Seabrook High was lit up for the special night with pinks, blues, and purples shining everywhere. The main entrance was crowded with all the teens and excited parents arriving. Bucky and his loyal Aceys strutted out the door of their pink limo, all looking perfect in their matching pink and blue glittery suits.
Bucky stopped near the entrance and motioned his entourage through the doors ahead of him. "After you." He smiled as they passed. "Prepare to make way for your king." He was about to follow when he heard something behind him. He turned around and saw flashes of color that definitely weren't Seabrook Pink or Blue. "What's that?"
As his limo pulled away from the curb, it revealed a large crowd of zombies and werewolves marching to the doors together. Stoic determined grins on their faces. None of them flinched as they heard the mutterings of surprise from the gathered crowd.
"It's zombies." Bucky frowned.
All his Aceys turned around.
"And werewolves!" Jacey added.
"In formalwear?" Stacey sounded shocked.
"They look good." Lacey butted in with appreciation that was quickly silenced by the others.
"You guys can't be here. There are laws against it." Bucky reminded them. Zed was leading the way, and they all stopped in front of Bucky.
"Bad laws are meant to be broken." Zed shot back.
"And monsters don't follow the rules." Eliza declared, giving Zed a hi-five. "Zombies are a part of Seabrook Bucky, and we deserve to be here."
"And we're a part of Seabrook too, the originals in fact. So maybe we should tell you to leave, but we're not trying to create divisions tonight, so feel free to stay." Wyatt added.
Everyone nodded along with Wyatt and waited patiently for Bucky to do the right thing.
After looking from face to face nervously for a few seconds, Bucky turned around and ran for the Z-Alarm. "Someone's got to stop you!"
His hand just barely touched the handle before he turned around again to see Willa baring her teeth mere inches from his perfectly moisturized face. "AAAHHH!" He screamed.
Willa backed up a bit but continued to growl.
Bucky let go of the handle and hurriedly backed away. "Welcome to Prawn." he said halfheartedly as he and the Aceys scurried into the school.
Willa let go of her wolf powers, but as she did, her moonstone hissed around her neck and her eyes turned green again. She let out a few strangled coughs and Wyatt was immediately at her side to support her. She nodded in thanks as they led the way inside. The rest of the wolves and zombies followed behind them.
Addison was finally at Prawn, and right now she wished she could be anywhere else. Addison was talking to a few of her fellow cheerleaders. And even though everyone there was trying to force themselves to have fun, no one was really into it. No one was in the mood to dance. The music that was playing over the speakers was nice, but couldn't fight the subdued atmosphere.
She could tell most of the people here were either missing their dates or friends that couldn't attend, just like she and Bree were feeling. Every conversation felt too quiet and awkward like everyone was waiting for their missing friends to jump in and say something.
Bree left her side to grab some punch, and Addison turned to a commotion at the door. In walked Bucky and his Aceys, just as Seabrook perfect as always, but Bucky looked really annoyed. Almost as if someone had questioned his cheer godliness. After making their grand entrance, they all quickly strutted to the complete opposite end of the gym. She could hear more whispers of confusion, and even excitement so Addison walked closer to get a better view of what the big deal was.
She smiled with surprise to see the wolves walk in. She was happy they had decided to come. Wyatt had said there was nothing they could do, and they were leaving Seabrook for the last time. She couldn't imagine they could actually be enjoying Prawn right now. Cause they really didn't look so hot. The wolves were all huddled together in groups of two or three, supporting each other as they slowly walked through the gym. Their eyes were downcast and all of them looked utterly exhausted.
Addison heard a gasp behind her and turned around to see a beaming Bree.
"Bonzo!" Bree called out, raising her hand in the air.
"Breezka." Bonzo said as he quickly ran up to Bree, wearing a gray, paint-splattered suit. Gratziga?
"Yes." Bree nodded. "I will go to Prawn with you."
Bonzo lifted Bree up in a hug as both laughed out loud before holding his arm out like a true gentleman and leading her away.
Addison smiled to herself. At least they could have the perfect Prawn night her friends had been dreaming about.
She looked past the happiest couple in the room and searched around to see who else had crashed the party. She could see Carter greeting Zia excitedly similar to Bonzo and Bree and after separating they got in line to get their picture taken.
She could see Wyatt and Eliza walking together to one of the snack tables, it almost looked like Eliza was propping him up at the waist. Addison could only see concern etching her face as she tried to convince him to eat something.
She kept scanning the room, finding so many of her friends, and already everyone's spirits were starting to be lifted again.
She looked over at the entrance one more time, and her vision tunneled so she couldn't look away even if she wanted to. And she didn't want to.
Zed walked slowly through the doors and was nervously searching the crowd around him as he moved, but he froze when he locked eyes with Addison.
They both slowly walked through the middle of the empty dance floor separating them. Neither could resist the pull they had for the other.
"Addison." Zed said slowly, his voice and eyes full of heartfelt emotion. "I had no right to take your necklace and stop you from becoming a werewolf."
He paused for breath, and Addison still stood there silently, not saying anything yet.
"I couldn't handle the fact that you might be a monster. Because I couldn't accept the fact that I am one."
Addison took a deep breath, and finally spoke. "I thought everything would make sense if I was a werewolf. But I'm not. And I don't even know if I'm a cheerleader."
"You're a leader Addison. You make others belong. At camp, at cheer practice, even when protesting for what's right. You bring people together. You, you have done everything you can for me, you make me feel like I belong anywhere. As long as I'm by your side. I know I belong. Please know, if you'll still have me. Addison, will you make me the happiest zombie in the whole world…and be my date to Prawn?"
"Yes Zed. I will. I know, I still want to find where I belong, but I know you are exactly who I belong with. I would love to be your date to Prawn."
"Yes! Third time's the charm!" Zed joked before his smile turned serious again. 'And if you enjoy tonight, and still want me around, are we good? Can I still be your boyfriend? I promise you Addison. I will never do anything stupid like that again. If you want to do something that I disagree with, I will talk to you about it, not try to control you. If I'm scared or stressed or feeling worried about anything. I will talk to you about it because you are the person I trust the most in my entire life."
"Zed, you are still my everything, I was mad, but I accept your apology. I don't want to give you up either. You are way too important to me. Nothing will ever change that. I promise to always talk to you too when I need help. I want to trust you, and I know I can, because you are you, and as long as you learn from your mistakes, I want you, and only you. You know I've never thought of you as a monster. You are my zombie, my Zed. That is all that matters."
"As long as you stay my Addison, perfect just the way you are, and if you are a vampire or oh I know a dragon or a giant octopus or anything, I will never again try to stop you from becoming the person you are meant to be, because nothing can make me stop loving you or you being the most perfect person on the planet in my eyes. Inside and out."
Addison let out a quiet laugh as Zed rambled.
"It has been too long since I heard that laugh." Zed sighed. "Can I have this dance Gorgeous?"
"Yes, you may Handsome."
Addison took Zed's hands and he smoothly lifted them to his shoulders and he then placed his hands around her waist. They started to gently sway to the music playing, but both were lost in the melody beating in their hearts, deaf to the real world as Zed softly started to sing, and Addison happily joined in.
You're from the perfect paradise (Ohh)
I'm living on the darker side
Ooh I had a feeling if you got to know me
Right from the start you caught my eye
Something inside me came to life
Addison couldn't help the smile and blush that painted her cheeks, thinking to herself, I felt the exact same way.
Ooh I got a feeling now you really know me. Addison sang, gently running her hand through Zed's hair, feeling him leaning into her touch.
Someday this could this be this could be ordinary. The entire time they had been pulling each other closer, but now they separated so Zed could twirl Addison out and back into his arms.
Someday could we be something extraordinary
You and me side by side
Out in the broad daylight.
Addison couldn't help leaning her head against Zed's shoulder as he pulled her close again.
If they laugh we'll say.
Addison placed her hand over Zed's neck again and they continued to sway to the music in their own little world.
We're gonna be someday.
Someday someday
As they danced, neither could avoid glancing at the wolves looking dead on their feet, Addison noticed the always energetic Wynter was fighting to even stay awake. None of the wolves looked like they should be here. Addison promised herself, she wasn't done fighting for them, the least they could do is bring them some medicine or doctors or something.
But turning back to meet Zed's handsome smile, Addison forgot everything else. Right now there was only one thing she wanted with all her heart.
We're gonna be someday
Someday someday
We're gonna be someday.
They finished their song, and Addison stretched up as high as she could reach, while Zed leaned down, slowly closing the distance between them, but a heartbeat before they could…
Suddenly the ground started shaking violently, so that she almost lost her balance in her heels, if Zed's strong, gentle hands weren't holding her up.
Zed looked around, frightened, for a moment before meeting her eyes.
"Are you OK?"
"Yep."
"Let's get out of here. This way!" Zed pulled her along, their loving hands turned into death grips on each other. Everyone was panicking but most seemed to have the same idea, leave the school the way they came in.
As Addison stumbled through the crowd, she could hear glasses shaking off the tables and shattering on the floor. Random balloons escaped their anchors and floated up to the ceilings, and decorations and tables were falling over everywhere. It was complete chaos.
As Addison glanced around she could see the wolves looking more like themselves, their fear giving them the energy to move.
Zed and Addison ended up in front of the panicking crowd of students, but halfway through the path to the main entrance, a giant fissure split the hallway down the middle. Zed just barely managed to stop and pull Addison to one side when he saw it. Addison holding onto his arm for dear life. She could see the crowd coming to a stop behind them, thankfully no one fell in, and everyone looked even more freaked out.
The fissure was steaming in the night air, and glowing with almost magical violet light.
Wyatt felt a spark against his neck, right where his moonstone rested beneath his tie. But unlike the weakness and pain that kept showing up as his moonstone lost power the last few days, this time he felt stronger. He turned to Willa. Hope on his face once more.
"The energy from the Moonstone must have created the fault line. If we follow this crack it may lead us to the Moonstone."
"So it's only buried and not destroyed." Addison smiled in excitement.
Another earthquake rippled through the halls, everyone holding onto each other tighter to keep from falling down, or worse, falling into the fissure.
"We have to get to it." Wynter agreed.
Willa nodded. "Quickly while we still can!" Willa and the wolves ran down into the fissure without a moment's hesitation. Leaving the rest of Seabrook's students in the dust.
Once all the wolves were in the hole, Zed immediately jumped down too.
"Zed what are you doing?"
"They could use our help, who knows what's down there? This could be the last chance we have to save the wolves."
Addison's heart felt like it could burst with happiness. Even more so when she felt his strong yet gentle hands bring her down into the fissure with him. She couldn't resist giving him a quick peck on the cheek in happiness and gratitude.
Bonzo jumped down next and together he and Zed lifted everyone else down who wanted to join their new mission.
Only once everyone was together did they slowly move forward as a group. "I so wish I wasn't wearing heels right now." Addison muttered as she and Zed led the way through the purple light and mist.
"You and me both sister." Eliza replied right behind her.
As Willa led the wolves down through the tunnel, she knew with certainty they would find it, every step closer she could feel it in her bones, the Moonstone was down here, waiting for the pack to rescue it, her earlier fatigue was completely forgotten. The pack will succeed, the pack will survive.
"It's this way! I see the light, it's coming from Seabrook Power!" Willa called to her packmates.
They finally arrived at a room, filled with twisting pipes and sparking wires as the earth was still shaking, but in the center of the forgotten tomb, was the Moonstone, glowing a radiant violet, enough to light the entire space, it was surrounded by a metal cage, but Willa was too happy to notice. They finally found it. Everyone could be saved.
The wolves formed a circle around the stone and each pressed their necklaces against it. Willa's necklace glowed a brilliant blue, and even just holding it in her hand, she could feel its restored power. Stronger than she had ever known before. All the wolves let out growls as their claws and fangs grew sharper, their muscles became stronger, and their eyes glowed yellow, the dim cavern was now bright as day to all of them. All their previous weakness and fatigue disappeared.
They all took a moment to adjust to their new power before another intense earthquake rocked the cavern.
"We have to get it out of here!" Willa ordered.
"Legend says that together our pack can move the stone!" Wyatt reminded everyone. "We can do this!"
"All of Us!" Willa called out. "Lift!"
But even working together, the wolves could only raise the Moonstone a few inches off the ground. They'll never be able to get it out of the tunnel.
"It's too heavy." Wynter gasped.
Willa looked around, seeing panicked faces, too few panicked faces, this wasn't the pack. This was barely a border patrol. Everyone was still too sick at the Den. "There's not enough of us!"
"Then maybe you need to expand your pack!" Addison called out as she led the crowd of students into the cavern.
"Addison?" Willa asked in surprise.
"We came here to help! Come on everyone! We got this!" Addison shouted as dust started to rain down from the ceiling as the earthquakes continued. "Hurry before its too late! Lift!"
Humans, zombies, and werewolves, all working together, made the job much easier, they started slowly shuffling back towards the exit, but much too soon, a massive section of concrete wall slammed down, blocking the only escape.
Everyone dropped the Moonstone again and wide-eyed faces glanced around everywhere silently, no one knew what to do.
"The chamber's collapsed. We can't carry the Moonstone through." Wyatt said as he experimentally tried to move it, but it was much too heavy for him even with his powers.
"And we can't get out either!" Wynter barked at him in a panic.
After a few moments, Eliza's eyes landed on Zed's wrist. "Zed! Your Z-band! Its still broken! Zed take it off, lift the slab."
Zed, gently cradled his Z-band and looked at Eliza with fear.
"Look Zed, I know you can do this."
"I'm not ready! What if I can't control it?"
Another tremor shook the room even more, making more chunks of concrete and dust rain down from the ceiling.
Addison looked Zed straight in the eye, placing her hand comfortingly on his shoulder. "Zed. You have to. I trust you. You know I always love you, as you, and as full-zom. I know you won't hurt me, and you won't hurt anyone else either. Zed you are our only hope. Please, do this for me, for all of us. You can save us all."
Zed looked at all the silent faces, all stuck in absolute terror that matched his own. Then he met Addison's eyes one more time. "Gar Gar Gaza Addie."
"Gar Gar Gaza Zed."
Zed carefully unlatched the still broken clasp on his Z-band, and before he lost control completely, he shoved the Z-band in his pocket so he wouldn't lose it. He put all his energy and focus into telling his inner zombie one thing. "Save Addison, move the wall."
He let out a terrifying roar, but for once there were cheers of excitement in response.
"Come on Zed, I know you can do this."
Zed tore his eyes and hungry thoughts away from the humans surrounding him. He could smell them, hear their rapid, terrified heartbeats, but he could also hear her heartbeat. His other half. "Addiska."
"Proteg! Addiska! ROAARR!" Zed shouted as he turned to the wall, and using every last fiber of his strength, lifted it up from the bottom corner and started pushing it back up as far as he could.
"You're doing great Zed!" He could feel Addison right behind him. "Just stay calm, stay focused, just a little more baby, I know you got this." Zed could hear people moving slowly behind him as they inched through the gap with the Moonstone in tow, but he didn't feel any hunger for them. Addison was with him, and he had to save her. She was always the first and only thing that mattered.
Soon enough, everyone else was outside the cave, and the cavern was still shaking, a large section of the ceiling crashed to the floor where the Moonstone had rested mere moments ago.
"Come on Zed." Addison gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "Careful now. Its time for us to go."
More and more dust was raining down, and Zed shifted his position slightly, and almost lost his grip. "Addiska Gooo!"
"No we're going together. On three OK?"
"Zo!" Zed shook his head.
"What do you mean Zed? I know we can do this."
Zed met her eyes, all his muscles still straining to hold back the wall from falling.
"Lo ziento Addiska." Zed said, much more quietly, and with all the love his zombie self could muster.
"What are you sorry for Zed?"
Zed took a deep breath, and felt his own heartbeat still for a moment. Then he opened his eyes, and using all his remaining strength, launched the wall to the side and then spun around, grabbed Addison around her waist, and threw her through the gap as hard as he could. "PROTEG ADDISKA!" Zed roared one last time, as the wall slammed back down in a cloud of dust.
Addison didn't know what to think, one second she was standing beside Zed, and the next she was flying through the air, thankfully she ran into something soft instead of banging her head on a rock or anything. She looked up to see Bonzo's bewildered face looking down at her.
Then she heard him. "PROTEG ADDISKA!" and all she could see was a choking cloud of dust.
"NO! ZED! NO NO NO! ZED!"
Everyone behind her was completely silent as she ran forward when the cold gray wall reappeared, with no Zed.
The quakes had stopped, but Addison didn't even notice, she was shaking so much. She ran forward and placed her hands on the wall. "No no no. This can't be real, this is all a nightmare. Please let me wake up. Zed!" She fell to her knees and pounded against the stone with her fist. "ZED! PLEASE! Can you hear me? You have to hear me! It's me! It's Addison! Addiska! I need you! I know you can do it! You're OK! You can open it again! PLEASE ZED! I need you out here!" She felt warm arms circle around her shoulders, but she couldn't see anything through her tears. All she could notice was they were too warm to be Zed.
She finally heard a small cracking sound, and Bree whispered in her ear. "Addison look!"
She opened her eyes and wiped her tears away, and she could see the wall slowly, ever so slowly being lifted up again. And she could hear his grunts and roars as he struggled to lift it higher and higher.
"Yes! Come on Zed! I know you can do it babe! You…You're a big strong zombie, this is nothing for you! Keep going! All the way!"
"Addiska!" Zed's dark eyes lit up when he saw her, but Addison could still see his straining muscles through his tight suit.
"Yes Zed! Keep going you're almost there, you're doing great!"
Addison broke eye contact and glanced behind her. "Bonzo, Wyatt, Wynter, Willa up here!"
"Grat?" Bonzo asked.
"When Zed has it all the way open, Wyatt, Wynter, and Willa, can you use your wolf strength to try to hold it open from this side?"
"We will try our best, as long as we can, I promise Addison. but no guarantees." Willa warned her.
"Good, that's all I can ask for. Keep going Zed. Zombie strong! This is easy for you!"
"Bonzo, you and I are going to pull Zed through and make sure he doesn't trap himself again. Got it?"
"Gra." Bonzo shot her a thumbs up.
"Keep Going Zed, just a little bit more! And there! Great job Zed! Hold it right there! Wolves, you're up!
Willa, Wyatt, and Wynter all cautiously walked up to the hole and placed their grip on the door, staying outside the room, but also trying not to block Zed's escape route.
Wyatt could see Zed's glare lock on him, but he was too strained to do anything much less attack Wyatt.
"Zed! Its OK they're all friends, coming to help you. Bonzo get ready." Addison said as she walked closer. Both Bonzo and Addison lightly gripped each of Zed's arms.
"Wolves, get ready."
All three let out growls as their eyes glowed in the darkness. But this time, Zed remained mostly calm, his eyes locked on Addison.
"Zed, let go! Now Bonzo!"
Zed let go of the stone and was pulled forward through the danger zone in less than a heartbeat.
The wolves strained against the falling wall for as long as they could, they couldn't hold it up but were able to slowly bring it back down so Zed had plenty of time. Another billowing cloud of dust wafted through the tunnel, obscuring the rescue party from everyone else.
When the dust cleared, Bonzo and the wolves were checking themselves over, everyone was safe. Zed was wrapped protectively around Addison, and Addison had her face buried against his chest.