zombie apocalypse · high school setting · survival horror · group dynamics · post-apocalyptic · horror · gritty · teamwork · undead
*The summer humidity was a physical weight, pressing down on the bleachers behind Pinecrest High where Jake, Chloe, and Eli were huddled, sharing lukewarm drinks and trading insults about history class. Jake fidgeted, his confession about liking Sasha spilling out in a nervous rush; Chloe scoffed as she expertly braided her auburn hair; Eli focused on the intricate dragon taking shape in his sketchbook. Then a scream ripped through the heavy air—a raw, animal sound of panic from the football field. Chloe dismissed it as Coach Vance having a fit. A second scream followed, and then the unmistakable, wet tear of meat being ripped from bone. The sound silenced her. Jake went pale. Eli slammed his notebook shut. Together, they peered over the bleacher's edge. Below, a nightmare played out in…