Zombies invade MU campus

A writer shares his experience fighting zombies for a week.

By Eric Rees

Published Nov. 6, 2009

It's been a week of people sporting bandanas around their heads as zombies or stocking up on Nerf guns and socks to play as the humans. Humans vs. Zombies is basically a big game of tag for grown-ups with Nerf guns. Zombies can be stunned if they are hit with socks or Nerf darts. Three zombies started the "infection" and ate as many brains as they could to spread the infection to as many humans as possible. This is a diary of a week in a world with zombies.

Day 1: Wednesday, Oct. 28

I couldn't take it seriously. Zombies? Broken out at MU? I looked out my window and saw a few early birds wielding weapons. Tying a bandana around my arm to indicate I was human, I packed two socks for safety and headed out to class. Day one was relatively boring until later on. Walking back from our last class of the day, a friend of mine strayed from the group and the next I heard from him, the original zombie had infected him. I sprinted back to the safety of my dorm and stayed there the remainder of the night, still denying this "infection" was spreading.

Day 2: Thursday, Oct. 29

I packed my trusty Nerf Maverick pistol and went about my day. Walking with one of my "immune" friends (someone not playing the game), I was trailed by two undead, out to eat my brains. I tried to keep my cool while they split up and formed a plan of attack. Even though she was immune, my friend was nervous as I turned around to face them. One zombie sprinted across the street and I quickly turned and put him down with a single shot. Zombies wear headbands around their heads like us humans do around their arms, making them easy to identify. After the other zombie saw his comrade stunned, he quickly backed off and we made our way to class untouched.

Day 4: Saturday, Oct. 31

The infection is getting out of hand; even my short walk to Plaza 900 for food has become a struggle. I woke up this morning and headed to the tiger statue on Rollins to help out the resistance. It was deserted on the way to the rally point, but when I looked behind me an unarmed human was closing in on me. Junior Matt Fox greeted me as we started to walk to our destination, trading stories of survival back and forth.

"It was fine yesterday at our mission," Fox said. "But the zombies definitely have the numbers now."

His words sent chills down my spine. Little did I know I had just met the VIP I would soon be protecting, Matt Fox.

It was like something out of a movie watching reinforcements coming over the hill with their guns. Around 150 resistance members showed up ready to defend Fox, which would help to quell this infection. When the zombies came running, Fox took a small group and I tagged along.

We ducked in and out of parking garages until we found a suitable one to defend. I didn't see too many zombies, but I felt I accomplished something. The VIP transmitted a password that prevented more infectious chemicals from being pumped into the water supply. Even with the water safe, the infection is still spreading. I hope I make it to see the end of this.

Day 5: Sunday, Nov. 1

Holed up in Middlebush as it gets dark, we can see many of the undead wandering outside. They know we're here, but we can't do anything about it yet. We're on the move out of the safety of the building and out into the night. It's organized chaos as we make our way around campus, being careful not to let any corner go unchecked. Suddenly we hear the cackle of a zombie as he spots us and comes out from the bushes. We all rush to the nearest building to get to safety. I look back and see the horde coming as I trip. Time slows as my trusty Maverick slams against the ground, breaking its grip. I scramble to get back up and into the building. Tonight the objective is not completed, but hopefully we can still win this.

Day 7: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Tonight our numbers were too small when we went out searching for canisters of the viruses, and low and behold I got separated from the group. I'm stuck in a bush now with a camera I decided to bring along. To document what will be my last day, I guess. I can hear them running by the bushes, hunting down other humans, but I have no ammo left. We were so close. We were so close to turning this infection around but it just got out of hand. I'm leaving this diary here, hoping someone can find it and that it can be some kind of help, or information as to what went down. I'm making a run for it now. God help me.