Whatever was going on outside was none of Ryan’s concern anymore. The problem was outside, and it wasn’t coming inside, so there was no problem. Even if something did come in, he wouldn’t hear it. After washing his hands and nearly painting the sink red, Ryan plugged in his headphones, then laid down in the center of the boxing ring.

Ryan stared at the ceiling while his favorite playlist, “End of the World,” blasted in his ears. About thirty minutes ago, Ryan had no idea what he would do. His old friend was now a piece of modern art scattered across the floor. Should he go on a killing spree? Should he go home? Should he test out his newfound ability? No, none of those. He had the perfect playlist for this. So he decided to just do that until help arrived. Would help arrive? What would help even be? Who would come for him?

He asked himself this as he blatantly ignored the buzzing of his phone. Maybe there would be a clue there? Nah. His eyes didn’t tear away from the dark ceiling stretching far above him. The music hypnotized him. This was better than whatever the world had planned for him. The internet could go out at any moment, so might as well make the most of it now.

The song “all my friends,” by 21 Barbarian played along. Ryan laid on the canvas, letting the lyrics flow into his ears.

“I don’t need no friends if you really wanna know the truth~”

No friends, huh? Ryan thought to himself. Images of his friends began to flash through his mind against his will. Like a powerpoint presentation, he saw Darnell, he saw Makayla, he saw Alicia, he saw Tristan, he saw Teemo, he saw Illyana, he saw Vanessa, he saw Raj, he saw Michael. He saw some more individuals he happened to know, but they didn’t hit as hard. He willed himself back to his close friends. He wondered where they were. He wondered what was happening to them.

“Lost a couple friends, I ain’t even really mad though~” sang 21 Barbarian.

“No, I’d be mad if I lost them.” Ryan said out loud.

Where were they? Ryan suddenly shot up. He had to check his phone. Ryan reached to his side where his phone rested. Ryan checked his notifications where every update on what had been going on outside was being updated. The first thing he checked was the group chat which read:

Darnell: Just met up with Vanessa - 1 hour ago

Makayla: Raj and I are at the daycare - 1 hour ago

Darnell: Ight, Michael and Alicia are closest so we goin there first - 1 hour ago

Darnell: Then I’m goin for Tristan - 1 hour ago

Makayla: Kk - 1 hour ago

Tristan: Please hurry. - 1 hour ago

Darnell: Just grabbed them, on our way Tristan - 56 minutes ago

Tristan: Wya? - 44 minutes ago

Tristan: Darnell? - 39 minutes ago

Makayla: Darnell u okay? - 38 minutes ago

Darnell: We got Tristan, sendin him to u Makayla - 25 minutes ago

Makayla: O ok! Don’t scare us like that! >:( - 24 minutes ago

Darnell: My b lol - 24 minutes ago

Makayla: Wait where u going? - 24 minutes ago

Darnell: To Ryan - 23 minutes ago

“To me?” Ryan said out loud. Ryan looked around, he was still alone in the gym. Should he call them? No, what if that endangered them? Ryan wasn’t sure what to do. He ran to the bathroom. Ryan looked himself in the mirror, he looked like a mess. His nose was still swollen from the headbutt Keith had given him earlier. He tapped it. It stung. What a surprise. He ran his hand through his rough hair. There was some blood in his hair that disrupted the dirty blonde color. He splashed water into it over and over. He managed to smear it. Ryan sighed into the sink. “What am I doing?” he said to himself. His music was still blaring in his ears.

Ryan exited the bathroom feeling dumber than before. Why did it matter how he looked when his friends saw him? As Ryan walked back into the gym, scratching his neck, he could hear shuffling behind the ring. Ryan stopped dead in his tracks. He examined the giant dim corridor of the gym. Nothing. Was he just hearing things? He did still have his headphones in. Ryan decided it was just a part of the song. Still, he looked down at his hand and balled it. He commanded his fist to do what it did before. He flexed it as hard as he could, concentrating. Slowly, he felt a tingling sensation along his entire forearm and fist. Like his skin was being opened up from his pores. The red shell began to cover his arm again, starting in small spots that grew larger and larger until conjoining. Soon, his fist was covered in a red shell again, he made out the irregular white streaks and varying shades. With this, whatever it was, he would survive.

Ryan slowly exited the bathroom again. He peered into the gym, it was mostly dark, except for the few emergency lights and the light from the bathroom. Ryan didn’t turn on the lights before because he relished the darkness. He was regretting that decision more and more.

He took one step into the darkness. Nothing. Then another. Nothing. Ryan took more methodical steps along the gym. His eyes darted around the room, looking for any sudden movements. Ryan slowly made his way around the left side of the ring. His heart began to pound even more. He looked down at his fist once more, the red shell hadn't abandoned him.

Ryan approached the second corner, moving as steadily as ever. Ryan prepared for whatever would be hidden behind the ring when the crashing of a ladder happened in the far corner of the gym. Ryan turned towards the ladder that wobbled on the floor from the impact. His heart pounded even more. Whatever was here just gave itself away, but now, it's guaranteed he has to fight now. Ryan stared at the area where the ladder fell. Hoping to discover anything.

The hair on the back of his neck tingled. Like his body was telling him to turn around. The urge grew stronger and stronger until he couldn’t bear it anymore. Ryan shot a look behind himself just in time to catch a dark figure reaching for his head. Ryan immediately swung his fist towards the intruder. His crimson punch shot towards his opponent and in a flash, the figure swerved to the side and pushed his fist away. The force of Ryan’s punch pulled him forward, causing him to lose balance. But Ryan was quick to recover. Ryan swiveled on his left foot and brought his right foot down in front of him to stop himself from falling. The intruder was now behind Ryan, and Ryan spun his right fist around, hoping to land a back-handed blow. Halfway through, all of his momentum was blocked by the intruder who clashed their forearm with Ryan’s wrist. Before Ryan could pull away, the intruder’s grabbed Ryan’s arm. Then his other hand caught Ryan’s neck. Ryan yelled in frustration as the intruder wrapped his leg around Ryan’s right leg. In one swift motion, Ryan was brought to the floor. Ryan wailed as the cold concrete collided against his cheek.

Ryan tried to break free, but the dark figure held him down firmly. He heard the intruder speak, “Alicia! Get your spear!”

Ryan’s eyebrows narrowed and his eyes bulged. The voice sounded familiar, and “Alicia?”

“Wait!” Ryan shouted out with hope that his hunch was correct.

“...‘Wait?’” the intruder loosened his grip. “Ayo! Ryan!?”

“Yo! It’s me!” Ryan shouted out.

The dark figure released his hold on Ryan and stood up. Ryan heard footsteps to his left as he began to bring himself up. The figure walked in front of him and offered his hand. Ryan took it, rose up, and came face-to-face with the perplexed expression of his friend, Darnell.

“Darnell!?” Ryan yelled. He looked to his left, and a shorter, skinner, feminine figure holding a long sharp object stood a few feet away. Ryan pointed at her, and using clues from what he heard earlier exclaimed, “Alicia!?”

“Is that you Ryan?” the girl asked.

Ryan patted his chest yelling, “Of course it’s me! What are you guys doing?”

“We could ask you the same thing!” went Darnell.

“I was minding my own business! Y’all were the ones creeping around in the dark!”

“We didn’t even know if you were still alive or if something happened to you,” said Alicia.

“Of course I’m alive!” Ryan yelled.

“Answer the group chat next time then!” Darnell scolded.

Ryan sighed, throwing his face into the palm of his hand.

Darnell walked past Ryan to sit down on a nearby chair, he spoke, “Well, at least you’re alive, I was hoping you were.”

Ryan looked up at them, “Yeah, I’m glad to know that everyone else is okay.”

“Hopefully, it stays that way…” Darnell added with worry in his voice.

“I’m sure it will!” Alicia cheered.

“Yep, let’s do our best,” Darnell grinned. He stood up and started to examine the gym. “And in order to accomplish that, we’ll need new gear.”

“Oh yeah,” Ryan went and pointed at Alicia, “Is that a spear!?”

Alicia jumped to show it off, “Yep!” she slammed the butt of the spear into the ground and puffed her chest out, “I’ve slain many a enemy with this!”

“What the-”

“I need a new weapon too, my spear broke on the way here.” Darnell said, “Also armor.”

“Armor would be good,” Alicia said, walking closer to the other two.

Darnell walked behind Ryan with his arms crossed. With a deepened voice, Darnell spoke, “Also, Ryan…”

Ryan turned around to face Darnell, who wasn’t looking in his direction. Darnell was looking towards the hallway that led to the exit of the gym. Darnell continued, “I’m guessing that was your doing?”

Darnell gestured his chin towards the bench on the far side of the gym. Ryan realized Darnell was referring to the mutilated body of his old friend Keith across the gym.

Ryan choked on his words for a bit, remembering what he’d done. What he had to do. “Yes,” he managed to say, “I did it with this.”

Ryan’s statement piqued the interest of both Darnell and Alicia. Ryan held up his fist once again. The two leaned in closer. Ryan flexed his fist just like he did before. Only this time, his arm already felt strained. Ryan mentally demanded that it come out again. Nothing. Darnell and Alicia shot Ryan looks as his hand just started to shake.

Ryan, feeling embarrassed, spoke up for himself, “It didn’t take this long before…” he fretted. Ryan shut his eyes and refocused. He reimagined the sensation of his skin tingling, crackling open, numbing, then stiffening. This time, there was a hint of soreness, but Ryan ignored it. As he focused on calling out his red shell, he heard the “Ooh” of Alicia to his right. Ryan opened his eyes, and it was back. The red shell covered his fist again, although this time, he felt exhausted calling it out.

“Interesting…” Darnell whispered.

Ryan couldn’t hold it anymore and released the shell. The shell retreated back under his skin where it would most likely hide until much later. Ryan dropped his hand onto the ring and started panting. Ryan could feel sweat on his face and arms. He honestly expected more of a reaction from his friends.

“That’s it? Just interesting?” Ryan panted.

“You’re just like Tristan!” Alicia cheered.

“Like Tristan?” Ryan looked to Darnell for an explanation.

“Yep, you got a superpower too.” Darnell said.

“What!?” Ryan exclaimed in disbelief, “It’s not just me?”

“Nope, but Tristan’s is much more different than yours. But… two people getting some superhuman ability on the same day…” Darnell put his hand on his chin, as he paced away. In earshot of Ryan and Alicia, Darnell thought aloud, “Are Tristan and Ryan’s powers connected to the apocalypse? Then how many more people are going to get powers? Do other people have powers?”

Ryan and Alicia looked at each other. Darnell spun around. “Ryan,” he said.

“Yeah?” Ryan answered.

“How did you activate it?”

“I dunno. I was fighting Ke- that thing, then as I tried to punch it, it just happened on its own.”

“Mans just became a bloodbender out of thin air.”

“Bloodbender?”

“Yea, from what I can tell, it looks like your blood coming out or somethin’.”

“Oh… that would make sense.” Ryan looked down at his hand.

“Anyway, we can discuss it more when we meet up with everyone else at the daycare.”

“Yeah! That would be better,” Alicia chimed in.

Darnell moved over to a shelf on the wall closest to them. He picked up a roll of bandage tape and headgear. “But first, Alicia, we need an upgrade.”

“Yessir!” Alicia rushed over to Darnell to find out what new plan he had now.

When Darnell said armor, Alicia had no idea what Darnell actually meant. She pictured a suit of shining knight armor, no idea how he’d get it, but that would be cool. Or maybe, a samurai armor, with the colorful plates that resembled a dress? Again, no idea how he’d get it, but it sounded awesome. What Alicia didn’t imagine, was that moments after Darnell stated “they needed an upgrade,” that she would become a mummy.

“Ow,” she uttered as Darnell fastened the final bit of tape on her left arm. Alicia now had layers of bandage tape, held down by duck tape along both her left and right forearms now. Her arms looked ridiculously bulky. Darnell patted the tape with a grin, proud of his handiwork. He looked up to find a not-so-pleased Alicia though.

“It’s for protection.” Darnell stated.

“It’s weird. And tight. And itchy.” Alicia complained.

“Well until you can whip up magical barriers or paint yourself red, this what you gotta do.”

Ryan eyed Darnell after that last statement.

“Now gimme your leg,” Darnell commanded.

Alicia reluctantly lifted up her left leg, and Darnell rolled up her jeans so he could put the tape under it.

“I didn’t need this before…” she said.

“We didn’t have this before.” Darnell managed one layer of the bandage, “and it ain’t like you got hair on your body.”

“Well it still kinda stings…” she pouted.

“Well it’s still kinda going to stop a zombie from biting into your skin.”

Darnell didn’t wrap as much on her legs as he did her arms, and stopped after a few layers. “You already got your jeans here, so I think this’ll be fine.”

Alicia felt like a patient of a car crash. She intentionally stuck her arms and legs out like they were in casts. Darnell eyed her skeptically as he rose up. Alicia just stared at him with her arms lifted up in the air. “Bruh, you good.” Darnell pushed her arms down to her legs. As soon as he let go, she flicked them back up like a spring. Darnell just shook his head and grabbed more tape.

Alicia looked over at Ryan, who sat a couple of feet away, examining his hand. What happened earlier started to concern him. Would he be able to do it again? His hand was more sore than before, and there was a slight tingle now. Like when a limb falls asleep but less extreme. Ryan wanted to test it, but he feared it would only get worse if he did.

Alicia rose up awkwardly from her seat. She expected the tape to hinder her movement but it wasn’t as bad as she expected. Still, Alicia made it her goal to be overdramatic. She waddled over to Ryan like a penguin, looking over her shoulder to see if Darnell was watching. Darnell had already started wrapping his own arm. He was wrapping his arm pretty fast. Ridiculously fast. His arms were just a blur as he did his left arm. Then switched to his right arm almost seamlessly. She just passed it off and brought her attention to Ryan. Alicia stopped waddling once she reached Ryan.

“Is it working?” Alicia asked him.

Ryan jumped up, not realizing she had approached him, “Oh, I think so. Not sure though.”

“What is it supposed to do?”

“Not sure. When I was fighting, it suddenly appeared, and I just killed him with it.” Ryan nodded his head at Kyle’s decimated body.

“So is it like super strength or something?” Alicia tilted her head to the side.

Ryan shrugged his shoulders, “Probably… I still don’t know.”

“You wanna-”

“Alicia!” Darnell suddenly called out to her.

Both Ryan and Alicia looked to Darnell who was already wrapped in bandage tape, and holding a wooden stick about three to four feet long. The same stick Ryan saw earlier. Darnell held his hand out to Alicia. “I need the knife,” he explained.

After Darnell’s spear broke on their way to the gym, he made sure to at least keep the knife that was attached to it. He had given it to Alicia for safekeeping before he “attacked” Ryan. Alicia reached into her back pocket and pulled out the kitchen knife. She handed it over and Darnell walked back over to his seat with the tape.

“Are you making a new spear?” Alicia asked.

“Ye’tirr,” Darnell chanted, as he inspected the knife. In the dark, it was difficult to tell if the knife was still sharp or not. “Well it don’t really matter,” he whispered to himself. He began shaving off one end of the stick with ferocious cuts.

Alicia turned back to Ryan and continued what she was saying before, “You wanna test if it’s super strength?”

“Can I?” he asked her and himself. He already wasn’t willing to pull it out just for looks, much less testing it.

“What could be wrong with it?”

“That, I also don’t know. I just got it like an hour or two ago. I’ve only used it like, three times. Now my hand feels all sore and shaky-”

Ryan was disrupted by the overbearing sounds of whizzing behind Alicia. The two turned towards the sound and Darnell was slicing the air with a newly crafted spear. He skillfully spun the spear in windmills with transitions to slices and thrusts.

“Yo you’re kinda crazy with that thing.” Ryan called out to Darnell.

Darnell chuckled as he did his final swing. He stopped, breathing deeply, and turned to the others, “Let me find out I’m an Aztec warrior baby.”

Darnell walked over to them with his new spear.

“So we’re ready to go back out and fight?” Alicia asked.

“Dang girl,” Darnell boomed, his eyebrows narrowed, “bloodthirsty ain’t ya?”

Alicia smiled and looked off to the side, “Maybe…” she giggled.

Darnell shook his head, “Nah, I ain’t had water since we dipped from Chess’s.”

Ryan pointed behind him, “There’s probably some in my coach’s fridge.”

Near the bathroom was his coach’s office, where the fridge was located. All three of the friends walked to the office door. Ryan pulled on the doorknob, but of course, it was locked. “Hmm,” Ryan grunted.

“Punch it.” Darnell said.

Ryan turned to Darnell, not processing what he heard, “What?” he went.

“Punch it.” Darnell repeated, acting like it was the obvious solution.

Ryan looked at the door, not sure if it was okay to break into his coach’s office.

“I highly doubt he’s gonna need to file any papers anytime soon.” Darnell said bluntly.

Ryan couldn’t argue with his logic. What he could argue though, was that it might not be wise to activate his ability. Ryan looked down at his hand again. He balled it into a fist, reluctantly. As if he was testing that he could still control his hand.

“Did you try it with your other hand?” Darnell spoke up.

Ryan looked up to Darnell with a blank look, feeling Darnell had just broken open a dam in his brain. Ryan looked from his right hand to his left hand. He processed what Darnell said. Why hadn’t he tried it with his left hand?

“Oh, I haven’t...” Ryan uttered.

Ryan wasn’t sure if it’d work or not, but he’d might as well give it a try. Ryan closed his left fist and replicated the same feeling he had in his right hand. The tingling returned, and almost immediately the red shell emerged in his left fist. Ryan’s eyes bulged out of his head when he saw it happen so easily.

“Oh! Whoo!” Ryan cheered as he jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. Ryan waved his fist in Darnell and Alicia’s faces, yelling, “Y’all see that? That right there!?”

Darnell chuckled as Alicia nodded her head.

Ryan stared at his red fist, “Heheh…”

So now Ryan knew he wasn’t losing it. Ryan recalled how he’d held the shell on his right hand for an extended amount of time earlier. If that was why it was sore, then he just needed to give it a good break. Ryan proudly nodded his chin at his fist.

“Alright now punch it.” Darnell stated.

“Right.” Ryan said.

In the upper center of the door, directly in front of Ryan’s face, was a window for the door. It had metal wires and blinds preventing anyone from peering or breaking inside easily. Easily. Ryan was confident that his fist wasn’t “easy.” He lifted his left fist. The shell encasing his fist and forearm as it should. Ryan reeled back, aiming straight for the window. With a grunt of power, Ryan rocketed his fist straight for the window. Like paper, his fist tore through the glass and metal wires with ease. Ryan was actually shocked. He believed he could punch through it, but actually doing it was surreal.

Ryan reached his fist down towards the handle on the other side. His fist. Oh yeah, he thought to himself. He had to undo the shell or he couldn’t move his hand. Ryan released the shell then grabbed hold of the door handle and unlocked the door. Just like that, they were in.

The three entered the room with caution. Darnell flicked on the light, and illuminated the room. The office was relatively small, with just enough space for a desk and a couple shelves. Some light really did them some good. Alicia and Ryan reeled back and squinted at the sudden flash of light. As they adjusted, Darnell called out, “Found it.”

Darnell located the mini-fridge just behind the desk in a corner. He pried it open, revealing a couple of water bottles. “Finally! Water!” Darnell shouted.

“Water!” Alicia chimed in.

Darnell pulled out two bottles and tossed them to Ryan and Alicia.

“Stay hydrated young bloods,” Darnell asserted.

In unison, they all twisted off the caps and began chugging the refreshing beverage. To all of them, water had never tasted better. Alicia didn’t even realize how thirsty she was until her tongue made contact with the cool liquid. She kept chugging and chugging, as if her body was controlling her arm. Halfway through the bottle, she managed to tear her mouth away. “Ah!” they all went.

“Woo! I feel good!” Darnell sang, he tossed his already empty bottle into a nearby trash bin.

Ryan didn’t need as much, but it still tasted amazing.

“Now, we’re ready to go back out and fight,” said Darnell, smiling.