By Amanda Lawrence Auverigne

Stephanie and Amy ran across the crowded gymnasium and they stopped at the small porcelain water fountain.

"I'm so thirsty," Stephanie said grabbing the handle of the object.

A loud whirring sound poured from the machine just before a torrent of thick red fluid gushed up from the silver spout.

"Ew!" Stephanie cried removing her hand from the handle and backing away from the fountain.

"Ugh what is that?" Amy asked.

"It's my blood," A low voice said behind them.

Stephanie and Amy turned around.

A short blonde haired young man was standing behind them.

His skin was gray and lifeless.  His eyes were white.  He was dressed in a tattered gym uniform.  He looked at the two girls with an expression of hunger across his features.

"I'm a ghost. I was killed here three years ago," the blonde boy said in a low moan.

Stephanie moved forward.  She closed her hand into a fist and slammed her digit deep into the young man's midsection.

The blonde boy fell forward grabbing his abdomen with a low cry.

"Oooooof!"

"Stop trying to creep us out Bobby!" Stephanie shouted.

Bobby stood erect.  He looked at Stephanie with a pained expression across his features while rubbing his belly. 

After a few moments, Bobby lowered his hands from his abdomen with a light laugh before he spoke in a half gasp.

"You have to admit that it was a good one right?" Bobby asked.

"No," Stephanie responded flatly.

"Look at his skin," Amy said. "It looks all...dead."

"Thanks Amy," Bobby said proudly.

"Let me see," Amy said.

Amy moved closer to Bobby.  She raised her hand and poked at the blonde boy's cheek.

A small fleck of gray flesh fell from Bobby's jaw. 

The skin descended to the floor and the near colorless fragment of fake flesh landed on the gymnasium flooring.

"Ew, zombie flake!" Amy laughed.

"Yuck," Stephanie said. "Just gross."

Bobby laughed and said, "Yeah. Zombie and gross are kinda what I was going for with my look."

"Bobby, did you come to school dressed like that?" Amy asked.

"Naw," Bobby replied. "I have an audition after third period. And I thought I'd go into character."

Bobby raised his hands. He curved his fingers into claws and took a small step towards Stephanie with a loud growl.

Stephanie twisted her features into a menacing grimace while raising her fists in a defensive pose.

Bobby laughed. He stopped walking forward and lowered his hands quickly.

Stephanie lowered her fists slowly with her eyes still fixed on Bobby's ash-colored face.

"What movie is it?" Amy inquired.

"It's for a zombie flick that they're supposed to be filming downtown," Bobby replied. "It's an open casting call so you know I may have a shot at it."

"That is so cool!" Amy said. "I'm sure you'll get the part."

"Thanks Amy," Bobby said.

"Yeah whatever," Stephanie said nonchalantly. She rolled her eyes at Bobby before she turned around and moved to the water fountain.

"Uh Stephanie don't drink that!" Bobby warned.

Stephanie stopped in front of the fountain.  She turned around and looked at Bobby.

"Why not?" Stephanie demanded.

"It's just that," Bobby began.

"Look Bobby," Stephanie interrupted. "We get the joke. We know you put one of those red food coloring tabs in the spout or something to make the water look like blood when it comes out. Ooooooooh so scary."

Amy laughed.

"No," Bobby said with a shake of his head. "I didn't put anything in it."

"Come on!" Stephanie demanded. "It had to be you."

"Yeah Bobby," Amy said. "You're always doing pranks and stuff. Some of them are really funny."

"I'm telling you guys I didn't put that in the fountain," Bobby said pointing at the water fountain.

"What?" Amy and Stephanie asked in unison.

"Just look," Bobby said.

Stephanie and Amy turned around. They looked at the water fountain.

A pale half skinless hand jutted up from the basin of the fountain.

The severed limb wriggled its fingers just before it waved at the two young women.

Stephanie and Amy screamed before they turned around and ran away.

Bobby watched the two girls flee before he moved to the fountain.  He snatched the hand from the basin and stared at the wriggling object.

"That never gets old," Bobby chuckled.

Bobby slid the hand inside of his pocket and he walked away from the fountain with a cheerful whistle.