Surviving the undead is much harder than you think — and it goes a little something like this:
1. Curiosity
When I saw "Humans Vs. Zombies" listed on the Honors Residential College schedule, my interest was piqued, to say the least, especially given that it lasts not for one day, but three, and not on a weekend, but on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A quick Google search revealed that apparently "Humans vs. Zombies" is a common tag-like game played on college campuses, usually with socks, marshmallows, bandanas, and Nerf guns. Confused and slightly worried, I continued to wonder what I was getting myself into.
2. Intimidation
Driven by curiosity, I started asking people about the game. Upperclassmen recounted stories of people camping by the football stadium, people skipping classes (and remember, this is the Honors College), sieges and ambushes and purges. I was surprised and intimidated by how seriously people take this seemingly casual game. The very long and detailed rulebook sent out by the Game Director only served to further complicate everything, detailing the game's many complex parts with more terminology: supply drops, heroes, alphas, and stuns.
3. Excitement
During the mandatory players' meeting, I could feel the buzz of energy and excitement pulsing through the room, even during the reiteration of the rules. The heroes (special human characters) as well as covert alpha zombies (the game's initial zombies) put on a hilarious performance complete with costumes, accents, and even a slap to the face in order to introduce everyone to the basic storyline. We left the meeting with our neon bandanas, excited and ready to participate in the coming war between the living and the undead and between the different human factions, the Capfields and McSlys.
4. Preparation
On the last day of calm before the storm, my roommate and I decided to develop our strategy for the next three days. We examined a campus map to plan alternate routes to class, labeled mints with a "W" for our weaponry, and ate a last peaceful meal in the dining hall. I also packed several peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, some beef jerky, and fruit snacks for provisions. I then loaded all the essentials for three days in my backpack and enjoyed one last blissful night of uninterrupted sleep.
5. Anticipation/Dread
An hour before the official start time of "Humans Vs. Zombies," I resolutely tied my neon green bandana on my wrist marking me as a human. The dining hall was filled with other fellow humans (and secret zombies) quickly eating breakfast, constantly checking their watches. Adrenaline was coursing through the air as everyone hurried into a safe zone to begin the game.
6. Adrenaline
Every step out of a safe zone was a potential opportunity for a zombie attack. While walking to classes, we were always on high alert, ready to run or fight at the nearest sight of an undead foe, marked only by a neon bandana tied to their heads. Every five seconds, we checked over our shoulders, and at the sight of a zombie (even in a safe zone), my heart would race, and adrenaline would course through my veins as I tried to escape the danger.
7. Fatigue
After over 24 hours of being on run, I was tired of checking over my shoulder, of spending hours upon end in academic buildings, of only eating cereal, pizza, and sandwiches. Most of us were also physically exhausted from lack of restful sleep, the physical activity, and all the mental stress. Most humans had already been turned to zombies, and I have to admit, the idea of being free to resume my daily life without having to avoid zombies was very appealing. Our lives would have been much easier if we had just given up and stopped caring about staying alive. However, the few humans that remained pressed on.
8. Pure Terror
Late into the second night, there was a purge, which is a two-hour time period when there are absolutely no safe zones. Every human fled and hid, and all the zombies went patrolling and on a manhunt. Out of nowhere, my roommate and I hear zombies in the stairwell, and we ran back to our hiding place, slammed the door, and remained pressed against the door, hiding in the shadows. I could feel nothing else besides pure fear as we resisted in silent agony the zombies' attempts to open the door. Eventually, they gave up, assuming the room was empty, but even then, my heart continued to pound long after the threat had passed.
9. Resolve
On the morning of the third day, all the human survivors of the past 48 hours were absolutely determined to remain alive until the ceasefire. Reinvigorated by the duty to our comrades, we faced yet another day against the zombie hoard. Nothing would stop us from surviving until the endgame, and I counted the minutes until the ceasefire. At 5:30 p.m., I stumbled back to the dorm, absolutely exhausted, very relieved, and a little proud to have survived for so long.
10. Community
For the last hurrah, the humans faced the zombies in the final battle (in which the humans failed to end the zombie apocalypse), and we then recognized the very best in an epic game of "Humans Vs. Zombies" together. After all, the whole purpose of the game was to have some fun, enjoy a little competition, have an excuse to run around campus with lightsabers, and celebrate fellowship as the scholarly, crazy, and very genuine community that we are. Afterward, we dunked the beloved (and occasionally hated) Game Director in the fountain, so what can get much better than that?
