One last story I wanted to get out before Pride Month was over. Like my Bowie/Raj story, this was a spur-of-the-moment when I decided to write it. I just had the idea and got to writing.
I was able to finish this story before my summer job started, so I'm not sure how many other stories I'll be able to get out.
But in the meantime, just enjoy what I have to offer.
Nia Jaxwell had to pace herself as she sprinted up the steps. One wrong move could lead to disaster. The sounds of groaning and footsteps echoed around the stairwell. It didn't seem to end, as every time she climbed up one set of stairs, another always followed.
But Nia was not about to give up. Once she reached the top, she'd be able to signal for help.
Suddenly, she tripped. She barely managed to put her hands up to stop her face from colliding with the hard edge of the step. Now that her feet had stopped, the groans and jawless screams were louder than ever.
They were getting closer.
Nia quickly got back up and continued running. It wasn't going to end here.
She turned another corner and looked up. There was the exit.
She sprinted and pushed the door open, practically knocking it off its hinges. Not taking any chances, she slammed the door shut.
Finally able to catch her breath, she looked at her surroundings. She had lost track of how long the outbreak lasted and could barely remember what the sky looked like since it was so cloudy and grey. Her once lively and elegant city was now shabby and rusted. It was also way quieter, save for the groans of the zombies. Or the shrieks from the survivors that didn't last long.
Nia stepped towards the edge and looked down. She frowned. "How did it come to this?" She whispered.
A muffled moan broke her concentration. She spun around and looked towards the door. Something on the other end slammed into it but didn't open. It wasn't going to last.
Nia scrambled to grab something on her hip. She pulled out a red flare gun, pointed it to the sky, did a silent prayer, and pressed the trigger.
A bright burst of light shot out of it and rocketed towards the sky. Nia could only hope that someone saw it.
Right at that moment, the door broke open.
Nia turned and gasped.
The horde of zombies had finally caught up and there were way too many of them. They crowded the door but were still making their way through. For one reason only.
Nia found her breaths becoming more rapid. The zombies had already gotten her mother and older brother and she was next.
They inched closer towards her, arms stretched out.
Nia tried to back up but realized she was already at the edge. A zombie swiped at her and she stepped up to the ledge of the roof.
There was nothing Nia could do. She had no weapons and no way to escape.
Except one.
Nia looked down behind her. She was at the top of the building, so jumping down would only result in a swift death and there were no other buildings close enough to jump to.
She looked up to see her flare, which was now starting to curve back to the earth below. Her only hope.
Nia took a deep breath in and turned to face the ledge. She thought of everyone she had met. Her family, her friends, her lovely wife, and her rag-tag group of zombie hunters she had grown so close to.
This might've been her last moment, but she wasn't going to let the zombies get her.
One undead creature jolted towards her, but Nia jumped out of the way.
Right off the roof.
Nia closed her eyes, hoping for a quick death…or a miracle.
"Cut!"
Nichelle suddenly opened her eyes. She was still falling but landed on a green crash pad. She sat up and looked around.
First, at the roof prop she had just jumped off of, then to the array of confused-looking extras in zombie makeup, and finally to the director's chair.
Despite the lighting obscuring most of his face, Nichelle could see him pinching his nose, annoyed.
However, it was another figure who walked out of the chair next to his. She made her way towards the stage set.
Nichelle shimmied herself off the crash pad and went towards her. "What's wrong?"
Axel, with her green jacket and black cap, put a hand on her shoulder. "With you? Nothing. In fact, that was amazing. And I'm so sorry I had to interrupt it."
Nichelle blushed. "Thanks…but, why-"
Axel pointed towards the roof prop. "Them." She was referring to the now fearful-looking zombie extras. Axel went to climb up the prop.
"Axel!" The director called out. "You're not allowed to call out 'cut!' That's my job!"
The Latina turned around. "You're supposed to call out 'cut' when someone messes up. It's not my fault you don't know how to do your job!"
"I'm trying to make a film here!" The director argued. "This is a waste of time and money!"
"What does my hat say?" Axel pointed at her head.
The director groaned. "I know what it says, but-"
"What. Does. It. Say?"
The director was now getting annoyed. She looked to the other woman on set. "Ms. Ladonna, can you please tell your girlfriend to not butt in when we're trying to do this scene?!"
Unfortunately for the director, Nichelle didn't look at Axel. Instead, she held a glare at him. "Harold, what does her hat say?" She said coldly.
The director looked around for someone to back him up, but no one said anything. After a moment, he sighed and slumped into his chair. "Head Zombie Consultant." He read, defeated.
Axel pointed. "Yes! So that means I'm the one in charge of making sure the zombies in this film are actually acting like zombies. Now can I please do my job?!" Harold didn't say anything, so Axel continued.
She climbed up the roof prop and stomped towards the zombies. The extras were now starting to fear for their lives. Unless the green screen behind them was a portal to anywhere else, they weren't going anywhere.
"Alright. You. You. And You." She pointed at three of them and waved her finger. "Come here!"
Sheepishly, the chosen zombies stepped forward and awkwardly stood at attention.
"Have you been sleeping through my classes?!" Axel demanded. "What do I keep telling you?" She raised her arms in front of her. "This is not how zombies walk. Their joints are not stiff. If anything, they're broken. They don't have control. Doing the stupid arms in front of you walk has ruined the way people look at zombies!"
The three extras were now looking pale, even through the green makeup.
"When the apocalypse does actually hit, so many people will be uninformed. It's such a clique and to see you doing it after all my lessons is infuriating! How many classes have I told you not to do that?!"
"Seven." A voice from the crowd of zombie extras spoke up.
"Thank you, Felix." She turned her attention back to the three. "So do you need another lesson!?
The extras shook their heads frantically.
"Well, you're getting one! Right now!"
Nichelle watched Axel berate the extras. A stagehand was holding a script up for her.
She was standing next to Harold, who was mortified by what was happening. He looked towards his actress. "What do you see in a girl like that?" He asked.
Nichelle kept staring at her girlfriend, listening to what she was saying.
"...and if you think I'm going to risk this film tanking because you don't know how to act like an undead being, you're dead wrong! My girlfriend is not starring in a box office flop while I'm around!"
The actress smiled warmly. "She just cares," Nichelle answered. "And I really like how passionate she is."
Harold didn't respond. Maybe it was out of respect or maybe it was fear of being torn apart for badmouthing Axel.
Either way, Nichelle didn't think about it. She was too invested in what her girlfriend was doing.
After a while, Axel had finally gotten off the roof prop, leaving behind a still mortified bunch of zombies. She walked up to her girlfriend. "Alright, we're all set."
Nichelle smirked. "Hope you didn't scare them too much."
"Don't worry. If they even use a quarter of what I told them, they should be fine. Fear is a pretty good motivator."
"I believe you." She glanced up at the roof set. "Alright, looks like I'm up again. Kiss for luck?"
Axel shook her head. "You're wearing makeup and I'm not smudging it."
Nichelle frowned.
Her girlfriend then tapped her cheek. "You can kiss me, if you want, though."
The actress immediately brightened up, leaned in, and gave a quick peck on Axel's cheek.
They both blushed slightly.
Nichelle climbed back up the roof set. "You guys ready to go again?" The zombie extras nodded, some looking more focused than others. Nichelle looked at Harold and gave a thumbs-up. She and the zombies went back to their places.
Harold sighed as Axel went back to her seat, next to his. "You're welcome, by the way," Axel said plainly.
The director didn't bother responding. Instead, he waited a moment for everyone to get in place. "Quiet on set…and…action!"
Again, this was an idea that sorta came to me randomly. I thought it was fun.
Axchelle isn't a ship that I actually think about that much, but it is fun to write. They have really good chemistry.
Also, in case anyone asks, is the director the Harold from Total Drama or just a completely different character? Honestly, I'll let you decide if it's a 30+-year-old Harold or just some dude. The name kinda stuck and I think it works in either regard. So I'll leave it up to you.
Please let me know what you think of this story. I love hearing from y'all.