heavenward | n.scatorccio

The ladder down creaked ominously as they descended one by one. Coach Ben was slumped against Jeff and Travis, his weight dragging them down with every shaky step. His face was a pale, sweaty mask of pain, his breathing shallow but still going. Julianna stayed close behind, ready to catch him if he slipped. Not that she'd be able to hold him up for long. Her brother was sort of strong, but even he was straining under the effort.

When they reached the bottom, the hallway stretched out in front of them, dim and shadowy. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, some flickering as if debating whether to give out entirely. The group moved as quietly as they could, a shuffling, nervous herd, with Taissa leading the way.

The sports hall wasn't far, but it felt like miles. Every squeak of a sneaker or scuff of a shoe against the linoleum floor made Julianna's stomach tighten. She kept glancing over her shoulder, expecting to see one of the infected lurching out of the shadows.

When they finally pushed open the heavy double doors to the gym, the relief was palpable. The space was massive, its high ceilings and polished floors echoing faintly with every movement. For the first time, since she got in Jeff's car, Julianna felt like she could breathe.

"Okay," Taissa said, turning to face the group. Her voice was calm but firm, cutting through the nervous murmurs. "We need to figure out what we're doing. We can't just sit around waiting for... whatever this is to get worse."

"First, we need weapons," Natalie said, her tone clipped. She was already pacing along the rows of stacked chairs and folded bleachers, her sharp eyes scanning for anything useful. "If we're going to split up for supplies, we're not going unarmed."

"Split up?" Jackie's voice rose an octave, panic bleeding through her words. "Are you serious? That's how people die in these types of movies-"

"This isn't a movie," Natalie shot back, her voice hard. "And if we don't find food, water, and first aid supplies, at some point, we're all going to die."

"Nat's right," Shauna said quietly, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "We don't have a choice."

There was a beat of tense silence before everyone started moving, breaking into smaller groups to scavenge for makeshift weapons.

Julianna stuck close to Jeff, her hands fidgeting at her sides. She wasn't much of a fighter, she barely had enough coordination to catch a ball, let alone swing a bat at something's head, but she didn't want to leave her brother's side. Not now.

Jeff was rifling through a pile of old sports equipment, pulling out random items and tossing them aside. "Nope. Too flimsy. Too short. Way too heavy. What even is this?" he muttered, holding up something that looked like a medieval torture device.

"It's a lacrosse stick," Julianna said, unable to stop herself.

"Oh, well, obviously," Jeff replied, rolling his eyes. "You think it's good for bashing zombies?"

"I think it's good for losing a fight to a zombie," she shot back, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the tension in her chest.

"Fair." Jeff tossed the stick aside and picked up a broken chair leg, testing its weight in his hand. "Now this? This has potential."

Julianna sighed, glancing around the gym. The others were scattered across the room, their movements hurried but focused. Misty was organizing a pile of sharp-looking tools, shears, scissors, and even a rusted pocketknife, while Van and Taissa tried to tape shards of glass to the ends of broom handles. Natalie was in the far corner, swinging a hockey stick experimentally, her expression distant but determined.

Jackie, meanwhile, was standing near the center of the gym, talking animatedly to Shauna. Julianna couldn't hear what they were saying, but Jackie's voice was laced with a frantic energy that made Julianna's chest tighten. Jackie always seemed so put-together, so effortlessly in control, but now... now she looked just as lost as the rest of them.

"Hey, Jules," Jeff said, nudging her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she said automatically, even though she wasn't sure it was true. She looked down at the piece of metal she was holding, a bent and rusted pole from one of the old gym mats—and frowned. "Do you think this is... good enough?"

Jeff glanced at it, then shrugged. "Good enough for what? Zombie Whack-A-Mole?"

"Jeff."

"Sorry." He grinned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Look, it's better than nothing. Just, you know, don't stab yourself with it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she muttered, but her lips twitched upward despite herself.

Across the gym, Misty had now moved to be sorting through a first-aid kit she'd scavenged from the locker room, her face pinched in concentration. Julianna watched her for a moment, marveling at how calm she seemed.

"She's confusing," Jeff said, following her gaze.

"Huh?"

"Misty. I mean, she's—intense. But she kind of saved the day back there."

Julianna nodded, her fingers tightening around the metal pole. "Yeah. She's—brave."

"Brave?" Jeff snorted. "That's one word for it."

"I mean it," she said quietly. "Everyone always writes her off, but she's smart. She knows what she's doing."

Jeff raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "If you say so. Just don't let her talk you into drinking her 'medicinal concoctions' or whatever."

Julianna didn't respond, her eyes drifting back to the others. Natalie was still pacing, her fingers drumming against the hockey stick. Travis and Javi were sitting in the corner, their heads bowed as they whispered to each other. Shauna was tying strips of fabric together to make a crude sling for someone's future arm, her face tight with focus.

And Jackie was smiling now, though it looked more like a grimace. She was gesturing animatedly, trying to rally the group, to keep their spirits up.

"Hey." Jeff nudged her again, a habit of his, softer this time. "We'll figure it out, okay? One step at a time."

Julianna nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Yeah. One step at a time."

The gym was buzzing with quiet tension as everyone finished their makeshift weapons. The air felt heavy, charged with a mixture of fear and determination. No one said it out loud, but they all knew what was coming.

They were going to have to split up.

The large group divided themselves into pairs and trios. Arguments flared over who should go with whom, voices raised as suggestions were shot down or hastily reshuffled.

"I'm going with Shauna or Jeff," Jackie declared firmly, her arms crossed. She was trying to sound in charge, but her voice wavered slightly, betraying her fear.

"Fine," Natalie said curtly, gripping her hockey stick like a lifeline. "I'll go with someone who who doesn't mind going to the kitchens."

Travis bristled, opening his mouth to argue, but Javi pulled on his arm, silently shaking his head.

Julianna stood near the edge of the group, clutching her rusted pole and trying to blend in with the wall. She hated moments like this, moments where everyone else seemed to know exactly what to do, where to go, and who to trust.

And then, inevitably:

"What about Julianna?" Shauna asked, glancing toward her.

All eyes turned to her at once, and she felt her face flush.

"Uh, I'll just go with—" she started to say, but Misty Quigley cut in.

"I'll take her!" Misty chirped, smiling brightly. "We'll make a great team."

Julianna's stomach twisted. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but this wasn't it.

"Misty, are—?" Taissa began, but Misty waved her off.

"Of course I'm sure! I mean, nobody else picked her, and nobody picked me, so it's perfect!"

Julianna cringed inwardly at the phrasing but didn't protest. She wasn't exactly in a position to argue.

"Fine," Taissa said, her tone clipped. "Just be careful."

The school hallways were eerily quiet as Julianna and Misty moved through them, their footsteps muffled against the cracked linoleum. Misty hummed softly to herself, a cheerful, almost sing-song tune that set Julianna's nerves on edge.

"Maybe you shouldn't hum?" Julianna whispered, in a guessing tone, glancing over her shoulder. "It's... kind of loud. We don't want to attract any infected."

"Oh, right! Sorry," Misty said, not sounding sorry at all. She twirled her crowbar, a rusty, jagged thing she'd scavenged from the gym, with a little too much enthusiasm. "So, what's the plan? You're the planner, right?"

"Uh I wouldn't say that," Julianna mumbled, gripping her pole tighter. "I just thought we'd start with the infirmary. It's not far, and we might find—"

"Medical supplies! Smart thinking, Jules."

"It's uh, Julianna," she corrected quietly. No one really called her nicknames apart from family, and well, Jackie, but Julianna was too awkward to question her.

"Right, right," Misty said, waving her hand dismissively. "Anyway, I think this is gonna be fun. Like a scavenger hunt. Only, you know, with dead people that want to kill you."

Julianna didn't reply, focusing instead on the dimly lit hallway ahead. Her mind raced with possibilities, what they'd find in the infirmary, how they'd carry it all back, what she'd do if one of the infected appeared.

What she wouldn't do was panic. Not in front of Misty.

When they reached the infirmary, the door was already ajar, hanging crookedly on its hinges. The inside was a mess of overturned cabinets, shattered glass, and spilled bottles. A faint metallic smell hung in the air, making Julianna's stomach churn.

"Whoa," Misty whispered, stepping over the threshold. "This place is trashed."

"Yeah," Julianna said, her voice barely audible. She crouched down, carefully sifting through the debris. "Help me look for anything we can use. Bandages, alcohol, painkillers, anything."

"Got it!" Misty chirped, dropping to her knees with surprising enthusiasm.

For a while, they worked in silence, the only sounds the rustle of papers and the clink of bottles.

"Hey, look!" Misty held up a small bottle of rubbing alcohol like it was a trophy. "This'll be great for Coach's leg."

"Yeah," Julianna said, taking it and stuffing it into her backpack. "It'll help keep the wound from infecting, right? I'm not the best with medical supplies but i know some basics."

Misty beamed, clearly pleased with the praise.

Julianna found a roll of gauze under an overturned chair, along with a pair of surgical scissors. Her hands trembled as she picked them up, but she told herself it was just the adrenaline.

"So," Misty said after a moment, breaking the silence. "Why'd you let me drag you along? Most people don't, you know, like me."

Julianna hesitated, not sure how to answer. "I didn't really have a choice," she said finally, but her tone wasn't at all sharp.

"Hmm. Fair enough," Misty said, unbothered. She paused, then added, "You're not so bad, you know. Quiet, but nice. People should appreciate that more."

Julianna blinked, caught off guard by the comment. She didn't respond, focusing instead on digging through a drawer filled with broken thermometers and tangled wires.

"Well, I appreciate it," Misty continued. "I mean, you didn't have to stick with me. But you did. That's... cool."

"Thanks," Julianna muttered, her face heating up. She wasn't used to compliments, from anyone.

They were almost finished when the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Heavy, uneven footsteps.

Julianna froze, her heart leaping into her throat.

"Uh-oh," Misty whispered, gripping her crowbar.

The first infected staggered into view, its face pale and contorted, its eyes wide and glassy. It let out a guttural snarl, lurching toward them with alarming speed.

"Shit!" Julianna hissed, scrambling to her feet.

Misty swung her crowbar, landing a solid hit to the creature's head. It stumbled but didn't fall, its movements jerky and relentless.

"Jules! Now's the time to hit it from the other side!" Misty shouted, her voice high-pitched with panic, not for herself, but for Julianna, it was closest to her after all.

Julianna didn't think it all through for once, she just acted. Misty tossed her the crowbar. She caught it mid-air, her grip tightening, and without hesitation, hurled it at the infected's head. The impact was sickening, a wet squelch, as half of its skull caved in, leaving nothing but a bloody mess in its wake. The creature let out a horrible, gurgling sound before collapsing in a heap.

Julianna stood there, panting, her hands shaking.

"Whoa," Misty said, staring at the mess, almost in awe. "That was badass."

"You did most of the work," Julianna smiled slightly, but sincerely, slinging the backpack over her shoulder. Her knees felt like jelly, but she forced herself to move. "Let's go, we got what we came for."

"Right behind you, partner," Misty said, grinning as she followed her out.

Amidst all that was going on, Julianna couldn't help but feel somewhat capable. Not confident, exactly, but like maybe, just maybe, she could finally be good at fighting for herself one way or another.