## The First Bell Tolls The virus struck during third-period biology. Evasta noticed it first, her sharp eyes tracking a pale student collapsing in the courtyard. Within minutes, the school’s intercom cut out mid-scream. The apocalypse had arrived. ------------------------------ ## Phase 1: The Broken Frontline The hallway erupted into chaos as infected students flooded the corridors. Evasta pulled the group into an empty classroom, locking the door just in time. Her expression remained cold and analytical, hiding the panic tightening in her chest. Towering over the group, Poppy stood guard by the window. Her long white hair caught the dim light as she scanned the courtyard below. She watched the infected tear through the schoolyard with a grim, silent intensity. ------------------------------ ## Phase 2: A Split in the Dark In the corner of the room, shadows seemed to swallow Mason. He leaned forward, his head bowed, paralyzed by a dark, overwhelming despair. The weight of the situation crushed his spirit entirely. Suddenly, a loud thud rattled the classroom door. Elio gasped, her eyes wide with terror as she backed away. Before anyone could scream, Anderson stepped forward. His face was masked in shadow, driven by absolute survival instincts. He raised a heavy black pistol, aiming it directly at the door, ready to pull the trigger on anyone who forced their way in. ------------------------------ ## Phase 3: The Weight of Reality At the back of the room, Noah stood frozen, struggling to process the sudden shift in reality. He gripped a notebook tightly, his mind racing with questions about the chaos unfolding outside. The familiar sounds of the school had been replaced by a chilling silence, broken only by the heavy bre