Infection: Dying Days

When David and President Yang arrived near the cafeteria. To be more specific, we arrived close to the back entrance of the cafeteria where the lunch staff entered at.

"What in the hell…cough...happened here?"

"...What caused this?"

They stood dumbfounded at what they saw. It was only when I caught up with them when I realized what they were surprised about.

"Holy...cough...cough...sh*t!"

Although there was thick black smoke accompanied by dust filling the hallways, I could see that the entire area around the cafeteria was on fire and in smithereens.

Burning limbs and innards of infected were splattered everywhere, debris from the walls and cafeteria were strewn all over the floor and the cafeteria itself was on fire.

What type of explosion could have caused all this?

Hmm? What's this?

While I was marveling at the destruction of the cafeteria, I spotted something slightly glistening out of the corner of my eye. Nobody else didn't notice it because of the smoke. 

"A class ring?"

Embedded in the side of the wall to my left was a class ring. It was stuck deep enough into the cement wall that I had to use a little bit of strength to pull it out.

Looking at it, I can see that it's quite expensive. I wonder whose it was?

Meh, who cares. It's mine now...don't think of me as being ins.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e for taking a dead person's belongings okay? I mean, it's not like they're going to be missing it. Consider it as me continuing this item's purpose, which is to put it on my finger and wear it because it looks nice.

As I was doing this...

"Desmond!"

Covering her mouth from the smoke, President Yang shouted out Desmond's name.

"..."

There was no answer.

"Desmond!"

"Desmond!"

"Desmond!"

"Desmond!"

Following her example, we all called for Desmond's. And the result that we were met with was…

"..."

Silence. Other than the crackles of the raging fire, the only thing we could hear was silence. And this worried us greatly.

"He's got to be...cough...here somewhere...cough...Desmond!"

Trying her best to withstand the smoke, Sara desperately calls out for Desmond once again. Seeing her like this, Amanda gets close to her and says.

"...You should stay close to the floor, smoke rises so there's breathable air underneath it."

"Cough...thanks!"

Taking her advice, Sara crouches a little below the smoke. Her coughing fit got considerably better.

"We need to find another way around this fire. It's getting dangerous here. We won't be able to find Desmond if the fire and smoke gets any worse."

Amanda, covering her mouth with her hand said seriously as she stared at the fire. She's right, the fire was in the hallway and quickly spreading our way.

We can't back track because there's a chance we might miss Desmond. For all we know, he could be trapped somewhere within the fire and in need of our help.

What should we do?

"Amanda's right, the fire is spreading at a rapid pace. It's only a matter of time before it reaches over here. We need to…"

"...vid!"

"Huh? You hear that?"

President Yang suddenly asked. Dumbfounded, David replies.

"Hear what?"

"Shh. Listen."

At her command, we all go quiet and try to focus on what she's hearing.

"...nda...is...ara!"

"I hear it! It sounds like someone's shouting! It's hard to hear over the crackling of the fire."

David says a little irritated. I agree with him. Because the fire is steadily burning the things within and around the cafeteria, sounds of stuff crackling due to being burned by flames is intense.

"...I can see someone!"

President Yang said as she stared into the smoke in front of us.

...Uh, how come all I see is smoke? Does her family's martial art allow her to have x-ray vision or something? 

"Andy...Sara...David!"

"It's Desmond!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Sara happily exclaimed. Then we managed to see parts of his figure.

"Big Sis! Amanda! Dav-"

"Desmond!"

President Yang shouted towards Desmond. Stopping in his tracks, Desmond starts to look around. President Yang calls out his name one more time, leading him to where we were at.

When he got as close as he could to where we were at, we were finally able to fully see him. And let me tell you, his appearance left us slack jawed.

On his face, he was wearing safety goggles to protect his eyes and sleeves of a lab coat to protect his mouth. He must've made a bootlegged version of a gas mask. The only thing that he wore on his body was the upper part of his uniform and a pair of zebra striped u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r, he had no pants or shoes whatsoever.

His entire appearance was comical. If it wasn't because we were in a serious situation right now, I'd laugh my a.s.s off at him.

"I finally found you guys!"

Desmond said emotionally. It sounded like he wanted to cry by how he was choking up a bit.

Well, at least we found him. Now we have to worry about how to get him across the fire.

========

"I finally found you guys!"

With tears in the corner of my eyes, I shouted towards Big Sis and the rest emotionally.

I found them! I finally found them!

If it wasn't for me hearing them calling my name as I was trying to find my way to the bus garage, I'd probably miss them.

And who would've thought that following their voices would've landed me back here at the cafeteria. To the place where I almost died.

And while I'm on that point, what the hell happened here? There were chunks of cinder block all over the floor, pieces of infected scattered here and there and a large fire was running rampant. Was this the origin of the explosion?

Did I cause this? 

If I did, then should I feel proud? Because I think I should. It's not everyday I can say that I burned down a cafeteria after all...Yeah, I'm taking credit for this. The cafeteria favored the rich kids anyway.

It wasn't fair that the rich kids could eat shrimp and lobster while the poor scholarship kids had to eat prison food. I mean, what kid usually has 100 dollars or more on hand?

This broke a.s.s right here didn't that's for sure.

Therefore, I'm taking credit for this!

"Desmond, are you alright?"

Big Sis shouted. In response to this, I shouted back.

"I'm okay! What about you guys? Are y'all hurt?"

"We're okay. Is there a way for you to get past the fire?"

"No there isn't. I've already checked for ways to get to the garage and they were all blocked by the fire..."

I didn't expect the fire to spread that quickly throughout the school. Every time I thought I found a way to get to the garage, I was met with towering flames.

I also encountered a few infected while searching but thanks to the fire catching them aflame, all I had to do was avoid them since they were going to die in a couple of minutes.

To put it simply, I'm practically surrounded by a ring of fire.

However, I won't let that stop me!

"But don't worry, I have a plan!"

Saying this, I back up a few feet.

Well, I wouldn't call it a plan. In essence it's a dumbass thing to do. I'm risking getting severe burns doing this.

But if it's in order to save time searching around for a way out, then I'm all for it.

"The distance between me and the others should be around 30ft (9.14m) give or take."

I should be able to last.

After distancing myself to where I could pick up enough speed…

"Hey! That's dangerous!"

I ran as fast as I could towards the fire. Within a matter of milliseconds, I was in an inferno.

The intense heat that was hitting me from all sides, felt like I was a turkey being roasted in an oven. 

But luckily, the feeling of being cooked like a turkey didn't last long. It took only about four seconds to cross through the fire.

However, those measly four seconds felt like four hours in hell. That inferno was scorching!

"Desmond! Your arm!"

David exclaims and points at my left arm. Not understanding what he meant, I looked down.

And saw that my arm was on fire.

"Oh sh*t!"

In a frantic voice, I quickly put it out. When the fire was out, part of my blazer sleeve was burnt off, showing the dress shirt under it.

Damn, that was close! I didn't even feel it. Was it because of the adrenaline?

As I was fretting over this, I felt the silent but stunned stares as they landed on my body.

...Please don't stare at me like that. It's not my fault I'm looking like this, desperate times call for desperate measures!

Withstanding their stares, I said to the five.

"...I know you guys have a lot to say but let's wait for later. I don't want to be in here when the school burns down."

I suggested with a smile. I could see that they all wanted to say something ro me but I urged them to save it for later. This school is about to go up in flames and I don't want to be in here when it does.

Not to mention, the stares of two specific people were terrifying! One was throwing fiery hot daggers at me with her beautiful but scary red eyes while the other one was glaring at me with cyan blue eyes of fury!

I got the feeling that if I didn't give myself some breathing room by using the excuse of leaving the burning school, I wouldn't make it out alive!

"Desmond's right. We need to get out of here fast!"

Helping up Sara (who was still glaring at me) who was crouching on the ground for some reason, David urged.

"I'm all for it. Let's get out of here! I don't wanna become an oven roasted pig the moment this place comes tumbling down!"

Andy said in a full hearted agreement.

"Great! Then let's head back to the garage!"

Using this chance, to escape the two glares, I walked ahead of them and suggested.

But David shook his head and said.

"Why are we going back there? There's nothing there."

"Going by how you sound, everyone should've already left by now, huh?"

"Yeah, other than Mrs. Thompson and that girl named Faith, nobody else didn't even bother to lend a hand."

"Well, that's to be expected. I mean, wasn't we going to leave them anyway? No harm done over here."

"...I thought you'd be a little more mad about this."

"Eh? Who said I was mad? Yeah, sure, I'm a little bummed about how after helping everyone find a way out of here, they'd just throw me away like a used c.o.n.d.o.m but hey sh*t like this happens. After all it doesn't pay to be a hero."

This is the apocalypse after all. Sh*t like integrity don't mean squat now. Only self preservation.

"...Yeah, you're mad."

"Didn't I say I wasn't? Now come on, let's get out of here."

Turning around, I ignore Andy's 'yup, he's mad' and start walking towards the garage.