The Infection

"What attack?" Jacen asked, letting them both go.
Artemis shifted nervously, glancing over at Alex.

"Right..." Leslie replied before stopping as well, leaning against a wall. "I ...never thought of him as the teacher type..."

Dante started to explain what happened to Jacen.
Alex slowly waved Artemis over to the shadows.

"I didn't either man, I didn't either." Frankie said as he panted.

"...what?" Jacen frowned, looking confused.

Leslie caught his breath before jumping when he heard a sound only to roll his eyes when he realised it was a bird. "Damn it..." He muttered.

"This crazy guy attacked the teacher, there was so much blood..."
Alex waited in the corner for Artemis.

Frankie ran a hand through his hair. "Stupid bird..." He caught the sound of people talking.

"You're serious?" Jacen frowned shifting nervously. "We saw people outside, but..."
While they were busy talking, Artemis slowly went over to where Alex was waiting.

"So not in the mood for you right now bird." Leslie sighed, shaking his head.

"It really happened... We're not sure what is happening though..." Dante ran a hand through his head.
Alex hugged him, "Your okay right Arty?"

"I think I hear some people..." Frankie said as he moved forward.

"No idea." Jacen replied. "I thought maybe it was the drama club."
"Of course I am." Artemis said quietly, hugging him back.

"Where...?" Leslie asked, following.

"It wasn't the drama club... I think the teacher was..." Dante murmured upset.
"I was worried when the screams started." Alex said softly as he looked at him.

"This way." Frankie said as he headed up towards the music room.

"...theirs was the teacher attacked?" Jacen guessed.
"I know," Artemis sighed. "So was I."

Leslie made an irritated noise, but followed anyway. "Where are we going?"

Dante nodded with a sigh, "I don't know what's going on..."
Alex reached up to play with his hair.

"I think there are other people here..." Frankie said.

"No idea. But it's probably better not to go ask them."
Artemis relaxed a little, leaning against him.

"But school finished already didn't it?" Leslie asked.

Dante nodded, "Something bad is going on..."
Alex curled close. "I'm glad you got here okay."

"There are after school clubs." Frankie said as he walked into the music room.

"What do we do though? ...should we just go home?" Jacen asked.
Artemis nodded, burying his face against Alex's chest.

"Right..." Leslie nodded.

"I don't know... Arty just said we have to find you." Dante answered.
Alex buried his face in his hair.

"Jasper?" Frankie asked as he walked in.

"Not surprising," Jacen replied. "He always worries about us."
Artemis let out a sigh of relief, feeling more relaxed now that he was with Alex.

Hearing his name, Jasper quickly looked up from his phone. "Frankie? What are you doing here?"

"He does..." He said before stopping shyly as the two entered the room.
"Love you." Alex said softly his eyes closing.

"We came to find you man... Its so crazy out there..." Frankie answered.

"Who are they...?" Jacen wondered.
Artemis smiled, lifting his head just enough to kiss Alex's cheek. "Love you." He replied quietly.

Jasper frowned. "It's not just outside the school?"

"I don't know... Isn't that Kazarian? The guy that used to go to school here?"
Alex kissed his cheek back, relaxing.

"Its at least all over the city..." Frankie answered softly.

"Who?" Jacen asked, looking confused.
Artemis smiled up at him before slowly pulling away, not wanting to draw attention to them by standing there too long.

"The whole city?" Jasper frowned, looking worried. "What exactly is it?"

"He was that kid that was rumored to be in a gang... I think it was him."
Alex stole a quick kiss before pulling back to go back to the group.

"Its like something out of a zombie movie..." Frankie said softly.

"A gang? Really? ...is he dangerous?" Jacen asked.
Artemis blushed slightly, moving aside to sit on a chair.

"You think so?"

"He doesn't look dangerous." Dante answered, "Maybe all the rumors were wrong..."
"Yeah just like the movies we watched last month..." Frankie said, "People attacking each other and biting..."
"You guys saying you think it's zombies?" Alex asked as he glanced back at Artemis.

"Maybe," Jacen shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Why though?" Jasper asked with a frown.
Artemis pulled a fave, shifting nervously in his seat. "Not the kind of thing you want to sit around for... If it really is that."

Dante glanced at Jasper shyly.
"I don't know... Its crazy though... Their like monsters..."
Alex looked at the pipe in his hand, "We should look for something to protect ourselves with?"

Zane sighed as he sat down. "Crazy."

"Why would they even be here though?" Jasper frowned.
"I think it might be a good idea...just in case." Artemis said nervously.
"Mm. You could say that." Callum Bradford, one of the school's other teachers, replied as he stood looking outside through a gap in the curtains.