Outbreak Day 1

I wake up the before dawn to the sight of flashing lights and the sound of sirens. Looking around the room, I see I am not the only one to be woken up by the sounds as both Brody and Minerva are staring at the lights flashing behind the curtains while Sophie comforts Ten who hugs Sophie tightly burying his face in her shirt.

"So…" Minerva says after a few seconds. "Do you think they are dropping off or picking up? My money's on Ruby being arrested for assault."

"It could be Marlon," I suggest. "He did set off those fireworks in the Headmaster's office a few days ago."

"Maybe," Minerva admits as the sound of an engine starts and fades away along with the flashing lights and sirens. "Well, I guess we will find out who's missing in the morning."

"They won't take me, again will they?" Ten nervously asks with a voice laced with terror.

"Don't worry. Ten they are gone now," Sophie assures him while stroking his head. "They won't tear us apart again."

After that everyone slowly settles back down to go to sleep, but as I drift off I can tell by the way Sophie has to hold Ten that it's doubtful either of them will be getting any sleep for the rest of the night. Ten's not a bad kid, but I know he is the reason why Sophie and Minerva are here because they wanted to keep an eye on their little brother.

A few hours Later

The next time I wake up, it is clear something is wrong as it's nearly ten and no one came to wake us up when we were late for class. Looking around the room, I can see Brody curled up asleep on the floor next to the bed where Ten sleeps in Sophie's arms. Minerva is asleep too, but I can see her eyes start to flutter open.

"Morning," Minerva groans as she burry's her head in her pillow.

"It's not morning anymore," I tell her and in an instant, her head snaps up, and Minerva's eyes lock onto the clock.

"Ha," Minerva chuckles. "Guess they forgot about us and we get a free day off."

Dinner time

Something really is wrong, really wrong. The teachers are scared and worried about something you can see it written all over their faces whenever they get off their phones. They won't say anything, all they say is that everything is fine thinking that we are too stupid to realize they are lying. Why are adults so frustrating? Whenever we lie they force us to tell the truth threatening to punish us if we don't but now that the adults are the ones lying we can't force or punish them. It's no wonder all us kids at Ericson's have a hard time following the rules when the teachers ignore them.

The teacher's odd behavior isn't the only indication that something is wrong as the food they have given us today is only half the amount we normally receive. When Louis asked if he could have some more all of us turned to stare at him with hungry eyes and growling stomachs, but he was turned away with the teacher who was on cooking duty today saying they have to make the food last for a while. It wouldn't surprise me if that was a lie and the adults just want to starve us kids, but with everything else that I have noticed, I doubt that the teachers really intend to starve us.

I'm not the only one who has noticed something is wrong as I hear several groups of kids whisper amongst themselves trying to figure out what is wrong. I wish I knew what was happening. I wish I could find out, but with my stomach complaining, I can't be bothered to do and snooping. I must really look down because Louis comes over with best friend Marlon and a deck of cards to cheer me up.

"If your down Vi I have just the thing to cheer you up," Louis says as he sits down and Brody stands up.

"I'm sorry I can't play again," Brody states as she walks off to another table and Sophie glares at Louis.

"What?" Louis asks acting innocent.

"You know it's your fault that she doesn't like to play games anymore right?" Sophie says in a dark tone that even sends a shiver down my spine. "You should never have dared her to eat that bug."

"I'm sorry ok," Louis replies feeling just as scared of Sophie's dark side as we all are. "I didn't realize she was so scared of them that she would faint."

"So what's the game today?" It still amazes me that Sophie's voice can go from terrifying to sweet in a blink of an eye.

"Well since we all have some candy stashed I say we play blackjack using our sweets for bets," Louis tells us. "Winner takes all. Losers starve. Are you girls in."

"Sure," Sophie says.

"Me too," Minerva soon says. "I can't let you rob my sister blind after all."

"I can be him," Sophie assures her, but the slight bit of doubt in her voice doesn't go unnoticed.

"Sure you can," Minerva says slapping her sister lightly on the back.

"So Vi how about you?" Louis asks turning to me. Everyone looks to me. Great, I love being the center of attention. "Are you in or are you out?"

"I'm in," I answer making Louis smile and Marlon moan.

"Great, we haven't started yet, and I am already out a chocolate bar," Marlon mutters handing the item he lost over to his friend.

"That's how life is," Louis tells him. "You win some, and you lose some like this bet you made of these lovely ladies not wishing to play with us. Anyway, let's get started and see if you can win this back."

Outbreak Day 2

Life in school is becoming worse and worse as today while we were eating breakfast the Headmaster announced that we are no longer allowed in the woods and must stay within the school grounds until further notice. That's my favorite school activity gone, the nature walks the school would take us on were always pleasant always may me feel calm for some reason. But that isn't the only reason I'm not happy because as the Headmaster was telling us this bad news, I was busy handing over my sweet stash to Louis who cleaned us all out last night. He probably cheated, but I can't prove it.

Any way to kill time and to take my mind off of my aching tummy I thought it was a good idea to play soccer with another student here called Jasper. Jasper is a tall kid who hardly says a word which suits me just fine. I don't know much about Jasper other than he was sent her for starting fires, but despite that, he seems like an ok guy. It's unfortunate that both Jasper and mine plan of distracting ourselves backfires making us both hungrier and pisses us off resulting in me kicking the ball so hard it goes over the school's walls.

Ok, so much for playing soccer. I guess we will have to find some other distraction to get us through till dinner. Or so I thought as I watch Jasper start to climb over the wall. "What the hell." I think to myself before joining Jasper in scaling the wall. Lucky there are plenty of boxes to aid our climb but getting back inside will be a real problem. I guess we will just cross that bridge when we come to it and get an earful from the teachers.

"You didn't have to come," Jasper tells me as I jump down next to him.

"I kicked it, so its only right that I come and retrieve the ball," I reply being partly honest; leaving out the part were I have nothing better to do.

I can't describe how refreshing it feels to leave the walls of Ericson's behind even if it is just for a small amount of time. The feels different out here, and so do I, I'm not sure why maybe it's the fact that when I am away from from the teachers I get to breath easier. Not all of the teachers are so bad, but they all give off this strict air that makes them hard to like. Anyway, I follow behind Jasper deeper into the trees and down a small slope because just our luck the ball has rolled all the way down to the bottom of the hill.

The climb down doesn't go as smoothly as I thought it would be as we slip and slide quickly learning we won't be climbing back up that way. At least we make it all the way down without falling over and can now see the missing ball caught in some trees roots. Unfortunately, we seem to have disturbed a homeless man. Is this why the teachers don't want us out here, because they are afraid of one homeless man? I don't think he's that dangerous, he's just staring at some baby bird who are squawking like crazy from their nests above him.

This man may be dangerous, or he may not be, but ever way both Jasper and myself share a look where we silently agree to be quiet and not draw the mans attention as we get the ball. To be honest, I feel bad for the man. I come from a poor family where somedays we can't eat, but I always had a roof over my head and clothes that weren't torn or dirty. The poor man must have been living rough for a long time and is even missing one of his shoes.

We almost got away unnoticed, I thought this man would never even know we are here until I hear a snap and look over to Jasper who has turned pales as he looks down towards the branch under his foot. The man turns around, and when I look at him, I have to cover my mouth to stop myself from screaming. It isn't the bloody hole where the mans left cheek should be that nearly makes me scream, it isn't the lifeless look of his eyes or the fact I can see his intestines that has me so scared, but it's the guys growl that terrifies me. There is nothing human in the man's voice as he growls at us before rushing towards me where I remain frozen unable to react.

If it wasn't for Jasper that crazy, injured homeless man would have killed me. Just as that man was about to reach me and do god knows what to me Jasper tackles him to the ground where they struggle with the much stronger adult quickly gaining the upper hand and biting Jasper hard on his shoulder. I don't think I just act hearing Jasper cry out in pain. I pick up a thick log and swing it hitting the homeless man on the back of his head.

"We need to get back to the school," I tell him as I help him to his feet. "Can you make it?"

"I…" Jasper stops talking as we see the homeless man raise to his feet. "I don't have a choice."

We run and make it most of the way back with the homeless man fading into the distance, but before I lost sight of him, I saw him following us. We are so close to the school's gate but just as we are about to come into view of our school Jasper collapses. I quickly run back to him and help him stand only for him to fall again once his on his feet. I can't leave him after he saved me, so I pick him up again and let him lean on my shoulder where I feel how warm his skin has become.

"You should have told me you were sick," I tell him as we move towards our school once again.

"I'm not," Jasper replies but he starts to cough soon after making me doubt that.

"Don't worry the schools just up ahead," I say as we see the school through the trees. "You will be in a warm bed with medician before you know it."

"But I'm not…" He can't finish as she falls from my hold and starts to cough out blood.

I step back shocked by what I am seeing and I am thankful the teacher the headmaster told to watch the gate sees us and comes rushing to our aid. I don't care about how much trouble we are in right now all I care about is helping Jasper. As the teacher reach us, I have managed to regain my composure, and I kneel down and take Jasper's hand in my own.

"What happened?" The teacher asks looking us both over.

"We were out looking for our ball when this crazy homeless guy attacked us," I answer before that animalistic growl reaches my ears and both myself and the teacher turn to see that homeless man aking his way towards us.

"I got Jasper," The teacher says as he picks up the boy. "Run for the gate, we will be right behind you."

I don't need to be told twice, and I run towards the gate but then a scream stops me, and I turn back to see Jasper tearing out the teacher's throat with his teeth. Now I scream and nearly collapse as I see that same lifeless look in Jasper's eyes now and two more injured homeless people emerge from the trees. Blood pours from the hole in the teacher's neck, and I find myself unable to move as Jasper joins the homeless people stumbling towards me with his shirt and chin covered in blood.

Bang!

I jump at the sound and watch in horror as Jasper's head explodes.

Bang!

As I am watching Jasper fall to the ground, I see the teachers head receive the same treatment.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One by one the homeless people fall down with holes in their head. I hear footsteps behind me and slowly turn to see the schools head Mr. Patterson walking towards me with a smoking gun in his hand and an angry look in his eyes. Behind him, I can see Louis staring horrified at the scene from the school's gate with Ms. Martin being the only thing stopping him from leaving.

"I want to see you in my office, Miss Nicholson," He sounds as mad as he looks.