Hello everyone, Lazersword88 here ready to get this story underway. Sorry for not starting this story any sooner. I had my finals (hard) and I also burnt out on fanfiction a little bit to be honest. However I'm planning to change my writing style a bit to ensure my longevity as a fiction writer while allowing time for other things this summer. More on that at the end. Make sure to favorite, follow, review and PM me. Also let me know if there are any problems with the way I portray a character. Now sit back and relax as I take you on an adventure you're sure to remember…

2 days before the Outbreak

It was just another morning for Thomas Murphy as he woke up in his rundown New Orleans apartment, put on his police uniform and remade his bed. The room as a whole was very well maintained, but he couldn't afford much after she had left him. He stared at a picture of the family that was gone from him, a tear rolling down his face. It pained him much he truly missed them. Walking out of the apartment complex he unlocked an old green mustang and drove off, not wanting to be late for work. He had made a promise to make a difference to those inmates every day, and he wasn't about to break it. His stomach rumbled so he stopped at the local bakery for some beignets (an awesome fried and sugared donut like pastry). As he walked back to his car he threw some pocket change in the case of a man playing jazz on the street corner. He enjoyed it more than that new rock and rap garbage.

It was about a 30 minute drive out of the city to the New Orleans National Juvenile Penitentiary. Renovated from the remains of a little known French and Indian war British fort, the penitentiary is considered one of the most functional correctional facilities in the country. Because of its reputation the 1000 residents of the facility were made up not only of local teenage criminals, but out of state and international ones as well. Facility has a 4 to 1 inmate to guard ratio and only one person had ever successfully escaped alive, however it's only a rumor. The building is massive and state of the art, despite its old and militaristic appearance externally. The building has three floors and a basement. The basement is where all 500 inmate rooms are. In each artificially lit room one finds the basics for living such as a separate small closet with a toilet and sink, a bunk bed and a cheap desk. However other luxuries such as TVs, carpet or other things to decorate the bland room are absent. 480 rooms are divided in half to make girl and boy wings. Each 'hall' was comprised by a rectangular central hallway which had rooms both on the inside and outside of the rectangle. These were where the sane were held. There was another hallway that divided the two halls contained 20 rooms where the insane were kept. None of the inmates had ever been in there and the guards certainly didn't enjoy going there as well. The boys, girls and insane halls all fed into a stairwell which led to the other floors.

The first floor could only be opened with a key card from one of the police guards, school teachers or employees. On this floor is the exit to the prison. However just because you are able to snatch a key card from someone, which many have tried, you're not home clear. The first floor is very well guarded in order to keep the inmates from escaping and to protect valuable offices and paperwork at the facility. A prisoner trying to escape would have to deal with at the very least 50 armed guards. It was rumored that anyone who didn't cooperate with the teachers or was caught violating rules was kept there. However, it is unknown what happens to people on the floor. Everyone who has ever been taken there always can't remember a thing about it when they return.

The second floor is where the school complex is located. The stairs lead into another rectangular hallway. On the exterior of this rectangle were the classrooms where those who weren't insane were given a high school education, should they cooperate with the rules. Each classroom had 3 or 4 guards in the corners for the teacher's safety despite the fact that. The interior of the rectangular hall was the cafeteria and break room. In between classes and at meals you would find those who are kept here at the N.O.N.J.P. socializing in groups. The cafeteria was only open at certain times, but more on that later.

The roof floor was only for those with permission to go there, a highly sought out privilege amongst the juvenile prison's occupants. Only those who cooperated and were sane enough could access the top floor, which was by far the nicest place in the entire prison. This was a tool of the prison administrators to encourage positive behavior and change in exchange for more roof access. The roof was far above the murky swamp area that surrounded the prison and the warm Louisiana sun shown down on it brightly. The roof had a short gravel walking or running path, a basketball court, a tennis court and a lap pool in the middle since the prison gave basic swimming gear to those with roof access. Female prisoners would sometimes lay out in the grass next to the pool to tan, much to some of the boy's delight. A large metal fence surrounded the roof to make sure inmates wouldn't try to jump off to escape.

Thomas, or Murph as everyone seems to call him, thought for a moment about one of the prisoners he would have to punish for breaking the rules. Murph didn't like punishing the inmates, because he believed it worked against changing inmates for the better. Murph believed in second chances since he too was a thug in his younger years. He tries every day to befriend the inmates who will listen to him, despite other guards telling him not associate himself with 'filth'.

The rules were fairly strict at the prison. At 6:30 AM the lights in the rooms came on and a siren was played from the intercoms to awaken everyone. Shortly after the electronic cell doors would open. Then everyone would proceed to the second floor to get breakfast and socialize if they wanted to. From there by 7:15 classes would begin just like at any other high school, with the teachers coming in from the 1st floor entrance to teach classes. There was a break in the afternoon around 12 PM for lunch to be served. Then it was back to class until 2 PM. The time between the last class at 2 PM and when dinner was served at 6:30 the inmates were allowed to roam freely in the areas they were allowed to go. Some went back to their cells. Others went and visited the wings of the opposite gender. The few scholarly types stayed in the classrooms to study while some of the more social meet in the cafeteria. Those student inmates in the 5% in terms of GPA and without discipline issues (top 50 inmates for those you who don't feel like math) are allowed onto the roof. If one has the ability to go to the roof, they almost always take it. Each door is over watched by a camera so sneaking in extra people is almost impossible. Dinner is served from 6:30 to 7:30 at which time the classroom and roof's automatic doors become locked. It is advised to leave locked off rooms because the next morning the guards would find you and you would be punished should you be caught staying there. From 7:30 to 10 the 2nd floor is locked off and everyone must return to their cell along with their cellmate. This time is meant to study and do homework while the guards go around checking that the right people are in each cell. At 10 PM the lights shut off and most of the guards go home, leaving just the night watch and surveillance teams.

Murph walked in past the guards at the door and swiped his card to get into the stairway that led down the to the inmate's cells. There was one particular inmate that he had to see. The facility hadn't really come alive yet since the alarm that began the inmate's day hadn't rung yet. However being on time to Murph didn't mean being on time for his job. He had to make sure he could speak to her for a few minutes.

The girl's name is Denise Rowland. She was brought here from supposedly Philadelphia nearly two and a half years ago where she was charged with drug possession and assaulting an officer. Why Philadelphia couldn't house such a normal criminal was beyond Murph but he was about to question their reasons. However Denise suffered from a severe case of amnesia that happened right after she was caught, before she was transferred to the N.O.N.J.P. Denise has no recollection of any of her criminal past and is actually afraid of the person she once was. However, she accepts the punishment for what she has done without complaint. Murph still remembers the first day he first met the girl.

2 years and 4 months before Z-day

Murph pounded the desk again as tear rolled down his dark brown skin before reaching his whiskered beard. Of course he would be assigned night duty the day after his wife took his daughter and left him. He had been 'too dedicated to the inmates' in her eyes. He wasn't that sad about his wife leaving him but his daughter being gone hurt him deeply because of how much he cared for her. He had been trying to write out his thoughts in a notebook as he sat in a desk at the end of one of the long halls. However with this not calming him at all, Murph decided to take a rounds of the halls. As he neared the end of the women's hall, he could hear a faint sobbing sound echoing through the hall. Intrigued, he followed the sound until he reached a room in the very back corner of the hall where two long hallways connected. He peered in and saw a young girl who looked to be middle school age crying. The girl had long and wildly flowing hair with flame blue tips at the ends. She was fairly big and stocky for a girl her age being overly muscled, starved looking and covered in tattoos all across her visible arms and legs. However the most noticeable feature of the girl to Murph was her bright green eyes, the same color as his daughter.

Murph stood outside and let the girl cry as he watched for a moment or two more before gently tapping on the cell bar. The girl looked over to the bulky bald headed man in shock. "What do you want?" she asked, thinking she was going too punished somehow.

"If you need someone to talk to, I can…" Murph began.

"How could you know anything about what's bothering me?" the girl muttered, tears still streaming down her face.

"Trust me, I've had a lot of bad things happen to me too recently" Murph said as he pulled out a key to unlock the cell door and sat down on the floor next to the girl, who instinctively slid away a little. "Sometimes it's best just to talk to someone about it and get what's bothering you off your chest".

"How the hell could someone like you understand a prisoner's problems?" the girl said loud enough that Murph had to quiet her in order to keep the others from waking up.

"I can't justify how the other guards act and I know I can't just magically convince you that I have good intentions, but maybe it will help if I told my story" Murph said.

"Ok…" the girl said, unsure of what this man was here for.

"Two days ago, I was living the life of any average family man" Murph began. "I had a beautiful wife and a daughter to match. My wife and I had been arguing a lot, but at the time I was sure I would work things out. Even more then her though, I spent almost all my time outside of work with my daughter. When I got home last night my wife, daughter and savings were all gone. All I got in consolation was a note that read 'Maybe you should have spent the time you did on the inmates with me instead'".

"I'm sorry to hear that happened…" the girl said, embarrassed at her prior behavior. "How do you get over something like that?"

"I'm not sure how…" Murph said, looking down as a single tear rolled down his face in the lightless room. "However, you remind me of her. You have her eyes".

"Trust me, I'm probably nothing like your daughter" the girl said as her bright green eyes looked her company in the face.

"So tell me, how did you end up in a place like this?" Murph asked. "It's not like the average inmate here to be crying in the night".

"I couldn't tell you and it's not because I don't want to" the girl began. "Apparently I was brought here on assault and drug possession from a city called Philadelphia. However, for some reason I had a severe case of amnesia and memory loss right before I was transferred here. I have no recollection of who I was before, what I was doing that got me arrested or why I have all these tattoos" the girl continued, admiring the body art all over her. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think about myself. I have these weird, troubling dreams and I feel so alone here…"

"You shouldn't be afraid of the other inmates" Murph said. "Not all of them are bad people. Most just made a few poor decisions and are trying to atone for it. What's your name by the way?"

"I'm Denise. What about you?"

"Thomas Murphy, one of the police security guards. You can just call me Murph. Here, I want you to have this" Murph finished as he handed Denise the pen and notebook he was carrying.

"What is this?" Denise asked puzzled.

"It's a notebook" Murph said. "Use it to write down anything you see in your dreams or that you remember. Sometimes keeping a journal can help you make sense of things" Murph finished as he stood up and walked towards the door to unlock it.

"Wait! When will I see you again?" Denise said as she reached for the man now outside the cell.

"I can be here every day before unlock if you want" Murph said with a smile that comforted Denise.

"Thank you so much" Denise said, her eyes watery and hopes lifted.

"No, thank you" Murph said, walking away with tears in his eyes as well.

Back the present

Murph had to be there to talk to the girl that was like a daughter to him. Arriving at her cell he saw her sitting on the floor in a Zen like state with her eyes closed. Upon hearing his footsteps her face brightened and stocky girl sprung to her feet. She had cut the long sleeve shirt of this set of prison garb down to a tank top that revealed her muscular arms and six pack abs. Her pants were cut into shorter shorts which exposed much of her legs. Around her neck was a picture pendant which now held a picture of her and Murph which they had taken a while back. Murph unlocked the cell and sat down next to her.

"How did you sleep?" Murph asked after a short silence.

"I saw him again" Denise said, handing Murph the journal.

Murph read through it and then handed it back to her.

"You know you don't have to show me this, right?" he said, putting a hand on the girl's broad shoulder.

"I know" Denise said with a small smile. "I trust you though".

"You have any idea who he might be?" Murph asked, looking at the troubled girl.

"He must have been someone important to me, I just do don't remember for what reason" the girl said as her longer black her twisted and turned slightly from the AC unit in the background.

"So how's your new roommate?" Murph asked.

"Why don't you ask her yourself!" a voice said, now standing right behind Murph.

The other girl viciously kicked Murph in the head and he tumbled to the ground, stunned. The girl tugged at Murph's belt and removed his key card. Denise dived and grabbed the girl's ankle as she ran for the still unlocked cell door. "Ai, think about what you're doing!" Denise pleaded.

The girl kicked Denise of and stomped on her face. "Don't get in my way, you kiss up!" Ai said, her violet tinted grey eyes filled with rage.

Ai quick got out of the cell and bolted away. Denise got up slowly and dashed to Murph's side, who was doing the same. "Are you ok?" Denise said with a worried expression.

"I'm fine" Murph said with anger visible across his features.

He picked up the radio on his belt and press some buttons. "We've got an escape attempt, basement level" he said angrily. "The escapee has my card".

"Sending help down immediately" an older voice replied before Murph put the radio back.

Murph turn to the cell door to give chase, but as he did he felt Denise's hand on his shoulder. "Promise me you won't hurt her too much" Denise said, a concerned look in her eye.

Upon seeing Denise's expression, Murph's rage lessened. "I promise" he said before leaving the cell and giving chase.

Down the hall

Heads from behind the bars popped up in attention as a short lone girl with medium black hair that ran out of the back of a black beanie dashed down the girl's wing. Ai knew she could probably make it to the first floor before the alarms but then she would be staring down at least 20 guards all by herself. Besides, she had made a promise to someone to escape together. The only person she really considered her friend. Out of everyone in the prison, she had to escape with Adam Conway.

Well that was an exciting way to leave things for this chapter! Now on to some more serious news about my stories. I've decided to shorten the length of my chapters. While this may sound bad at first, it will have many good side effects. First, I will be able to publish daily. I know you guys enjoy not having to wait long for new content so this should be a good thing. Second and probably more importantly, it will be easier for me to proof and therefore higher quality when released.

Now let's move on to more of my future plans. First, chapters in this story will be about 1-2k words in length. This chapter was a bit longer since I had to describe the prison. If you think it isn't dark enough of a story yet, it will get there soon. This chapter we met Denise and Murph, while the next chapter will focus around Jack, Adam and Ai. Subsequent chapters will cover introducing two characters per chapter. Most likely the two characters will be roomed together. Of course previously introduced characters will be around but in more minor roles for now. Once we get through all the intros, the real fun begins (evil smile).

Tomorrow, for those of you who are fans of my other H.O.T.D. story, I will be releasing that arc finale I've been promising you for the better part of a month (hopefully). After that chapter, that story will finally have zombies and switch to the 1-2k per chapter format like this story. Also I plan on starting a third story, this time an OC story in the TWEWY (The World Ends With You for all those unfamiliar, go play it cause it's a great game). This is what my rotating publishing schedule will look like.

Every first day I publish a new chapter of Dead Delinquents.

Every second day I publish a new chapter of Dancing through Flames.

Every third day I publish a new chapter of my new story (title pending). Also Keeper of Armageddon, my co-author, publishes a short half chapter to chapter for Dead Delinquents (btw the guy's a boss) told from the point of view of his OC. It should be an interesting different perspective and should totally kick ass, as should my sections.

Now for a new idea. At the end of each of my chapters I'll do a top ten list so that you guys can get to know me better. You guys can request 10 tens for me to do and I'll pick one from reviews or PMs. Since we're all here for H.O.T.D., I thought I would countdown my top ten favorite H.O.T.D. characters. Mind you, I haven't read the manga.

10) Takashi Komuro. Before you slam your computer on the floor, hear me out. Takashi is one of the worst choices for main character out of the entire cast. He looks like your average anime protagonist and he doesn't have much of a personality or anything defining about him. His only character depth comes from other characters.

9) Rika Minami. We don't know much about her yet. That's both the best and worst thing about her. Other than that she falls into a laughable amount of anime tropes.

8) Alice Maresato. Sure she is a side character, but her role in the show shouldn't be understated. She adds a sense of morality to the otherwise immature zombie romps. Bonus points for her introduction being one of the most powerful moment's in the anime as a whole.

7) Rei Miyamoto. I find her to be a rather plain character. Sure, the whole thing with Shido and her father is interesting but other than that she just goes around acting largely immature. She is clinging to Takashi one minute, complaining about Hisashi's death the next.

6) Saya Takagi. Finally some good characters! Saya is bratty, smart, annoying, clever and overall a very dynamic character. I just wish they didn't over sexualize her… oh wait who am I kidding this is H.O.T.D. we're talking about! You can't even get all the episodes on YouTube because of episode 7.

5) Shizuka Marikawa. I find this stereotypically over the top blond to be very likable and adds much needed humor to the piles of gore and fan service in this show.

4) Koichi Shido. You are probably having some kind seizure at this point. How can you put Shido so high is what I hear the intrepid readers screaming. He's one of the most universally hated anime characters. But that's what's so good about him. While Issac an Miria from Baccano!, Rider from Fate/Zero and Edward Elric from the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise are all tied for being the most likable in my mind, Shido alone takes the cake for being so hated, and that's a sign of a memorable character.

3) Hisashi Igo. Unless your name is Chuck Norris, Jet Li or Batman, karate chopping zombies isn't too smart. However jokes aside, you have to think if there was more to Hisahsi. His death will have a lasting impression on at least two of the main characters and I have a feeling there might not know about Hisashi and Rei's relationship that's unknown at the time. For now we can only speculate…

2) Kohta Hirano. Kohta's awesome. He's a unique character with an equally unique personality. The team probably wouldn't have made it out of the school alive if not for him.

1) Saeko Busjima. Was there ever any doubt. Her personality is interesting and a sharp contrast to the light and immature personalities the rest of the team has. She singlehandedly defines Takagi's character and the episode focused around her is in my opinion the best in the series so far. Also the trauma she has and her backstory are both the most detailed of all the characters, making her the deepest one in the whole show. She is also the inspiration behind countless OC characters that I have gotten.

Anyway that's it for me today. Lazersword88, signing out.