One Week Later

Ryan

M: You're too funny!

M: Did you take your exam yet?

R: Not yet, I'm waiting in class. Hopefully

he won't show up so we don't have to

"What's up?" I glanced up at Logan, peering over my shoulder as he grabbed a seat.

"Nothing much." My attention reverted back to texting Mel.

"Is that the chick you've been on the phone with every night?"

"It hasn't been every night, man." I shook my head, dodging his accusing look.

"Dude. It's every night. I'm keeping track because I'm losing sleep."

I narrowed my eyes, "Please. Like you haven't kept me up at night before."

"Not consecutively." He retorted.

I shook my head, letting out a dry laugh, "Well, yeah, it's the same girl."

"Does she go here?" Logan prompted, fully invested in my relationships.

"Nah, she goes to Penn State." I clicked my pen, feeling nervous for some reason.

"Penn State- Pennsylvania?"

I laughed when his eyebrows rose into his forehead, "The one and only."

"How'd you start talking to her then?"

"We spent New Year's in New York with some mutual friends."

Logan's face lit up, "How was it? Jen and Stacy went to the city too. You should've met up."

"It was good. Crazy, but good. Stacy and Jen are a bit much for the group I went with."

The lecture hall's door flew open as Professor Carter threw a stack of papers on his desk and began unpacking, "Hopefully, you guys won't fail this exam like the last one." His voice carried through the room. No one made a sound as the professor handed the exams to his teaching assistants, and they began distributing them.

Halfway through the exam, a muffled shout reached our room. Heads turned to the door as another shout sounded through. The door swung open, "It's nice of you to finally join us-" The professor's voice slowed at the sight of Jen stalking into the room with-

"Is that blood?" Logan whispered next to me.

What the fuck.

As students began whispering, Jen's attention snapped towards us, her eyes calculating and analyzing who was speaking. Professor Carter pushed his glasses up with a shaky hand, his demeanor completed changed, "Excuse me, but I'm going to have to ask you to-"

Jen cocked her head slightly before lunging at the professor. Her face sunk into his neck before coming up for air with a mouth full of blood and skin.

I blinked. My hands balled into fists as I tried to figure out what I just saw. What the hell was going on?

Screams filled the air, bringing Jen's attention back to her audience. Some students began running for the doors, others began screaming, some doing both. All I knew was I shouldn't bring attention to myself. She had a wild look in her eyes, and if this was some sick joke, I didn't want to be a part of it.

I glanced at Logan whose mouth had fallen open, his eyes glued to Jen. I looked back at Jen, who had began running towards one of the screaming girls in the front row. "We've got to get out of here." I stood from my seat slowly, looking around at the panicked faces of my peers.

Logan followed me as we moved down the row, passed the girl crying over her exam.

As we tread to the front of the class, I found Jen's original target. The professor lied there, his empty eyes glazed over and a chunk of his neck we bitten off. My brows scrunched at the wound. Even if a wound that deep could be created with makeup, the metallic smell of blood couldn't be replicated that well.

Something pulled me, and I quickly pushed it away. I turned to Logan who held his hands up defensively, "Let's get out of here."

With one final glance at Jen consuming one of my classmates, Logan and I fleeted the room. Chaos surrounded us, and my classmates that had ran out before, were now running down the halls.

"This way." Logan followed me as I moved away from the screaming crowds of people, and to a less congested area. We ran down the halls, making a break for the dorms, before stopping short at the sight of Jen's friend.

"St-" I grabbed Logan's shirt to shut him up. I knew he wanted to ask Stacy if it was really her, but with how Jen's targets were anything that made sound, that move wasn't going to help us.

Stacy sat on her feet, chowing down into what looked like an unsuspecting person. She practically moaned when she took a bite of his guts, her eyes shutting in satisfaction. Blood ran down her face, and covered her hands.

I turned to Logan and lifted a finger to my lips, before walking quietly around her. Once we passed through several hallways, we made it outside and booked it for our rooms.

The dorms seemed to be unaffected, students meandering through the lobby. Logan and I didn't speak until we made it to our room. Upon arrival, I yanked my duffel bag from under my bed, and rushed for my dresser.

"What the hell is going on?" Logan asked, locking the door and glancing through the peephole.

"I don't know." I mumbled, shoving some clothes into a duffel bag.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Logan appeared behind me, watching me pack my essentials.

"I'm going home. I'm going to find the next flight out of here. I don't know what the hell we just saw, but this isn't a fucking joke."

"So, what are you saying? Jen and Stacy-"

I stopped packing to face him, "Dude! I don't know what you want me to tell you. You saw it just as I did. They're eating people. Extreme cannibalism? Zombies? Whatever you want to call that. I'm just not staying here."

Logan didn't speak as I continued packing. I took a deep breath before continuing, "It's better to leave before everyone knows what's going on."

"You're saying it's not just Jen and Stacy?"

I stopped packing again, "Logan. Those are just two girls on our side of the campus. Like I said, I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm not trying to find out." Logan's eyes dropped as he held the top of his head with a hand. He sat on his bed, before rushing to look at his phone.

I raided the bathroom of my stuff, and grabbed a pair of sneakers too. I tried focusing on packing. I didn't want to think about what just happened. I didn't want to remember the exposed carcass Stacy was eating from like it was the best damn steak she's had. Or how easily Jen ripped into Professor Carter's neck.

"Ryan."

Or Jen's attention snapping to the first scream she heard. Her eyes zoning in like a predator. Fuck. That's what I didn't want to think about.

"Ryan."

I turned Logan. He was staring into his phone, not even turning to me once he got my attention. "It's not just Cal, dude." Logan held out his phone, cleaning his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in one move.

I grabbed the phone, staring at the video that came in from New York. A guy ran at another guy before ripping into him like Jen. His attention turned to a mother who screamed and he jumped to bite her. The boy next to the woman stared as a stranger ate into his mom. A shot rang through the phone and the cannibal dropped dead on the woman. I handed the phone back to Logan.

New York was too close to home. I slid out my phone, before dialing my dad.

"Come on," I grunted, "Pick up!"

On the third ring, he finally did, "Hello?"

"Dad. I'm coming home. Have you seen what's going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"People are biting other people. On campus, and in New York. check the news. Or all the news channels. I'm going to book the first flight out of here, and I'll call you back with the details."

"Emma!" My dad called, I heard shuffling over the line. I pulled the phone away from my ear when it dinged.

Mel: good luck on your test!

"Ryan, are you still there?" My dad asked, as I brought the phone back to my ear.

"I'm here." I paused, my eyes drifting to my duffel bags. I couldn't leave Mel out of this. I didn't know how this would play out, but she was alone. I sighed, "Do you think you can do me a favor?"

This chapter's a little shorter than the previous ones, and I think I prefer this than the longer ones. Let me know what you guys think! Don't forget to comment and vote!