A/N well here is my second chapter please read and review

© Charlie Higson

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Chapter Two.

Jamie ascended the stairs leading to the concourse for the first time in a week. He never liked to leave the lower levels of the school; in fact he never liked leaving his room/personal gym in his former maths room. The only reason he does obscure from the room is to use the toilet. Meals were usually brought down to him but he preferred to stick to his own – and rather horrible, protein shakes and bars.

When the Muscular boy and the petite girl entered the crowded foyer there was a cheer of greeting. A few people walked up and gave him brief hugs. "You still alive then?" Asked Carly after a firm hug. After Carly's blonde hair had disappeared from his vision he replied

"Not for long." He joked giving her a reassuring smile.

"Looks like you have been abusing the roids." Stated long haired David.

"Yeah." Jamie replied giving his biceps a quick flex. "Got a little dealer who supplies them to me on a weekly basis." This got a laugh out of a few of the foyer's occupants the rest seemed to be fighting back tears. "I was told we were ready to leave." Jamie continued after the hiccups of laughter had quickly died.

"Yeah we are." Said a tall boy with brown curly hair. "Grab your stuff boys, the sooner we get started the sooner we will get back."

"Excuse me." Said a girl with mock anger. "Boys. It is more than boys that will be going you sexist prick."

"Sorry" replied the curly haired boy "Boys grab your bags and weapons, Girls grab your purses and nail files and let's get going. Better?" he addressed the question to the girl.

"Slightly." Replied the Girl with a wide grin.

"Good then will all the people who are coming say your goodbyes and let's go."

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After some tearful goodbyes in which Jamie did not participate in there was a small group of children making there way across the school grounds. Along with Jamie there were some of his old class mates from before the sickness. David Long was the boy with the long black hair which usually fell across his eyes. The tall curly haired boy, his name was Blair Gold. John Little was a small but athletic boy who was lighting fast and deadly with a weapon, he was also the life of the party so to speak always throwing out ridiculously stupid puns, jokes and hypothetical situations that always kept everyone else in good spirits. Sean Blues was fairly tall and well built, always good to have in a dangerous situation. A black boy with spiky black hair was carrying a large axe that seemed to be way to big for him to use was also a valuable member of the group. His name was Jojo Kerr. Ben Ince was the smallest of the group- and in Jamie's opinion the most annoying. His brown hair puffed out in all directions making his head look three times the size of normal, his face was almost completely covered in angry red spots, if they had not known the boy, he could have been mistaken for an adult his skin looked so horrible. There was also a few other boys who were younger than the rest but by no means less valuable. Two Girls completed the group, Amie Kay and Rebecca Mount; these two girls were extremely pretty. Before the sickness they were inseparable. Both girls were extremely popular with the boys, their good looks and skimpy clothing always kept a small group of them following them around. After the sickness hit however there true colours were shown, they proved that they could handle themselves despite there misleading appearance and had always volunteered to help in these little excursions out of the safety of the school.

The small group of thirteen (unlucky thirteen) made their way along the curving path leading to the locked green gate. The grass at either side of the dirty stone path was terribly overgrown. The sun was beating down ferociously.

The group came to a small set of stairs and then to the large green gate with three padlocks keeping it firmly locked.

The school was a fortress; its grounds were completely covered on all sides by large semi spiked green fences. When the children had first arrived they had spent a lot of time and effort using tools obtained from the design and technology department to sharpen the tops of the fences even more, they were now nearly impossible to climb by even a healthy person without obtaining a serious injury never mind some diseased adults who had trouble walking in a straight line. David pulled out the set of keys from one of his bags and began to work away at the padlocks. The gate swung open and they all bundled through. Now they were exposed, no longer protected by the safety the gates had provided them. The group waited as the padlocks were again locked behind them.

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A/N I like to keep my chapters short, I believe it is better to have many short chapter than a little of the five ten thousand plus word ones. When I read fan fiction story's it is hard to keep concentrated just scrolling down something that just seems to keep going on and on.

Well anyway there is my second chapter, the action will start next one I promise. This chapter just was introducing the group, a little description about the safety features of there hideout and to create suspense as they are now out in the open completely exposed. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review.

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