The screams startle you awake. You can hear the sound of high-pitched screams seemingly coming from everywhere around you. You jump out of bed, barely having time to grab your phone. You decide to [[run]] to the front door and see what's happening or [[get dressed]] and figure it out later.You run through the living room, barely making it around the couch, but as you approach the front door the screaming (text-style:"smear","blink")[stops]. Your hand pauses on the door knob as you wonder if you should [[open the door]] or [[wait]] to see what will happen. You can see what is happening after you get ready for the day. You change into a casual outfit and just as you finish, the screaming (text-style:"smear","expand","blink")[stops]. You creep into the living room where you [[open the door]] or [[check Twitter]] for a glimpse, hopefully, into what might be happening.You look out the peephole where the hall looks clear enough, although you notice something moving on the right side out of view. You decide to risk it anyway. You [[peek]] as you slowly open the door or you decide to [[wait]] and grab a knife from the kitchen, just in case.You don't hear anymore screaming, but you still feel hesitant. You go to the kitchen to grab a knife, which instantly makes you feel a little better. You head to the door and open it confidently, even going as far as [[stepping out]].You open the app and check the Trending tab. The first topic trending states, "zombies??" You laugh in disbelief. Twitter is not the greatest source of news, but you don't know what to believe. You decide to scroll through the [[thread]] or [[get off]] and try to figure it out for yourself.You slowly peek through a crack in the open door immediately looking to the right towards what you saw. You open the door a little more and realize that it's a (text-style:"shudder")[body]. You decide to [[get closer to the body]].You hold the knife in one hand, while the other leaves the door ajar. You see the left side of the hallway is clear. There are pools of dark, liquid heading around the bend of the hallway, but then you notice a body lying on the ground surrounded in the same dark liquid. You decide to [[get closer to the body]] or [[check out the liquid]] from the left.You start to scroll through Twitter, looking to see what you can believe.(enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
|tweet1)["i know the news isnt real anymore, but i cant believe theyre trying to convince us that the zombies theyre keeping in that apartment building arent actually zombies".]
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|tweet3)["the people in that building are either dead or freaking out. I would definitely be on the dead team, i'm not fighting anyone to live"]
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|tweet2)["is anyone still alive here? i actually live in these apartment, kinda looking for friends or someone to survive with"]
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|options)[You notice the last tweet sounds like what you need. You can also find more information from this person. You decide to [[stay on Twitter]] or [[open the door]] and figure it out for yourself]
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You throw your phone down in the living room on the way in. You want to go straight to the door, but you decide to check the windows instead. Your apartment only has windows facing outside the residential hallway so you head towards the kitchen to [[open the curtains]] and look out.The normally clear glass panes seem cloudy and blurry which make you unable to see through. You notice the dark shapes of people moving back and forth past your window. You try to open the window and realize it won't budge.
You decide to give Twitter another try. You open Twitter and go to the [[thread]].As you approach the body you realize the person is still alive, which gives you a little sense of relief since you weren't ready to see a dead body. You notice them groaning in pain. You don't know whether to [[touch]] the body to check on them or [[wait to see]] what they do and try to talk to them.You walk over to the trail leading around the corner. You peek around and notice another barely moving body lying against the corner. As you look down at them their eyes move to meet yours. You can barely hold in the scream you want to let out as their face changes almost instantly.
Their eyes are tinged red around the sclera, their pupils look dilated beyond normal, and the gray, lifeless tinge of their skin was unexpected. You begin to back away just as the previously hurt person jumps to their feet faster than your eyes can keep up with.
You decide to [[wait to see]] what they do and try to talk to them or [[run away]] back to the safety of your apartment.After reading the last tweet you decide to [[send a DM]] to the last person's tweet. They're in your same position and you're still trying to figure everything out.You click onto their profile and to the Direct Message tab. (enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
|DM1)[hey, I saw your message about living in the paradise apartments. I live there too and I'm so confused on what's happening outside my door rn. I'm down to meet up or something and stick together?]
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|DM2)[hey! yeah another girl reached out to me too! i'll make us a group chat! just hold on]
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|DM3)[thanks! I'm a little scared but hoping for the best :)]
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|DM4)[yeah np! if you wanna see what one of the zombies look like check my page, it's kinda going viral rn lol]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM5)[You receive a notification that you were added to a group chat titled, "zombies anonymous". You [[check out the post]] or [[check out the group chat]]]
]
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You exit the DM and scroll down on her page and see her pinned tweet is a 10 second video. You click play and the sound reverberates through your quiet room. The video shows a girl standing in the laundry room on the first floor of our building. She has the camera lifted above her head and tilted down to keep her face in focus with the background. There's a figure standing on the farthest end staring at her, it looks so still it doesn't seem real.
She says, "Guys I don't know what Hollywood movie is filming here and didn't tell the residents, but someone left their zombie in the dryer or something. I'm gonna see how realistic it is up close." She walks backwards in the direction of the "zombie" and as she gets close enough to grab, the person moves to do just that. The girl in the video screams and says, "Eww don't touch me, that's disgusting oh my god! Are you in costume for something or do you just normally look like that?" Her question isn't answered because they suddenly lunge towards her and the video cuts off with another scream.
You jump at the same time as the lunge and decide to [[check out the group chat]].You open the group chat.(enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
(text-colour:navy)[|DM1)[hey, I saw your post with the zombie! how are you even alive rn?]]
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[|DM2)[I know right!! I literally only survived because I had my hydro with me. He like came at me so quick and I just hit him with it and he went down so I just ran back to my apartment. It was crazy though!]]
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[|DM3)[hi! i'm lizzy! I don't know if anyone else introduced themself yet, but I'm really glad to be a part of this. The screaming stopped on my floor a little while ago]]
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[|DM4)[lol you both already know my name from my profile, but you guys can call me Ash. The screaming on my floor stopped for a little but just started up again...how are you guys doing?]]
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[|DM5)[sorry...im doing alright as I can...how did this all happen?]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM6)[I'm honestly terrified rn. This is making me feel a little normal since the screaming stopped on my floor, but I'm still so confused too. Everything was fine yesterday, how did this happen? Why'd you guys still stay here if you knew earlier and could've left before it got worse??]]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM7)[I tried to leave...lizzy told me that she tried too...have you not seen the news or anything else? check your windows too...they won't let us out]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM8)[You realize you haven't done anything, but sit on Twitter. It was still quiet which is good, but you still have a lot more to learn about your situation. You decide to [[check the news]] or [[check the windows]].]]
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You turn the TV on to the news channel which is displaying (text-style:"bold","blink")[Breaking News] in front of your apartment complex. You turn the news up a little to listen to what the reporter is saying.
"We're here in front of what is becoming the most well-known apartment building on the West Coast, named Paradise Apartments. Here there is an unknown, incredibly contagious virus being contained within the building. The residents are being examined and evacuated to containment facilities away from others as provided by the President and local authorities to us. There have been multiple hashtags on the popular social media app Twitter where users have been sharing memes about the similarities this situation has to popular movies involving zombies..."
You stare in disbelief at the screen then decide to [[check the windows]].You go back into your bedroom and try to open the window, but it won't budge. The normally clear glass panes seem cloudy and blurry which make you unable to see through. You notice the dark shapes of people moving back and forth past your window. You run towards your kitchen window only to see the same thing.
You decide to [[try]] the window in your bathroom.
You decide to try to [[meet]] the others.Your hand shakes as you reach out to touch the person's shoulder in the least threatening way. As your hand makes contact with their shoulder, their head snaps to stare at you. You can barely hold in the scream you want to let out as their face changes almost instantly. Their eyes are tinged red around the sclera, their pupils look dilated beyond normal, and the gray, lifeless tinge of their skin was unexpected. You rush back right into the other side of the hallway. The person jumps to their feet just as quickly as their head turns and lunges towards where you [[stand]]!You run back into your apartment, but as you reach out to push the door open the knife in your hand slips out and falls to the ground. The noise would have been muffled by the interior carpet of the hallway, but the frog sculpture outside your door catches the knife on the frog's tongue.
The sound reverberates through the empty, quiet hallway. As you push open the door, you hear the sounds of groans and footsteps. You close the door as the first screech begins and draws closer to your door. You decide to [[hide]] away and wait for it all to be over or [[start protecting yourself]]. "Hey, are you okay?" You begin to back away cautiously. Your back hits the other side of the hallway as their eyes connect with yours. They begin to stand up. You slide against the wall keeping your eyes connected as you move back towards your apartment. Their red tinged eyes follow you as you slide further away. They suddenly get up and rush towards where you [[stand]]!You run through your living room, through the hallway, and straight into the bathroom. You lock the door and turn off the light. The screams and banging on your door seem to get louder. You look up at the ceiling where you remember that there's a window. It's small and rectangular, but you think if you [[try]] to fit through you can.You grab anything and everything you can to protect yourself from the zombies outside. You don't feel that safe, but it is a [[start]].They're rushing towards where you stand still locked in place. You decide to run back to your apartment to [[hide]] or try to [[defend yourself]].
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]As their cold hands rush to grab at any place they can, you push back as hard as you can. They stumble back, but rush towards you again. This time you try to remember whether you tuck your thumb in when you punch or not, but ultimately go for it with your thumb out. The sound of the punch reverberates through the hallway. They stumble, tripping over their feet and falling. This is your chance. You decide to [[run away]].You don't know what to do so you just don't. The piercing pain of scratches against any exposed skin before the bite comes. You know what comes after. (text-style:"bold","sway")[This is your end].You try to push the window open and outwards. You feel the cool rush of wind and it's the most relief you've felt in a while. You stick your arm outside the window and feel the rough bricks on the other side. You barely have time to relax before trying to pull yourself up, when you hear the yelling begin.
"There's a hand reaching out on the northeast side. Small, rectangular window, could be [[bathroom!]]"
"You know protocol, anything moving!
"Yes, sir!"
The shots suddenly ring through the air. You hurry to [[duck]] back down!
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]You barely have time to react before the sound of gunshots ring through the air. You jerk your hand back catching the graze of a bullet as you duck. You immediately cry out in pain. The bullets keep going for a couple more seconds before they stop.You realize the screams have gotten louder through the front door. You nurse your bleeding hand as the debris from the bullets rains down around you.
You can't figure out what you can do next. You realize you cannot leave and you cannot survive here. You don't mean to, but your eyes are watering and the tears keep coming. (text-style:"bold")[This is your end.] You don't move fast enough. One bullet grazes your cheek first before the rest follow. (text-style:"bold","sway")[This is your end].You open the group chat where the other two girls were still sending messages to one another. (enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
(text-colour:navy)[|DM1)[hey guys...should we try to meet up and stick together?]]
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[|DM2)[ummm idk. Are you guys ready to handle anything out there?]]
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[|DM3)[I kinda don't think I am, but I also don't want to be alone during all of this]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM4)[yeah i feel that too. what floor are you guys on?]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM5)[im on floor two]]
]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM6)[im on floor two too!! Are you by the elevator or the stairs? we might be on opposite sides]]
]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM7)[...im on the third floor though...]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM8)[You don't know whether it would make sense to put everyone else in [[danger]], just to feel safer. You know you don't want to come face to face with anything outside your door, but [[being alone]] is worse.]]
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]}You decide that having them on your phone is not enough. You need someone to physically be with you through this.(enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
(text-colour:navy)[|DM1)[I think it's risky...but we should still do it. Let's plan something. Even if it's not for today, I think if this gets dragged out we should try to find and be with each other.]]
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[|DM2)[yeah, i see what you mean. Since we're on the same floor we can try to make it to each other first and then we can go on a rescue mission to get Lizzy from the third floor.]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM3)[i don't feel that great about this, but i would feel better if we were all together!]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM4)[okay, thats our plan then! thank you guys for agreeing!]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM5)[yeah of course! I can't wait to not feel alone anymore. But also I just got the coolest DM from Adidas! They said if I survive this and get some footage of me running away from a zombie in a pair of their shoes, they might give me a brand deal!!]]
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(text-colour:navy)[|DM6)[You feel relieved for the first time [[today]].]]
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]}You decide that this will have to be enough for you. You have enough food for at least another week and as long as you stay inside you are safe.(enchant:?page,(bg:blue))
(text-colour:navy)[|DM1)[...I was hoping we might all be on the same floor. Let's not risk it. Talking to you guys is enough for me right now.]]
]
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[|DM2)[yeah i agree...i dont want to put anyone else at risk and who knows if we'll even make it safely.]]
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[|DM3)[thank you guys...i feel so alone, but we can make it through this together]]
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|DM4)[You can make it through all of this. You just need to wait it out. Sometimes action isn't [[worth]] it.]
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]}You push your couch against the front door. You draw every curtain or blinds closed. You grab anything you can use as a weapon in case of an emergency and check how much food you truly have. You feel anxious, but you settle on the ground and wait. You have some survivors to talk to which makes you feel better.(text-style:"bold")[ This is your end.]You push your couch against the front door. You draw every curtain or blinds closed. You grab anything you can use as a weapon in case of an emergency and check how much food you truly have. You feel relieved yet anxious so you settle on the ground and wait. You have some survivors to talk to which makes you feel better. You'll be meeting them soon and then you won't be alone. You just have to make it through the rest of today and tonight. (text-style:"bold")[This is your end.]You grab the old bat sitting in your closet from the baseball phase you grew out of. You throw on layers of clothing to hide any exposed skin. You pause right before opening the door. The sound of groans and the pushes against the door are weak, but consistent. You take a (text-style:"expand","sway")[deep breath][[...]]You move away just in time. Their hand catches on your jacket and they manage to pull you back. Their strength seems unreal this time and your confidence falters. You stumble and begin to [[fall]] towards them.You swing your bat as fast and hard as you can. It hits their head with a sickening crunch. They crumble to the ground. To your [[left]] another zombie is beginning to round the corner, but to your [[right]] is empty yet the sounds of groans and scuffling are growing louder.They are on you before you can recover. You scramble to pick up and [[swing]] your bat!
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]You decide to risk it and go towards the zombie. This is the closest way to the stairs so you can make it to the entrance. Your bat is ready when they come at you. The same crunch reverberates through the hallway. You keep [[going]].You take your chance with the right. As you round the corner, you run right into a zombie. You collide knocking them down as well. You are dazed, but realize there are two other zombies approaching your body on the ground. You spot your bat where it rolled away and as you [[reach]] to grab it......and open the door to face the zombie banging on your door. They immediately reach out to grab you, moving faster than before. You [[dodge]] the attack or [[swing]] with your bat.The door to the stairwell is at the end of this hallway. You are rushing by all the closed apartment doors and you make it through the door. You stop before descending once you see the two zombies standing down the first [[stairwell]].You have to get downstairs to make it to the front door. You have to take your chances. You head down, catching their attention, and start [[swinging]]....it is too late. The zombie you knocked down has climbed over to you and the other two have already reached and surrounded you. They attack and you can feel each time you are [[bit]].They both run up towards where you are. Their hands reach out to grab and bite you. You quickly [[raise]] your bat and start swinging.
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]You hit them both as hard and quickly as you can. Each falls down with a sickening crunch. You continue down the stairways and make it to the first floor without another encounter. It doesn't last long as you make it to the lobby and realize how many zombies are [[there]].There are at least ten standing around, waiting. You don't know how far your bat can get you, but you notice a small path you can take to the front door. They stand facing different directions, so you creep around. You almost make it to the door, but you realize through the glass doors[[....]]....there is a lock on the outside. The doors are locked and right outside stands soldiers armed and ready to shoot. You decide to realize what will happen if you try to break out this way. You are surrounded by zombies and you will not be saved if you draw the soldiers attention. You drop your bat causing a loud sound to ring through the lobby. (text-style:"bold","sway")[This is your end.]