The next morning, Isabel woke up feeling fresh. She had a few hours of sleep-enough to be prepared for school. The girl stood up and slipped on her uniform, placing herself in front of her dressing table. She brushed her hair, tying it in a loose bun with two strands of hair falling in front of her eyes. Eating her breakfast slowly, Isabel noticed that she had all the time that she needed. It was a great morning. Abnormally great for what she was used to living with. Even more surprising, she didn’t have to wake up Lucia, as she was completely awake and prepared for her Tuesday. 

“Good morning, Isabel.” Her sister greeted her warmly, rubbing her eyes as she yawned loudly. 

“Uh, ‘Morning, Lu...” The teenager responded in surprise, seemingly confused that Lucia was being nice to her. “Are mom and dad going to be home soon?” 

Lucia shrugged her shoulders, serving herself a bowl of cereal. 

“Maybe, maybe not.” 

That morning, Isabel had all her time to prepare for school, as she stepped into the school an hour later. Although the weather was very windy, it didn’t misplace her hair. Odd, very odd. The streets were completely empty, and she was the only one to be outside. Even more odd. Yet the girl didn’t question it, convinced that she was being paranoiac.  

When she reached her locker, neither Ginny nor Beth spoke to her. Every student would gaze around them in fear, but she didn’t know why. I’m just overthinking, she believed as she stepped to her Spanish course. This time, nobody stared at her, and everyone minded their own businesses. It looked like a calm Tuesday for now. Yet Isabel thought everyone simply didn’t sleep much. 

“Have you heard the rumors?” A girl next to her whispered. 

“What rumors?” Isabel inquired, tilting her head to the frown. 

The girl shifted to another classmate as our hero realized that she wasn’t talking to her. Embarrassed, she was ready to mutter an apology, but they weren’t on her cause anymore, focused on the whole deal that happened. 

“Yeah, that crazy man? He looks insane!” The other girl spoke in a shaky voice 

“He must be out of his mind to eat humans! Brainnssss!” The first girl commented, trying to chill the atmosphere, yet the other girl wasn’t feeling it. 

Gossips started to run around the class, speaking about a cannibal man who ate his wife, who became a zombie herself. Isabel thought it was crazy, but in some way, it made her worried. A zombie? She had to admit that today was quite confusing to her, but zombies would be the last thing she would’ve thought about. 

Then, heels knocked on the ground, interrupting the mess that the students made. They all shifted to their Spanish teacher, whose expression was stuck on one of worry, pity, anger, and anxiety. She dropped her manual on her desk and dusted her hands, a dry smile on her lips. Her grey hair was messy, as if she took five minutes to brush it, and he didn’t seem to sleep so much. 

“Kids. I’d like that if you could pay attention to the class, thank you very much.” The woman started as she forced a smile, saying the word “kids” with a wince on her face. “I understand that you guys were probably shocked by the news, but we have to speak about the reality of this situation.” 

It was certified; Isabel was oblivious of that news everyone feared. All she knew was that there was a cannibal man-but who knows, rumors often get modified with time. She could never be sure. They could’ve been reading an article in a magazine that said bullshit and believed it, too. No reason to freak out, right? Right. It’s hard not to when you hear about a case of cannibalism. The teenager gritted her teeth, paying attention to the course; she wanted to demystify what was true in all of this. 

Instead of speaking, Miss Carter strolled between the desks, heading to the windows as she closed them all, putting the blind over. She gazed over, as if she wanted to verify that nobody was there, but then she shifted the other way around, her heels knocking the ground as she stood in front of the blackboard. 

“Listen well. This is a real-life situation. This isn’t an exercise. That man truly exists, and we have seen proofs of it with videos and pictures. It’s normal to be scared; he’s in the village right next to us. If he keeps infecting other people and they keep doing so as well, slowly, the zombies will head to our school. Be overly cautious and never walk alone in case you get caught.  

Trust me, you don’t want to become a zombie. First, you’ll be out of your mind, and second, the government will end up destroying every zombie, so if you’re one, you’re going to get killed, whether you were a child or not. This is for our safety. We do not know how this man became green and began acting this way, but for now, I don’t know more than you guys do. Please remain calm and remain safe, because if we’re lucky enough, that can be for a single day, no more.” 

Isabel froze in shock, her jaw dropping as her body shook with fear. She couldn’t believe it. She was dreaming; this couldn’t be real. The girl pinched her forearm and slapped herself, but it was more real than real. This was a reality. Her heart stopped. Her wish.  “I wish that Ginny and Beth leave me alone, and that my life gets more eventful.” 

Eventful, of course. Yet she never believed that her wish could come to life, and mostly not this way! Her cheeks grew warmer as she balled her fists in anger. No, not this way! I just wanted to be left alone, not to cause an apocalypse! The teenager took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. Miss Carter said it might as well end tomorrow, so I mustn’t freak out. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she batted her eyelashes, her contrite hitting her. She wanted to speak, to tell her opinion, to tell the master of the universe or God knows who to cancel her wish. Yet she knew she couldn’t, because a wish was a wish, and her future would be like this from now on. 

“No...” The girl muttered to herself quietly, breathing shakily. 

The class turned to her, surprised that she had her words to say in it. Her eyes were all glazed over, as her bottom lip quivered in anticipation. Everyone stared at her, but she didn’t care. 

“Anything to say to the class, Miss Fletcher?” Her teacher questioned as she lowered her chin, pushing her glasses over the bridge of her nose. 

“That’s unfair.” Isabel simply said, shaking her head as she looked up, “I don’t deserve this-I mean we.” 

“It’s true, we don’t.” The professor agreed, inclining her head as she glanced at her student with a smile of admiration “But that’s life, Isabel, and we must live with it, understood?” 

“Understood.”  She spoke silently, looking down. 

But before she could pronounce another word, she heard screams in the corridor, along with a grunt that sent shivers along her spine. What was happening? Yet quickly and roughly, an arm pulled her down, as she class hid at the back of the class. It took her a moment to process it, and she felt like she was about to faint. A zombie, or maybe more. All of this because of a stupid wish... 

Isabel’s heartbeat quickened, and her breathing grew heavy, shutting her eyes. That can’t be happening, she tried to believe this when she watched Miss Carte dash to the door and lock it. Soon, the grunts came closer, and she could hear heavy footsteps echoing in the corridor. She stood closer to her classmates, searching for protection. 

“Remain silent, children. If we’re lucky enough, the zombie won’t even enter here...” The professor whispered silently, trying to calm down the ones who were freaking out. 

“What if it comes in the classroom?” Ginny asked with a shaky voice, her bottom lip quivering. 

Her enemy was shocked. Ginny Bailey expressed other expressions than pride, mockery, or joy. Tears would run down her cheeks as it gave her the face of a raccoon, yet the concerned one didn’t seem to care either. Her best friend hung onto her arm; her eyes wide with fear as she sniffled quietly. Miss Carter’s eyes flickered when she heard her student’s question, as she winced. 

“Unfortunately, that might be the last time you kids see me....” She admitted, her eyes holding a terror, that she tried hiding but that Isabel could see very well. “If ever that monster manages to come in, you can escape by the window. I’ll try to push it away while you run away from here...Please stay safe, kids, you’re our future.” 

The class remained silent, their expression changing to one of despair and confusion. Then a boy spoke, brushing his hand along his hair as he frowned, scrunching his nose. His voice was low and raspy as he cleared his throat, as if it was difficult for him to articulate those words. 

“Where are we supposed to go?” 

“Wherever your heart leads you to.” She remained simply as she shuddered when she heard grunts coming closer. 

The professor hesitated before leaning on the window, opening it so her students could escape. Yet none of them dared to make a move, gesturing for Miss Carter to pass. Isabel was worried and so she followed along, peeking her head outside, eager to leave this place. 

Then...BOOM! The door cracked open. In front of them stood a man with a green skin, with one removed eye, torn clothes, and a troubled expression. 

“Brainns!” The creature yelped as he stepped towards them slowly. 

The teenager froze in shock. She couldn’t believe that her wish was to make reality this way. In fact, she didn’t know that wishes could come to life with a simply shooting star. But now, that...That was her future. If she knew that wishes came to life, she would’ve never escalated the hill that evening. 

Students started yelling and jumping around, as some of them jumped by the window, running the fastest they could towards nowhere. They were all desperate, traumatized. Yet Isabel stood there, sitting on the edge of the window, torn with the feelings of giving her life or saving her teacher’s. No, she said we were the future...She told herself, watching Miss Carter failing to defend herself. But if I don’t do anything, my teacher will die... 

As if she read through her mind, the woman shifted to Isabel and her eyes widened, but then she yelled, the zombie getting closer and closer to her skin. 

“Run, Isabel, run! Don’t stay in here! Leave this place!” 

And so, the girl did, determined, running through the neighborhood so fast that she thought she was flying. From the corner of the eye, she saw the creature bite Miss Carter’s leg, then, her teacher falling to the floor, then, nothing else. Tears wanted to flow down her cheeks, yet she didn’t let them. Not knowing where to go, the girl ran to her house the fastest she could and locked the door behind her, panting heavily. 

Lucia was already there, on her phone, her expression stuck in one of fear and trauma. It made her remember Miss Carter’s when she begged her to leave, and that expression would be an image in her mind for a long, long time. And her last words troubled her...I could’ve done something...I’m such a wimp...She insulted herself mentally as she started to sob, not wiping her tears this time. Her sister rushed to her, worried to see her in such a state. 

“Isa? Are you fine?” 

“No! I let Miss Carter die!” The concerned one wept, feeling her younger sister’s arm wrapping around her neck. 

“It was her fate. Life goes on, and it’s that way. Now, what’s important is our safety...” Lucia retorted as she pulled Isabel closer, wanting to reassure her. 

“What about mom and dad?” The eldest mentioned, her eyes widening as she realized. 

Lucia removed her arm and looked down, her eyes fluttering. She looked like she was about to cry for a moment, but then she took a deep breath and looked at her sister, forcing a smile to be warmer. 

“We don’t know where we are...” She shrugged, her eyes betraying how terrified she was, shifting to Isabel “Wherever they are, we’ll try to find them, but for now, all that matters is that we survive. This situation is serious, sis...” 

“We can do it...” Isabel replied as she spoke to herself, not necessarily speaking to her sister. 

“That’s the spirit!”