“Shit,” I murmured, then ran.
They poured from classrooms and stairwells we’d passed minutes earlier without seeing a soul. One lunged for me near the science wing, fingers grazing my sleeve. Another shrieked, sharp and piercing.
The lounge door was just ahead.
“Open the door, Ethan!” I yelled.
I was at full speed and misjudged the turn, momentum carrying me past the door by inches. Panic flared. I twisted back, boots skidding, and caught the doorjamb with one hand, fingers screaming as I hauled myself sideways. The window blurred inches from my face as something crashed behind me. I slammed into the opening, barely fitting through, and felt hands grab my jacket and drag me inside just as the door ripped shut.
I dropped to the floor as Ethan quickly replaced the barrier.
I lay there for a moment, my lungs on fire.
“Lane made it.” I gasped hoarsely.
“Way to go, bro.” Ethan, the idiot, leaned down trying to give me a knuckle bump.
“Fuck off,” I growled.
Ethan’s mouth dropped open as the other three students gasped.
I didn’t give two fucks. The chance of my being reprimanded ended when I was suspended. Not to mention, all the staff turning into flesh-eating infected.
The pounding stopped.
I hoped Adrian would come soon.
If the infected didn’t kill us, I might commit suicide from being confined indefinitely with five teenagers.
I thought of Taryn… If I were locked up with her, that might be a different matter. I’d spank that ass, then make her beg me for forgiveness.
If I were going to be accused of it, I might as well reap the benefit.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ADRIAN
Ipulled into Ashford in the early morning.
I wasn’t surprised to see that traffic clogged Main Street in uneven knots. The pharmacy had a line that wrapped around the building—people pushing and shoving to get in.
A grocery store on the corner had its doors locked, windows plastered with a handwritten sign:
OUT OF WATER. OUT OF BREAD. NO TOILET PAPER. CASH ONLY. CARD READERS ARE DOWN.
I passed the large Supercenter on my way in, and the parking lot was full. People were getting short-tempered and desperate, resorting to the smaller, family-owned businesses.
I parked well short of the school and walked the rest of the way, letting the noise sort itself out around me. Parents clustered in the lot across the street from the school, some shouting, some crying, and some staring at their phones, as if answers might suddenly appear. A single deputy was dealing with the crowd, sweat darkening his collar and eyes glassy in a way that didn’t bode well for him.
“I’m going in to get my son,” a middle-aged woman wiped her nose on a Kleenex. “You have no right keeping me out.”
“I can’t let you do that,” the deputy said, coughing into his hand.
“Well, you're not doing anything to help them.” She whined in a nasally voice.
“Now, Doris, you know we’re doing all we can. They have to remain quarantined for the time being.” He flashed an official-looking letter. “We received this notification from the CDC, and we have to follow the instructions. But don’t you worry, we’ll have those kids at home in no time.”
“Fuck that.” A large man stepped forward, pushing Doris aside. “It’s been hours, and none of y’all have done shit. I’m tired of waiting around.”
