The Morning The World Broke

ari

me from somewhere p

waited. No second scream followed. An administrator farther down the corridor caught my eye and gave a sharp nod, swe

rs who had skipped the shower. Most of the desks were filled. Three sat

ur earlier. Ethan's last kiss still lingered on my cheek. The Pinterest board for the wedding still open on my

the door opened and Nora hurried in, out of breath, eyes red and wet. I nodded h

rm-up questions. The principal's

unch so students can still eat. This is city-wide for Richmond. Tell your classes by t

throat. The c

und. We're leaving early, right after

because it was expected. Fourth period was alway

ound. Pollution. Dying plants. Problems that still had worksheet

lided with Sarah Chen. Papers

sorry, M

. I wasn'

school. High fever. I'm on my way to get her." She ch

e feels

through the hallway, closer, higher. I flinched. The copies

udents were already watching t

e right

les in thick lines. I closed the classroom door and stood with my back against

oor slammed open hard eno

stomach. Blood leaked between his fingers in dark ri

e it to the nurse. I fe

. My pulse slammed against my thro

hem we need the nurse in

. Someone shoved a roll of paper towels into my hands. I pressed the entire

me. He bit me in the stomach. I thought

last. I pulled the shirt back. A rough crescent-shaped bite mark pour

m down. There are four othe

Chairs scraped. Several s

d. His cries stopped. I could not find a pulse. The room narrowed. I starte

wo full minutes his c

His eyes looked cloudy, the pupils too wide, the irises dull. His sister

rolled out o

e lunged and sank his teeth into Lily's neck, then the nearest friend's arm. The sound was wet and final. Gasps and

e the boy kept going at the two girls. Nora cried into my card

decision in

ve to go. We ca

abric in widening circles that stuck to my skin. The corridors were chaos.

is

side hall just as t

is nothing to be alarmed about. Please return t

through the speakers until the sound died in a burst of sta

Nora said through so

and shut the door. The fluoresce

's wr

net. I sat beside her. The fl

ospital early for work, so it was just me and him. I was making him sou

where he worked. I needed to call him the second we rea

ds in their throats. Outside, the sidewalks looked almost normal except for the stream of kid

d stepped in a puddle. The sky was clear and blue. No rain. I looked down. The puddle was red. Bloody fo

knees over anot

irst. Wet. Rhythmic. A

called 911. My fingers lef

t's your

the street corner. The dispatcher told me

treams that had already begun to dry at the edges. His eyes

thing oka

ward us. His gait was wrong. Too loose i

abid animal." I backed up. "The other man.

going on

e walking a

coming. The second one's insides hung

get beh

stay calm. Help

ier. The other man's insides spilled out at my feet in a wet, gleaming pile that steamed in the cool air. I s

r

still coming, slow and steady. Behind them, farther up the street, th

was not insid

already