“Run! The zombies are coming!” senior Fine Arts Club (FAC) president Cat Nguyen yelled into the intercom to signal the release of the zombies. This was part of a game called Zombie Tag, a popular annual event funding the club’s activities and donating to non-profits, Nguyen explained. This year, there was no doubt that the legacy of Zombie Tag had to be continued, especially since it’s one of the most anticipated events at Malden High.
This long-awaited game started with checking in. The players had to say their names and were then given a random number, which they taped onto their shirts.
Once all players were checked in, members of the FAC made an announcement listing the rules. The first rule was that players could not hide wherever because of previous incidents. Second was that zombies had to wear scarves around their necks, while “safe” players had to wear them on their wrists. The final rule was not to go on the first or fourth floor, or you would be eliminated for the round.
When the first round started, uninfected players were given a five-minute head start before the zombies were released. Each round, players created a catchphrase to introduce a new one. The crowd favorite was seemingly “One, Two, One, Two, Three Release ‘em,” which was a popular sound on TikTok.
Players ran, screamed, and acted hastily, s, attempting to be sneaky. Each player used a different creative strategy to avoid the zombies. Some moved in groups, or on their own; regardless of how they strategized, everyone had a good time.
“Since we limit people to the hallways, it was really interesting seeing where people would hide or the strategies they would use,” said junior Vice President Sophia Zhang.
As each round progressed, some players wished to “switch things up by becoming a zombie,” explained junior Jason Doan. Others wanted to continue as a survivor, running away, in hopes of getting candy. Junior David Yohan Kintu explained that being a zombie was a “surreal” experience and a “different type of rush.”
The event was a nice way “to spread some joy closer to Halloween” while “keeping it a tradition” that others can anticipate for upcoming years, remarked Zhang.
Doan described it as a moment he “won’t forget” because it was “chaotic, unserious, and fun.” The event made some consider how “the time spent with the ones closest” to an individual can impact how “much more enjoyable” an event can be, expressed Kintu.
Eventually, the last round ended with FAC faculty members handing out the final prizes, concluding the event on a positive note.
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