Final Votes
1-D, 2-B, 3-A
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Meredith placed her backpack onto the table next to her pile of supplies and removed all of the old schoolbooks that she used in high school several years ago. The books were replaced by survival tools: a matchbook, a box cutter, a flashlight, batteries, a 3-pound bag of rice, a small pot, a journal, and a first aid kit. The side pocket was equipped with a small thermos filled with water. Meredith put the backpack on and grabbed the aluminum bat propped up against the pantry door- she used to play softball before she quit it to have time to drink with her friends. She grabbed her car keys and ascended the stairs to see her mother for the last time.
The door to the room was locked; and for a good reason, too. Meredith could hear her mother moaning softly inside. Meredith knew something was wrong with her mom because she tried to scratch her and was unable to speak properly. Meredith cautiously opened the door and peered into the room. Although it was dark, she could see the silhouette of her mother; standing crookedly by the window, hands hanging limp at either side of her. Her mother slowly turned to face her, moaned and began to inch toward her.
"I'm sorry mommy, i have to leave you," Meredith said, holding back tears.
Meredith was about ready to give her mother a hug goodbye, but thought that it would not be a good idea. Meredith's mother stopped and gazed at her through cloudy white eyes, groaning quietly. Meredith slammed the door and locked it. She bolted down the steps, out the door, and started her mom's car. After glancing at the dwindling fuel and turning the lights on, she pulled out of her driveway.
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With no Soul- Book One
Chapter Two: Shady Chestnut
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Wayne put the pieces together in his mind. Mr. Lewis was not in an accident. Getting hit by a car does not turn your eyes white and cause you to sound like a dog. Wayne used to watch old films with his friends about zombie apocalypse horror where people would be chased by rotten, hungry zombies. Mr. Lewis seemed pretty hungry himself.
Wayne immediately sprang up- he remembered that in one movie he watched, one of the zombies crawled in through a window and he remembered that his mother usually left a window or two open to get fresh air inside the house during the late summer nights. Wayne dashed to the kitchen, where he closed a small window above the sink, and then a larger window in the dining room. Mr. Lewis was making his way around the house, slowly lumbering along the bushes that lined Wayne's yard.
Wayne had to see Meredith, to see if she was okay. His heart was pounding worriedly. Wayne grabbed his car keys, put a pair of boots on, and ran out the front door, carefully locking it on his way our to prevent Mr. Lewis from inviting himself inside. Wayne booted up his car and immediately started speeding down the street, careful to dodge the debris scattered on the street.
Out of the corner of his eye, Wayne saw figures along the sidewalk. He couldn't tell if they were dead or alive. He exited the housing development and got onto the highway, driving recklessly and furiously to get to Meredith as fast as he could. He dodged a vehicle driving in the wrong lane, silently swearing at the other driver, who was probably trying to get out of town fast. Wayne turned into Meredith's development, Shady Chestnut, and slowed down as he approached her home.
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Tears were streaming down Meredith's face as she pulled into her uncle's driveway. Her uncle lived in the same development as her boyfriend Wayne; Oak Peak. She fled to her Uncle because her uncle was a bit of a survivalist. Her uncle's basement was set up for surviving major disasters and the chaos surrounding her certainly qualified. Meredith planned on seeing her Uncle, dropping off her belongings, and going to see if Wayne was at his house, since he didn't answer any of the dozen contact attempts.
Meredith knocked firmly and quickly on her uncle's front door.
"Hello?" a shaky voice said.
"It's me uncle Frank," Meredith said quietly.
The lock clicked. The door opened, revealing Frank, clad in a sweaty grey tanktop and long black pants. His face was stubbly. He motioned to Meredith to come into the house. It was dimly lit by backup generators.
"How are you feeling? Where are your mother and father?" Frank said nervously, embracing his Niece.
"Um, well, daddy is still in Toronto for that research trip he was on and mom... mom is..." Meredith began weeping profusely.
"Honey what happened?" Frank cooed.
Meredith shook her head and wiped tears away from her cheeks.
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It was strange. Meredith's mother's vehicle was not in the driveway. Perhaps her mother was well again and was out trying to get groceries or something. Wayne stepped out of the car and strode up the steps to Meredith's door. He knocked and waited. He knocked again.
"Meredith," he called.
No answer. Wayne knocked again. He waited several minutes. He stared at the door. Suddenly, Wayne began to pound on the door, yelling and grunting out of fury. Where was Meredith? He tried to peer into the window by the door and he just saw a dark, empty living room.
Wayne turned to head back to his car but froze immediately when he saw a hulking zombie lurking by his car wearing a tattered flannel jacket and frayed jeans. The zombie slowly turned its head and fixed its gaze on Wayne.
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1. What should Wayne do?
A. Try to fight the Zombie.
B. Lure the zombie away from his car and then try to get in it.
C. Try to break into Meredith's house.
D. Run into the backyard.
2. What should Meredith do?
A. Drop off her supplies and head to Wayne's house.
B. Convince her uncle to come with her to Wayne's house.
C. Rest at her uncles house and recover from the traumatic experience.
D. Get gas for he mother's car.