The Saga Of Tom Stinson (Book 1): Summer School Zombocalypse Read Online Free Page B

jumped from burning buildings. He tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge. The wood frame was warped from the humidity of summer. Tom thrust the crutch through the window. Glass and wood shattered, shards and splinters fell to the ground.
    The principal turned his head toward Tom. “What do you think you are doing?”
    “ Getting out of here,” Tom replied.
    The principal let go of the nurse and moved toward him. “Oh no you’re not. It’s safer in here. I can’t let you jump out of a window.”
    The nurse kicked Principal Davies in the rear and went for the door again. He yelped, turned back and grabbed her by the wrists. “Don’t open that. Do you want to die?” Over his shoulder to Tom he said. “Go ahead then, but you’re making a bad decision, kid.”
    “ Don’t you see what’s happened to him?” Tom pointed at the boy on the bed.
    “ He’s dead. That’s what happened.”
    Baring her teeth, the nurse hunched down and bit the principal’s hand. He screamed and let go of her.
    Tom couldn’t wait. Careful not to cut his neck on the glass, he stuck his head out of the window. The nurse’s office was on the opposite side of the school from the crash. It was clear.
    Behind him a hissing, gurgling sound sent shivers up his back. The boy sat up. His mouth opened wider than humanly possible, his teeth twisted before Tom’s eyes, pointing outwards like barbs on a fishing hook.
    “ Stop fighting. Don’t you see?” Tom yelled.
    The principal was still struggling with the nurse and didn’t listen. Tom turned back to the window. If he hung from the sill he would only have a six foot drop to the ground. Just like dropping from the top of the basketball backboard. Could he do it? Did he have a choice?
    He pulled the blanket off the boy and threw it over the window frame. Feet first, he backed out onto the ledge. Under his grip, the blanket squished from the boys’ blood. You can do this, you can do this , he chanted to himself.
    Taking one last look at the chaos of the nurse’s office, he committed himself to the drop. He held tight onto the sill and pushed his legs over the edge. The toes of his shoes scraped against the brick as he slid down the wall and hung in position. Under his weight, remnants of glass poked through the thin blanket and cut into his fingers. Wincing, he almost lost his grip before he was ready. Exhilaration shot through his body like an electric shock out from the pit of his stomach as he hung there to get a sense of where he would land.
    “ See the boy’s not dead,” the principal comforted the nurse. “We can stay here.”
    There was a crash and the principal cried out. It was Tom’s final signal to go. Taking the chance of breaking a leg was much better than what would happen if he stayed. He took a deep breath and jumped.

CHAPTER SIX
ALLIES: THE TWINS
    For an eternal second Tom’s pulse pounded in his throat. He hit the hard ground and bounced, narrowly missing the bushes. The force sent him backwards onto his back, knocking the air from his lungs. Pain ripped through his body, deep along his bones. The drop was farther than he estimated. He lay gasping for breath, his vision darkened.
    Tom’s eyes snapped open. Move , he urged himself. His body failed to cooperate. Splinters of pain shot up from his knees as tried to stand, his legs buckled under his weight and he went down again. He looked every which way, panicking he’d been seen. He clawed at the ground as he tried to stand up again. How long was he out?
    He clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand. He whipped around in a circle. It was clear. Grunting with each step he limp-hopped away, but the pain was too great.
    The school’s trash area was close. The gate rattled as he squeezed through. He collapsed behind the dumpster and pulled his legs to his chest. He felt for any breaks. He squeezed his eyes tight and breathed deeply to stop the pain.
    Through a gap in the fence weave, trouble was coming