I awake to clambering. My bed is warm, but this sounds serious. Glass breaks in the hallway and I hear a stifled shriek. A stampede of feet rumble past. My bed is warm, but I climb out anyway and go to the door. I find my fellow students exiting their rooms and hustling down the crowded hall. Where are they going? To the basement, one explains in whispers. More glass breaks and I turn to see a gray and bloody arm reaching through the window at the opposite end of the hallway. That's enough, I understand. I grab a hoodie and join my peers in their exodus.
We make it to the basement, less than a dozen of us by then. A lot of them went roofward or just straight out the front door. Both terrible ideas. At least the basement has resources and an emergency exit. I look around to see who's in my company - my band of survivors. I spot the one that matters. Ramona is still in her pajamas and half asleep, but coming around. She's safe, good. Of course, her evil ex is nearby too. I remind myself that the only enemies right now are the undead ones trying to eat us.
After counting heads and checking our resources, we decide to send a few up for some necessaries. I grab the evil-ex to help me secure the emergency exits. We round the corner and check the doors. They'll hold.
"Listen," I say before we return. "Two things..."
He nods acknowledgement, keeping his eyes lowered. He doesn't like me, but his fear of the undead overrides his hatred for me at the moment.
"First," I continue. "You know how to kill them, right?"
He nods and mumbles a yeah.
"Ok, and the second thing," I lean in to make eye contact. "I get to kiss her right before the credits roll."
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