Infection: Dying Days

"T-the bus!"

"What're we going to do?"

"Calm down! Calm down!"

Upon seeing the black smoke rise from where the engine was, panic started to spread among the students. Even the teachers as they try to calm a few of the students down are starting to have pale complexions.

"Can you fix it?"

Covering my mouth with a handkerchief to protect myself from the smoke, I calmly asked Mr. Braxton. Knowing full well what the answer was.

Shaking his head from side to side, Mr. Braxton solemnly replies.

"No, the engine is done. It's too old and worn out.We were supposed to get new buses because of it."

"Then what about the other bus? Can you see if it still works."

"I'll check."

After saying this, he walked towards the second bus and entered it. And like earlier, he searched around for a bit before finding the bus keys. 

"Here goes nothing."

Taking a deep breathe that was filled with nothing but nervousness and unease, Mr. Braxton puts the key in the ignition and turns it...and by a stroke of luck, the low rumbling sound from the engine could be heard through out the garage. Leading everyone in it to breathe out a sigh of relief, myself included. 

Once we knew that the bus was in working condition, Mr. Braxton cut it off to save gas and lower the risk of drawing any infected over. Although, the engine isn't really loud, there's still a chance to draw some over.

"Alright, now that we have a working bus, somebody should call the others."

Readjusting my glasses, I suggested. I would've done it myself but I don't have any friends to contact since I find trying to socialize with people for no reason quite a hassle.

A lightly tanned girl happily offered as she quickly whipped out her bedazzled smartphone. Was she what those people at school call a 'gal'?

"When you do call, don't mention anything about the bus to your friend. Only ask them to bring the phone to President Yang."

"Eh? Why?"

"Seriously? Sigh, it's in order not to cause panic. How would you react when your friend calls you and say that one of the buses that's supposed to get you out of here doesn't work? Would you be calm?"

"...No. I wouldn't. I would probably cry my eyes out."

"My point exactly. So don't nothing about the bus to your friend."

"Then what about when they get here? Once they see that one of our buses down won't they be angry because we didn't tell them?"

"We'll worry about that when the time comes. Until then, just call your friend and tell her to give the phone to President Yang. After that we'll wait for everyone to arrive. And hopefully by the time they get here, there would be a solution to our problem."

"Okay."

"Damn, you need to seriously ease up on the bedazzling. It's a phone, not a chandelier." 

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

=================

"Good game boys. Good game."

"I-I lost everything! I lost everything!"

Feeling sad about how the end of the poker game turned out, Andy clutches his head in anguish while watching Big Sis as she takes all the food that he won away from him. Loving how he's wallowing in his despair, I laugh in schadenfreude.

"Haha, that's what you get! Who's the loser now!"

"That's like the pot calling the kettle black! Didn't you lose too?"

Although, I may not have gotten the cookies or peaches back, I'm quite satisfied with only winning this.

"Oi, is this your first time playing? Did you cheat? Oi!"  

"Hey, Amanda, do you want a can of peaches? I got two."

Not bothering to answer a loser's doubtful speculation, Big Sis offered Amanda one of her can of peaches. Haha, that's what you deserve!

"...Is that alright? I didn't do anything?"

Feeling a little hesitant about taking the can of peaches, Amanda said.

"It's okay. Take it as a token of friendship."

"B-but?" 

"Take it."

Although Amanda felt a little hesitant about accepting the can of peaches, Big Sis convince her to take it...Maybe I should start currying favor with Amanda? She hasn't even played and she's already gotten a bag of cookies and a can of peaches. Is it her charm or is it God's blessing.

As I was thinking about such a thing...

"H-hey,I got a call! I got a call! President Yang, my friend wants to talk to you."

The voice of a girl was heard, snapping me from my thoughts. Turning my attention towards the voice, I spot a gyaru running this way. 

Understanding what the call was about, me and Big Sis put on a serious expression. They've made it!

"Let me see it."

Stretching out her hand, Big Sis spoke. 

"This is president Yang...Uh-huh...What...! Sigh, okay. Just sit tight we'll be there as fast as we can. Bye."

Once Big Sis got the phone, I saw her expression subtly change the longer she talked. Most people wouldn't have noticed this change due to how awe-inspiring she usually is but I saw it. Within that usual calmness was a sense of somberness. Something bad must've happened.

Big Sis gave the gyaru back her phone. After she gotten it back, she asked.

"Thanks. So are we going next?"

"Yeah. tell groups 3,5,6 to get ready."

"Sure thing! Finally, we can leave this place."

The gyaru said as she left. Not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting to hear a 'totes' and a 'lol' here and there whenever that girl talked but astonishingly so, I didn't. I guess you can't believe everything you read in manga, huh?

"Desmond, I need to talk to you."

"Alright." 

With the feeling of something's wrong getting stronger, I could only nod and agree.

"Follow me."