Kamari sat in the car scrolling through her phone as she waited for her dad, Kentrell, to drive her to school. He stayed rushing her when he was the one who took forever to get ready. She sighed as she turned up the AC, leg bouncing in annoyance at how hot it was today. She looked at her phone seeing that she received a text from her mother and opened it.
The car door opened and she glanced up to see her father finally getting into the car after taking all morning. She turned back to her phone and told her mother bye before going on Instagram and checking her messages. Her Dad turned down the radio as they pulled up to the school and she internally sighed knowing he was about to speak to her.
"I can't pick you up today I got somewhere to be so take the bus," Kentrell told her.
Kamari nodded at that and he made a face then smacked her phone out of her hand making her scrunch her face up.
"Look at me like that again so I can knock yo head loose," He threatened "You better speak when I'm talking to you, you hear me,"
She reached down to grab her phone, "Yeah I hear you," she mumbled.
Kentrell hit her in the chest and she hunched slightly with a wheeze, holding her chest and holding back from punching him. It wasn't like he held back a lot just then, she just got hit so much her pain tolerance had gotten higher so it was bearable.
"You bout to piss me off, get out you late," Kentrell said angrily.
Kamari grabbed her bag and got out not saying another word, she headed into the school and went to the main office to sign in. After doing that she got her late pass and decided to skip the rest of the first period since it would be excused anyway. She headed up the stairs going for the fifth floor, where the senior's classes are. She went to the library and sat in the back with her laptop, pretending to do work while really being on her phone.
After a while she actually did start finishing up some work she had to turn in later, not wanting to give her dad more things to bitch about. She went to Spotify, played her work mix, and put all her attention on her assignments. She'd occasionally reply to a text that came through, mostly ones from her mom and siblings who lived twenty hours away. She was the middle child of six siblings on her mother's side and the oldest of five on her father's side.
Her mother couldn't handle caring for all six of her kids plus the six grandkids living in their small home. She just didn't make enough money and with her two oldest either popping out kids left and right or running the streets she was the only one working. Unfortunately for Kamari, her father was actually in her life, so she was sent to live with him. Now don't get her wrong she loved her family on her dad's side.
Her grandparents were Saint's and that side had all her favorite cousins. It was her dad and his new family she couldn't stand, she was his first child who, until now, he only saw once or twice a year. He had no idea how to be a full-time parent, all he did was beat everything into her, literally, instead of actually teaching and guiding her like a parent should.
It wasn't even just him who was abusive, her father's wife and its offspring were a part of the issue. She's liked all her dad's previous girlfriends but this one? For whatever reason she hated Kamari, she'd act nice then as soon as they were alone she'd switch up. And her son, who was much younger than Kamari but still old enough to know better, copied the shit she'd do.
And Kamari could do nothing but endure, endure, endure, because if she retaliated she knew her dad would lose his shit. One time she called her mom and simply said she was uncomfortable with her stepmom telling people she was her mother. Her mom made the mistake of telling her father who immediately spazzed on her in public.
When someone asked if she was ok her dad threatened to beat the shit out of them for speaking to her. She knew then and there her father's new family was more important than her and remained quiet. She hated them with a passion but still loved her biological siblings that came from them.
They had a good relationship until her stepmother told them they weren't allowed to love her. As soon as she graduated she was leaving, she'd miss her friends but she missed HER family even more.
"Hey Mari,"
Kamari looked up and saw a girl she had classes with but couldn't even remember her name, "Wassup?"
"You got a pen or sum I can borrow? Mine not working," She sighed.
"Yeah hol on,"
Kamari looked through her bag and grabbed a pen then handed it over, "Here,"
"Thanks," The girl then sat at the table with her "I didn't think our school was gonna stay open since Blavoria cases are starting to pop up here too. If I knew I would've been did this paper," she sucked her teeth.
Kamari laughed at that, "Yeah my brother's school closed so I thought ours would too, now I gotta finish all this work,"
"It's people out here dying left and right and they wanna make us go to school," She rolled her eyes "Knowing my mama she'd still make me go,"
"Chile they don't care bout us for real,"
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"Bih how you don't know which bathroom it is?" Malia said dryly.
Nadia gave her a stank look, "Girl they ain't say which one damn,"
"What they even fighting for?" Kamari asked.
"Titi cheated on Mookie with her cousin so Mookie wanna beat her ass," Malia told her.
"Why y'all hoes feinin' to see a fight anyway? Don't nobody wanna go watch that lame-ass shit," Jasmine scrunched her face.
"Bitch," Kamari looked her best friend up and down, "Yo fatass just wanna eat, any other day you be the first one running to see a fight,"
"Right, then later her ass posting the fight from thirty different angles," Nadia snorted.
"I ain't never seen nobody sit up there with two different phones recording a fight, it's never that deep," Nikki shook her head.
"Why y'all all on my dick? Y'all ridin' tf out my shit, let me rest," Jasmise mugged them and got in line.
Malia sucked her teeth, "I'll just tell Jamie to send me the video,"
"Shoulda did that from jump," Jasmine pulled out her phone.
"Girl shut yo ugly ass up damn,"
"Ya mami,"
People started getting loud and Kamari turned and squinted to try and see what was going on. Her glasses were broken and they were too far away for her to make out.
"Oh shit they came in here, Mookie just stole off on Titi!" Malia yelled getting hype.
A bunch of people started to yell and crowd them, "Man I'm just tryna eat," Jasmine groaned.
"Man come on in tryna see who won," Nadia started pulling Malia along.
Kamari put her arm out gently pushing them back, "Hol' on sum ain't right," she mumbled.
They stood there for a minute, confused but not doing anything since Kamari was usually right about shit like this. Around them the chaotic lunch period continued on, the cafeteria still buzzing with activity as students either lined up for food or loudly yelled about the fight, trying to get closer to see.
"OH SHIT THAT BITCH JUST BIT A CHUNK OUT HER ARM!!" Somebody yelled.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream shattered the air making everyone freeze up on instinct. Seconds later another screech rang out, followed by the sound of overturned tables and panicked shouts. Confusion quickly turned to terror as students realized that their classmates were attacking each other, their eyes vacant and movements jerky. Kamari and the others, instinctively grasping the severity of the situation, ran out the side doors as the lunchroom descended into chaos.
In the midst of the chaos, they just ran wherever they thought was the furthest from those things. They saw a couple of students rushing into a classroom and followed, their hearts pounding with fear. Immediately desks were pushed against the door, a makeshift barricade against the growing horde of creatures outside.
"W-what the fuck y'all doin'?!" A girl screamed.
A boy covered her mouth and Malia glared, "Bitch shut up!" she whisper yelled.
"Yo ass done seen a zombie movie don't act stupid and piss me off," Kamari scrunched her face up and turned back to the doors.
Huddling around the door windows, they could see more of their classmates stumbling aimlessly, their faces twisted into grotesque masks of hunger.
Another girl, Rachel, stood by the window, her hands trembling as she watched the scene unfold.
"W-Why is this happening?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sounds of banging on the neighboring class's door.
No one had an answer. They were all caught up in their fear, unsure of what to do next. The teacher, trying to maintain a sense of calm, instructed them to gather whatever they could find – textbooks, chairs, anything that could be used as a weapon or barricade.
As they prepared to defend themselves against the encroaching threat, the reality of their situation sank in. Trapped in a classroom, surrounded by the undead, they really could die just like that.
As some hastily gathered makeshift weapons, the teacher, Mr. Evans, dragged a desk over to the door, going to barricade it. The student holding it closed moved so he could hurry and put it in front of the door. His hands shook badly with nerves as he struggled to hold the heavy desk in place. He had always been a weak mentally, that's why he was a special needs teacher.
The kids were nice and surprisingly well behaved, it was like spending the day with small children who were eager to start learning. So to say he wasn't doing well in this situation was an understatement, he was trying to do his job as a teacher. He had to keep these children safe but internally he was already breaking down.
If he was honest he wanted to take himself out instead of fighting those things. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the room as the door burst open, sending Mr. Evans sprawling to the ground.
The group of zombies flooded into the classroom, their grotesque forms lunging towards the students. With horror in his eyes, Mr. Evans reached for a nearby chair, swinging it wildly in a desperate attempt to fend off the attackers. As the chaos unfolded and Mr. Evans fought desperately against the onslaught of zombies, panic gripped the students.
But he just wasn't made out for this, he was such a weak man, mentally and physically. Overwhelmed by the group of undead, he was quickly overwhelmed, their ravenous jaws tearing into him as he screamed in agony. The students, frozen in terror, could only watch helplessly as their teacher was devoured before their eyes.
During the chaos Kamari had immediately gone for the door, she had always been very protective of those close to her. So while Mr. Evans had the zombie's attention she started clearing the other door.
Dragging the last desk away she opened the door, "Y'all come the fuck on!"
Realizing there was a way out they ran immediately, bum-rushing Kamari out of the way, knocking her into the corner of a table she moved. She practically slammed into it, crashing to the ground as she writhed out in pain. In their desperation to escape, they literally left her, some even kicking her when they nearly tripped over her body.
Kamari, gasping for air and scrambling to her feet, looked at her best friend, "Jas! Fuck it hurts!" The zombies noticed her "Shit hurry help me up!"
Jasmine looked from her to the horde, her eyes wide with fear, "I-I can't Mari, I- Fuck I'm sorry I gotta go," She raced out of the classroom, leaving Mari alone with the approaching horde.
Her shock turned to pain, then anger, then panic as Kamari turned to face the zombies, knowing that her chances of survival were slim. But she wasn't about to go out like a bitch. With a deep breath, she steeled her emotions and started to look around for something to defend herself. Right this was the special education class, they had an ass of random shit in here. Spotting a bat by the teacher's desk she started to quickly push herself up when her ankle was grabbed and yanked hard.
Seeing one of the zombies had hold of her she tried not to panic, with adrenaline pumping she quickly glanced around and saw a textbook on the floor near her. With a powerful kick to the head, the zombie was forced to let go and she scrambled to her feet grabbing the book. Summing all the strength she had she slammed it down on the zombie's head, caving it in a little but it was still alive. She began beating its head in with everything she had, the zombie not growing still until its skull was damn near nothing but mush.
She didn't have a second to rest, the fight alerting the other two zombies of her presence. Kamari grabbed the chair Mr. Evans was using and started swinging it with all her might, knocking down the nearest zombie. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she fought back against the zombies, using anything she could find as a weapon. With each strike, she felt a mix of anger and pleasure coursing through her and driving her to be more brutal in her assault.
Despite the overwhelming situation, Kamari refused to give in, her determination to survive burning through her. She dodged and weaved as many attacks as she could, eventually taking down both zombies with almost calculated precision.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kamari had a moment to breathe, panting heavily and covered in blood and sweat. With trembling hands, she pushed aside the barricades and cautiously made her way through the now eerily silent halls, her senses on high alert for any sign of danger.
After about twenty minutes of nerve-wracking patrolling, Kamari finally deemed this hall empty, it seemed like everyone ran downstairs and the zombies followed. She went back to the classroom where she collapsed onto the floor, her heart pounding with exhaustion and relief. Though battered and bruised, she was glad she was still alive and breathing. Now, that she had caught her breath and surveyed her vicinity, she knew that she needed to plan her next moves.
As Kamari sat in the dimly lit classroom, her heart still racing from the intense fight she had just fought, a sinking feeling washed over her. Glancing down at her arm, she saw deep scratches and a bite mark from the zombies. Panic surged through her as she realized that she might be infected, all those movies told her what was to come.
Trembling with panic, Kamari waited for the inevitable transformation, but to her astonishment, after nearly thirty minutes it never came. She literally sat there and stared at the clock for about thirty minutes, watching her time run out. Confusion and relief flooded her mind as she realized that, somehow, she had managed to not turn.
Though still shaken by the close call, Kamari wasn't about to question whatever miracle saved her. Maybe she was immune to the virus, or maybe she was just A-symptomatic. For now, she decided to ignore it and focus on what really needed to be done now.
With a sense of urgency, Kamari pushed aside the thoughts of her infection and focused on resecuring the classroom. She dragged the heavy desks back in front of the doors and stacked chairs against them, recreating the makeshift barricades she needed to keep out any potential threats. Despite the throbbing pain from her arm, she gritted her teeth and quickly worked through the pain.
As she worked, Kamari's mind raced with thoughts of what had happened and what she needed to do next. She knew that she couldn't stay hidden forever and that she needed to find a way to leave the school. But for now, her priority was to ensure her safety and buy herself some time to come up with a plan.
Once satisfied with the barricade, Kamari collapsed into a chair, exhaustion washing over her. She glanced down at her arm, the reality of her situation sinking in once again. With a deep sigh, Kamari tore her shirt to use as makeshift bandages, hastily wrapping them around her wound to stem the bleeding. This was the best she could do to conceal her injuries in case she ran into any other people before finding a way to deal with it.
With trembling hands, she continued tying the makeshift bandages tightly, wincing as pain shot through her body. Though her makeshift bandages provided little comfort, they were a small semblance of protection against the infection that lurked within her.
Once she was done tending to her wounds, Kamari took a deep breath, steeling her mind for the challenges that lay ahead. Now that she was sem-safe she now has some time to gather her thoughts and plan her next move.
Kamari reached into her pocket and retrieved her phone, her fingers still trembling slightly as she unlocked the screen. With a quick swipe, she went to her social media feeds, hoping to find some information about what was happening outside the confines of the school. She came across a live, Jasmine's live, she was in a bathroom stall with her knees to her chest crying.
Her caption said that her friends were dead and she needed help, but as soon as Kamari clicked it it was too late. A zombie had crawled beneath the stall and she screamed once she noticed it. Kamari watched as she was eaten alive then ultimately the live went dead and ended, surprisingly Kamari wasn't affected by it. Even she didn't understand why but chose not to dwell on it as it wasn't important at the moment.
She continued to scroll through the endless stream of posts and updates, then her heart sank. Reports of chaos and devastation flooded her screen – news of the zombie outbreak spreading rapidly, panic gripping cities and towns across the country. Images and videos captured the horror of the situation, showcasing the relentless onslaught of the undead and the desperate struggle for survival.
After what felt like hours of scrolling, she stumbled upon a live news broadcast, the reporter's frantic voice recounting the latest developments of the outbreak.
".....I urge all of you to stay in the safety of your homes and if you aren't anywhere safe then find a safe place. I repeat, I just received a report that the xxx virus has begun mutating seemingly overnight and had already reached every state in the US. Avoid all infected as this disease is highly contagious and spreads throughout the body rapidly."
"The CDC previously urged those infected to immediately quarantine however recent developments show that to be pointless. This new strain is extreme, violent, and has a 100% mortality rate, anyone infected will die within an hour at most. There is no account of anyone surviving past the hour mark..."
Kamari tuned the broadcast out as she absorbed the information, did this mean she only had an hour at most to live? If that was the case she had to at least do what she could for whoever she had left while she had time. She knew that she needed to come up with some type of plan – and fast.
She pulled out her earbuds, one was lost in the initial chaos in the cafeteria earlier, and let the broadcast continue playing. She needed to find as much food and supplies so that whoever found the class wouldn't have to leave empty-handed. Someone should make use of all the supplies since she wouldn't be needing them anymore.
Kamari pocketed her phone and turned her attention back to the task at hand. Leaving the class with the bat from earlier she started to search all the classrooms and the Hall closet for anything useful. Searching through desk and book bags for any snacks or just something that may be needed later. After checking all that she moved on to lockers, using a shirt and stapler to break the locks without making too much noise.
The live news broadcast described the escalating chaos caused by the zombie outbreak. The reporter, their voice strained with urgency, detailed reports of cities overrun by the undead, emergency services overwhelmed, and widespread panic gripping the population. They began describing the known symptoms of the mutated pathogen:
"The newly reported onset symptoms of B20-TVWI include but are not limited to violent coughing fits, chills, sweating, bloodshot eyes, an extremely painful burning sensation in the head or stomach, headaches, vomiting blood, and slurred speech,"
"If someone you know is showing even one of these symptoms, get away from them immediately."
Kamari wasn't showing any of those symptoms, it hurt like hell but that was about it. She was bitten but maybe didn't get infected? That was dumb though, the only other possibility is that she's asymptomatic or immune. Hopefully, it was the latter otherwise she would be a threat to other people. She didn't mind being alone, she was used to it, but even she knew she would have a hard time surviving on her own.
The broadcast also mentioned efforts by government agencies and military forces to contain the outbreak, but the situation appeared to be rapidly deteriorating. Images and videos showed streets littered with abandoned cars, buildings engulfed in flames, and desperate survivors fleeing for their lives.
Despite the grim outlook, the reporter urged viewers to remain vigilant and hopeful, emphasizing the importance of staying united and supporting each other in the face of adversity. The broadcast concluded with a somber reminder that the fight against the undead was far from over.
Before returning to the class Kamari stopped at the locker that used to belong to their grades plug. She's seen it on his story and he had a lot of opps so he had to have brought it. She bunched the shirt up, covered the lock with it, and began bashing at it with the stapler until it eventually broke off. Once open she searched through it, taking anything she may need before finding what she was looking for. She checked the clip before making sure the safety was on and tucking it away, saving it as a last resort.
Kamari then headed back to the classroom, adding everything to the small piles of supplies she found that sat on the teacher's desk. She put all the barricades back in place and sat in the rolling chair pulling out her phone. Her eyes widened seeing she had a new text, not hearing it due to her phone being on silent.
Kamari's heart dropped to her ass when her best friend never responded, "Fuck,"
She sat there for a while before quickly sitting up when she remembered this was happening everywhere, not just here. She needed to check on her family, she needed to know that they were still ok
With trembling hands, Kamari dialed her mother's number, her heart pounding in her chest. After several agonizing rings, her mother's voice came through the line, strained and filled with fear.
"Mar Mar? Baby is that you?"
"Yeah, Ma it's me," Kamari sighed in relief.
"Oh thank you, Lord Jesus! Are you okay? Where are you?" Her mother's voice crackled over the phone.
"I'm good, I'm stuck at school but I'm good. Where's everyone? Are they good?" She asked lowly, her voice tense.
Her mother's reassurances were cut short by a sudden scream of terror, followed by the sound of commotion and chaos in the background. Kamari's heart clenched with fear as she listened helplessly, her worst nightmares unfolding before her ears.
"M-Ma? Ma!" Kamari yelled out, her voice breaking as she desperately tried to reach her mother through the phone.
But there was no response, only silence on the other end of the line. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Kamari realized that her mother was gone, her family was gone. Tears streamed down her face as her head dropped to her hands, overwhelmed by grief and despair.
In that moment of heart-wrenching loss, Kamari knew that she was truly alone in this world now. But it wouldn't be long until she joined them, yeah she'd be with them soon, all she needed to do was wait.