by Lee, S. G.
“You BITCH!” Whitney finally cracked. With tears gushing down her face she stormed out of the gym. As a closing rally cry, she shouted, “I hope you all rot in hell!”
Coach Rollins smiled. Who needs a DVR when I’ve got cheerleading tryouts?
***
It was late when Emma finally pulled into her driveway. Filled with a strange mixture of exhaustion and euphoria, she drifted through the front door but couldn’t help envisioning a little red man, complete with pointy tail and pitchfork, doing a dance of glee as if she had just sold her soul.
Matt was in his room, still puzzling over the day’s events. He considered the possibility that he had slipped into another dimension. Like Superman’s Bizzaro World, everything was opposite—black was white, up was down, and Emma was a cheerleader. At least I won’t have to ride the bus tomorrow, Matt thought as he drifted off to sleep.
***
Shambling through backyards and alleys, the flesh-eating monsters who had once been Travis Kepler, Scott Raines, and Marjorie Olson wandered on in search of their next meal. Knowing something wasn’t right about the trio, young children had the good sense to run, but adults did not. They chastised their young ones, using it as a lesson to teach better manners, but they fell into the ever-hungry clutches of the creatures their children had been wise enough to avoid.
No matter how many bodies they ravaged, the hunger for living flesh drove them onward. Their presence went largely unnoticed, even as they shuffled onto the pristinely manicured lawn of the cemetery where Jordan Bridges and Tanya Carmichael were paying respects to his grandmother.
“They’re coming to get you, Tah-ne-ya,” Jordan taunted his nervous girlfriend.
“You’re such an ass! You know that movie freaks me out. I try to do something nice by coming out here with you to put flowers on your grandmother’s grave and this is the thanks I get?”
“Hey, c’mon, Tanya. I was just trying to make you laugh because you seemed so upset. I’m sorry. I mean it. Forgive me?”
“Okay … I guess. But you’re still a jerk.”
“I know. That’s why you love me. Man, someone must have spread manure around here to fertilize the ground ‘cause it stinks out here, huh?”
Tanya placed the floral arrangement on the grave, anxious to get out of the cemetery as quickly as possible. “Can we go now?”
“Not yet … Look, those people over there.” Jordan pointed just a few yards away then wrapped his arms around Tanya. “They’re coming to get you Tah-ne-ya.”
“That’s it! I’m going to sit in the car. You suck!”
Tanya stormed off, leaving Jordan by the gravesite. While he paid his respects, she was texting her best friend to complain about his juvenile behavior.
“Sorry, Mom-Mom, I know you’ve always said cemeteries were a place for reverence and respect but I couldn’t help it. You would have liked Tanya a lot. She keeps me in line, well, she tries to anyway. She …”
Jordan’s sentence was cut short as a pair of hands clamped around his windpipe and squeezed. At first he assumed it was Tanya, but the burly hands were too broad and forceful to be hers. He tried to shout, but he couldn’t even breathe. Panic rapidly pumped oxygen-depleted blood through his system, leaving him dizzy. His body screamed out for air yet not a sound could escape his lips.
Jordan could feel something brush against the side of his face and then the agonizing pain hit as his ear was ripped from his head. Then another set of teeth tore the flesh from his shoulder and still another from the back of his neck. Though he tried to fight off the onslaught, he was left flailing in hopes of catching Tanya’s attention.
“Oh, ha-ha, Jordan,” Tanya muttered as she watched what she assumed was a staged attack. It wasn’t until she saw the creatures tear into his abdomen and pull out organs that she realized it wasn’t a joke. Terrified, she started the car and sped off.
***
The next morning, Evan was inspired with a new plan as he drove to the Wexley home. Trying to speak with Emma at school had been impossible, but the testosterone-exuding freaks thwarting him would not be at her house. As an added bonus, he would have Matt in his corner to help smooth the way. With a new sense of purpose, he walked to the Wexleys’ front door.
Jillian heard Evan’s car pull into the driveway and she had no intentions of letting him charm her new puppet away. Before he could knock, the door flew open and he was greeted by Jillian’s harsh glare.
“Evan, is there something I can do for you this morning?”
Completely caught off guard, Evan had not anticipated Jillian’s intervention.
“Um, I’m giving Matt a ride to school,” Evan replied, though from the inflection in his voice it sounded more like a question than an answer.
“Maybe I can’t prevent Matt from seeing his so-called friends, but I can forbid you from coming into this house. I will not have you upsetting Emma like that again … ever.”
“But, I …”
“Evan, I’m trying to be polite, but if I have to I will call your parents and explain to them exactly why I don’t want you anywhere near my home.”
Accepting defeat, Evan got back into his car and waited for Matt. Mom has enough to worry about without Jillian’s drama, he reasoned with himself.
Meanwhile, Emma was standing in front of her mirror. The reflection was staring back at her with horror. She had never realized how short the uniform skirt was until now. She suspected that Jake wouldn’t mind but that Evan might …
She was right. The moment Evan saw her he stormed over to her locker and glared contemptuously.
“I didn’t know Halloween came early this year, but congratulations, that is a truly horrifying costume. Did Jillian get you a makeover or a lobotomy?”
Emma had made a vow never to speak to Evan again, but his goading was wearing at her resolve. Appearing out of nowhere, Jake and his crew came to Emma’s aid. Furious, he pushed Evan into the lockers.
“You’re really starting to piss me off. Come near her again and I’m gonna kick your ass.”
Emma was frightened. While other girls may have found Jake’s assertion to be romantic, she didn’t like the thought of violence; especially on her account.
***
Later, as Evan sat in class, he thought about how Emma must have felt. Racked with guilt, he knew he needed to apologize to Emma. Not just for being so insensitive, but for everything. Between the next few classes, Evan moved covertly through the halls, hoping to catch Emma alone. Seizing his opportunity, he crept up behind her and lightly tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, Emma turned around and found herself face to face with the one person she’d sworn to avoid. He was so close she could barely breathe. Evan reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands, and lifted her chin so their eyes met.
“I am so sorry, Emma.”
She could not focus on what he was saying. Her bewildered heart throbbed just like it did the day he told her he loved her. Jillian’s shrill voice was in the back of her mind shrieking, Don’t be stupid; stay away from him! Yet she could also hear his words echoing in her brain, Emma, I love you, followed by her own proclamation of love. As if there weren’t enough voices in her head, Jessica’s revelation that Evan is only with you because Matt paid him joined the swirling vortex of sound clips playing in her mind. She no longer knew what to believe. Slowly returning to reality, Emma tried to concentrate on what Evan was saying.
“I never meant to hurt you, Em.” Again, Evan was cut off.
“But I’m gonna hurt you,” Jake sneered as he shoved Evan away. “Are you stupid or something? How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from my girl?”
“Your girl?”
“How much are you getting paid this time, Stone? There must be a new bet to get her back.”
The look on Emma’s face told Jake he’d pushed the right button. She stiffened and took a step backwards.
“You knew about that?”
“Of course, baby. Everyone knows ab
out that.” Jake’s confident reply filled Emma with dread. “It makes no difference to me though.”
Jake had just heard the story that morning but he was sure that he could use it to get exactly what he wanted from Emma. He roughly grabbed her and planted a kiss squarely on her mouth. Only it was not a tender first kiss; he was staking a claim.
Emma’s thoughts turned to the absurd. It’s like he’s marking his territory. I guess I should be glad he’s not a dog or he would have peed on me.
Noticing that Emma did not object to being manhandled, Evan walked away. He recognized the crushing blow of defeat. He was too late and now Emma was gone. Glancing back, Evan saw Jake’s lips crushing down again on Emma’s and his hands hovering just above the hem of her short skirt.
When Jake kissed her again, Emma realized that she felt nothing. Evan’s kisses had sent tingles racing up and down her spine and her head had spun at a dizzying pace. Her heart had pounded and her skin had flushed at Evan’s touch, but with Jake she felt numb.
Fate is cruel, Emma decided as she scurried off to class. Completely blocking out the lesson, Emma deliberated on her situation. Jake’s new habit of calling her ‘baby’ irritated her. Is his head so crammed with football plays and crude jokes that he can’t remember my name? Sadly, she had no other choice. Without Jake, she would be a social pariah. Not that she minded being alone, but being mercilessly mocked every day was something Emma hoped to avoid.
After school, Jake walked Emma to practice to make sure she had no further contact with Evan. Her earlier encounter was, in Jake’s opinion, too close for comfort, but now he had her right where he wanted her: humbled by the knowledge that everyone knew about the bet. He was certain that Emma would be eager to do anything he wanted.
“So, babe; Saturday. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
He didn’t ask her out; he told her.
Emma started to jog over to the practice field when Jake called her back. “Hey! Aren’t you forgetting something?”
In response to Emma’s questioning look, he pointed to his lips and puckered. Obediently, Emma returned, rose to her tiptoes and gave Jake a kiss.
“That’s better. Now you can go.”
Emma shook her head in disbelief as she joined the other girls. They were all giggling with delight over her kiss. If one more person told her how lucky she was, Emma was certain she would puke.
***
Evan read the same sentence three times before finally tossing his book on the nightstand. He hadn’t been able to focus on anything except his hatred for Jake. Sighing, he clicked on the television and grabbed his journal.
I don’t know what she sees in him. He’s nothing but an overgrown, barely educated Neanderthal. Just hearing him say her name makes me want to puke. Hell, he doesn’t even say Emma; he calls her ‘Baby.’ Could he be any more disgusting? I wish … Evan set his pen down. His wishes could fill the entire book. Frustrated, he reached for the remote and turned up the volume.
“We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news from your Channel Nine News Team. I’m Tom Albright and this is Meredith Cannes. Tonight, ten are dead, fourteen wounded, and at least six missing after a rampage of terror gripped the Collegeville area. One of the wounded, Ted McKinney, said his attackers bit him and ate his flesh. Be on the lookout for two males and one female described as …”
Evan hit mute and grabbed his cell phone. He was on his honor not to use it until his grounding was up, but it was an emergency. It’s happening, Evan thought, everything Doc wrote about in his book is happening again. I’ve got to warn Matt. His text messages to Matt explained what he’d seen on the news and described a proposed course of action. As soon as they wrapped up, he deleted the messages from his phone and slipped it back into his desk.
***
Saturday afternoon, Emma rushed home to shower and change for her date. She had tried on and rejected about a half-dozen outfits before calling to Jillian for help. As Jillian riffled through Emma’s closet, she pried for information.
“So where are you going tonight?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“A rookie mistake. Next time, ask. It’s easier to pick an outfit when you know where you’re going. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Jake Cole,” Emma said blandly.
Jillian was pleased with her protégé but also concerned.
“Emma, come sit down for a second.” She patted the space beside her on Emma’s bed. “Jake is a senior. He’s captain of the football team and he’s popular. He might expect certain things, so just be careful. Okay? Don’t ruin your life by getting knocked-up at sixteen. Oh, and don’t shave your legs! You’ll be less likely to let things go too far if you don’t shave your legs.”
“Are you insane?” Matt was walking by and overheard. “Don’t shave your legs? That’s the advice you give her? How about keep your clothes on and your legs crossed! Or better yet, don’t go! He’s only interested in one thing anyway. Emma, it’s not too late to patch things up with Evan.”
The answer Matt got was another door slamming in his face. Cursing under his breath, Matt swore he was going to rip her door off its hinges.
***
When Jake arrived to pick her up, he tapped on the horn and waited inside the car. Evan would have come to the door, said the voice in Emma’s head As she climbed into the passenger seat, the voice reminded her, Evan would have opened the car door for me.
The entire evening, she couldn’t help but compare Jake to Evan. Evan would have paid for my dinner. Evan would have asked me where I wanted to go. Finally, sick of her inner voice, she reminded herself, Nothing from Evan was real; it was all just a paid act, and the voice in her head finally fell silent.
When they returned to her house, Jake parked the car and turned it off. Emma said, “I’m sorry, Jake. I really wasn’t myself tonight. Matt and I got into an argument right before you picked me up.” Emma knew she was stretching the truth. By definition, an argument implied dialogue from both parties.
“Aw, babe, c’mere and I’ll make it all better.”
Emma scooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder, not understanding that his invitation had a double-meaning. In the blink of an eye, Jake was on top of her. The weight of his body crushed air from her lungs as his hands went wandering. In his fervor, Jake forced his mouth over hers and Emma’s lips felt bruised and swollen.
She asked herself, Do I stop Jake’s roving hands or try to extract his tongue from my throat?
Emma saw bright flashes of light that she was convinced came from lack of oxygen. The flickering continued; the porch light flashed spastically. She tapped Jake’s shoulder and pointed toward her house. Catching her breath, the lights flickered again.
“I’m sorry. That’s my dad. I’d better go in.” Emma detangled from Jake’s grasp and hopped out of the car.
Still unnerved after being groped, she scurried to the house. Man, how many pairs of hands does Jake really have? No way he only has one pair. Got to remember to thank Dad for rescuing me from Dr. Octopus.
Opening the front door, she giggled, “Daddy, really, was that necessary?”
“Yeah, I’d say it was.”
Matt was standing by the door; the contempt in his voice was unmistakable. He turned on his heels and stormed upstairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him.
If they hadn’t been fighting, Matt would have found her Doctor Octopus reference funny, but Emma didn’t bother to share it. She missed their closeness, that twin bond they’d always shared. Nothing, and no one, had ever come between them before and she’d naively assumed it would always be that way. Her inner voice said, Just go talk to him but she feared his rejection most of all. Obviously he hates me enough to humiliate me in front of the entire school. What’s stopping him from degrading me at home? It’s hopeless. I’ve lost my only friend.
***
Cursing, Emma dragged herself out of bed. She resented having to give up an entire Sunday for the cheer squad’s
raffle ticket sale. I wonder if I could convince Jillian to donate enough money so I don’t have to go. Traipsing around the mall in her uniform wasn’t the way Emma wanted to spend her day, but there was no foreseeable way to avoid it.
***
After a couple of hours with little to show, Emma sat in the food court sipping a diet cola and heard her name being squealed.
“Emma!” Lucy raced to Emma’s side and threw her arms around her. Laughing, Kate caught up to her a moment later.
“I’m so glad we ran into you, Emma. I was going to call you later. You didn’t RSVP for Lucy’s birthday party.”
“Party?”
“Didn’t you get the invitation? I mailed it last weekend. I’d hoped to give it to you in person but ....”
“It’s this Saturday! You’re coming, right?” Lucy begged.
Emma let out a long sigh for Lucy’s benefit, hiding her relief that she wouldn’t be able to go. “I’ll see what I can do, Lucy. We have a competition Saturday. Our captain said, ‘Nothing, not even death’ was an acceptable excuse to miss it. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.”
Though she hated the thought of disappointing Lucy, she couldn’t imagine spending the day with Evan; not when her feelings were still so obvious. Kate read the conflict on Emma’s face and it made her sad. She bought one of Emma’s raffle tickets and wished her well.
That night, Emma was unable to get Evan and his family out of her mind.
***
Within a few days, the trio of ravenous zombies was joined by others; a few at first then more. The merry band of flesh-eaters had progressively grown in ranks and, since they were slow-moving, they’d quadrupled in number by the second day without attracting much attention. That wasn’t counting those left behind to die, or the victims that had been completely torn apart and unable to follow their creators. The grisly remains of mangled corpses left a blood-soaked trail in their wake and still they pressed on in search of their next meal. With each slow, shuffling step, the monsters edged closer to Littleville.