Bully
Resident Evil Edition
Prologue
Canis Canem Edit…
Jimmy laughed when he found out that those words meant.
Dog Eat Dog…
How fitting those words were at the moment.
He sat on the stairs looking at the barricade he, and several other survivors had put up a few days ago. So far it was doing a fine job keeping them out. He checked his watch. It was coming close to sundown, and that's when things would start up again.
It amazed him how anyone could sleep when those things decided to bang on the doors at night.
It had happened so fast. They could have never seen this coming. And even worse, they could have never prepared for something like this.
Jimmy heard footsteps coming from the cafeteria.
Petey turned a corner and walked up the stairs, almost tripping over his feet.
Jimmy laughed at the now blushing boy.
Petey sighed. "It's so dark, I can hardly see anything." He said as an excuse.
Jimmy had to agree. "I know, but it's so that we don't attract any attention. The last thing we need is those things knowing we're in here." He reminded.
Petey nodded acknowledging that fact. "I know."
"This whole situation sucks."
"Think it'll get better?" Petey asked hopefully.
"What do you think? Does it ever in the movies?"
"Well this isn't a movie."
"Yeah. And stuff like this should only happen in the movies. But at the moment this is real." Jimmy said not trying to hide the anger in his voice.
Silence encased the two. The only sounds coming from the other survivors in the cafeteria. A low hum, a buzzing of conversation between fourteen other survivors.
Petey broke the silence. "Zoë and I were talking."
"You were, were you?" Jimmy said sounding uninterested.
The boy nodded. "We were talking about the possibility of survivors. Cause we were thinking, we can't be the only ones alive. We can't be the only ones fighting to survive. There has to be others out there."
Jimmy thought about this. "Yeah… maybe." He sighed. "But what are the chances? If you ask me, slim to none."
"But you have to think of the slim part. In a situation like this you have to think of the bright side." Petey said trying to be optimistic… which wasn't exactly his forte, given his past experience.
The two were shrouded in silence again.
"Jimmy?"
Both boys looked over as Zoë appeared. "You should eat something."
Jimmy shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
Zoë sighed. "You need to eat something. You haven't eaten all day. And yesterday the only thing you ate was a sandwich."
Jimmy continued to sit in silence watching the door.
"Jimmy, I know that Edna's cooking isn't exactly the best,"
"I heard that you twerp!" The kids chuckled.
Petey continued. "But we need to keep our strength up in case a situation happens where we need to leave, and fast."
Jimmy sighed. He knew they were right. He closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah… okay." He got up and headed to the cafeteria followed by Zoë and Petey.
The cafeteria was lit only by candle light, the windows were painted black, and there was only one table and considerably less chairs as they were used to barricade the doors.
Jimmy walked to the buffet and began to collect food. He turned around and sighed. He was still not accustomed to the cliques not being around. It seemed that only the non-clique students and a few faculty members survived.
Taking his seat he looked at the rest of the survivors.
Constantinos, Eunice, Christy, Lance, and his sister Gloria were the other surviving students, as well as Edward, the prefect.
As for the faculty members, there was Dr. Crabblesnitch, Mr. Galloway, Ms. Philips, Miss Danvers, Edna, Dr. Watts, and luckily Nurse MacRae… well they thought luckily enough.
Statistically looking at it, it wasn't exactly a strong group. The strongest in the team would be Edward, Jimmy, Lance, Mr. Galloway, Edna, and Dr. Crabblesnitch. The smartest would be, Gloria, and most of the teachers, and as for fixing wounds and whatnot, Nurse MacRae.
But if it came to fighting against them, they might survive… some of them at least.
Down near the head of the table Dr. Crabblesnitch checked his watch. He stood up, "Alright, it is now 7 o'clock. Who's keeping watch tonight?" he asked.
Miss Danvers took out her notepad and began flipping pages. "Uh… Ah, Edward, Mr. Galloway, Nurse MacRae, and you… Dr. Crabblesnitch." She said with fear in her voice. "Do be careful Dr. Crabblesnitch."
Dr. Crabblesnitch smiled dashingly at her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about Miss Danvers. Why, when I was a strapping young lad, I could take on anything, with my own bare two hands." He reassured. "And I wouldn't dream of leaving my students and co-workers without a leader."
Jimmy rolled is eyes. He wondered that if it was possible that if his ego was as big as his honesty, he may survive this. He may be a lot of hot air, but as much as he hated to admit it, the man was good and true at heart… no matter how jaded he was about the amount of violence there was in the school.
"Now, would everyone please go to your designated sleeping areas. Edward, Lionel, Danica. With me please. Good night to the rest of you." Dr. Crabblesnitch called, getting up and heading out of the cafeteria.
The selected people got up and headed out to the lobby.
Dr. Watts got up and called the boys to start heading to the Upper Auditorium. Edna did the same, but the girls were heading to the Lower Auditorium.
Jimmy finished his food, and followed Petey. Everyone said their goodnights, and prayed that tonight would be like the other nights so far.
Only banging at the doors.
No entries.
Jimmy couldn't sleep so he just stared at the ceiling. Wondering what was going to happen to them. He had already lost so much. There was no news from the outside world. There was no TV anywhere inside the school building, and the only radio got nothing but static.
And then natured called. He got out of his sleeping bag and headed to the door. His hand was on the door handle when-
"What are you doing Hopkins?"
Jimmy turned to Dr. Watts. "I have to use the toilet." He confessed.
"Oh, well when nature calls, nature calls." The absent minded doctor said, and waved Jimmy off.
Jimmy left the room, closing the door behind him, and headed to the bathroom. It seemed that tonight was too be a quiet night, he thought as he approached his destination. He did his business, washed his hands and headed back to the room when suddenly, banging came from the front door. He snuck to the bridge connecting the east and west wing of the school to inspect it, the closer he got the more he heard from outside.
Whoever was banging on the door was screaming… whoever was banging on the door was alive! He watched as Dr. Crabblesnitch ran to the front door, joined by Nurse MacRae. Then by Edward and Mr. Galloway.
Mr. Galloway was the first to speak up. "Is it them?" He asked.
Crabblesnitch shook his head. "No. Whoever it is they're alive."
"Should we help them? Should we let them in?" Nurse MacRae asked.
"PLEASE LET ME IN! IF ANYONE'S ALIVE IN THERE LET ME IN! PLEASE!!"
It was a young girls' screams.
Jimmy tensed when he heard the voice. He knew who it was.
It was Melody Adams.
Dr. Crabblesnitch stepped forward and began taking down the barricade in haste. "Help me! We need to get that child in here."
Nurse MacRae and Mr. Galloway began helping, Edward stood there with a look of disbelief on his face. "No." he stated firmly. "Her screaming is going to lead those things straight here, if they haven't already."
Dr. Crabblesnitch stopped and turned around looking at Edward completely livid. "You will do as you are told Mr. Seymore, or I will feed you to those things myself!" He ordered. "There is a scared little girl out there, and we will not allow her life to end so soon."
Edward was terrified and nodded. "Yes sir!" He said and started helping.
They finally moved everything and opened the door quickly, grabbing the girl and pulling her in, slamming it shut right behind her and then again hastily putting the barricade up. They stood there in silence listening to hear if anything had followed her or noticed life was inside of the building they resided in.
The only thing Jimmy heard was the whimpers and sobs of little Melody Adams in Nurse MacRae's arms.
Nurse MacRae took Melody to the stairs and sat her down asking her if she was alright, the little girl couldn't do anything but weep, but she shook her head no.
Dr. Crabblesnitch walked over to the girl. And knelt in front of her placing his large hands on her small shoulders. "Are you alright child? What happened? Where'd you come from?" He asked her.
The girl sniffled and took in a deep breath calming herself down. "Well… I was at the Girls Dormitory since this thing began." She informed.
"By yourself?" asked Mr. Galloway.
Melody shook her head. "I was with Mrs. Peabody. Angie, Gordon, Ray and Karen were also there with us." She informed through sniffles.
"Why'd you leave? What happened?" Nurse MacRae asked.
And that's when Melody almost broke down again, but stopped herself. She sniffled again before telling them. "I… I was sleeping, when suddenly I heard this loud scream come from downstairs, and then all this moaning. I got up and snuck to the veranda and that's when I saw it…" She paused for a second and took a deep breath. "I saw Mr. Luntz biting Mrs. Peabody. Ray saw this and had run to the front door taking down the barricade. Me and Angie tried to stop him, but it was too late… and all these things startied coming in. They ate Ray, and headed towards us. Angie and Gordon told me and Karen to run, and that was the last I saw of them.'
"Karen and I escaped through the upstairs window and that's when we heard Angie and Gordon scream. When we got to the ground, I looked over the corner to see if there was some way for us to get past them, and when I turned around… one of those things grabbed Karen, and bit into her, I screamed and something grabbed me from behind." She shivered and took a shaky breath before she continued. "I managed to get away… and now, I'm here."
"Oh you poor thing." Nurse MacRae pulled the girl close to her. But pulled her hand away from her head. Her hand was dyed red.
It was blood.
The Nurse looked over at Dr. Crabblesnitch with a shocked look on her face.
Crabblesnitch sighed, his shoulders slouched. He thought for a second. He walked over to Edward. "Edward would you go and get Dr. Watts please. And then stay there with the boys until he gets back." he said and then cut in before the teen could interject, "No questions."
Edward nodded and headed upstairs.
"Danica, may I have a moment?" He asked.
The old woman nodded, letting the girl go, Mr. Galloway, taking her place in comforting the young girl.
Nurse MacRae and Dr. Crabblesnitch walked over to the front door, right under the bridge so Jimmy could hear everything they were saying.
"Think she was bit by one of them?" Dr. Crabblesnitch asked.
Nurse MacRae shrugged. "I don't know. It's a possibility, one of them did grab her, but I don't know. She didn't tell us she was bitten. It's possible she could have cut herself trying to escape. But Richard, what if she is? Do you really expect me to do that to a little girl?!" She asked, fear in her voice.
Dr. Crabblesnitch sighed. "No Danica… I won't ask you to do this." There was a short pause. "I will."
"But Richard-"
"Danica, it has to be done. If she's infected, she will turn." He reminded. "And we discussed that. Dying would be a hell of a lot better then becoming one of those things. I will not allow this little girl to be one of those things." He told her.
Nurse MacRae let out a whimper. "You're right… if she is… maybe there's a cure…"
Dr. Crabblesnitch shook his head. "Dr. Watts said that he's still working on it. And even if he finished it, it would be too late. Once you turn, there's no coming back." He told her.
They heard footsteps coming from the stairs and turned to see Dr. Watts heading towards them totally missing the fact that Melody and Mr. Galloway were sitting on the stairs.
"You wanted to see me Richard?" The chemistry teacher asked.
Dr. Crabblesnitch nodded in response. "I was wondering if being bitten was the only way to get infected." He asked. Then added, "Is it possible to get infected just by touching the blood of the possibly infected?"
Nurse MacRae looked at the headmaster horrified.
Dr. Watts, thought for a second and then shook his head. "Not unless there was an open wound on the person touching the infected. Why do you ask?"
Dr. Crabblesnitch pointed to Melody. "We think she may have been bitten."
Dr. Watts looked over and jumped when he saw Melody in the arms of Mr. Galloway. "Oh, where'd she come from?" He asked, adjusting his glasses.
"The Girls Dormitory. She and five other survivors were there. They were attacked… she's the only on left. But we think she may have been bitten by one of them." He informed.
"You haven't asked?" Dr. Watts queried.
The two shook their head. "I think it's because we just don't want to know the truth." Nurse MacRae confessed.
Dr. Crabblesnitch had to agree. He really did not wish to harm the young girl. "Well we have to. It's the only way of knowing for sure." He said and headed over to Melody and Mr. Galloway.
Nurse MacRae took in a deep breath and let it out two seconds later. Then headed over to the others, followed by Dr. Watts.
Dr. Crabblesnitch knelt before the girl again. "Melody, were you hurt at all, while escaping from the Girls Dormitory on your way here?" He asked.
Melody dried her eyes and nodded. "The… the thing bit me when it grabbed me."
The room fell silent, after she told him. But then Dr. Crabblesnitch put on a sad smile. "Well, why don't we have Nurse MacRae take a look at that for you okay?" He said.
"Okay." The young girl said.
Nurse MacRae took the young girl's hand and led her to the Infirmary. Leaving the men behind.
"Poor girl. It isn't fair you know." Mr. Galloway said as he watched the two enter the room.
"Believe me Lionel… I know." Dr. Crabblesnitch acknowledged.
The men stayed in silence for a few minutes, before Nurse MacRae came out of the room, her face red and stained with tears. "Sh-she's ready." She informed through tears.
Dr. Crabblesnitch, as he headed to the Infirmary, paused and placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. He went into the room, and a few seconds later emerged with an unconscious Melody in his arms as he headed to the basement.
Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Crabblesnitch emerged and went back to where the other teachers were, wiping his hands on a handkerchief. "Dr. Watts, you can go back. Tell Edward nothing, just to come straight to me. I'm telling him everything." he informed.
"But Richard you said we shouldn't involve the children in this." Nurse MacRae said a little shocked.
"He's not a child anymore Danica." He said. "And what else are we going to tell him? He was here when Melody arrived. Do you not think he will get suspicious when she isn't there in the morning?"
Nurse MacRae sighed and hung her head. "You're right."
Dr. Crabblesnitch nodded. "Alright, goodnight Simon."
And with that Dr. Watts began heading to the Upper Auditorium. Jimmy raced back to the room and managed to sneak in undetected. Edward was out like a light.
Jimmy lay down and tried to sleep, but it eluded him as the events of tonight played in his head.