Illyana hadn’t moved an inch. She refused to move an inch. A pool of her own tears was the only comfort she had. Her face and eyes were red and puffy. The unsettling noises of car crashes and traffic had died down. There was the occasional scream, but it had mostly become quiet. But Illyana didn’t dare check out the window. She remained completely still. Her only connection to the outside was her phone. She had texted her friends whom she’d left inside the mall. No response.

Now the only connection she had to the outside world was the group chat with Darnell and the others. She was getting a play-by-play of everything they were doing. From what she could tell, they were nearly fully rounded up, and meeting at the daycare near their school. Illyana had no one around her, nor a safe way to reach anyone.

She didn’t dare ask Darnell and the others to help her. They were at least ten to twenty minutes away driving distance. She wanted to ask. She wanted to beg that they save her. But she couldn’t. The thought of asking made her heart twist. Not because she was afraid they would leave her, but because she knew they would come for her. Illyana couldn’t bear the idea of them putting their lives at stake for her’s. Or them perishing on the way to her.

Darnell had reached the gym with Ryan apparently. That was great. Tristan, Vanessa, and Michael had reached the daycare. That’s nice. It didn’t mean anything to her. Illyana looked up at the windows in the car. All she could see from the floor were the grey clouds blanketing the sky. Illyana reminiscenced on how many times she’d laid eyes on skies just like that one. How many times had she found peace in that monochrome view? How many afternoons had she been lulled into sleep during that weather? The sight of that sky only made her chest hurt more. Illyana knew she was never going to get afternoons like that again. Everything in the world has changed now. So why was the sky still the same? Illyana soon found herself cursing the sky now. Why did she have to see clouds that reminded her of peaceful memories? Peaceful memories she’d never relive. Her eyes attempted to cry, but they were dried out. Illyana was left with the unsatisfying feeling of built-up tears. Illyana’s fist closed. She wanted to slam it into the floor. But she knew if she did, she would risk getting caught. She had to silently vent her frustration.

Illyana reread the same messages over and over. Not sure what else to do. Would she ever see her friends again? Was it possible? She wanted it to be possible. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard. She kept reading them. They were out there. Surviving. Fighting. She could tell their spirits hadn’t broken. Darnell was all over the place like a special agent. She giggled at the thought of him in gold armor and red cape, conquering every small town for the glory of Sparta. If he could fight, then why couldn’t she? Granted, she wasn’t Darnell. “But he did say that success always starts with a mental, then mental makes physical,” Illyana mumbled to herself.

Illyana looked up at the driver seat in front of her. She paused for a moment. Is it possible?

“It’s possible.” Darnell stated.

Darnell, Ryan, and Alicia stared out of the window of a stranger’s home they’d broken into. They were now only a couple of minutes away from the daycare. Major problem... a couple of minutes turns into half an hour when a horde of flesh-eating monsters is in your way.

The trio had been sneaking through the neighborhood when they’d come across the intimidating obstacle. Across the street, around the homes, and in the backyards, a collection of zombies had accumulated. They were lucky to even have a good view of the enemy.

“Darnell, that’s even more than how many surrounded Tristan’s house.” Alicia said.

“Yeah, like a buttload more,” he agreed.

If it wasn’t the apocalypse, anyone would assume there was a parade going on.

Darnell continued, "But we can get past them." Ryan and Alicia's hearts began to pound. They looked past Darnell and at each other.

Ryan spoke up, "Darnell, there's-"

"Gotta be another way?" Darnell finished his sentence. "There isn't. Look."

Darnell pointed down at the sidewalk near the window. "There were three lurking there until now. Guess where they're at now."

Alicia and Ryan thought for a moment. What was Darnell talking about? Alicia imagined a tattered zombie, frolicking to the only area out of their line of sight. Slowly, walking around the house. Around the house. Alicia immediately felt a shiver down her spine.

Darnell let it sink in before assuring, "We're surrounded."

Ryan glanced over his shoulder, with panic in his voice, "What? No, no."

"If there's a few back there, there could be even more that we don't know about."

Ryan raised his voice, "Well I'd rather fight a few than a hundred!"

Darnell remained grounded, "It don't make no difference how many are back there. If even one spots us, it makes noise, and the entire neighborhood knows we’re here.”

"You've gotta be kidding me." Ryan dropped his face into his palm, shaking his head.

“It’s insane that they’re gathering like this…” Darnell uttered.

“You have a plan right?” Alicia prompted. Her eyes stared at Darnell in wonder. Awaiting to be in awe about whatever idea Darnell schemed in his head. Darnell just continued to stare out the window. The glare of Darnell’s obsidian pupils didn’t even glance at her.

After a moment of silence, Darnell finally spoke up, “Ryan… can you punch through the roof?”

Ryan looked at Darnell with skepticism, then at the ceiling, “I mean, yeah?” Ryan rapidly shook his head, trying to make sense of Darnell’s question, “W-why?”

“You guys are going to escape. Get to the daycare, as fast as you-”

“Why are you saying ‘you guys?’” Alicia interrupted Darnell. “‘You guys?’” Alicia echoed what Darnell said in her head. Her heart dropped at the sound of that. Alicia attempted to speak calmly but her voice rose on it’s own. “What are you going to do?” she questioned Darnell.

Darnell looked around the ceiling then in the direction opposite of the daycare. Darnell brought his eyes back down to Alicia, who had worry written all over her face.

“I’m going to run too…” Darnell smiled, “in the opposite direction.”

“What!?”

“As soon as Ryan breaks open the roof, I’m going to jump onto it. I should attract the attention of every monster outside-”

“Darnell, are you crazy?” Ryan scolded.

Darnell was unfazed by Ryan’s comment, he continued, “The houses are close enough that I can jump from roof to roof.”

“You can do what!?” Ryan shouted.

“No, Darnell!” Alicia took hold of Darnell’s hand, “You don’t have to do that, let me help!”

“You wanna help?” Darnell said calmly.

“Yes, please,” Alicia had hope in her voice.

“You can help by making it to the daycare safe.”

“No!” Alicia’s head fell and she gripped his hand tighter. Not again, she thought to herself. Alicia couldn’t be a liability to Darnell again. She thought she’d been doing so well. But history was repeating itself. Alicia had memories of a specific night sky surfacing. She tried to suppress it. But the more she fought, the stronger it grew. She remembered the yellow hue of the street lamps illuminating the sidewalk. The blue letterman jackets of the strangers. Darnell’s back coming between her and them. The pounding in her chest as she left him behind. The streams of tears down her cheeks.

It was barely a year ago. Alicia had finally managed to get Darnell to go bowling with her. Just the two of them. It was no easy task. Darnell had always busied himself after school. Then when he did agree to hang out, it was always with the whole group. Alicia had to go all-out to persuade him into it.

“Can you teach me how to bowl?” Alicia suddenly brought up during class.

The two sat in the back of the average sized classroom. All of the desks were set up in pairs, so naturally, the two sat together. The teacher had finished the lesson and informed the class of their assignment. Now they were allowed to speak freely. While the rest of the class chattered, Darnell immediately started hustling through the work.

Without even looking up, Darnell responded, “You don’t know how to bowl?” he had his eyebrow raised.

“I know how to bowl…” she answered, then cheered, “But I want to bowl better!”

Darnell flipped a page back and forth, “What makes you think I’m better than you?”

“Teemo told me you went bowling with his church, and you, and I quote, ‘whooped ‘em all.’”

“I can’t deny that story.”

“So you’ll teach me to bowl?”

Darnell sighed, “Yeah, I’ll show you a thing or two.”

Alicia jumped with joy, “EEEE!” she cheered, both fists in the air.

Darnell flipped another page, “When you wanna go?” he asked, “I think Teemo and Makayla are free-”

“Just the two of us.” Alicia cut in.

Darnell slowly turned his head to face Alicia. His eyebrows were raised with a slight grin on his face. “Alicia.” he said sternly.

“It’s not like that,” Alicia corrected, “I just want to learn, that’s it!”

Darnell’s expression didn’t shift. “Okay look, hear me out,” Alicia continued, pushing her hands forward as she spoke.

“Aight.”

“You know how when you do work, you don’t want distractions, right?”

Darnell glanced at his classwork, “Crazy, right?”

Alicia followed his eyes and giggled, continuing, “Well if we invite anyone else, it’ll be like a distraction.”

“Oh really?”

“And… the harder it is for me to learn… the harder it is for you to teach, right?”

Darnell’s eyes darted away for a moment, then came back, “True dat.”

Alicia put her hands on her heart, “It needs to be convenient for you,” she said.

“Convenient for me.”

“So… we should go alone.” Alicia put on a wide grin stretching from ear to ear.

Darnell paused for a moment. Alicia held the smile. Darnell returned to the assignment, then said, “We’ll meet at your place tomorrow-”

“Yes!” Alicia shouted immediately.

Darnell smiled, “Be ready by 6 ight?”

“Gotcha!”

Time passed in a blur as Alicia looked forward to that Saturday evening. She stood outside of her house, awaiting Darnell’s arrival. She dressed herself as impressively as possible. Glittering shirt, a black ruffle skirt, makeup did, Alicia just outdid herself. Darnell didn’t exactly get the memo. He appeared in his casual attire as if it was another day at school. Sweatpants, undershirt, and a wide open button shirt. There was no reason for him to dress up anyway, Alicia had told herself, they were just hanging out, nothing else.

And that’s what it was. They went to the bowling alley, and Darnell taught her how to bowl just as he’d promised. Sure, they laughed and joked around a lot, but that was it. Sure, their faces had gotten really close and Alicia got to stare into the depths of his eyes, but that was it. And sure her heart was racing while in Darnell’s embrace as he guided her hand down the alley, but, that. was. it. Their activities ended with absolutely positively nothing strange happening between them, yep. Alicia constantly reminded herself of this as the two walked down the sidewalk to her house.

The sun had already fallen and been replaced by the moon. The sidewalk was lit by the yellow hue of the street lights. The two joked as they strolled along.

“Yo that man was givin’ his all and for nothin’,” Darnell laughed.

“No joke, remember when he tried to feed her his pizza!?” Alicia exclaimed.

Darnell almost fell over laughing, “Yo, her face!” Darnell hovered his hand over his own face, “I thought she was gon’ slap him!”

“I was gon’ slap him for her!” Alicia exclaimed.

“Bruh, and wasn’t he tryna flex his Reddit karma or sumn?”

Alicia’s face lit up as her hands moved up to cover wide open mouth, “Oh noooo!”

“I was embarrassed just to hear that, I can’t imagine her.”

“Ooh ooh, Darnell!”

“Hmm?”

Alicia pulled him closer, “I forgot to mention, but she was scheduling an Uber halfway through their game.”

Darnell immediately reeled back, “Ain’t no way!” he shouted.

“I’m not playin!”

“I’m dead!”

Alicia continued to laugh, and Darnell continued, “You know she ain’t care about price neither!”

“Nope!”

“She was ready to drop 30 to get outta there!”

“Hahahaha!”

“Oh man…”

“That’s crazy…” Alicia said, calming down.

The laughter of the two gradually faded away, but their smiles remained. They were silent for a moment, and Alicia broke it, “Thank you, Darnell.”

“Hmm? For what?”

Alicia’s voice lowered, “For coming out with me.”

“Oh girl that ain’t nothin’.”

“But you wanted to come with everyone else, and you’re always busy, and-”

“Alicia. I always invite everyone to hangout because I just think it’s more fun. But we can have fun with just the two of us if you want.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and I’m only busy cause I don’t like wasting time, but spending time with you isn’t a waste.”

Alicia’s eyes lit up staring at Darnell. Darnell met her gleaming gaze, saying, “Real talk, pill talk.”

The green in her eyes was shimmering. They hadn’t even realized it, but they’d stopped walking. “Thank you.” she said softly.

“It ain’t nothin’, c’mon, let’s get you home.”

Alicia nodded with an “mhm.”

The two were passing a park, a landmark signifying they were only a few minutes away from Alicia’s home. Only a few minutes. They were so close. So why did everything have to end the way it did? Why?

As the two passed the park, a dark figure emerged from the darkness ahead of them. His appearance didn’t matter. All Alicia remembered was the blue and black letterman jacket he wore.

Darnell and Alicia slowed to a halt when he appeared in front of them. Alicia assumed he just needed directions or something petty then would be on his way. Then Darnell stood between the stranger and her. “You need directions or sum’n?” Darnell called out.

“Woah! There a problem? In a rush?” the stranger spoke, Alicia remembered his voice being coarse.

“Yea, it’s almost time for lunch,” Darnell pointed at the night sky, “move along, I’m hungry.”

The stranger scoffed, and spit something on the ground. “Alright then, we’ll make this quick.”

There was more shuffling in the darkness. Darnell’s hand slowly came around Alicia and pushed her further behind him and away from the park. Alicia looked to her left and noticed more figures emerging. Three more, all wearing the same blue and black letterman jacket. Alicia’s heart was still pounding, but for a different reason now. She didn’t know why, but her legs were starting to shake. She clutched to Darnell’s back.

“I’m sure you can tell what we want,” the stranger in front of them said. Some of them snickered.

“Directions.” Darnell answered confidently.

“This motha-” the stranger scoffed again as he turned to his posse.

One of the three to their side yelled, “Hey man, you wanna die!?” He pulled a switchblade out of his pocket. As soon as Alicia saw it, her heart sank. She looked at Darnell, who hadn’t budged. What were they supposed to do?

The ringleader waved his hand, “Woah calm down,” he looked back at Darnell with a smirk, “look man, I’m sure we both don’t want to get hurt.”

“I can agree with that.” Darnell said.

“So let’s make this easy for all of us.” The ringleader looked left and right before continuing, “We’ll let you scram, and we’ll take care of the girl for you.”

The others snickered, one of them added, “Yeah, real good care, heheheh.”

Darnell tilted his head back laughing, “Oh! That’s what yall need!”

The ringleader smiled and nodded his head, “Yeah that’s all!”

Darnell’s voice lowered, “Y’all need directions to Hell.”

Their smiles dropped. “Alright.” the ringleader uttered, he nodded his head at one of the goons.

Alicia suddenly felt Darnell’s hand pushing her aggressively. She peaked from behind him and one of the goons was moving towards their rear while another tried to walk to the street on their right. Alicia’s mind became jumbled to the point she couldn’t control herself.

“Go girl!” Darnell yelled, he pushed Alicia into the street, getting her further from the goons.

“Wait, Darnell, no!” Alicia shouted. She knew what Darnell was trying to do. She looked all around at all four of the goons who were closing in on them. She had to help him. She couldn’t leave him there. Her heart raced faster. Alicia couldn’t think straight. Tears were welling in her eyes. Her mind was a torrent of panic and fear. Fear for Darnell. Fear for what would happen if she left him.

Darnell roared at her again, “I said go Alicia!”

Her mind suddenly cleared. His face was twisted in anger. She’d never heard or seen Darnell as frustrated as now. But his words reverberated through her entire body. Before she knew it, she took off in the opposite direction. Alicia felt a tear stream down her face. From behind her, she could hear cursing, then faint grunts and a slam against the pavement. There were more noises but they grew less discernible as she got further away.

Alicia ran and ran. She ran as far as her legs would take her. She ran so fast the wind dried her tears as they flowed from her eyes. She tripped, but she caught herself, and kept running. She didn’t dare look back. If I look back, I run slower, she remembered, that’s what Darnell taught her. She thought about nothing else but running. She ran through the entire neighborhood, until she made it to a busy street. She ran down the street too. Her legs were burning, but she kept running. She forced herself to run despite the pain in her lungs. She just kept running. She didn’t want to feel anything else. She feared that if she stopped running, the pain of her heart would overwhelm her.

Alicia ran until she had reached a gas station. She bursted into the brightly lit store, scaring the clerk. He said something to her, but Alicia didn’t hear it. She immediately pulled out her phone, and unlocked it. She went to the dial pad realizing she could’ve just used the emergency dial. Didn’t matter now. Alicia called 9-1-1.

She told them everything. The rest of the night was pure agony. Everything was a blur. The faces of the officers were fuzzy, everything that she heard and said was hazy. She did remember sitting on her porch after being escorted. She did remember hearing the officer saying they couldn’t find anything except blood. She did remember Darnell not picking up his phone. She did remember Illyana and Makayla came.

The police told them somewhat of everything. The rest of the week was pure agony. She couldn’t do her work. She couldn’t pay attention to the teacher. She walked into the wrong class at least seven times. She remembered staying up all night on her phone, waiting. Waiting to hear anything from Darnell. She wanted him to magically appear before her, perfectly healthy. The longer she waited, the weaker she felt. She passed out in class at least five times. She was sent home early Wednesday. She got to stay home Thursday and Friday.

She remembered crying into her pillow over and over. She remembered not being able to eat. She remembered not being able to move. She remembered how powerless she was. She remembered how she didn’t help him. Her heart felt like it was being stabbed over and over. Alicia told herself she deserved it. She told herself it was her fault, if she never saw him again. She remembered punching her mattress. Why did she have to ask him to go out? Why did she convince him to go alone? She hurt herself.

Makayla had to watch her. Makayla wasn’t doing too good either. No one was.

Alicia remembered hearing the knock on her door that Sunday. She remembered hearing Makayla’s screams and cries from across the house. She remembered seeing him. She thought she was hallucinating. She thought it was a dream. She remembered feeling him again. She remembered his embrace. That warmth that she hadn’t felt since that night. She remembered everyone coming over to see him. She didn’t remember his explanation for why he went missing. She only cared that he was there again.

But now she was about to lose him again. Darnell dragged Ryan over to the spot he wanted him to punch through. Alicia shook her head rapidly, pulling herself back to the present.

Alicia ran over to Darnell and wrapped her arms around him, yelling “No! Darnell please! Let me help!”

Darnell placed his hands on her sides and stared deep into her eyes, which were glossing with tears. He spoke softly, “You can help me.”

Alicia nodded her head.

“If I know you’re safe at the daycare, that would help me.”

Alicia’s knees buckled and she shook her head, “No, no, no, no…” she uttered.

Before she knew it, Darnell had slipped from her grasp. “I’ll be okay,” he said to her. Then jumped out of the hole.