Death's Little Angels (8 page)

“
How do we kill them?
The
Eaters
? Does
anybody know? Mrs. Westwood’s cell phone cut off before we had a
chance to find out,” Mater said.

The new group of students took note of Mrs.
Westwood and Mrs. Kissing’s mummified corpses. A movement was noted
in Mrs. Westwood’s belly.

“
That is what happens when
this virus is introduce into the molecular, genetic makeup of an
older human species. I can guarantee you that baby is an
Eater
.” Gasps were heard
across the room. “And oh don’t worry, the baby can’t get out of
there. It would be like breaking through a brick wall,” Beetle said
as he studied the teacher’s remains.

“
Are you sure about that?”
Mater asked.

“
No. Just an educated
guess,” Beetle replied as Mater sighed out loudly. He gulped slowly
as he glanced out the window.
Eaters
shuffled amongst each other
unknowing where the next destination would be.

“
Is it really a virus?”
Drew asked.

“
According to the CDC’s
website it is a virus and we all know there is no cure for viruses.
All you can do is prevent yourself from contracting it,” Beetle
said.

“
In other words, don’t get
bit,” Drew grimly replied.

“
How. Do. We. Kill. Them?”
Sue Ellen enunciated each word carefully.

Before anyone could answer Karley screamed
out in pure terror. The moans came first followed by Lakely going
berserk gnashing his teeth in attempt to clamp down on the rail
thin girl’s face. His eyes were glazed over and stuck in position
from the previous seizure. Black veins coursed through his face
like a windy road. He lifted his nose and sniffed out his prey.
Karley continued to yell as she tried to get away. Each time
Lakely’s mouth would get close to her face she would kick him in
the stomach but he kept coming back for her enraged by hunger. The
strength he possessed was amazingly strong. The students scampered
throughout the room too terrified to help Karley. They had
basically left her to her doom.

Before Drew had a chance to pull his
pocketknife, Kaleb stepped up with his sharpened broom handle and
impaled Lakely at the base of his plagued brain. Kaleb smiled
widely as he slowly twisted the lethal weapon into the boy’s
diseased skull. Lakely dropped like a heavy anchor. He stopped
moaning. There was no movement. His once vibrant body lay lifeless
without a soul and the rabid virus.

Without delay, Kaleb went over to Josefina
whose moaning grew louder and her hands waved even faster. She
snapped her jaws like she wanted a big kiss. Kaleb stood still and
studied the lively corpse for a moment. A sly grin crept over his
face. He took the broom handle and toyed with Josefina for a moment
before placing the stick in her mouth and methodically pushing it
through. Josefina’s body jerked once before falling over onto the
desks that had once held her prisoner. It had been a long time
since the classroom was silent.

“
You wanted ta know how to
kill em’?” Kaleb sarcastically said in a deep southern accent.
“Through their rotten brain!”

Drew was astonished at
what took place. He could not believe how cold and calculating
Kaleb was in executing Lakely and Josefina. He knew that they both
needed to be eliminated for their safety but it appeared as if
Kaleb enjoyed killing them. What was worse was it seemed like Royal
and Steven enjoyed witnessing the extermination. Drew looked out
the classroom window and observed more of the
Eaters
congregating near the window.
They looked like hunting dogs sniffing out a squirrel.

“
Absolutely brilliant, my
number one man!” Royal clapped as he walked towards Kaleb. The two
hugged.

“
I didn’t know you made
it, man. Didn’t see you in here,” Kaleb said patting Royal on the
shoulder.

“
Oh, yeah. I was busy
trying to secure the room. Near the window. Catch my drift?” Royal
snobbishly said.

“
The only place you were
trying secure was your corner over there behind the girls, Royal,”
Drew said narrowing his eyes.

Kaleb stepped closer to
Drew clenching his stick. Drew slowly eased his hand into his
pocket where his knife was. He knew that Kaleb never liked him or
anybody really for that fact but Drew was ready for whatever….
Whether it be humans or zombie
Eaters.
Royal rubbed his hands over
his spiky hair. He moved over to Kaleb and whispered something in
his ear. He patted Kaleb’s shoulder who then stood down.

“
We need to appoint a
leader. Someone to lead us out of here and I think everybody would
agree that I am well suited,” Royal boasted.

“
Are you freaking kidding
me? The wimp who hid behind the girls?” Sue Ellen
snapped.

“
You are a loser who was
scared of getting your pretty hands dirty. Look, how you left your
own friend to die, man.” Drew pointed to Lakely’s corpse. A black
gel substance slowly pooled on the floor from underneath Lakely’s
body.

“
Nah, he was too busy
hiding in the corner like a wus,” Sue Ellen bitterly
said.

“
Be careful Sue Ellen…. I
know your dirty little secret. The only thing you are worthy of
doing is shining my shoes,” Royal dangerously said.

Royal turned his nose up at Drew. “From the
last time I checked Drew you and your raggedy, lice infested
sisters were too busy standing in the welfare line because your
alcoholic mother was too busy bar hopping.”

Drew lost it. He rushed towards Royal
knocking him over. The two tussled on the floor like pro-wrestlers.
Drew definitely had the best of Royal as he pinned the football
player down on the floor by the neck. Sue Ellen yelled at the two
to stop fighting. Billy ran up from behind and pulled Drew off of
Royal. Drew snatched away from Billy, and squinted his eyes at
Royal.

“
What is wrong with you
two?” Sue Ellen shrieked. “The world is coming to an end outside
and y’all are fighting like two heathen’s!”

“
You keep my family’s name
out of your mouth! My mom may not be perfect but she is still my
mother!” Drew shouted pointing at Royal.

“
Stop it! Please, Drew.
You are better than him,” Mater whispered.

Drew took a step back and a breather. It was
outburst like this that had cost him a spot on the baseball team
this year.

“
The point is, we need to
think about getting out of this classroom and soon. Not my family,”
Drew said catching his breath. “Once those
Eaters
catch wind that we are in
here. It’s over. We’re dog food.”

“
Don’t look like dogs will
be eating us….” Sue Ellen mumbled.

“
What’s your plan?” Beetle
asked peering through his loose fitting glasses as he ran his
tongue over his braces. A small amount of spittle flew out. He
looked to see if anyone was looking as he quickly wiped his mouth.
He was cautious not to upset Drew any further.

“
To go home,” Drew
responded.

“
I’ve ran down those
halls. It’s not going to be easy,” Beetle wearily said.

“
We have no choice. We
stay here. We all die. No one will even know that we are back here.
I say keep running until we get to somewhere that doesn’t have dead
people trying to eat us,” Drew assured.

“
You mean a safe haven?”
Beetle asked.

“
Exactly. I was thinking
the storm shelter. It’s fenced in. It also has computers, phones, a
television, and food. Pretty much everything we will need until our
parents come for us. Plus we would be safe once Hurricane Angel
hits. We don’t stand a chance either way in this classroom. Not
against the
Eaters
or the hurricane.” Drew looked around the room for
support.

“
You don’t have parents
and your mom won’t come for you,” Royal barked, “I say enjoy the
free time while we can.”

Drew ignored Royal. “Listen, everybody. Time
is running out. You decide.”

Royal turned his nose up
at Drew. “You will get everybody killed! You saw what those
things
are doing to us
out there!”

Royal turned to face his peers. “Listen,
y’all. We make our stand here until someone comes for us. We don’t
know what’s going on outside those doors. We have Kaleb here with
the stick. That will protect us. You saw how he took care of Lakely
and Josefina. I say we stay here until help arrives or if nobody
agrees then we go to the cafeteria. While there have us a little
fun with no rules while the world ends. I vote and say lets go out
with a bang!”

Half of the students cheered and moved
towards Royal. The others stirred amongst each other and discussed
options.

“
Okay, we can at least
make it to the cafeteria. There is plenty of food there. We can do
our own thing until the police and our parents get here,” Royal
tried to rationalize.

“
There is food in the
storm shelter and it’s safer. Dr. Breland mentioned the cafeteria
being in bad shape earlier,” Drew warned.

“
The principal is dead,”
Royal dryly said.

“
I am so with you
sweetie,” Ashley, the captain of the cheerleading squad, beamed as
she snuggled up to Royal. “After this is all over, I am going to
make sure daddy pays for us both a nice manicure and pedicure at
the casino spa.” Ashley plastered kisses all over Royal’s cheek
before walking near Mrs. Westwood’s body. She wanted to retrieve
the cell phone to see for herself if it was dead.

“
It will never be over,”
Tarynn mumbled. She had her bible open reading
scriptures.

“
Do you have anything else
better to do, Ashley besides think about yourself?” Sue Ellen
asked. “The end of times are here and all of you morons are
thinking about yourselves.”

“
I’m not thinking of
myself reject,” Ashley snobbishly said, “I’ve invited Royal as
well.”

“
Dookey breath,” Sue Ellen
whispered as she rolled her eyes. Mater giggled lightly.

“
What are we going to do
without a cell phone? I can’t believe I lost mine on the way over
here,” Ashley pouted as she stood near Mrs. Westwood’s body. She
dropped Mrs. Westwood’s phone on the floor right besides the
deceased teacher’s head.
A rattle, accompanied by the gurgling moans near the classroom
window, startled Drew. A group of five
Eaters
congregated at the window and
began ramming into the panel. Drew closed his eyes and reopened
them. The tortuous sounds of the
Eaters
literally gave him goose
bumps. He swallowed hard as he glanced at Sue Ellen, the girl who
had his heart, and Mater the girl whose heart he could not give.
Drew wanted to protect them both. He brought his attention to the
center of the class.

“
Hey, y’all can do what
you want but I’m outta here. There will be more of them coming and
you’re all like cow’s waiting to be butchered if you stay in this
room,” Drew said as he turned to leave.

“
Wait, we are coming,” Sue
Ellen said as she grabbed Mater’s hand.

Mater softly touched Drew’s shoulder. “Drew,
all I ask is that we stop on the sixth grade hall and look for
Marley. I can’t leave without my baby sister,” she said with tear
filled eyes.

“
Consider it done. We all
stick together no matter what,” Drew said. Marley was also like
Drew’s little sister. She often came over and played with his
sisters. He did not plan on leaving her behind.

“
Not leaving me here,”
Beetle said taking his glasses off to clean them.

“
Aye, man…. I’m rollin
with you too. Hopefully y’all can keep up,” Billy Duncan nervously
said as he looked around the classroom. He already had recruiters
scouting him in the eighth grade for college scholarships in track
and field.

“
Hey brutha man, you are
going to leave us hanging like that?” Royal gave Billy a look
of
why are you betraying
us
. He considered Billy an elite member of
their clique even though he was a track star and not on the
football team.

“
Look dog, you are not my
brother and right now after what I just seen…. It’s all about
surviving until I can get home to my momma and brother. That’s all
I am focused on right now point blank.” Billy hit his
chest.

Royal narrowed his eyes.

“
Let him go,” Kaleb
whispered to Royal, “We don’t need him anyway.”

“
The good Lord, moves me
to come with you,” Tarynn said clenching her bible firmly to her
side. She walked up to Drew and the others.

“
Count me in. I ain’t
stayin here with these rich folks,” Cookie said as she slowly moved
towards Drew. She casted a nervous glance at Josefina’s stilled
body sprawled over the desk. Moments earlier they were ready to
fight each other.

“
We aren’t going to do
anything to you, girl,” Kaleb said with a sneer.

“
Wonder where you learned
to use weapons like that stick from? Hmm…. let me guess you’re a
sicko!” Cookie snapped at Kaleb.

“
Hey, Hey… just ignore
him. We are about to leave anyway,” Drew quickly said. He turned to
look at the rest of the students. “Anybody else?”