"Sam. Oh my god. How—Sam—" Tina was speechless as she gripped to him with no signs of letting go, fingers knotting into the fabric of his jacket and pulling him impossibly closer. Her small frame trembled as she wept softly in Sam's arms, her grip on him nothing short of sheer desperation. He'd seen Tina cry so many times, over trivial and normal things, but this was far different. It made his stomach knot and tighten painfully. "I can't believe this," Tina sighed, her voice quiet and close. "I can't believe it's you."

Sam couldn't help but wonder if maybe this was his mind playing tricks on him and he'd wake soon, alone once again, Tina just a figment of his imagination. Or maybe he was dead. Maybe one of them got him. Finally allowing himself to bask in the warmth of her body under his arms, he let himself believe that she was real. Head dropping heavily with relief, it tucked safely into the crook of her neck and he felt his own tears coming on. They used the other as an anchor, a sense of safety, and for an unknown amount of time, they were locked in a hug. And, as he thought of his parents, his siblings, his friends, he held her firmer, strong arms refusing to let her leave his space.

"I know," he muttered in a strained voice, fighting away tears. "I know, Tee."

Pulling away slightly from her, just enough to face her and see her face, Sam gave Tina a teary smile. She was still the Tina he remembered; albeit rather run-down and baring cuts and filth much like he did, but Tina all the same. He made no effort to stop his hand from brushing away her messy hair, an attempt at convincing himself once again that she was really there. Knotted locks ran through his fingers before his hand dropped to rest on her forearm.

"How long have you been here?"

He wasn't sure how long he'd been there, not exactly at least. Two days? Maybe three? He had done his best to keep track of the daylight and night but most times he was too afraid to even peek out the school windows and opted for sleeping under a clutter of desks instead.

"A few days, maybe?" Unsure and apologetic, Tina shook her head fiercely. "I—I lost track, really."

"I know, I know. Me too," he admitted.

A long pause held heavy in the room and Sam felt like the same question was on their minds, though both were afraid to verbalize it. Green eyes dropped from her brown ones and the nerves welled up in his chest, expanding it with a sick sense of fear.

"Have you seen anyone else?" He wondered if he really wanted the answer. She was alone. That wasn't the best indication of a good answer, but he had to know. He had to.

Time seemed to drag as he watched Tina think through her answer. Flashes of sadness, anger and fear all swept over her expression until she settled on a sullen gaze that she offered Sam. Eyes moist and thin lips turned downwards in a subtle frown, Tina nodded solemnly.

"I was with Mike and Puck," she began. At the mention of her boyfriend, she untangled herself from Sam and created a small distance between him. "They went off to look for supplies yesterday in the cafeteria and—" Her small voice cracked heavily and Tina was sobbing again, tear tracks falling down her pale cheeks. "They haven't come back, Sam. They were supposed to come back, but they haven't."

"Shhh, Tee, it's gonna be okay." Arms re-embraced her instinctively and Sam comforted her the best he knew how, offering a shoulder to cry on and a tight hug.

BANG!

Their bodies reacted in sync, both jolting in fear at the loud pounding on the choir room door. Their focus drew immediately to the nearby door and it was just as Sam feared.

Moaning and working to get inside, those things were visible through the small glass window in the middle of the door. Maimed faces, sunken skin and stomach turning mindlessness, Sam and Tina watched in horror as they gathered around the entrance to the room.

"We have to go, Tina," Sam instructed her, urgency thick in his voice. "Now."

"But Mike—Puck—" she stammered. "What If they come back?"

"We'll find them, I promise, but we can't stay here." Brow furrowed and eyes regretful, his look was all he could offer her to let her know he didn't want to leave, but he didn't want to die there either. Placing his hands on either side of her face and demanding her attention, Sam looked Tina full in the eyes. "We'll find them."

Without another word, Tina nodded, and Sam wasted no more time. Grabbing her hand and guiding her to the opposite side of the room where the other door out lay, he kept Tina close and his eyes open and alert.

He'd never labeled himself as the brave type, but he had no other choice. It was do this or die.

It's just like your games, he told himself as they slowly approached the door, crouching under the window to remain unseen. You're just like the characters in your zombie games.

Unhurried in his movements, Sam squatted next to the wooden door and leaned himself against it for support. Silently instructing Tina to remain low with a gesture of his hand, Sam broke his grasp on her hand in favor of the doorknob. Using it to bring his body up slowly, emerald eyes inspected the immediate area outside the door to thankfully find this side free of the monsters.

Sneak out and flee the area, Sam recited in his mind, imagining himself an animated character from his numerous video games doing as he controlled. Turning back to give Tina an affirmative nod, he regained their hands and turned the doorknob gently.

Blonde head poking from behind the door, the sight of the monsters instantly greeted Sam, only twenty or so feet away, still pounding away on the opposite door. Sam's feet were unsteady but quiet as he led the two of them out the door successfully.

The next moments happened so fast, Sam could hardly process them. His front foot slipped on something he didn't even want to look down to see and a loud squeak of his shoe sole filled the hall. They might've been brainless but they certainly weren't completely dull. Necks snapping to the sound, he watched in horror as the monsters turned their attention to Sam and Tina, caught mid-step in the center of the hall and stunned with fear.

"Run."

Pulling her to her feet, Sam dragged Tina upwards and guided her in a full sprint in the opposite direction. She kept pace but he could hear her labored, erratic breathing behind him as they navigated through the halls of their old school.

Shoes slapping heavy on the dusty floors, they noisily retreated from the walls of groans and growls that never seemed far enough away from comfort. Turning sharply around a corner of locker, Sam's foot caught right under a fallen bucket and mop, sending him toppling to the ground. Kneecaps bouncing harshly off the tiled floor, he let out a yelp of pain and grew instantly terrified as his grip, his lifeline to Tina, slipped away.

"Sam!" She shrieked as she turned to retrieve him. Using all her strength to pull him up again, he hobbled weakly for a few steps before pushing through the pain and picking up the pace again. His knees ached unbearably, no doubt bruising heavily already, but his adrenaline pushed him forward still.

"This way," Tina instructed, her hand tight and clammy as it tugged on his arm and led them towards a beacon of red light: an Exit sign.

The brief sense of hope dissipated any pain, any worry he'd had before. He didn't know what lay outside those double doors, but it was far better than the dark ruins of their school they'd been trapped in for days.

Running up to the doors and bursting through them, the pair was greeted by the blinding light of day followed by a sight that made Sam's insides collapse. He felt Tina freeze next to him and her hand quivered fiercely in his. He squeezed it, holding on for dear life.

The air was humming with the sound of hundreds of groans as the mass of walkers turned to the sound of slamming doors, dead, colorless eyes set on Sam and Tina.