Endless Recess

The bell never rang again| Part 3

That night she dreamt. It had been a while since she did so.

It was a dream about winter. It was getting colder each night and soon snow would begin to fall.

She dreamt of everyone running in the middle of a giant forest, everything covered by the white dust.

They ran to their parents, to their brothers, to their families.

But eventually, she opened her eyes. To be meet not by snow, but by the soft orange glow of the morning dawn slipping through the tiny space on the curtains of the classroom.

She looked back to be sure Layla was sleeping soundly and then around so she could know if anyone else was awake.

Her body shivered a little bit, it was the start of winter and all the blankets had been used for the windows and barricade.

However, as she quietly stands up her mind traveled to the events that happened a little while ago.

With her skills opening the lockers they could find more clothes for everyone. Someone must have had stored an extra jacket just in case.

And the roof. She couldn't help but smile.

She walked and sat on the desk by the window, as usual staring at the outside world and being greeted by the same thing every morning.

The shadows of the walking corpses on the streets.

"What do you want to see?"

A close whisper on her ear made her heart skip a beat. She recognized the voice yet the number of times they had spoken could be counted with the fingers of one hand.

Annie has pale and pink skin with eyes as dark as her obsidian bob cut hair. She has a couple of piercings in her ears and dresses in complete black leather clothes.

Emma moved a little away, feeling uncomfortable at Annie's closeness. She seemed to find this amusing and gave her some space.

"You always sit there" her voice was croaky and like a whisper "Like a princess waiting for prince charming to come to save you from this nightmare."

"I think anyone would do you know? As long as we get back to normal" Emma hugged herself while staring at Annie in distrust.

She had a sly smile and her towering height made her easily someone scary for some. Emma wouldn't say it out loud, but she could feel the pressure of her eyes on her.

So much so that after a few awkward seconds of silence she returned her eyes to the streets.

"What makes you think there will be any "normal" from now on?"

"It's hope, Annie. We need to have it."

"Hope in what? The government? The military? The scientist?"

Each word sank Emma's heart a little bit more.

"Then what would you say we do? Give up?"

"Adapt."

Emma returned her eyes to meet Annie's. Something about those words gave her the courage to hold her gaze, even if so briefly.

Annie's smile was erased, giving Emma a cold and powerful stare. She realized then that Annie had been trying to be friendly.

"The world has changed, in a way that we can't comprehend" her hand pointed at the windows, or to be more precise, at what was outside of them "You see it each morning, don't you? The reality that no one else wishes to acknowledge."

Feeling her courage vanish she looked at the ground trying to figure out why was Annie having this discussion with her out of the blue.

Annie was a seventeen years old student known to mingle with the delinquents of the school. With rumors of her being the leader of a gang and running a drug business.

"Why else is it that you look out the window every morning? You can't tell me that you BELIEVE, a rescue will come."

Emma's eyes moved as they rested on the sleeping frame of her best friend. Something Annie noticed.

"Or is it just a farce? To try and keep someone else's hope alive?"

Their eyes meet once again with equal intensity. None was giving any terrain to the other.

"What I do or why I do it is none of your business. Annie."

Emma frowned as she finally grew tired of Annie's little game or whatever she was trying to do right now. Annie stepped forward and sat at the other end of the desk, crossing her legs and resting the weight of her body on her right arm, turning her head around and looking away from Emma.

"You are right, whatever you do it's none of my business."

Only then she realized how nervous she had become, the conversation seemed to have gone on for hours when in reality it had been no more than a couple of minutes.

"Thanks."

It was all she managed to say before allowing her face to relax and looking away from Annie. No longer feeling threatened.

The room was filled with the combined sound of soft breathing, Sarah's snoring and some words being mumbled in someone's dream. Even wind that was starting to pick up velocity.

"Why did you sneak out with Mason at night?"

The world seemed to suddenly come to a halt as her just now calmer heartbeat began to pick up speed. A thousand muddy questions coming to her head but none clear enough that she could grasp at that moment.

"Are you two doing it? I won't tell" she lifted her arms with open palms as if trying to reassure her "I don't have the best relationship with The queen, so I don't have a reason to spoil your fun."

Emma was now staring at her moving hands that danced around as if calling her attention to them. Like a mouse cornered by the mischievous cat.

"What do you-"

She moved her eyes to see Annie's wide-eyed glare staring directly at her. A look that confirmed her thoughts.

Not that it was needed, Annie spoke again. Lowering her arms to where they were before as she turned around to face Emma. Who now had sought shelter from Annie's almost predatory gaze by looking at the world outside and its rising sun.

"Don't tell me that the two of you went outside the barricade? What would the teachers say? What would your precious friend think if she heard what you did?" Annie's voice was like a whisper as she slowly leaned closer to Emma "What if they follow your scent to here? Do you know how they think? How do they function? You could have doomed us all Emma."

Her heart was on her ears as her nails dug into the wooden desk and cold sweat fell from her face. What if Annie was right? What if without knowing she had somehow condemned everyone? What if the barricade was now weakened since it has been the second time it was opened?

"If they get in and eat someone could you live with the burden? With the secret? If they kill Layla and she returns, Could you release her?"

"What do you want?" The mention of her friend had brought back the strength to retaliate at Annie's questions. Who seemed to back away and return to her normal self.

"I'm trying to figure you out sugar, that's all" Annie stretched her body in a carefree way as of nothing had happened "Like the original question" she said while yawing "What do you hope to see? Out there in the streets?."

"Could you leave me alone if I tell you?"

"Of course, of course."

"I hope to see the teachers back with help. No one else does it or seems to at least."

There was no response from Annie.

"There, so-"

Annie's hand grabbed the left shoulder of Emma tightly and as she turned to see it she felt her body being pulled a little backward and Annie's head rest on her right shoulder.

"I like to look out the windows too, Emma."

They remained in that position for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Annie released her and almost jumped down the desk, causing a loud sound that woke up some of the girls.

"WHAH?!" Sarah woke up almost jumping and looking all around, her loud voice finishing what Annie had begun and made everyone else return from their slumber.

"Emma?" Layla said cleaning her eyes and sitting up.

All eyes quickly fell on Annie who was making her way to the door while securing her piece of cloth on her face. Once she was ready and had rested her hand on the handle she spoke without turning around.

"Harley farted" said exiting the room.

The blonde girl looked mortified and red as she received eyes of disdain and embarrassment from her classmates.

"Move away you stinky pig."

Heather said while giving her back to the shocked girl and laying back to sleep.

"That's why we never slept in your house."

The granting voice of Vanessa who was sleeping next to her made tears come out of her eyes, she too gave her back to Harley.

"Come on, don't poison the air, the hallway it's enough."

Said Gally with her honeyed soft voice as she too rested next to Heather, facing away from the utterly ashamed Harley.

Eventually, everyone went back to sleep, everyone but Layla who was containing her laugher, when she looked back up at Emma she saw her looking at her with a smile from ear to ear.

"W-what?"

Emma pounced on her friend hugging her tightly.

Confused at first but then just accepting she embraced her friend.

"Oh my God Layla, stop f*****g crying for once!"

Heather screamed in desperation as she grunted and flipped off from her corner of the room where Layla and Emma sat.

Layla was surprised and worried at her friend who after weeks since the outbreak first started was now trying to contain her crying.

She hugged her tightly as her body trembled and a soft, pained whimpering escaped her lips every time she tried to breathe.

However, Layla simply held her friend there as she gently caressed her hair.

"There, there. I'm here."

"I-im not, a child- Emma's voice was broken."

And they remained in that position for several minutes until she calmed down and they separated.

"Did something happened?"

"I was happy, to see you smile Layla."

"Don't be silly Emma, I laugh all the time with you and Mathew!"

"I know!" she responded hugging her friend again, who now had a tender smile.

"You are getting my only clothes wet." she said hugging Emma more tightly.

"I know" Now more exhausted and calmer than she was a couple of minutes ago, Emma seemed completely depleted of strength.

"It's okay to cry."

She didn't respond, partially because she couldn't and because she was almost asleep. Something that became a reality a couple of seconds later.

For the third time, she drifted to sleep. All the weight and stress seemed to melt away as her mind blackened and her consciousness abandoned her body.

"Emma. Emma wake up."

The soft movement of her body made her opened her eyes again, once she lifted her body off whatever surface she had been laying on she realized Layla had taken the paper of a mattress. Letting her sleep on her while they both sat against the wall.

"It's Mr. Asher's class, it should be about to start."

"S-sorry Layla, I shouldn't have slept on you."

Emma quickly moved to pick up her backpack next to her as Layla did the same thing.

"It's okay, it's the first time you have cried since that day."

Both had their backpacks ready and cloths on their hands. Emma stared at her friend with great gratitude.

"Thank you, I really needed that."

"You can always cry on my shoulder, I have done it countless times on yours."

"well now don't get too ahead of yourself! I won't be crying for at least another month."

She laughed as Layla sighed and shook her head with the faintest of smiles.

"I will be there then for you to rely on me."

They exchanged smiles before they finally decided to move. Securing their cloths on their faces Emma opened the door. Every door had duct tape on its glass window in case one of the undead somehow managed to get inside.

That's why she didn't saw Annie standing there.

"Hey girls" Annie said waving her hand while looking at Layla and then Emma.

"Oh, h-hi" Said the former shyly mimicking been action.

Annie and Emma stared at each other for a second. None saying a word, something Layla picked up in an instant.

After all, the animosity between them could be felt in the air.

"I want to pass through."

Finally said Annie with a confused look, Emma blinked a couple of times realizing she was blocking her path. So she stepped aside letting the other girl walk inside the room, who then closed the door behind them both.

"Did something happened between you two?"

"It's nothing, Layla. Let's go to class."

The morning went on as it had the past days. Asher's class tended to be monotonous, so almost everyone took the chance to nap or speak to each other.

However, while he didn't care too much, eventually he would demand attention. His class used to be very energetic and passionate before the outbreak.

It was the moment it had ended that Emma could forget of her encounter with Annie and focus on the most important task of the day.

Convincing Layla to sneak with her to the roof.

"So, Layla. I've been wondering."

Emma turned around cutting off the conversation that Layla and Mathew were having about the pets they used to have.

"Remember that I asked you to meet me at the bathroom after Miss Juliet's class?"

"Yeah, but we didn't go because..."

"I know, the whole going out thing."

Both Layla and Mathew looked uncomfortable. Emma was it as well knowing that she had indeed gotten out with Mason, but hiding how she felt tended to be achievable in most cases.

"The thing is someone has gotten out before."

Both of her friends stared at her with their eyes wide open.

"Who?" Layla asked looking at her classmates.

"I can't tell you who, I promised I wouldn't do it. but that's not important-"

the door opening made the group turn at it to look at Heather's and Mason's group walking into class.

"Was it my brother?" Mathew asked now looking suspiciously at her.

"Mathew please, I don't want to-"

Layla gasped and then leaned near Emma.

"Was it Annie? she always seemed suspicious" she whispered in her ear.

"N-no! I just-"

"What are you two whispering about? so it was him isn't it?" Mathew now stared at his brother walking to his desk.

"NO!"

The sudden scream made all the talking cease in the classroom, as everyone stared the group at the far back of the class.

Emma then grabbed both of her friends to pull them close together and whisper.

"Listen, it was not Mason and it was not Annie. I will NOT tell you because I promised I wouldn't. alright?"

Her friends stared at her with suspicion, but just as Mathew seemed to open his mouth and complain Layla spoke first.

"Okay, I won't ask about it."

Giving her a soft smile followed by a nod at Mathew's direction, who after some hesitation answered it with one of his own.

"Good, thank you."

Their classmates had already moved on from the momentary distraction and each was doing their own thing. Realizing this Emma released her friends at the same time Miss Juliet and Jose walked into class.

"Great" Emma said with a defeated sigh- I will tell you the rest of it on Mr. Landon's class.

They nodded and gave their attention to Miss Juliet who coughed before addressing the students with her always cheerful demeanor.

"I apologize for taking my time in coming to class, I was busy counseling one of your classmates. Now! Let's go on with yesterday's lesson!"

The door opened one more time and someone walked in that left everyone speechless. Especially Emma.

"Oh! I see you wish to join us this morning Annie. Please take a seat anywhere you wish!"

Annie moved her head from one corner of the room to the other in slow motion. As she went everyone reacting in a certain way.

Heather and her group were not subtle by making disgusted faces. Neither was Jason and Brook who seemed terrified at the idea of her sitting near them.

Luca and Joshua seemed relaxed because they were either too busy thinking about something or simply felt no pressure at the idea of her sitting with them since that's where she used to sit anyways.

While Sarah seemed like the only one opened to the idea of sitting next to her. Especially since she moved her backpack that rested on the desk Annie would take.

"Y-you can sit next to me if you want."

Emma was shocked listening to those words and even more when she realized they came from Mathew's mouth. Annie gave him a sly smile before speaking.

"We have a gentleman here. Well, thank you."

She proceeded to walk to her new desk and sit cross-legged. Mathew was probably sweating bullets.

"Fantastic! Well now let's go on!"

Emma pulled Mathew's hair causing him to quietly cry in pain before turning to meet both her and Layla's face.

"what are you thinking?!!" Emma whispered while shaking his jacket.

"w-what?! It was clear no one else wanted her to sit with them."

"Then she could have taken the desk where she USED to sit!"

"The last time she was in class it was that day! I'm giving her some support here!"

"But, it's ANNIE!"

"Yeah, what about it?"

Emma found herself short of words once again, there was no way to explain why she wanted Annie away from her. So after a couple of seconds, she let go of her friend and gave him a defeated sigh.

"Besides, she is k-kinda hot." Said Mathew while slightly blushing.

"Oh. my.GOD" Emma was getting red as well. But of anger.

All while Layla giggled excitedly at the whole display. She liked romance after all and this was a welcome wind of what used to be like before the outbreak.

The two friends argued for a little longer while Layla watched with amusement and Annie watched them with the same inquisitive eyes and uninterested attitude she often expressed.

Soon Miss. Juliet's class had ended and the imaginary recess began.

"Listen, the reason I mentioned that someone got out already is that someone told me that all the second floor is FREE of the undead!"

Layla and Mathew once again looked at Emma with a mixture of doubt and disbelief.

"What do you want to do? visit other classrooms?"

"No, Mat. I believe in what that person said because it's very trustworthy."

"Sarah?" Layla wondered.

"STOP, trying to figure out who is!"

"You are saying big things right now Emma. you can't blame us for at least wishing to know."

"I guess you do have a point. but ANYWAYS!, I want us to go to the roof this night!"

Unable to hold the proposition any longer she decided to drop it before they asked more things. both of her friends seemed surprised at her wish. but soon Layla's face turned into one of horror.

"B-but, the hallways must be filled with-"

"no! no, This person showed me" before Layla could ask she raised her hand " remember my phone still had charge, right? I asked the person to take a picture and show me" as she spoke she took the cellphone out and turned it on. it had little battery left.

She opened her gallery and show them a picture of the hallway that night, both of her friends were horrified at the sight of blood and filth. Yet they seemed to relax when they didn't see any corpse.

Emma was glad she thought ahead and took a picture while she was walking back to the refuge with Mason. After letting them see it for a moment Layla spoke up.

"You have a voicemail, Emma."

"I-im saving it for another time" she quickly turned it off "But see?! it is clear! we could sneak out tonight and finally have a little bit of fresh air."

Her friends finally seemed to consider the possibility of it. They stayed in silence for a long while thinking about it. Mathew opened his mouth several times but nothing came out.

"So?" Emma said impatiently. her legs went up and down under the desk.

"I really want to go out again- Mathew finally said."

"And we can! but if we do so I want the three of us to go out" She said looking directly at Layla, who looked like a scared bunny "Together, please."

Layla's chest was going up and down with increasing speed, as her eyes did a fantastic job in expressing her deep fear at the idea of even looking at one of the dead.

They stayed in silence while Mathew uncomfortably tried to look anywhere but at the two old friends. Eventually, Emma felt that she was fighting a losing battle and she gave up on the idea.

"It's okay Layla, no one will force you to-"

"n-no, I will," She said taking a deep breath " I will go out."

Emma's eyes practically shined like the stars she so desperately wished to show her best friend, as well as her big smile as she squeezed Layla's hand.

"Very well then, it's settled. tonight at 5 am we meet right next to the barricade."

Mathew placed a hand on the shoulder of Layla.

"Don't worry, we will be safe together "he said offering her a comforting smile."

She did her best to return it.

The rest of the day went on normally. while the winds in the morning grew stronger into the night.

"I said NO! I will sleep with my boyfriend tonight! I won't get another chance like this in like, a MONTH because of this stupid law of one each student."

Eventually, night came and the wind had become very strong. A clear signal of an incoming storm, the thunder now and then also reinforcing that.

It was Heather's turn with the Janitor's room. And while there was no rule of how many people you could take with you, the room itself was very small so more than two or three would feel very suffocating.

Her friends were trying to convince her to take one of them with her. but she seemed to have had already spoken with Mason to be her company that night

Some had raised an eyebrow at the fact the only couple would get the privacy of an iron door and a bed. especially Mr. Asher and Miss. Juliet.

The former bluntly saying there was no pharmacy to ask for a pill for the day after while the letter asking them to think with their heads and embrace each other for comfort and warmth but no more.

Heather stormed out of the room leaving her defeated friends to cuddle with each other.

Emma and Layla rested on the floor and gave each other a determined look. they would wait for the hour to come and sneak out of the bedroom.

While Emma had to fight against the need to rest, Layla little difficulty doing so.

Her heart was running wild inside her chest as the fear and adrenaline seemed to never stop. But each time she wanted to stretch her hand and tell Emma that she wasn't going she would stop. It was her best friend's wish and after that morning's display of emotion, she wanted to be there for her as she had been since this hell began.

Eventually, the clock hit five and both friends looked at each other. Layla reassuring her friend with a nod.

The three friends found each other in the hallway and Emma began to undo the same spot that Mason had. All while thunder and strong winds made the pitch-black school all the more terrifying.

Once they went out through the hole both Mathew and especially Layla had a similar reaction to the one Emma had.

However, with her support, they managed to snap out of it quicker. Holding each other hands they crouched and walked through the bloody hallways.

But in the end. Everything was worth it.

As they reached the stairs and Emma opened the door both friends stepped out to the roof and took off their masks.

They were marveled.

They took deep breaths of fresh air as they smiled and laughed. A powerful wind threw Layla into the stairs but thankfully Mathew managed to grab her before she got hurt. causing both of them to laugh wholeheartedly.

Emma was so happy looking at her friend pretty much dancing with Mathew. as if all the pain and misery had disappeared.

"Thank you, Emma."

"Yeah, we. We needed this."

"We all did, I'm so happy you are both here with me now."

The three friends hugged each other tightly. As finally water drops began to fall on their clothes.

"Oh no! the sky is too dark!" Emma said breaking the hug and looking up in anger.

"let's get back before we get sick Emma! the stars don't matter!" Said Mathew as he walked inside the stairs for shelter.

"But!, I wanted to show Layla the stars!-"

"Emma" Layla grabbed her friend's shoulders and gave her a genuine, ear to ear smile" The stars don't matter, we can always watch them another night."

They stared at each other filled with joy before the water drops falling from the sky became actual rain, so they rushed inside with Mathew.

Emma walking in front of them, with Layla close behind and Mathew last holding the door, they were once again inside the school building as heavy rain poured from the sky and thunder shook the ground, and lightning lit up the hallways.

"Now, let's head back before someone wakes up!" Emma said while walking down the stairs and looking at her smiling friends.

Failing to notice the body walking up the stairs from the first floor.

"EMMA!!!" Screamed Layla.

Her face became horror just like her friends as she turned around to the decaying body of a student with his neck torn apart lifted his arms and launched himself at her.

she was walking backward so the fear and weird position of her feet made her lose balance, but before she could fall on top of the incoming corpse.

Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

Once she was launched she saw the terrified face of Layla as she had swung her with all her strength causing them to switch places.

"LAYLAAA!!"

Emma screamed in horror as Layla crashed on the walking corpse, both falling down the stairs.

Mathew grabbed her and they immediately rushed to the stairs, being treated by the agonizing scream of pain from Layla and the traumatic image of the corpse on top of her tearing her right arm apart with its mouth.

"RUN BACK!!! RUN!! RUN!!" Layla screamed at her friends as she twisted and her body in pain and tried to push away the undead.

Emma was standing in shock incapable of moving a muscle as she saw her best friend cry and scream in pain.

"THEY WILL BE BACK!!" Layla screamed looking directly at Emma and giving her a painful smile "the teachers will be back with help! so stay alive, EMMA!!"

This had to be a nightmare. She must be sleeping yet, there is no way this is happening.

Layla suddenly looked up and her face returned to one of horror.

"MATHEW TAKE EMMA AWAY!! TAKE HER AWAY!!"She tried desperately to free herself from the monster while looking at the hallway on the first floor and then back and Mathew.

He came back to reality and pulled Emma's arm, but she didn't move.

"EMMA, EMMA!!" Layla screamed again as from her friend's point of view a dozen shadows could be seen from the lighting slowly walking to where they were.

Then the sound of running feet echoed in the hallway of the second floor as Mason appeared rushing from the corner with a pipe in his hand.

"She is not moving!!" Mathew screamed at his brother as tears fell down his face.

Emma looked at how her friend gave her one last smile before several more undead surrounded the screaming girl.

Then she only heard her distant screams as Mason picked her up and ran with Mathew, Adam, and Mr. Asher close behind.

As everything faded away she remembered.

"We will be back with help."

The sports teacher spoke with Miss. Juliet.

"But, what if-"

"No, there will be people out there who can help us."

another teacher cut her off.

"Listen everybody! We will return with a rescue team to take everyone out!" The teacher spoke to the students as a couple of other left through an opening in the barricade "This will be all over before recess ends" He said winking.

That night Emma looked outside the window as she saw the group of teachers run a couple of streets as more and more corpses appeared. eventually overwhelming them.

Emma then came back to herself, barely. as everything around her seemed like shadows, angrily shouting, sobbing, someone hugging her.

And at that moment. She finally spoke.

"The bell will never ring," she said, like a whisper.

"What?" Said Mr. Asher as he caught his breath. Everyone was standing in the hallway.

"The teachers are dead."

Recess would never end.