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Nick looked out theto see a boatload of police cars at the school as they slowed down There were two a on?"

Tad shook his head "Not sure "

Casey’s face lit up "Does this mean no school? Oh thank God, I didn’t finish my social studies homework"

The police wouldn’t let them park in the school lot Instead, they waved them down the street and away from the crowd Tad went over to Royal and parked outside of Fifi Mahoney’s "I’ve got to knohat’s going on"

Nick concurred Leaving his backpack in the SUV, he walked over to the school with Tad and the girls

Many of the students were roups while reporters asked a few of them questions Brynna and Casey broke off to join their friends

Nick followed Tad as he headed over to Ms Pantall, as standing with three other teachers

"Hey, Ms P," Tad called, "what’s going on?"

She let out a slow breath before she answered "You won’t believe thisBrian Murrey tried to eat Scott Morgan"

Nick’s eyes widened at the unexpected explanation Had he heard that right?

Tad gaped "What?"

She nodded as she gestured toward the school’s entrance "They were in the cafeteria before the bell, acting completely normal, when all of a sudden Brian attacked hi at his skin like a rabid dog with a steak I’ve never seen anything like it in ross"

Tad passed a wide-eyed stare to Nick "Is Scott all right?"

In perfect ti to the question, Scott ca over him

Nick drifted away from them so that he could listen in on a few other conversations, including that of a fe on her cell phone There had to beto Tad

"I’ on What with the attacks last night and now thisHow many cities have six cannibal attacks in twelve hours?"

Well, it was the Big Easy where they had a slack attitude over s But even the stoutest New Orleanian usually drew the line at eating huain, Halloas just around the corner If not for the cops, hethe kid now He see But you should have seen the vic’s arm He tore it down to the bone and his class for it You think it could be so freaky happened, blame the Goth or the voudoun communities--’cause normal people could never be insane Maybe he should remind the reporter that the infamous serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer hadn’t been a voodoo worshiper either and Brian, until this, had been a normal jock like the rest of the team A little dumber than most, but he was a poster child for normality

Until he tried to eat Scott

Nick moved away fro Scott There was a white bandage over his arh it

Scott was sobbing "All I did was reach for his milk He could have just said no He didn’t have to eat ain I’onna lose my scholarship, I know it We’ll never make the state championship now Terry can’t throw for squat Man, the season’s over Why? Why did he do this?"

That seemed to be the question

"Hey, kid! Get back behind the barricade"

Nick nodded to the officer before he obeyed

"Hey, Nick!" Frank McDaniel ran up to him "Hear what happened? Brian ate Scott How cool is that? Man, I wish I’d seen it That’s what I get for being late to school I ree I don’t want no one co after sorounded er at McDonald’s Can you i a person?"

Frank cast a hungry look over to the group where Brynna and Casey were standing "Oh ets it and coet eaten by the head cheerleader"

Jason high-fived hin me up for that too I definitely want to be her chew toy"

Nick ignored his friends as he caught sight of his lab partner Madaug St Ja to himself as he stood off to the side of the aamer T-shirt on underneath his blue button-down that had been left open His dishwater blond hair was cropped short and he had large blue eyes that were always covered with thin-rih Nick knew the na," he, like most of the people in his class, usually pronounced it "Mad Dog" But that always irritated Madaug and right now he looked agitated enough

"Hey, dude You all right?"

Madaug froze at his question "Uh, yeah It’s terrible, isn’t it? "Epically grueso nodded "I can’t believe it I just can’t believe it"

Neither could Nick "Well, I guess the bright side is you don’t have to worry about Scott or Brian picking on you today in gyht?" Last tiy into them after he’d sweated all over the didn’t respond to his question as he continued to fret

Out of the crowd, one loud voice suddenly drowned the others out "I’ you people, it’s a zombie attack Zto the O to the M to the B to the I, E Zombie Open your eyes, people, before it’s too late and he eats someone else Any of you could be next on the Zoot a new ship in today!"

Nick knew that voice He just wasn’t used to hearing it this early in the day

Big Bubba Burdette, the owner of the Triple B store