Three days in zombified UConn

Day 1- From the moment I placed the green band around my wrist, the UConn campus shifted; it became a place dark and sinister. People around me looked different; now, I wasn’t sure who to trust, or even who was human.

                Paranoia was an understatement, and fear settled into the pit of my stomach as I realized the immediate danger I had put myself in. I knew the risk that I was taking when I entered this game, and I knew sooner or later they would come for me.

                I needed to plan very carefully and watch my every move to make sure I wouldn’t get caught. There was a rumor four to five zombies were already on the loose, and they had targets in mind. The part that scared me the most of “Humans vs. Zombies,” held by the Residence Hall Association last week, was the fact that the zombies could target specific people and come in hordes, OR find you alone.

                The game involved two teams, humans and zombies. Humans were given green wristbands, while zombies wore blood-red, representing the fluid they no longer needed to live. Student zombies could attack humans, removing them from the game, but the humans’ only defense were projectile socks.

                I remember earlier that day, trying to decide whether it was worth joining the games. My friends highly encouraged it and said that it would be loads of fun. I figured, “what was the worst that could happen?” but right after I signed my life away, I learned chaos had broken out in Global House.

                Walking to one of my meetings later that night, I ran into a friend who was still human. As I approached him, he reached into his pocket prepared to defend himself until I showed him my green band. I was glad to know that I wasn’t the only one made paranoid by the game. He informed me of some very grave news; most of Global House had fallen…including his roommate, and worse, his girlfriend.

                I was horrified at the thought that they were already planning strategies to take down the humans; I certainly didn’t expect the army of zombies to grow so quickly! At that time I was unarmed since I just joined the games; the only weapons I could use were on my feet. How was I supposed to get back to McMahon without firearms? We decided to partner up until we got back. Luckily, we made it, safe for the night.

Day 2- The conditions where growing worse. As I looked around the dining hall at McMahon, the number of zombies was really growing and humans’ share became smaller and smaller. The only places of refugee were academic buildings and my dorm room; in the dining halls, there was the chance of them following you out, then springing an attack.

                The day passed slowly, but I was constantly looking over my shoulder and checking people’s wrists to make sure I was safe. Due to a busy school day, nothing significant happened until later that night.

                The only way a zombie had access to your room was if you invited them in. As I was talking to a friend on the phone, another friend from down the hall waltzed into the room. To my horror, I realized her wrist band was red; she was infected! Thinking quickly, I pulled out my weapon (aka a sock) and shouted, “No funny business or else get socked!”

 She immediately backed away and attempted to make alliance. She swore she wouldn’t kill me in the game… but is it possible to make an alliance with a zombie?

Day 3- All I needed to do was survive this day and I would be free from the paranoia of constant zombie sightings. The morning was smooth sailing as I ran from one academic building to another; it was lunch when I had my first attack.

                Walking with friends to the dining hall, two girls that I knew looked at me funny; I then realized they weren’t human. They both lunged at me, but I was ready and quick and was able to stop them. Adrenaline rushed through me as I realized things were about to get real.

                Later in the day, as I rode the elevator down, it stopped on an odd floor and a zombie walked on- I was trapped in an elevator with a zombie. Done for, right? Thanks to quick thinking, I was able to hold him off. I must have taken him by surprise as he turned to me and said something that made my blood turn cold- “I’ll find you. I’ll get you later.”

                At the time I didn’t realize how serious he was, but I had just become a target.

                At night, my roommate and I decided to grab a quick snack before the dining hall closed. I armed myself again just in case and was still at my highest guard. We went in and out, but as we were leaving I saw him again. His back was towards me but as if by intuition he turned around and his eyes met with mine. I knew I was screwed. “You!” he shouted. And the chase began.

                I ran down the long hallway prepping myself as I ran with ammunition. The hallway ended and the only way out was outside. I turned to him. He began to taunt me saying that I would miss if I attempted to stop him. But I wasn’t going down without a fight! However, he was soon followed by three to four other zombies that surrounded me. The only way out was outside, so I ran for the door. I couldn’t believe that I had a horde after me, all from the Global House outbreak.