Chapter 1: Where we came from

Ethan Warren

May 18th 2022

1 day before outbreak

Minnesota: Armstrong HS

Season 1

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My name is Ethan Warren. I'm a senior at Armstrong high school in Minnesota. My family moved from the Dominican Republic when I was two years old. I don't look like my family members. I don't even look like a mix of my parents. Both of my parents have beautiful light golden-brown skin while I was cursed with as close to pale white as a Latino can get. I have a little sister named Addie, short for Adeline, she's a year younger then me. She's our parent's favorite, she appreciates where we come from, even though she doesn't remember being there.

I have mysterious blue eyes like my grandmother on my father's side. She says they're my most distinctive feature. But I think they just make me look like more of an outcast.

Unlike my sister, I prefer not to think about the past. The past has never done me any favors so why should I worship it? All it's ever done for me is remind me of how I messed up. That's why ever since I was little I fantasized about the end of the world. I would think of scenarios and act them out in my head. Now, I would think I was being irresponsible for wishing for such chaos, but hy younger self was none the wiser.

Unfortunately, I had to walk to school today because I missed my bus. It's not fun to walk six miles in the pouring rain. I most definitely will be late and my mother's going to be upset.

As I walk I glare at a kid being driven by his mother. His name's Calvin Dal Vain. A real pain in my ass. He flipped me off with an evil grin on his face as he drove past.

The walk was treacherous. As soon as I got inside I took my drenched coat off. I keep the sweater I have on underneath all morning as I wait for my body to heat back up. It's been raining for almost all of May, I hope it lets up by the time schools are out.

I wait out my morning classes until I hear the bell to dismiss us to lunch and I run out of my science classroom to meet Rudolph Alinsky at his locker. He's a short little ginger with a heart of gold, he tends to keep to himself but he's very reliable if you get to know him. He's been my friend for a long while now. I'll always trust him. I don't think there's anything he could do to take away that trust.

"Hay Rudi," I  greet as he grabs his lunchbox and locks the door.

"Hello Ethan. Are you sitting with us today or are you too cool to be seen with the sophomores?" I gave Rudolph a confused look as we made our way to the cafeteria.

"I never said I was. Of course I'm sitting with you guys."

"Well the last few days you haven't so I was just curious."

Rudi's always had a problem with thinking he's not good enough to be seen with me. He's two years younger than me and his Russian accent tends to slip out sometimes. He's bad at expressing his feelings but it's not his fault. It's better to just let him be then to force him to push himself.

We walk past a few groups of kids with their eyes glued to their phones. They all seem to be watching the news. Even the teachers seemed invested and I had no idea why.

"What's that about?" I ask Rudi as I point to a few of the kids.

"Haven't you heard? They killed a guy in Minneapolis. Shot him straight through the heart. He got back up and started biting people.

"Wow, and the school's ignored this? I haven't heard any of the teachers talking about it."

"They probably don't want to worry us. Anyways, go grab your lunch, I'll save you a seat," he smiled, his smile was warm and comforting, but it was sad. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, you could just tell.

I walk to the kitchen and got lunch. I went to find Rudi who's waving at me from the table. Edin Hubard, Aiden Palton, Dallen Farmshurth, and Ashton Leish are at the table with him. I smile and walk towards them.

"Hi Ethan, it's been awhile," Aiden greeted, taking his arm off Edin's shoulder and combing his hand through his short blonde hair.

"Yeah sorry, I had to study for finals."

"You should have invited Dallen, don't you guys have the same history class?" Rudi asked.

"It's okay, Rudolph. I prefer to prepare on my own time anyways," Dallen politely responded, taking a bite of his homemade meal his mom had made for him.

We all sat in silence for a while, slowly eating our food.

"Have you seen that video everyone's talking about?" Edin asked, I could tell they were a bit worried by the way their gray eyes stared into nothing.

"No but Rudi told me about it," I responded.

"The guy only died from being shot in the head," Aiden chimed in.

"That doesn't make any sense. Shouldn't he have died from the first bullet?"