Ghouls Like Us? - ZombiesRuleContest

By C.A. Verstraete 

Like most everything else in my life, I even did this zombie thing half-way.

Modern medicine and the amazing line of "Ghouls Like Us" cosmetics luckily lets me and other kids infected with the Z virus function almost like normal—if you consider no discernible heartbeat, a weird grayish, blotched skin and a bunch of other awful stuff—normal. I sure don't.

At least I wasn't like them. Not that being a part-Z was any better, especially the food part. No more of my Tia's spicy tacos, my favorite, or mom's yummy tortilla soup. Now all I had was a freakish fascination with raw food. Ick. Of course, you know, it sure beat the alternative.

So, I had to make the best of being a part-Z, and that meant going back to school. Big change there, too, warned my cousin, ever the bearer of bad news. Forget our old school, Carm said.

The dread ballooned inside, though I couldn't much feel the physical effects anymore. Not that I missed the huge headaches I'd get whenever I was upset. My head probably would've exploded by now.

"What do you mean, big change? Carm, quit joking."

My cousin gave me a serious look and went back to rummaging in my closet. "Becca, I'm not kidding. Somebody from the school office called my mom. Said the principal and most of the staff are gone. No one knows where they went, and there's no time to find enough new teachers. So we're going to Barracuda for our last year. Hey, it'll be fine. I like this green shirt. You wearing it?"

"Like that'll go with my pasty grey skin?" I barked. "Take it."

I turned away, ignoring her hurt look. I'd apologize later. First, I had to sort out what this meant.

Barracuda High had a reputation for taking in the kids no one else wanted—the troubled and the troublemakers, the near-dropouts, the druggies, the disengaged. I gulped. And now part Z's like me?

Okay, I'd deal with it, but my cousin didn't belong there. "Cuz, you know how Barracuda is. They take the kids nobody wants, kids like me. Why are you coming along?"

She acted like it was no big deal, but she looked like a rabbit stalked by a coyote. "I-I don't know. I wish neither of us had to go. Our school's better."

I nodded and gave her a hug. "I know. We should tell our moms this school is terrible. Maybe they'll let us transfer somewhere else."

Her face grew even sadder. "No, I asked. My mom said we should go the first day at least. I couldn't tell her about the kinds of kids who went there. We'll be fine, right? It probably won't be that bad."

I admired my cousin's bravado, however false it was. Her rose-tinted version sounded good, but I somehow knew we were walking into something worse than bad.

My voice took on a cheery note that didn't match the way I felt. "Yeah, I guess you're right. We'll be fine. If we have any problems, we'll call my aunt. I bet she'll come pick us up." I masked my uneasiness with a big smile. "Help me find something to wear tomorrow."

The next day's blue skies and summery temp didn't make me feel any better when my aunt dropped us off in front of the imposing brick building. I almost backed out, but now that we were here, I figured we had to see it through.

"Girls, I talked to the principal," my aunt said. "He'll let you call me if you have any problems. I'll come pick you up."

I kissed her cheek before we got out of the car. "Don't worry, Tia, we'll be fine. See you later."

The last ounce of bravery I had faded the minute my aunt left. Carm and I exchanged worried glances at sight of the pockets of students fanned out across the school lawn and steps. Normally, I would've expected seeing some of our friends somewhere. I searched the crowd with a growing feeling of dread.

"Carm," I whispered," I don't see anyone I know. Do you?"

She shook her head. "No... wait... Hey, Jesse!"

She shrank back when the boy turned and stared, his dark eyes emotionless, a snarl on his lips. His friend growled low and deep. One eye glowed white. His face was pocked with horrid acne combined with patches of the Z rot. I grimaced and turned away. Yikes. The Z virus hadn't done him any favors.

Carm quickly grabbed my arm and led me towards the front stairs.

"You recognize them?" I asked.

She crowded closer, her voice low. "No. We better stay together. I don't think we're safe. Let's get to the door."

I quickened my steps and pushed her out of the way when two other guys moved and blocked our path. The taller boy, clad in black leather that made his pale skin look even whiter, hissed at me and flashed long, sharp fangs. His stout friend, lips stained a deep ruby from what I didn't want to know, stared at me with hungry eyes. Long hair covered his face and curled from beneath his shirt.

Gulp. I wasn't a 'fraidy cat, but this place was weird.

Maybe I'd turned part zombie, but I wasn't anything like the kids here. And neither was Carm.

We had to get out of here.

Now.

A loud scream stopped us cold. A minute later, a girl ran out of the crowd, her braided hair a mess. One shirt sleeve hung limp, torn from her shoulder. Dirt covered her knees and once-white pants, like she'd been fighting. Bloody scratches spotted her arms.

She screamed and ran in our direction. "Help me, please, help!"

Carm and I looked at her and then at each other in alarm when the crowd broke apart. The two guys we'd seen earlier stood dead center, laughing.

Not knowing what else to do, we reached out, grabbed the girl's hands, and pulled her to the stairs. The two boys trailed behind, evil smiles plastered on their faces. They took their time, probably thinking we had nowhere to go.

As we reached the top of the steps, Carm and the girl pounded on the heavy doors and yelled. "Let us in. Help! We need help!"

"Looks like you're stuck," the taller one taunted. The short one just licked his blood-red lips and grinned.

Carm and the girl pounded on the door again with no response.

Being already infected, I didn't care about myself. What could they do to me? But Carm and the girl were helpless.

I turned and glared, pulled out my phone, and jabbed in nine-one-one, reporting a fire. The guys glowered at me. They smirked and climbed the staircase, coming closer by the second.

This time, I smiled. Never mind the school rules.

From one pocket, I removed a sharpened stake. In the other hand I held the small silver pistol I'd stolen from my aunt's nightstand.

"Two silver bullets," I said, "both dipped in church holy water."

Their laughter ended when the fire engines and police cars roared into view.

##

 Learn more about the characters in the full book, GIRL Z: My Life a a Teenage Zombie coming out the summer of 2013. See website for details http://cverstraete.com. And join several Z authors at our new blog: http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/