Chapter 1

They were taking him! Why were they taking him?! None of this was his fault. All he was trying to do was win the games to fit in and help the zombies get integrated.

"No! Wait! Please stop!" She yelled, chasing after the officer leading Zed away to the truck.

"Addy, I'm sorry!" He said with a pained look on his face. "Maybe they're right, maybe we shouldn't be together." He looked up past her in the direction of her parents behind her.

"What?! No! Don't say that!" She cried. Zed gave her an apologetic look just before he was pulled towards the truck once more. "Stop!" She screamed, rushing after them again. This time the officer gave her a light shove back. A surge of anger went through Zed. He looked at Addison.

"Addy, please." He begged her. She looked at him in confusion and sadness. It broke his heart to see her making that face at him. "It's over." It hurt even more to say those words. Addison's mouth fell open as tears welled up in her eyes.

What was he saying? Was he giving up? On everything they'd been fighting for? On them? Her heart started to ache. Was he giving up on her? No. She wasn't going to let this happen.

So what does she do? She screams at the booing crowd. Telling all of them off for being so heartless. No one was truly listening to her though. She had to make them pay attention to her. But what could she do?

A thought struck her. If she did this, there would no turning back. She glanced at Zed one more time. His eyes were on her, watching her as she stood in the middle of the field alone.

~"I wanna scream, the top of my lungs

Not sitting back, won't hold my tongue

No some things are different than we thought

There's more to life than what we're taught

I'm speaking up enough's enough

Cause' I can't go on this way I

Gotta wake up and be brave

But I know I'll face the fire if I say

I'm gonna stand strong

Nothing's stopping me

I'll be loud you'll hear me now

I'm gonna stand tall

Take it to the top I'll be free

Can't bring me down

So I'll rise won't turn back

I won't hide who I am

I'm gonna stand"

She tore off her wig, throwing her arms out as if to bring on the hate and the disappointment. Her eyes scanned the crowd and found all the disgust she was expecting.

But she was looking for Zed. His approval was all she needed. She found him and his face showed he was proud of her, standing straighter and chest out with pride. Addison let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as tears spilled over her lids.

Then they were taking him away again. Her small smile fell, the tears pouring down her cheeks. But his was still on his face as he was put into the back of the armored truck along with Eliza and Bonzo.

He was gone. She failed. She was all alone in the middle of the field.

XxX

She laid on her bed face down, crying her eyes out into her pillow. Her parent didn't say a word to her until they got home. And all that turned out to be was scolding her and telling her how disappointed they were in her. Her mother crying a lot saying Addison had ruined everything, their perfect cover was blown forever.

Honestly, none of their words hurt her. She couldn't care less about what anyone thought of her. The only person's opinion she cared about was locked up. Locked up for something he didn't deserve to be locked up for.

He didn't deserve to be locked up. She wiped her face free of tears and got up off her bed, heading for her closet.

The only clothes she had were bright or pastel. She settled for skinny jeans and a tight pale pink tee. Throwing her cheer uniform on the bed, she slid into her new outfit and headed for her window.

There was no way her parents would let her leave the house at this hour, especially after her stunt she pulled at the field. They were too worried about their reputation to care about her feelings.

So she was going to sneak out. Sneak out and break her love out of zombie jail. How she was going to accomplish that, she wasn't totally sure. But she made up her mind.

Carefully, she put one leg out of her second story window then the other, hooking her feet into the vines latched onto the siding of the house.

She was out. She climbed down slowly, trying not to fall. She was lucky the vines were strong enough to hold her as she made it to the ground safely. All she knew for sure was that she was going to need help. She headed for Zed's house.

XxX

It was late. Would Zed's Dad even be awake still? Addison timidly knocked on the door. She shifted her weight back and forth nervously. Was she wasting her time waiting for an answer?

Suddenly, she heard the lock of the door click and the door swung open to reveal a very tired and sad father. He looked at Addison in shock that she was on their doorstep.

"Um, can I.. uh, help you?" He asked, seeming nervous to have a human at his house after the day he'd had.

"Um hi! Mr. Necrodoplis! My name's Addison." She introduces herself quickly. It was like his eyes fell at her name.

"Zed told me a lot about you, Miss Addison. I'm sorry but he's not here." He said, ready to excuse himself and close the door. But Addison caught the door before he could close it.

"Wait! Please! Just hear me out." She begged. He looked at her in surprise and confusion but opened the door to let her in. He looked around outside quickly before closing the door.

He led her to the kitchen table and offered her a seat, sitting across from her with his elbows resting on the table and waited for her to talk. Addison took a deep breath before she just said it.

"I'm going to break Zed out." She said confidently. "But I need a little help." If his jaw could come off its henges it would have hit the table as his mouth dropped open at her words. He shook his head as if to snap himself out of a daze.

"Honey, there's no need for you to do that. He'll be released in a few days." He tried telling her comfortingly. Addison shook her head vigorously.

"No! He didn't do anything wrong! Neither did Eliza or Bonzo! They don't deserve to be locked up!" She argued. Zed's father sighed and reached across the table to lightly grab her hand.

"I appreciate your words, but it would be extremely dangerous for you there." He told her with sad eyes.

"I don't care!" Addison yelled, determination blazing in her eyes. "All I need is help finding where he is. Even just a point in the right direction. I'm going to get to him one way or another."

Then he withdrew his hand, placing it on his chin like he was thinking. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure my son would kill me if I took you there." Addison's face faltered slightly for a moment, knowing he was probably right, before he continued.

"But..." He drew out, looking at her with a resigning grin. "I don't think Zed himself could stop you if you are this determined." He sighed. "Ok, I'll help you get there but I won't be much help getting you in. It's called Zombie Containment." Addison shuddered.

"Addison." He said focusing her back on his words, looking directly in her eyes seriously. "My son won't be himself. Are you sure you want to do this?" There wasn't even a moment's hesitation as she nodded her head, that fire of determination blazing behind her eyes.

"Ok." He resigned, shrugging his shoulders like there was no changing her mind. "But I don't think you'll be able to do much sneaking in with an outfit as bright as that." He raised an eyebrow with his arms crossed. Addison blushed and lowered her head.

"I don't have anything darker or I would have worn it..." She explained. Zed's father shook his head with a chuckle, mumbling something under his breath about human style.

"Head up to Zed's room and grab a hoodie or something to cover up that pink shirt. You'll stick out like a sore thumb like that." He instructed, motioning towards the stairs and mentioning that his room is the first door on the right.

Addison wasted no time doing what she was told. She entered his room and was slow to walk in, looking around and trying to memorize every detail. She admired his uniqueness and wished she had embraced hers sooner. Once at his closet, she opened it up and found his wardrobe had a slim amount to choose from. She grabbed a dark green hoodie with maroon sleeves and hood. She brought the fabric to her chest and buried her nose in it, taking in Zed's natural scent and instantly feeling slightly calmer.

"You're Addison. I met you at the zombie light garden." A small voice spoke from the doorway. Addison spun around as if she'd been caught doing something wrong and spotted the girl in the door.

"Oh! Zoey! You scared me!" Addison laughed nervously and made her way towards the little girl, crouching down to her level.

"Are you going to help my brother?" She asked, her face looked sad. Addison smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah, I'm gonna do everything I can to help him." She said. Zoey smiled back at her and threw herself into her for a hug. Addison returned it then pulled back when they heard her father call from the bottom of the stairs.

XxX

Addison couldn't help but pull the oversized hoodie tighter and sneaking whiffs of Zed's scent as they drove. Zed's father piled them into his worn out truck, Zoey wedged between them. The drive wasn't long but Addison played their plan over and over in her head.

When they were a few minutes from the entrance, Zed's Dad would pull over and she would get in the back of the truck. When they pulled up, he would create a distraction just enough to let her hop out and sneak past the front guard. That's where her help would end. It would be up to her from then on.

The truck pulled to a stop and Addison knew it was time to put the plan into action. Zed's Dad grabbed her sleeve before she could jump out, a concerned look etched on his face.

"You're sure you want to do this?" He asked Addison nodded and got out of the truck, tucking herself in the back under an old tarp. They pulled up to the entrance gate and Zed's father started talking to the guard.

"My daughter was hoping we could have a quick visit with my son." He asked politely. The guard rolled his eyes.

"It's past zombie curfew. Besides, you should know there's no visits in Zombie Containment." The guard stated sternly. "I suggest you go back home before I have to call the patrol and have you forcefully taken." The man threatened. Zed's father waved a hand of surrender.

"No, no! No need for that! She's just young and wouldn't leave me alone until I tried. Sorry for bothering you." With that, he put the truck in reverse and they turned around to leave, hoping Addison would be alright by herself.