back up at the senior and back over at the corner the girl came from. We heard a loud dragging sound, and a soft gurgling noise. The man turned the corner and it was the Sophomore history teacher, Mr. Jacobs. His arms glistened from the lights of the common room, his jaw hung down with his tongue stuck out as he grunted and made loud noises. His right foot dragged on the ground, creating the loud dragging noise as if someone was carrying a body. Mr. Jacobs had no hair and bumps all over his head, both on top and in the back as if they were tumors. He dragged his feet over to the first table across from the senior and principal as they figured out what was was going on, the principal looked at the senior¡¯s shoulder, he noticed the bite turning black, as if decaying. He looked mortified. Suddenly another blood curdling scream was let out, the teacher had bitten into a freshman in the first table behind the senior as the principal and everyone were distracted. The freshman screamed for help, as everyone else in the table tried to remove the teacher from the freshman but to no avail. Before anyone knew it, the entire table of four or five freshmen were bit near the throat or shoulder. Skin and blood poured and laid on the ground of the common room. The freshmen spewed blood from their throats and made loud gurgling noises, a couple fell to the ground as if dead, and another one fell back in his chair laying there holding his throat. I quickly grabbed Riley by the hand with the intent of getting her out of there before it got worse. ¡°C-Come on we gotta get the hell outta here!¡± I yelled out to Kenzie and Gerard. Riley looked at me with innocent eyes, ¡°But Jake they need help!¡± I look her in the eyes my hands going on her cheeks ¡°Listen, honey..¡± I didn¡¯t even realize I called her honey at the time, ¡°we have to get out of here okay? Trust me please! Whatever this is..they will hurt us too, and I¡¯ll be damned if I¡¯m gonna let you get hurt okay?¡± I spoke to her in a calm but stern voice. She just nodded at me as I grabbed her hand. Gerard and Kenzie followed suit behind. We all ran quickly down the hall away from the massacre and confusion behind us. The senior that the principal was helping had by then sunken her teeth into his neck. He screamed and fell to the ground. Teachers surrounding them for help as they tried to control the chaos. Everyone in a mass confusion as the things bit into and fed on the students and teachers of Jaxson High School. Chapter 2: The Epidemic 11:00 AM I grabbed Riley by the hand and Gerard grabbed Kenzie¡¯s. I ran down the long A Hallway, I could see a slow moving older woman in the Library she turned to the window, her jaw is dropped, her teeth shattered, and jagged, with teeth and gums black from decay causing me to gasp loudly. Looking ahead seeing huge groups of students rush down the hallway trying to escape like everyone else. I dodged between the other students trying not to hit anyone as everyone tried getting out. Girls screamed in the background. I looked down the end of the hallway to see a large girl fall on the ground kicking up at a infected student. I let go of Riley¡¯s hand, running towards her with her legs up trying to fend off the infected student. I grabbed it by the shoulders pulling it off of her and turned around as my eyes widened at who I found. Cody stared me in the eyes, growling loudly, piercing my ears, squinting my eyes to repel the saliva. I didn¡¯t know how to react. I saw Cody closing in on me but I couldn¡¯t help but stand still like a deer in the headlights while Riley and Gerard yelled out ¡°Noooo!¡± and as Cody neared me his hands gripped my shoulders tight as I felt something fly towards my face whiffing me, blood spattered across my face as Cody fell down to the ground. My eyes still wide open, staring down at what use to be one of my close friends. My heart dropped, my legs felt like jelly. I was about to fall, Riley grabbed me by the shirt ¡°Quit messing around we gotta go!¡± She pulled me back a bit while I was still staring at Cody. ¡°Cody!¡± I yelled out as Gerard shook his head as he stared at me. ¡°No time now, you can mourn later!¡± A older, smaller built girl stared up at us as if she was the terminator from the movies. ¡°Come with me if you want to live!¡± She yelled out as we quickly ran behind her. She held a kind of broken up, wooden baseball bat in her hand. We ran down the short hallway and then turned into the Auditorium. People behind us quickly shut the doors and it was pitch dark, Riley bumped into me and Gerard knocked into me as well nearly hitting me in the face. I looked at the two people at the doors ¡°Can someone explain what the hell is going on?!¡± I said loudly as a quite tall dude, with a short beard shook his head. ¡°Shut up already..They can hear you, you dip.¡± He sat down in one of the simple, red colored theatre seats leaning up against the back of it and set his feet up on top of the back of the seat in front of him. ¡°And who exactly are you?¡± Riley said sharply putting her hands on her hips acting sassy as she always did. ¡°Well..I may or may not be your guys¡¯ one way out of here, so I suggest you all shut up and listen to me if you guys wanna live alright?¡± I looked at him ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re so smart then please do explain what the hell is going on, and how you intend to get us out of here. Because last time I checked, there are freaking creatures out there that charge at you with no remorse.¡± He sighed, ¡°Fine, My name is Colonel Maverick from the U.S. Marines, I was meant to be here to give a speech to the Sophomore class but..clearly, that has been postponed hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Okay, thanks so that¡¯s your name and why you¡¯re here..But if you¡¯re the military can you shine some light on what the hell is going on, how come all our friends, and for some of us family have turned into flesh eating creatures?¡± Gerard said clenching his fists clearly getting annoyed. I put my hand on his chest keeping him from hitting at the U.S. Marine as the soldier nodded at me ¡°Thanks. Wouldn¡¯t want any altercations..And as for what is going on, I am just as lost as any of you. All I know is, people out there are eating each other. If you get bit you could become harmful to the group¡± He trailed off sighing softly not knowing how he could explain it. ¡°Oh for crying out loud, they¡¯re zombies okay?!¡± The young girl that saved me from literally being eaten alive said in a very sarcastic, and clearly agitated tone. I looked at her completely lost ¡°Don¡¯t call them that! That is my best friend out there and you¡¯re gonna try to tell me that..he is a zombie!¡± I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair trying to comprehend everything. The girl softly nodded, ¡°I know it¡¯s tough to comprehend and I know you¡¯re hurt. I know how you feel..My sister is out there.¡± ¡°And my father!¡± Another girl said in the very back near the stage where talent shows and plays would be performed as she was sitting down on the platform. Her feet hung off while she ate a small can of peaches. I nodded, sniffling a bit ¡°I¡¯m sorry..I know I seem like a total douche, you guys have lost so much more than me. I¡¯m here now, I promise I won¡¯t complain.¡± I looked at the soldier nodding, ¡°I¡¯m ready, and I¡¯m here..How can we help?¡± I wanted to help in any way I could so I could get me and my friends and other survivors out. He kicked his feet off the chair as he stood up, he turned away from me heading down to the stage putting his hand on my shoulder leaning in and whispered, ¡°I can see that people care, they need you.¡± I looked at the man curiously but also kind of upset about what we have all lost but did not say a word as Riley and Gerard looked at me confused wondering what he said to me. We then all walked to the stage and stood around in a somewhat small circle watching Colonel Maverick put a small map on the top of a old, wooden piano that was used for music in the plays and musicals. ¡°Okay, so since we¡¯re in the Auditorium we can leave the doors, swinging a right and head out the doors on the side of building. I can¡¯t promise it is safe but it is better than staying in here and dying of dehydration or starvation. It is a huge risk but we may need to take it if we start to run out of the surplus back in the closet.¡± He said taking his military hat off wiping his forehead. I looked down at the map trying to memorize the path. ¡°Okay, so we¡¯ll need some weapons, I have my gun but I don¡¯t want to use since they seem to be drawn to noise and I only want to use it if we really need it, and we¡¯re ready to get the hell out of dodge after I use it.¡± He said softly as he stroked his beard a bit more. We all nodded in agreement as I said to the group quietly in a kind of hard whisper. ¡°If the girl is right and they are what she thinks they are..zombies then noise will attract them more than anything, so we¡¯ll have to be extra quiet if we even hope to survive past the hour.¡± ¡°That girl has a name..And my name is Jayne.¡± She said rolling her eyes acting like she had a chip on her shoulder. I nodded, ¡°Okay! Sorry, we didn¡¯t exactly have time for formality when you were bashing one of my friend¡¯s heads in.¡± I sighed as I closed my eyes taking a deep breathe. ¡°Fine, next time I¡¯ll let him eat your freaking face then. Maybe then you¡¯ll be useful to someone.¡± She said, her face getting kind of red from anger nearly matching her bright auburn hair that dangled in front of her face ¡°I¡¯m sorry..I¡¯m just..¡± She sighed as the red in her face started to flee. I shrugged, ¡°Hey it¡¯s okay..I admit it, I froze. But what was I supposed to do ya know? I mean it is..or rather, was..my best friend, I couldn¡¯t just kill him.¡± She nodded ¡°I understand, I had to do the same thing to my sister..¡± She trailed off, sitting in one of the many theatre seats behind her staring down at the gray marble floor. She put her hands on her face and I could hear her soft sobbing as I watched tears run down her face. Gerard sat next to her putting his hand on her back rubbing it for comfort, ¡°Hey, Hey..It¡¯s okay! There¡¯s gotta be something going on. All this crap can¡¯t be happening for no reason, we¡¯re gonna get to the bottom of it. And I¡¯m sure..we could..¡± he trailed off as she yelled out ¡°I watched someone kill her!¡± her whimpers had gotten louder and I grew concerned as my eyes widened ¡°W-What..?!¡± I asked confused as she looked at me, her face beat red from crying. ¡°I couldn''t do nothing..S-She, got sick last night, and said she was feeling better and that she could go to school..So we did, and she went go talk to her crush..your friend Cody, and they were talking. She started to spit up blood, and she just..sank her teeth into his skin, I tried to pull her off but couldn¡¯t and finally someone grabbed a bat and began hitting her and just..blood everywhere..¡± She closed her eyes as if she could see it vividly. ¡°Blood everywhere, the silence in the hallway, that was two minutes before the chaos started.¡± I shook my head. ¡°My god, I¡¯m so..so sorry, I had no idea.¡± She shook her head ¡°It¡¯s whatever..It¡¯s all over now.¡± She collects herself after a few seconds and sniffles as we all finally look away. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Okay, so that¡¯s the idea..We¡¯re gonna camp out here until help comes, and we have the idea for getting food and water in case we run low but we should have at least a week full of supply of food in the closet. We need to ration it out as much as possible in case help doesn¡¯t come immediately.¡± the officer said as he sat on the stage of the Auditorium, as I sit on it as well. ¡°So that solves two problems but as for the last one, what the hell are we gonna do about weapons? Because I¡¯m sure as hell not going out there with my butt on the line and not have something to protect myself.¡± Gerard said sternly as he didn¡¯t like hurting anyone as much as I did, except for when he gets mad. Jayne sighs, ¡°They¡¯re in the back behind the curtain. There are some 2x4¡¯s to block up the door, and maybe even some sets if you wish to set those up against the doors. And other various weapons such as some bats, swords, maces, mic stands, and hammers.¡± I saw a wicked smile cross Gerard¡¯s face as we all head up the carpet stairs to the curtain of the stage and we head behind the curtain and we see the weapons on the sides of walls, and various props laying across the ground and leaning up against the walls. ¡°Okay, grab whatever you think you can deal some damage with.¡± I grabbed one of the fake swords ¡°So how would these damage anyone?¡± I asked curiously as I look at Jayne as she was the director for some of the more action packed plays. ¡°Well, they can take a lot of damage because of the fact they can smack against other object and still be intact, it may be dull but it can still do some damage. A couple of swings with a lot of strength and you could easily take anything off.¡± She laughed a bit as I nod softly, taking the two handed bastard sword and laying it over my shoulder. Riley grabs one of the baseball bats and the officer walks over to her with a nail gun used to post things up, as he would start to put nails into the bat as she swung it heavily in the empty air to test how it is. I could hear the swish of the bat as I felt the wind rush through the my hair and face making me squint a bit. The officer grabbed a simple crowbar that use to be used to pry apart parts of the set. He swings it into the air as well testing how fast he can swing. Everyone, slowly starts to get their own weapons as we were all ready to protect ourselves for anything that could possibly happen. We all leave from the curtain and we go down to the platform as we all sit down on the platform and in the theatre chairs of the Auditorium. Everyone starts to have different conversations as we all try to relax a bit from the tragedy that happened. I check my phone almost every other minute, hoping and praying that someone would text me, or call me to see if we¡¯re safe. I look at Jayde, ¡°Call 9-1-1. Maybe we can get a hold of someone since some time has passed, and maybe just maybe we can get someone to come save us from this hell hole.¡± Jayde nods briefly and stands walking off to a corner of the Auditorium for silence as she tries to call 9-1-1. The phone is ringing as she hears the brief message ¡°We apologize for the inconvenience, the line for 9-1-1 is currently busy, if you could please hang up and try again later someone should surely come to your aid, thank you have a nice day.¡± She looks back at me and shakes her head as she tries to call the police again but to no avail. She finally returns to us not long after and sits down as she sighs, ¡°Nothin¡¯ Bet they don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on, damn pigs probably sitting around doing nothing but eating donuts.¡± We chuckle a bit at her remark as everyone starts to go back to their own conversations trying to get their mind off of everything that has happened. ¡°Well, it¡¯s 3:20. If it was a normal day I would be home right now with my family, and my pet just relaxing and eating food by now.¡± Jayne said her head looking down at the ground. I nod ¡°Hey, it¡¯s going to be okay. We¡¯re gonna get out of here and we¡¯re all gonna return to our family okay?¡± I said to her quietly as we could all still hear the moans and groans of the infected outside. Jayne sniffles as she nods ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± she smiles at me as we both nod in unison. The military officer calls me over to the far right side of the Auditorium far away from everyone else, I get off the stage as I walk over to the officer clearly not wanting to find out what may be wrong. As I get over there I sit in one of the theatre seats in the back of the auditorium and he sits next to me as whispers quietly, ¡°You know, You really do have a knack for this.¡± He chuckles softly. I look at him ¡°What do you mean sir?¡± I ask him a bit confused as he repeats the same thing, ¡°You know, you really do have a knack for this. This whole leadership business, I know I have no right to say but if you were in the military you¡¯d be a great general.¡± This time I chuckle to myself, I could never see myself as a military officer. I don¡¯t nearly workout, or run enough to be in the military but the thought of doing something good for the world kind of made me smile. ¡°Well, it¡¯s too late for that now sir, now our concern is keeping these people alive.¡± He shakes his head ¡°No it¡¯s not our job, it¡¯s your job son.¡± My eyes widen as I look at him surprised ¡°Um, what do you mean my job?! I have no experience in this. We need someone who can actually lead us.¡± He nods softly ¡°I know, and I will be the leader for a bit, but I need to know if something does happen I want to know you can take over in case I do¡­¡± he trails off as he looks down at the ground and I nod softly, ¡°I get it, you don¡¯t have to..finish that sir, but yeah I¡¯ll take over if anything does happen. But we¡¯ll pull through this, no one is going to lose their life.¡± I said positively as he laughs softly patting my shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this. I think we¡¯re gonna lose more people then both you and I know. We don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s just here, or if it¡¯s everywhere. If it¡¯s everywhere we truly are screwed.¡± He said bluntly as I just nodded, He quickly added ¡°Don¡¯t tell the group okay? They¡¯re just feeling a bit calmer about this whole situation we don¡¯t need them yelling, and screaming their heads off that we¡¯re all gonna die.¡± I just simply nod as he stands up patting me on the back as we both walk towards the group again. I stand next to Riley quietly as she looks at me concerned. ¡°You okay?¡± She asked me as I just simply nodded and gave her a smile. I stared at her, but not like I usually do. This time I found myself trying to remember every detail of her face, as if it is the last time I¡¯m gonna see her. From her smile to her personality I remembered everything about her as she looks at me more confused than concerned. ¡°What? Do I got something on my face? I couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly as I shake my head. ¡°No..No, sorry I just blanked out I guess.¡± I trailed off as I stared at the ground as the Military officer goes to the back of the stage and starts to throw some food into the hands of the students for dinner. Riley sighs, ¡°About this time, I would be home eating with my family, and about this time Jake you¡¯d be over at my house. You could of met my parents..¡± She slowly tears up, a couple of drops falling from her eyes as I stare into her eyes as she talks to me ¡°They were great people..I never told them I loved them.¡± She said as I quickly wrapped my arms around her hugging her close, gripping her tighter then I have anyone else. ¡°Hey! No, don¡¯t talk like that honey..Your family is going to be fine..We¡¯re gonna get you home, and I¡¯m gonna meet your family and everything is gonna be okay. You hear me?¡± I pull back looking at her as she softly nods and sniffles. She sighs, ¡°S-Sorry, I¡¯ve never really cried in front of anyone before, especially not someone I like.¡± As soon as she said that my heart dropped, my eyes widen as I stare at her. She quickly giggles softly ¡°Oh shit, I wasn¡¯t supposed to say that!¡± She laughs more as she puts her hands over her face to cover her embarrassment. ¡°I was suppose to tell you after I got to know you more.¡± She mumbled into her palms as all I could do is simply smile at her and chuckle a bit as she seemed so embarrassed. I smiled wide ¡°Well, least I¡¯m not the only one that has a crush.¡± She looks up at me her eyes wide as I laughed a bit. ¡°What? Do I got something on my face?¡± We both laugh a bit as she hits me in the shoulder playfully and I hit her back. ¡°God, one hell of a time to spend with people, huh? Never knowing..when your last moment will be, makes you appreciate it what you have.¡± I said smiling a bit as her, my eyes starting to water as I struggled to get my words out as I stared out one of the windows of the Auditorium the infected seeming to be a bit less interested as we were all quiet. As I looked at the infected I hear a loud clang sound, and a metal can of peaches slowly rolls its way down the carpeted floor and it hits me in the back of the foot. I look down at the can, and then up at the zombies. The sound fills the air as the zombie starts to beat on the window of the auditorium, before long I whisper to the rest of the group. ¡°Grab the weapons! They¡¯re coming.¡± Riley grabs her baseball bat and throws me my fake sword as I barely grab it, and I nod at her. I couldn¡¯t help but stare at her face again remembering every detail again as a single tear fell down my eye as I knew I could die at any time, but I knew one thing was true..As long as I breathe, Riley will survive. Riley and I jump off the platform as Jayne and Colonel Maverick run down the stairs and goes up to the left doors trying to keep them at bay, the Colonel using his crowbar to push the infected back. Gerard, Riley, and I run over to the right doors as Riley tries to push back the infected from the windows of the right doors as well, but to no avail. We all slowly start to back up, our weapons in hand as I gripped the hilt of my sword harder as I could feel the sweat collecting on my brow. We all backup down the steep ramp of the Auditorium, me and Riley back up into Maverick and Jayne. Our backs against each other as Gerard stays near me and Riley as I take a deep breathe. ¡°Okay! Be careful, and aim for the head.¡± Maverick said a bit louder to us as a loud bang sound rang throughout the spacious Auditorium as the infected rushed through the door, limping in a quick pace towards us as they went around the theatre seats. Some trying to go through the middle of the aisles to get to us faster, but got stuck in the process. We raised up our weapons as the infected beared down on us from the right and the left as I took a deep breathe Riley must live, Riley must live I thought in my head.