Zombified (Episode 2): Yankee Heights Read Free Page A

movement. 
    He wandered the halls for a bit, peeking into dozens of empty classrooms.
    "Hello?"  He yelled out, cupping both hands around his mouth.  "Well ain't this a bitch."  On his way back to the cafeteria for another round of java, Matty bumped into Dan LaFleur, a fellow nerd and chairman of the computer gaming club: somebody who appreciated digital dictatorships.
    "Hey MJ, what are you up to?"  Dan asked.  He cracked every knuckle on both hands in quick, rapid-fire movements.
    "I'm trying to figure out what's going on around here?  I sat down in the library for an hour to play some conquests and all of a sudden it's a ghost town.  What gives?"
    "Dude, classes have been cancelled for the rest of the day!"  Dan snorted; it was his special version of chuckling or laughing or… something to do with amusement. 
    "Shit.  I could've stayed home and slept all day."  Matty threw his hands up. 
    "Hey, it's all good MJ."  Dan stepped in closer. "There's a big party tonight at the Phi Moon Beta house.  Everyone is invited!"
    "Are you shittin' me?"  Matty gawked.  "Everyone?"
    "Well, everyone who isn't in bed sick or, you know," Dan shook his limbs in mock seizure, "having a spasm."
    "At least there's something to do.  When does it start?"
    Dan shrugged.  "The guys at Phi Moon went to the liquor store.  They said it was going to start as soon as they got back."
    "Any desperate freshmen ladies or girls with terribly low self-esteem?"  Matty raised an eyebrow.  "For your sake, I mean."
    "Aw, real funny asshole!"  Dan gave Matty the finger.
    "I'm gonna get some grub, but I'll see you at the party," said Matty.  "You want anything special to drink?  I'm not a beer guy, so I'll stop and pick up something worth drinking."
    "I already have a couple pints of Jack."  Dan gave a thumbs-up.  "I'm heading there now, so I might be wasted by the time you show up."
    "Good idea: start earlier and increase your odds of finding a woman desperate or drunk enough to show you her tits."  Matty laughed and punched Dan in the arm.
    "Fuck you, MJ!  At least I've gotten laid in the last year!"
    Matty bowed.  "You take this round, Daniel-san, but I don't know if your hand counts." 
    "Har-har-har," mocked Dan.  "You're full of laughs today, funny guy."
    "Hey, it's a fucked up day filled with fucked up news," said Matty.  "I have to lighten the load somehow."
    They chatted about the latest games before heading out to the lot; Matty was parked on the opposite side of Dan.  Only a handful of cars remained when Matty got to the pick-up. 
    He climbed in and started… after a few tries, he started the engine.  Matty lit up a smoke and pulled out of the campus, heading for a local sandwich joint to pick-up an eighteen-inch torpedo stuffed with turkey, cheddar and real mayonnaise.
    There were only two other college-aged kids in the shop when Matty arrived.  A television off in the corner reported on the flu epidemic, escalating violence, economic woes, and host of other my-life-isn't-that-shitty type of stories, but nothing on the seizures.  Even the flu coverage was subdued; maybe it was because he had heard a dozen similar reports in the past, but Matty pushed it to the edges of his awareness.
    "Hey Matty," said the chocolate goddess behind the counter.  "The usual?"
    "Yup."  He dropped a ten on the counter and tried to not stare at her.  She has to be the sexiest creature on this good earth . 
    Someone in his mind took a snapshot of her smiling face—sparkling ivory teeth contrasting with rich brown skin—and kept it in a photo album; the imaginary album was filled with synaptic recordings of her voice, almond-shaped eyes, glossy lips, smooth arms, and oh-so delicious—
    "Do you want the change, Matty?"  She waved a hand in front of his eyes.  "You okay, honey?"
    "Hell no!" He pushed her hand away.  "You know I always tip, Kayla."
    "Sure," she said.  "Seriously, are you okay?  You zoned out or something."
    It's