"It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change."
- Leon C. Megginson

CHAPTER I

The Dead Delinquents

NOBODY EVER expected the world to come down to this, especially not in their lifetime. Cannibalistic monsters at every turn, waiting for the moment it can get its cold hands on its prey. The once colorful city was now dark and stained crimson. Blood, guts, and brains splattered across sidewalks and buildings. It covered graffiti in alleyways and smeared across the doors of small shops.

The world had turned into a living Hell.

Eight delinquents stood dumbfounded, looking down onto the chaos from the roof of a detention center. Each of them had been rescued by their brutal violations. Zombies raided the facility while they were safe in solitary. They hadn't a clue what was going on outside the secured door as their guards and fellow inmates were being torn to shreds. Committing crimes had paid off.

"This isn't real." Stated an auburn-haired girl, furrowing her thin brows in incredulity.

The back of her orange jumpsuit read 'ENGER' in black, bold letters. Evelyn Enger - arrested for theft and assaulting an officer. She was thrown in solitary for the violent nature of her crimes. Her mother mysteriously died after her arrest, though, Evelyn knew exactly why.

"We have to get weapons." A raspy voice turned heads.

The voice belonged to Hayden Fredericks - arrested for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Her appearance alone showed that she belonged in juvie. Her buzzcut, bleached hair, and naturally low-set brows made her intimidating. She tightly clenched her fists until they were a ghost white. Hayden put on a brave face, though her chest tightened with fear.

"How?" Questioned a lanky teen.

Ethan Valentine - arrested for attempted murder. He was known in the city for being cheerful and kind. Nobody knew the full story. His puppy dog eyes sparkled with fearful tears as he watched a zombie limp across the street. He stuffed his boney hands in the pocket of his jumpsuit, stepping back from the edge.

"We'll--"

"Oh for fucks sake, Hayden, open your eyes." A blond boy replied, gesturing to the zombies down below. "We're as good as dead."

'KEYS' his uniform read. Collin Keys - arrested for possession of illegal drugs. The classification of his crime wasn't enough to put him in solitary, but his annoying demeanor drove officers up the wall enough to place him into it.

Hayden glared, "My eyes are open, Keys. That's why I'm saying we need to get weapons."

Collin scoffed and stepped back to stand alongside Ethan.

"What if we're the last people alive?" A girl's voice trembled.

Gracie Gray - arrested for murder and placed in solitary immediately. Though, much like Ethan, nobody knew the full story. Her face contorted in worry as she stared at her fellow inmates. None of them had an answer.

"Seriously! Are we just going to let ourselves die, too?" She added, raising her steadied voice.

"I'm fine with that." Collin nonchalantly shrugged.

He turned to Ethan to see his reaction, though his expression didn't change.

"Stop saying that we're going to die!" Cried the youngest member of the group.

Archer MacLaughlin - arrested for multiple murders and placed in solitary without trial. After being beaten at school a few too many times, he brought a knife to school. Without thinking, he stabbed his bullies. Once, twice, thirty-two times. He was an apprehensive boy who wasn't cut out for the harsh world that ultimately turned him into a murderer.

Hayden sighed in frustration, "Before I was locked up, there was a building that sold weapons maybe a mile or two from here."

"Well, they're slow. We can easily out-run them." A teenage girl observed.

Aria Tucker - arrested for assault and thrown in solitary for her violent crimes. When her twin brother came home saying that he was going to kill himself, she put it upon herself to assure that he would never be picked on again. He wasn't, but it came with a price to pay.

"Yeah, but we know nothing else about them." Collin dryly responded.

At last, a deep, masculine voice filled the tense air, "We'll climb off the roof. Make a run for the store the new girl mentioned. If it's only a mile or two, it won't be that hard."

Britton Salls - arson and murder and thrown in solitary instantly. He considered himself a respectful man. Though, if someone messed with him, he wouldn't hesitate to get revenge. Those rules applied to even his family.

"Don't call me 'new girl'," Hayden mumbled.

He turned from the road to face the others. Like Hayden, he put a brave face on to diminish his fear, even if it still lingered.

"We get weapons, we kill the dead, and we find somewhere safe." He concluded.

"We have to think of all situations, though!" Ethan frantically replied, adjusting his dainty glasses. "This could be the safest we'll ever be!"

"What the hell are you talking about? There are zombies in the building! We have no food, no water! We'll either die up here or die at least trying!" Gracie argued.

"She's right." Aria agreed.

The detention center was no longer an option. The windows and doors were completely shattered. The dead bodies of officers, workers, and inmates limped around the halls, groaning as they searched for food. Their best option was to find someplace safer.

"If those things have taken over the shop already, we're so dead." Ethan nervously bit his bottom lip.

"Way to encourage me," Collin replied caustically.

They followed Britton to the built-in ladder on the side of the building. Carefully, they made their way down. The only sound was the soft, unsteady breathing they desperately tried to hide. Collin was the last to hit the sidewalk. The sound of his worn-out converse hitting the concrete grabbed a zombie's attention.

"Fuck." He muttered under his breath as the corpse began to inch towards them.

"Run," Aria whispered, leaping back from it. Adrenaline rapidly coursed through her body, causing her to shout, "Run!"

They fled. The body reached out in front of Hayden. She attempted to dodge it, but the dry, bloody hand smeared across her face and jumpsuit, leaving a stain. However, at the moment, it was the least of her worries.

The delinquents ran as fast as they could as more and more cannibals began to crowd behind them. They ducked and jumped from zombies that reached out for them, though most of them didn't bother to chase them. Hayden led the group, trying to remember the way to the store. It was difficult. The city didn't appear the way she remembered. It was as if they were in a new place, engulfed in a wave of darkness.

The hot sun beat down on them as they raced for dear life. Sweat beads appeared on their flushed faces. Adrenaline kept them running, no matter how tired their muscles got.

"Over there!" Hayden exclaimed.

She rushed over to open the door, letting herself in. Britton held it as the rest stepped inside. Before a zombie had the chance to grab them, he shut the door, locked it, and dragged a gun case in front of it.

Archer collapsed on the floor, propping himself up on his elbows and wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Get up," Hayden demanded.

"I can't." Archer's lip quivered as the urge to cry took control.

"He's fine," Gracie assured, putting a comforting hand on Archer's shoulder.

Hayden sent a glare at the both of them before walking away to collect weapons. A white cloth on the floor caught her eye. She picked it up and dusted it off. She trailed over to a glass gun case, catching her reflection. Blood smeared on her cheek. She only hoped the only way to catch the disease was if she was bitten. Hayden cleaned the blood off her cheek with the cloth before tying it around her head like a bandana. Before she could see how different she appeared, she walked off.

Britton distributed pistols to those around him. Hayden instantly caught his eye. He grabbed one from the shelf and held it out for her.

"There you go, new girl."

Hayden ripped it from his grip, glaring, "Don't call me that."

She unzipped the top part of her jumpsuit, revealing a black tank top beneath and tying the sleeves around her waist. She securely placed the gun in her waistband.

Meanwhile, Ethan had gotten his hands on an ax. It was slightly heavy, but his long fingers fit perfectly around the handle. He stared at his appearance in the shiny blade. His face was still a slight shade of pink from running and his tousled brown hair stuck to his forehead. Otherwise, he looked fine. As if he wasn't in the midst of an apocalypse.

"Badass, right?" Aria caught his attention, staring with a wide smile at the treasure she had found.

In her hands was a gold sword. She turned around to show off the holder she had grabbed, secured by a cross-body strap. She slipped the weapon inside. Ethan spun on his heel to meet up with the rest of the group, and Aria followed.

Everybody had gathered together except for two - Gracie and Archer. She rubbed his back as he calmed himself down. A few zombies outside attempted to pry themselves in but to no avail. Their limbs would fall off their bodies before they managed to get inside.

"I won't let anything happen to you, alright?" Gracie whispered.

Archer nodded and took a deep, slow exhale. Once he was calm, Gracie lifted him until he was on his feet. He was small and skinny. Gracie knew why he was in juvie, but she wasn't sure how he managed to commit such a crime.

The two met the others, and Evelyn handed Gracie her gun, leaving her unarmed. The girl knew she couldn't handle it.

"Thanks," She said.

"Everybody ready?" Britton asked.

Hayden nodded.

"Let's go save the world."

AUTHORS NOTE

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