Chapter 48
October 16th, 2059
Day of Death.
The day started out quieter than usual. Both Mom and Dad had been around at breakfast, but neither said much, which was just as well. Leo was in trouble for a number of things. Drug use, hitting his brat sister, ditching school. The usual.
The same odd quietness remained with him on his walk to school. Less traffic. Fewer people were out. He heard growling from an alley and the sounds of eating. When he looked, red eyes stared back at him. Assuming it was a dog, he walked by quickly, not waiting for it to finish its meal and come after him.
It wasn't until he entered the school that he heard screams and saw people running. He kept walking. This was middle school, after all. Kids were always screaming and running away from something.
He saw it. In the middle of the hallway, so horrible, his mind shut down for several long seconds.
The thing crouched in an expanding pool of blood, eating a student he vaguely recognized as a girl in a few of his classes. Her name was Shelly?... no Sheila. Sheila was being eaten alive by a monster. A monster wearing the remains of a dress shirt and slacks. It was the size of a human, but leaner, built for speed. Its feet were bare, revealing toes ending in claws that slid on the bloody tile floor, while its fingers, also ending in claws, held the dying girl down as its sharp teeth tore into her flesh, chewing and swallowing bloody flesh like a hungry animal. On its wrist was an old-fashioned watch that had belonged to Mr. Ackers, the phys ed teacher. He could just make out the time from the bloody watch dial. It was 8:05.
The monster's red eyes looked up, noticing Leo. Leo, in turn, noticed he was alone in the hallway with a monster.
His first thought was to run, but instincts suggested that running, or any display of weakness, would be a bad idea. He backed up slowly, pretending he wasn't utterly terrified. It watched him for a few seconds, then went back to its meal.
He heard his first monster scream. Combining the scream of a human enraged to the point of insanity, the cry of a bird of prey, and the grating sound of fingernails across a chalkboard would approximate the noise this monster made, though the real thing was much worse. The scream echoed in the hallways, so it was impossible to tell which direction it came from.
That first scream was answered by more like the first. Again, it was impossible to tell which direction they came from. It sounded to Leo like he was surrounded, and it was all he could do not to piss his pants.
The monster in front of him went on with its meal, not bothering to look up.
There were gunshots in the distance.
Schoolchildren ran down the hall chased by one of those things. This monster smaller than the first, but with the same teeth and claws. Same yellow-gray skin and definitely the same craving for human flesh. Years of practice avoiding bullies made Leo realize joining the running children would be a huge mistake. He slipped behind a garbage can that, through some miracle, was still standing, and watched them go by. Then he ran, dodging behind larger objects, doorways, and other children, somehow making it out of the school without being torn apart and eaten.
He took a longer route home to avoid detection, careful to remain under cover as much as he could. After seeing one of them jump effortlessly onto a roof, he kept to low areas, creeping between cars like a mouse, hiding in bushes, making part of his journey crawling on his belly to avoid being seen.
He somehow thought that if he could get home, everything would be okay. He entered through the back door, calling out quietly for parents, or anyone. Then he went to the kitchen.
“There was nobody home,” Leo said into the microphone. He stopped, took a deep breath, “there was nobody home,” he said again, unable to force himself to continue...
Stolen story; please report.
“I left the house several hours later because it wasn't safe. The next few days were a blur of running, hiding, stealing food and anything else I needed, fighting to survive,” he said, when he could force himself to start talking again. “I followed some other refugees and ended up at the refugee camp in the city stadium...”
***
Mr. Osmond studied an email.
Dear Mr. Osmond.
I've given your theory concerning the fight between Tomi and Maxine some thought, and I have to conclude there is no evidence supporting it.
First: The live interview in question was a last-minute addition to their already busy schedule to raise publicity for their new movie. A movie that, thanks to their behavior, will be delayed at best, and possibly even canceled. Nobody could have known they were planning to fight, because the girls themselves didn't know about the interview before the day it was scheduled.
Second: I've seen many staged fights, and this was not it. Punching and kicking is fine, but clawing someone's face is a potentially career ruining move and is just not done without special effects and stunt people. Also, I hate to say it because I love these girls, but neither girl is that good at acting. I'm certain the fight was real and by the end, Maxine's face was really bleeding and possibly scarred. There may be a lawsuit.
Third: There's no evidence the girls ever auditioned for the type of gritty action thriller movie you were referring to. The werewolf movies the girls act in may seem silly and stupid to you, but they're popular with children and very profitable.
If you say someone predicted the fight, it's possible they were very lucky, or they really are psychic. You might want to find out what else this person is predicting and feel free to let me know.
I believe those poor girls, Tomi and Maxine, have lost their way, and I hope you join me in praying for them.
Your Friend.
Gina Gabaldon, head facilitator of the Tomi and Maxine fan site.
***
Mr. Osmond sighed. Teaching honors classes gave him a bit of leeway in course material, at least. He'd put on a video about Galileo instead of lecturing.
He studied his cell phone, deep in thought. No question about it, this situation was bad. Fortunately, he liked to think he was very smart and knew a few things about rolling with punches. Having grown up poor, putting himself through college, working two jobs, always hustling for money. He'd used any legal or nonlegal means at his disposal until he finally graduated with two masters' degrees, only to teach in a third-rate middle school. A job he was overqualified for, but also the only one he could get in this lousy economy.
His life had been hard up to now, but he was meant for better things, and he'd die before he made a career of teaching middle-school brats.
If Leo was for real, Leo and his Afflicted Armageddon could be the big break he was looking for.
***
“I'll warn you, this won't be pleasant listening, Leo said. “I keep remembering more and more details that I'll have to go back and add, but I've given you a taste of the next fifty years, assuming Armageddon is not stopped.” The school day had just ended and Mr. Osmond had returned.
“I see.” Mr. Osmond took the tape out of the cassette player and pocketed it, along with the others. “I'll be in touch with any questions.”
“And how about if we exchange phone numbers?” Leo asked.
Mr. Osmond thought for a second, then nodded. “I already know your phone number, but I'll text you mine.
“Speaking of stopping it,” Leo asked, “who is running Bio-Blessed Inc? Somebody must have some idea who's on the board of directors.”
Mr. Osmond shook his head. “Tell you what. Why don't I listen to yours before I show you mine.” He smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Leo said. “Are you familiar with the game School's Out? I've gotten an in-game 'plant quest while playing that game, and made over 30 demon tears. I think this game is connected to the aliens.”
“Are you serious?” Mr. Osmond asked, looking dubious.
“As a corpse,” Leo said. “It shocked me too.” He remembered Trent's texts. “Crap, I got to meet someone!” He grabbed his watch and cellphone from the microwave.
Mr. Osmond gave him a half salute. “Bye.”
Leo went to the front of the school, looking for Trent's beat-up pickup truck, and not seeing it. He was about to give up and text the guy, when a few beeps attracted his attention.