Funny Things...

Okay, I know I may have that there won't be any posts for a while, but the only homework I got today was to get exercise books and read a few chapters of a book that I've read and such things.

Rest assured, on Monday I get my first assignment of the year, for Science, and it counts for, like, 40% of my semester grade, or something like that.

So, while I have time, I will post.

Because I was just checking over my blog's stats, and I've learnt that I am a mere 22 page views away from 5000.

Five thousand views.

That's crazy. I've had this blog for just over a year. Say, 400 days.

Five thousand views, in about four hundred days, having accumulated fifty followers, which really should be forty nine, because I don't count.

But the principle.

Which will make my stats page say that I have 5000 page views, 50 posts, and 50 followers.

That's a lot of fives.

And a lot more zeros.

Which is nothing less than pure awesomeness.

So, I'm gonna write somethin' real quick now, and post it when it's done.

... Though, it may take a little longer than expected, but it'll be up by tomorrow afternoon.

Warnings.

Okay, so, I think, all of you, should be very privileged that I am taking my now very precious time to write a blog post.

Because, this second, I am irritable.

It has taken most of my self control to not tell the people I have spoken to after school today to piss off.

And it really isn't because I'm angry, Zath, Rim and Flame. Lu, you may notice that you are the exception, but, then again, I did mention something about you reminding me of the only person I would welcome a conversation with right now.

So, to all of you, I doubt there will be a blog post for a while.

I'd like to get to a nice 50 posts, but seeing as school just went back today, and I have 11 weeks of school this term (not to mention that the final week is camp so I will have no internet, and most likely no one I like enough to talk to for a whole week) which is to be coupled with the fact that I'm now in Year 10, which makes so little sense to me when I say it out loud- but basically it's a truck load of works, and I need A's in basically every area heard of and more to be able to take Extension 2 English next year- And I REALLY want that.

So, for probably the first time ever, I am going to determinedly stick my nose to the grindstone and actually get all of my homework in on time this year.

And any free time I have that isn't devoted to moving house, I will be using to write my Hunger Games competition entries, because if I don't I won't have time- and that would suck.

...

Where was I...

Oh yeah.

Anyway, I'm currently irritable because people keep interrupting me. And I'm reading. I find it unfathomable that people have the audacity to talk to me when I very clearly have a book that I am reading in my hands.

And it's a good book.

It's a special book.

It is the only book I've ever received as a Christmas present.

It is one of the two only books that I have that no one other than me is allowed to touch- save one person.

The other book on this remarkably short list being my copy of TEOTW, which is signed to Sparky.

There ain't no one who touches that and lives.

'Cept for Derek, cause it's his signature.

And Hayley, cause she's the reason it's special in the first place, and I trust her.

Anyway, the point of this post is, I'm at school, no time for writing, and if you want to talk to me- expect me to be rudely dismissive for the next day or two.

Also, if I get time to write beyond the HG entries, I'm going to be focusing on New World.

Which I'm considering taking down, because I do think if I worked on it enough it'd be publishable.

Uh...

How do I end this...

That'll do.

A Question.

One, simple question.

Do any of you think that- with the aids of time travel- it would be possible to be your own mother?

Before any of you start calling the men with the nice, pretty straight jacket, the question was inspired by panel seven of this comic:

So. That leaves the question. Aided by time travel, is it possible to give birth to yourself?

Writing is HARD...

I know most of you will understand what I'm talking about, but my WORD it's hard sometimes. Sometimes you get that perfect flow where the words are practically flying out of your head, and other times every single sentence you write simply looks wrong. And you sit there, tearing at your hair and grinding your teeth, trying to figure out what the flying flute is wrong with that goddamned sentence. Because you change it, and edit it and flip words around and it's still sitting there, glaring at you screaming 'I am your terrible grammar incarnate. Hate me.'

Okay, so, I could be overreacting here, but it just drives me MAD. Completely up-the-wall, psycho, bonkers, mental-crazy.

Or other times, where you have this BRILLIANT idea for a plot twist and you sit down at your laptop/computer/notebook and one of two things happens. Either you have completely forgotten what the idea was- all except the detail of it being simply mind-blowingly twisty and such. OR the idea is right at the front of your head and you can't find the right freaking words to put your idea onto paper.

It. Is. MADDENING.

That was all.

Vanish.

That is the title of this short story. Vanish. It's 1008 words long, and I'm going to use it for my Writer's Club required 1000 words, cause it's funny. It should be, at least. It was written in an hour, so don't expect it to be excellent.

I was sitting in a café when he walked up to me and sat down. He removed his hat and placed it on the table in front of me, then pulled his scarf off and folded it up, which he placed on the table next to the hat. He then pulled his gloves off and placed them on top of the scarf. Next, he pulled his jacket it off and hung it over the back of his chair.

“Quite finished?” I murmured. He laughed.

“Never one for hello’s, were you?”

“Nope. Want something? I haven’t ordered yet.”

“Not thirsty.” He chuckled.

“Still working for the Sanctuary?”

“Still investigating your murder.”

“And how’s that going for you?” I asked, smirking at him. He scowled at me.

“It’d be a lot easier if you’d let me know that there was no murder a month ago when I started.”

“You should’ve asked.”

“I thought you were dead?” he said, arching an eyebrow at me.

“Geez, sarge, I thought you knew me better than that.” I said, standing up.

“I thought you said you hadn’t ordered.”

“I hadn’t.” I picked up scarf and wrapped it around my neck. “Mind if I keep this? No? Good.” I walked out of the café and stifled a giggle when I heard him sigh. I stepped out into the cold street and tugged my coat around me more tightly. I started down the road and kept my chin tucked into the scarf. I counted in my head and got to eleven before he reached my side and matched my pace.

“Did you miss me, Zath?” I asked.

“No.” he replied coolly. I shouldered him lightly.

“The truth.”

“Fine. I did miss you. Glad to see you’re alive and well, Sparks.”

“So, I was murdered. Who by?” We’re now sitting in my living room, talking over hot chocolate.

“Don’t know.”

“Cause of death?” I ask.

“Unknown. You vanished.”

“Oh?” I grunt.

“Didn’t turn up to work. Didn’t answer any phone calls. Didn’t answer any of my phone calls. Weren’t at your house-“

“You mean here?”

“Yes. I managed to contact Hayley, who said she hadn’t heard from you for as long as you’d been gone for. Same from Vulpin. You literally vanished.” He says, sipping his drink.

“Curious.”

“You’re acting as though you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“I’m a good actress.”

“Very funny. Seriously, where were you?”

“Away.” I reply.

“Do you get a kick out of being vague?”

“Possibly.” I smile. He scowls at me.

“Why don’t you want to tell me?”

“More fun this way.”

“Sparky…”

“Zathract…”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Sparky!”

“Zathract!” at this point he looks as though he’s about to punch me, and I’m basically grinning my face off.

“I swear to God-“

“Which God? The Faceless Ones? The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit? Amun? Anubis? Geb? Horus? Isis? Osiris? Ra? Seth?”

“Are you trying to piss me off?”

“Yes.”

“You realize that I’m already angry at you, right?”

“Yes.” I’m not even trying to keep the smile off my face.

“Then tell me where you were!”

“Why?” I ask innocently, stirring my hot chocolate.

“Because if you don’t I’ll throw something at you.”

“What is there to throw?” I ask. He’s silent for a moment.

“Tell me.”

“Say please.”

“Please tell me.”

“No.” I grin. He throws his hat at me. It hits me in the chest, and I fall off the chair, pretending it hurt.

“Please tell me?” I hear him say, his tone very close to- but not quite- pleading.

“Nope!” I call, lying on the floor.

“Why not?”

“Cause this is fun!”

“Maybe for you.”

“Oh, are you sulking now?” I ask, sitting up.

“No.” he says, folding his arms.

“I think you are.”

“I am not.”

“I think that Zathract is frustrated because he can’t get me to give him a straight answer.” I say, giggling. He glares.

“Aw, c’mon, you’ll look back at this and think it was really funny.”

“It could just make me want to hit you.”

“It could, but I don’t think it will.”

“What makes you so confident of that?” he asks. I stand up and take a sip from my drink.

“Because you know if you hit me I’ll just electrocute you.”

“That’s beyond the point.” He mutters. “You’re getting me off topic.”

“Am I? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Where were you.” He didn’t phrase it as a question this time. Oh, geez, he is ticked off. This is great.

“Well, Sherlock, I wasn’t at work, I wasn’t with my friends, I wasn’t dead and I wasn’t home. You’re a detective. Figure it out.” I half sing.

“Or you could just tell me.”

“But that won’t happen.”

“Why not?” he asks.

“Cause this is more fun.” I repeat.

“Sparky, tell me this second or I’ll…”
“You’ll what?”

“I’ll think of something, and then do it.”

“Want some sunflowers to chop up?”
“Yes.” I walk into my living room, pick up a vase of sunflowers and hand them to him. He nods and clears his throat.

“Tell me where you were or I’ll throw these sunflowers at you.”

“Shock horror.”
“I’m serious.” He says.

“I bet you are.”

“I mean it.”

“I don’t doubt you.” I reply.

“Then… Why aren’t you telling me.”
“Because it’s a vase of sunflowers, Zathract.”

“So?”

“I don’t care if you throw it at me.”

“Oh, would you please just tell me!?” He exclaims, placing the vase on the table.

“I was on holiday, Zathract.” I say, finally. He gives me a look that screams ‘I don’t believe you’.

“Wouldn’t you have told the Sanctuary?”

“Well, I did. Except then my phone broke, and I couldn’t remember any of my contacts. I figured that the messages had gone through. It would seem they didn’t.” I explain.

“That was it?” he asks.

“Yup!”

“You mean I went to all the trouble for-“ I cut across him.

“Yup!”

“And you couldn’t have said that in the first place because…?’ he asks.

“Cause this is more fun.”

Titles Really Suck.

Seriously, I hate thinking up names for these blog posts. I can't say something directly related to my post, cause that tales all of the mystery out of the situation. And I can never thinking of anything else. Like, ever. Read my blog post titles. They suck. Really.

Anyway, I have been writing, I have some more of New World for you. Just as a warning, there is some zombie jargon in this next part.

PLEASE PERSEVERE. I KNOW IT'S BORING. IT'S STILL IMPORTANT.

I haven't yet managed to write more of my SP fanfic, but it will get done. I have also written some more HP/Victorious, but seeing as no one here other than Lu, Val, Rim and Zath will understand any of my well placed references, I really don't see the point in posting it here. (Please feel free to ask me to post here. I will if anyone shows any interest, cause it IS being written.)

I'm also going to take this opportunity to ask you guys of a favour. I am damn, freaking determined to finish New World. I will finish it, even if it kills me. So, if I EVER say I'm giving up on it, you must PROMISE to make me keep going. Bombard me with e-mails. Comment until the cows come home. Spam my Skype. I don't care. Just make sure I don't quit. 

I don't care if I have to rewrite the bloody thing a THOUSAND times, I WILL finish it! I WILL!

NO COMPROMISES! EVER!

And with that;

‘That, is an AK47. Be careful with it.’ He said. I nodded.

Soon enough, Tim had told us the basic plan and location of the compound, and a few ground rules.

‘Don’t run unless they run, don’t jump unless they jump, in fact, don’t do anything unless they do it first.’ He told us as he did a final check through the rooms.

‘Why?’ Cody asked. Tim had halted suddenly, nearly making Cody crash into him. We all took a subtle step back when Tim faced us, looking more serious than he had since we met up with him. Which was a feat in itself.

‘They learn.’ He said, simply. ‘Every single thing an Infected sees you do, it copies. The only thing the infection knows is to bite and to learn. And if one Infected learns, they all learn.’ He started to flick the lights off.  ‘If you were wondering, the only way to contract the virus is to breath in a certain concentrated amount of it, or to be bitten by someone who has already contracted it. But the infection itself is equipped with a sort of neural-relay thing. Too complicated for you to understand. Once a person is infected, their minds get stripped of everything. Memories, emotions, even how to use their own bodies. This, in turn, allows the infected mind to be connected to every other Infected’s mind. So, when one of them learns something, it only takes a few seconds for all of them to know. So, don’t do anything until they do it first. For example, if one starts to run at you, sprint.’ He nodded as he made his way to the entrance. ‘Of course, there are limitations. An Infected can only run as fast and swim as well as the body allows it. Part of the virus causes rot, as you’ve noticed, which would be detrimental to anyone.’ He stood by the door and though for a long moment. ‘On top of that, it destroys the nervous system. A zombie standing in an inferno won’t know it’s burning, or that it should move. This is probably more bad than good, though, because that means if it loses an arm, it’ll keep going. Aim for the head. Destroy the brain. Or the spinal column, but that's harder.’ Tim looks at us. ‘In conclusion, don’t do anything an Infected doesn’t do first, destroy the brain, and you had better have being paying attention, because I don’t intend to say that again.’

Tim wasn't so well-equipped with melee weapons, which meant the others were down to metal bats and knives. In short, we were a group of teenagers facing a situation we never knew we’d need to be ready for, and close to no experience defending ourselves. Ross had fired a pistol before, earning him the Magnum he had been gripping tightly. He also had an axe strapped to his back. Kaley had a crowbar, and she’d also been learning Krav Maga for a while. Lia had a metal bat, cause she used to play softball. Cody had a pair of knives, because he was easily the most mature out of us. Tim was equipped with an Assault Rifle, and he had a shotgun strapped to his back. I had the AK47 and nightstick hung through the loops of my jeans.

‘The route we’re taking goes past my house. I have to check on my sister. I don’t care what you say, I have to make sure that she’s okay.’ Ross said. Tim looked at him for a long moment. Ross matched his gaze intensely, which left the rest of us standing in the awkward silence. Eventually Tim blinked.

‘Fine. But we don’t hang around for more time than necessary. Do you have a key?’

‘Yeah.’ Ross replied.

‘Then you unlock the door, you go in, split up and then meet back at the front door in no more than two minutes. If you see an Infected, do not engage unless it comes at you. If you spot a living, breathing girl, coax her out. Check for bite marks and report back. I will wait outside and prevent any from coming in. Let’s go.’ Tim opened the door and walked out of the room. Kaley was directly behind him, followed by Cody, then Lia in the middle, then Ross, and then I brought up the rear. Once we had left the hallway, we emerged into the sunlight, which definitely took me by surprise. I squinted and scanned the area, but there were only two or three zombies in sight. We walked through the amusement park, barely a word passed between us. Tim lead us along, never stopping, never slowing. Not a single zombie noticed us, let alone attack us.

‘The infection didn’t occur too long ago.’ Tim thought aloud, ‘They haven’t gotten hungry yet.’

‘They have to eat?’ Kaley asked.

‘Yes. They need fuel, but not air.’

‘Wait, are they alive or dead?' Lia asked.

'Both.'

Eventually we reached my street, and I could tell from Ross’s behavior that it was all he could do to not run to his house. We passed mine and I lingered slightly to look at it. It was exactly the same as I had left it that morning. No disturbance. Nothing that could let me know of what had happened. Kaley doubled back to stand next to me.

‘We have to keep going.’ She said quietly.

‘I know.’ I murmured. We walked back to where the rest of the group was waiting.

‘Remember what I said before. Don’t linger in there. You have two minutes exactly from when the door opens. If you aren’t back by then, I’m coming in.’ Tim ordered. I nodded and Ross unlocked the front door to his house. He walked in first and we followed. We stopped in a circle.

‘Ross, you search the living and dining rooms. I’ll search the kitchen and games room. Lia, Kaley, Cody, you split up the bedrooms and upstairs bathroom. Go.’ I instructed. I walked into the kitchen with my hand on the handle of the nightstick, and my gun lowered. I checked in all the cabinets and swiftly made my way into the games room. I checked my watch and noticed that I had only thirty more seconds. I walked back into the hallway as the others came down the stairs.

‘You go out, I’ll find Ross.’ I said. They walked out and I went into the living room. I saw a shadow in the corner and realized that Ross had found Katie. But he was backed up into the corner and she was, well, not all there. I took the Nightstick out and was about to run up behind her when I remembered that I couldn’t. I walked up and slammed the stick down on the back of her head. She turned around and moaned at me. I stepped back and slammed it down on the front of her head, then the side, and then the front again. I paused for a second and she dropped to the ground. I glanced at Ross, who was staring at me like I was out of my mind. I took the handgun from him and shot at Katie’s rotten, beaten head. I gave him the gun back and grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the house.

‘I heard a gunshot. Was it necessary?’ Tim asked.

‘I dunno, I didn’t really have time to pull the axe off of his back and I didn’t want to waste any of my own bullets.’ I snarled. They all looked at me.

‘The girl was already gone. Ross was never going to be able to pull a gun or an axe on her, and I’m really quite fond of the idea of him alive, aren’t you?’ There was a long moment of silence.

‘You killed my sister.’ Ross said quietly.

‘She was gone.’

‘You don’t know that.’ Ross said. I faced him and glared.

‘I’m sorry, but I think you’re forgetting something here. You aren’t the only one who’s lost family; you’re just the only one to insist on checking upon family members even though you know there's no point. Now look me in the eye and tell me she wasn’t a zombie. I dare you.’ His eyes flickered with rage and surprise. I maintained my glare and eventually Ross backed down.

‘You’re right.’ He looked at the ground. I nodded and Tim started walking again.

‘I sincerely hope none of you ran. Just cause you couldn’t see a Z doesn’t mean they couldn’t see you.’ Right as he said this, one of the zombies moaned and started to run at us lopsidedly. We all stopped, the creature was most of a block away, but it was slowly figuring out what it was doing, and it was getting faster.

‘Shit, run!’ Tim said, breaking into a sprint. Without hesitation we ran after him. He turned left and we all skidded around the corner after him.

READ AND REVIEW!!

I HAVE RETURNED.

Well hey there.

So, my cruise was awesome.

I've been writing (a little) and experiencing withdrawal symptoms from being away from the Internet (okay, not really...)

Anyway, as I go through this post, there will be a couple pictures, but not many, seeing as most of the ones I took were of the people I met while I was away.

But, to start, the single most amazing pair of shoes I have ever, and will ever see in my life.

Yes, they're Harley Quinn shoes. And, yes, they're frikkin' awesome. It's kinda hard to tell from the pictures, but the laces have playing card suits on them. I want these shoes.

Scratch that, I need these shoes. I mean, look at them. Just look.

Anyway, I'm back from my holiday, and this is my holiday post. Now... Highlights of my trip...

Hmm...

Well, the ship stopped in Noumea, which was... Nearly no fun for me, because at the time I was on crutches.

Oh yeah, that reminds me, on the first full day of the cruise, I was at a party in the Teen Club and I tripped and twisted my ankle.

But, anyway, cause I was on crutches, I couldn't really go anywhere, because the crutches were practically causing as much pain as walking normally would've. I may be exaggerating a little, BUT IT REALLY HURT. I went to the Aquarium, saw the Crown of Thorns, spent five minutes watching it move while pointing at it and saying 'Who's destroying the Great Barrier Reef? You are! Yes you are!'

...

I like starfish.

The next stop was Mystery Island, which is where I got things for my friends, and a shark-tooth necklace for myself, which I haven't taken off since.

After that was Luganville, which I didn't get off the boat for, simply because I was about to leave when a Kiwi kid from Teen Club walked up to me and said;

"I just got back, I took a taxi to town, drank a dodgy Sprite and walked all the way back. It's terrible."

So I stayed on the ship.

(Side note: Did you know that when Kiwi's say 'deck' they pronounce it like 'dick'? I have earned endless enjoyment from this discovery.)

The next stop was Champagne Bay, which I swear is the most beautiful beach I've been to in my life.

I got a coconut there, and I drank some of it.

... Don't drink it.

Just don't drink it.

The rest of my time was spent staying up obscenely late and talking to the other teens I meet on the boat.

Some stand out ship-board moments would be...

Oh, I remember one.

There was this room called the Centrum that spans through seven or so Decks, and it has two glass lifts. The carols service was held in this room, which has some stairs between the two lifts that lead from the fourth deck to the fifth one. The crew stood on those stairs while they sang the carols.

Anyway, my small-ish group within the Teen Club decided to watch the carols, but about halfway through, four of the boys got bored.

You guys know the part of Gangam Style where the lift doors open and there's a guy gyrating over PSY?

They did that. They went up, they came down, they stopped at the floor the rest of us were on, we saw a security guard coming up behind them, ran around the entire boat and then they went and did it again.

And, if I had gotten the DVD, it would have that on film.

Another time I was talking to a guy about L4D and another guy (who was directly involved in the carols service escapade) had taken a third boy's navy hoodie and then proceeded to tackle me.

It was kinda funny.

...

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Oh, one last thing, the boy who the hoodie belonged to has promised to read SP. Hellz yeah.

And that's the view from the front of the ship.

Merry Christmas, Guys!

Okay, this is my official Christmas blog post, people!

I leave in five hours and twenty minutes for my ten day long cruise, and BOY am I excited! I mean, a boat! I love boats! Boats are good! But boats also lead to consequent swimming, and further consequent beaches. Yurgh.

But, moving on, I do have a writing project, but you don't get to see that...

*evil laugh*

Anyway, on the night before last, equipped with my sonic screwdriver, I went to the Sydney Opera House to see the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular!!! With Alex Kingston and Mark Williams as MCs! Yes, that's right, I've been in the same room as Alex Kingston and Mark Williams. Booyah. They played music from seasons five, six and seven of the new Doctor Who, with a special piece from the fourth season which was played to each of the ten Regenerations! They also played the Freedom Song which- Shh, Spoilers- Is what played when all of them were together flying the TARDIS right before Donna... You know...

And, as soon as I figured out what it was, made me cry. I haven't cried like that since Dumbledore died in Half-Blood Prince.

They played it out with the theme song (SO GOOD) and, of course, the person who yelled "YOWZA!" when Alex Kingston came out was sitting in my row, three seats over. I don't know him, I really don't.

So, as my mum pesters me to 'get off that damn laptop', I wish you guys a very Merry Christmas (no references here), and a Happy New Year.

And, a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrZ8xNOSgOc

Seasons Greetings, guys!

New World, Remember That?

I hope you do remember it, because- Merry Christmas- HERE IT IS!!

People used to make fun of it. How prepared we were. Or how prepared we thought we were. Very few made it beyond the first hour, less alive at the end of the day and almost none at the end of the week. Teenagers, it would seem, are not as expert as they hoped they were on the topic, mainly because a vast majority of us cannot wield a gun. We had whole discussions on what we would do, but no one managed to factor in that the lack of any fighting training would probably cause their death. I was lucky, to say the very least. I picked, very possibly, the best day to skip school. There were seven of us then. Three boys, four girls. Ross, Cody, Hugo, Naomi, Kaley, Lia and me. We’d been planning it for a few weeks. I started… It started with Cody, at lunch. He was talking about how he’d kill for a break.

‘Cody, you couldn’t kill someone.’ Lia teased.

‘I could. If you offered me a day off for it.’

‘Cody, I don’t think I’ve even seen you kill an ant, you wouldn’t kill a person.’ Ross pointed out.

‘So?’ Cody said. We all laughed and then Hugo spoke up.

‘We do deserve a break though. We could just-‘

‘Skip!’ Naomi interrupted.

‘So, wait, that’s, Hugo, Naomi and me in. Who else?’ Cody asked.

‘I would like to go, but Cody, it isn’t ‘Hugo, Naomi and me’, it’s ‘Hugo, Naomi and I’, just to let you know.’ Kaley pointed out. Cody stuck out his tongue. Ross drew his attention away from trying to figure out what kind of meat was in his sandwich.

‘If there’s a day of school to be missed, I fully intend to miss it.’

‘I’ll go.’ Lia said. Everyone looked at me.

‘Well, I’m sure someone’ll turn up at my doorstep as I leave to go to school, so it sounds like I’m skipping.’

That was how it started. Just the seven of us, skipping school. One of the teachers probably would’ve noticed, if, you know, they hadn’t died. I left the house that morning, a week and a half ago, like any other day. You don't tell your parents you're skipping. I walked out onto the street, to promptly be thrown to the ground by Ross. I remember looking up at him and scowling.

'Why are you laying around, lazy bones?' he had asked, smirking. I stood up and brushed myself off.

‘I just got attacked by an ape, that’s all.’ I smiled as the cogs in Ross’s head turned. Before he could say anything, I started to walk in the direction of the park, the place we had agreed to meet.

‘Hey!’ Ross yelled, running after me. We’d been neighbors for over a decade and he certainly knew me well enough to know I wasn’t going to wait for him. I turned down a small alley and listened to him splash up next to me. It had rained the previous night, and at the time we thought the rain was going to let up a little. It wasn’t. It started to rain when I was half way down the alley, and it started hard. I sprinted down the alley, took a left, and ran across the park under the gazebo, Ross speeding along behind me. I stopped when I was fully shielded from the rain, and leaned against the side of the structure to catch my breath. Ross tripped up the steps onto the gazebo and fell across the floor.

‘Real smooth.’ I said, chuckling. He turned his head to face me and scowled.

‘I didn’t trip. I was testing if gravity still worked. Incidentally, it does.’ He stood and tried to see through the rain.

‘Where are the others?’ he asked. I shrugged.

‘We all live different distances from here, and the others are closer to school than us. Meaning they would leave later so as not to arouse suspicion.’

‘I guess. Do you think they’ll be here soon?’

‘They should all be here by nine.’ I checked my phone. ‘That’s in twenty minutes.’

‘Ugh.’

‘Oh, be patient for once. What do you think we’re gonna do today?’

‘Dunno. I think Hugo and Naomi are deciding.’ He said, climbing onto the railing so he could reach out and touch the rain. I groaned.

‘That means we’ll probably be seeing some sort of romance movie… I refuse to let today turn into a date for them.’

‘Hell, we’ll go somewhere and they can hide and make out in a corner. Maybe that abandoned theme park.’

‘Why would you want to go to that creepy place?’

‘Old. Rusted.’ He jumped down and loomed over me. ‘Dangerous.’ I pushed him away.

‘Shove off, you’re talking as though ghosts are real or something.’

‘Got a better idea of somewhere to go?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘Then we go exploring. Look, here’s Kaley.’ Ross said, pointing through the rain. A drenched Kaley ran under the shelter and swore loudly.

‘Damn this rain!’ she cursed. Ross sniggered.

‘I didn’t think you were one to swear.’ He said. Kaley gave him a look that could make paint peel. Ross apologized and backed up. Kaley smiled bitterly and looked at me.

‘If it rains like this all day, we might as well go to school.’ She grumbled.

‘Don’t say that!’ I replied, ‘Today can still be good!’

‘How?’ she asked. Ross proceeded to tell her the plans that had been made. Kaley looked doubtful.

‘Maybe if someone brings an umbrella…’ right as she said that, Cody came into the gazebo, through the rain under an umbrella.

‘Like this?’ he asked. He tossed two more umbrellas into the center of the dry, gazebo floor. I laugh. Natural Cody, always prepared. Ross told him the plans and he kept looking through the rain. Cody joined him.

‘Look, there’s Lia.’ He said. Lia ran up the steps, holding her jacket over her head. We told her everything and then Naomi and Hugo waltzed up, sharing an umbrella. I remember them being really angry when we’d made plans without them, but they dealt with it. Not that it matters now.

We all walked to the theme park, which took about an hour, and the rain let up a little on the way. Hugo and Naomi vanished shortly after, and little did we know, that those casual goodbyes we had made, teasing things, would b the last things we ever said to the pair. The five of us walked off to look at the ruins of the theme park. Ross was messing around, as usual and we encouraged him, as always. And we all stopped dead when we heard a scream.

‘What was that?’ Kaley asked. I looked back the way we came.

‘It sounded like… Naomi.’ I shivered. We heard a moan to follow it, and Ross practically fell over laughing.

‘God, you’d think it was zombies or something!’ he cried. ‘They probably got attacked by an old robot or something.’ He then performed a sort of half shamble- half rigid walk, imitating a zombie robot, or something. I remember, at the time there was one of those old picture stands, you know, you stick your head in the whole and it gets attached to a cartoon body. Anyway, one of those stands just behind him, off to the side a little. A gurgle and a groan shuddered from behind the structure, but Ross had been to engrossed in his shuffle to notice. But he did notice when the bullet whizzed behind his head. The bullet hit something behind the stand and there was a soft thump. We ignored that, at the time, and looked in the direction the bullet had come from, to see a lanky figure with long, messy brown hair and a sad attempt at a beard on his chin.

‘Tim!?’ Ross shouted, ‘Why did you shoot at me?’

‘I wasn’t shooting at you.’ He was already walking away again.

‘Yes you were! You practically missed by a hairs breadth!’ Ross said, stumbling after him.

‘If I was shooting at you, you’d be dead.’ Tim said. It started to sprinkle just as we ran after them. Tim rounded a corner and cut through an old ring toss game.

‘Wait, what about Hugo and Naomi?’ Lia blurted, stopping for a second. Tim, a few metres ahead of us still didn’t stop.

‘Your friends are dead.’ He said. We all halted.

‘What?’ Cody asked. Tim was gone. We all sprinted to catch up with him and we found him leaning against a doorframe.

‘In.’ He said. He ushered us in to the room and shut the door behind him, and then barricaded it. Ross backed up against the far wall in mock horror.

‘Rape! Raaaape!’ he shouted. Kaley hit him upside the head.

‘Behave.’ She said. Ross scowled at her and folded his arms.

‘Tim, what are you doing here?’ Cody asked.

Tim was two years ahead of us at school. He’d left the previous year. I’m surprised he knew our names, to be honest. The room that we were standing in was bizarre, notes and nuts and bolts and tools were all over the place. There was a corridor that we would soon learn lead to a whole bunch of new rooms. A kitchen, a bathroom other standard facilities. It was like he’d been waiting for us. And at the end of that corridor, was Tim’s own little armory. Anyway, Tim finished his story and Lia nodded, then frowned.

‘Um, that’s all nice and happy, but what do you mean by Hugo and Naomi are dead?’ Lia asked.

‘I mean that they’re dead. What’s not to get?’ Tim replied. We shared a look.

‘But… They can’t be dead.’ Kaley said, taking a tentative step towards Tim.

‘Yes they can. They are, too. Well, sort of. They’re dead and moving.’

‘What?’ Cody spluttered.

‘Animated dead.’ Tim said.

‘What?’ Cody repeated. Tim sighed angrily.

‘Christ, aren’t you teenagers? Don’t you know a zombie apocalypse when you see it?’

‘Zombies? There aren’t any zombies. Not that I could see.’ Ross muttered. Tim arched an eyebrow.

‘Well, you weren’t looking. You almost got nailed by one. I saved your ass earlier.’

‘You almost killed me earlier.’

‘Even if it were feasible for me to miss my target, you would’ve preferred I got you than the zombie.’

‘I think you’re mis-‘ Ross started.

‘Stop talking about zombies so blatantly, Tim. If this is happening, and the world has ended as we know it, there’s no point in starting fights. You shot somewhere near Ross, and he’s spooked. Acknowledge the fact that you shot very near to the spot he was standing in, and he has the right to be angry.’ I said. At this point I had sat on a desk on one side of the room, and I was gripping the edges. Lia and Cody half jumped, as if they’d forgotten I was in the room. Ross folded his arms defiantly and nodded in agreement. Tim shrugged.

‘Alright. Fair enough. Sorry, Ross.’ He said. ‘I need to go check something. Stay here. Actually, you can explore a little, but if you touch that door,’ he pointed at the door we came in by, ‘You’re zombie meat.’ He left the room through the corridor, and we all shared another look.

‘Well. He’s nuts.’ Cody said.

The thing that happened next very possibly qualifies as the scariest moment of my entire life. You’d think, considering how safe I was, I’d find the several moments in the following days where I almost died scarier, but no. It was then. This was the moment when it all started for real. Lia had left the room to find a bathroom and the four of us, company I would grow very used to, were doing our own little things. Ross was looking out through the small, barred window in the entrance door, Cody was sorting through his rucksack and Kaley had approached me.

‘So. You think this could actually be zombies?’ she asked.

‘Nope.’ I said frankly. She had opened her mouth to start a new sentence when Ross chimed into our conversation.

‘Look at this.’ He said. I remember that really distinctly the way he said it. There was no emotion in his voice, no excitement. It was like he’d died a little saying it. Kaley walked over and gasped.

‘Guys…’ she said. Cody waved his hand, signaling that he’d be there in a sec. I lazily walked to door and forced my way past Ross and Kaley to see.

How I wish that I’d never seen what happened next.

How I wish I’d just died with the others.

There was a figure, standing down the end of the hallway. They were slouched, favouring their right side. They shambled into the light and I saw their back. They looked normal, save the clumsy walk and the poor posture. But then they looked back at me. It was a girl- I’m sure- and she would’ve been pretty. She would’ve been beautiful. If she had a jaw.

Or if her body had turned with her head.

I remember her turning properly and stumbling towards the door. I remember screaming and tripping backwards. And, above all else, I can remember the way her hand reached through the bars, searching for me.

Tim rushed into the room to the sound my screams, ready to fight. He relaxed his position when he saw the scene and pulled me to my feet.

‘I don’t have enough patience to be this nice every time you see a zombie.’

‘It surprised me.’ I muttered. He didn’t respond or react and left the room again. I glared at the back of his head as he left the room. Cody was looking at the hand, which was waving madly. I do think it was fair for me to have been spooked, the damn thing tried to eat my face. I scowled at the door, and then looked up at my friends, who were staring at me.

‘Take a picture, it’ll last longer.’ I grunted. Lia stumbled back into the room.

‘Guys, you gotta see-‘ she paused, ‘Why are you on the floor?’

‘It’s comfy.’ I muttered.

‘Really? I mean, it’s concrete and-‘

‘Sarcasm, Lia. I fell.’ I growled, standing up. Lia frowned at me.

‘So, what were you going to show us?’ Cody asked. Lia looked confused for a moment, her train of thought obviously changing tracks, and shook her head.

‘Can’t remember. Ross, are you okay?’ she asked, her voice sounding concerned. I glanced at Ross, who was several shades paler than he normally was.

‘Katie.’ He said, jumping into action. ‘I have to see if she’s okay.’

‘Ross-‘

‘I have to see if she’s okay, Kaley.’ he was about to go find Tim when Tim, timing perfect, walked in.

‘Ross, you seem to misunderstand.’ He points at the hand that was still groping through the door, ‘That is what we call a zombie. There’s that one, trying to eat us, and there are thousands of others shambling around the city. Leaving this room would be like signing your suicide note.’

‘But Katie-‘

‘Is dead. Swallow it and get on with life.’ Tim left again. I glanced at Ross again, wincing. Katie was Ross’s little sister, and he loved her more than anything else on the planet. Lia squeaked suddenly, making everyone look at her.

‘Oh yeah! Follow me!’ she said, leading the way out of the room. We were guided into a small hallway, and for the first time we saw a small kitchen, and a bathroom. And, at the end of the hallway, there was an alarmingly well equipped armory. Cody mumbled something and entered the bathroom. That earned a chuckle from the rest of us. Tim was in the kitchen, packing some sandwiches into a backpack. He had several stuffed backpacks next to that.

‘As soon as I’ve finished packing these bags, we’re taking off.’ Tim said, holding his hand out, ‘Phones, iTouches, and any other devices you wish to keep.’ Kaley arched an eyebrow.

‘You’re shitting me, right? Thirty seconds ago you said it was suicide to leave.’

‘And thirty seconds ago it was. Things happen in that amount of time. For example, I have determined what strand of the virus has been released. My least favourite one, in all honesty.’ Tim said, still holding his hand out. Ross’s eyebrows flew up.

‘Strand, virus, what the hell are you talking about?’

‘After I left school I signed up to be a scientist in an underground company that dealt with Bio-weaponry. I was directly involved in the creation of the Letum-Putro virus, and I have detailed knowledge upon each of it’s strands. For example, if the first strand had detonated, our lives would be a whole lot easier. Though, in the end, this strand- the fifth strand- is better than, say, the third one, which would make the zombie’s flesh basically turn into Kevlar.’ Tim rambled. At that point, Cody had returned from his trip to the toilet and was the only one of us who had understood any of what Tim had just said. Kaley and I shared a look.

‘What?’ I said, simply. Tim sighed.

‘The virus was contained in a special unit, and it was breached. Call me a coward, but I decided to high-tail it outta there. I was headed for my safe house, here, and I stumbled across you on the way. Sorry, I decided to save your asses and now,‘ he waved his hand, ‘You’re going to give me your phones or whatever and we’re going to go to the back-up compound.’ I pulled out my phone and handed it to him. After a small hesitation, the others did the same. He handed us each a backpack and walked into the armory.

‘Have any of you used firearms before?’ he called.

‘Yup.’ I said back. The others looked at me. ‘Oh, get over it. Dad took me to a shooting range a couple times.’

‘You should’ve taken me!’ Kaley grinned. Tim emerged again and handed me a gun.

‘That, is an AK47. Be careful with it.’ He said. I nodded.

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