Humans vs Zombies

In November my college campus hosted a game of Humans vs Zombies. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's essentially a ten day long game of tag. The rules are as follows:

There are two groups of players, the humans and the zombies. All humans wear a bandanna on their arms and the zombies wear the bandannas on their legs. Zombies tag humans to 1) turn the humans in to zombies and 2) survive. Zombies need to 'feed' (aka tag) every 30 hours or so. If they don't they starve and die - thus they aren't in the game anymore. Humans can defend themselves from the zombie attackers with socks. Throwing a sock at a zombie (and hitting them) stuns the zombie for 15 minutes. Meaning, the zombie is neutralized and cannot tag anyone for 15 minutes. It does not mean that the zombie is frozen in place. The object of the game was to be one of the last remaining survivors of the zombie apocalypse. There were designated safe zones to help prevent the game from disrupting the learning environment. The library was off limits. Also all classroom buildings were safe. Any of the eating facilities were also safe. The dorms, however, were only safe zones during quiet hours. So on weekdays from 10pm - 10am and weekends from 11pm - 11am the dorms were safe.

When I heard about this game I knew I wanted in. In the days leading up to the game I was surveying the campus buildings and devising possible escape routes to help me in my quest for survival. From talking with friends I could tell that this game was going to be one of the most exciting events to come to campus in a long time. Everyone believed that they would survive the longest, but I was the only one who intended to win. The prize for winning the game was (so rumor had it) a set of zombie movies. I wasn't so much interested in the prize - though winning the dvds meant I didn't have to spend money on Julie's Christmas present this year. I was after the eternal glory. I longed for it. There was no way I would lose, not if I could help it.

Once the game started I made the effort to walk only during hours when the campus would be nearly deserted. I carried six pairs of balled up socks with me at all times. I was on edge and poised for attack no matter where I was. I never let my guard down, except once. It was that one time that was my downfall. I had many close encounters, but I'll share my three favorite escape/survival stories...

Number One:

I was walking across the quad from Stevenson to Buck. It's a straight line between the two buildings and I made sure to cut through the grass to take the most direct route. I kept my pace deliberate so as to not draw attention to myself. My bright orange bandanna was standing out against my black coat marking me as a human. The campus was empty for the most part, since everyone was still in class. About half way to Buck I notice a zombie walking parallel to my right. He was on the sidewalk in front of the Jocelyn Atrium. I got nervous - I was pretty sure he hadn't noticed my arm band since the bandanna was on my left arm and he was walking on my right. I panicked, though, because this was my first real zombie encounter. I started jogging, which immediately alerted him of my presence. Almost immediately he began chasing me. After a few feet I realized that there was no way I would be able to outrun him. I weighed my options and decided to stand my ground and fight. Right as he was closing in I turned around, socks brandished, and said "Come at me bro! I dare you!" He pulled up and hesitated. The surprisingly articulate monster asked "How many socks do you have?" to which I responded without missing a beat "More than enough to take care of you!" Yeah I'm pretty much an action movie hero. Anyway he started circling me real slow like. I pivoted and followed him with my socks ready so when he lunged to make the tag, I was ready. I nailed him on the first shot. There wasn't much time for celebration, though, because I was still out in the open and vulnerable. I picked up my sock and scurried over to Buck. Just as I was ascending the stairs I heard the pounding footsteps of a not-so-stealthy zombie who was attracted by the previous attack. We stared each other down, both of us waiting for the other to make a move. Walking slowly I backed my way into the building, socks at the ready. That zombie left disappointed and hungry...

Number Two:

I risked my safety by venturing out to attend a poetry event on campus. It was at this event that I discovered that my friend, and closest ally in the fight for survival, Brianna had fallen. She walked right into a trap set by our other friends Kylie and Lara. I was horrified and hurt to know that the number of humans were dwindling and that the zombies were closing in on me. All together there were four humans and one zombie (Brianna) at the event. When it was time to leave the humans (Me, Nick Nichols, Sarah Jasiak, and Nick Bruno) got together to plan our escape. Brianna wasn't registered online as a zombie yet so she was of no threat. The problem we were facing was much more threatening. It was well known that the Dugout was one of the most dangerous places on campus. Zombies were known to lurk in the Dugout, waiting for unsuspecting humans to walk by. The only way out of the Turfler room that night was to walk right into the hallway just outside the dugout. It was of no surprise, then, when the first person we see upon exiting the stairwell was a zombie. I knew the girl and we were in a stand off for a few seconds before I socked her. The noise of our altercation attracted the attention of four other zombies waiting in the dugout. It felt like slow motion when I saw them over my shoulder closing in on us. I shouted "Run!" and the four of us humans took off down the hall. Nick Nichols and I were in the lead. Nick Bruno broke off from the pack to head back to his dorm alone. Before we reached the breezeway I stopped. I asked Nick "What happened to the others?" He didn't know. Then, like the sad and pathetic wail of a dying kitten, we hear Sarah cry out "Noooooooooo!" Horrified I called out to her. Nick insisted that we should go on, that there was nothing we could do. I insisted we go back because at that point we didn't know what had happened to Nick Bruno. "Bros don't leave bros behind!" I said, to which Nick couldn't argue. We went back and socked the zombies that had surrounded Sarah. Once everyone was neutralized we learned of Nick Bruno's escape and decided it was alright to move on. I chose to hide out at Purple House until it was safe to return to the dorms.

Number 3:

This was by far my most daring and exciting escape. It was day 7 of the game and the number of humans and zombies alike were decreasing rapidly. I went to the school musical with my friend and roommate from freshman year, Hannah. She works for the theater and we make an effort to go see the shows together. Just as we settled into our seats I notice who is sitting directly behind me. Tim, a freshman friend, had been targeting me ever since he fell to the zombies on the second day. I turned around to confirm he was behind me but in doing so, he noticed me. First he threatened to tag me right where I was sitting. "You can't." I informed him, nervous. "This is a classroom building so it's a safe zone." He nodded in understanding and turned to talk to the friend sitting next to him. I sighed in relief and continued my conversation with Hannah until the house lights dimmed. Once it was dark I heard Tim whisper in my ear "I guess I'll see you after the show..." During the musical I kept thinking about ways to escape from the theater. The only way out, that I knew of, was through the front door. Everyone was going to leave at the end of the show so there was no chance of getting away. My other option would be to leave in the middle of the show, but I didn't want to do that. It wasn't until the show was about to wrap up that Hannah leans over to whisper something in my ear. Since the people on stage were singing, I couldn't really hear what she was saying. I managed to piece together the words I did hear, though. I knew that I would have to dive backstage and escape through the loading dock door. So when Hannah said "Go now." I didn't hesitate to sprint back stage. I bumped into the stage manager while my eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden darkness. I apologized by saying "Sorry bro, I'm running for my life." I think he was too shocked to really process what was happening. I followed Hannah's instructions and found the loading dock door. I bust through the door and into the night, sprinting my way across the quad and back to the memorial center.

Throughout the game I was talking trash via Facebook - it was more for fun than anything. I received a lot of positive feedback from my posts. Some people told me I made the game more exciting with my intensity. Others, namely the moderator of the game, saw it as prideful and arrogant. She took it upon herself to organize the zombie hoard against me. She put a bounty on my head - offering 60 hours of additional life to the zombie who managed to tag me. Under her leadership the undead fiends brought me down....