"Achoo!"
Out of nowhere, I release a sneeze.
"Are you okay?"
Amanda asks concerned.
"I'm good. Somebody was probably talking about me."
I said with a smile to ease her sense of worry before peeking out the window towards the gym.
"Aaah!"
"Aaah!"
Just like it was earlier, the gym was surrounded by infected. However, this time around, the number of infected has increased!
It seems that the plan to use the air horn as a lure worked a little to well. It made The gym's difficulty that was novice jump straight to legendary in a matter of minutes!
"Sigh, talk about going up shit creek without a paddle. I'll need to come up with another plan."
I lamented as I watched the bone chilling scene outside. What to do? What to do?
"I-I'm sorry!"
"Eh?"
Turning my head towards Amanda who made a sudden outburst. I see her apologizing with tears in her eyes.
"I-if it wasn't for you saving me, we wouldn't be in this situation right now! Not to mention, you would have been safe and sound inside the gym! You should have left me…"
"Hey don't say that!"
Walking up to Amanda who took her glasses off to wipe her tears away, I place my hand on her head and said.
"If I didn't save you, a fellow schoolmate, I would have had a guilty conscience. And I can't have that. Besides it was of my own volition to save you. Therefore, you don't have to feel sorry."
"R-really?"
Looking up at me with her somewhat red eyes, Amanda nervously asks.
"Really."
I replied back as I gently patted her head.
But don't get me wrong, I'm no hero. I wouldn't go out my way to save any and everybody. The world isn't that kind so why should I be?
"Alright. Now that you're calm, I'm going to try to find a way for the both of us to get into the gym."
After a few minutes of calming Amanda down, I walked back to the window and observe the gym's surroundings closely for about fifteen minutes before managing to come up with the basis of a plan.
"Hmm, for the plan to work, we'll need to wait until it becomes dark. Amanda are you okay with sitting here a little while longer?"
"I-I'm fine with it."
"Okay. Until nightfall, how about we talk a little to pass time?"
I suggested as I sat on top of the desk that was next to me.
"Well, to start things off, what grade are you in?"
"I-I'm a junior."
"Oh, me too. Who's homeroom you got?"
"I had the Horticulture teacher vMs. Oxendine…You?"
"Me? I had the English teacher Mr. Jenkins a.k.a. Old man Jenkins."
"Why's he called Old man Jenkins?"
"Because even though he's only in his thirties, he has grey hair."
"Oh so that's why…"
For about an hour and a half, we asked each other trivial questions like this. She's a lot more chatty than what I suspected her to be, I honestly pegged her as the shy and meek type.
But oh well, seeing how Amanda was smiling and laughing every now and then made me feel like I did a job well done.
There was a reason for why I suggested we should talk to each other.
Other than becoming friends(which is a wonderful bonus), it helped us ease our minds off the current situation, causing our stress levels to drop tremendously. Which is extremely beneficial.
Because what I have in mind would surely cause any person who's highly stressed to have a nervous breakdown!
"It's about time to start the plan…"
I mumbled as I watched the sky slowly becoming dusk through the window.
Hopping off the desk I was sitting on, I looked at Amanda with a face full of seriousness and said solemnly.
"Amanda, I'm about to go over the plan I formed with you. So listen carefully."
"Okay."
Amanda, who saw my face full of seriousness replied in an equally serious manner as well.
"Alright the plan goes like this…"
I then proceeded to tell her my plan.
====
"Remember, stay as close to the wall as you can. "
I-I whispered a warning to Amanda.
"Got it."
Amanda whispered back.
"Also, can't make too loud a noise or we're dead."
"Got it."
"Good...oh, and it's okay to tell me if you're scared. I won't laugh at you."
"I-I'm not."
"That's good."
Because I'm scared as fuck right now!
Currently, with me as the pointman, Amanda and I walk cautiously down a dark hallway using Amanda's phone as our only light source.
But that's not what gotten me scared...
"Aaah!"
"Aaah!"
"Aaah!"
It's that other than us two, this hallway is crawling with infected too!
We're so close that we could smell the strong stench of blood off them.
Shit!
It's taking every fiber of my being to stay calm and keep the phone from shaking!
Why the fuck did I come up with this sketchy ass plan?
If I lose my cool here then we're both dead!
'Let's sneak through the hallways towards upper level of A wing by using the infected's dependency on sound weakness of being blind.' I said.
'And when we get there, we'll head towards the gym door that leads to the upper level bleachers. Then I'll use my phon- er, your phone to contact my friend.' I said.
Ah! I want to go back in time and punch the hell out of myself!
"Sigh, there's no use crying after we made it this far now."
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing…come on, let's get over to A-wing quickly."
The faster I get this over the better!
=====
"Phew. We finally made it. Let's take a break."
I suggested to Amanda, who replied with a simple nod. We sat on the first stair leading up to the upper level of A-wing.
Making our way here was the most horrifying thing I ever experienced! There were so many times I thought we'd die back there that my back is drenched in sweat.
I'm seriously tired.
"I'm honestly amazed."
After a few minutes of relaxing and catching my breath, I suddenly said to Amanda.
"...W-what do you mean?"
"You're quite calm composed considering the situation we're in. It's amazing."
'Not anyone can go through hallways filled with infected' I added on.
"I-I don't know about that, I'm actually scared. It's just that I'm not good at expressing myself very well."
Surprised by my sudden compliment, Amanda hastily denied my claims as her cheeks turn red.
Ah, cute.
"Besides, you're more amazing."
"Pardon?"
"You're able to stay calm when fighting those things. Not to mention, you was able to come up with this plan."
"Haha, you're giving me too much credit."
I laughed embarrassingly before showing Amanda my slightly trembling left hand.
"...I'm actually scared too."
Although, I played many horror games similar to what's happening right now, it doesn't mean I treat this shit like it's a walk in the park. After all, I'm still a teenager, a kid!
"Sigh, I wish this was a dream."
I tiredly said as I looked up at the ceiling. Why couldn't this be a nightmare?