CHAPTER 3
Eric ran towards the gym door while calling out, “George, grab a weapon and come!”
“Ehh,” George took a step backwards. He looked at the baseball bat in the storage room, but couldn’t find the courage to go over.
Michael grabbed a metal bat for himself and ran after Eric. They reached the gym door just as a student with a bloody arm came through. The injured student’s face was pale as she muttered, “What the hell is happening? What are those things?”
Eric and Michael found an opening and rushed outside. In front of them were multiple fields. The school district wasn’t lacking wealth, so they had a baseball field, a track field, and a football field. They couldn’t see them because of the fog, but they knew they were there. Eric and Michael kept their eyes peeled for any figures in the fog.
“Faster, faster! Run back to the gym!” A deep voice came from the fog. Eric and Michael recognized the voice as the gym teacher, Mr. Gray
Eric and Michael stood guard at the door as over ten students made it inside. Groaning could now be heard in the distance. The zombies were coming. A student that made it back to the gym called out, “Come inside, quickly! I’m going to lock it!”
“Don’t you dare!” Eric shouted without turning around, “There is still Mr. Gray!”
“Tch,” The student clicked their tongue as they fled further into the gym.
Eric and Michael waited with their bats at the ready. Eric’s heart was thumping in his chest, but his resolve only strengthened. A figure suddenly came sprinting out of the fog. Eric’s eyes lit up as he recognized them. Eric asked quickly, “Mr. Gray, are there any more?”
Mr. Gray was a giant. Some would mistake him for a bodybuilder, but he was just a humble gym teacher. He carried a student in each arm as he ran. As he passed them he responded, “No! I made sure of it!”
Michael’s eyes narrowed as he saw the condition of the two students being carried by Mr. Gray. They were unconscious, and a trail of blood was left on the ground. Michael turned around and began to head towards the gym door, only to find a figure not far from the door. He called out, “Eric, on your left!”
Eric snapped his head to the side and found a zombie next to the gym door. It came from the side, not the front. It would make it inside before they returned. Eric roared as he tightened his grip on the metal bat. He sprinted at full speed towards the zombie with his arms raised. When he reached the zombie, he planted his foot on the ground and twisted his waist. His stance was similar to hitting a baseball.
THWACK!
The bat struck the zombie headon. A cracking sound rang out as the zombie’s nose flattened. The zombie was sent flying backwards. It landed on the ground with a thud.
A small screen appeared in front of Eric.
-6
Eric looked down at the zombie and saw that the screen above its head changed.
Level 1 Zombie
Health: 4/10
“It’s still alive?” He mused to himself. The groaning of the zombie below him confirmed his guess.
Michael called out to him, “Stop dawdling!”
Erin looked over and saw Michael at the gym door. He was the last one outside. Just as he turned to run, a hand grasped his leg. He looked down and saw the zombie about to bite into his leg. He reacted quickly and swung down with all his strength.
-4
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The zombie collapsed on the ground, motionless. The zombie suddenly lit up. It glowed bright white before dissipating into motes of light. To Eric’s alarm, the light flew into his body. A screen appeared in front of him, followed by two more.
10 XP Acquired.
You are now level 2.
You have gained 1 Stat Point.
“Come on! More are behind you!” Michael called out again.
The groaning of zombies could be heard behind him. Eric didn’t spare a glance behind him as he ran towards the gym door. As soon as he ran through the door, Michael slammed it shut. He calmly took the janitor’s key from his pocket and locked the door. He turned around and scanned the gym, evaluating the situation.
George was still frozen by the storage room. Mr. Wes was tending to the injured student from Eric’s classroom, while Rebecca was talking to the student’s from the gym class. Mr. Gray was covered in blood as he set down the two unconscious student’s. No, wait. Michael’s eyes narrowed as he saw one of the unconscious students twitch. He sprinted towards Mr. Gray as he shouted, “Get away from her!”
Mr. Gray looked over in confusion, only to wince in pain. He looked down to find his student biting into his neck. He grew confused, “Sally?”
Eric looked over at the commotion, his eyes dimmed as he realized what happened. He followed after Michael. When the student didn’t let go, Mr. Gray instead grew angry. He used his hands to push Sally’s head with his full strength. He successfully pried Sally away, but a chunk of his neck was bitten off. He grabbed his neck and took a few steps backwards as he cussed, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Michael arrived at this time. He looked down to see the other student beginning to awaken. He pointed with the bat, “Look, both of them have a screen above their head.”
Everyone in the gym was looking over, and they all saw the now familiar screen.
Level 1 Zombie
Health: 10/10
Mr. Gray heard the groaning sounds of his two students as they struggled to stand up. He muttered, “They died? I… I thought I saved them…”
Eric recognized one of the students. It wasn’t a friend of his, but it was an acquaintance. His heart clenched in pain as he realized they were dead. gone from the world forever. The two zombies were now standing. They slowly turned towards the students and began to walk. Michael raised his bat and prepared to strike. Eric grabbed Michael’s shoulder, “What are you doing?!”
Michael glanced at Erin with a frown, “What do you think? You know what we have to do.”
Eric looked back at the zombies as a burning sensation ran through his chest. The sensation rose to his head. He recognized the emotion. Rage. He raised his arms and clenched his bat as tight as he could. His whole body twisted as he let out a fearsome roar, “AHHHHH!”
The zombie that was once his acquaintance fell backwards. Their head detached from their body and was sent flying. Screens appeared, but he ignored it. He couldn’t help but scream, “God damnit!”
-10
10 XP Acquired.
Michael took on the other zombie. He stance wasn’t as refined as Eric’s, so it didn’t pack as much as a punch, but he was quick. He released a flurry of blows against the zombie’s head.
-3
-3
-3
-1
The zombie collapsed to the ground before dispersing into light. The light flew into Michael’s body.
10 XP Acquired.
You are now level 2.
You have gained 1 Stat Point.
“Oh? Interesting,” Michael thought to himself with an amused expression.
“Guys… the blood, it won’t stop,” Mr. Gray’s voice came from beside them.
Michael and Erin turned to see Mr. Gray clutching at his neck. His hands were covered in his own blood. Michael shook his head, “Looks like the zombie got an artery.”
Eric ran up to Mr. Gray as he took off his shirt. He wrapped it around Mr. Gray’s neck as tight as he could before tying it into a knot. Still the blood wouldn’t stop. A makeshift bandage wasn’t enough. The artery was cut, and fixing that was impossible. Mr. Gray realized this as he let out a hollow chuckle, “Damn it. How could I die…? My life was just starting…”
Eric knew what Mr. Gray meant. Practically everyone in the school knew he just got married. Not only that, his wife was pregnant. Eric’s chest clenched in pain as tears formed in his eyes. He watched helplessly as Mr. Gray’s face became paler and paler. Mr. Gray layed down and stared at the ceiling aimlessly. Eric knelt down beside him and grabbed his hand. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t think of anything. What could one say to a dying person?
Just before Mr. Gray was about to pass, he looked over at Eric and smiled, “Take care of them.”
He was referring to the students he died protecting. Given Mr. Gray’s robust strength, he could have been the first to return. Instead he was the last. Tears ran down Eric’s face as he nodded fiercely, “I will!”
“G..oo..d…”
Eric gently placed Mr. Gray’s hand on the ground before standing up. Michael’s voice came from beside him, “Do you want me to do it?”
Eric clenched his bat, “No.”
A groan came from beneath him. Eric’s eye twitched as he muttered, “I’m really beginning to hate that sound.”
Eric summoned his resolve and looked down at Mr. Gray. He couldn’t help but feel a sliver of happiness as he muttered, “Look at that, Mr. Gray. You’re a level 2 zombie!”
Level 2 Zombie
Health: 20/20
Eric channeled his fury through his bat as he quickly dispatched the zombie. The screens that appeared gave him no happiness, only helplessness. He couldn’t save Mr. Gray.
20 XP Acquired.
You are now level 3.
You have gained 1 Stat Point.