10 Years Ago.
St. Morris Middle School.
"Pack up your things, we are going to the cafeteria."
That announcement shook everyone in the room. No one had the morale to fight anymore. So, they decided to protest.
"Am sorry what?" Sophia asked.
The first year spoke for the first time. "Um…Mr. huff, what do you mean cafeteria?"
Sophia frowned in the first year. "Um… it's a word?"
"So, you can speak freshie? What's your name? "Daniel asked.
"Mary."
"Oh. right"
Sophia and Rodgers got up. They headed towards the window and looked outside.
"Sir, I don't think I can do that anymore. I'm too tired to even walk." Rodgers said.
"Yes sir, I'm very hungry right now." Sophia said in a sad tone.
"So if you're so tired from walking, then how did you get to the window?" Mrs. cakes asked.
"Jesus, miss cakes, you're supposed to be helping us. You're-"
"Save it. If you don't wanna come, fine. Stay here and starve. It's almost evening time and there's no help, and none of your parents are here yet. When I went out, I left here. I managed to leave. The situation had spread even to the main roads... infected running everywhere at high speed. I couldn't just leave you guys here with assurance of nothing, so I came back. Fyi, some teachers ran away too." Huff said feigning annoyance.
"But sir, how did you survive? Even leaving the school?" Juliet asked.
"That's what I was about to teach you guys until you started complaining. Like that was gonna solve anything."
"Sorry sir, it was this blockhead, Sophia." Daniel said in a sorry tone.
Huff grabbed a stick and broke it in half. He held unto one half and gave the other to Daniel. He then made the broken side sharper with his knife and tossed it to Juliet. He then urged others to do the same. After that he used duct tape to cover up their hands and necks. Then he started dishing out instructions.
"Now listen up kids. Those things outside this door are no longer human. They are not your teachers, and they are definitely not your friends. If you understand me, answer."
'YES SIR!'
"Good. Secondly, the shortest road to your death is fear. You go outside shaking like a leaf and you're gonna die. If you're scared, I urge you to stay here. But if you are going with us, erase all your fear and fight with your whole mind. I will try to protect all of you, but you have to do your part."
'Yes sir!!'
"Lastly, always go for the head. That's the use of the sharp points on those sticks. You get one. You kick it down then BAMM!!! Into the head. Oh yes, we are going in a circular formation so we can watch each other's backs. Now are you ready?"
'Yes sir!!'
"Are you ready???"
'Yes sir!!!!'
"Alright here we go..."
"Wait sir!" Juliet shouted. "How do you know all this? Especially the head kill part?"
Sasha smirked and butted in "like I was trying to tell you guys before that you didn't believe-"
"Shut up Sasha," Juliet warned.
"One, 'cause I'm older than you, two, your science teacher educated me." Huff replied.
"Where is he though?" Joe asked.
"He left. Went to check on his daughter. Now enough about that, let's move."
As huff opened the door, the blues came flooding. To Huff's surprise the kids were able to hold their own, without needing much help from him. He was really impressed. Especially with miss cakes and the first year- Mary. He thought those two would give him a tough time. He only ended up saving Mary, when she got knocked down by the blues. She would have been bitten for sure, if not for the duct tape that stopped the teeth. But still, they still lost 3 students.
When they got to the cafeteria, they saw that the place was like a warzone. Guts everywhere, infected everywhere. Huff decided to lead the kids inside before he could deal with the hoard. He led them inside the cafeteria, and into the cafeteria store. He then decided to go clear the main cafeteria hall on his own.
"Stay here and lock the doors, kids. I'll be back. Open when you hear my voice. Mrs. cakes will be with you guys." he said and tried closing the door. But one student stopped him.
"Sir I'll come with. You want to kill the rest of them, right?"
"Kill" is such a strong word. I'll say 'take care' of the rest of them. And no Daniel, it's too dangerous."
"Sir, I can hold my own. You saw me out there."
Daniel's speech shocked everyone. Only he seemed to enjoy the hunt. But that kind of over-confidence though…
"Now you're just in over your damn skull Daniel. It's getting dark and you wanna fight?" Rodgers asked.
Huff looked away. Dan was really impressive when they were making their way to the cafeteria "yeah, you were. But just like Rodgers said, you are in over your skull."
"Seriously sir, I can do it. I've been taking defense classes since I was a kid-"
"Um .... you're still a kid Daniel…" Sophia cut in.
"Shut your piehole soph. I'm tryna' talk here.
"Like I was saying, defense classes and all. I can help you sir."
Huff looked at Dan and looked at the blues in the hall and outside. He also needed help in sealing the doors. Plus, the kid really wanted to do it. He could tell from his facial expression that it wasn't some joke or experiment. He COULD do it. Well fuck it. If that's what you want. He thought.
"Ughh, What the hell. You can come but the moment it gets tough, I'm pullin' you out. That means you glue your ass to mine. Got it?"
Daniel's face lit up. "Yes sir!!"
Huff gave him a questionable look. That kind of look that says 'are you really sure?'
Dan got the message and reaffirmed. "Yes Mr. huff, I got it."
"Alright, grab a knife. Let's move."
[BAM!!]
THEY CLOSED THE DOOR.
_____________________________________________________________________
That's how Juliet ended up in the cafeteria store with noisy kids and dirty clothes. They had taken care of their hunger by eating some things in the cafeteria store. After that, Juliet started thinking of her mom and sister regretting that she didn't call her mom to tell her that she should come and carry her out. She prayed silently that her mom and her sister would be fine. Then she tried taking a little nap, amidst the noise and smell.
After a long while, they heard a loud knock on the door, with a voice signifying them to open up. It was Huff and his little soldier. They successfully cleared out the cafeteria and sealed it. And they looked like people who came out from an intense battle.
"Teddy, Mr. huff!!! You're back!" Sophia shouted as she hugged Daniel in excitement, not minding the dirt.
"Umph… thought i said don't call me that…"
Huff placed his hands over dan's shoulder, "Men, I see why this guy rules the third years here. He's really strong y'all should have seen him."
"Yeah, yeah...feeding that ego of his" Rodgers scoffed.
Dan smirked. "You know you're happy to see me Rodgers."
"Now we can all come out. Everything's cleared. Now, we can wait until help comes. We put up a sign to direct people here."
When they came out, they all expressed surprise and gratitude at the work Dan and Mr. Huff did. It was like one large sleepover, they all thought. By tomorrow, this nightmare will disappear. Or so they thought.
But,
One day turned to two, two to three, three to ten days. No one came. They just stayed there, no service, no way to know what was happening unless Mr. huff did some digging. They practically turned that cafeteria to their home. The only problem they didn't have was the hunger and toilet problems. Still, they pushed through. Finally, on the eleventh day, a rescue helicopter came. The chopper took them to a quarantine center.