Chapter 1
Growing up an orphan in Nydia's Home for the Less Fortunate makes me one of the unluckiest human beings to ever walk the planet, considering everyone living in a world ruled by the damned is rather unfortunate. Today's the day that my life will change though. I've studied extra hard, I've aced every class, I've done everything in my power to turn my life around, and place well on the aptitude test. If I am placed with a good career I know things will start looking up for me. I'm not going to let the fact that my past has been a disaster determine my future.
The day is too nice to waste indoors, so I have decided to sit outside in Nydia's pathetic excuse for an "escape" - the commons. I stretch my arms out and allow my body to fall to the ground and look up through the fencing over the commons at the clouds that try to cover the sky. I don't remember what the world looks like without the separation of bars, fences or barbed wire. I know it's to keep the creatures out, but it so often feels like it's doing a better job keeping us in.
"What's up Theo?" Corby called out from the other side of the commons. I spend a lot of my free time here to study or to just get lost in thought. Corby is pretty much the only friend I have, and she knows this is the one place I can pretty much always be found. We grew up together in the home, her mom had her at fifteen, and by law had to give her up. There are a few more like Corby, born out of wedlock, but they are years younger than we are. There is no one else from the home like me. No one who was abandoned by their only loved one at the age of two.
I wave her over to join me at the spot under the tree. The commons are the only place outside that is safe. It is an open square in the middle of the old high school that is now Nydia. Many of our residence avoid the space, because last time they were outdoors it meant they were being hunted. They say they can't shake the feeling of being watched, when they are out here. "I was just thinking about how much I was enjoying my seclusion," I tell Corby as she plops on the grass next to me.
"That worried, huh?" I watch her closely, her blue eyes boring into mine, like she's trying to see through them and into my thoughts. I'm honestly not worried, I'm just not sure what to expect. I don't even know what I want the results to be. I just want an upper class career. Upper class gets more benefits than lower class. That's how it works here. There is no money, but upper class gets the first choice of new supplies, food, first showers, and some even get electricity in their living quarters. I shake my head, but do not reply.
"You think too much, Theo."
I know she doesn't expect me to agree with her, she just wants to remind me of what I already know.
I've been sitting here looking at the old high school and thinking how from in the commons, if you ignore all the extra metal reinforcements above it could still be a high school, because the windows looking out on the commons haven't been fashioned with bars like the ones facing out to the real world. Corby doesn't think about our situation much; she somehow overlooks the fact that the only place we call home is more like a prison. She still manages to enjoy flirting with boys and gossiping with girls. I actually envy how carefree she is. She is sitting next to me brushing her hair telling me how she is hoping to become a teacher or a sitter. Which would place her in lower middle class. I'm hoping for doctor or enforcer. Corby is gorgeous though, her long blonde hair, high cheek bones, and flawless skin are only part of the reason that boys are already drooling over her. As we get older her once scrawny body, seems to fill out more every day in all the right places. Any upper class man would be willing to share his life with her.
"Look! It's time!" Corby jumps up, and reaches for my hand. I grab it willingly, and I hold it tight, so she doesn't let go as we walk towards the auditorium. We walk past a boy sitting on the bench outside of the auditorium, and Corby squeezes my hand and whispers, "That's him, the guy I've been telling you about. His name is Robert, and his dad is a doctor, so I'm guessing he will be too!" I sneak a glance towards him and he isn't particularly attractive. Average height and weight, brown hair, brown eyes. He seems well groomed though, which helps with his looks, but he is too pale and it is apparent he didn't go above and beyond in physical fitness class. I notice he is looking at Corby, hands knotted up in his lap, and he swallows hard looking away when his gaze meets mine. His face instantly blushes under his pale skin.
"He likes you," I squeeze her hand back.
"Really? I don't know how you do that!" she was all giddy and squirmy as we entered the auditorium.
She was shocked by the fact that I noticed the small body movements.
I've always been fairly good at reading people. For example, when Mrs. Foster, the head of Nydia's Home for the Less Fortunate, or HLF, was explaining why my mother decided to become an avenger. "She just wanted you to have the best life possible," she said, but her eyes were full of contempt. It was one of those split second things, and as soon as she blinked it was gone. Avengers are the highest regarded people of our community, so that slight expression has picked at my brain for years. I know she couldn't have really known my mother, because we were only here for a short time before she deployed. Most avengers go for the easy zombies, the pawns. Most of the pawns are weakened by the lack of human flesh. Deteriorating from starvation, and this is what brings the avengers so much glory.
I guess I'm grateful my mother at least tried harder than that. I could tell Mrs. Foster was hiding something from me, but since I'm not exactly a mind reader, what she was hiding has escaped me.
Corby drags me to the empty seats next to a couple of girls that are in our class. Their names are Beth and Kitana, they greet Corby with smiles and hellos, and nod in my direction. I don't blame them for not being super enthusiastic about my presence. I know I'm not the most pleasant person to be around. Most people don't like to think about the reality of our situation, but I don't have the advantage not to. I give them a small wave, and the most genuine smile I can manage. I see that they appreciate my effort, because the smiles on their faces aren't lined with as much distaste as before. Corby grins at me, she knows how I dislike these situations she puts me in, but she enjoys my discomfort.
The dim lights in the auditorium flicker off and then on again to get the rooms attention, which only contains about 15 people. There is 7 students graduating this year, and some of their parents are waiting to hear the results of their tests. Dimming the lights wasn't really necessary because when ever our leader is present it is very obvious. Every head in the room turns towards the right side of the stage, where he ambles up the stairs and makes his way to center stage. Mr. Malum is an older man, in his 60s but he is one of those people that age very well. He has streaks of gray in his brown hair which gives away his age, but if it weren't for that he would look younger than most 40 year olds. His skin is smooth and pale, he is quite handsome for an older man. He's rather similar to me in the sense that he enjoys his privacy. He doesn't ever come around unless there is announcement to be made, or some special event, such as graduation. Nobody knows much about him, but he was supposedly the principal at the high school before the apocalypse came, and he turned it into a fortress of sorts. The virus didn't spread into the Midwest for a few months, so Mr. Malum had time to do some ramifications to the school to make it zombie resistant. When the virus actually hit us, it was during fall break. Not many of the students made it back to the school now known as Nydia.
"Good morning students and parents," his extraordinary smile spreads across his face. "Today is the day you have all been waiting for. All of you will be making a big step towards the rest of your life. Serving Nydia with the duties you are best fit to perform. Some of you will be doctors, healing our sick and preventing further illness in our community. Some will be enforcers, to keep the calm and preserve the peace, and some of you will help keep Nydia beautiful as custodians. Whether you rank as a teacher, scientist, or a cook, you always have two separate options. As all of you know supplies aren't dropped here by a magical fairy, people risk their lives to find those supplies. The job of our scavengers are becoming more and more difficult as time goes on, many never come back and the ones that do never come back with much."
This is a speech we are given more than once in the school year, and it's apparent he is very well rehearsed. He makes every job sound important, and they all are important, but unfortunately, they aren't all equal. I don't have to look around the room to know that each face is lined with a bit of guilt, because not a single one of theses people would ever risk their lives for the person sitting next to them.
"Of course you all know the next choice you are able to make, which is becoming an avenger. Only the bravest of you will make this choice. Remember just because the majority of you have only seen pawns, doesn't mean that is the only zombie that exists." Mr. Malum doesn't go on about how lazy our glorious avengers are. He does however go through what we already know about the other types of zombies there are, knights and rooks. Knights will literally rip you to pieces. They are about ten times stronger than a human and can jump, climb, and run farther, higher, and faster. We have a class dedicated to the things we know about these zombies, but no one knows anything useful. It's hard for most people who do know anything to talk about it, because it was usually their friends being torn up by the knights, or being called in by the rooks. The rooks are more of a mystery, but it's thought that they communicate with their victims telepathically, resembling a siren. We also know they are hideous looking, tall scrawny physique and what appears to be tumors growing out of their skulls.
"So, always remember the choice is yours!" Mr. Malum recites.
"Bullshit," I hear from behind me, barely audible but I notice the word laced with what sounds like a laugh. I don't turn around, because I don't want the boy to know I heard, I instead look at the people in front and beside me, hoping I can tell who it was through process of elimination. This is when I realize I don't know any of these people, and their faces are barely familiar to me. I've spent all of my time in class actually listening to the teacher instead of worrying about who was fucking who, who might be pregnant, who failed or passed the last test. I haven't cared about any of these people or ever fit in with them, because I've never tried. I've actually avoided it. I don't want to belong to them, it wouldn't feel right. I honestly have no idea where I belong or where I'd even want to belong. I sink into my chair and hope Mr. Malum is almost finished with this unbearably long speech.
"Okay, class of 2030 time to hear your results," Mr. Malum holds his hand out towards his assistant, a tall thin woman probably in her thirties, her head is topped with red corkscrew-curls spewing from every direction. She is interesting looking to say the least, her eyes are green and there is something fierce about them. She looks right in my direction as she hands the envelope to Mr. Malum, my back stiffening as a slightly sinister grin creeps across her face. I blink once and her smile had transformed into something beautiful, it struck me suddenly just how stunning the red head was. My mind was spinning a little as she exited the stage, and Mr. Malum opened the envelope. Now my heart was thumping, and I wonder if I am going to continue to breath or if it will suddenly cease. I was thankful that I had earlier sank down into my seat, because now I feel like I might pass out. My overwhelming anxiety grows more powerful, the greater the anticipation builds. I wrap my arms around my shoulders, surely I will fall to pieces any second.
"West Downey assigned to scientific research, Bethany Fowler assigned to child development, Corby Gallant assigned to kitchen aide," my heart skipped a beat, I look at Corby her blue eyes welling up, her full lips slightly apart. Time slows down, she turns to me as her eyelids fall a single tear escapes down her cheek. She never worried about what she would be assigned, but this job wasn't expected, there isn't many jobs lower than this on the scale. It's like I can feel her heart breaking. She purses her lips together in a tight line and the tears vanish quickly as the heat from her anger dries them up. I'm certain I'm the only one that saw that single tear. "Kitana Newman assigned to teach physical education," Mr. Malum flips the paper over. I sneak a glance at Corby, she is congratulating her two friends, I can tell she is truly happy for her friends that don't deserve those jobs anymore than Corby does. "Robert Slater will follow in his father shoes and become a doctor, Fitch Strauss also assigned to scientific research," by this time I'm almost certain I've passed out and am having an out-of-body experience, "Theora Vasco you will be assigned to custodial duties."
The day is too nice to waste indoors, so I have decided to sit outside in Nydia's pathetic excuse for an "escape" - the commons. I stretch my arms out and allow my body to fall to the ground and look up through the fencing over the commons at the clouds that try to cover the sky. I don't remember what the world looks like without the separation of bars, fences or barbed wire. I know it's to keep the creatures out, but it so often feels like it's doing a better job keeping us in.
"What's up Theo?" Corby called out from the other side of the commons. I spend a lot of my free time here to study or to just get lost in thought. Corby is pretty much the only friend I have, and she knows this is the one place I can pretty much always be found. We grew up together in the home, her mom had her at fifteen, and by law had to give her up. There are a few more like Corby, born out of wedlock, but they are years younger than we are. There is no one else from the home like me. No one who was abandoned by their only loved one at the age of two.
I wave her over to join me at the spot under the tree. The commons are the only place outside that is safe. It is an open square in the middle of the old high school that is now Nydia. Many of our residence avoid the space, because last time they were outdoors it meant they were being hunted. They say they can't shake the feeling of being watched, when they are out here. "I was just thinking about how much I was enjoying my seclusion," I tell Corby as she plops on the grass next to me.
"That worried, huh?" I watch her closely, her blue eyes boring into mine, like she's trying to see through them and into my thoughts. I'm honestly not worried, I'm just not sure what to expect. I don't even know what I want the results to be. I just want an upper class career. Upper class gets more benefits than lower class. That's how it works here. There is no money, but upper class gets the first choice of new supplies, food, first showers, and some even get electricity in their living quarters. I shake my head, but do not reply.
"You think too much, Theo."
I know she doesn't expect me to agree with her, she just wants to remind me of what I already know.
I've been sitting here looking at the old high school and thinking how from in the commons, if you ignore all the extra metal reinforcements above it could still be a high school, because the windows looking out on the commons haven't been fashioned with bars like the ones facing out to the real world. Corby doesn't think about our situation much; she somehow overlooks the fact that the only place we call home is more like a prison. She still manages to enjoy flirting with boys and gossiping with girls. I actually envy how carefree she is. She is sitting next to me brushing her hair telling me how she is hoping to become a teacher or a sitter. Which would place her in lower middle class. I'm hoping for doctor or enforcer. Corby is gorgeous though, her long blonde hair, high cheek bones, and flawless skin are only part of the reason that boys are already drooling over her. As we get older her once scrawny body, seems to fill out more every day in all the right places. Any upper class man would be willing to share his life with her.
"Look! It's time!" Corby jumps up, and reaches for my hand. I grab it willingly, and I hold it tight, so she doesn't let go as we walk towards the auditorium. We walk past a boy sitting on the bench outside of the auditorium, and Corby squeezes my hand and whispers, "That's him, the guy I've been telling you about. His name is Robert, and his dad is a doctor, so I'm guessing he will be too!" I sneak a glance towards him and he isn't particularly attractive. Average height and weight, brown hair, brown eyes. He seems well groomed though, which helps with his looks, but he is too pale and it is apparent he didn't go above and beyond in physical fitness class. I notice he is looking at Corby, hands knotted up in his lap, and he swallows hard looking away when his gaze meets mine. His face instantly blushes under his pale skin.
"He likes you," I squeeze her hand back.
"Really? I don't know how you do that!" she was all giddy and squirmy as we entered the auditorium.
She was shocked by the fact that I noticed the small body movements.
I've always been fairly good at reading people. For example, when Mrs. Foster, the head of Nydia's Home for the Less Fortunate, or HLF, was explaining why my mother decided to become an avenger. "She just wanted you to have the best life possible," she said, but her eyes were full of contempt. It was one of those split second things, and as soon as she blinked it was gone. Avengers are the highest regarded people of our community, so that slight expression has picked at my brain for years. I know she couldn't have really known my mother, because we were only here for a short time before she deployed. Most avengers go for the easy zombies, the pawns. Most of the pawns are weakened by the lack of human flesh. Deteriorating from starvation, and this is what brings the avengers so much glory.
I guess I'm grateful my mother at least tried harder than that. I could tell Mrs. Foster was hiding something from me, but since I'm not exactly a mind reader, what she was hiding has escaped me.
Corby drags me to the empty seats next to a couple of girls that are in our class. Their names are Beth and Kitana, they greet Corby with smiles and hellos, and nod in my direction. I don't blame them for not being super enthusiastic about my presence. I know I'm not the most pleasant person to be around. Most people don't like to think about the reality of our situation, but I don't have the advantage not to. I give them a small wave, and the most genuine smile I can manage. I see that they appreciate my effort, because the smiles on their faces aren't lined with as much distaste as before. Corby grins at me, she knows how I dislike these situations she puts me in, but she enjoys my discomfort.
The dim lights in the auditorium flicker off and then on again to get the rooms attention, which only contains about 15 people. There is 7 students graduating this year, and some of their parents are waiting to hear the results of their tests. Dimming the lights wasn't really necessary because when ever our leader is present it is very obvious. Every head in the room turns towards the right side of the stage, where he ambles up the stairs and makes his way to center stage. Mr. Malum is an older man, in his 60s but he is one of those people that age very well. He has streaks of gray in his brown hair which gives away his age, but if it weren't for that he would look younger than most 40 year olds. His skin is smooth and pale, he is quite handsome for an older man. He's rather similar to me in the sense that he enjoys his privacy. He doesn't ever come around unless there is announcement to be made, or some special event, such as graduation. Nobody knows much about him, but he was supposedly the principal at the high school before the apocalypse came, and he turned it into a fortress of sorts. The virus didn't spread into the Midwest for a few months, so Mr. Malum had time to do some ramifications to the school to make it zombie resistant. When the virus actually hit us, it was during fall break. Not many of the students made it back to the school now known as Nydia.
"Good morning students and parents," his extraordinary smile spreads across his face. "Today is the day you have all been waiting for. All of you will be making a big step towards the rest of your life. Serving Nydia with the duties you are best fit to perform. Some of you will be doctors, healing our sick and preventing further illness in our community. Some will be enforcers, to keep the calm and preserve the peace, and some of you will help keep Nydia beautiful as custodians. Whether you rank as a teacher, scientist, or a cook, you always have two separate options. As all of you know supplies aren't dropped here by a magical fairy, people risk their lives to find those supplies. The job of our scavengers are becoming more and more difficult as time goes on, many never come back and the ones that do never come back with much."
This is a speech we are given more than once in the school year, and it's apparent he is very well rehearsed. He makes every job sound important, and they all are important, but unfortunately, they aren't all equal. I don't have to look around the room to know that each face is lined with a bit of guilt, because not a single one of theses people would ever risk their lives for the person sitting next to them.
"Of course you all know the next choice you are able to make, which is becoming an avenger. Only the bravest of you will make this choice. Remember just because the majority of you have only seen pawns, doesn't mean that is the only zombie that exists." Mr. Malum doesn't go on about how lazy our glorious avengers are. He does however go through what we already know about the other types of zombies there are, knights and rooks. Knights will literally rip you to pieces. They are about ten times stronger than a human and can jump, climb, and run farther, higher, and faster. We have a class dedicated to the things we know about these zombies, but no one knows anything useful. It's hard for most people who do know anything to talk about it, because it was usually their friends being torn up by the knights, or being called in by the rooks. The rooks are more of a mystery, but it's thought that they communicate with their victims telepathically, resembling a siren. We also know they are hideous looking, tall scrawny physique and what appears to be tumors growing out of their skulls.
"So, always remember the choice is yours!" Mr. Malum recites.
"Bullshit," I hear from behind me, barely audible but I notice the word laced with what sounds like a laugh. I don't turn around, because I don't want the boy to know I heard, I instead look at the people in front and beside me, hoping I can tell who it was through process of elimination. This is when I realize I don't know any of these people, and their faces are barely familiar to me. I've spent all of my time in class actually listening to the teacher instead of worrying about who was fucking who, who might be pregnant, who failed or passed the last test. I haven't cared about any of these people or ever fit in with them, because I've never tried. I've actually avoided it. I don't want to belong to them, it wouldn't feel right. I honestly have no idea where I belong or where I'd even want to belong. I sink into my chair and hope Mr. Malum is almost finished with this unbearably long speech.
"Okay, class of 2030 time to hear your results," Mr. Malum holds his hand out towards his assistant, a tall thin woman probably in her thirties, her head is topped with red corkscrew-curls spewing from every direction. She is interesting looking to say the least, her eyes are green and there is something fierce about them. She looks right in my direction as she hands the envelope to Mr. Malum, my back stiffening as a slightly sinister grin creeps across her face. I blink once and her smile had transformed into something beautiful, it struck me suddenly just how stunning the red head was. My mind was spinning a little as she exited the stage, and Mr. Malum opened the envelope. Now my heart was thumping, and I wonder if I am going to continue to breath or if it will suddenly cease. I was thankful that I had earlier sank down into my seat, because now I feel like I might pass out. My overwhelming anxiety grows more powerful, the greater the anticipation builds. I wrap my arms around my shoulders, surely I will fall to pieces any second.
"West Downey assigned to scientific research, Bethany Fowler assigned to child development, Corby Gallant assigned to kitchen aide," my heart skipped a beat, I look at Corby her blue eyes welling up, her full lips slightly apart. Time slows down, she turns to me as her eyelids fall a single tear escapes down her cheek. She never worried about what she would be assigned, but this job wasn't expected, there isn't many jobs lower than this on the scale. It's like I can feel her heart breaking. She purses her lips together in a tight line and the tears vanish quickly as the heat from her anger dries them up. I'm certain I'm the only one that saw that single tear. "Kitana Newman assigned to teach physical education," Mr. Malum flips the paper over. I sneak a glance at Corby, she is congratulating her two friends, I can tell she is truly happy for her friends that don't deserve those jobs anymore than Corby does. "Robert Slater will follow in his father shoes and become a doctor, Fitch Strauss also assigned to scientific research," by this time I'm almost certain I've passed out and am having an out-of-body experience, "Theora Vasco you will be assigned to custodial duties."
