A/N: Hello and Welcome to Panic, chapter 1. here's just a couple quick things before we unravel a world of fear, death, gore, romance, and comedy thrown in for the hell of it.
1. I'm going to put this out there now, I was horrible at English in high school and college did nothing for me, I AM HORRIBLE AT GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION. If you are a grammar Nazi then by all means, correct my spellings and punctuations and email it to me. alleymills3300 at hotmail . com. I will post up the story again and credit you, but don't flame me for it, I will delete the comments if not the story in general.
2. I also want to put out that I am new to the zombie genre so I really will not be too great with making believable zombie behaviors, I'm taking my knowledge from a zombie survival guide, the original black and white dawn of the dead and dead island walkthroughs. If you wanna throw me some advice in a comment or email I would appreciate it, but once again, I will delete flame comments. If you think my fan fic sucks then don't read it. Simple as that.
Thanks for listening, the couples in this are subject to change on a whim. Please enjoy.
CHAPTER 1: It Begins
"That's all for today, class"
My head lifted from the desk at the words, was class really already over?
How long had I been daydreaming?
I take a look around, noting that a lot of my classmates seem rather distressed and annoyed and checking over the board it's obvious as to why.
"why do we have to do another report on the string theory?" a boy nearby me whined.
A good question, wasn't Mr. Burk an English teacher?
Must be a hobby of his.
I quickly wrote down the notes and assignments on the board in my notebook before closing it and packing my things.
It had been a long day and I was rather eager to get back to my room.
I'm pretty lucky to have all of my classes ending around noon, I honestly like mornings much more than evenings anyway.
I never could understand those students who took evening classes.
Don't you have anything better to do with your evenings?
Speaking of Afternoons.
I waited long enough for everyone else to leave, after all, it's always best to avoid the initial after class stampede.
I slipped out the door unnoticed, good grades or not, not many teachers noticed me... in fact, not many students noticed me either...
It's kind of annoying to be practically invisible, but it has it's perks.
For example, no one picks on me anymore, I don't get called four eyes, or teased for still having a stuffed bear with me.
I don't care what anyone says, kumamoru... kumarino... kuma... MY BEAR IS REAL!
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, letting out a puff of air and venting my inner frustrations with it.
I could see my breath forming a vapor cloud in front of my face.
The deep breath back in was far more pleasant.
I could taste the crispness of early winter on my tongue, dead leaves crunching under my boots on the concrete path.
Early winter, huh? More like late fall.
It's getting close to Halloween, another week and November will be starting.
That means first semester finals will be coming up, bummer.
But on a lighter note it also means colder weather~
I felt a shiver fun through my body, and certainly not due to the chilly wind, after all, I'm Canadian, I'd be a pretty bad Canadian if a little nip could bother me.
No, that shiver is from excitement, I LOVE the cold.
It reminds me of home.
My arms stretch above my head, almost as if to let my body become more free to let the air in, but that is quickly stopped when I hear a crack.
ahhhhh~ that felt great.
Why do they make the seats in the lecture halls so uncomfortable anyway, I'm way too young for back problems on top of student loans.
Next thing you know I'll lose all of my hair and end up with a beer belly.
I give a snort at the mental image, I don't think I'd look that great as a hunched over, bald, fat man.
"ALFRED JONES!"
and then my musings were cut short.
I stopped on the sidewalk, looking around the courtyard.
Looks like Al's at it again... odd... I don't see him around here though...
…..
….
...
..
.
shit.
And then, something big and rock hard slammed into me.
I landed hard on my back and damn did it hurt.
I didn't complain though, just gave off a small whimper and sat up, better that then a full out whine.
No need to ruin what little reputation I have for not being a wuss.
After all, I "wrestled Moose larger than..." …..whatever the hell just hit me.
"you racist ass! I'll punch your face in!"
Well, that explains it.
Looks like Alfred's been picking on the foreign exchange students again.
Apparently, the tanned bulldozer that just laid me out is the Cuban exchange student who got here a few months ago...
I think we've spoken once before.
What was his name again? Oh right Carlos...
Speaking of Carlos, I should probably let him know I'm not my brother before he knocks the 'American' out of me.
"C-Carlos wait!"
He doesn't look like he's waiting... not good, I'd rather not go to class with another black eye.
Stupid twin brother, always causing trouble and then not taking responsibility for it.
Why do we have to look alike?
No point cursing heaven for my face right now, I should probably pay a bit more attention to the male barking out insult over me anyway.
My eyes are darting around for something to protect myself with, I settle for my backpack and throw it up as the first line of defense for my face, peeking around it.
"It's me!...M-Matthew..."
Well, it seems that worked because after a moment of rather intense scrutiny, seriously, where is he looking?
Carlos climbed off me and started to 'sheepishly?', can someone that big be sheepish?, rub the back of his head, offering me a hand back up to my feet in a makeshift apology.
Eh, take what you're given.
At least I'm back on my feet.
That's a far less awkward pose to be found in.
"Sorry about that... I thought you were Alfred"
Is he actually going to speak to me?...
That's not something I get often, but y'know, I think I'd like that.
Is it bad to say that the first thing I noticed about Carlos was his Cuban accent?
I mean, for only being in America six months, maybe, he speaks great English, but that accent... it gives me shivers... the good kind of shivers.
It's thick, rich, and deep... kind of like a red velvet cake batter... you could just... what's the word... sink into it and let it envelop you in a blanket of warmth.
There's no way it could be anything but warm.
It's certainly not a cold voice by any means, nothing about Carlos is cold.
Quite the opposite of me.
"how are you fitting in to your classes?"
The question was honestly only there to fill the void left by a lack of speaking, when in doubt, make polite conversation on a non-offensive topic.
One of the few lessons left from my deadbeat mother who drank herself to death when I was twelve.
Thank god for Alfred, he was all that kept me together when our dad left us because he couldn't handle it.
Thinking back, Alfred's been the only person to really talk with me since then.
I can't seem to recall having any friends, but that's not a surprise, I'm a very quiet and secluded person naturally.
Come to think of it, Carlos is the first person to actually hold a conversation with me in years...
oh right... we were in the middle of a conversation, weren't we?
"-it was pretty weird... America's really different from Cuba. Are all the classes like that?"
well, my focus was back on the topic again... but I really have no idea what the topic was...
On one hand, I could be honest and admit I was getting lost in Carlos' caramel eyes and possibly lose a friend and be called gay by anyone willing to chat with me from now on... if anyone was willing anyway.
Or I could pick an answer that would be neither one way nor another.
Not very hard to guess which one I chose, now is it?
"it depends to be honest, It can vary by teacher, subject matter, teaching style, and many other factors. I've yet to see a class that's exactly the same as another. So I would probably say no but don't hold me to that"
Carlos seemed to be thinking about this, His brow was furrowing in the most adorable way, it made him look like a thinking teddy bear...
wait... "adorable?"
oh no, please tell me I'm not already starting to get attracted.
I know I'm not the straightest crayon in the box but why him?
Okay, calm down Matthew, just act natural... it's a phase... that you've been going through since you were seven...
it'll pass... eventually.
FUCK, Who am I kidding, I make Elton John look strait.
Great, so I'm gay for Carlos... well, I suppose there's not much I can do about it.
"alright, that makes sense. Are you about to get dinner in the mess hall?"
hmm, I could stop and get dinner early but to be honest this backpack is heavy and I really want to set it down and maybe read a bit more on that horror novel I was going at earlier today.
The protagonist just went down some stairs into a pitch black room, looking for a moaning voice.
"no, I have some homework to work on, I'll be headed there later though. I'm going back to my room for now though"
Why does he seem bothered by that?...
"ah, okay. Well I could walk you back to your dorm room. It's only a bit past the mess hall"
True, the cafeteria was on the way to my room but I also have to pick something up from the library on the way too...
There's no way I could ask Carlos to come errand running with me around campus.
"I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I have a few other things to do before I go back. Rain check?"
Carlos looked a tad perturbed for a moment then cocked his head.
I realized that he probably wasn't clear on slang just yet, he may not have gotten the reference.
"it mean that I would like to do that at another time. Is that alright?"
there it was, the look of enlightenment, he understood now.
He seemed to perk up a bit at this, I wonder why my response was so important to him.
After a wave and a couple words of goodbye we went our own ways.
The library isn't too far from my class room but it's the opposite direction he was going, I would've felt bad troubling him so much.
I wonder why he was so insistent on joining me?...
and then I grabbed the door handle and static electricity shocked some sense into me.
Carlos was trying to get my attentions, maybe he liked me back.
Is it hot in here?
I don't recall the library being this warm...
wait... my reflection in the printer screen... I'm blushing...
it's not hot in here, I'm flustered.
And then my blush got brighter, curse this pale skin... it leaves me an open book.
I passed by a couple of girls who are apparently giggling at the red on my face... I smile and waves as I pass them by.
no, random chicks, that blush was not for you or your too-short-barely-there-skirts...
honestly, put some damn clothes on, I have belts longer than that.
I returned the other books quickly and picked up a couple more novels to read before leaving, I wanted to get to the mess hall, maybe Carlos was still there.
The walk wasn't too long and I was full of energy so it ended up passing faster than I recall it normally going.
I looked around the crowded room but no coffee colored skin stood out to me, no caramel eyes invited me over, Carlos wasn't there anymore.
I had missed him.
Damn.
Well, that was a waste of time... but I suppose nothing to be concerned over.
There's always tomorrow to chat with him.
Alright, so I'm back to my original plan of going back to my room, doing my homework and then finishing up that book and maybe reading another.
I picked up a to-go tray and made myself dinner, taking it with me back to my room, I set it aside on my desk, picking at it the same way I pick over the mathematical equations on my trigonometry paper.
Before I realize it the afternoon is gone and evening is setting in, an orange light filtering through my window.
I stretch and toss out the trash left over from my dinner and put my books back into my backpack, picking up the well loved horror novel from my bed side table.
I can feel my troubles and thoughts just melt away as I curl back into the pillow fort I built in the corner of my bed, leaning back and making myself comfortable, tucking a blanket around my legs.
It's so easy, to lose myself in a good book, to dive in, take on the role of the main character and battle away all of the darkness, kill the monsters, beat the villain, save the girl, and always come out on top.
I wish life were like that... maybe that's why I like books so much, they'll lie to me...
life is too brutally honest.
I blink tiredly, it's dark in the room, silhouettes standing out under pale moonlight.
When did I fall asleep?
I sit up in my bed, the book falling down into my lap, I gingerly place the book mark back into the worn pages and set it aside, standing up to stretch.
Hmm... top bunk is still empty... .it's almost nine, Alfred should be done with his classes by now.
Where is he?
I walk over to the wall, flicking the light switch to give the room some light back.
How odd... is the power out?...
I notice rather quickly, how quiet it is.
It's nine at night on Friday and my room is right next to the football field... so why is it quiet?
Something's not right.
I get up, opening the door to my dorm room, stepping out into the common area.
What's that sound?
I flinch, I had only whispered but it echoed in the still of the night, whatever going on, I don't like it.
Is Alfred playing a trick on me?
Is the football team in on this?
This must be some stupid Halloween thing.
The sound is getting louder, closer.
What is it?
I recognize the sound a second before a window shatters.
An air raid siren?!
I flinch away from the glass, putting my arms up to protect myself, wincing as glass bites into my skin.
I hear sounds all around me, like someone had muted a TV and now the sound is back on.
Screaming, moaning, crashes, horrible sounds.
Like some demented horror film or the climax in an action movie.
I back away from the window, I need to find Alfred...
I need to find my brother.
My legs are moving before my mind is.
where am I running?
Where do I find Alfred?
What is happening?
The air raid siren is getting louder and then softer.
Sometimes it sounds miles away but then it'll get louder and louder until it feels like it's right in my ear, my body vibrating from the sound waves.
I can feel the noise to the tips of my fingers.
The sound stops again the second I push open the double doors to the campus.
It's dark... too dark... but I can see movement, at first, I think it's lights...
maybe lasers... red lasers...
but I know better.
Those are eyes.
Dozens of red eyes... and they're watching me.
There are …..bodies?!
Oh my god, this can't be happening, there are bodies all over the courtyard.
What's happening?!
are we under attack?!
no...
no way... there are more... they're getting up... they have those red eyes...
are they eating each other?...
thank god my feet think faster than my head.
I felt paralyzed but my body moved, one of the sets of eyes roared at me and took a swing and I ran for my life.
"ALFRED! If this is a joke it's not funny! Stop!"
Maybe it was fear that made me yell that... but somewhere in me, I know, this isn't a joke.
But... it can't be real... maybe I'm dreaming...
I stop running, the roaring creatures behind me catching up, I turn to face them.
If I die... I'll wake up...
won't I?
