October 31st, 2020

"I thought it was a joke. Why would I believe it? How was I supposed to believe it?" My voice echoed throw the corridor, only one was my company. I just sat there, knees up and my arms rested there.

Sigh.

I twirled one finger, the way my eyes focused on the movement left behind a little trail. I always like doing that, it distracted my mind but also reminded me of how tired I was.

Being able to sleep would be a blessing.

Bang.

Jolting I looked to my companion.

"Hey!" I shouted, voice hoarse. But it fell on dead ears.

"How can this be real. Me? You? This is deaths cruel joke"

"Aaaaaaammph" came the only reply.

12 hours ago I was a normal teenager, out late on halloween night, celebrating with friends. This was our last halloween night before we all left for college or leaving for basic training.

"Chad!"

"Nice to see you finally made it"

"Hey, princess decided to finally join us!"

"You know what this means, Chad?"

Of course I was the last one to arrive, which makes me the designated driver.

"Yea, yea, hand them over," I held my hand out and caught the keys.

"Todays ride is my moms van, so don't wreck it," Tod said, climbing into the passenger. He was the one going to the marines, I missed the requirements by a mile, but I had to try.

Climbing into the drives spot, David and Andy got into the back. David was the smart one of the four of us, got into an ivy league with a full ride. Andy was already in his family's butcher business but wanted to part-time at the local college. Andy's grandmother never stopped talking about how proud she was of him, the first in the family to go to college.

"Take a left here," Andy said from the back. He also knew enough people to get us into parties. This was one of three on the list, just a small one with mostly people we all knew.

The sidewalk was lined with cars already. It was only 10 pm. Finding a spot down by the corner, the four boys got out and walked like a pack towards the house. I thought we were the toughest shit in town. The music wasn’t loud but you could make out the words as we stood in front.

The party didn’t last very long once they arrived. The four of us got into a late game of beer pong, something that was just a pre-game for them. Of course I didn’t drink the beer, instead I drank apple juice.

The next party was a little outside our town, in between where we lived and the university. This one was a little more lively than the last, and was just hitting the peak of the party. Again, I didn’t drink but Andy found a keg and got into a competition on who can chug the fastest. He knew how to party and just after three challengers was still standing upright just fine.

The others ended up finding girls to flirt with, I had no interest in that; at least, not while being the responsible friend of the night; and not with girls. My friends knew my sexuality and had no judgement. Of course, our friend group used to be five strong, but with my recent coming out had one friend leave.

Clearing my head, I struggled to regroup the four of us. This was only our second destination, the next one was supposed to be epic. The party itself didn’t start until 1 am, which left us an hour to get there.

Finally the group was ready to roll out, plus an additional passenger. One of the girls David was flirting with invited herself along. This uninvited guest didn’t seem to bother anyone else but me. Maybe everyone else was already drunk enough to not care?

I blasted the radio, a slipknot song coming on. Andy was my shotgun and turned the volume up, drowning out the two making out in the backseat. Tod looked mighty uncomfortable being so close which at least, to me, started to make the situation funny. Cracking a smile I exchanged looks with Andy who just shook his head. Maybe I wasn’t the only one bothered by the tag along?

The GPS took us way out into the shrubs, I had thought this was a college party at the university, not a hillbilly party in the sticks.

“Dude, where ya taking us?” I asked, turning the volume down some. Finally the two in the back split up to look around.

“This looks creepy,” the girl complains, I can’t help but roll my eyes. She didn’t even know where we were going, what an idiot.

“A college pal has parents who own this old church and cemetery out here,” Andy finally answered.

As they rounded a corner there were rows and rows of cars. Lights up a head illuminated tombstones and an old brick church. The music can be heard, although it was distant. I expected it to be louder, but I guess there is some truth in fearing waking the dead.

They all roamed out, the plan was to go home in the morning, crash somewhere in the van or perhaps in the church. Something about sleeping in an abandoned church gave me the chills. Eyeing the group I was the last to follow. The girl at least seemed truly into David, so she’ll probably be around when morning comes.

I walked with Andy, our little group splitting up again. We did shots, where the others went off to I wasn’t sure. The bar was for real, hired mixologist just for the event. This college pal had to have come from money.

“So are we gonna meet this college pal?”

“Nah, prolly not, he is kind of…” Andy took another shot. “Weird,” he gasped the word out.

I took another shot as well. My cheeks feeling warm and a rush went through me.

“Ya know,” Andy started, then shook his head.

“No, tell me?”

“It’s just,” there was something in the way he said those words. I felt my cheeks flush from more than just the alcohol.

Gasps distracted us as the world began to glow in green. People were pointing. Looking upwards a bright green comet flew across the sky, slowly. It took only one person howling like a crazed beast for all of us to join in, how the mind words under the effects of alcohol.

Andy turned to me and kissed me. Something in the way he did it though had me in shock. It was forceful, passionate, not shy at all. The need was there and I pressed back eagerly. The music played around us and no one was saying a thing.

Then my head was on the ground. There was shouting, yelling. Tons of screaming. My world was twisted and the sounds went in and out of static. Finally a familiar face was pulling me upwards.

“David? What’s going on?” I asked, my words were slowed as I held my head. There was something sticky there and I pulled my hand away to see what it was. Still bathed in green, the substance looked a gross purplish color. But I knew what it was. I was bleeding; David put something in my hand and put it to my head, I held it there; the girl from earlier was guiding me away and sat me down on hay bells. I couldn’t really hear her, not because of my head injury, but because I finally saw what had hit me.

James was there yelling, Andy yelling back. Each had their own group pushing against them, trying not to start a massive brawl. No one wanted the cops out here tonight.

James had been the one member to leave after I came out, and not because I came out. Well, not exactly. We had been in the closet together since middle school, and for a time we experimented. But we hadn’t in a few years and I thought nothing of it, James still did. He didn’t want to come out and felt that since I had came out, I was open to more relationships.

After a while James left with the rest of his group, claiming something derogatory. The group rejoined, although quiet, and the party around us began again. No one said anything but Andy sat next to me.

Tod left for a moment before coming back with a two bottles, “come on, lets find a spot just for us.”

We walked out for a bit, I was fine with this. Pulling away the rag, I realized the wound had stopped bleeding.

“Let me see,” Andy said, before I could move he had his phone light out and a hand on my face. I stilled. “Just a small cut.”

“Don’t get lost slow pokes,” Tod yelled, and I pulled away and continued walking. Eventually Andy joined me.

They all sat around a small group of broken tombstones. Andy still didn’t leave my side, and I couldn’t look at him to ask him why.

The bottles got passed around, I didn’t drink anymore, instead I just listened to the idle chatter. Everyone talked about memories, and for a while I didn’t mind the girl being there. At some point it was getting late and I closed my eyes.

I knew I had leaned against Andy and he shifted to accommodate my weight. He was always so good to me. At some point the world got quiet, before a yell woke me with a start.

Andy was already standing when I jolted. The world was quiet and the others didn’t wake, we exchanged a look and started to laugh. Assuming that we merely got spooked by someone playing a prank. But then there were more screams.

People began to scream ‘get to the church’ and Andy grabbed my hand, pulling me along with him. We ran and we saw a group trying to move into the church. Then there was something on my ankle. I tripped, yanking my hand from Andy’s. I turned to see what had my ankle, and it was a hand. The grip on it was immense and I tried pulling and it only seemed to pull up the… the thing up from the ground.

I let out a scream as a head soon popped up, and its mouth hung off its hinges. Trying to drag myself away, “Andy!” I screamed, wondering where he went off to.

The zombie bit down into my calf and I screamed. This felt worse than when I dropped oil on my foot a year ago. Then there was Andy, his foot in the ghouls head. He had his arm around me and pulled me upwards.

Several screams more and we were through the doors. Several more followed in before they were closed and pews were pushed in front of them. Andy dragged me into a corner and we sat there for a time.

I didn’t know when my vision started to blur, but when I looked to Andy I couldn’t speak. He looked back at me with a clear look of shock. His fingers were at my necks, feeling for a pulse. I moved towards him, I wanted to embrace him.

Andy pushed away but my arms were already around him. Just a hug. I just needed a hug. I was scared.

Then the taste of copper flooded my mouth, and the shock of what the taste actually was had me pulling back. I was standing, overlooking something bizarre. I felt sick, and I puked but nothing came out.

Looking down, there I was, biting into Andy’s neck. I looked down and I could see right through me.

Fuck.