The sun peeked over the horizon, casting a golden glow over Riverwood as Tommy made his way to school. The air was crisp, and a light breeze rustled the autumn leaves. Despite the eerie events of the past few days, Tommy tried to stay positive. His parents had assured him that everything would be fine, and he wanted to believe them.
Sarah met him at the corner of their street, her usual cheerful smile a bit subdued. “Morning, Tommy.”
“Morning, Sarah,” Tommy replied, forcing a smile. “Ready for another day?”
Sarah shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I just hope things are normal today.”
They walked together, talking about their homework and plans for the weekend, trying to ignore the unsettling atmosphere that seemed to hang over the town. When they arrived at school, the building looked as ordinary as ever, but the tension among the students and teachers was palpable.
Tommy and Sarah found their seats in Miss Green’s classroom. The bell rang, and Miss Green began taking attendance. She seemed her usual self, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes.
“Alright, class, today we’re going to start with some math problems,” she said, her voice steady. “Please take out your textbooks and turn to page 42.”
As the students settled into their work, Tommy glanced out the window. The playground was empty, the swings swaying gently in the breeze. He felt a chill run down his spine, but he shook it off and focused on his math book.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the classroom. Tommy looked up to see Miss Green clutching her chest, her face pale. She swayed on her feet and then collapsed to the floor, her body hitting the ground with a sickening thump.
“Miss Green!” Tommy shouted, jumping up from his seat.
The room erupted in chaos as students screamed and ran to the corners of the room. Tommy hesitated for a moment before rushing to Miss Green’s side. He gently shook her shoulder. “Miss Green, are you okay?”
Her eyes fluttered open, but something was terribly wrong. The warmth and kindness that usually filled her gaze were gone, replaced by a cold, empty stare. She slowly got to her feet, moving with an eerie, mechanical precision.
“Miss Green?” Tommy asked, his voice trembling.
She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned her head slowly, her vacant eyes scanning the room. The students backed away, huddling together in fear.
“Everyone, stay back!” Tommy called out, trying to keep his voice steady. “We need to get help!”
He glanced towards the door, but before he could move, Miss Green let out a low, guttural moan. She stumbled forward, her movements jerky and unnatural.
Tommy’s heart pounded in his chest as he backed away. “Sarah, go get the principal!”
Sarah nodded and bolted out the door, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. Tommy kept his eyes on Miss Green, trying to figure out what to do. His mind raced, but all he could think about was how similar she looked to Mr. Jenkins.
Within moments, Principal Anderson and a few other teachers rushed into the classroom. They took one look at Miss Green and immediately sprang into action.
“Everyone, out of the classroom!” Principal Anderson ordered, his voice firm but calm.
The students scrambled towards the door, tripping over each other in their haste. Tommy stayed close to Sarah, gripping her hand tightly as they joined the crowd in the hallway.
Principal Anderson and the other teachers managed to subdue Miss Green, guiding her towards the nurse’s office. The students stood outside, whispering anxiously to each other.
“What’s happening?” Mike asked, his eyes wide with fear.
“I don’t know,” Tommy replied, shaking his head. “But it’s like what happened to Mr. Jenkins.”
The murmurs grew louder as more students shared stories of neighbors and family members acting strangely. It was clear that whatever was affecting Miss Green and Mr. Jenkins was spreading.
Principal Anderson returned, his face grave. “Students, please remain calm. We’re going to send everyone home for the day while we assess the situation. Your safety is our top priority.”
Tommy and Sarah exchanged worried glances. “Come on, let’s find our parents,” Sarah said.
They made their way out of the school, joining the throngs of students heading home. The usually lively chatter was replaced by hushed conversations and fearful glances.
When Tommy and Sarah reached Tommy’s house, they found his mom waiting on the porch, her face etched with worry.
“Tommy, Sarah, are you alright?” she asked, pulling them both into a hug.
“We’re okay, Mom,” Tommy replied. “But Miss Green… she collapsed, and then she got up and looked… different. Like Mr. Jenkins.”
Tommy’s mom’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear. Let’s get inside and call your parents, Sarah.”
They went inside, and Tommy’s mom quickly dialed Sarah’s home. “Hello, Mrs. Johnson? Yes, Sarah’s here with us. We just heard about what happened at school. Yes, they’re safe. Okay, see you soon.”
Sarah’s mom arrived a few minutes later, her face pale. She hugged Sarah tightly. “Thank goodness you’re safe. Let’s get you home.”
Tommy watched as they left, feeling a deep sense of unease. He turned to his mom. “What’s happening, Mom? Why are people acting like this?”
His mom sighed, sitting down at the kitchen table. “I don’t know, Tommy. But we need to stay vigilant and look out for each other.”
That evening, the local news broadcast was filled with reports of similar incidents. People collapsing and then getting up with cold, empty eyes. The anchors urged everyone to stay indoors and avoid contact with anyone showing symptoms.
Tommy’s dad came home early from work, his face drawn with worry. “The hospital is overwhelmed,” he said, dropping his bag by the door. “They don’t know what’s causing this, but it’s spreading fast.”
The family sat together, the television casting a flickering light across their worried faces. They listened to the updates, trying to make sense of the chaos.
As night fell, Tommy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced with thoughts of Miss Green and Mr. Jenkins. The cold, empty look in their eyes haunted him.
Suddenly, a noise outside caught his attention. He got up and peeked out the window. Shadows moved in the street, and he could see people stumbling around, their movements slow and uncoordinated.
“Tommy?” Sarah’s voice came from the walkie-talkie on his bedside table. They had gotten the devices for their last birthday, and now they used them to keep in touch after dark.
Tommy grabbed the walkie-talkie. “Yeah, Sarah?”
“Are you seeing this? People are wandering around outside. My dad says they look like zombies.”
Tommy swallowed hard. “Yeah, I see it too. It’s like the whole town is changing.”
“What do we do?” Sarah’s voice was small and scared.
“We stay inside and stay safe,” Tommy replied, trying to sound braver than he felt. “Our parents will know what to do. We just have to stick together.”
“Okay,” Sarah said, her voice wavering. “Good night, Tommy.”
“Good night, Sarah.”
Tommy put the walkie-talkie down and climbed back into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. He listened to the distant sounds of moaning and shuffling outside, his heart pounding.
The world outside was changing, and he knew that they were facing something far more terrifying than he could have ever imagined. But with his family and friends by his side, he was determined to stay strong and face whatever horrors lay ahead.