A loud ringing filled they air. I open my eyes. It was early morning on a Thursday. The sun Hadn't even peeked over the horizon yet. However I had to get up anyways. I had to be at the school early in the morning. I move to the end up the bed and sit there for a second, still a little groggy. After I become a little more awake I stand up and shakily walk into the bathroom. I open up a cabinet behind a mirror and grab my toothpaste and toothbrush, then I shut the cabinet, looking at myself in the mirror. My gray and brown spotted coat was all messy. My short brown mane and tail were all matted and frizzy from moving through the night. My drowsy orange-yellow eyes show the fact "I'm tired and haven't had my coffee yet.". I turn slightly looking back at my red book cutie mark. Suits me well considering I'm a history teacher. I take the time to brush my teeth and brush my mane and tail as well, then I put them back into the cabinet and closed the door.
I trotted downstairs and walked into the kitchen. I walked into the pantry and grabbed some toaster waffles off the shelf. I opened the box and grabbed two of the waffles and popped them into the toaster. Then I walked over and grabbed my coffee pot and brewed some coffee. After about 5 minutes I had my coffee and my toaster waffles popped up with a "ding". As sat down and ate my breakfast, I took the time to go through papers and do some grading. They were the test's from last week and I had put them off till the last moment. After grading about 6-7 test's I put the rest in a folder, put that in my saddle back and strapped it to my back. I dumped my dirty dishes in the sink. Finally, it was time for me to go. I turned out the lights, walked out front and shut and locked the door behind me.
Very few ponies were up yet. Only students and other teachers would be up this early. I walk down the streets of Manehattin watching street lamps still illuminating the street in front of me. The eastern sky was a beautiful shade of orange and yellow as it cast over the skyscrapers in the distance. I lived in a residential area outside of Manehattin. It was a quaint little area where not much happened. It was conveniently located not too far from the high school I teach at. Finally after about 30 minutes of walking, I can see the glow of the lights through the windows on the large complex. As I approach I pass the large brick sign out front "Pleasant Valley College Campus" is written in stone. I walk past the sign, up the concrete pathway that lead to the front doors and walked into the building, ready to start my day.
The school is quiet and empty. The only ponies here this early are teachers and faculty members. The main commons area of the school felt like a ghost town. The florescent lights glowing brightly overhead as I walked to my classroom. As I walk I pass by some of the other members of the school like the janitor in his blue hat and overalls and a couple of teachers. I walk down the long empty halls and stop at my door. The brown name plate beside it says in bold white letters," Mr. Hummel, Equestrian History." My room was all the way at the back of the building in the history department. I put my keys in the door and gave them a twist. With a click, the door opened and I turned on the lights. My room was surrounded by four white brick walls the I had covered with motivational posters and posters I had collected from different points in history. My desk sat against the closest wall facing the desks which were moved into groups. I had a coffee machine on a table behind my desk for caffeine purposes, and under it, a small white mini fridge with some snacks in it. I walked over to the coffee machine and set some black coffee to brew and then I sat down at my desk and laid out the tests so I could finish grading them. School start in 30 minutes and I needed to pass these out today. I grabbed a red pen out of my holder, and began to mark things on the tests. Then I noticed a file folder on my desk someone had put there. Inside was a sheet of paper with a reminder to remind my classes to get their flu shots. There has been a real nasty bug going around and its apparently very contagious, but the media wont release too much about it for some reason. Anyways I put it in a drawer of my desk and waited for my first class to start.
Classes went by as usual. I didn't have that many classes this morning. I had a beginners history course and then a general history course, then i was done for the day until later when I teach my night class on general history. It chugged by slowly but that didn't matter. I enjoyed my job and I enjoy most of my students. There are a few that get on my nerves once in a while but very rarely. After my classes end, I put papers in my bag and leave my classroom.
I walked down the hall to the teachers lounge. The windows to the outside showed a overcast march day. The ponies that didn't have classes right now were out and about. Some were sitting down reading books, others were walking with earbuds in their ears and a iPod strapped to their fore-hoof. There was a group of students at a table playing a card game, while another at the table behind theirs worked on homework. I rounded the corner and walked through the main gathering area, and then walked into the office. When I walked in, Fleece, one of the secretaries, was talking to a sick mare. I passed by and walked into the teachers lounge setting my bag on the table.
Inside, Cherry Beaker, the chemistry teacher, was sitting in the back reading a book on elements. Then there was Treble Forte, the music teacher here, writing sheet music like he does. Thunder Bolt, the hoof-ball coach, was watching sports on TV. A basketball was his mark. Astral Drift is the English teacher. She was reading a book beside Cherry.
" How are you Blitz?" Coach asked.
"I'm hanging in there."
The sudden sound of the door caused me to turn around. It was Dusk Pallet, the art teacher. He was a younger earth stallion, a little younger than me in fact. He was a tan color with a brown mane and tail and emerald green eyes. He had these two rainbow colored piercing in his left ear and always wore a scarf and beanie, just like me. The funny thing about him was the fact he had a crush on me, I don't think he has any Idea that I know though. Still he is a pretty cool stallion and one heck of an artist none the less. I go to his room sometimes just to see what cool projects hes working on. He smiles when he sees me and walked over.
"Hey Blitz." He said.
" Hey Dusk, what's up?"
"Oh not much, just finished dealing with my students."
"Cool, have any current projects?" I noticed he had splotches of paint in his coat.
"Actually, I'm painting a mural on the wall in the Fine Arts Building."
"Cool, I want to see it when your done." He blushed a little hearing me say that.
Treble stood up. "Now that everypony is here, where would you guys like to eat tonight?" He asked.
"Me and Astral were thinking that diner on the corner of Pink Street. They have great hayburgers." Thunder said.
"Where do you wanna eat Blitz?" Dusk asked me.
"Really, it doesn't matter to me. I chose last time." Every other Friday some of the teachers go out and eat all together, talk and have a great time. Last time we ate Waffle House.
"Well, we need to figure out where we're goi-"
He stopped mid sentence staring at the door. We all looked back and see Atom Mass walk in. He is the physics teacher in the same department as Cherry and is usually well dressed. However, his shirt is wrinkled and covered in sweat like he just ran a marathon, and his mane covers his face. His head hangs low and his coat is a little paler than normal.
"Sweet Celestial Atom." Astral said. "If you walk around like that, the supervisors will fire you."
He didn't move. He just stool there, a few gurgled moans escape his mouth.
"Yo, Atom, you sick or something. You don't look too good." Thunder said.
Still, he stood there. He only shook a little.
Cherry got up and approached him. "A-Atom...?"
Cherry placed a hoof on his shoulder. He slowly looked up at her. His eyes had this foggy look to them and his fur was matted, pale, and had these white splotches on them. Before anyone could say anything, Atom lunged forewards and sank his teeth into Cherrys throat, biting down and ripping out a chunk of flesh. Cherry fell to the floor, fear and pain painted her face as a pool of blood formed underneath her, staining her lab coat and fur red. The rest of us watched in in horror as the event that just took place sank in.
"OH MY CELESTIA!!!" Astral screamed.
Thunder lept from the couch. "QUICK SOMEPONY CALL 911!" He shouted. Thunder ran over and shoved Atom on his back. He landed with a thud and stopped moving. He grabbed a bunch of tissues from a box and pressed into Cherrys neck. Blood was pouring from her lips and tears welled in her eyes. Then suddenly, screaming and yelling could be heard out of the room.
I ran though the door and shut it behind me. Behind the desk, the sick mare from earlier has the secretary pinned to the ground, biting into her chest cavity as she tried to fight back. I rush out of the office and see students and faculty members running down the hall. At the back, ponies, looking very similar to Atom run down the hall tackling ponies to the ground and tear into them like a filly to a muffin. Across the way I see Silver, a student I know, on the ground bleeding from her foreleg. I run over to her side, grab her hoof and drag her into a closet. She looks up at me through her now broken glasses.
"M-Mr. Hummel, whats going on!?" she says through her heavy breathing.
"I dont know, what happened? Are you ok?"
"I cut it on the corner of a table running, it hurts."
"Listen, stay here and shut the door, Ill find help."
I stepped back and shut the closet door, hearing it lock behind me I turned around, heading in full pursuit towards the teachers lounge. I approach the door, and just as I'm about to open it, Thunder pops up against the glass.
"BLITZ, JUST RUN! JUST-AHHHHHH!!!!!!" He is cut off as Cherry bites his ear. She pulls back ripping it off, sending blood down his face and onto the glass. I stepped back petrified by what I was witnessing.
"THUNDER!!!" I shouted. I was about to open the door, when a set of growls caught my attention. I look over to see the mare behind the desk looking at me. The secretary was laying in the ground getting up, taking the same complection and the mare and Atom. I stepped back and bolted out the door hearing the loud moaning from the mare behind me. Running down the commons, was mortifying. There was blood everywhere, the mangled, chewed bodies of ponies I know strewn about and students and faculty members being killed by former students. I just kept running. The mare behind my changes course and dove at a group of ponies hiding behind a flipped table.
The scene out front was complete and utter chaos. Ponies running every which way, and the undead following close behind. My main priority was to get home. I ran through the crowd avoiding everypony, good and bad. Once I was through that I felt something heavy hit my side. I fell to the ground with a crash and look up to see an pony lunging at me. I put my hooves up just in time and his mouth comes within inches of my face. He growled and shakes trying everything to make contact with me, and I'm pushing as hard as I can. Finally giving one big heave, I throw the pony off me. Looking back I see it's getting up. I take off down the sidewalk running towards my home, leaving the pony far behind. Everything has descended into total chaos. Royal guards were in the street attacking the crazy ponies as I ran by. I continue running, I need to be in where it's safe.
-My hoof shakes as I close my door. The things I've seen, the infected, their victims, the chaos, it all rattles my nerves. I feel like I'm sitting next to a time bombing that at any moment could- sounds from outside. Hoofsteps, and a gunshot. I lean against the wall and look out my window. A mare was chasing an older stallion. He stops, fires a pistol at the mare, and keeps running. The mare behind I'm hurried after him, swaying and at some points almost falling over. Then the realization finally sets in, and I collapse onto the ground, and cry. It has to be that flu. There is no other way it isn't. I saw people I knew get eaten by other ponies.
I walk into the living room and click on my tv, the Manehatten news comes on.
"-Royal Guard are being swamped with reports of violent ponies all throughout the city. Ponies are advised to stay indoors and dont go outside till an all clear is given. We have gotten reports that this virus brings corpses back to life making, well, zombies. The infection is transferred by bites symptoms include, muscle spasms, headache, excessive sweating, slowed heart rate and.." she pauses for a minute. "Finally ending in death. These take anywhere from minutes to hours to set in. Remember everypony, be careful, and stay safe. This is Manehatten news signing off."
I turned it off. Its just too much for me. "I've got to get prepaired." I think to myself. I have a gun safe upstairs with my antique rifles in it. I like to collect old guns as a hobby, I have about five. As I head upstairs to retrieve them though I realize a grave fact, the key used in unlocking the gun safe is on my key ring, which is in my bag back at the teachers lounge. I stop for a moment and look at the clock. It is currently 7:30. I sit down and decide all go tomorrow morning and try to get them. Until then, I just need to stay inside.
I get some duct tape and put it over the drain in my bathtub and turn on the water. In case worse comes to worse, I should keep this full of water. I look around the windows of my home doing a perimeter check of what's around me. Just some of my neighbors homes, and plumes of smoke against the lit up buildings in the distance. Things must be really bad in downtown, I can hear sirens out there. I look at my clock and it says it's 9:30 PM. I decide for the time being, I need to try to relax a little. I head upstairs to my nightstand, get my phone, put in some headphones, lay down in my bed and relax. I let the sound of music drown out the sounds of the outside, allowing me to get some sleep. Still I lay there and cry thinking about ponies out there that aren't as lucky as me. My fellow teachers, students I've taught, I hope the best for them. Eventually I close my eyes and doze off, hoping for a better tomorrow.
