Chapter 10
30 days after infection
Jimmy Hopkins
Nothing could undo the knot in the pit of Jimmy's stomach. Things had gotten progressively worse at the academy, if that were even possible, all thanks to Crabblesnitch's paranoia. With the ever present bodies on campus, the ruckus at the boarded up school gates, the scare of the coming hordes and looming authority figures, it wasn't too surprising when tension erupted into outbursts of violence. And it wasn't just between cliques either; friends, siblings, lovers. It seemed like the school just wasn't big enough for a bunch of hormonal teenagers. The Headmaster, though, thought otherwise.
Afternoon classes were over and Jimmy and Peter were exiting the main building through the double doors. Despite their problems their day had been mostly uneventful which they found to be a pleasant change, that was until Ms. Danvers latest announcement. The boys walked down the steps sullenly.
"God, I cant believe this. Confined to our dormitories indefinitely." Peter sulked.
"I know, this is insane!" The bigger boy couldn't stand still, "As if things weren't already a powder keg of hostility, now that pompous ass is lighting the fuse. Ugh, what is that dick thinking?"
"Well, no use in getting all worked up I guess. Might as well spend our last day of being free-range outside doing, I dunno, sports or whatever." Jimmy stopped mid pace and gave him a befuddled look.
"Sports? Our last day of fresh air and you wanna spend it playing sports? What about Angie?" The brunette looked away uncomfortably.
"Angie.. she broke up with me last night."
"Aw, shit, Pete. Why didn't you tell me? You looked fine yesterday."
"I dunno, it was just so sudden. She didn't even tell me why, just said she needed to think things through..." Jimmy couldn't help but feel like a jerk for bringing her up, even if he didn't know.
"Jeez, I'm sorry man. Didn't know you felt that strongly about her." The small boy gave a heavy sigh.
"I don't even know. I mean, I like her but I don't, you know, love her or anything. At least I don't think I do. But it just hurts getting dumped by the first girl you ever kissed."
"Yea that sucks but hey, look at the bright side, at least you, uh, had some fun right?" Peter crossed his arms as a deep blush settled on his face.
"No... the only thing I ever touched was her hand. God, I'm gonna be a virgin forever!"
"Oh, geez, Pete-" They were suddenly interrupted by loud, repeating shots ringing through the air, even the mob at the other side of the gates quieted down.
"Wha- what is that?" Pete asked, fright evident in his tone.
"Sounds like gunshots." Jimmy responded, almost like an afterthought. He cocked his head slightly and listened, trying to pinpoint their location. "C'mon, we need to get to Harrington House." The boys made for the other side of the school, passing frightened and stone faced students gawking at the sky.
Running through the doors of the over glorified fraternity house, none of the preps were in the lobby or lower floors. Figuring they were already at the top, they confirmed their suspicions once the boys reached their destination. They were all peering over the ledge and looking to the town. Derby was in the center of the group with a pair of binoculars, Bif by his side.
"Hopkins. Come to watch the spectacle?" Derby said without turning. No one else took notice of them. The boys moved closer to the crowd, Jimmy pushing his way through while Pete tried to nudge people out of his way without much success.
"What d'you see Derby?" Jimmy asked once at the blonde's side.
"People in the streets... they're coming in through New Coventry." That wasn't enough to satisfy Jimmy. From the top of Harrington House they could see the buildings in New Coventry, Blue Skies and part of Bullworth Town; the view of the Vale completely obstructed by the school's main building. The streets were hardly visible. Whatever movement they saw was just a blur of dots.
"Let me see." Jimmy held out his hand expectantly but the blonde made as if he hadn't heard him. Not in the mood for the spoiled preps bratiness, Jimmy reached over and quickly snatched the binoculars out of Derby's hands.
He looked into New Coventry. Tall buildings blocked out most of the streets but he had a clear view of the newly opened railways. People slowly trickled in from there. Someone was apparently nearby, as they made a beeline for something blocked from Jimmy's view.
There was hardly any movement in Bullworth Town. He figured most people had run into their homes. The same went for Blue Skies. Since part of the tracks passed between it and the docks suspended on a bridge, he could clearly see the crazies running through it.
"Jimmy, whats out there?" Peter had finally reached his friend.
"They're here." Was all he could manage with a dry throat.
"They? Like from the news?" No one responded to that. Peter knew exactly who 'they' were but his head wasn't registering it. Jimmy slowly lowered the binoculars from his face.
"If you're quite done." Derby took back the item from Jimmy's limp hands and resumed his observation. Jimmy turned his back to the scene and leaned against the railing. He shook his head in despair.
"Shit..," He covered his face with his hands, "shit, shit, shit..."
"So, king of the school, how are you going to save us from this one, hm?" Derby chimed in a mocking tone. Jimmy was having none of it; he made a quick move for the prep, making Derby face him by forcefully grabbing the collar of his shirt. Jimmy pushed him against the railing and leaned him back menacingly. The others stepped back.
"What are you thinking Hopkins?" Derby hissed through clenched teeth but Jimmy went no further, instead he cocked an arm back, ready for the preps face. Derby glanced to his side where his supposed bodyguard stood aside watching. "Bif, you filthy mongrel! Get this lunatic off of me!" The red head was reluctant seeing how Jimmy was now just as big as him and could do serious damage to something other than his ego. In a panic he looked around for help and spotted Petey.
"Uh, you, head boy, do something to calm this psycho!"
"M-me?" Peter looked around helplessly. This was more of an issue for a prefect than a head boy. Luckily, Jimmy came to his senses and lowered his fist. He had proven his point, whatever that was, and pulled the prep leader away from the ledge before tossing him at Bif who caught the boy in his arms. Regaining balance, Derby was quick to push the red head away just as Ms. Danvers came on over the school's intercom.
"All students are to report to their dorm rooms immediately. Any student not accounted for will be hunted down and severely punished." They all exchanged nervous glances.
"C'mon Pete. Lets go." Jimmy and Peter made their way down the building, the clique following close behind.
Peter Kowalski
Laying down in his bed, paralyzed by fear in the dark, Peter listened to the repeating gunfire and screams out in the town. It was unnerving. He couldn't help but think of his parents.
Are they safe? Are they still here? Are they fighting to see me, their only son?
Once or twice he thought he heard them shout his name from the mob outside, but every parent out there was shouting their children's names at he same time so it just sounded like a jumbles mess. He wished he could be with them. Jimmy was lucky, he didn't have to worry about his mom, he knew where she was.
Peter felt alone, even in a room he shared with three other boys. He wanted to go and spend the night with his friend, no matter how gay it sounded, because Jimmy truly was by himself; but no one was allowed to leave their rooms, Seth patrolled the hallways and made sure of it. Instead, he poked at the cot above his.
"Parker.. you awake?"
"No." Of course he was. Who could sleep in all this chaos? Knowing he wasn't the only one made him feel a little better.
"We're all gonna die," Spoke a small, monotone voice, one of the new fifth graders, "they're gonna come in and kill us all. Every last one of us. In our sleep. And our mommas are gonna cry, if they're not the ones chewing on our guts." In a flash, any comfort Pete had felt vanished.