Semester of the Dead

Semester of the Dead 1

Semester of the Dead, Chapter

It's a hot day in July. Alaric is pressing up against my face. He's kissing me.

He's versatile like me so as he sucks my dick he fingers my ass all at the same time.

I'm moaning.  Alaric.

Alaric!

Alaric!

"Sunday, you're late!"

Fuck!  I've been in the bathroom day dreaming about my crush this whole time and beating my dick like it owed me something.

I run out the house .Savannah is usually hot around this time. I'm walking down the street. I am not really moved by the cobble stone roads or the moss drapes from live oaks. Savannah was one of those places where nothing is too tall, nothing is too modern. Everything is historical. Sometimes you forget what century it is. It's a slow southern city and I've lived here all my life. I should feel safe.

It isn't until there is a shadow creeping up on me from behind.

I don't have time to turn!

The arms strangle me, pulling me in, grasping me strangling. Placing an arm around my neck. I can't breathe! I struggle I push away. I'm desperate to scream! Desperate to breathe! Desperate somehow to get my hands away from this person whose squeezing me...squeezing me so fucking tight.

It's strangling me! Squeezing tighter!

Tighter.

Constricting my throat!

"Ok, ok," a familiar voice says, "Let go of him."

I'm pushed away. It's my neighbors. More like family. That's what my Mom says.

"Family are the ones you love," my mother always says, "Remember that Sunday."

Ignacio and Valentina Seranno. I'd known the Seranno twins ever since my Mom moved to Savannah when I was five. They weren't my best friends. They were more like family. We'd been forced together because our mothers became best friends. I loved them but sometimes I didn't like them. Times like now when Ignacio couldn't help but to show how strong he was.

"Don't be a dickhead," I state, "You almost spilled the lunch Mom made."

"Aunt Sidney made lunch?" Ignacio asks grabbing it away from me automatically, "You don't need that. Gimme dat shit."

I don't even fight it. I know Ignacio well enough to know he's in a playful mood and would like nothing more than to wrestle the lunch out of my hand if he had the chance. I just give in, like I usually do. Ignacio starts taking the lunch and starts eating the sandwich right there on the side of the road.

Ignacio is strong. He has this thick muscular body. He isn't very tall. We both stand around an average of 5'10" but Ignacio plays football. He's always had a very defined look to him. Thick eyebrows, a strong jawline, bronze skin and curly hair. He's always been attractive. Ridiculously attractive and because he's so popular the girls seem to love him.

"Did you wash your hands before eating that?" Valentina asks her brother, pulling out some hand sanitizer, "Here. You know there's some weird virus going around?"

"Virus?" I ask, confused.

"Yeah. Everyone's getting it this week," Valentina asks, "You need to stop playing games with Mitch all the time and watch the news once in a while."

Ignacio gives me a hard look, "You don't play games with me anymore."

He looks a little jealous. I know he kind of resents the fact that we've grown distant over the school year. So have I.

"We're going to be late," Valentina states, "The bus is leaving soon."

"You need to take that stick out your butt," Ignacio teases her, "Ain't that right Sunday? Valentina always got a stick up her butt."

I laugh. He has a point. Valentina was strict. She was a bit of a nerd. She made perfect grades and was no doubt going to be the Valedictorian for the school. That didn't take away from her beauty though. The girl had her brothers beautiful skin tone that shimmered in sunlight, long hair that went all the way down to her butt and big beautiful lips. She had inherited her mother's wide hips and curvy shape and was a few inches shorter than her.

They were two of the most popular kids in school and probably the only thing that saved me from completely hating my life in high school.

"The bus didn't leave yet," I tell them, "Mitch would have told me."

"Your boyfriend is waiting at the bus for you."

"Can you not?"

"Listen, we are damn near family," Ignacio tells me, "You came out to me as gay a week ago. Don't think I didn't put two and two together."

Telling Valentina and Ignacio about my sexuality was one of the scariest things I'd ever done, but they accepted it. They didn't make a big deal about it. Valentina I knew would be cool about it. She's this super liberal person who believes in science and all that. I was surprised more by Ignacio. He's super religious and has maintained this manly-man image. He accepted me fully though. He was just mad that I didn't tell him earlier. It wasn't that I didn't want to or I didn't trust them. I'd hidden in their popularity in school this entire time. I knew they'd protect me no matter what. We don't get to see each other during the school year and we're hoping this trip is going to change that. I can see Ignacio doesn't really understand my sexuality.

"Even if Mitch is gay..."

"Which he is...," Ignacio adds.

"Iggy. Come on now. It doesn't mean we're in a relationship."

Ignacio rolls his eyes. He doesn't believe me. I'm telling the truth. My best friend Mitch was just that. My best friend. Ignacio and Valentina ignore the guy. A lot of people do. He's not the most masculine guy in the world. He's definitely not straight, but he is desperately in the closet. I guess he thinks people don't know he's gay but everyone I know suspects it. I just let him do his thing. Coming out for me wasn't easy so I know everyone needs their time.

"Sunday's relationships are none of your business, Ignacio," Valentina states.

This stops me in my tracks.

"Well...thanks Valentina. Glad you see the light," I state expressing my surprise in my tone.

Valentina was one of the nosiest people I know. Her curiosity is one thing that has made her so smart. The fact that she's calling out Ignacio is laughable. I'm not the only one that thinks so.

Ignacio looks at his twin and gives her a glare, "She's only saying that because she knows I'm pissed at her. Did you know she's been secretly in a relationship this whole time."

"It's none of our business who..." I start.

Ignacio interrupts me and damn near spits the words, "With Alaric."

My heart drops. There is immediate tension.

Alaric West. Valentina was dating THE Alaric West.

~

We arrive at the bus. Mr. Drake is our handsome Environmental Studies teacher that all the girls love. Mr. Drake was a young teacher. He had to be younger than 30. He had dark skin, long dreadlocks and a sweet smile. He's picked a handful of students in the school to take to the cabins in the woods for extra credit for a month. We were supposed to be studying nature, getting extra credit and having some fun. Everyone was excited. Everyone but me.

"You OK?" Valentina asks me when we get to the bus, "I know Ignacio hates Alaric. I hope that hasn't rubbed off on you in anyway."

Ignacio has already gotten on the bus. He's talking to a few of his football player friends already. Ignacio has always hated Alaric. One year ago Alaric West came to the West Savannah High and flipped shit upside down. Ignacio was the most popular guy in school then. He was the captain of the football team. Alaric came and took his spot. Alaric came and took his energy. That was the thing about Alaric. He had the capability to suck all the energy out of the room.

"I'm fine," I tell Valentina.

That's all she needs to hear. Valentina pinches my right cheek like she's done since I was a kid and then goes over to her group of friends. That's how it usually is with Ignacio, Valentina and I. Outside of school were the closest of friends but once we got around other people, we sort of separated.

"You're late," a voice says.

Mitchell or Mitch Cooper is there when I arrive. He's the only one to greet me as I get on the bus and take a seat next to him. It's a small bus. Maybe 20 students or so are going.

Ignacio hangs with the jocks. Valentina hangs with the pretty girls. I hang with Mitch. That's how it's always been. Seeing Mitch, I have to admit isn't a big thing. He still looks the same. We are an odd couple. I'm a dark skinned black kid with brown eyes and average height that wasn't really a loser or a geek but wasn't really too popular. My claim to fame was Ignacio and Valentina. It always had been. Mitchell didn't really have that claim. He was a short, skinny white kid with moppy blonde hair who listened to rock and roll and played video games all day.

And yet he was my best friend.

"Ignacio," I state.

I didn't need to say more. I'd been waiting  their  forever for Ignacio to get ready. Then thoughts  of Alaric got me caught up. Valentina was pretty but Ignacio was the drama queen in the family. He literally took forever to do anything.

"Well worth the wait," Mitchell states staring down the aisle, "If he was my type that is."

I roll my eyes. Mitch loves to play like he's straight.

"Let me guess. Valentina more your type?"

"Exactly. I like older women though."

Usually I'd laugh at his ridiculousness. He's as gay as I am if not even more. He is just pressed not to let anyone find out. He slips up a lot. Way too much and says the gayest things. Whether it's staring at Ignacio or following Mr. Drake around class like an idiot. I knew that Mitch liked guys.

This time I just mutter something, "Oh hmm."

"Ok what's wrong?"

"What?"

"I know you, Sunday. What's wrong?"

I shake my head. I look out the window. Mr. Drake is at the front of the bus taking a roll check while the girls and Mitch stare as his ass as he walks by. I don't need a roll count though. I know there's someone missing.

"Don't forget about me," a voice says at the front of the bus.

There he was.

Alaric West. He stood 6'1". He was mixed. His father was black and his mother was white. His skin is on the lighter tone. He wasn't really tan, except in the summer months like now. He has these multi-color eyes and curly hair with a lot of texture that lets you know he is mixed. His eyes change color all the time. Sometimes they are blue. Sometimes brown. Sometimes hazel. Sometimes green. It depends on the weather. It depends on the season. Today they've taken on a bluish green tint that matches the blue shirt fitted to his muscular frame. Then there are those lips. Those beautiful thick pink lips that I stare at every time he talks. He has perfect white teeth. He's the most handsome man in the class. To me, he's the most handsome man in the world.

"You're late Alaric. We were all supposed to be here by 12:30," Mr. Drake says.

"My bad, my bad," Alaric says with a charming smile.

Mr. Drake won't stay mad. You can't stay mad at Alaric when he smiles at you like that. I watch as he walks past me. His eyes set on me and for a moment I swear he is going to say something. He just smiles though again my way but doesn't say a word.

He's going to the back of the bus with the cool kids.

I watch as he walks up to Valentina. He gives her a kiss on her lips. Ignacio looks like he's about to straight up hit Alaric.

Guys hated Alaric. I knew why.

But I didn't.

I loved Alaric. I always did and seeing him with Valentina was killing me inside.

~

A month passes before we know it. A month of seeing Valentina and Alaric's relationship playing out right in front of me. We have just a few more days at the camp site in the forest area south of Savannah. We are about an hour and half from the city. We're all sitting around the campfire going over notes of all the flora and fauna samples we took for the day. Mr. Drake is helping people one at a time. He gets real excited about shit like this.

I find it incredibly fucking boring.

The only thing I find interesting is seeing how Alaric interacts with Valentina. He's playing with her, tickling her at the campsite. He's charming. His eyes are green today. Like fauna. I can almost see her melting in his arms. Through this entire boring ass trip, I've become completely obsessed with it.

Valentina must notice.

She had to.

That's must be the  reason she leaves him and walks up to me.

"Hey? Everything OK out here in the wilderness?" she asks.

I shrug. I don't return her stare. She must feel the tension. We haven't talked all month. We'd planned to get closer this summer but we hadn't. She'd spent all her time with Alaric and I spent all my time stalking them.

"Just gravy," I respond.

"You know, I got to introduce you to someone," she states.

For a moment I think she means Alaric. I'm wrong.

She continues, "There is this fine camp aid. I mean he's hot. He's like a 10. He's over there with the others. See him. The dark one with the Caesar haircut. Isn't he fine? Guess what? He's gay too. I told him about you. His name is Quest."

She sounds excited for me. You would think she was about to get laid or something. Maybe she just wants me to stop staring at her and her boyfriend all the time.

Sure enough there a camp aide on the other side of the tent. He's checking me out. I probably would find him attractive and I figure he finds me attractive. He's my height, with dark skin and these big bold dark eyes that are just setting on me. He has a slim frame. Slim, but athletic. I'd seen him around the camp before. I'd seen him staring at me before. Hell...I have to admit that I assumed this Quest guy wanted something at one point or another because all he does is stare. If he wasn't so attractive I'd find it creepy.

"Not interested," I tell her.

"What's your problem?"

My problem is that someone I was close to was dating the man of my dreams. I hadn't shared that info with Valentina. I didn't think I needed to. She'd caught me staring at Alaric before. Everyone has. I don't hide it. I've never hid it. If she didn't know I had a thing for Alaric she was blind or just plain dumb.

That was too much to get into right now, especially with Alaric not too far away.

"I'm fine," I tell Valentina, "Just not interested in anyone."

What I mean is I'm not interested in anyone else besides Alaric. I feel so cliché at that moment. The gay boy helplessly in love with the straight boy who doesn't even give him the time of day. We never spoke but I knew everything about Alaric.

The West family was a rich family. He had two older brothers. Both were movie stars. Beric and Nixon West. Alaric was going to go to school for theater. We were in the same play this year. Westside Story. He got the lead of course. He could sing too. He sang the shit out of Maria. I knew then he would be famous. It's just a matter of time. He had talent like his brothers. They were all going to be famous like the Hemsworths. And Alaric would be a rich movie star.

Valentina would look good on his arms.

"Well he's coming over right now."

She's right. I look over. The guy Quest is definitely approaching me. It's clear as day. He has this smile on his face. I was a good looking guy. I wasn't an Alaric or even an Ignacio. I couldn't enter a room and just suck life out of it. But I did get approached from time to time. It was definitely happening now.

And I get up and look away, "Got to go check on Mitch."

It's more my pride than anything at that point. I found it hard to believe Valentina had no clue about my crush on Alaric. And honestly I feel like she's trying to stick me with the consolation prize.

And I feel rude for walking away from the stranger but I don't have a choice. I needed to prove a point to Valentina. I wasn't sure what that point was just yet but I knew I'd figure it out.

~

The campgrounds are empty. Usually around this time we got together and told stories by the fire. I'm sure Mr. Drake was starting the fire with the help of the camp aids who were locals in the area. It takes forever to find Mitch. He's always my excuse to get away from uncomfortable situations. Usually he helps to make it better but when I find him that isn't the case.

Mitch is crying. He's by a tree, just crying silently.

"Mitch, you OK?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "Man. I don't know what's going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Called my mom. She was panicking. Saying something about a virus man."

"A virus?"

"Yeah. Her and my dad are sick. They can't even get to the hospital. There is a damn line."

Everyone says I'm good at comforting people. I'm the guy that everyone loves talking to about their problems. Maybe it's because I'd gotten so good listening to the amazing lives of Valentina and Ignazio all my life. I was the guy who had absolutely nothing happening in my life. I was never picked on because everyone was scared of Ignazio's wrath for messing with me. Coming out as gay was the only interesting thing that ever happened to me and honestly it was anti-climactic. Everyone had these crazy coming out stories. I didn't. My parents were cool with it. Ignazio and Valentina were cool with it. I kind of wished there was more drama.

"I'm sure it's OK."

I stay with Mitch for a while. He is legitimately worried. The guy was a lot more emotional than me.

"You know my mom. She's cool. She doesn't panic. Why the hell is the emergency room too crowded man?" he asks.

"How'd you even get in touch with your mom? There's no service up here."

"Up the mountain. You can get a little signal. It went out but I swear something's happening man. I swear. Look at my hand. It won't stop shaking. Goddam it man. Won't stop shaking. What in all hell. Look...."

I think about it. I remember Valentina mentioning something about a virus outbreak. I'm thinking it's something like the flu. It has to be right? Something easy like that. That was a month ago though. You would think they would have gotten that under control by now. I have to admit I'm kind of glad I'm in the forest.

But then I think about my mother.

I hadn't been able to get in touch with her.

"Where's that mountain path?"

~

I'm on the mountain. I leave Mitch. He needs time to get together but at the top of the mountain I'm struggling to find a signal. I don't even notice someone walking behind me until it's too late.

I turn and I'm shocked by who I see.

"You found the mountain path," the voice says.

It's Alaric. He's alone. These were the first words he's ever spoken to me directly. He looks at me and I look back. There is that feeling in my stomach. A crush was one thing. An obsession as another. I was obsessed with him. All of a sudden I wish I had mints on me. All of a sudden I wish I had a different outfit or some cologne. Something that would impress him.

His eyes are really really green today. They are as green as the grass in the forest below us. They are as green as fucking emeralds.

"I heard there's a signal up here."

"Not too many people have been able to find it. You must have heard about the virus."

"You heard about it?"

"Talked to my brother. He's freaking out. Goddam it I am too. Yep. Everyone in Savannah is. I told Mr. Drake. Think he listens? Nope. Not at all. Hopefully now that more people are panicking he listens.  He's considering cutting the trip short and heading back."

A virus.

So fucking weird.

"How'd you know I was up here?" I ask.

"Valentina kind of wanted me to check on you," he says, "She thinks you're mad at her."

Fuck. Was it that obvious?

He followed me up here. I'm kind of shocked to tell the truth. I would think Valentina would send Iggy up here to check on me if she was worried. She did worry a lot. I guess that proves how close she's gotten to Alaric. He walks up next to me as I struggle to find something to say. He stands next to me. Arm to arm. I've never been so close.

"Why you?" I ask, "We've never even spoken."

"I know right. I know you and Ignazio don't like me," he responds, "The whole team captain shit."

I'm surprised.

"Wait you think I don't like you because Iggy doesn't?"

"You go out of your way to mean mug me," he responds, "Don't think I haven't noticed that shit. Yep. There it is. Plain mean is what that is. Hmm..."

Weird.

"It's not mean mugging you."

"Then what is it?"

I pause. I swallow. Definitely wasn't staring at him because I didn't like him. I knew Ignazio hated the guy. They were rivals who basically had all the same friends. Ignazio would go out of his way not to talk to the guy and hadn't talked to his sister all month because she was dating him. Ignazio would probably be pissed if he knew I was talking to Alaric right now.

"I have no problem with you."

He turns to me and smiles. That fucking smile.

"Good cause you seem cool."

"Huh?"

"I mean that sounds weird. I don't even know you. Know your name is Sunday.  Just I remember you from the play. West Side Story. We both went up for Tony. You sang so fucking good. I'm shocked I beat you for the role. Personally I was in love with your voice man," he tells me.

Alaric and the word love coming out of his mouth was more than I could take. We look at each other. It's awkward. More awkward than it usually is with two guys hanging out. I'm thinking of a response. And he's letting me, clearly not thinking this is awkward enough to walk away. It is that awkward to me. I kind of hopes he walks away.

After a minute or two I just respond with a quiet tone.

"Thanks."

I didn't think I would get the part. Sure I could sing but Alaric could as well. And he had something I didn't have. Alaric had the look. He looked like a star.

"Can I admit something?" he asks.

I turn to him.

He's close to me. Real close to me. I can't believe I'm this close to Alaric. My heart is beating steadily as he looks at me.

"What's up?"

"I actually started dating Valentina because I saw how close she was to you," Alaric explains to me, "Then she told me about Ignazio's beef and the fact that you might not like me because of it. Then we just kind of started dating....you know."

This information is a lot for me. A lot of information at once.

Why would Valentina tell him I didn't like him without confirming that with me first? I didn't just follow whatever Ignazio thought.

But there was something even more pressing then that.

"You wanted to get close to me?"

He puts his hand on his head.

"Fuck, this is embarrassing," Alaric responds.

"You ok?"

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. I should be nervous. I was the one with the crush. The tables have turned though. Alaric is nervous as fuck and it shows. How the fuck does a guy like Alaric get nervous around me?

Alaric licks his lips in the sexiest way ever, probably because they are so dry from him being nervous.

"I always thought you were, real, cool. You know. Real cool," he responds before biting down on his lip and taking a deep breath, "I heard you came out not too long ago. That's so brave man. You know. I could never...uh..."

Weird.

"You could never what?" I ask, "Come out of the closet?"

He pauses. He's sweating. All of a sudden he looks fucking horrified.

"I...uh..." he struggles, "I didn't mean to say that...um..."

Did Alaric West just admit something to me without even realizing it? He turns to walk away at that moment but I reach my hand out. I stop him. I am holding his hand at that moment.

"Wait."

"I don't think I should. I should probably...uh, get back..."

He's nervous. He's embarrassed.

"I don't want you to leave."

He raises an eyebrow.

"You don't?"

Now I'm the one embarrassed. I'm being way too aggressive.

"You said you got service up here," I change the subject before shit gets awkward again, "Can you show me where?"

He hesitates but then nods. It's almost as though he expected me to say something else. I follow him slowly up the hill. As we get to the mountain top I see him adjusting me. He is so much taller than me so he looks down, staring at the frame of my body as he slowly turns to me. He touches my hips, touches my waists and moves me slowly and intently.

His hands slowly press down on my waist...almost touching my ass.

Almost.

Almost.

Then it happens slowly. He's touching my ass. Only for a second. Maybe even less than that. But it feels so good. My heart skips a beat.

"You have a bar," he states looking at my phone.

He stops touching my waist. He takes a step back. Our eyes connect. I wonder if he's going to leave and head back down the hill but he doesn't. He takes some distance and even looks away after a second but he doesn't leave.

And I don't want him to.

I look down at my phone and open it. I make the call to my mom.

There is all this background noise. All this static. I can barely make out what my mom is saying. I hear screaming in the background. So much screaming.

"Mom? MOM! What's happening?"

Static. More background noise.

"MOM!"

Alaric corrects my position, "Hold your hand like this."

That's when I hear my mom, "Sunday! SUNDAY can you hear me!"

"I can hear you. What's going on?"

"Dont come back to the city."

"Ma you you're scaring me. Where are you? It's so loud!"

"Sunday! BABY! They are killing everyone baby! KILLING EVERYONE! Don't come here baby! Stay in the woods! They are coming right now. I can hear them coming up to the door. Oh my god. Oh my god they are going to break it down baby. Oh god. Baby. I love you! Do you hear me? I love you! I..."

Nothing after that. Nothing from her at least.

There are screams.

The call goes out!

Tears are raining down my eyes before the call ends. Something was going horribly wrong in Savannah. Something was going horribly wrong at home.

"We need to get Mr. Drake," I tell Alaric, "We need to leave now. Alaric! Alaric do you hear me?"

Alaric is dazed. He looks over at this figure. This guy is walking up the hill towards us. Slowly...

It's weird.

"He drunk or something?" Alaric asks.

I'm not sure what he's talking about but then I notice. The guy stumbles forward aggressively grabbing and gasping at the air. Alaric and I look at one another. My heart is beating fast. I think it's one of the camp aides. I'm not sure. They weren't allowed to drink I don't think.

"We should go," I state.

Alaric looks over at the guy, "Hey! Hey? You OK man?"

The guy is stumbling forward out of the shadows and that's when I see his face as he approaches. The man has one ear missing. The blood coming out of the ear isn't red. It's this dark green color that is almost black. Both lips have been removed somehow. Not neatly. Almost like he's been ravaged somehow...maybe an animal. Mr. Drake said wolves lived in the area. Could it have been that?

"What the fuck?" I'm saying.

This thing...this thing wasn't human. Not anymore. I notice something else. Something it's dragging behind him.

There were no eyes. They'd been removed somehow. It's snake-like brown-grey intestines dragged in the dirt as it staggered toward me using only it's ear and nose for guidance.

Alaric pushes me back, maybe in an attempt to protect me or guide me to take off the other way.

I watch as he approaches the thing. He's wanting answers. I watch as it grabs him desperately. Teeth are snapping now. Grasping at him attempting to bite down. I picked up a stone and threw at him to distract and stop him from trying to attack Alaric.

It works!

But then it looks at me and immediately stumbled forward. I turn away from the thing and back up the hill, my only means of escape. It halted and I could hear the bones in its stiffened neck creak as it turned its monstrous head. Then with a snapping of its jaws it lurches in my direction.

I see it up close and personal.

This is a decomposed body.

Something that should be dead. Something that isn't.

It was at that moment as it bites into my neck, sinking teeth with saliva that I realize that the Undead were now walking the Earth.

To read the next chapter go to www.crushedcrown.com