Zombie Kong - Anthology by TW; T. A. Wardrope Simon; Brown William; McCaffery Tonia; Meikle David Niall; Brown Wilson
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tightness formed in Thomas’ chest that might have been shame. Graduation loomed, and with it, the end of procrastination. Classmates talked about colleges they planned to attend and careers they planned to pursue. Thomas’ dreams went no further than getting White Space 2 when it was released next Tuesday and asking Danielle to prom.
Currently, Danielle sat two rows below Thomas. Dark hair hung halfway down her back, and he could see the curve of her cheek. The feelings that rolled through him were as close to growing up as he had ever felt. Otherwise, he viewed adulthood as some rough beast stomping closer. It had nothing to do with him stepping out on his own.
“And whatever happens in life,” the man with the basketballs continued, moving the ball on his head to his nose. “Remember, put a positive spin on it!”
The gymnasium roof peeled back, and a gigantic simian face peered in, red eyes burning. The creature’s matted black fur had fallen out in places, revealing mottled skin. A Volkswagen-sized hand reached, pushing a great stink and a cloud of flies before it. The paw picked up a clump of screaming students, and the beast bit into them like an apple.
“ZK attack!” Mr. Jablanski cried.
The rush for the gym exits carried Thomas along with it, even as its undertow pulled others down and cries of pain rose above the cries of fear. The evacuation piled up at the doors, where teenagers bottlenecked into a mass of straining limbs and strident shouts. A basketball ended up among their feet and was kicked back and forth.
The ZK pushed its head and shoulders through the roof breach. The edge of the wall acted like the back of a chair when a person performs the Heimlich Maneuver on themselves, and the monster spewed vomit over the scene.
Drenched, students behind Thomas fell to the floor and writhed. The stink grew unbearable. Tears and gagging plagued the throng. Thomas stumbled through the door and into the hall. He unknotted himself from the kids around him and gasped for fresh air until his lungs and eyes cleared themselves of the foulness. He caught a glimpse of Danielle. She had made it out, as well. For a moment, their glance met…
What are you looking at?
That’s what she had asked him that day in Literature Class. Thomas had arrived early and stood staring out the window. The sun shone on green grass. A breeze made the trees throw dappled shadows. Danielle came and stood next to him.
Nothing, Thomas replied, but his eyes were opened regardless. That moment was the best he had ever had, standing there and looking out on a just-right spring day with a girl who was interested in knowing more…
Alarms pierced Thomas’ eardrums.
A steel gate descended over the school’s main entrance. Similar gates would fall over the building’s other doors and windows, Thomas knew. All state buildings were mandated to be equipped with lockdowns in the event of Zmergencies. Since the early-warning system failed to alert them of the ZK’s approach, it didn’t surprise Thomas that the lockdown would trigger in error. It was meant for Z sieges, not ZK attacks.
Now they were trapped instead of protected.
Something grabbed Thomas’ shoulder. He spun and found himself face-to-face with Andrew Gardner. Soaked with ZK vomit, Andrew had turned Z. His bluish lips stretched wide as he lunged for Thomas’ neck. Crying out, Thomas pushed his one-time lab partner away. Andrew was clumsy with death, and toppled onto his back like a tree going over. His skull clunked on the tiles.
Other students who had been transformed by the ZK vomit (faster than normal, it seemed) flooded out of the gym and pounced on their fellow OLCC Wolves with clutching hands and gnashing teeth. Their clothes hung in tatters, dissolved by the vomit that wormed its way through flesh and into bloodstreams.
“Look out!” Mr. Jablanski bellowed. The math teacher shoved his way through the jammed hallway. Sweat slicked his bald head and his tie hung
Currently, Danielle sat two rows below Thomas. Dark hair hung halfway down her back, and he could see the curve of her cheek. The feelings that rolled through him were as close to growing up as he had ever felt. Otherwise, he viewed adulthood as some rough beast stomping closer. It had nothing to do with him stepping out on his own.
“And whatever happens in life,” the man with the basketballs continued, moving the ball on his head to his nose. “Remember, put a positive spin on it!”
The gymnasium roof peeled back, and a gigantic simian face peered in, red eyes burning. The creature’s matted black fur had fallen out in places, revealing mottled skin. A Volkswagen-sized hand reached, pushing a great stink and a cloud of flies before it. The paw picked up a clump of screaming students, and the beast bit into them like an apple.
“ZK attack!” Mr. Jablanski cried.
The rush for the gym exits carried Thomas along with it, even as its undertow pulled others down and cries of pain rose above the cries of fear. The evacuation piled up at the doors, where teenagers bottlenecked into a mass of straining limbs and strident shouts. A basketball ended up among their feet and was kicked back and forth.
The ZK pushed its head and shoulders through the roof breach. The edge of the wall acted like the back of a chair when a person performs the Heimlich Maneuver on themselves, and the monster spewed vomit over the scene.
Drenched, students behind Thomas fell to the floor and writhed. The stink grew unbearable. Tears and gagging plagued the throng. Thomas stumbled through the door and into the hall. He unknotted himself from the kids around him and gasped for fresh air until his lungs and eyes cleared themselves of the foulness. He caught a glimpse of Danielle. She had made it out, as well. For a moment, their glance met…
What are you looking at?
That’s what she had asked him that day in Literature Class. Thomas had arrived early and stood staring out the window. The sun shone on green grass. A breeze made the trees throw dappled shadows. Danielle came and stood next to him.
Nothing, Thomas replied, but his eyes were opened regardless. That moment was the best he had ever had, standing there and looking out on a just-right spring day with a girl who was interested in knowing more…
Alarms pierced Thomas’ eardrums.
A steel gate descended over the school’s main entrance. Similar gates would fall over the building’s other doors and windows, Thomas knew. All state buildings were mandated to be equipped with lockdowns in the event of Zmergencies. Since the early-warning system failed to alert them of the ZK’s approach, it didn’t surprise Thomas that the lockdown would trigger in error. It was meant for Z sieges, not ZK attacks.
Now they were trapped instead of protected.
Something grabbed Thomas’ shoulder. He spun and found himself face-to-face with Andrew Gardner. Soaked with ZK vomit, Andrew had turned Z. His bluish lips stretched wide as he lunged for Thomas’ neck. Crying out, Thomas pushed his one-time lab partner away. Andrew was clumsy with death, and toppled onto his back like a tree going over. His skull clunked on the tiles.
Other students who had been transformed by the ZK vomit (faster than normal, it seemed) flooded out of the gym and pounced on their fellow OLCC Wolves with clutching hands and gnashing teeth. Their clothes hung in tatters, dissolved by the vomit that wormed its way through flesh and into bloodstreams.
“Look out!” Mr. Jablanski bellowed. The math teacher shoved his way through the jammed hallway. Sweat slicked his bald head and his tie hung
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