Chapter III: Reality at its Worst
The day was as cold as yesterday. When Xander woke up he didn't saw Hitomi's head on his shoulders. He immediately stood up and checked to see if the door was still barricaded, hoping it was. So he searched for her in the room.
"Hitomi… Hito…" he stopped and instantly turned back as he saw Hitomi dressing up with her back against him.
"Oh… don't look…" said Hitomi embarrassingly as she quickly wore her t-shirt.
"I….I'm sorry…I didn't really knew, I'm really sorry…" he was completely stunned – and now sweating profusely. "You can turn around now, don't worry, I guess you didn't see anything… right?" teased Hitomi.
"Yeah ye…"
As he turned around, his jaw dropped as if an angel had just descended before him.
"What's with that face? Do I look like one of the creatures? Hmm?" asked Hitomi and blew her cheeks like a balloon. Her cherry blossom hair blended perfectly well with her pinkish skin.
Xander was unable to produce a word; she looked like an anime character on one of his favorite shows. He could even imagine Hitomi wearing a cat's ears and tail.
"Is there something on my face? Or is it my hair?" She pinched a few strands and raise them to eye-level. "Honestly, it's artificial. I really like pink so I dyed it yesterday before going to school."
"Kawaii… Hitomi-chan…" The moment those words of praises left his lips, he quickly pinched his left arm and dabbed at those embarrassing trail of saliva. Thank goodness it wasn't Hitomi who brought him back to his senses.
"Ohh.. s..so..sorry. I… I w…was… Y..You.." Trying his best to evade her eyes, he looked around the room, pretending that the bland walls and three-inch-thick dust is more appealing than the goddess in front of him.
"Oh, my glasses! Wait I'll get it from the comfort room," said Hitomi, raising her pointing fingers at the level of her head and ran towards the comfort room.
"Yesterday… a bad dream, and now… I'm with a girl like her?"
Suddenly, a disturbing force was pounding on the door. Whatever that was pounding on it was frantic; the bangs lasted for a couple of seconds and seemed to be increasing in forcefulness. The door was going to give way. But it couldn't be a monster – monsters don't plea for their lives. "Please open the door! Someone! I'll get eaten! Help me!"
Xander's body reacted subconsciously. Sprinting to the door, he immediately pushed the cabinet. "Wait, I'll just push this cabinet aside!" he said. After a few seconds, there was an added force pushing the cabinet; he saw Hitomi's hand. They both smiled at each other. "Ready one…two…push!"
The cabinet was pushed aside; Xander immediately unlocked the door, giving entrance to the guy who almost hit his face on the ground after trying to pierce through. He looked like a fourth year college student; gasping as if he just finished a race. His shirt was splattered with blood and the left part of his shirt was torn.
"Spare us the introductions and thanks. Let's push this cabinet back so they won't get in," Xander instructed right away.
They sat with their back at the cabinet, catching their breath.
"Whew… that was close, you looked… like you've done lots of… dodging… from those things," said Hitomi, noticing the guy's torn shirt, as the infected ones kept slamming the door.
"This won't hold for another day if they keep slamming on it," uttered Xander.
"You two slept here?" asked the guy curiously.
"I…It's not like what you think," replied Hitomi defensively.
"A…anyway let's back the door up with the locker again," interrupted Xander while blushing.
With the door barricaded and fortified, the newcomer asked, "So how can we bust through those man-eating monsters outside?"
"There's actually a small window up there, I think it'll lead us outside of this building," answered Xander. "We should put that chair and table there, and open that window –"
"Easier said than done, but it's our only choice," said the guy straightly.
They piled up the sole chair and table in the vicinity. "I guess we'll do it the hard way," said Xander. "Hitomi shall go after you. She can step on my back, and you reach for her hand when you're outside. Ok?"
The guy and Xander clambered over the heap of furniture. It only took Xander's crossed arms for leverage and that guy was soon lifting the latch barring the window. "I don't see any of them," he informed the rest, his eyes keen on the surrounding. "I'll be going up now."
"Take this baseball club," said Xander while handing it over to the guy above. "You're next Hitomi," said Xander.
Suddenly there was a crack sound coming from the door, and the pounding became more violent.
"The door's not going to last," Hitomi cried anxiously.
"Hey there, what's your name? Come and help Hitomi to go up! Hey are you still there?" shouted Xander.
"Tch… He might have fled by himself. Anyway I'll try to bring you up more Hitomi."
Hitomi stepped on Xander's back and said, "Don't look up ok?" He tried to maintain his legs straight while bowing and holding Hitomi's feet.
……………………..
Dan was snoring; his left cheek rests at the arm of the chair, and saliva is dribbling out of his mouth. Meanwhile Eddie was sleep-talking, "Take that you flesh eating monsters," while punching the air. And then he lowered his fist again and snored.
Shiela almost laughed at his antics, but she forced herself not to. Then she approached Dan.
"Dan… wake up it's already morning." She pushed him back and forth.
"Uhh… w...wait mom… my pr…prof…fess...or t…told....me…" Dan mumbled in his snore and half-awareness.
"What am I going to do with these two," said Shiela irritably once again. She slapped Dan at the face.
"Ouch mom! You shouldn't ha…" He looked at his surroundings. "Oh yeah, I thought everything was just a dream," muttered Dan, finally awake and yawned. Shiela crept over to Eddie to wake him up.
"Hey Eddie, wake up," she rocked him back and forth.
"You can't kill me!" said Eddie while sleeping and almost hitting Shiela with his punch.
Shiela slapped Eddie in the cheek. "You almost hit me!"
"You've got some awesome dodging techniques there, Shiela," teased Dan, grinning.
"Well, you shut up and plan our grand getaway. Oh yeah, I forgot you can't think properly," teased Shiela.
"As a matter of fact I brought my VAN, so we could ride in it after finding Xander and Brenda," said Dan calmly.
"You think they are still alive? I won't bet on it…ouch! What's the matter with you?" asked Eddie.
Shiela slapped Eddie with a force unlike before. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she broke out, "Yes, they're still alive! We'll all survive this!"
"Shh… I can see two creepy looking students walking near this room. We should be talking silently for now," whispered Dan.
"You guys have weapons on you?" asked Eddie.
"I've got a book in my bag pack," replied Dan.
"How about you, Shiela?"
"I may not look like one, but I have a black belt in karate."
Eddie moved beside Dan and whispered, "I think we should stop making her angry, or it might be the end of our lives."
"What are you two talking about?"
"No nothing. It's just a man talk," replied Eddie winking at Dan.
"Whatever. We'll use that chair and whack them silly."
"Ok boss," said Dan immediately
"Don't call me that!"
"Ok master…"
"Oh whatever…"
"Let's first push this cabinet aside," instructed Eddie. All prepped up for a showdown, they armed themselves with plastic chairs.
"Everyone ready?" asked Shiela, then she opened the door. Eddie and Dan charged outside while carrying the plastic armchairs; they threw them to two infected students near the room and ran. The stairs was at the left side of the classroom, but there was an infected student ascending it. Eddie slammed his body to the infected student and it was pushed down. Dan on the other hand jumped from above the stairs, landing precisely on the infected student's neck and head, almost crushing its skull from the impact. "I knew leather shoes could be of some use," he mused.
"We are now at the third floor. I think Xander is at the first floor, judging by his curious nature, he must have gone down to see what was going on yesterday," said Shiela.
"What about Brenda?" asked Dan
"She might have followed Xander."
"What makes you think that?"
"Ahh… you boys are so insensitive, she likes him!"
"Whoa, that's news."
"One more floor," said Eddie as they go down the stairs.
On the second floor they saw three more infected students near them. Shiela hit once at the neck but it was ineffective and it got hold of her hand. Dan who was at the back looped his arms under its armpits to lock its movements.
"It's… a… move in the wrestling show… I watched…, now he can't move…" bragged Dan again. The infected student kept struggling when it twisted his head to almost biting Dan's face. "Whoa, that was close," said Dan nervously pushing his head backwards. Eddie crushed the head with the wooden pole he was carrying. The blood splattered on Dan's face.
"Ewww… you should've said you were going to hit it you know," said Dan with disgust, wiping off blood from his face.
"I couldn't have hit it if you didn't hold him tight," said Eddie. More infected students are now walking towards them, moaning. Shiela screamed.
..…..
Suddenly a hand grabbed Hitomi's hand. "I just checked if there are some of them loitering around," said the familiar voice.
"I almost thought you've left us!" shouted Xander maintaining his balance.
"Well, how can I let those monsters eat this beautiful girl here," he replied.
"What's your name anyway!" asked Xander.
"I'm Michael Finsley," answered the guy while trying to pull Hitomi up.
Hitomi was now outside offering his hand to Xander but he climbed down.
"Wait, I'll look for another baseball club," he said.
"Faster! They're almost in!" shouted Hitomi anxiously after seeing several hands penetrating the door.
"Don't worry, ah here's one." He immediately ran to where the chair and table were piled up and climbed on it. "Get this first," he said. After handing over the baseball club, he tried to reach for Michael's hands. "I…I can't reach your hand!" he said.
"Try to jump!" shouted Michael leaning more and stretching his hand further.
Xander jumped but unfortunately he slipped while landing at the chair and thus falling to the floor. "Ouch… Almost had it…"
"Are you alright down there?" asked Michael as he looked down from the window.
"Not really," answered Xander while standing up and gently touched his bottom. "I will just look for other things to step on". He saw three books and piled them on the chair.
"Hurry!" said Hitomi sounding so nervous.
Fear was enveloping Xander's heart, he even thought of telling them to leave him, but he remembered Hitomi's words: Don't say that, we are both going to survive this… let's have faith, ok?
Time was running out. The monsters were going to pour in.
"Xander, they're coming in!" said Hitomi her voice was more nervous than ever.
"Try to jump as if it's your last!" shouted Michael, just as anxious as the other girl.
Two infected students felt Xander's presence and were now walking towards him.
"There are coming for you, Xander!" shouted Hitomi.
Xander's heart was palpitating. He was afraid; he didn't want to die in a place like this. He still had lots of things to do. Not here… not like this. So silently, he prayed, "God, please give me strength… I…I don't want everything to end here."
Then, he jumped. He felt lighter than ever – Michael's hand was so close – and he grabbed it with all of his might, knocking over the chair and table.
"At last," said Michael. "Reach for Xander's hand." But then one of the infected ones got Xander's foot.
"It got my foot!" shouted Xander. It refused to release his limb no matter how hard he shook it.
"Kick it with everything you got, don't let it bite you," said Michael nervously. "I'll count to three and we will use all of our strength to pull Xander up, ok? "
"Ok..." said Hitomi, almost crying she grabbed Xander's free hand.
"Don't worry we'll save your boyfriend," said Michael smiling. "Ready, one… two…three!"
As Xander kicked the head of the infected student with all of his might, it let go of him and he was pulled up with the help of Hitomi and Michael.
Hitomi instantly hugged Xander who was almost out of air from exhaustion and from Hitomi's breathtaking hug. "I…I almost thought you were going to leave me…" cried Hitomi.
"So – sorry… I think I worry you too much…" Xander's blushed furiously but despite the heat rising from his cheeks, deep inside he felt relief – knowing that there was Hitomi to comfort him and wash those turmoil away.
"It's not that I'm jealous or want to end your romantic scene, but I think we will be into some fighting and running here… Look at the numbers of the infected students and school staff... I can even recognize that strict security guard. So what do we do next Lover-boy?" teased Michael looking back at the two. "Hey, hey... you two aren't even listening to what I have said... wait Lover-boy is turning violet. Loosen up your hug, miss," And he tried to break up the two.
Xander coughed and took a deep breath.
"I…I'm really sorry…" said Hitomi, bowing a couple of times.
"D...don't worry about it," said Xander while trying to laugh it off his face was still blushing. "I…I think we are at the back of the school building,"
Looking across, he saw a baseball field; it is usually crowded with screaming fans but now it looked like a cemetery with the dead rising.
"Lucky there's a bush beside this window," said Michael. "Let's catch our breath a bit. The passage leading to the entrance gates of this school is at our left side, but to get there, we need to pass those five infected students. Remember, their weakness is their heads."
Xander saw three students running through the field, fighting some infected zombies with mops and poles; one student was bitten, letting out a painful scream. He stood up and got his baseball club, Michael held his shoulders and said "It's a pity but he's done for."
"But if we save them now we will be a team with six people" said Xander clutching his baseball bat tight, but Michael punched him into the ground.
"You idiot! There's no way we're going to make it with only two third of us armed! I know it sucks but this is reality, so face it! We can't save everyone!"
Xander fell silent while touching his aching face. At the same time the two closest zombies felt their existence. "Wait you two…" said Hitomi and moved into their midst.
If you can't take that punch, you might as well offer yourself to those things," Michael spat as he held the bat up. "Hey missy," he called out to Hitomi, his eyes still flaming, "Your boyfriend's a wuss. I'll be protecting you from now on."
Michael attacked one of the infected students; he hit it in the head hard crushing its head and popping out its eyes. Unfortunately the other infected student lunged at him, pushing him down the ground; his only shield was the bat he was holding with his two hands, at opposite ends. The infected student bit the bat, trying to break it into two, and then suddenly its head was crushed. Blood splattered on Michael's face.
"Good timing…" The metallic whiff of blood was thick on his visage and Michael had to wipe it off with his shirt.
"Thanks for waking me up earlier," said Xander offering his hand to Michael.
"No problem, I'll give that to you anytime you want, let's proceed to the passage, some of them are now closing in onto us," said Michael smiling at Xander.
"Ok, lead the way," said Xander. They ran to the passage evading and hitting some of the infected students and upon reaching a staircase leading upstairs, Xander said, "Let's look for my friends upstairs. They might be looking for me too".
"How many times must I tell you? They're dead!" shouted Michael as he tries to hit an incoming infected student to them.
"My friend Dan has a van we could ride into, it's better than running across the town."
"Well you should've said that earlier!" He crushed the head of the infested student near him.
"Help!" screamed the girl upstairs. They immediately climbed upstairs to aid the screaming girl.
Xander recognized her; it was Shiela. Dan and Eddie were fighting off some infected students. "Shiela!" shouted Xander. She was lying down on the floor, trying to prevent the infected student from biting her. She was keeping it at a distance with an arm against its shoulder.
"Help me!" plead Shiela. As fast as he could, he ran and hit the infected student's head with his baseball club, crushing its head, splattering Shiela and the floor with blood. She pushed the body from its side. Now they have attracted almost all the infected students at the floor.
"Xander, thank God you are all right!" said Dan with a tone of relief. "We were just separated for a day and now you've got a girlfriend! Life's so unfair! What's her name?" he asked looking at Hitomi.
"No time for friendly chitchats, we are currently trapped," said Michael.
"Dan! Where did your park your van?" asked Xander immediately.
"Ground floor north from here," answered Dan.
More infected students were now closing unto to them at different directions.
