Infection: Dying Days

"What's the problem?"

Having a deep sense of foreboding, I asked the moment we got out of hearing distance. 

"Here's what happened…"

With a solemn look on her face, Big Sis takes a deep breath and begins to explain what she was told on the phone. Turns out, my gut feeling was right on the money (much to my disapproval), something bad did happen. Out of the two buses we were supposed to use to escape the school, one of them is no longer capable of being used. It's engine blew out.

To make things even worse, she was told that along the original path to the bus garage, groups 1,2,and 4 came across medium size horde of infected causing them to make a huge detour. 

This delayed hurt us tremendously. We can't move at night cause the majority of us would die if we do. After all, a person isn't afraid of the dark but of what's in the dark. And going by the circ.u.mstances we have now, the thing that's in the dark is infected. Crazed, flesh hungry infected.

"We can never catch a break, can we?"

After she was done explaining, I said with a sigh as I dropped my shoulders in disappointment. Crossing her arms and nodding her head in agreement, Big Sis shows a wry smile.

"Tell me about it. How are we supposed to fit 88 people into one bus? You got any ideas?"

"Hmm, give me a sec."

Placing my hand on my chin, I start to formulate a few ideas...If that's possible...I might be able to…then I could do that...yes! That would definitely work! If I go with this plan then I'm basically killing two birds with one stone! 

"I've got an idea."

"What is it?"

"It's real simple. All we need to do is…"

Want to build up suspense for my ultimate plan, I let my words drag on. 

"Hurry up and say it. Don't beat around the bush." 

However, not liking what I was doing, Big Sis gives me a glare of disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, ruining my build up. 

"Tch, talk about rude. Alright, enough games. The only thing we need to do is clown car'em."

" 'Clown car'em'?"

Doubtful at what I said, Big Sis looks at me with a puzzled expression. Not understanding why she was so skeptical, I could only ignore it and continue my explanation.

"Yeah, clown car'em. Like how they stuff clowns into a small car at a circus show. we'll do that to everyone here."

"Hold up...Are you telling me you want to stuff 88 people into a school bus?"

"Pretty simple right?"

"Yeah, it's simple but isn't the maximum capacity for a school bus only 76 people?"

"Nah that's mainly for safety reasons. Most seats can sit up to three people (depending on body size) so they can learn to slide over and share. Worst case scenario, you'll put some people in the aisle way."

"Wait, what do you mean by you?"

"Err, nothing. Ahem, anyways, is this a good plan or not?"

I asked with a small cough, trying to brush past the fact I almost let out the ultimate goal of my plan. If she finds out I don't know what she'll do.

"The plan's good enough. It's not like we have any other options. Sigh, I'll go find that girl again and ask her to call her friend. Hopefully this time nothing else will come up. Oh and tell Andy that if he doesn't put back what he stole, there's gonna be hell to pay when I get back. Those are mine now. If he didn't want to lose them, he shouldn't have bet them."

Big Sis said casually as she walked passed me. The casualness in her last bit of words sent shivers down my spine. Damn, talk about gangster!

"O-okay."

With a twitching smile, this was the only thing I could say in compliance.

==============

After I got back to where Andy and Amanda was, I was sure that they were gonna ask what were talking about so before they had a chance, I relayed what Big Sis told me to Andy. And in response to that, he 'righteously' said.

"What?! Taking her stuff? Pshh, I would never! Who does she take me for? Stealing back something I lost fair and square is beneath me!"

"Uh-huh, say that when you're not trying to place back all the stuff you stole. It's more believable that way."

"Hey, nobody asked you to nitpick."

"I was just trying to help you out."

"Help out my ass!"

"Hehehe!"

As me and Andy were going back and forth in our usual banter, Amanda ,out of nowhere, suddenly started laughing. Turning our heads, me and Andy look at her then back at ourselves a little surprised. Did we do something funny?

"Hehe, sorry. It's just that you guys remind me of how my dad and his friends talk to each other. You see, my dad is a firefighter of the New Haven Fire Department. And usually on the weekends when there's no fire to take care of him and his friends hang out at the fire department to play poker and cookout on the grill. Sometimes he would bring me and my mom along."

 Amanda smiled and said while having a face full of reminisce. I can tell she had wonderful times there.

As for me, having wonderful times with my dad, well,I can only say there's...a few. Since he was deployed to different parts of the world because of his job most of the time, I hardly ever see him. However, that doesn't mean we don't have our moments.

I can vividly remember the time when he took me and my mom out to Yosemite National Park to camp. It was during my fourth grade summer break. With me on his shoulders and mom not to far behind, dad would show us the most beautiful spots at the park such as the Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake.

Yeah, those memories are some of my most precious ones.

"But I'm surprised Amanda."

While storing the precious memories of Yosemite National Park back into my brain safe. I gazed at Amanda and said.

"What? That my dad's a firefighter?"

"No. I'm surprised at the fact that that's the most you've talked in one go. You usually only talk in short quick replies."

"T-that's because I consider you guys my friends."

Amanda said embarrassed as her cheeks turn crimson red. Seeing her like this made my face slightly heat up too. But luckily nobody noticed.

"Is that so? Then thanks. We consider you a friend as well. Isn't that right Andy?"

 "Yep. Unlike Desmond over there, you are the only pretty friend I got. There rest of them are WTF ugly."

"The 'rest' my ass! You only got one friend and that's me. And what do you mean WTF ugly? I think I'm above average in looks."

"Nah, somebody lied to you dude. Don't delude yourself. If you went and auditioned for a horror movie right now you wouldn't be a side character but the main character instead! That's how ugly you are."

Sporting eyes of mockery, Andy shook his head and said. This caused a vein to furiously throb on the side of my head.

This f*cker is asking for it!

"Are you ready?"

Just when I was about to give Andy a taste of that one two punch, I heard Big Sis us three or more specifically Andy and Amanda a question.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Andy asked not understanding what she meant. 

"I-I'm sorry. I completely forgot about that! We're in group 6 too!"

Instead of Big Sis answering Andy's question, it was Amanda who did as she stood up from her chair a bit fl.u.s.tered. Seeing how nervous she was acting Big Sis put her hand up and said with a smile.

"It's alright. It's not that big of a deal. Not to mention, I had to comeback for my snacks."

Big Sis then swiveled her head towards Andy. Feeling her hawkish gaze, Andy instinctively froze up in fear. 

"Did you put them back?"

She calmly asked. 

"Yes!" 

"Good. I didn't want to have to discipline you."

While Big Sis said this, she stuffed her left blazer pocket with the can of peaches and her right with the protein bar. 

"...Can't you share?"

Not able to hold back his question anymore,  Andy hesitantly asked. But Big Sis shook her head in refusal and said.

"Nope."

"Why?" 

"Because it's something you want. If you lose something in a bet and expect to get a piece of it even after you lost it then what's the point of making the initial bet? It defeats the whole purpose of gambling. Now let's get going. We can't waste much time. See you later Desmond."

"Mn, you too. Be safe you guys"

"..."

Unable to refute that logic, Andy could only remain silent as him, Amanda and Big Sis head towards groups 3,5, and 6. They were waiting near the stairs leading to the second floor, probably waiting for Big Sis.

====

Author's Note

- took the whole album of Revenge of the Dreamers 3 and 1 hour of brainstorming to write this chapter.