Rom-Com Zombie Apocalypse

The streets were a mess. Zombies were everywhere, groaning and stumbling like they'd just finished a marathon and regretted every step. We were running, no, dashing, through the chaos, bashing zombies left and right like it was some twisted video game.

My arms were sore, my legs felt like jelly, and my brain was screaming, "Why did I skip leg day?!"

Elliot was swinging his bat like a pro, smashing zombie skulls with a precision that was both impressive and slightly terrifying. Alex was a blur in his hoodie, his crowbar glinting in the fading light as he took out zombies with a calm efficiency that made me wonder if he'd done this before.

And me? I was holding my broom like it was a lightsaber, jabbing at anything that got too close. "Take this, you fcking zombie!" I yelled, whacking one in the face. It stumbled back, tripping over its own feet, and I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit proud.

We were a team, relying on each other to cover blind spots and keep the horde at bay. Elliot had my back, Alex had his, and I was just trying not to die. "Left side!" Elliot shouted, and I spun around just in time to see a zombie in a ripped prom dress lunging at me.

I swung my broom like my life depended on it (because it did), and the zombie went down with a satisfying thud.

By the time we reached Westwood High, we were all exhausted. The school gates were closed, and the sky was turning a darkish pink, like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be pretty or ominous.

We jumped over the gates, landing on the other side with a collective groan. Behind us, the zombies were stuck in the gate bars, clawing and growling like they'd just been stood up on a date.

"We're finally here," Elliot said, breathing heavily. He looked like he'd just run a marathon, and honestly, so did I.

We walked slowly toward the school entrance, our footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The main door was closed, and for a second, I thought we'd have to break in.

But Alex, ever the problem-solver, picked up a nearby brick and smashed the lock like it was nothing.

Elliot and I stared at him, dumbfounded. "Did you just… break the lock?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Alex shrugged. "What? It was in the way."

"Of course it was," I muttered, following him inside. Elliot trailed behind me, his bat resting on his shoulder like he was ready for round two.

The school was dark and quiet, the kind of quiet that made your skin crawl. It felt wrong, like we were trespassing in a place that didn't want us there.

We barricaded the door behind us with benches, chairs, and anything else we could find. As we worked, I couldn't help but let my mind wander.

Why do humans even exist? I thought, stacking chairs like my life depended on it. We're just these weird, squishy creatures running around, trying not to die. And for what? To get eaten by zombies? To barricade ourselves in a school and hope for the best? What's the point of it all?

I glanced at Elliot, who was struggling to push a heavy table into place. His face was smeared with dirt and zombie gunk, but he still managed to look annoyingly handsome. Ugh, why does he have to be so… Elliot?

"You okay?" he asked, catching me staring.

"Y-Yeah," I stammered, quickly looking away. Shit. Caught again.

Once the door was secure, we collapsed onto the floor, our backs against the barricade. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of our breathing.

"So," Elliot said after a while, breaking the tension. "That was fun."

I snorted. "Fun? We almost died, like, five times."

"Exactly," he said, grinning. "It's like that RPG game I used to play. You know, the one where you have to fight off hordes of monsters and level up your character?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, except in real life, there's no respawn button."

Alex chuckled, leaning his head back against the wall. "Speak for yourself. I'm pretty sure I've died at least twice already."

We all laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. It felt good to laugh, even if it was just for a moment.

But as the laughter faded, the reality of our situation settled in.

We were trapped in a school, surrounded by zombies, with no idea what to do next. And yet, somehow, I felt a little less scared.

Maybe it was because I wasn't alone. Maybe it was because Elliot's stupid jokes made everything feel a little less hopeless.

Or maybe it was because, deep down, I knew we'd figure it out. Together.

****

The school was so quiet it felt like we were sitting in a giant, creepy library. You know, the kind where you're afraid to sneeze because it'll echo for days.

My brain, being the overthinker it is, started going off on one of its weird tangents. How long can people live without food and water? I wondered. 

Three days without water? A week without food? But like, what's the point of surviving if we're just running around smashing zombie heads and barricading ourselves in schools? Are we just meat sacks with a survival instinct, or is there something more?

I glanced at Elliot and Alex. Elliot was gripping his bat like it was his lifeline, and Alex was staring at the floor like it had the answers to the universe.

They looked as clueless as I felt. Why are we even doing this? I thought. Why fight so hard to stay alive in a world that's basically a dumpster fire? Is it just because we're programmed to, or is there some tiny spark of hope keeping us going?

I shook my head. Too deep, Mira. Way too deep. But the thoughts stuck around like that one annoying song you can't get out of your head.

"We need food," I blurted out, breaking the silence. My voice echoed down the hallway like I'd just announced it over a loudspeaker. "And a plan. Like, ASAP."

Elliot looked up and gave me that half-smile of his. "That's my Mira," he said, all smug and teasing. "Always the smart one. Always knows what to do."

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain. "Oh, shut up," I said, pinching his arm. Hard.

"Ow!" he yelped, jerking away. "What was that for?"

"For being a flatterer," I said, smirking. "And for thinking compliments will get you out of everything."

He rubbed his arm, still grinning. "That's also my Mira," he said. "Always keeping me in line."

Alex snorted. "You two are a mess," he said, shaking his head. "But Mira's right. We need food. And a plan. Preferably before we turn into zombies ourselves."

Elliot stood up, slinging his bat over his shoulder like some kind of action hero. "First stop: the cafeteria," he said.

"We know this school, so we've got the home-field advantage. Alex, you're on zombie watch. And keep an eye out for anything weird. Who knows? Maybe the lab hamsters turned into zombies too."

Elliot burst out laughing. "Lab hamster zombies? Really?"

I crossed my arms. "I'm not joking," I said. "For all we know, there's a zombie hamster army waiting to ambush us."

Alex nodded slowly, his face hidden under his hood. "She's right. We can't let our guard down, not even for a second."

We started moving toward the cafeteria, our footsteps echoing in the empty halls. The school felt like a ghost town, with lockers still shut, posters still up, but no life anywhere. It was creepy like we were walking through a museum of our own lives.

As we walked, my brain kept circling back to those big, heavy thoughts. What's the point of all this? Why are we even trying to survive in a world that's gone full zombie apocalypse? Is it just instinct, or is there something more?

I didn't have an answer. But when I looked at Elliot and Alex, their faces set and determined, I realized maybe the answer didn't matter. Maybe it was enough just to keep going, to fight for each other, even when the world felt like it was falling apart.

The cafeteria doors were just ahead. I tightened my grip on my broom.

Elliot reached for the handle.

We stepped forward.

And then—