The Choice

When the zombies attacked, I—already one of countless bullied students—was naturally pushed out by my tormentors to face the zombie horde.

But did they really think I was still the same pushover as before? My life was about to become mine to control.

"You—what are you waiting for? Get out there!"

A girl with a long face and beady eyes slapped my cheek with her hoodie sleeve—the one covered in BTS stickers and TikTok star doodles.

Her eyes brimmed with impatience, her thin eyebrows furrowing dramatically.

Behind her, other students started chiming in.

"Come on, Jessica, if you can't even push her out, what good are you?"

"Weren't you so tough before? Hurry up! You want all of us to die with her?"

"If you can't handle her, then you can be bait together!"

One by one, the classmates surrounded Jessica Martinez, hands reaching out threateningly.

Seeing this, Jessica bit her thin lips beneath her long face and, catching me off guard, shoved me straight out the window.

"Lily, sorry, but for my safety, you're going to have to scout ahead."

I tumbled out before I could react. For the first time, my usually downcast head lifted. My eyes widened like never before. I had to remember every single one of these faces.

I swore—if there was a next life, every single one of these people, without exception, would pay.

We all put our pants on one leg at a time. Who the hell did they think they were?

But it was over. Forget that I was on the third floor—those dozen zombies roaring nearby wouldn't leave much of me intact.

In that moment, my short life flashed before my eyes.

As a toddler, the neighbor kid stealing my pacifier.

In third grade, a bigger kid taking my lunch money.

In high school, being looked down on by everyone.

Was this really my entire life? I refused to accept it.

Wait—my body wasn't falling. What was happening?