Jax

Two Years Ago

I could feel the wet grass slush beneath my cleats as I bounced my leg, patiently waiting for Coach James to call me up. My blue and white jersey was still fresh and clean, not like the others who were out on the field grinding it out. The game was nearing the end of the first quarter, but I wanted to get in there and show everyone what I could do—especially Evren.

I know how much she hated coming to these games, but I was glad she was here. It cost me a Starbucks mocha frap and a promise to watch Pretty in Pink with her—again—to get her to be here. Regardless, it was worth it.

I really didn't mind watching Pretty in Pink, to be honest. Of course, I wouldn't tell her that or we would be watching marathons of Molly Ringwald movies for days.

She was obsessed with the 80s era; she said the 80s had the best style and music of all time. The music was one of the main reasons she loved the movie so much. Based on her lip biting during the kissing scene, I knew it was more than just the music—but she would never admit that to me.

I didn't care what era we were in, as long as Evren was there. She was my best friend, the one I would spend hours with, talking about absolutely nothing, but making it into something.

My mind played images of Evren's beautiful smile and the cutest dimples on her cheeks; my face flustering at the thought.

"Hey man, you okay? You sure are thinkin' hard about something," Daunte said, nudging me with his shoulder pad.

"I'm just ready to get in the game," shrugging my thoughts away and refocusing on the field.

"Yeah man, same. This game is on fire right now!" he said as he cracked his knuckles. The glimmer from his diamond earing shone through the corner of my eye.

Daunte was a great friend of mine who I met back in freshman year. Football was a passion of ours, as well as the joy we got from tackling people on their asses.

Another reason he liked it was the attention from the girls who swarmed at his beck and call. For me though, it was more therapeutic than anything. I remember my dad being a strict and orderly man who only took notice of details and strict organization when I was young. The army did that to him. What was his doing was the fact that he met another woman while overseas and left us stranded with nothing but a phone call saying sayonara. So, it was either football or punching my fist into someone's face.

My mother was a good-hearted woman who worked two jobs and took courses in college to get us where we are now. She never complained or showed any worry or fear in her eyes.

"Who you gonna take to the Winter Dance?" Daunte asked, brows raised and lips curved upward.

"I don't know yet," I said.

The truth was, I knew exactly who I wanted to ask—the one person who I would enjoy spending time with the most. Turning my head back, my eyes skimmed the hectic crowed. There she was. If smiles could cure anyone's bad day, it would be Evren's. Her hand glided a strand of long brown hair behind her ear. Her focus was on her dad.

"Ah, come on man. You mean to tell me, of all the high school girls who would literally line up at your feet, you still wouldn't know who to take?" Daunte said, smiling through his teeth.

With perfect timing, coach glanced my way. "Huxley, get your ass out there!"

I slid my helmet on as I ran across the open field. I could smell the sweet-hay aroma of the wet cut grass.

As I reached my team in the middle of the field, our coach yelled, "Rooster! Rooster!"

The word immediately snapped my thoughts back to the game play we had practiced weeks before.

We did a quick huddle before going to our positions. I leaned forward, crouching as I stared in the eyes of my smirking opponent. "You're going down pretty boy."

The fog of our breaths billowed as the anticipation grew, waiting for the quarterback to say the magic word.

"HIKE!" our quarterback shouted.

Bodies collided as chunks of grass came flying up from our cleats. My shoulder made direct impact with the smirking fool, at his waist; it took all my strength to flip his ass onto his back. I ran toward our goal.

Almost near the end zone, I turned my body towards Harry, our quarterback. He sent the ball flying, whistling through the sky. Catching the football in midair, I cradled it and held it so tight that it wouldn't bounce out of my grasp as I landed in for the field goal.

Praised by the crowd's cheers, it sent adrenaline throughout my body. The ball still in my grasp, I got up and extended both hands in the air. My team joined in with howling celebration.

Suddenly, everyone went quiet as the sounds of pings on phones echoed throughout the bleachers.

What the hell was going on?

Reflex kicked in as my hands went to my pockets for my phone. But I remembered I had left it in my locker.

The coaches told us to quickly get off the field. The principle walked past us with a mic in hand.

Losing focus on what principal Dominguez was saying, my eyes darted toward Daunte whose face was illuminated by his phone.

"Hey, what's happening?" I asked, taking my helmet off.

"It's a government alert telling us to stay inside, saying that there's been some kind of outbreak," Daunte said. He showed me the bold letters that displayed on the screen.

My mind quickly went to it being some kind of joke. Was this a prank by one of our classmates? I mean, it was a little early to start senior pranks. Usually they would wait until the end of the school year.

"Someone's pulling our leg. That's fake." I said, nudging him as I smirked.

"But how could they have gotten everyone's number to send this?" Daunte pressed his lips together.

"Remember, Troy hacked the school's online website and posted porn videos all over it. He sent notifications to all the parents and students."

He was in my PE class last year, always kept to himself, and never bothered anyone or did anything reckless. That day, he made himself known when he decided to pull off the prank of all pranks. He was the nerdiest guy I knew, but he became a legend at our school.

"Yeah fool, that was last year. He graduated, he ain't here no more."

"Someone's just trying to top him." I smiled, feeling proud that I had cracked the mystery.

Daunte nodded in approval, "Yeah, maybe you're right."

I put my hand to my shoulder, pretending to dust it off; I was feeling really good. First, scoring a touchdown and now, cracking the case of this text everyone was spooked about.

"Oh, you think you're a hot shot now." Daunte playfully wrapped his arm around my neck trying to get me in a headlock.

"I'm hot and you're not!" I said with a muffled laugh.

We quickly stopped wrestling each other when screams bolted out on the opposite end of the field.

"What the fuck?" Daunte murmured from under his breath.

My legs walked back as I saw the wave of panicked people dropping down onto the field. My eyes pinpointed on a bloody man who stood out from all the rest. He tackled another man and started eating his face off.

My head snapped back at the sounds of panic coming behind me. Both sides of the field were in chaos.

I didn't know which way to go. People kept bumping and ramming their bodies all around me.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion as one of our opponents from the field came in my view. His red and white jersey was coated with blood. In the frenzy, the guy's deep black eyes laid on Daunte. The lunatic tackled him to the ground and sunk his teeth into Daunte's arm.

The crazed football player's mouth held a chunk of Daunte's flesh, chewing viciously and gulping it whole. People scattered like ants. The football player zombie caught site of his next victim and started to chase him, leaving Daunte on the ground shaking uncontrollably.

I quickly got to him and put pressure on his wound with my hands. The hot blood seeped through my fingers; he was losing so much blood.

Setting my helmet aside, I took off my jersey and shoulder pads. A cold chill crept through my sweat-drenched undershirt. I wrapped my jersey tight around Daunte's arm.

His body stopped shaking and went limp.

His eyes were still open, but there was no sign of life inside them. His soft browns stared into the night's sky of pure nothingness.

No! He's not dead, he couldn't be. It's not possible to die from an injury like that.

"Daunte! Wake up man, please!" I screamed, shaking him violently.

Before I could absorb the loss of my friend, his leg twitched and soon after, so did his other one. A black wave of liquid like clouds started to consume his eye sockets as a forceful screech exited from his mouth. It was like he was possessed.

Dodging Daunte's lunge, I shot up and ran from his gaping mouth. Looking behind, his screams continued to chase me, as if I was in some sort of horror movie that reminded me of what was happening.

I was being chased by my best friend who had turned into a zombie.

This was no damn prank.

I collided with somebody and it sent us both tumbling down to the ground. I twisted my ankle, the sharp pain bolting though my leg as I gritted my teeth.

With an open drooling mouth, Daunte dove on top of me trying his best to take a bite.

I could feel his breath close to my neck as I tried with all my strength to push him off of me. I wasn't ready to die, and I definitely wasn't ready to turn.

A stranger's head came into view. He grabbed hold of Daunte's shirt, pulling his weight off of me.

I watched in horror as my zombie friend turned towards the man who saved me. The man punched at Daunte and kneed him repeatedly, but it made no difference. It was as if Daunte was invincible. I could see into the man's tired eyes as his brows frowned upon my friend's continued ravage attacks. He knew he was no match for him. Finally, Daunte made contact and tore a huge chunk of flesh right off his shoulder with his bare teeth. Blood sprayed out like a lawn sprinkler.

Digging my heels into the grass, I turned away and ran as fast as I could. I knew within minutes, the man would too turn into a zombie. The pain in my right leg sent shock waves through me.

I didn't know where to go or who to turn to. People all around were covered in blood and screaming. I didn't know who had been turned into one of them and who wasn't.

As a path opened up, I noticed Evren on the field crawling away from one of them. The blood from his mouth was a dead giveaway. My legs moved as fast as they could.

Searching for the closest object I could find, I reached for a helmet that lay vacant with no owner in sight.

I swung the helmet with full force and made contact with the crazed person's skull, sending him flying back and off of Evren.

I didn't stop there—I couldn't—because I knew the Z would get right back up.

As I continued to smash at his head, I could hear the cracking sounds of his skull.

My hands began to shake as I stepped away from the bloody scene I had just created. His sprawled body lay twisted and mangled. The side of his head held a deep indentation.

Evren's moans snapped me away and back to her. I leaned down and picked her up, cradling her in my arms. Searching for the nearest open and secluded area I could find, my eyes drifted to the small sports shed, a few yards past the field goal post.

I opened the door and entered the tiny room. My wheezing breath echoed in the darkness. I placed Evren gently on the ground. I tore a piece of my shirt and wrapped it around her gushing wound. Memories of Dante came to me. I had done the same for him right before he turned.

Please, no! God, don't take her too.

I placed my cold hand to her forehead. "You're burning up."

Her small frail body started shuddering from under me. Her eyes pinched shut, clenching her jaw. "I've... been... bit."

The moonlight shined through the small shack shining on her shirt-wrapped leg, now soaked in her blood.

"Everything is going to be okay."

"Don't let me turn into one of them," she softly moaned.

I grabbed hold of her hand and gently caressed her soft face. "Don't you give up on me now. You're going to make it! We're both going to make it, you understand?"

I knew the outcome of what was to come. I was fooling myself in the inevitable. It was only a matter of time, but I still wanted her to fight to the very end.

Tears streamed down her face. "My mom and dad, they didn't make it."

Images of Michael and Marie came racing through my thoughts. They were a big part of my life, especially Michael. He was the one person I looked up to and sought advice from. I couldn't believe this was happening. It was only a few days ago when my mom and I had dinner at their house. My mom... oh no, my mom! She was supposed to come late to the game.

"I have to find my mom! She was heading over here."

I got up and found my way to a sports bag. I grabbed hold of a baseball bat and jacket. I placed the jacket over Evren and rested her head on the empty duffle bag. Her eyelids remained closed, not showing me whether her eyes had changed yet or not.

I fought every bone in my body from taking those steps outside and leaving Evren alone in the shed. I looked at her one more time. I was almost expecting her to launch at me, but she didn't. She laid there peaceful.

I finally shut the door and ran back towards the bleachers with bat in hand.

Searching for my mom, all I could see was blood, blood and more blood. People continued to scream and run like a never-ending clip on repeat. I went to the parking lot to see if I could spot her car, which would let me know if she was even here.

As I got to the lot, it was far worse than the field. Tons of cars had barricaded each other. Some were flipped over and in flames. Others had traces of bloody fingerprints smeared everywhere. That told a story in itself.

I was hoping my mom's Toyota wasn't here. But I stopped breathing as I spotted her silver car submerged through a fence.

Her door was open showing her small dreamcatcher that dangled below the review mirror. Shattered glass crunched beneath my feet as I looked around to see if I could spot her. A few feet away, I could see a group crouched and tearing at a body. My knees weakened and I dropped the bat as I fell to the floor. My mom's head poked out from the group of zombies. There was a string of someone's guts dangling from her mouth. She had turned. She was gone.

Soon all their heads snaped right at me. The zombies were now heading my way.

I tried to run but my pants had caught on a sharp metal piece of the doorframe. I tried yanking myself free but it was no use. Looking for my bat, I spotted it under some bushes, but it was too far for me to reach.

Closing my eyes, I waited to be next. The loud grunts from the zombies soon were masked by piercing gunshots, sending them to the pavement floor, including my mom.

I looked over to see that a few army squads groups were exiting out of their vehicles and shooting at the zombies.

One of the soldiers broke from the group and cut my pants free. "Have you been bit?"

I shook my head no.

"You need to come with us, now!" He grabbed hold of my arm and guided me to a bus that was guarded by other soldiers.

I looked over my shoulder to see my mom's body laying there, no longer moving. I squeezed my eyes shut to fight the tears from coming down and looked forward.

"Get in," he said.

I didn't want to leave yet, not without Evren. "There's someone else. I have to get her," I pleaded.

"This place has been contaminated with the infected. It's too late for her, she's already dead."

My feet stood their ground. "I'm not leaving her. She's alive!"

"Get the fuck in the vehicle now!" he barked, shoving me into the door.

I grabbed hold of his shirt collar and pushed him back. I was at least a few inches taller than he was. The only thing he had going for him was the gun in his hand, but even that wasn't going to stop me.

"What's the problem here?" Another soldier asked. I noticed the patch on his chest that said Lieutenant McCoy.

I chimed in before the other guy could. "My friend's alive! She's in the sports shed across the field."

His eyes penetrated mine as we stood in silence.

"Two minutes, that's all you have. You don't come back within that time frame we're leaving you. Do you understand that?"

"Yeah, I do," I said.

He reached for the handgun at his side and handed it to me. "Go!"

Without missing a beat, I ran, passing everything and everyone avoiding all contact as much as I could. As I got to the small shack, the figure of a zombie was scratching at the door. When he turned, his other side came into view. His entire arm had been taken off with only fringes of loose skin hanging down.

I raised the gun and took a deep breath. I've never shot a gun in my life. Holding my breath, I lightly squeezed the trigger. My eyes widened as the sound of the gun shot through my ears and snapped my wrist back. Looking at where the bullet hit, the guy was still staggering towards me, now with a big hole in his chest. I shot again, but the bullet went into his stomach. I knew I had to try and aim for his head. If anyone knew anything about zombies, it was a puncture to the brain that would take them down.

He kept coming at me, almost reaching where I was. His loud screeches were making it hard to concentrate. My shaking hands took another aim and the bullet went right through his skull. His paralyzed body stood there for a brief moment before dropping to the ground.

I didn't know if the sound of the gun going off would attract more of them or not but the noises coming from the parking lot probably would keep them more focused on that than mine—I hoped.

Approaching the bloody door, I hesitated to open it as my mind raced though so many conclusions I was going to have to face. As the room illuminated from the outside she was still laying on the ground in the same spot I had left her.

She didn't turn. Thank God.

I sighed a breath of relief as I bent down to wake her, but she didn't budge.

"Hey, sleepy head. It's time to go. I got us a ride outta here." I said playfully as I reached to caress her cheek. As soon as I touched her skin, the ice-cold sensation made my smile fade.

I placed my two fingers at her neck to try and feel a pulse, but nothing came through.

"No, no, no, no. Please wake up!" I shook her again.

I couldn't take any more loss. My heart couldn't handle it. An overwhelming feeling consumed me as I felt the tears glide down my face. Memories flashed of Daunte and my mom. Gone from this world just like that—and now Evren.

I got up and started punching the locker over and over again until my hand went numb. I needed this pain to go away. The more I stared at her, the more memories flashed of her beautiful smile and quirky giggles. She was always there for me, and now the one time I needed to be there for her, she slipped away, alone. I wasn't there to comfort her.

I looked at the heavy gun that was still in my hand. The smooth black metal was cold and unforgiving. I could easily end the pain I was feeling. It could all be over, and I had nothing to lose because it was all already gone. I slowly raised the gun to my head pressing the cold hard barrel against my temple.

Before I had the chance to pull the trigger, a large silhouette of a figure was cast across the room. Her haggard body slowly walked toward Evren as she dragged her broken foot. I aimed at her head and shot her down.

I knew it was some kind of sign. That bullet didn't have my name on it. It wasn't my time yet.

I had to leave before it was too late. I kneeled next to Evren and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I wish I had the guts to tell you how I felt." My brows knitted together, "I love you."

I dragged the other woman outside and reached for the doorknob. Looking at Evren one last time, I shut the door to her tomb and ran to the parking lot.