I was holed up in the chamber that half of the little town was in. The sick and dying had there own corner, and I was in another by myself. My parents and little sister had been the first to die. There was a loud screech as the door opened. My eyes widened—the doors wouldn’t be opening because of the walking dead.
Five guys in all black—carrying various weaponry—walked in, caked in blood. They had those welding masks on, so the virus wouldn’t get into their bloodstream I was guessing. Something about them seemed…familiar—but I couldn’t place it. Nothing had really mattered once patient zero happened.
“Excuse me!” The overweight treasury, Mrs. Donovin, said, coming over. The mayor had been one of the first as well. “Excuse me!” She said, smoothing back her red headed bun.
She adjusted her glassed and frowned at their clothing. Something was so…familiar! Gah, what could it be? I looked at their black boots, black pants, and one had a black leather jacket. “Who are you?” She asked.
The one with the jacket lifted up the mask, showing a bloodied face and bright blue eyes. “I’m Andy.” He said, “and this is Jinxx, Jake, Christian, and Ashley.”
My jaw dropped, and I stood up—pressed against the metal wall. No one else here knew who they were—they were super conforming. They wouldn’t even dream of listening to Black Veil Brides. They called it devil’s music when she had her headphones blaring. They shunned her for her black hair, and red streaks. They grimaced at her combat boots, her black skinny jeans, and her shirts.
So she grinned at them, and let them know what she thought of them. Those snobby, two-faced, ignorant children. That’s the way they acted. Like eight year olds. They were supposed to act like they were sixteen, not five. But when the zombies came, and they killed her family—they were quick to pray for her.
They teenagers around me stopped gawking at Andy and started gawking at me. Then Mrs. Donovin looked directly at me. She figured I would have no problem with the task she would give me—considering I dressed like them. “Rosemarie? Show these boys were to clean up. Show them around also, it seems they’re going to be staying here for a while.” She said, frowning at my pleading expression.
“Is there a problem Rosemarie?” She asked.
I crossed my arms and fixed my shocked look before they could even glance at me. “Yeah, actually. I’ve been telling you since I was five to call me rose.”
My snarky attitude wasn’t new just because Andy was looking right at me. I had always been the outcast, the complete opposite of everyone. “Well, Rosemarie, I will call you what’s on your birth certificate.” She said, mimicking my crossed arms.
I snorted. “Yeah, we’re all gonna die in a matter of days—weeks, maybe hours. I don’t give a damn about a birth certificate. My mom and dad, and my little sister all called me Rose.” I said stuffing my hands into the pockets of my white skinny jeans.
“Just go.” She hissed.
I rolled my eyes and made a gesture for them to follow me into the wash room. The girls were the ones doing all the work. This was a very old-fashioned town. “So, um, are you guys the official zombie slayers now?” I asked, nonchalant.
One laughed. “Well, we’re just trying to get to one of the unaffected areas.” I heard Jake say.
“Everything will be affected soon.” I said gravely.
“So, your name’s Rose?” Andy said.
I smiled slightly, glancing at my wrist. Three thick bands covered a scar that I got when I was thirteen. One of them was Black Veil Brides. My smile grew. Then my expression darkened as I remembered who gave me the scar. Marking me as a cutter. “Yeah,” I said, turning on the warm water.
I leaned down to get a few clean towels out. Silence. I got the towels wet and handed one to each person. “When your done just throw them down the shoot. Or if you want to, there are a few showers in the back.”
A guy walked into the room. I grimaced. Dakota. He had sandy blond hair, and jewel blue eyes. “Hey Rose-bud.” He said, smiling.
My fists clenched at my sides, and I forced a smile. Every time I saw him I just wanted to lash out and claw his eyes out. Or maybe give him the scar he gave me. I grabbed my wrist. Andy looked between us and walked to where I pointed. The rest followed. My heart was swelling with excitement. You couldn’t tell—I was a master at hiding my emotions.
“Dakota.” I said quietly.
“What are you doing with those big bad zombie killers, red Rosy?”
I sighed. “Weren’t you paying attention in the common room? I have too show them around, let them get ridiculed by people like you.” I said dryly.
He gave a short laugh. “Yeah, I know that.”
I clenched my jaw, not responding. His smile fell. “Why do you hate me so much Ro? We used to be friends.”
My eyes narrowed. “The operative term is used. Then I found out who I was and you—of all people—acted like them. You were one of the only people in this town I trusted! And when I stopped conforming—in that second you chose your side. We used to listen to the same music, we were so alike. Then when I let myself out—you were worse than them. I almost died. I didn’t forget. I don’t forget much these days.” Everything I had said was in a dark whisper—but everyone around was looking at me.
Dakota’s eyes were wide. “Rose, it’s not like I meant to do it. They told me that someone needed to take care of you, that you were possessed!” He said, grabbing onto my arms.
I met his eyes levelly. “Jump into a burning hole.” I hissed, jerking from his hold.
Later I sat apart from them—the ones who were flocking around BVB. They were asking them about the killings. A girl about fourteen came over and sat by me. “I get that they’re cute, but they’re acting like a pack of ravenous dogs on a steak.” She said crossing her arms.
“They never even listened to their music.” I sighed.
The girl, who I now recognized as Dawn Fitzgerald, smiled slightly. “Yeah, I know. It makes the ones who did look normal.”
I grinned at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I bumped her.
She shrugged. “I saw what you went through, I didn’t want to make it worse—and plus a sixteen year old doesn’t want to hang with a fourteen year old.”
I rolled my eyes. “Age is just a number. It doesn’t really mean anything.”
I heard the crash first. I was up and running when everyone was just staring at the open door. The guard was on the floor turning a sickly pale/green color. I had a designated weapon. I reached the weapon racks when people started screaming and running toward the basement area. “Rose! Go with them!” I heard someone say.
I put the clip in the sniper rifle and pulled up the bandana from around my neck. I saw the first one—a man with blood pouring from his mouth and flesh in between his teeth. I aimed, but didn’t fire. My eyes went wide when I saw a golden star cut its head clean off. I fired at the next one—hitting it in the eye. I had a few classes with my dad.
I just kept firing until every last one was on the ground—eternally gone. I didn’t even kill ten. But I kept shooting. I wanted to make sure they were dead. “Finally I stopped and looked over at the five guys.
Ashley had a golden BVB star in his hand, Jinxx had maybe ten throwing knifes, Jake had crossbow, CC was holding a chainsaw, and Andy was holding a 22.
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