chapter Thirty
"Sybil, I'm not leaving you."
"Isssokay." Her words slurred together. "I know you wouldn't I'll leave me. Butisss cool, really. You'll rrrrescue me later, after you find the annnidote."
"No! I'm not leaving you until we find the antidote. I'm not letting you become a zombie." I was trembling as I said the words. "Now, drink some tea."Yes, Mmmommy," she replied. The corners of her lips turned up slightly. A smile of sorts, that drained the tension from me.
"Maybe you were right about Taft. We'll search his office next," I said.
I willed away the tears and helped her to her feet. I scooped up the Thermos and her purse, and together we exited the office. When we stepped into the corridor, I sensed movement down at the far end. Squinting into the darkness, I could see something was coming toward us.
"Amanda," Sybil wheezed.
Amanda Culpepper and her gang of ghouls were moving through the shadows, coming at us.
"Ignore them,"I said, recalling the last time I'd run into Amanda and her bunch. I knew they'd never bite me. I started walking toward the zombies.
"What are you doing?" Sybil cried, her tiny voice fearful.
"I'm going to Taft's office."
"But... what about them?"
"They won't bother us," I replied. My lips were tight. Sybil grabbed my shoulder and tried to pull me back. "Stop it!" I called, pushing her hand away. Realizing what I'd done, I turned to her, my voice softening. "Sybil, we may not have much time."
"But..." She pointed. Amanda was closing in on us. "What's she doing here, anyway?" she said in astonishment.
"Who cares?"
Amanda and the Zombiettes were now just twenty feet away.
"They're going to bite you," Sybil said,
Amanda's eyes were dead black stones fixed on me. The Zombiettes moaned as their lips parted, revealing teeth dripping saliva.
It's true, I thought. They do want to bite me
All of a sudden, the pieces fell into place. Amanda's presence made perfect sense. Of course they want to bite me now. They see themselves in me. I had become as repulsive as they had been when they were alive. I was now the kind of girl I had promised myself I would never be. Like them, I had become a monster. The thought of it made me sick to my stomach.
I knew what I had to do. I stepped forward.
"They're going to bite you," Sybil repeated, fear coloring her words.
"I guess they are." Hungry eyes zeroed in on me as the Zombiettes closed. "Let them," I said.
Isn't this what I'd been wanting all semester? Amanda's bite would welcome me at long last into the sorority of popular girls forever. I'd roam the halls with Amanda and her girl ghouls--an it-girl for all eternity. I deserved no better. I'd shunned my best friend, betrayed Baron and Milton--the three people who had been trying to make things right.
I took another step forward. "Get out of here, Sybil."
"Margot, don't, I'm almost a zombie anyway. Save yourself," Sybil called, dramatically flinging herself at Amanda and the Zombiettes.
"Get out of the way, Syb. I wont them to bite me." I jumped in front of her.
"What good would that do?" she said, her voice cracking.
"I deserve it. Now, run!"
"No, I deserve it. I should never have been jealous of you and Dirk." Sybil grabbed my arm and yanked me back.
I couldn't let the zombies bite my best friend. I had to do the right thing for once in my life. I shoved her out of the way, and she went spilling to the floor.
I faced Amanda. "Come on," I said. "Do it."
I thought about how life would be as a zombie, not caring about what I wore, or how fat I was, or what others thought of me. Not wondering if I should eat that extra snickerdoodle, or if a boy was ever going to ask me on a date. I knew I'd be giving up my individuality. But hadn't I given it up already by trying to be so much like Amanda?
"Wait a minute," Sybil said, getting up. "Margot, the girl in front of you is not a zombie."
"Grrrowl," Amanda snarled.
"Good. Great. Then you won't mind if she bites me."
"Zombies don't change their clothes." Sybil's accusing eyes moved to Amanda. "All semester long Amanda's been wearing a yellow sundress. Every single day the same yellow sundress. Tonight she's wearing a ball gown."
Sybil was right. I hadn't seen Amanda in the dress before.
"So?" I said dismissively. "Somebody changed her clothes. Maybe Mrs. Mars did it."
"No." Sybil snatched up the Thermos of tea and again jumped in front of me. "Amanda Culpepper, if you don't stop this charade I'm going to throw this Red Zinger and ruin your new dress."
"Grwl." Amanda continued toward us, but her growl had lost some of its sting.
Sybil unscrewed the cap and spilled a little of the red liquid out onto the floor for all to see. 'That's silk," she called, brandishing the Thermos. "You'll never get the stain out."
"Grr," Amanda growled weakly.
Sybil hauled back, ready to throw That was when, for the first time in seven weeks, Amanda Culpepper spoke:
"Don't... you ... dare!"
Just then, all the lights in the building came on.