The end of the school year. Everything was coming to an end, while still just beginning. There were parks and renovations all over Zombietown. In a couple days, they would be tearing down old Seabrook Power to build a new cheer pavilion. And the foreman of the demolition was a zombie—Zevon Necrodopolis, Zed's father.
It was the weekend. Zed was hanging out with his little sister and her friends at the beach, making the best of the boring times. One of his best friends, Bonzo, was away at cheer camp. It was the first time zombies were even allowed on the cheer team, so it was pretty epic. But since Bonzo was away and Eliza was…somewhere, it was just Zed and his little sister, Zoey.
Zed didn't mind playing with the little kids. It was a nice way to pass the time. Their favorite game was 'Zombie Hunt,' where Zed was a zombie and he chased all the kids around. Like tag. He let the kids bury him in the sand and he'd 'rise from the dead' just for them, playing the game four or five times until he got a text from Eliza asking him to meet her at Seabrook Power.
Zed managed to round up his sister from her friends. Before he could tell her they had to leave, though, Zoey excitedly chirped, "Zed! Emily Frank invited me over for a play date!" What a happy coincidence.
Zed laughed and lifted her up. "You should probably change then," he said.
"No way! We're going in her pool! Isn't that so cool!"
"Very," he chuckled. "Where's her mom then?"
"Over under that umbrella!"
Zed walked through Seabrook Power, making sure to stop by and see his dad and update him on his afternoon plans—whatever Eliza needed him to do, pick up Zoey from her friend's house, then he'd go out to help Bonzo with something. Cheer camp would be back that afternoon and Bonzo had a special surprise (that Zed and Eliza planned) to ask a cheerleader he liked to Prawn—Seabrook High's supersized prom that, for the first time ever, would be open for everyone.
It only took a few minutes of wandering the old power plant to find Eliza, up on the second level, protesting. She'd been showing up for weeks with crowds of zombies, trying to get the demolition canceled. As the days drew closer, though, less and less people showed up. Zed felt indifferent towards the whole ordeal. Sure, it was the birthplace of all zombies, but if it meant being accepted into society, Zed was all for it.
"Hey, hey! Ho, ho! This demolition has got to go!"
Zed rolled his eyes, stopping next to his exceptionally annoying best friend. She moved her speaker from her mouth, whipping her head up to him. "They can't tear it down, Zed!" she exclaimed, her eyebrows furrowed together. She looked more desperate than she ever had. Like she was losing hope, but she wouldn't give up the fight. She never did, though.
Zed shrugged despite sympathizing with her. Sure, he was sad about Seabrook Power, but it meant good things for zombies. And that's what they needed. "Seabrook Power hasn't worked for years," he reminded her.
"It's an important part of zombie heritage."
"This is progress, Eliza."
She rolled her eyes. "That sounds great, but what's the price we have to pay? We're destroying our history! Show some emotion!"
"I am!" he argued. "Like, I'm stoked for Prawn! Aren't you?"
Eliza glared at him and he took a step back, slightly afraid. She brought her megaphone to her mouth and shouted down at the demolition crew, "I'm loud and proud to be a zombie!"
"Sometimes too loud." Zed muttered. Eliza shot him another glare and he flinched, afraid of her wrath. When she didn't attack him, he relaxed his shoulders and went on. "Ease up, E! People want zombies around! Soon, Z-band tech will get so good that zombies will blend right in."
"I dream of a day we ditch our Z-bands and let our inner monsters roar." She turned back to the demo and roared in her megaphone. Zed's eyes widened and he grabbed her arm, dragging her away before either of them could get in trouble.
"Eliza, we're so close to finally being a part of Seabrook! People aren't scared of us! We could actually blend in someday." he rushed. "We're making zombiekind cool not feared."
"That's great and all, but we shouldn't have to hide who we are to be accepted! You know this Zed! We can't give up!"
Zed sighed. There was no getting through to her sometimes. Progress—no matter what kind—was good.
"All I know is that my dad finally had a job where he's in charge. We had bread yesterday, that wasn't expired. If that's not progress I don't know what is."
"But—"
Both their Z-Bands buzzed, lighting up white with a reminder. The same Z-Bands that, a year ago, were only there to keep them from zombying out. They now had internet and could remind them of appointments and even receive texts.
Eliza looked at him and said, "I gotta go finish."
Zed stuck his tongue out at her. "Me and Zoey did my part last night."
"Zoey and I."
"Whatever. Just—two o'clock?"
"You're not gonna help me?"
"I'm going to try on suits for Prawn, 'cause unlike you, I'm actually excited."
"You don't even have a date!"
"Neither do you, and therefore you're my date."
Eliza groaned and rolled her eyes. "Ugh whatever. Just meet me at my dad's shop so we can get everything together."
Zed nodded. "Alright."
He held out his hand for her and she rolled her eyes. "Ready for a new day?" he asked.
She shook her head but smiled, finishing their handshake. "Ready for a change." She grinned. "See you later."
"Bye!"
Zed spent an hour at the 'Dezzie's Dapper Dudes,' the only zombie formalwear store available. And even better, they were having a big blow out sale for Prawn. Unfortunately, none of the gently used jackets were really his taste. Prawn was the coming weekend, he'd have to find something soon.
In the meantime, he walked quickly to Seabrook and got Zoey from her friend's house, taking her back home so she could finally shower and change. He changed himself, making a quick lunch for him and his sister, then ran with her to 'Flight of the Living Dead: Travel Agency' where Eliza's dad worked.
Zoria at the front desk smiled at them and waved. "Hey Zed! Hey Zoey!"
"Hi Ms. Morana!" Zoey chirped.
"Is Eliza here?" Zed asked.
"She's in the back, building some new contraption or whatnot." Zoria waved towards the employee store room. "You two hungry? I've got some candy if you want."
Zoey jumped up and down. "Yes please!"
Zed laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the back room. "No, we just ate lunch, but thank you."
"Aw but Zed—"
"Come on Zoey."
Zoey whined but followed him through the front room. They went through the door and Zoey let go of his hand, running through the little office. Eliza was on the floor in the back, grease and motor oil on her face while she tightened the screws on the little box. Her face was screwed in annoyance; Zed grabbed his sister around her middle before she could run to Eliza, right before Eliza groaned and threw her screw across the room.
"Stupid stupid stupid!"
Zed laughed and set Zoey down, walking towards her. She looked up at them and huffed. "Zed, grab the wrench and do this so I can be done with this bullsh—"
"Okay!" Zed interrupted. He eyed his sister warily. "No cursing!"
Zoey rocked on her heels, her head tilted. "What were you going to say?"
Zed rolled his eyes, dropping onto the floor. "Don't worry," he told her.
He grabbed the discarded wrench and took the gadget from Eliza. He didn't miss when Eliza whispered to Zoey, who in turn asked, "What does that mean?"
Zed shot them both a look. "Zoey, come help me with this," he said. "And ignore Eliza, she's insane."
"Okay!"
"Hurry up!" Eliza shouted. "They're gonna be rolling through any minute!"
"Or they could've already passed," Zoey pointed out.
Zed rolled his eyes, twisting the lightbulbs into place. "Don't distract me, we aren't too late," he told them. "Bucky updated his Snapchat story when they left."
"Why do you follow Bucky?" Eliza asked.
"Oh my Z, shut up," Zed groaned. "And hold the ladder tight! I don't wanna fall."
Eliza grumbled under her breath.
They were in the middle of the only road that went out there. Bonzo had asked for their help in asking his sort-of-kind-of girlfriend, Bree, who was with him at cheer camp. Bonzo had wanted to do something simple and small for Bree. Then Zed and Eliza got involved.
"Zed! Hurry up! I can hear the bus!" Zoey exclaimed, probably bouncing.
Like clockwork, Zed heard the sparks of one of the traps go off. He set to work, twisting the lightbulbs faster. The bus had to be getting closer, and if it was, then they'd seen the beginnings of the best Prawnposal in all of Seabrook High's history.
"Zed!"
His head whipped around in time to see the cheer bus speeding towards him, piloted by their distracted mascot, Shrimpy. Time seemed to slow, but the bus hit the ladder at full force, the only sound louder than the crash being Zed's scream as he went flying onto the roof of the bus.
He managed to grab a hold of the little nub on top, swinging around as the bus swerved on the road. "Don't die don't die don't die don't die!" He screamed, his fingers burning as he held on with everything he had.
The bus swung and bounced, flying off the road and into the forest. The screams of the cheerleaders ripping through the open windows, breaking the tranquility of the woods. Zed lost his grip and slipped over the edge. He screamed harder, fingers stretching at the edges of the rooftop.
Then he's rolling in the dirt and through the bushes. He grunted and groaned, cuts and scratches covering his skin until he finally came to a stop. He rolled onto his back, throwing an arm over his face. Off in the distance, the bus crashed—actually smashing into something and stopping. He was going to be in so much trouble for this. Another step backwards for zombiekind. Zed was always messing things up, for zombies, for his classmates, for his family.
Zed bolted upright. "Zoey!"
She could be anywhere in these woods by now. He never should've brought her with him for that stupid plan that didn't even work!
"Zoey! Where are you!" he shouted, frantically jumping over roots and branches and bursting through bushes and trees.
He tripped over a root and went crashing to the ground, rolling down another hill. His arms blocking his face, grunting and screaming. He hit the bottom of the hill and sprung through the air. He spun, screaming, cursing the stupid zombie ability that strangely made them bounce or whatever the hell it was.
He hit the ground and groaned. He definitely broke something. And he wanted to throw up. Oh god.
He forced himself to his feet, clutching his bruised or broken ribs. Where was he? This part of the forest was just, it was just trees and birds. He was lost.
Something rushed through the trees behind him, like an animal. Except it was too fast to be any normal forest creature. He spun around, seeing a flash of darkness dart through the trees. Definitely not an animal. Something else burst through the trees on his other side. Whatever it was was surrounding him.
"Who's there?" he asked.
There was more rustling, coming from all directions. Zed whipped around, hoping that Zoey was far away and out of danger.
Just as suddenly as they had come, all the rustling and running ceased. Zed froze, his ears picking up what sounded like heavy feet stomping on a rock. He turned toward the noise, his eyes landing on a white haired figure, perched on a rock.
The sun hit her, shining through her long, thick, white hair, rustling through the wind. Her skin was pale but shimmered in the light, perfectly contrasted against the dark shirt and fur over her shoulders. She locked eyes with him and Zed swore his heart was beating.
And then she howled.
He swore her eyes glowed yellow. Her howl rattled the whole forest. And then she was gone.