[ WP ] The zombie outbreak has started but instead of being spread through biting , it is spread by sneezing

Stacy quickly turned off the TV on her desk, shaken. She had it muted so the children could continue sleeping soundly on their mats, but the breaking news message was still clear. 
 
 She glanced at the calendar. It was March 27th, certainly too early for an April Fool ’ s joke, but what if the news station decided to run the story a little early? 
 
 “ The best plan of action is to lock your doors and remain inside until we receive word that the crisis has been adverted, ” the closed captions said. 
 
 Hesitantly, Stacy turned the television back on. The channel she was watching had gone to a commercial break, so she flipped to another local station. Images of sick people in the hospital flashed across the screen. People both young and old, bound to gurneys overflowing the halls with masks on their faces. *Just this morning everything was fine*, Stacy thought, *this can ’ t be real*. She couldn ’ t quite tell if they were alive or dead. 
 
 The children were beginning to stir from their naps, but Stacy continued to sit there, completely oblivious to her classroom. Suddenly, the door burst open and she had to cover her mouth with her hand to silence the screen that almost came out. Her close friend and fellow teacher stood at the door. 
 
 “ Have you seen the news? ” Harry asked, at a noise level one could consider rude if not given the current situation. 
 
 “ It has to be a joke, right? ” Stacy stammered. 
 
 Harry paused for a moment. “ My wife just called. It ’ s real. They ’ re shutting down access to the hospital and barricading the streets in and out of town. ” Harry ’ s wife was a surgeon at the hospital. Stacy had met her once at a Christmas party. She seemed nice enough, but had a very serious and professional demeanor. She didn ’ t seem like the kind of person to be a part of such a horrible prank. “ Hold on, she ’ s calling me again. ” He quickly left. 
 
 *No, this can ’ t be happening. This is like something out of a horror movie*, Stacy thought. She turned up the television a little. 
 
 A professionally dressed reporter filled her screen. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable standing so close to the hospital. “ We have received confirmation that the virus is quickly spreading through contact with bodily fluids. There are reports that the mucus spread by sneezing is the most contagious, but we haven ’ t received an official statement regarding that yet. Avoid anyone who may be sneezing and immediately vacate the vicinity. There have been reports of violent attacks from infected individuals. If possible, stay in your homes until further information is received. ” 
 
 A fair distance behind the reporter, Stacy could see a teenager make a quick, startled movement. *Was that a sneeze? * 
 
 Everything after that happened so quickly. Stacy could see that the figure in the background was no more than sixteen, but his body movements were that of someone much older and much stronger. He jumped higher than humanly possible, landing on the reporter ’ s back. He grabbed at her throat, and blood sprayed over the camera. The television went black. 
 
 Reeling, Stacy tried to process what had happened. After a minute, she remembered where she was. The children! She needed to protect them at all costs. She locked the door and started covering the windows, following the same emergency procedures she always followed during her weekly drills. 
 
 As she finished covering the windows, she turned back to her desk and heard the familiar rustling sound of the children waking. She supposed locking down her classroom woke them up. She decided to let them sleep a few more minutes, and went back to her desk, debating if she wanted to try turning the television to another station or not. 
 
 She opened her desk drawer and found her purse. She grabbed her cell phone and looked for her sister ’ s number. As she scrolled through her contacts list, she heard a quiet, but still audible sneeze. 
 
 - 
 
 As promised, Harry returned back to Stacy ’ s classroom. Halfway there, he stopped. He could hear screaming and crying from the room. He rushed the door, but it wouldn ’ t budge. Locked. *Dammit! * 
 
 Harry tried to kick the door in, without much luck. The school had recently seen significant security renovations, and the doors were no longer the flimsy wood paneling they used to be. Without warning, the paper covering the small window on the door fell down. He could see—but not believe—what was on the other side. A child, such a sweet, innocent child, was chewing on what used to be Stacy. Harry choked, making a foreign guttural noise. 
 
 The child slowly turned around, making eye contact with Harry. 

