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It was my last day of school, and I was somewhat pumped. I dressed quickly, slapping on shorts and a plain t-shirt, grabbed my previously-packed bag, stuffed some food in my bag and left the small apartment that my mom rented, in the center of Harlem. I had never liked our new apartment, but it was all that my mom could afford. Barely bringing in enough to support us both and rent an apartment, it was a constant struggle for her. I wonder why dad had to leave in the first place.
You see, I didn't really like school. Nobody in my class did. All us fifth graders want to be doing was lounging around and eating lollies.
But today I didn't feel like the usual James. I felt excited, and ready to face the day. Enough even to wake up early! So when I arrived, and saw only a few kids sitting alone on the benches, I wasn't surprised. But when the bell rang, and there were no more than 15 kids, boys and girls, inside the gates, I started to feel a little uneasy...
As the first one approached the gate, the teachers ushered us inside, putting the school into lock down. They were taking us to the gym, but I knew a better place. So I separated from the group at the next corner.
After I was sure they were out of earshot, I started to move towards the 6th grade lockers, for there was the location of my shelter. Navigating the school was a simple task, not just because i had been there all my life, but because it was a simple design. It felt odd being in the hallways of an empty school.
A horrible, blood-curdling scream erupted from some way behind me. I ran into tiny staff kitchen and looked out the window to see hundreds of these creatures banging on the gates of the school. I stood petrified, taking in their bloody, scar-riddled bodies. I thought of my mother, and frantically looked among the crowd for her. But i couldn't see her. Or maybe i would't see her.
I grabbed some dried meat and canned food, a can opener, plenty of water, and a knife. " Just to be safe, i'll never need it,"I told myself. But i had a feeling i would.
I thanked the architects about the fact that the school was small, and began to run. I took a glimpse out a window and saw their mangled bodies pouring into the playground, tearing apart the metal beams, ripping the slide. I ran even faster.
I had finally seen the group of 6th grade lockers and immediately spotted the one i was looking for. It was one with a 'master' lock on it, one of those plain, bulky ones. I managed to get this locker on the first day of school, when the 6th graders got new lockers allocated to them. I use it for hiding away from bullies. But it wasn't just any locker...
I sighed as i reached into my trouser pocket for the key. I nearly fainted. I had left the key at home!
I started to think frantically. Noises blurred inside my head. "what should i do, what should i do, what should i do...".
Screaming brought me back to my senses. Coming from...
Oh no. They have reached the gym.
I saw a schoolbag of a 6th grader, and knew there would be a key in there. I heard another human scream. I went towards the schoolbag before remembering what they could do to metal, and knew only my locker could help now. The screaming was getting louder. I then saw an abandoned teacher's handbag. I grabbed it, searched through the cluttered mess, and found the key, resting in a front pocket. I ran back, bringing the handbag with me, tense, expecting another scream.
But there were none.
I jammed the special staff key in the staff work room door, heading straight for the key cabinets. I studied the names, found mine, pulled out the key, and was about to leave when a loud, wailing scream pierced the air. All was quiet for a moment.
I knew, i just knew, they had found me.
I looked around, grabbing some more non-perishables from the snacks in the staff room, stuffed everything but the knife in a plastic bag, and thought of a quick diversion.
They couldn't be that smart, judging by how long it took them to mess up the gym. I knocked over papers, scattered food crumbs, and kicked over chairs, to make it look as if they had ran out the back door, leading to the small storage room. Yes, that could keep them distracted for a while.
I heard the scream, much closer this time, and knew i needed to leave. I looked around, looked at the once bustling New York, thinking of friends family, all those camping trips with dad...
Putting it behind me, i ran. They could hear me now. Triumphant shrieks came from all sides, making me move faster than ever before. As i put the key in the lock, heard them turn the corner. I frantically tried to jam the key in the lock, my fright making me clumsy. I thought, "Am i seriously going to die here?". That made me feel a little better.
I finally put the key in the lock, turned it flung open the door, dove in, chucked in my supplies and the handbag, and slammed the locker door behind me, locking it from the inside. And none too soon.
I opened the trap door on the bottom of the locker and dropped down into the maze of tunnels that lay beneath the school. I closed the trap door behind me, and had just started to crawl through one of the tunnels when i heard a sound of indented metal.
After I was sure they were out of earshot, I started to move towards the 6th grade lockers, for there was the location of my shelter. Navigating the school was a simple task, not just because i had been there all my life, but because it was a simple design. It felt odd being in the hallways of an empty school.
A horrible, blood-curdling scream erupted from some way behind me. I ran into tiny staff kitchen and looked out the window to see hundreds of these creatures banging on the gates of the school. I stood petrified, taking in their bloody, scar-riddled bodies. I thought of my mother, and frantically looked among the crowd for her. But i couldn't see her. Or maybe i would't see her.
I grabbed some dried meat and canned food, a can opener, plenty of water, and a knife. " Just to be safe, i'll never need it,"I told myself. But i had a feeling i would.
I thanked the architects about the fact that the school was small, and began to run. I took a glimpse out a window and saw their mangled bodies pouring into the playground, tearing apart the metal beams, ripping the slide. I ran even faster.
I had finally seen the group of 6th grade lockers and immediately spotted the one i was looking for. It was one with a 'master' lock on it, one of those plain, bulky ones. I managed to get this locker on the first day of school, when the 6th graders got new lockers allocated to them. I use it for hiding away from bullies. But it wasn't just any locker...
I sighed as i reached into my trouser pocket for the key. I nearly fainted. I had left the key at home!
I started to think frantically. Noises blurred inside my head. "what should i do, what should i do, what should i do...".
Screaming brought me back to my senses. Coming from...
Oh no. They have reached the gym.
I saw a schoolbag of a 6th grader, and knew there would be a key in there. I heard another human scream. I went towards the schoolbag before remembering what they could do to metal, and knew only my locker could help now. The screaming was getting louder. I then saw an abandoned teacher's handbag. I grabbed it, searched through the cluttered mess, and found the key, resting in a front pocket. I ran back, bringing the handbag with me, tense, expecting another scream.
But there were none.
I jammed the special staff key in the staff work room door, heading straight for the key cabinets. I studied the names, found mine, pulled out the key, and was about to leave when a loud, wailing scream pierced the air. All was quiet for a moment.
I knew, i just knew, they had found me.
I looked around, grabbing some more non-perishables from the snacks in the staff room, stuffed everything but the knife in a plastic bag, and thought of a quick diversion.
They couldn't be that smart, judging by how long it took them to mess up the gym. I knocked over papers, scattered food crumbs, and kicked over chairs, to make it look as if they had ran out the back door, leading to the small storage room. Yes, that could keep them distracted for a while.
I heard the scream, much closer this time, and knew i needed to leave. I looked around, looked at the once bustling New York, thinking of friends family, all those camping trips with dad...
Putting it behind me, i ran. They could hear me now. Triumphant shrieks came from all sides, making me move faster than ever before. As i put the key in the lock, heard them turn the corner. I frantically tried to jam the key in the lock, my fright making me clumsy. I thought, "Am i seriously going to die here?". That made me feel a little better.
I finally put the key in the lock, turned it flung open the door, dove in, chucked in my supplies and the handbag, and slammed the locker door behind me, locking it from the inside. And none too soon.
I opened the trap door on the bottom of the locker and dropped down into the maze of tunnels that lay beneath the school. I closed the trap door behind me, and had just started to crawl through one of the tunnels when i heard a sound of indented metal.
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