"This way." Bradly said, turning left down a new hallway. The path behind was filled with Them and even farther past that was a wreck of lockers blocking the path out of the school. They had one more option: Some how, they had to make it through the science wing and use the entrance to the gym from there. If that was blocked... No one wanted to think about it.

Bradly turned and looked back to make sure Sam and Kes cleared the corner and to see where the hoard that was following them was. Sam turned the corner, followed soon after by Kes. The hoard was a bit behind them, but Bradly knew if they wasted to much time they would be on them. It was so much worse than any movie he'd seen.

In the movies, the good guys always got away. There was always that silent certainty that everything would be ok in the end. The man people would live and move on, maybe even get society started up again, but this...? Blood was everywhere and almost everyone he knew was probably dead already. He'd seen his best friend Rick in the lunchroom... Rick had tried to bite him... The movies never really covered that part.

"Come on." Sam said, pulling Bradly's arm to get him moving again. The taller boy shook his head and started running again. The science wing wasn't very large, but it was filled with obstacles.

Two classrooms ahead, three of Them stumbled into the hallway. He didn't hesitate... Even when he noticed that the one on the right was Mrs. Hertz who had done her best to help him through science class when he'd been about to fail last year. Even when he saw that the girl on the left was Jenny who had a crush on Rick and was the most timid girl he'd ever met. They were threats now... two things standing between his life, Sam and Kes's lives, and survival. Blood splattered all over him and he felt his heart wrench with the horror of what he'd done. His vision blurred and tears washed clear paths in the blood on his face.

If this was what it would mean to survive, killing without even hesitating? Was survival even worth it?

Bradly looked up at some sound or another and saw Sam heaving into a trash can. Why bother to use a can? It's not like there wasn't worse already filling the hall... She looked up and Bradly saw what was wrong.

Without a word, Kes walked over to the girl and plucked the eyeball out of Sam's hair. She couldn't do much more than that for now. It would take a shower to get the blood and other fluids out.

"They're getting close." Kestryle's voice was completely normal and Bradly bristled at the sound. Didn't she feel anything? Lauren was right, the girl was just two damned cold.

He opened his mouth to speak, but a glare from the girl's strange purple eyes silenced him and gave him back his resolve. There was no way in hell he was going to leave Sam alone with that girl. Sam was sweet and gentile, and Kestryle put survival first. He wouldn't leave it past the girl to leave Sam behind when she stopped being useful.

Even as he watched, Kes took Sam's back pack, her only means of defense. Bradly took one step forward, but Kes was already handing the girl a broom handle made of solid wood and hefting the second heavy back pack on to her own shoulders. He wondered if she could keep up with such weight, but any protest he might have made vanished when Kes looked back at them and twitched her head, motioning for him to move.

He nodded, looking back long enough to see that the hoard was now less than ten feet away. Sam still looked sick, but she moved on at Kes' urging. They started to run again and Bradly took the back this time partly because Kes seemed to have a plan and partly because he had to make sure Sam kept going. They were starting to put more distance between themselves and the hoard. So far the halls were empty, though he didn't really know why. This wing had a few classes going on when the attack started, right?

As Kes lead them past several open doors Bradly dismissed his worry. No, there couldn't have been any classes going on at the moment or they would have seen someone by now. Well, someone other than the group at their backs. They were probably the only group in the hall.

He hadn't known just how wrong he'd been until it was to late. As they turned the corner to the second gym doors they found Them. Dozens, at least twice the size of the group behind them. Bradly almost ran into Sam who's eyes had grown wide with fear. For a moment he thought the girl would throw up again, but she held it in. Silently, Kes turned and pointed to the class room behind them. Bradly nodded and lead Sam away from the hoard. Kes closed the door once everyone was inside and Bradly was amazed at how quietly she managed it. Most of the time the doors slammed no mater what people did to keep them quiet.

"What do we do now?" Sam asked, clutching the broom handle with white knuckled hands.

"I'm thinking about that." Kes said, looking out the window. They were on the second floor, so if needed they could jump out the window with relative safety. But someone might hurt their ankle. If there was a way to draw the group away from the doors...

"Well think faster." Bradly snapped softly. He looked around the room for a better weapon than his small metal pole but found nothing. Kes, for reasons he didn't understand, got two texts books from the teacher's desk and offered one to him.

"The hell's this for?" He glared at the 12th grade science text book like it might bite him.

"It's our way out." Bradly scoffed at the idea but Kes continued. "I think they are drawn by sound. If I'm right, we just need to throw this down the hall way to draw them off."

"Why didn't you just throw one of your books before?" Anger flared in his chest again. If she was right about this her damned books could have kept the group from getting split up. They could already have been out of the hell hole the school had become.

"These books are to valuable." She said simply, waving the text book for him to take.

"Valuable?" He demanded harshly. "Our lives are valuable! We could have died!"

"Keep your voice down." Kes hissed. "And we were not in danger that I could have prevented with a book. Now are you going to throw the book or not? You're the football player here. You can throw it farthest and give us our best chance."

Bradly hesitated then snagged the book and walked to the door. A quick look out showed that the large hoard was still in place but the small 30-man hoard was only a few yards away from the door. If he was going to do this he had to do it fast.

"I've got the door, so just throw it and get back in here." Kes glared at him and Bradly nodded and took a deep breath. He only had one shot at this and if he screwed up... Well, he just wouldn't screw up. He had to get Sam out of here after all.

He slipped silently out the door and prayed Kes was right about the zombies being blind. One deep breath later and nothing had changed. No zombies had seen him and rushed for him. As relief crashed over him, he pulled his arm back and let the text book fly. It was heavier than he was use to, and the shape was clearly not meant for throwing, but he got the book at least 20 yards away. As the book fell it made a loud 'thud' that seemed to echo in the halls. As one, all of the zombies froze then slowly turned to the sound. Bradly froze in fear as the creatures moved and shuffled past him. When Kes grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the room he almost screamed.

While he calmed his racing heart,Kes looked into the hall, waiting until the group was far enough away that she felt fairly safe moving.

At her signal, Sam grabbed the second textbook but Kes just shook her head and grabbed the book herself. If it came to a fight, Sam would need the weapon, and Bradly didn't have a spare hand for the book. If they needed the book, Kes would have time to give it to Bradly. If not, and there wasn't time to use the book... well, at least two of them had weapons.

Bradly hefted his pipe and took the lead this time. It took almost all of his willpower not to look at the hoard a few scant yards away. He managed it though, and soon was at the gym doors. He had no idea what was waiting for him past those two doors, but he had come to far to die now. When the girls were with him, he opened the door and slipped inside. They were on the second floor of the gym, looking down at the basketball courts where a few of them milled around. On his level though, two zombies were making their way surprisingly quickly towards the doors. Had they heard the book sound too? He motioned for the girls to hurry before the two caught up with them. From there it was a quick run down the stairs, which surprisingly were empty, and onto the basketball courts.

There were so many more than Bradly had first thought... but it would be ok... After all, stealth had been working for them so far. Kes and Sam went ahead of him this time, making a line for the doors at the far end of the large room. They were so close... Freedom only yards away... Someone ran into the room, throwing the door to the lady's locker room open with a loud crash. Once more, the Zombies froze and started shuffling toward the sound, but Sam was paralyzed with fear. She couldn't get out of the way in time...

One of the undead walked into her and it paused, then it's arms wrapped around her. Sam screamed, even as the fourth person began to scream as the creatures got to her. Bradly swung his pipe and bashed the zombie's head in, then pulled Sam away as the body fell. She was still crying loudly, her broom handle dropped and forgotten on the floor.

"We have to move!" Kes urged, holding one of the back packs like a shield again and was shoving the undead over.

"The doors!" Bradly turned and saw the last thing he'd wanted to see.

"The undead outside are swarming them. They'll be in soon." Kes said softly, a tone of fatality in her voice.

"The boys locker room. We can block ourselves in."

Kes hesitated but couldn't see a better option at the moment. "Right." She turned and ran to the door with an orange basketball on it. On the ball the letters 'Boys' was written. She opened the door and once Bradly, caring a still crying Sam, was in she closed the door and locked the bolt on it. Not that it would stop Them for long, but she'd take anything that would give them an advantage right now. "What now?"

Bradly shook his head and Sam hiccuped softly, her sobs much quieter now.

Kes looked around for anything of use as the first thumps and scrapes sounded against the door. There was a resounding... nothing. Nothing they could move against the door. Nothing they could use as a weapon, not even an open locker to scavenge from...

"Well, it was a good run." Bradly said sighing.

"Are you bitten?" Kes asked.

Bradly shook his head. "Why would I be bitten? They never touched me."

"Not you. Her. Sam, are you bitten?" Kes's eyes trailed over her, but there was to much blood to tell.

"N-no." Sam said, shaking her head firmly. "I'm not bitten."

Kes hesitated, unsure. The girl could be lying... And if so they'd just locked themselves in with a time bomb.

As if Sam knew what she was thinking, she pulled the collar of her shirt down to show that she wasn't so much as scratched and Kes sighed in relief. "Good."

"So what if she'd not bit? We're going to die in here anyway!" Bradly snapped, almost growling in frustration.

Kes looked up, smiling in a way that had nothing to do with joy or comfort. "Well, there is one thing. But it's a gamble."

Sam sniffled and looked at Bradly. Bradly sighed. "Well, I guess there's not much choice now is there?"

Kes nodded, though she wondered if any of them would get out of this alive.

Five minuets later, Bradly stood in position in front of the door. Sam stood behind him and Kes had her hand on the door lock, ready to open the door.

"Ready?" She asked softly. When Bradly nodded, she flipped the lock and the door burst open. There were more undead than before, probably drawn in by the sounds from before. Bradly took one step back and chucked the science text book to the small opening of the gym he could see. Half of the hoard turned, though it was the back half. The rest advanced into the room.

Kes paled and swung her back pack. Bradly backed away, pushing Sam back as well. "Get another book!" Bradly urged.

"It's to late." Kes swung again, knocking two of the undead to the floor.

Bradly grit his teeth. They were not going to die here. Not like this. "Kes, grab Sam. When I say run, make a break for the doors and get out of here."

"We are not leaving you behind." She said simply, swinging her bag again. The ones she had knocked down already began to rise again or crawl towards her on the floor.

"I'm not giving you a choice." Bradly rushed forward, swinging his pipe at every head that came into view. "Go damn you! GO!"

"NO!" Sam cried, but it was to late. One of the undead sank it's teeth into Bradly's arm and he howled in pain. Even then he didn't stop attacking, swinging his pipe around to clear the path for the two girls.

"You know..." Bradly said, pain filling his voice as he worked to clear a path. "I didn't care if you lived or died Kes... I just wanted to save Sam."

"I know..." Her voice was soft yet clear even past Sam's sobbing. "I'm so cold. You thought I'd let you all die. I'd put myself first."

"Yeah. I was wrong." Bradly said, laughing bitterly. "Not that it did me much good."

Kes slammed her bag into one of the approaching Hoard when it slipped past Bradly. "I wanted to save you all.."

"I know, Kes. You're not so bad. For a nerd."

Kestryle rushed forward to deny the zombie that had bitten into Bradly a second taste of flesh. It fell to the ground where it lay still. "I have one question for you before you go." Kestryle said, panting with effort and pent up emotion. "Why were you with Lauren? You're a good guy..."

"I wanted to change her." Bradly said softly, the fight draining from his body along with his blood. "She's always been so sad.. so angry. Your brother couldn't see it. She acts like everything's fine but... I could see her heart break."

Kestryle nodded and grabbed Sam's hand when the girl started to back away. "We have to go Sam. Don't waist what he gave us."

Bradly nodded, eying the remainder of the hoard, only a few left of the group they'd been fighting, but their voices had drawn the second group, the one that had chased the book, back to them.

"Bradly?"

"Yeah, Kes?" He asked, panting and struggling to remain standing.

"You're not so bad for a dumb jock. I don't hate you anymore. I did before... I was wrong about you."

"Shut up and go. I'll draw them towards me. Sorry I can't protect you the rest of the way."

Sam started to sob fresh tears and Kestryle nodded, dragging her along. Behind her, Kestryle heard Bradly laugh, then start screaming. "Alright you undead fuckers! Come and get me!"

Kes refused to look back as she pulled Sam out the doors. There weren't many of Them left out here, and dodging them as easy enough. They had made it only a few hundred feet when the sound of a loud explosion filled the air. Stunned, the two girls looked up as if the source of the explosion would be clearly visible in the air. No such luck. And a few moments later came a second explosion, fallowed soon after by military helicopters flying towards Chicago.

The sight of the helicopters broke through Kestryle's stunned brain. They had to get out of here, see what was going on in Chicago, and get to the lake.

She ran, hauling Sam and her books along with her. Only a few of Them crossed her path, but she dodged them with ease. When there was only one of the Undead, it was very easy to dodge them or runaway. Soon the parking lot came into view, but her brother's car was wrecked.

It didn't take long to spot the new car Markus had gotten and she jumped into the back of the truck, pulling Sam up with her. The two back packs fell to the bed and she relaxed finally. Carrying that much hadn't been easy especially when running for your life.

"Where's Bradly?" Markus asked, looking over the girls to make sure they were safe.

Sam started to sob, even as Justin held her, tears of his own in his eyes; he was just glad to have her back.

"He didn't make it, Markus. He died so me and Sam could get out safely."

"Bullshit!" Lauren yelled from the back seat. "He was stronger than both of you combined. You tripped him, or... or tricked him. He wasn't smart so I bet you tricked him to save your own asses.

"Lauren!" Markus turned to stare at his girlfriend in shock, but Sam spoke before he could utter another sound.

"You really think he's like that? He was a good person, he saved our lives, and all you can say is he was so stupid he got himself killed? You should be ashamed." Sam wiped her hand across her eyes, trying to dry her tears but ended up smearing her cheeks with blood. Justin pulled her hands away from her face and held them, glaring at the girl who was still in the truck cab.

"We need to go now. They won't stay away long and I'd rather not count on more explosions to keep them away from us." Kes said, trying to be gentile and failing.

"Yeah... Lauren, we'll talk about this later." Markus said, getting into the truck cab. He looked back once more to see Justin comforting Sam and Kes staring at the sky. As he pulled out of the school he was greeted with the sight of his city in chaos.