S.W. Tanpepper's GAMELAND: Season Two Omnibus (Episodes 9-11) Read Online Free PDF

Monica grudgingly inquired.
    â€œYeah, who, See?” parroted Sam.
    A baggie of little pink pills fell to the floor next to Siennah’s shoes and she bent to pick it up. Her blond ponytail brushed her laces.
    Zoners. That’s no surprise.
    They were the hottest new street drug. She’d first seen them last spring when Micah had brought some to one of their gaming sessions. He claimed that they sped up his reaction time, but Reggie had tried one and found he could barely remember anything while buzzing on them.
    As quietly as she could, Jessie lifted herself up off the floor. She perched on top of the toilet and tried to ignore the cramping in her belly.
    â€œI don’t feel anything yet, Siennah,” Monica complained.
    â€œIt’s only been a couple minutes, stupid,” Sam retorted. “You have to give it at least five minutes.”
    Jessie’s stomach gurgled so loudly that it echoed off the walls. The conversation immediately stopped.
    There was a moment of silence, then a flurry of whispers. “Who’s there?”
    Jessie didn’t answer.
    â€œI can see you,” Siennah said. “I know you’re in there. It’s cool. Come on out. There’s Zoners for everyone. I don’t mind sharing.”
    Another giggle.
    The stall door rattled. An eye appeared in the crack between it and the wall.
    â€œGo away,” Jessie said.
    The girls twittered with laughter. Jessie heard her name whispered.
    â€œWhatever you think you heard, Zombie Bitch, just forget it,” Siennah said, her voice low and threatening.
    â€œHey, ZB,” Sam shouted, “eat any brains lately?”
    â€œKill any fake zombies?”
    More laughter.
    â€œAren’t you supposed to, like, be in class?” Sam said. Or maybe it was Monica.
    â€œLeave me alone.”
    â€œYeah, don’t bother her. She’s busy pooping.”
    â€œ Eeewww! Zombies poop? I didn’t know that.”
    A hand swept over the top of the door. Before Jessie could react, Siennah’s fingers found her backpack and lifted it up and out of the stall. Jessie jumped up. “Give that back!”
    â€œ Give that back ,” the girls chorused.
    Jessie heard her tablet fall out. Twice in one day; the thing was definitely getting a workout. She feared they might stomp on it. The tablets weren’t easy to break, but they weren’t indestructible, either. And she didn’t have the money for a replacement.
    â€œOoh, what’s this?” Siennah sang. Her hand reappeared above the door waving Jessie’s inhaler. “ZB got asthma or something?” She gave it a squeeze and a fine mist fell into the stall.
    Jessie could feel the anger rising in her, could feel it burning inside her gut like lava, burning her throat, filling her head. The nausea was now gone, and so was the fatigue she’d felt earlier.
    â€œGive me that back,” she growled.
    The girls’ laughter crescendoed.
    She didn’t remember unlocking the door and stepping out. One second she was inside the stall, her body shaking with rage, the next she was facing the girls. She caught a fleeting glimpse of herself in the mirror over the sink and only later realized how utterly terrible she looked.
    Stop saying utterly!
    Her shirt was untucked and wet with throw up, her arms were shiny with spittle, her hair a tangled mess. There were dark circles beneath her eyes. But she didn’t see any of this. In that moment, all she saw were three girls whose necks needed breaking.
    She stepped toward them, her fists clenching and the muscles in her back singing with tension.
    She didn’t remember attacking them. Her senses returned to her only when she found herself lying face down on the floor, her cheek pressed cruelly into the cold, hard tile, the toe of a red sneaker an inch from her nose. She thought she’d been fast, but somehow the girls had been faster. And stronger.
    Zoners. That’s what they do