The Dread Within

THE APOCALYPSE

"Hey Ash, wake up! You're gonna be late for school today."

"Ugh, school again. I dont feel like going to school today, but I don't have a choice."

She went to the bathroom to take a shower, then headed to the kitchen to eat. Her mother had already prepared her breakfast and lunch.

- ff -

She was now walking to school since her house was only a few miles away.

"Hey Ashterille, have you seen Van?" one of her classmates asked.

"Um, no. Why? Haven't you seen him?"

"No, I haven't seen him since yesterday. I'm worried about what happened to him."

"Maybe he's just at home."

"I don't think so."

"The professor is here! Take your seats now, clean up the mess," our class president shouted as the professor entered.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, Sir. Cas."

- ff -

The bell rang, signaling recess.

My friends and I headed to the canteen to buy some snacks. I bought some snacks and drinks. We chatted while enjoying our snacks.

- ff -

It was our P.E. time today, and our teacher wanted us to run. As I was running, I suddenly felt dizzy, my head hurting, and my vision getting blurry. I don't know what happened next, but I found myself in the school clinic. I wondered who had carried me here.

I decided to get up and go to my classroom. When I opened the door, I was in complete shock.

"WTF is happening?!" Our hallway was in a mess, some students were covered in blood. I heard screams and gunshots too.

I heard the piercing ring of a microphone cutting through the chaos, signaling an urgent message from our principal.

"Attention all students and staff: This is an emergency announcement. Please remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe classroom. We are currently dealing with a situation and will provide further instructions shortly. Your safety is our priority."

What the... A zombie apocalypse?! No, no, this can't be happening...

Ash stood frozen for a moment, trying to process the chaos unfolding around her. The once familiar halls of her school were now filled with panic and confusion. She could hear the distant sound of sirens blaring outside as she desperately searched for a safe place to hide.

"Come on, Ash, we need to find somewhere safe," one of her classmates said, pulling her out of her daze.

Together, they hurried towards the nearest classroom, their hearts pounding with fear. As they entered, they found a group of students and one teacher already huddled together, trying to make sense of what was happening.

"What do we do now?" someone asked, their voice trembling.

"We need to barricade the doors and windows," another replied, taking charge of the situation.

Ash felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she joined the others in fortifying their makeshift sanctuary. They piled desks and chairs against the doors, doing their best to block out the horrors that lurked just beyond.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as they waited anxiously for any sign of help. Outside, the sounds of chaos grew louder, punctuated by the occasional scream or gunshot. Ash clung to the hope that help would arrive soon, that this nightmare would soon be over.

Hours passed, and still, there was no sign of rescue. The group huddled together, sharing what little comfort they could find in each other's presence. They talked quietly, trying to keep their spirits up despite the uncertainty of their situation.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash as something slammed against the door. The barricade held, but Ash could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She exchanged fearful glances with her classmates, silently praying for their safety.

As the hours dragged on, Ash couldn't help but think about her family. Were they safe? Were they even alive? The thought of never seeing them again filled her with a deep sense of despair.

She and the other students and teachers had lost hope of surviving. Ash believed that in order to survive, she needed to be strong and protect her family.

- ff -

They decided to peek out through the window and saw numerous zombies outside the school gates and within the school itself. Smoke billowed in the city, signaling widespread chaos. They could see the streets littered with crashed cars.

Overwhelmed by the dire situation, Ash couldn't help but cry as she grappled with the uncertainty of their fate.

But amidst the despair, a glimmer of determination flickered in Ash's eyes. She knew that they couldn't give up hope, not when their lives and the lives of their loved ones were at stake.

"We can't stay here forever," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

"We need to find a way out, to survive."

"There's no telling how long we can hold out in here. "

"But how? " another student asked, their voice tinged with desperation.
" The streets are crawling with those things. "

TO BE CONTINUED...