Death's Little Angels

by Sylver Belle Garcia

  “We are going to take the car rider route and exit at the back of the school. I need everyone to remain calm. We still will make it to the Fairgrounds Center but this time in about ten minutes! At that time, everyone will be safe and have a chance to get to their parents or guardians.”

  Drew studied Mr. Freeman’s expression. Mr. Freeman’s mouth spoke the statement but his eyes told a different story. Drew had become accustomed to adults lying to him all of his life. His mother and then the father he never knew. All liars. Drew realized that some of the students and teachers on the bus would never see their loved ones again. He had already witnessed the death of more than half of his classmates, not to mention the teachers. Drew understood that Mr. Freeman was just as clueless and lost just like every body else as to what was really going on. Drew looked at the picture on the dashboard of the elderly woman. Her smile and spirit calmed him. It gave Drew the strength that he needed.

  Looking out the windows, Hurricane Angel seemed to be slacking up. The rain came in light spurts and the wind died down. The bus went over the last speed bump and slowly passed the choir hall, which was adjacent to the cafeteria. The bus came to resting stop. The 13-inch fence was locked during the day until school ended. Dr. Bradford would always come to unlock the gates thirty minutes before the car riders were dismissed. No one had unlocked the gates. The key was inside of the front office, which meant that someone would have to go back into the school.

  Drew’s mind was in a fog. He suddenly realized that he was at the back of the school. The cafeteria… It was in plain view. Drew gently moved Sue Ellen aside so that he could get a clearer view of the cafeteria. He noticed that all of the windows were broken.

  “What are you trying to see?” Sue Ellen whispered. Her shiny brown hair had fallen by single strands around her face from her previous messy ponytail. She slowly followed Drew’s gaze.

  “Please don’t tell me what I think that is!” Mater yelled.

  Everybody on the bus stood up and leaned towards the view of the cafeteria. Drew squeezed past Sue Ellen and Mater to get towards the front of the bus. He tapped Mr. Freeman on the back interrupting the intense conversation that the teacher was having with the bus driver.

  “Remember? There are other students in the cafeteria. Are we going to get them?” Drew asked.

  The bus driver shook his head. “We are already at the limit on the bus. We can probably hold two more kids and that’s pushing it!” The bus driver barked.

  Mr. Freeman shook his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. Drew could not decipher whether Mr. Freeman’s wet shirt was from the rain or perspiration. Mr. Freeman slowly opened the side door to the bus and for a moment looked like he contemplated not going.

  “Wait right here. We have some students in the cafeteria. If I do not come back in five minutes… You break through that fence and get out of here,” Mr. Freeman directed to the bus driver. The bus driver nodded his head through a clenched jaw and stared straight ahead.

  “I’m coming with you,” Drew said.

  “Stay here son.”

  “But—“

  “I need someone to watch over the bus until I get back. I am leaving you in charge, Drew.” Mr. Freeman patted Drew’s shoulder and before heading out the door repeated back to the bus driver, “five minutes…”

  “Be careful, Freeman!” One of the female teachers shouted at Mr. Freeman. Drew recognized her as the seventh grade science teacher.

  The science teacher, librarian, and students quietly watched as Mr. Freeman hightailed it across the parking lot towards the cafeteria. His trot came to a prowl as he crouched down near the door of the cafeteria. Once Mr. Freeman disappeared into the darkness of the door, everyone let out a huge sigh.

  Mater yanked on Drew’s shirt pulling him back towards both her and Sue Ellen. Mater’s eyes were still red from her recent loss of Marley.

  “The windows are broken. Do you think….” Mater trailed off as she glanced back towards the cafeteria.

  “I don’t know, Mater. It doesn’t look good,” Drew responded, “I don’t think Mr. Freeman should have went by himself.”

  Drew faced the back of the bus. Everyone had the look of fear and desperation on their faces. It was evident in their body language as well. Some students wept while other’s prayed. He saw Beetle and Tarynn standing together. Tarynn had grew tired and rested her head on Beetle’s shoulder. They both were leaning backwards on the seat. Billy had his back turned to Cookie who was slouching in the seat right beside him. She appeared to be asleep. Strings of saliva fell from her mouth. Drew edged closer to Sue Ellen and Mater who were currently monitoring the cafeteria.

  “Good thing about all of this is, Beetle was able to get some sugar pills from the nurse’s office on our way to the bus,” Mater said.

  “Yea, you must mean glucose tablets?” Sue Ellen corrected Mater. “Yea, I say good for Beetle because he was beginning to look a hot tamale mess,” she cracked. “Not to mention he was already thrown together as it is.”

  “I think Steven might have bitten Cookie,” Drew whispered ignoring Sue Ellen’s comment. Sue Ellen and Mater broke their transfixed stares and huddled closer to Drew in the aisle.

  “We didn’t see any bite marks remember?” Sue Ellen responded.

  “If Steven got Cookie, wouldn’t she be bleeding or turned into one of those Eater things by now?” Mater half whispered.

  “She was bleeding…. In her head. Maybe when Steven bit down, he made contact with her scalp,” Drew said. He glanced back and forth between Sue Ellen and Mater. Sue Ellen frowned.

  “Drew, if somebody ripped chunks of my hair out, I would be bleeding too. Doesn’t mean that she is an Eater.” Sue Ellen slowly turned her neck to look at Cookie. She turned back around to face Drew and Mater. “Maybe—“

  A piercing scream, that rippled Drew’s spine, erupted from the back of the bus. It was the most terror stricken scream that Drew had ever heard since the outbreak had occurred. Cookie was no longer sitting in her seat. Her teeth were lodged into the back of Billy Duncan’s neck.

  Chapter 9

  Deaths little angels sitting in a tree

  E- A- T- I- N- G

  First come the pain

  Second the ripping apart

  Third before you know it, they will eat out your heart…..

  Sheer panic broke out on the bus. A frenzied rush of bodies came towards the front slamming Drew, Sue Ellen, and Mater towards the entrance of the bus. Drew fell backwards down the stairs and had his back pinned up against the door. Sue Ellen and Mater were smashed into him as more frightened students made their way towards the front in a frenzied effort to get away from Cookie’s jaws of death. Beetle grabbed Tarynn’s hand and tried to dash into one of the seats. He managed to push Tarynn into the seat as the herd of bodies knocked Beetle over and trampled him. Some of the children climbed over seats and other students as others tried to get out of the window. Ear deafening screams continued to filled the tiny cramped space.

  “I can’t breathe!” Drew shouted. “I can’t breathe!”

  “Let me off of here!” Were the desperate pleas of the students. “Helppppp!”

  The bus driver stood up and tried to push back the herd of distraught bodies.

  “Push…the….lever!!” Drew managed to say.

  Mater reached towards the lever to release it before an elbow caught her square in the eye.

  “Ouch!” Mater shrieked as she grabbed her eye.

  “Agh!” Drew muffled as he pushed back up on the stacked bodies that were smothering him.

  He felt beating on the outside of the bus door but could not turn around to see who or what it was. Dizziness…. Drew felt his head spinning. Between the cracks of the bodies that continued to shove against him, Drew found a way to see the picture of the woman displayed on the dashboard. The shape of the face changed into that of his Mee-maw. She smiled at him, encouraging him to hold on and that help was on the way. Drew closed his eyes.


  A few seconds later, a loud CRACK and glass shattering sounded at the back of the bus. The alarm buzzed signaling the emergency door at the back had been opened. Drew heard shouts and cries throughout the bus as it rocked unsteadily with the swaying wind. After a few tussles and loud smacking sounds the turmoil came to a low. The bus seemed lighter as the alarm became silent and the back door slammed shut. The load of bodies that were piled up against Drew began to lighten as he heard a familiar voice.

  “Everybody get to your seats, NOW!” The gruffly voice said.

  Mr. Freeman! He made it! Drew thought as he tried to conserve his breathing and not suffocate. Drew’s face was red as red as a tomato. His lungs were hot and tight as he felt the relief of weight being lifted off of his chest.

  “Breathe slowly, son. That’s it. You are going to be just fine,” Mr. Freeman said as slowly made his way towards Drew. His appearance was disheveled like he had been through the battle of his life. His big chest caved in greatly once he exhaled.

  “Thank you, Mr. Freeman,” Sue Ellen and Mater whimpered together as they gasped for air. Mr. Freeman pulled the girls back to the aisle and gave Drew a hand.

  The bus driver pulled himself together after being mashed into the steering wheel. He grappled for his cell phone shaking and tried to dial a number. With no success, he dropped his head in his hands and wept silently.

  “Come on, son,” Mr. Freeman weakly said. He was sweating profusely. The teacher had a grave look on his face. He pulled Drew up with one lift.

  “You saved my life, Mr. Freeman sir. Thank you,” Drew said trying to catch his wind.

  Mr. Freeman nodded his head and tussled Drew’s hair. Tears filled the teachers eyes as the sweat continued to poor from his weeping skin. Mr. Freeman pushed Drew aside as he turned to face the discombobulated students that cried softly on the bus.

  “You are safe right now,” Mr. Freeman raised his hands in a non-threatening calming manner. “You are all safe.”

  “We need some help over here!” Tarynn yelled. She tried to assist Beetle up.

  Mr. Freeman accompanied by Drew, rushed to Beetle and Tarynn’s aid.

  “Hey Beetle…. Are you okay, man?” Drew faintly asked.

  Drew realized Beetle was in worse shape than he had imagined.

  Beetle’s frail, trampled body lay across the seat. His bony bird like chest was visible as it heaved deeply in and out. Tarynn began to fan Beetle. His skin seeped perspiration, which flowed down his body like a fountain.

  “I don’t feel too good….” Beetle breathed heavily. He weakly faced Drew and the others. The black frame glasses, that was broken, dangled from the corner of his face. The brackets on his braces were broken.

  “Use your medicine, man!” Drew instructed.

  “Can’t….” Beetle slowly blinked.

  He sluggishly pointed towards the floor. Fragments of white tablets lay crushed all over the aisle, which was surrounded by a thin layer of white film. Drew wearily stared at the powder.

  “If… I…don’t….get….some sugar in me,” Beetle attempted to swallow the thick saliva that fought its way down the back of his throat. He closed his eyes in an effort to drift off to sleep.

  Mrs. Bond reached into her pocket and pulled out a peppermint. The candy had become sticky from the rain. “Don’t go to sleep. Suck on this, honey. It should help you until we get to the Fairgrounds Center. I am thinking there should be something to help you there. Just hang on.”

  More popping sounds were heard, coming from all directions. Everyone knew too well those were gunshots. Panic once set in as the students tried to find their way on the bus.

  “I don’t see Cookie or Billy,” Mater said out of panic.

  “Cookie got Billy…” Drew said shaking his head. “From the looks of it the science teacher too.”

  “Are you okay?” Sue Ellen asked. She touched Drew’s shoulders and looked into his deep blue eyes.

  “A little shook up. But I am okay. Thanks.”

  Sue Ellen grasped Mater’s hand and in turn Mater grabbed Drew’s hand. Drew scanned the area and noticed the back of the bus looked like someone took a spray can and painted the emergency door red. Thick blood dripped from the roof of the ceiling. Billy, Cookie, and the science teacher were all gone.

  Mr. Freeman took a deep breath. It seemed as if he were in dire pain. “Nothing will happen to you, but I need to know if any of you were bitten or scratched.”

  Silence.

  “Is anyone hurt? Bleeding?”

  Silence.

  “I know all of you are scared. So am I. If this will help you come forward, I will show you myself so that those of you who were injured will join me….”

  Drew’s eyes widened as Mr. Freeman squeezed his eyes shut and the tears poured down his cheeks. The teacher continued to talk to the scared students, “and we will get through this together….”

  Mr. Freeman turned to his right. He displayed a torn shirt with a gaping wound on his right side, which was below the abdomen that bled extensively. He placed his hand over his side. And held out his free hand beckoning anyone that was injured to come forward.

  “Together…” Mr. Freeman winced with pain.

  One student, a girl who was petite, stood up and slowly limped as she made her way down the cramped aisle. It was evident that the girl had been bitten on the leg. Her pants were soiled. She had apparently lost control of her bladder during the attack.

  “Anyone else?” Mr. Freeman sweetly said.

  Two other students, two boys, who were sixth graders followed. The first boy held his arm and the other his shoulder as they squeezed through the crowd. Mr. Freeman turned to whisper something to the bus driver. The bus driver glanced up at Mr. Freeman with a look of shock and opened his mouth to argue. Instead, the bus driver held out his hand and firmly shook Mr. Freeman’s hand. The bus driver reached over to his side and passed Mr. Freeman a pen and paper. The elderly man then looked straight ahead and gripped the steering wheel firmly.

  Mr. Freeman leaned over and scribbled a note on his knee. He turned his back as he fiddled with his hand. The teacher then swiveled around and gave Drew his wallet.

  “When you get to the Fairgrounds Center, I want you to give this to my wife…. Mrs. Freeman.”

  “I don’t know what—“

  “She has a pixie cut, a brunette with dark brown cherry colored hair. You know like an angel… You will know her when you see her. Her picture is in my wallet. She is the sweetest thing the earth has ever seen,” Mr. Freeman sniffled but with a stern face.

  Drew appeared confused.

  “Go ahead, son. Take it.”

  Drew shook his head.

  “Please…”

  Drew reluctantly took the wallet and remained with a confused look on his face. Mr. Freeman ushered the three students towards the front with him. He spoke softly to each of the students then turned to face every one else on the bus. He began to cough uncontrollably. Thick unnaturally dark blood bubbled at the corners of his mouth. The young girl who was bitten on the leg had already turned pale and began to shiver violently. Her small teeth chattered in sync with her shakes. Mr. Freeman hugged the young girl pulling her close to him.

  “I am leaving Mrs. Bond and Drew Jacks in charge….” Mr. Freeman stopped to cough. “The bus driver here will get you to Fairgrounds Center—“

  “Where are you going? I can’t be in charge, Mr. Freeman. I am just a kid!” Drew shouted. Mrs. Bond, the librarian, brought her hand to her mouth and shook her head. The librarian slowly made her way to the front of the bus squeezing through the aisle that was cluttered with students who had to stand. She reached over and hugged Drew for support.

  “Listen to me, son….” Mr. Freeman closed his eyes tightly and made a grunting sound. His ashen skin began to harden as he struggled to say his final words.

  “There is…. no….time…left.” Mr. Freeman licked his lips and nodded to the bus driver.

  The bus driver quickly opened the
door and Mr. Freeman cued the three students before him to exit the bus. The girl at first put up a resistance out of fear. She looked up at Mr. Freeman blinking her bright brown eyes. He smiled down at her with reassurance and she took his hand. As Mr. Freeman and the students left the bus, Drew ran towards the door to stop him. The bus driver rapidly closed the door, stopping Drew dead in his tracks. He watched Mr. Freeman slowly limp away towards the Computer Center, which was across from the cafeteria. The petite, dainty female student dragged along holding Mr. Freeman’s hand while the two male students slowly moved along behind them.

  “Get back there with others,” the bus driver commanded Drew, “This is going to be a little rough. ”

  The bus driver looked into the rear view mirror.

  “I suggest everybody grab hold to something!”

  Drew moved everyone back and grabbed a hold of the middle seat. Sue Ellen and Mater braced themselves firmly, right behind Drew, with seats right across from each other. Beetle and Tarynn moved up behind the librarian, Mrs. Bond. Mrs. Bond did not look like her usual cheerful self. The worry lines on the librarian’s face were prominent and all telling.

  “Isn’t that the science teacher?” Sue Ellen shrieked.

  Everybody’s eyeballs fell onto the figure that stood 200 feet in front of the bus. Drew wondered how the teacher managed to make it to the fence. It seemed as if she tried to climb the fence with no success. The science teacher stumbled as she walked back from the fence and held her wounded arm. She stood directly in front of the bus, foaming at the mouth. The science teacher’s skin had turned as dark as tar giving her body an ossified appearance. Her hair fell lightly from her scalp like feathers. She continued to shuffle towards the bus unknowingly with unseeing eyes that had rolled back in her eye sockets.