September 24, 2013 – The stroke of midnight…
Well, here we are, back at school. Approaching the two story, four winged building, I can see two students on the roof through the never-ending darkness, each carrying a two by four. It's creepy, the school looks like a real haunted mansion on Halloween. Squinting, I noticed that almost every window has been boarded up, and I don't think that will help much. The corpses can tear down a whole house! A few wooden boards won't stop them. A bolt of lightning flashed from behind the school, which only made it scarier. This was the opposite of what school was supposed to be; instead of it being warm, safe, and even boring, it's dark, dank, and practically isolated from the rest of the world. If I didn't know any better, there were vampires, mummies, and a Frankenstein monster hidden within. Any of those would be better than the horde…
Things on the inside aren't anything like the school I went to a week and a half ago. The dark, almost impossible to see in hallways are nearly entirely empty except for the occasional student -I'm guessing a lookout just in case- carrying a flashlight and metal bat, hugging the wall. Even though it's storming terribly outside at night with no light coming in whatsoever, I get the feeling it would be dark anyway. I don't want to test my theory in case there really is electricity and it's only for reserve. If there is electricity, using it at night doesn't sound like a good idea, what if corpses could discriminate the difference in light? They could find six chipmunks in a house that had to be at least a mile away, who knows what else they can do? I know for sure the heat isn't on, if there is any; I'm freezing! Soaked down to my skin, Ryan's jacket offered little to no protection from the heavy drops. And judging by the smell of everything inside, no ones been able to shower in the gym. No water to clean with… School was getting worse by the minute. In case of emergencies, I suppose every resource needs to be saved.
Immediately after arriving at West Eastman, I thought it was safe to walk around on my own, after all, a huge, secure building with it's own guards, surely I should feel like I deserve that right. But Ryan refused to let me even exit the stuffy pocket and instead of letting us roam free he took us outside to the school courtyard. A large fire crackled and sizzled from the rain inside an apparent underground pit, and, judging by the amount of people around, it's an educated guess that this is the base of this group's operations. There are a couple of tables out here, but no one carried a weapon. Ryan set his down near the door, and some of the protection I felt before vanished. The courtyard doesn't give me the comfort that safety gives despite being surrounded by the various wings of the school. The door we came through appears to be the only one in or out, but there's a fenced little alley-like hall that leads back to the front. Strange, I never noticed it on our way here. I never would have thought Ryan would go to school in order to create a safe house, but desperate times call for desperate measures I guess.
If we've seen all the survivors who reside here at the school, most of them stay in the courtyard, though there aren't very many to begin with. Observing everyone I can see, there couldn't be more than ten, not including us. There's Becca, Ryan, Xavier, Dr. Rubin, and even Julie. Them, plus the two students on the roof and the two keeping guard in the halls make nine. With us that's fifteen.
Ryan set us down on one of the tables and waved everyone around us. The fire is close and warm and even through the rain I can make out everyone's shadow. It's like some kind of ritual; each survivor circling us, their smiles were probably supposed to make us feel better, but all they're doing is creeping me out. Who can smile in our predicament? Nonetheless I'm returning a small smile. They all took a seat at once, save for Ryan.
"Before we can let you stay here permanently," Ryan said, clearing his throat and picking up everyone's attention, "We need to know if you're worth keeping." It sounds so cruel the way he said it. What are we, tools and if we're already rusty and useless they just throw us out without a care? Are we that disposable in a world of death? Isn't everything useful for something now? "If you can't help out in any way, shape, or form, then you'll have to leave; we can treat your injuries, give you some food and clean water, but you'll have to leave by tomorrow, that is, if your injuries aren't that bad and for those who aren't suffering." He's looking down at Alvin and I know what he's thinking; Alvin got "scratched." "If you can't help or provide, you're just another mouth to feed, and we're having enough supplies trouble as it is."
"They're small," Dr. Rubin stood, "They don't eat much." Is she actually standing up for us, acting as our defense attorney? I guess that even after the end of the world, she's still a big fan.
"They're still mouths with empty bellies." Ryan repeated sharply, forcing Dr. Rubin back into her seat. Ryan's the leader in this group of survivors. He's the biggest one here and likely the strongest. It seems his brain cells have kicked in a little too. I know that not long ago he was one of the bullies that joked around at my expense, but now this is a whole new side of him that I've never seen and I have to abide by his rules. I guess out of everyone here, he's the most likely to survive an apocalypse. "One by one, Xavier and I will take you inside to the library to see what you have to offer; there, you'll be questioned and then we'll decide if you're worth keeping." So we are just tools… "Who wants to go first?" None of us raised our paw or showed any interest in leaving the surprising warmth of the fire or being taken away from the refreshing strength of being in a big group, but this is just something we have to do if we want to stay.
"I-I will." I shook as my hand somehow found it's way above my head. I noticed Alvin wince in my direction as well as Jeanette's worried look before climbing into Ryan's lowered hand and being taken away through the door and down a different hallway. We made a left turn and I familiarized myself with the area. We turned again and stepped through a dark, heavy door and into the book infested room. He's setting me down on the table farthest from the door; does he think I'll try to escape? I can barely see in here, let alone make it to the door, open it, and run away. The two humans found themselves a chair. I know I should feel comfortable in the library, at ease, at home, after-all I spent most of my waking hours at school in the library whenever I could. But now things are so different, and so are my rationalities in here. I'm trembling, but I don't know if it's from being scared or from being cold. It's colder in here than it is outside, and with no windows, the only light is coming from Xavier's flashlight. This used to be like a second home to me, but now it's just as cold and just as empty as a jail cell.
"So, fur-ball," Ryan said in a mocking tone, "since you wanted to go first, you can tell us your story."
"M-My story?" I questioned; I can't stop trembling no matter how much I try. I must look pretty pathetic to them. Does he mean how we survived this long?
"Yeah, did you just hang low in your house or what?" The answer I plan on giving probably answers more of his questions. Anything that gets me out of here sooner has to be better. He sniffed, "What's that smell?" I shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I'll tell him later. "Spill your story, fur-ball."
"W-Well we didn't even know about the plague until we watched the final news broadcast," I began, "We were too scared to leave the house because our dad, Dave, di- went missing. It wasn't until Theodore's sickness got worse that we had to leave, in order to get his medicine." I'm wondering if I should tell them everything, were details important to them? I think I might have to if I want the best possible chance of staying. "So we traveled to the vet's office to get his medicine. There, we got attacked and Alvin got…" I can't finish the sentence. I lived through seeing it once, I don't want to relive that experience. "A-Anyway… We retrieved the medicine and fed some to Theo. It seemed to work, but he passed out. And then something lured the horde to our place and that's when you came. Ryan didn't react, but Xavier jumped to his feet.
"Alvin's infected?!" It's like the horde is coming and he's preparing himself for battle, "We can't have him here!"
"Wait, dude," Ryan stopped his friend from doing anything else, "How long ago did he get hurt?" Honestly, it feels like it's been years, but it couldn't have been that long.
"A couple of days." I replied. This seems to shock Ryan more than the fact that Alvin got attacked.
"And he's shown no symptoms?" I shook my head no and he sat back.
"Hmm… Okay, and what about your other brother, the chubby one?"
"His name is Theodore." I clenched my jaw and grit my teeth together."
"Okay, what about Theodore? He's shown no symptoms?"
"I don't think so." Thinking back, he wasn't going gray or anything, no rabies, nothing, "He just got really sick."
"How do you think you can help us here at the West Eastman Brigade?" Interesting name… How original. This question bothered me more than the others; I'm small, not very strong, and I'm practically useless without my glasses. What good am I? Of course, there are some advantages to being a chipmunk.
"I'm quick," I spat out, although I didn't mean to, "I can sneak past any corpse for supplies, and I'm smart. I can devise strategies for whatever you need or if there's something you need to know, I can be your go-to munk." They don't seem impressed. They're just staring at me with a blank expression on their faces as if they're playing poker and they don't want me to know what they have. I'm nervous, what if they don't want me to stay? I don't have a home to go back to I'm clutching the mini hammer in my pocket as if it'll save me form that fate.
"Heh," Xavier smirked, "Just another mouth."
"Hold on," Ryan raised his hand in front of Xavier, "You're smart, I know that. We could use a real doctor, plus I have a little theory I want to test." I'm trying to think back to everything I know about medicine… uh oh. "I don't know if it's just a thought, but you might be okay, fur-ball, but I won't guarantee you anything." Xavier opened his hand and I'm cautious to step on it. I don't think I've made my point, a terrible first impression and I was probably out. My chances of staying are slim, slim as a thread of silk. I'm not worried about being separated form the others though; we've been through a lot and if one of us goes, we all go. Sorry in advance, guys, for being our downfall… I'm just not the munk built for the end of the world.
The fire was still going when I was brought outside, sizzling, almost steaming from the heavy rainfall. I don't even know how it was going in the first place; they must have some kind of flammable resource. Hm… Oil, gasoline, or even a puddle of hairspray? With Becca I wouldn't be surprised. And yet, it's still warmer out here than the library. I solemnly skipped over to Jeanette, she gave me a hug when I reached her and now I'm lucky enough to shield her from the rain until it's her turn to be questioned. Even though it's dripping wet, her fur has remained soft and her slower breathing against my body is calming. Nothing like a nap before being interrogated.
"Alvin." Xavier announced as if we were in a doctor's office and it was his turn for a check-up. My brother stepped on his hand and vanished behind the door.
"So why is that alley fenced?" Brittany brought up, being the first to speak since Alvin left.
"The guards have missed those freaks before, they'll miss them again." Becca replied, "That's just so they can't get in. So far, none have tried ever since we put the fence up." She scrunched her face and sniffed, "What's that fowl smell?"
"That's just Simon." Brittany commented, "He got to bathe in corpse blood the other day and hasn't gotten the chance to clean off yet."
Becca laughed, "Well, we'll fix you up as soon as you guys are done." After a few minutes, Alvin returned and Theodore was taken in. I wish I could have gone with either of them. Alvin because I may never get time with him. The virus can take over him in an instant and I want to be with him before that. Theodore because I already almost lost him and I wouldn't mind bonding with him. I guess it's true: you never know how great something, or someone, is until they're gone, or in my case, almost gone. You never know when it can all end.
Time passed and Theodore was brought out; he looks a little shaky, but I think it was just the darkness, the coldness of the library. Brittany was next and she came back rather quickly. I'm waking Jeanette now and she looks absolutely terrified. Obviously she's thinking the same thing I thought before: What if I'm not allowed to stay? I kiss her on the cheek before she's taken away; I hope that helped calm her down.
It's a tie between me and Jeanette as to who was in there the longest. For some things that's good, but for others, like this, it isn't. It means you had to do more convincing and had a higher chance of being exiled. Eleanor was in and out in no time flat. She had to be accepted, clearly. No one here looks like they can cook, and Eleanor is able to make anything out of everything.
"Becca," Ryan said, gesturing for her to come to him, "We need you to help with the decisions." She nodded and closed the single door behind her. Through the one window in the top middle of the door I can see Ryan and Xavier arguing with her. That's probably not a good sign for us. Eventually she closed her mouth, jaw clenched, and marched out, followed by Xavier and finally, Ryan. Ryan coughed and stood beside the fire pit, in the middle of everyone. The shadowy flames are acting as a podium for him. I'm taking Jeanette's paw for good luck and she's holding on tight.
"I'm sorry I have to tell you this-" He began but was immediately interrupted by Julie's scream and the crashing of the fence. A rather large corpse stumbled through and quickly (for a corpse) followed Ryan, bat-less, weaponless, and soon to be lifeless. He's fighting back, but he's losing. The corpse pushed him down to the ground, pinning him and snapping it's jaws hastily. Looking around, no one appears to have a weapon, and everyone seems too scared to get one.
Gathering my brothers and the chipettes, I'm making sure Alvin has his knife and I have my hammer, "We have to help him!" Without argument, we bolt to the fight in an unknown (to me) battle formation, everyone tackling the corpse off the leader. The corpse reacted, standing tall and, injured arm and all, Alvin climbed up it's leg, followed by Theodore and the chipettes. It's like the corpse doesn't know what's going on, it tries to to nab one furry lightning bolt (I can't tell who) only to get distracted by another. With the hammer in my hand, I skitter over to the dark gray ankles peering out from the corpse's pants. I don't know if it was adrenaline or my true strength, but I swung and the hard metal made contact with the fragile bone, emanating a loud crack. The corpse went down with a thud and the others cleared away as it snapped at us with no success for a snack. Alvin approached the petty body with his knife and swung wildly.
We're turning our attention to Ryan, red faced and panting.
He's giving us each a wicked smirk, "Welcome to the group."