At the high school.
I stopped in the hallway, the echoes of the hushed voices from the makeshift dorms fading behind me. The idea of going straight to the classroom where Amy and George were weighed on me, as if I needed a moment to breathe, to sort through the whirlwind of thoughts that had been with me all day.
I found an empty classroom, its door ajar, letting a thread of silver light filter in from the window. I stepped inside and sat on the edge of a desk, the cold metal seeping through my jeans, a sharp reminder that life went on, even in the chaos.
Outside, the night sky was an unsettling mix of colors: oranges and yellows that flickered from the city, reflections of distant fires painting the low clouds like watercolors. Every now and then, the whine of a helicopter cut through the air, its lights blinking as they lifted off the rooftops of skyscrapers like mechanical fireflies.
The world out there continued to crumble, accompanied by distant gunshots, frantic honking, and emergency sirens that, hour after hour, sounded weaker, as if the city were surrendering to a final silence.
I rested my elbows on the desk, the makeshift spear at my side, its rough handle still stained with the dry blood of the zombies I had killed that afternoon, with a metallic tang that jolted me back to reality. The silence of the classroom was oppressive, yet also a relief after the day's chaos.
My mind kept spinning, reliving every moment: Alex, his decision to expel the professor, Alice's fear, Tim's fury, and now his warning that we could only take four people with us tomorrow.
Amy, George, Yuki… how could I choose? How could I leave the others behind? Would their friends come knowing what awaited them outside these walls?
The high school, with its barricades and bloodstains, felt like a fragile bubble, about to burst.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket, a buzz that felt foreign, pulling me from my thoughts. The screen showed my dad's name, Ron, though I'd saved him as 'Sly Dad <3'. My heart did a flip. I had talked to him yesterday, when it all began, but the signal had been unstable. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the knot in my chest, and answered.
"Emily? Are you there? Are you okay?" My dad's voice came out in a rush, charged with an anxiety so thick I could feel it through the line. "Are you safe? Did you eat something? Are you on your way yet?"
"Dad, calm down," I said, forcing a soft laugh, even as I felt the weight of his worry. "I'm okay, really. We all are, more or less."
I told him everything, the words spilling out as I tried to organize the day's events. I spoke with a pride I didn't know I felt, describing how, with the help of Alex, Tim, and the others, we had cleared the high school, turning it into a makeshift refuge.
I told him about the barricades, the traps Alex taught us, and how we had faced the zombies in the gym and the courtyard. But I also spoke about the dark moments: the professor who abused Alice, Tim's fury, Alex's decision to expel him.
"It was… intense," I admitted, my voice trembling as I remembered Alice's face, her hands clutching me. "There were moments when I thought we wouldn't make it."
Ron listened in silence, and when I finished, his voice softened. "I'm proud of you, Emily. What you did... not everyone could. But I need you to come back. Your mom and I can't keep waiting."
An uncomfortable silence formed between us. I knew how much my parents wanted me safe; in the shelter Ron had built on the outskirts of the city. But I also knew that with every hour I spent here, the danger grew. The zombies, the chaos, the uncertainty... it was all a threat.
I sighed, the air escaping my lungs as if carrying the weight of the day. "Alex is taking me out tomorrow morning," I said, my tone resigned. "We'll try to reach the shelter in the daytime."
I heard a sigh of relief on the other end of the line. "Thank God," Ron murmured. "But, Emily, be very careful. Follow Alex's instructions, without questioning. He knows what he's doing."
"I know," I replied, though a part of me still struggled with the idea of leaving the high school. "What about the others? Will you keep your promise to help those who stay here?"
"Of course," he said firmly. "We're already working on it. I've cleared some streets from the shelter toward the center. We have abandoned buses and trucks ready to open the way. I won't leave your friends behind."
I smiled, relieved by his proactivity. But I was also curious. "How are you organizing everything so fast?" I asked.
Ron hesitated for a moment before answering. "I talked to David, Alex's friend. He gave me advice... not just for the rescue, but for handling the refugees who arrive and the zombies approaching the shelter. He's a strange guy, but he knows what he's doing."
David?
The name intrigued me. Alex was already a mystery, with his cold pragmatism and his ability to survive. That he had an equally enigmatic friend didn't surprise me, but it made me wonder what kind of people surrounded Alex.
What did he know that we didn't?
Before I could ask more, the signal started to distort, a static hum interrupting my dad's voice.
"I love you, Emily," he said hurriedly. "Please, be safe."
"I love you too, Dad," I replied, my voice cracking a little.
The call cut off, leaving me in the silence of the classroom. I looked at the phone, the screen now dark, and felt a mix of relief and sadness. Knowing that my dad was working to save the others gave me hope, but it also reminded me how fragile everything was.
I stood up, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The sky outside was still burning with those orange hues, the helicopters buzzing like giant insects in the distance. The gunshots and sirens were a constant reminder of the world falling apart, but here, in this moment, I had a clear purpose.
Amy, George, Yuki… they would come with me. I had to talk to them, to prepare them for the dawn. I adjusted the spear in my hand and walked toward the second floor, the echo of my steps resonating in the hallway.
Tomorrow would be a new beginning, but also a leap into the unknown. And I was ready to face it, even though fear still beat in my chest.
10 minutes later.
The hallways of the building that had been transformed into a dormitory were plunged into a soft gloom, lit only by the silver reflection of the moon filtering through the windows and the few lights we left on to save energy. The air smelled of dust and something metallic, perhaps the echo of the dried blood that still stained the walls.
I walked with George and Amy, my steps echoing on the worn linoleum, as we looked for Yuki. I had arrived at room 204 minutes before, greeting my friends with a quick hug, but Yuki's absence made me anxious. I wanted to talk to the three of them together, to share the decision that weighed on my chest like a stone.
As we walked, George and Amy filled the silence with blood-curdling stories.
"Some guys shared videos in the WhatsApp group," George said, his voice low, as if he feared someone else might hear. "Attacks in the city, across the country… in the world. Entire cities fell in hours, Emily. Hospitals, malls… death traps. People don't know how to deal with zombies, not like we do."
Amy nodded, her eyes shining in the dim light.
"We were lucky. If it weren't for Alex and Tim, and what we did yesterday…" She shuddered, hugging herself. "I saw a video of New York. The zombies wiped out Times Square in minutes."
I stopped for a moment, processing their words.
The high school, with its barricades and bloodstains, was a fragile refuge, but a refuge nonetheless. Something that people locked in buildings or in their own homes probably wished they had, but didn't.
"I talked to my dad a little while ago," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "He's organizing help. Buses, trucks… he says they'll come for those who stay here."
Amy's eyes lit up. "Seriously? That's amazing!"
George smiled, but his expression was still tense, as if he didn't dare to fully trust that promise.
We continued walking to another hallway on the second floor, where we found Yuki by a window, her silhouette outlined against the night sky. She was looking toward the main entrance, where the barricades rose like a puzzle of furniture and metal. We approached in silence, but she jumped when George cleared his throat.
"God, don't do that!" she exclaimed, turning with flushed cheeks. "Kimitachi wa kureijīda!" she blurted out in Japanese, her voice a mix of reproach and affection.
We laughed softly, relieved to see her, though I noticed her eyes returning to the window, toward Alex, who was waiting for Tim at the barricade. There was something in her gaze, a softness I hadn't seen before.
Admiration? Something more?
A strange pang went through me, something I couldn't name, but it burned like jealousy. I shook my head, annoyed with myself for even thinking it.
"Come on, Yuki," I said, forcing a smile. "We need to talk."
The four of us found an empty classroom, with scattered desks and a whiteboard covered in scribbles. I sat on the edge of a table, taking a deep breath to steel myself.
"Alex told me we're leaving tomorrow at dawn… He's taking me to my dad's shelter. And I want you to come with me."
The silence that followed was heavy. George frowned, Amy blinked in surprise, and Yuki lowered her gaze, her hands clasped.
"Are you sure?" George asked, his voice tense. "The streets are full of zombies. We saw it in the videos."
"I know," I admitted. "But Alex and Tim know what they're doing. And I can't leave you behind."
I looked at Amy and Yuki. "You guys are my family here. I want us to be together."
Amy smiled, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Emily. I… I feel safer with you."
Yuki nodded, but her expression was more reserved. "Does Alex know we're all going?" she asked, her voice soft but charged with something I couldn't decipher.
"It was his proposal," I said, holding her gaze. "But he trusts me to choose who to take with us."
I noticed her shoulders relax, and an emotion crossed her face, as if my words had moved her more than she expected. I said nothing, but that pang returned, weaker this time.
Hours later.
After a night of restless sleep in the makeshift dorms, dawn brought a cold air and a pale light that barely pierced the boarded-up windows. I met with Alex and the others in the main courtyard, where Marlon, Louis, Sophie, Minnie, and other classmates who had fought with us were gathered.
Alex was standing in front of them, his posture rigid, as if he were carrying an invisible weight.
"I have to be honest with you," he said, his gaze fixed on them. "I need to get Emily to her father. And he's been waiting for her for more than a day. The way back is very dangerous. There are zombies, soldiers, criminals, and the roads are blocked. And we don't have large vehicles to take you all. Unfortunately, we won't be able to take you with us."
The shock was palpable. Some of my classmates couldn't believe it. Others, like Marlon, nodded slowly, as if they had already expected this news.
I watched my classmates' faces, a mix of determination and fear. They understood the gravity of the situation, and that made me feel a little guilty for leaving them. But at the same time, I knew there was no other solution. Alex also looked conflicted about leaving them.
"I know this is difficult," Alex said, his voice soft but firm. "I know you feel lonely and scared, but you have already gone through the worst. The transition from what was to what is now."
He paused, giving them time to process his words. A pause that even served for me to think about how I could do what Alex is doing in the future.
I could also help the rest… Just as he does.
"You are survivors. Not only that, but you are so capable, you can survive on your own. You just haven't realized it yet," Alex continued as the idea of being an example took root in my mind.
"Marlon, your leadership thinking is impressive, the way you organize and protect the others is invaluable. Minnie, your courage to do what is necessary is priceless. Louis, your loyalty is an anchor that will hold the group together. And Sophie, your ability to plan in moments of chaos will keep them safe… You are strong, stronger than you imagine."
Alex's words seemed to bring more energy to my classmates, even making me rethink my own worries. Their faces, which had previously shown fear, now filled with a new determination.
"It's very likely that Emily's father, Ron, will help you soon," Alex commented, giving them some hope, hope that he also expected to be fulfilled.
"The best thing you can do is to stand firm, as you have proven to be. Follow the instructions we gave you about zombies, precautions, ways of confrontation, food rationing, and always stay together... And, above all, don't let fear control you; we are no longer in a world where fear is an option."
Alex's words had emboldened them all, and we who were leaving could do so with the idea that they would survive without problems.
"We'll do it, Alex. We'll keep this place standing. And it will be a safe place you can return to, if you ever need to. Or at least, we'll wait here for all this to end."
When I heard Marlon's words, a bittersweet taste appeared in my mouth.
Alex crouched down and left a couple of bags and backpacks that he had brought from the car that Tim and Sonny used.
The bags contained a large number of supplies, such as first-aid kits, weapons, ammunition, and medicines that Ron had collected for the rescue cars that Alex and his friend David had recommended him to prepare.
David, again.
There were also some useful tools to improve their combat capability.
"Thank you so much, Alex," they all said.
The farewell was quick and silent. Tim and Alex said goodbye with a simple nod.
Minnie and Sophie hugged me.
"Thank you, Emily… For everything," they said.
"We'll see each other soon," I told them while trying to hold back my tears.
We walked toward the main entrance, where George, Amy, and Yuki were waiting for us. They also had serious, guilty expressions on their faces.
We passed through the labyrinth of barricades, the crunch of our footsteps echoing in the silence. The sun was beginning to peek out, dyeing the sky a pale pink.
I turned to look at the high school one last time, its gray walls marked by chaos, but still standing firm. I noticed that Alex was doing the same, his eyes fixed on the building, as if he were engraving it in his memory.
I thought about everything we had lived through in less than two days: the fear, the blood, the loss of Sonny, Alice and Rose's pain, the transformation I felt in myself. I looked at Amy, George, and Yuki, their faces tired but determined, and then at Alex, whose presence was an anchor in this hell.
The future was uncertain, but for the first time, I felt I could face it.
With a lump in my throat, I took a step forward, the sun warming my back, as we left the high school behind and moved into the unknown.
.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
First, I want to say that the end of this chapter is a bit rushed, because it was actually 1.5 chapters long.
Emily says goodbye to her classmates and really knows it's just a see you soon.
The story will follow both Emily and what happens in high school, jumping from first person to third person.
However, I have a question.
Do you really want to keep reading this?
The question is more for Mellenshot.
My friend, do you want to keep reading Emily's perspective, or do we just continue with Alex in the other novel?
If you want to keep reading it, I'll keep posting chapters for you, thanks for your continued support.
In any case, I'll continue the novel, but once I have more time and don't have to cover for my father at his job.
But I'd still like to know what you think.
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Read my other novels
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 81)
#Vinland Kingdom: Race Against Time (Chapter 94)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 9) (PAUSED)
You can find them on my profile.]