10 Count Me In

Sheloah closed the door and they cautiously looked at their Math teacher, Sir Jim.

"Sir, how did you end up here," she asked as Sir Jim leaned on the gas stove behind him.

"I could ask you the same thing," he said and he smirked at the students in front of him.

The students thought that his smile was a little… off. It was a mysterious kind of smile. They didn't know what he was thinking as of the moment, whether he was planning on to something or not. It scared them.

"How did you end up here?"

Their Math teacher asked them the same question as he slowly walked around the home economics room.

"Sir, we were actually—" Veon stopped Sheloah from telling their teacher where there class was located.

"Veon, what are you doing," Josh whispered. He was quite surprised that he stopped Sheloah from answering their teacher. Veon looked at their teacher and the three students were now curious as to why Veon looked serious. He spoke.

"If he won't answer our question, then we won't answer his. Besides… the way he treated us just now was a bit suspicious." Upon hearing what Veon said, Sir Jim suddenly laughed loudly.

"Kids these days…"

He stopped laughing and he smiled at the four students in front of him.

The three realized that Veon was somewhat right. If he didn't answer their question, why will they answer his? What made it more suspicious was the way their teacher acted earlier. How come their teacher was inside the home economics room when he was a Math teacher? His first class was in 4E, just above section 4B.

Why was he in the home economics room, which was far from his class?

Sir Jim spoke again. "Don't get me wrong. I don't have any intentions of hurting human beings. But zombies, I do," he said and the students were still silent. He sighed. "Are you guys really not going to talk?" The students looked at each other, not knowing what he's up to.

It was Sheloah who broke the silence. "It's just… weird. Your first period is in 4E but why are you here in the home economics room when you're a Math teacher," she asked and their teacher shook his head.

He went to one kitchen counter and retrieved an axe that was bathed in blood. It alarmed the students then the boys went in front of Sheloah, having the instinct to protect her.

Their teacher laughed again. "Chill!" He let out a small laugh. "I used this to attack zombies a while ago. I came here in search of weapons as well," he added and the students still didn't let their guard down.

They stood still, silent, for a few minutes when the silence was broken off by Sir Jim's hungry stomach. "And… I am hungry as well," he said embarrassed and the boys now dropped their guard.

"Sir, just answer us. Why are you here," Veon asked again and Sir Jim sighed.

"I can handle myself. I used the axe and killed the zombies. I'm looking for weapons," he answered, Veon still suspicious.

"Aren't the zombies many?" Sir Jim frowned when he heard Veon spoke.

They knew that killing off many zombies alone was difficult for a single man to do. He was also using an axe! Can he swing an axe simultaneously without getting tired?

"Hit and run. I only hit them, prioritizing my escape, running towards this room," he just answered as he shrugged his shoulder.

"I'm still not convinced," Veon said and the three students as well were suspicious of their Math teacher. No matter what they do or say, he just won't say a thing.

Sir Jim ignored what Veon said and spoke. "Then how about you, my dear students… what brings you here?"

"Just the same. Weapons," Sheloah answered, not giving too much information to their suspicious Math teacher.

Sir Jim walked towards them, making the students cautious once more. "Count me in." The students were surprised by what their teacher said.

"Huh!?" The four of them reacted in unison.

'Why would he suddenly decide to join us,' Sheloah thought and Sir Jim spoke again.

"Well, you need a grown up with you. Parental guidance during violence." Sir Jim gave them a wink as he said this and the students shuddered by the gesture.

'Parental guidance our ass!' The students thought in unison.

"You think we'd trust you easily," Sheloah said and Sir Jim smirked.

"Up to you. I'll just join you guys," he said and the students looked at each other. "You couldn't possibly handle those zombies alone," he added as he pointed at the door of the home economics room.

The students were now surprised. Through the door's glass, they could see five zombies waiting outside. Their eyes grew wider when some zombies noticed them and started approaching the room's door. They looked back at their Math teacher, having no choice, since they now need help.

"Can you kill all of them with just the four of you?" He smirked once more. He was like emphasizing that they need him at this time!

Sheloah rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, you're in," she said and Sir Jim chuckled.

"That's the spirit!" Then all of them walked slowly towards the door. They were still not opening the door. Sir Jim held his axe, readying himself for attack while his playful expression was suddenly changed into a serious one.

Can they seriously trust this guy?