23 Boys Volleyball

Sound started to push past the ringing in my ears and I instantly wished it hadn't. Groans, moans, and gunshots filled my muddy brain. Did I die? Am I a zombie now?

My body felt like it was floating on a warm air current, but I could feel my cheek against hard muscle. Who was carrying me and what the hell is up with the zombies? I swear, they're about to become zombie fodder when I'm done with their nasty corpses!

Sorry, I get cranky when I get woken with force. Loud noises aren't the ideal way to be awoken. My body felt heavy and my eyes just wouldn't open. Curiosity was eating at me as the noises started to get distant.

The arms pull me closer and I can hear them panting at the excursion. It must be tiring carrying someone for a long time.

"Eren? Please wake up. You're really scaring me." a voice whispers in my ear.

A familiar voice that would normally send shivers down my spine. I want to open my eyes and assure them that I'm alright, but my body just won't cooperate. Finally, I'm able to let out noise to let him know I'm here.

Pain lances through me, making me whimper when I'm jostled. What happened? Where am I? It feels like I'm looking through muddy water and nothing is clear. You know when you try to look through a dirty glass, but can't?

It's exactly like that and it is infuriating. The voice keeps whispering words in my ear, but I don't understand them. Open your eyes! My eyes snap open and instantly slam shut again at the bright light.

Gosh, way to sear my eyes first thing in the morning! When I try to sit up I cry out at the pain in my chest.

"Stop moving!"

Levi? Where are we?

Memories hit me one after the other. Fireworks and zombies and charging at the corporation. But I failed and now I'm a gamer once again. What's worse is now my friends are gamers too. Are they still alive?

My ribs are broken, my nose too, I think. I can feel the dried blood on my nose, but there is also a wet feeling on my temple. This blood is still slowly flowing from a wound in my head.

Must have happened when that bastard slammed my head into the ground. Maybe a rock or stick cut into it, but either way it hurts like a bitch. All around I feel like I got hit by a fucking train.

There's something important I'm forgetting. Why would Levi not save me from those two brutes? I was pushed out of a chopper and he stood right in front of me. Then, he disappeared, leaving me alone to die.

I squint my eyes open until I'm used to the bright lighting. Based on the sound of birds chirping and the canopy of trees, I'm guessing we're in a forest. The same forest she—

"J-jew..el." I mutter.

Where is she? The tattoo on my back burns just thinking about her. I need my knives!

I struggle in Levi's arms until he sits my feet on the dirt. The ground quakes and wobbles, or maybe that's just my useless legs. My head is throbbing and I can feel blood dripping down the side of my head. I must be a gruesome sight to behold with all my injuries.

My surroundings are blurry, but they clear after a few blinks and I was correct... We're in a forest. A familiar one with a big metal building near it. The sound of zombies shuffling around it makes me tense to run, but they don't notice us standing in the tree line.

A throat clearing has me turning around to see a familiar face. While Levi's face looked emotionless, I could see the concern and relief in his eyes. Then, it was gone, replaced with cold indifference. What is his—

"We still have a two hour walk until we reach the meet up spot. Better keep moving." he mutters, pushing past me and almost making me fall.

I feel like a baby fawn with my wobbly legs and slow pace. I've been through worse, I can do this. My feet carry me toward Levi, trying to keep up with his fast pace. How can a midget like him move that fucking fast, seriously?!

"S..Slow down!" I whisper-shout.

While my focus is on Levi a body tackled me to the forest floor. De ja vu, I've been in this place before. My body screams at the collision, but I kick the person off me. The older zombie lands with a thud and tries to clamber up. My hands frantically search my boots, but my knives aren't there. No gun either.

Fuck! I grab a large rock and sweep the zombie's legs out from under him. Before it can recover, I smash the rock down on its head, doing it over and over until all that's left is a bloody mess. It's disgusting blood warms my shaking hands.

I barely have time to stumble away from its corpse before the bile rises and I throw up. The blood on my hands and the rotting smell only adds to my nausea. The shaking in my body worsens and I have to lean on a tree to remain standing. Where is Levi?

"We don't have time for this!" Levi says exasperatedly.

I glare at him and his stupid impassive face, "Maybe is I had my weapons it wouldn't have taken so long. Where are my knives?" I say through gritted teeth.

He stomps up to me and, though I'm taller, I've never felt smaller. The anger and hatred in his eyes makes my head spin. Why is he so upset with me? I knew I was forgetting something...

"Oh, give you the knives so you can kill me like you did my sister! I don't think so. You're lucky I didn't leave you to die!"

"Well maybe you should've then! I don't need your help. I don't need anyone! Never have I met someone so self-centered and hateful. But those knives are mine and I'll kill you for them if you don't hand them over!" I yell, glaring daggers at his surprised face.

My face must have shown the truth of my words, because he throws my knives to the dirt in front of me. So that's what I forgot. Grisha must have told him I killed her, but left out the details. What is it with that man and assuming shit?!

Before I can change my mind, I pocket my knives and turn around.

"Where are you going?"

Without turning or stopping, I reply, "I'm going to kill the other gamers so you guys can get out of this."

He says nothing and doesn't stop me when I leave the cover of the trees. The strength in my legs returns and, even though I'm in pain, I have the strength to continue. I may not have my friends, but that's never stopped me from surviving and it isn't going to start now.

Looking up at the sky, I see drones spread out as far as the eye can see. There is a drone hovering above me as if mocking me. I flip it the bird and run, circling around the horde and heading into the town nearby.

There are a few zombies here and there in the town, but it seems otherwise empty, deserted. No sign of any living person. There are only so many places in this sector, so they have to be close by.

Shiganshina is about a two hour walk, so I'll head there. A big city, hardly looted. That's the perfect place to find survivors if it hasn't been overrun. While I'm walking I use my shirt to wipe the blood from my head and nose. I'm going to have to find medical supplies before I continue on.

I spot a small Walgreens on my way out of the town and hit it up. I'm going to have to set my nose or it will heal improperly. Taking a deep breath, I snap my nose back into place before I can sike myself out. The crunch makes me cringe but I feel instant relief.

Now on to finding some bandages, antibiotics, anything to tend to my wounds. My ribs are going to have to be wrapped to keep them from getting further damaged. My nose should be fine by itself and I need to put antibiotic cream on my head and wrap it up.

Easy, right? I find some antibiotic and smear it on the tender wound on my temple. Next, I lift my hair and wrap my hair line and temple. My hair flops back over the bandages and then I'm using the leftover wrap on my chest.

My ribs scream at the tight wrap, but I have little choice. I look like a cheap mummy on Halloween. Fantastic! Don't laugh at me, reader, I thought we were friends! The pout leaves my face when I hear the bell on the door jingle loudly.

I'm in the back of the store, so I'm hidden. I hear at least two sets of footsteps heading my way. I'm able to hide under the prescription counter when their footsteps walk past.

"Thought you said you saw someone head inside, Dumbass?" A voice growls out in an exasperated manner.

A squeaky voice answers in turn, "I did, Kags. They must be here! There's no back exit."

"Okay, you heard the shrimp. Spread out!"

Three more sets of feet scatter across the room. Shit! Five people, if my calculations are correct. I should have kept a closer eye on my surroundings. It's been years since I participated in the forest games, so I guess I'm a bit rusty.

A pair of quiet feet head my way and I see black boots before they start opening drawers near the counter. I peak out and see a short, skimpy ginger. That must be the person the guy called shrimp. I peak above the counter and see everyone busy walking around and looting.

Before the shrimp can turn around, I have my hands covering his mouth and my knife slashing across his throat. I ease his still body to the ground and push him under the counter with me. He'll turn soon, but I don't have a choice. More footsteps approach and stop where the ginger was.

"Where'd that idiot go?" a voice mumbles.

I see a man with black hair standing where he was. Can't think about the boy I killed, not right now. My movements are quick and silent when I put my hand over his mouth and wrap my other arm around his waist. He's taller than me and probably stronger, but the knife at his throat keeps him still.

Guns cock behind us, so I turn so his body is shielding mine. This shouldn't have been a hostage situation. I'm off my game today. A silver haired man tries to run to my hostage, but another black haired man stops him with an arm around his waist.

"Kageyama! Let him go! W-where's Hina?" The silver haired man yells with tears pouring from his eyes.

And it hurts. It hurts so much to see someone crying over something I did. They must all be close. Like I was with my group... Regret washes over me when I see the ginger still lying under the counter. Why hasn't he turned?

"Why were you guys following me?!" I yell, tightening my grip on the ravenette, Kageyama, I think.

The man holding the silver haired man steps forward with his hands up, "We saw that you were injured and wanted to make sure you were alright."

His words set in and I let the ravenette go. I.. I just killed an innocent without even questioning them...

"Now, answer Suga! Where is Shoyo?!" the ravenette yells, pulling me up by the front of my bloody shirt.

Before I can respond a ball of orange pulls me from his grip.

"That might be the first time you've said my first name, Bakayama! He didn't know, so leave him be. I'm fine!" the ginger, Hinata, says excitedly.

This might be the first time I've ever been glad that I made a mistake. I'm so glad I didn't actually give him a fatal wound. Though shorter than everyone in the room, he has a sway with his friends. They all drop their weapons and back down.

Who is this jumpy, excitable child? I rush to pull out some wrap and clean up his wound. The wound I caused... The ginger stands still while I put antibiotics and a wrap around his neck. The others press closer, but don't try to touch either of us.

Once I'm finished, Kageyama pulls the shrimp into a hug, which seems to surprise everyone including said shrimp. What, do they not usually hug?...

The silver haired man whispers in my ear, "This is the first time they've hugged... They never get along."

I snort and turn to the smiling man. The tension in the room has disappeared now that the orange fluff ball is okay. What a strange day... I swear I read a manga and the characters looked kinda like them...

"I'm sorry... I just heard you guys were searching for me and that usually means death in the games." I mutter with my head bowed.

Hinata jumps up to me and puts his arm around my waist.

"The only games we play are volleyball. Well, until this stupid zombie thing." Hinata giggles.

"What's your name, kiddo?" the silverette asks.

"I'm Eren. Eren Jaeger. And you guys?"

"Nice to meet you, Eren. I'm Suga, the man basically suffocating me is Daichi, you know Kageyama and Hinata, that French fry over there is Tsukishima but Hinata calls him Saltyshima, and his friend with the freckles is Yamaguchi."

"Are you guys it?"

"The rest of our group is safe. Hiding until this month is over." Suga says with a guarded look.

I get it. I'm a stranger that just tried to kill two of his friends. Now that I know their names, I don't think I have it in me to kill them. They remind me too much of the group I used to have. It made me miss them. I hope they're safe...

I stand and shoulder the duffle I found in the back, "Well, I better get going. Umm.. Good luck, I guess..." I mutter quietly.

"Good luck, Eren! Hope to see you once we all win and get out of here!" Hinata yells excitedly, jumping up and down.

Damn, that boy can jump! No wonder he's in volleyball with all these tall people. I smile at the bouncy ginger and walk out, leaving them to do as they please. On to Shiganshina, I guess.

I don't know how many days it's been since the games started, but I do know that Levi and I each killed one person. I hope the others haven't had to kill anyone. It's awful... Taking someone's life because YOU want to live. It's selfish and it makes you hate yourself.

To be honest, I hope I do meet those volleyball boys at the end of this. It would mean they won, they survived. They worked as a team, something I used to have. I wonder if the others all met up by now?

It's hard to believe that someone who had previously said they loved me would tell me they should have left me for dead. Something deep inside me cracked when he said that. He doesn't know me and Jewel's story, so who is he to make a judgment call like that!

The two hour went by quickly with my thoughts keeping me company. Like I suspected, Shiganshina was now teaming with the undead. But... A lot of zombie corpses covered the ground along one street. A path leading to survivors, possibly.

I followed it until I reached the market district where the undead ranks were thicker. Where did they go from here? It must have taken a tremendous force to clear so many zombies and yet, it's like they disappeared. I'm going to have to search house to house.

The first house has nearly a full pantry, so I decided to stay there for the night. Darkness is slowly settling and it's too dangerous to travel at night, especially in a horde like that. Grabbing a can of peaches, I sit down.

The couch I'm sitting on is comfy and warm, something I haven't experienced in awhile. Once the peaches are gone, I grab another can, this one being pineapple slices. What?! I like fruit, so what!

I know what you're gonna say, "Does this mean you're *drum roll* fruity?!" Haha very funny... The gay jokes never get old, even in the apocalypse. When I've had my fill of food I go upstairs and pick one of the empty rooms.

An actual bed! It's been awhile. I keep my clothes and shoes on and sit the duffel on the nightstand. Better to be prepared to run than be caught trying to tie your shoes. Sleep finds me quickly and pulls me into its familiar darkness.

A cloth clamping over my mouth and nose wakes me up. I'm a light sleeper. How did I not hear them?! I struggle in the person's grasp and try not to breath in the chemicals staining the cloth. Typical kidnapping scene, I'm telling you these guys have no tack.

My struggling is in vein as my body weakens and eventually falls limp against the bed. The dark silhouette of a person hovering over me is all my blurry eyes can see. Before the chemical can knock me out, I feel a prick in my neck.

Great, now there is a foreign drug in my system! Heat washes over me and then ice floods my veins, making me shiver. Pain slashed through my already wounded body and then everything fades away.