16

Everything happens at once in a whirlwind of running teenagers, gnashing teeth, blood sprays, and twisted limbs. A pair of girls run by, both chased by one of the altered humans, his face a decomposing mess of sloughing skin and jagged bones. He grabs a girl and drags her into a snowbank, and all that follows are flashes of red on white. You turn and spot the two workers fighting over Tommy Duncan, his limp body scourged with claw marks and missing chunks of flesh.

Someone collides into you, knocking you over. Rolling on the ground, you end in a seated position and spot Lizzie next you. Dark lines of eyeliner drip down her face, and she breathes in quick, short breaths. She points to the pool, where Jeremy lies upside down on a beach chair, his head split open, a man chewing his leg like a humongous spare rib. In the pool, floating face down, you recognize Derrick's motionless body. Lizzie stands and runs, joining in with the hysterical crying of the surrounding crowd.

Jonah bumps into you. "What's going on?" He looks more confused than concerned, still holding a beer bottle in hand, though it's clutched like a weapon. "Come on!" you yell and grab his wrist to lead him from the yard. You run along the bushes bordering the Milford's estate. In the middle of the row of high flowery flora, you find a break and climb through to the neighboring backyard. Screams come from behind you, erupting like a unified terror-filled moment from a horror movie audience.

"Where are we going?" Jonah asks as he chases behind you, off-balance.

You run forward, ignoring your friend and dodging scattered toys and a turned-over bicycle. As you run to the driveway, a voice calls from behind. "Yoohoo, help! Help!" A pear-shaped older woman hobbles from her porch in your direction. "Help me! Someone broke into my house. The police—AHHHH!"

You spot the woman too late. A blur of teeth and clawed hands descend upon you. A blunt force strikes your chest, and you topple backwards, only to see Jonah tackling your attacker, his arms wrapped around her waist as he drives her to the ground. His glasses fly off and spittle swings from his lips as he wrestles the woman down. "No!" he yells in a voice as deranged as the woman he holds. "You leave him alone!" The woman spins around, and before you can help your friend, she sinks her teeth into his arm