Melissa and I continue through the school. The sounds of people screaming, and the sudden silence causes the bones within my body to completely freeze over. Even though I can't see what's going on, it doesn't take much imagination to put two and two together.

Melissa leads the way with her bow drawn as I keep an eye on our backs. The bow she is using is just a standard longbow. There is nothing eliminating the tension, and she is constantly feeling the force of the draw string pulling against her fingers. I can't keep an arc for more than ten seconds, and Melissa has been holding onto the same draw for at least a minute.

I peek around the corner and see three shamblers wondering around the filthy corridor. On the floor above, there are grunts of some people in a struggle. A scream breaks out, and it hits me.

"That's Jessica! Come on!" Melissa says as she takes off.

We head up the stairs adjacent from where the shamblers are. They hear our footsteps and limp towards us. I turn around and push a heavy folding table over the stair's edge. The object lands on our pursuers, and they roll back down the stairs. The table pins the three of them to the ground, and they constantly wiggle around and try to get the heavy object off.

Melissa reaches the top of the stairs and releases an arrow. A shambler groans, and the sound of a body hitting the ground echoes throughout the building. She notches another arrow and fires. The draw string pops Melissa's leather vambrace with a solid THUD! I know for a fact that one's got some power behind it.

Melissa rushes forward and lets me by. Eric and Emily are fighting off a small group all by themselves as Jessica tries to stay out of the conflict. Melissa crouches and releases another arrow. The blunt tip flies all the way across the building and strikes a shambler trying to attack Emily. The arrow enters the guy's cheek and inhibits him from nicking his teeth together. All he is biting is the fiberglass shaft as he slams his mouth together.

"I'm headed in!" I inform Melissa as I grab a fire extinguisher off the wall.

Hopefully this thing still works. I work the hose out and squeeze the handle. White foam jets out and cakes the back of one of the shamblers. The current is strong enough to trip him up. I let off the nozzle and smack him in the back of the head. The entire piece of metal jiggles in my hand as it attempts to get back up. I slam it down one more time, and he stops moving.

"Stay away from me!"

I look over and see that Jessica has a trash can lid blocking the face of a shambler trying to attack her. The girl flails her arms and tries to get around the metal object separating her and Jessica. Emily charges over and strikes the shambler in the face with a polished chair leg. Wood explodes within her hands as she tosses the short nub on top of the blanket of splinters.

The girl falls over. Melissa and I run over and stomp her chest to the ground. We draw our bows back and strike her in the face with an arrow at the same time. Mine hits her in the neck while Melissa's hits the right eye. We re-notch and fire again. She quits struggling as four arrows stick out of her face.

"I think it's clear…" Eric sighs as he flicks a stream of blood off of his steel pipe.

Sweat pours down my face and fatigue eats at my body. Each time I swallow, it feels like a sand blaster is ripping my throat apart. Rocks form on the tip of my tongue as I pant and try to forget that I'm dehydrating.

"Thanks for the save." Eric says.

"Don't mention it."

Jessica is still sitting on the ground in shock of what just happened. Blood stains her white uniform as she constantly rocks back and forth. The look in her eyes say it all. She just stared death in the face and survived, but she doesn't know how to deal with it.

"Jessica?" Emily says as she bends down.

Jessica reaches out, grabs hold of her and sobs. Emily has no idea what to do as she just hugs her back. I know for a fact Jessica has lived a very sheltered life and seeing this all at once is going to scar her mentality.

Everyone else, we have already killed shamblers. Melissa and I have even killed other humans, so we have already endured some of the emotional stress. Although we may never become accustomed to what is going on. Even if this blows over in a couple months, everyone that actually managed to survive will have to live with the consequences forced onto us by this cruel reality.

Out of all the survival guides and manuals I've read, this is going to be the new world from now on. Society will collapse, morals will decay, food and water will be the new economy and everyone will become monsters. I know because I'm already one.

A nearby door opens and me and Melissa ready ourselves. Miss Fleming as well as a young girl with brown hair exit a nearby classroom. She pushes the girl behind her and throws up her hands.
"Wait! It's me!" Miss Fleming says as she holds up a bag of medical supplies. She doesn't seem to be showing any signs those shamblers have been displaying.

"Have you been bit?" I ask.

"What? No! We were just hiding!"

I stay out of range and look for any bleeding spots. Fleming's outfit is spotless and I move on to the little girl. She clenches her teeth and holds onto Miss Fleming tight as I look at her neck. Her entire body is clean and blood free too.

"I'm sorry. It's just…"

"It's okay Matt. I understand." Miss Fleming says.

"Would you have any idea what is going on?" Eric asks.

Miss Fleming shakes her head no. "All I know is if you get bit, you become one of those things."

Jessica sniffles and wipes the sorrow from her eyes, "Those things are completely blind and rely solely on sound."

"She's right. Jessica tested it by throwing a water bottle all the way at the other end of the hallway. Next thing we know, several of those things showed up." Eric states.

I gnash my teeth. The image of that white lens growing over Samantha's eyes as she tittered on the edge of becoming a shambler burns itself into my mind. That must be why they are blind. Those that have completely turned have a dull sense of pain if they can be shot in the heart with an arrow and barely flinch. If the shamblers lost two of their five major senses, then that must mean they have extremely sharp hearing.

"I don't mean to interrupt the science lecture, but could we please get out of here?" Emily snaps.

"Emily's right. We need to get out of here." I add.

"What about the others?" The younger girl asks.

"If they want to come, then they are going to have to catch up." I reply as I put the bow back over my body. Since we have a moment of peace, it's time to look for supplies. Anything I can do to make explosives will only benefit us in the long run. I head into the science room.

"What are you looking for Matt?" Eric asks.

"Potassium nitrate, table sugar, baking soda, stuff to make fuses."

"What do you need that for?"

"Smoke bombs, bleach grenades, molotovs. It won't be military grade, but it will be enough for our cause." I say as I open up the drawers and take whatever is useful. It's simply amazing how much stuff is just lying around.

I take some of my food out and give it to Eric as I put sealed containers of potassium nitrate, some strikers and several packs of flint in my bag. He can be the ration provisioner while I carry the stuff needed for crafting.

Melissa can be in charge of water and archery. Emily's responsibility has yet to be decided, but I figure she will carry whatever we need. Whether it be food, medical supplies or stuff I need for crafting.

Eric stuffs the cans in his backpack while I gather up the potassium nitrate and baking soda. There is no sugar or stuff to make fuses, but that won't be hard to come by. Almost every place is going to have those two objects.

"Alright. Let's go." I say.

When we find a good place to stop where I can take my time and build without the fear of shamblers, I'll make a couple smoke bombs. Maybe a pipe bomb or a bleach grenade if I can get everything required to make one.

"Okay Eric. Here's what I want; You are in charge of food, Miss Fleming can carry medical supplies since she was a paramedic at one time. I'll carry tape, nails and stuff to make explosives, Melissa can carry water. As for Emily, she can carry whatever is useful like ammo." I say.

"Who put you in charge?" Emily snaps at me.

"I don't hear you coming up with any solutions." I sneer as I reach into my backpack's side pocket and pull out a survival guide to the apocalypse.

This thing will be my reference point, and my personal diary until I get accustomed to the new world. Not only that, I want to bail as soon as I can, but to do that, Melissa has to come, and I need to know how to take care of three people when I go get my brother.

Unlike everyone else, Melissa can actually be trusted. She's really good with a bow so she will be amazing at hunting when we get to the countryside. I have a friend that works on a ranch close to the Texas state line. Once I get the gear to make the trip, that's where I'll be going.

Everyone else? In order to avoid guilt, I'll take them to a safe place that isn't a quarantine zone. I mean, Eric was my friend at one time. I don't owe him anything but I'd feel bad if he got himself killed out here. As much as I don't like Emily either, same goes for her. Miss Fleming, Jessica and the younger girl can stay with Eric as a trade for my freedom.

"What's your name?" Melissa asks the small brown-haired girl.

She isn't tall or well developed like Melissa, but she is kind of cute. I'd say she's a freshman. Maybe a middle schooler that had a high enough grade point average to take a couple high school courses because her uniform is grey rather than black or white.

"Lauren. I'm… an eighth grader…" She sniffles.

The poor girl. She probably came to class expecting a normal day, and this happened. I'm kind of surprised she survived this long. At such a young age, they are the first to go.

"How did you survive this long by yourself?" Emily asks.

"I… hid under a table and Miss Fleming found me. Those things…they started eating my classmates…"

Miss Fleming cradles Lauren in her arms as Lauren breaks down emotionally. Her soft sobs and pleas for some kind of serenity upsets me. She reminds me of those orphans I'd see on the streets when I'd go out to make sales.

They would sit up on the stoops of the orphanage and contemplate on whether life was actually worth living. Every time I'd see those kids, it didn't matter what my take was going to be, I'd find the ice cream man and give him my entire take so I could try and make those kids happy.

"Melissa, keep a lookout."

I take out a small pan and light up a Bunsen burner with a striker. The blue flame licks the inside of the metal and turns it a bright orange color. I have no idea what's living on the surface of the pan, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

I open a bottle of water and pour it in. Steam hisses as it ruptures from the water that hasn't evaporated. Bubbles form at the bottom and layer on the wake of the water. Frothy heat combined with the power of cayenne pepper scalds the back of my esophagus as the water travels down.

The fluid washes over my lungs and causes my entire body to heat up as it settles in my bubbling stomach. I could have waited for the water to cool down, but one: I was thirsty and two; this is a theory that needs to be proven. People affected tend to turn fairly quick.

"Melissa, I'm sure this is safe to drink, but if it looks like I'm going to turn, kill me. I don't want to be a shambler."

"Matt!"

"It's okay Eric! People turn in a matter of minutes! If I don't turn in the next hour, then we know this water is safe to drink after boiling!" I reply as I take my pack off and sit in the corner of the room.

"No! It's not fair for him to do this alone! If he's going to do this, I'm doing it too!" Lauren states as she takes a drink herself.

"Lauren!" Miss Fleming tries to stop her, but it's too late. She's already swallowed it.

Well this was unexpected. I don't think anything will happen, but one can never know in these uncertain times. I guess if we do start to show symptoms and Melissa can't bring herself to kill us, they can just leave. All of my stuff is on the table.

"So, tell me, did you do this because you care about me, or because you were thirsty?" I ask Lauren.

She wipes her mouth and exhales a breath of white vapor, "A little of both."

She gives a little smirk and sits down beside me. If worst comes to worst, we can lose our humanity together. As of now, all we can do is wait. I close my eyes and think about the past. A time where things were much simpler. Where the most difficult decision one could make was trying to determine whether or not to go to the movies, or where to eat out.

The memory of when my brother and I were both grounded and weren't allowed to go anywhere for the weekend comes to mind. I'd never felt more humiliated when I had to tell Samantha that I couldn't leave because of my brother.

"What's funny?" Eric asks.

"Oh. I was just thinking back to a time Adam and I had to share a pizza because he wouldn't return a magazine."

"Oh Jesus." Eric giggles.

"Disgusting." Emily states.

"Ah, but you clearly want to hear the rest."

"Sickened, but curious." Jessica answers.

"Continue…" Emily sighs.

So Adam sneaks into my room and takes my favorite magazine. Fair enough. The problem is, he doesn't bring it back, so I go to his room and ask about it. He tells me mom had already found and destroyed it. Which was bullshit. Adam has a habit of borrowing stuff and never returning it. So I rip up the room and find it in his pillow case, and he managed to tear one page…"

"And I'm guessing it was your favorite?" Eric finishes my statement.

"YES! Out of the entire book, that idiot managed to destroy the best image! I'm pissed, he's pissed, and we start cussing. Well Mom comes upstairs and proceeds to break her broom by smashing both of us over the head. She then told us that we better have money because Adam and I were going the night without dinner. So we had to put our money together and order a pizza, and in my brother's typical fashion, the stingy douche barely offered to cover any of it!"

"Did he at least offer to pay the tip?" Emily asks.

"NO! That greed stick made me pay that too, and then he had the audacity to say we should half it!"

"And this was all because of a magazine?" Emily asks.

"Yup."

"You really are a dumbass." She sighs.

So far, I haven't gotten the desire to eat flesh. Only the urge to get up and walk. Lauren is getting antsy as well. Her hair is still the same color as it was when we sat down, and she still has color in her face. Her eyes haven't developed that white lens either.

Jessica rolls the sleeve of her blazer up and looks at the gold watch, "It's been nearly half an hour."

The both of us breathe in a sigh of relief and stand up. I stretch my legs and groan as the joints pop. Lauren reaches up, and the bones in her back crick.

"How do you feel?" Eric asks.

"Just like I did half an hour ago." I reply.

"So that means your theory was right. For once." Emily snaps as she pours six more bottles of water into another boiling pot that Melissa sterilized.

I roll my eyes and take another sip of the water I boiled first. By now, it's cooled off and drinkable. The lukewarm water quenches the fiery sand that grinds up against my neck. Some lost energy comes back to me, and I feel like I can go on a little longer. I step to the side and let Lauren get a drink. She drinks half and offers me the rest. I take one more gulp and push it back to her.

"No Matt. This is yours." Lauren says.

"No, kid. I'm fine. You will need your strength for the road ahead."

Melissa, Eric, Emily, Jessica, and Miss Fleming all gather around the vat of pure water and drink whatever they can as I dig through the cabinets. Lauren opens up drawers and digs out strikers and more flint.

"Hey Matt look!" Lauren says as she puts a television remote in front of me.

"Nice find Lauren!"

Maybe we can find out what's going on in the world. That's if the stations are still working. I aim the remote at the tv and turn it on. Some multi-colored bars, and the shrill sound of a piercing siren burns itself onto the screen. The Emergency Broadcast Station. White words scroll across the bottom and top of the screen simultaneously.

The Disease and Outbreak Control Agency (DOCA) has issued a statement declaring that all residents are advised to stay indoors until the Armed Forces arrives. The North side of Black Breech, Oklahoma has been barricaded off by local law enforcement. Entry into the North is strictly prohibited.

The same message scrolls over and over. So, it's true. This really is the beginning of the end. My concern; are we cut off from the outside world? If so, then nowhere is safe.

"This will be resolved in a couple days! Right!? I mean, it's just happening here in Oklahoma right!?" Emily begs to hear the words yes.

"No. I heard a news story last week that people up north and on the west coast were having rapid increases in violence. Even other countries around the world were being affected." Jessica says.

"We were the lucky ones. For a while, but now the apocalypse has finally come for us." Miss Fleming says.

I pull the batteries out of the remote and stow them in my pack. Those can go towards a grenade later on. The remote? I'm sure I'll find some kind of purpose for it. If nothing, pushing the colorful buttons will take my attention off Emily's constant nagging.

"Fleming, can you drive a bus?" I ask.

"Well… I don't know. I read the books but I never passed the…"

"Great. You drive." I say as I grab a flat head screwdriver from a drawer.

"Wait, what? I can't drive! I haven't even…"

"You don't need a license for the apocalypse. Just ingenuity." I cut her off again and hold up a screwdriver.

"What are we doing?" Eric asks.

"Getting us out of here."

"What are you going to do? Build a bus?" Emily snaps.

"Well I could do that but I'd be deaf by the time I finished it, so we are going to have to borrow one." I hiss back as I pull out my manual and review on how to hotwire a car.

We are going to need an older model vehicle that hasn't had anti-theft precautions installed. The school only has one and it's the shortest, but it's just the eight of us. Carrying capacity isn't going to be problematic. The school kept it out back rather than the old bus barn, so we will be on and out.

All I have to do is connect the starter to the battery. This is going to be my first time, but it shouldn't be that hard. I just have to remove some paneling and find the sweet spot. Everyone packs up and follows me out to the main hallway. Melissa gets a small lead and checks the corners.

I open a nearby janitor's closet and snatch up some more nails, a ratchet kit, duct tape and another broom. It would be good to search all the closets but because we are short on time, that isn't an option.

The sun is starting to set outside. Shades of bright orange paint the chaos and smoke rising to the sky. Most of the shamblers are on the other end of the school. Far away from where we are heading. A couple dot the area here and there, but they shouldn't be too much of a hassle as long as my group doesn't fall asleep on the job.

However, we need to get to that bus and get out of here before the sun goes down. Night time is suicide and getting caught out there after the sun goes down could be a death sentence. With what I've seen on television and numerous video games, night time is when the creatures get a lot stronger. Whether that logic applies to our situation is up for debate, but I'd rather not tempt it.

We take the long way around and avoid unnecessary fights. The shamblers groan and click their teeth as they follow after us with outstretched arms. I'm so glad these things are slow, but it comes at a cost.

They're like a black hole. Easy to avoid, but once they grab hold, it's very hard to escape unless their head is struck by something blunt or stabbed. If two get a grip, then death is all that follows.

"Melissa, cover me." I say as I break the broom head off and rig up another spear with my last kitchen knife. The group stops and keeps a lookout while Melissa watches my back. I wrap the knife up with tape.

"Alright, let's go!"

I don't feel so naked now that I have an actual weapon. That fire extinguisher was just too cumbersome and bulky. Not only that, it was dented when I smashed that shambler's head so any more damage may cause it to explode. The spear will last long enough to get us to the bus. Once there, I can make a couple grenades.

Eric and I take the lead. He watches the left while I protect the right. We stop at the base of the stairway. Down below are several shamblers that are walking around in the school's entryway. Outside, there's even more but if we are quick and efficient, this won't be a problem.

"Okay Matt. We are just going to shoot straight forward. Don't fight unless you have to."

"Sure thing Eric. You hear that?" I ask everyone in the back.

Lauren is hiding behind Fleming but is trying to stay strong. She's gripping Fleming's shirt until her knuckles turn white.

"Lauren, you going to make it?" I ask.

She runs over and hops in my arms, "Matt, can you please carry me!? I can't do this!"

A part of me wants to say no, but I can't. If it were Emily, I'd say you got two legs, walk yourself, but this is different. Lauren can't even swing a weapon. If she managed to get separated from Fleming, then what? I can't watch this girl die. As selfish as I am, I refuse to give into the temptation.

"Jessica, hold my spear."

She takes it from me, and I pick Lauren up. Her fearful gaze pierces my soul with innocence, and heart break. Tears stream down her face, but they shine with the joy of hope. It's a sight that fills me with strength.

"Okay. Let's do this. I'm going to go first." Eric says.

"I'll lead too. Matt, you focus on protecting the girl." Jessica adds as she pats my back.

"We will clear you a path. Once you get Lauren on the bus, show me that you aren't crazy." Emily states.

"What's that? The sound of a complement? I thought weirdos like me didn't deserve complements." I tease.

"Don't push your luck." Emily sighs.

Everyone lines up in front of me as I ready myself. Lauren grabs hold of me tightly and stares at my eyes. I do not understand why she picked me out of everyone, but it's too late to turn back now.

"Keep your eyes on me, and I'll get you through this. Once we get on the bus, run to the middle. Stay low and stay away from the windows." I say to Lauren.

"Okay Matt."

"Ready? GO!" Eric shouts as he leads the charge.

Everyone follows him downstairs. I stick right behind Jessica as we all burst outside. The sudden sound of the doors flying open brings a whole lot of attention to us. Every shambler turns their head and focuses on us.

Eric swings his steel pipe and connects with the skull of a male in our way. The sound is crisp and slimy like an egg cracking against an iron skillet. Jessica charges forward and runs her makeshift spear through the neck of another shambler trying to attack Eric. Emily rushes forward and covers Jessica.

All that's left is me, Melissa, Lauren and Fleming. I take the lead and juke right. The shambler dives for me but misses. His head bounces off the black asphalt as I step over him and keep running. Lauren grips me tighter and tighter as the shamblers get closer. I don't dare look back because I know for a fact that everyone is okay. My priority is getting this girl on that bus.

Fleming gets ahead and tries to pry open the glass doors of the bus. Her fingers dig into the black seal that keeps the door together but she can't get it open. I press Lauren's face into my shoulder and kick the glass.

My leg goes all the way through up to my shin. The glass scratches at the denim but fails to puncture the tough fabric as Fleming reaches in and pops the deadbolt locking the door. I yank my leg out and head upstairs.

SHOOOP! SHOOOP!

Melissa unleashes a constant volley of arrows from her longbow that strike down the oncoming shamblers. Arrows punch through jugulars and eyes as the rest of our group catch up.

I put Lauren down, and she runs to the middle of the bus just like I told her. Fleming is sitting in the driver's seat. She hands me the screwdriver as I press the ratchet into the bolts and take the steering wheel apart. I have to remove the steering wheel lock and hook up the ignition into the main harness. Melissa continues firing as everyone else keeps me covered.

"Matt! How much longer!?" Jessica shouts as she stabs a shambler in the face with her spear.

"This isn't like the movies! You don't jump two wires and go! You have to rewire the main harness into the ignition and remove the steering wheel lock!" I yell as I remove the steering wheel bracket. Now all that's left is hooking up the ignition.

"If I wanted an auto shop lesson, I would have enrolled in trade school! English Please?!" Emily barks.

"It means I'm not done yet so shut up and get back to work!" I snap back as I remount the steering wheel.

"We're good! We're good!" I say as I stick the screwdriver into the keyhole and turn halfway.

The ignition is hanging out and loose wires squeeze through the cracks of the paneling that broke. I wait for the little yellow coil to disappear from the dash board. It vanishes and I crank. The bus sputters and backfires. The smell of diesel fills the air as I turn again. The bus hasn't been used in a while, so the fuel is stale. What I wouldn't give for a functional choke right now.

YENYENYENYENYEN!

"Come on… Start you stupid piece of shit!" I swear as I twist again.

YENYENYEN…

The engine turns over and the bus starts up. Miss Fleming's mouth drops in awe as she rapidly punches the steering wheel in excitement. Melissa looks back in surprise and Lauren cheers from the back.

"I knew you could do it Matt!" Lauren shouts.

"The son of a bitch actually hot wired a vehicle…" Emily sputters out of shock.

"Now you know why I brought him!" Eric taunts as he smashes the skull of a shambler crawling on the ground.

"Well don't stand there! Get your asses up here!" I yell as I usher everyone on board.

I pat everyone that comes on to try and keep count. Jessica, Emily, and Eric. Melissa, and Lauren are already on and Miss Fleming is driving. That's all of us. Melissa kills the last shambler as Fleming shifts into first gear.

"Okay! Let's go!" I pat Fleming on the shoulder to signal we are ready to go.

"Wait for us!" Several voices from the school cry out.

I look in the direction and see a big group of survivors weaving in and out of the shamblers. Oh great, more mouths to feed. However, it won't be my problem. When we get to the West side, Me and Melissa are blowing this popsicle stand.

"Wait!" Eric says.

"Why?" Emily replies.

"Because those are survivors!"

"Yeah, because they are survivors!" I tease Emily.

"Wait, is that Mr. Blair?" Jessica asks.

"What!?" Me and Emily exclaim at the exact same time.

I look out over the distance and see him running among the group of survivors. Oh, hell no. That douchebag is not setting foot on this bus.

"Let's go!" Emily says.

"Yeah, let's go!" I add.

Emily gives me a surprised look since I agree with her. Yeah, Emily is a pain in the ass, and she made my life a living hell. The hoe bag turned my best friend against me, made fun of me and constantly stifles my intelligence, but I'd rather have her over Blair any day.

"Emily is right! Let's go Fleming!" I say as I rapidly slap her seat.

"No! We are waiting!" Eric argues.

"Rule number two-hundred and sixteen of the survival guide, don't be a hero so let's go!"

"I'm the driver and we are helping those people!" Fleming states.

I throw my hands up in disappointment. Really? All this is going to do is come back and bite us in the ass. Emily makes a silent gesture that expresses her frustration as well. Her eyes widen and she throws her hand to the side.

People board the bus. What I wouldn't give to slam the door shut right now. If there wasn't a guy behind them that looked somewhat trustworthy, then I would. Blair shoots up the stairs. The boy behind him trips over a shambler trying to grab his legs. His knee hits the solid ground, and the sound of a bone fracturing rings out.

"Ah God! My knee!" He looks over his shoulder and another horde of shamblers are quickly approaching. Ah hell… I debate on what to do. Should I help or leave him? Those shamblers are closing in fast.

"Oh no! They're going to get me! Help!" The boy cries out as he tries to crawl towards the bus. The look of terror in his face rubs me raw. What do I do!? Wait. I remember what mom taught me at church one time.

"If that were you lying there, would you want help?" Her sweet voice echoes in my voice.

Well, if you were good at anything mom, it was always making me feel like a real asshole. I burst out of the bus and charge towards him.

"Fuck you!" I shout as I ram my shoulder into the back of a female shambler that isn't paying attention. The girl's face bounces off the ground as she helplessly rolls across the asphalt. I snag the guy's arm and pull with everything I have. The boy uses his good leg and helps me gain speed.

"Thank you! Thank you!" He chokes in between tears of joy.

"Don't mention it!"

Eric comes down and takes hold of his other arm. Together, we drag him up to the stairs. A blue hand grabs hold of his pants leg and tries to pull him back. The strength of this one creature nearly rips the guy away from me and Eric.

"No! let go of me!" He cries as he kicks the shambler in the face. By now, the horde is only twenty yards away. Eric and I pull with everything we have but we gain no ground.

"Jessica!" I yell.

She rushes over and hands me my bloody spear. I get a firm grip and drive the makeshift spearhead into the skull of the shambler. It groans but continues holding on. I ram it into him again and again. Nothing is making it let go. Now the horde is ten yards away.

"Let go of him you son of a bitch!" Eric yells as I ram my spear into its eye sockets and mouth. Two more shamblers get dangerously close. Eric slaps the shambler attacking the boy with his pipe as I fend off the incoming horde. The knife jabs into chests, eyes, mouths, and whatever I can hit.

Adrenaline fills my veins and travels all the way down my body before it hits my head. My eyes burn with the intensity of fire as a sense of perception takes over. The spear stuns two of the shamblers, and we gain some ground. All that's left is the asshole that grabbed the boy in the first place. He's going to make it. I know it.

"You're going to make it!" Eric reassures the boy as he smacks another shambler.

A shadow hovers over me and Eric and works its way in-between us. He puts his shoe on the boy's face and pushes him down the stairs. The shamblers we stunned grab hold of him again. Even with our combined strength, Eric and I can't handle the sheer power of three shamblers.

"Blair! Don't!" Eric yells.

"Don't you do it motherfucker!" I cry out as my grip strength fades away. Eric and I are now holding the boy by his fingers.

"You would only slow us down." Blair states.

His leg cocks back and hits the boy in the face. Eric and I lose our grip, and the boy screams as the shamblers devour him. Bones crack and flesh is ripped from his frail body as his cries of agony are suppressed by the horde's unrelenting hunger. Fleming sniffles and drives off. Eric and I run to the back of the bus and helplessly watch.

I collapse to my knees and recall what just happened. I couldn't protect Samantha, and I couldn't save him. Reality sinks in and I keep telling myself that it's my fault they didn't make it.

"Matt? Eric? Don't worry. It's going to be okay." A soft hand touches my back.

I look and Lauren is trying to comfort us. Tears are streaming down her face. Although she wasn't involved, Lauren understands what we are feeling. I give a gentle smile and take a deep breath.

"Thank you, sweetie." I say.

"Yeah. Everything will be okay." Eric adds.

"I was only doing what was best for everyone! He was already dead!" Blair states.

Anger fills my heart and I stand up. Jessica stops me though. I clench my fist and gnash my teeth together. That boy could have been saved. Eric and I had it under control. Given a couple more seconds and one more stab, we would have had him aboard. He didn't even get bit, and that's what really pisses me off.

I close my eyes and sit down next to Melissa. Her face is covered with a pink bandanna as she pretends to stare out the window. "You and Eric could have saved that boy." She whispers to me.

"I know. The second we reach the west side, I'm getting off."

"If that's how Mr. Blair treats people, then count me in." Melissa states…