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If you're reading this, you've probably already witnessed the zombie outbreak.
Students, red bandanas wrapped around their arms, roaming the streets with Nerf guns in their hands.
Packs of humans, armed to the teeth with marshmallows and socks, banding together for safety.
You may have not seen their counterparts, clad in red headbands, but as they grow in numbers, they will surely catch your eye.
For those who are perplexed or confused by this strange and sudden behavior, welcome to the Plague: the world of Humans versus Zombies.
HvZ is essentially the world's largest game of tag, and it is sweeping the country. It is played on more than 30 college campuses across the United States, and has been featured in national newspapers, magazines, and even "The Colbert Report."
In simple terms, the goal of the zombie team is to tag humans ¬¬- thus converting them to zombies - and the goal of the human team is to survive until the end of the game.
Although vulnerable, humans are not utterly defenseless. Nerf-style projectiles, balled-up socks, and marshmallows are fired at a zombie, thus "stunning" them for five minutes and giving the humans time to escape.
As HvZ has no central governing body, specific rules vary from school to school. Each game is run entirely by students, who modify the specifics to fit their needs.
Here at UMass, the game begins with five zombies, one from each of the major residential living areas.
Their numbers invariably swell, and life suddenly becomes tricky for the remaining humans.
"Tricky" is the key word as the game itself never stops. Dormitories, dining commons, and campus buildings are safety zones where one cannot be tagged, but there is no time limit the teams must adhere to..
For the duration of the game, the UMass campus is a perpetual battlefield. Players are chased, DCs are sacked, and ambushes are set up around every corner.
Whoever chooses to play must be prepared to be hunted in addition to sneaking, sprinting and fighting their way across campus.
In past games, the zombie outbreak was caused by careless scientists or doomsday cultists. This time around, the unscrupulous Lazarus Corporation has released a deadly virus into the population, which causes the infected dead to rise again and feast upon the living. The corporate theme is going to pervade the entire game, to which significant changes have been made since last year.
"It's going to be a lot more structured this time," said Devin Ashe, the game's chief coordinator.
Ashe is president of MassGames, the sponsoring body behind the UMass branch of HvZ.
"There are going to be missions just about every day, as well as smaller 'encounters,' and we are putting more of an emphasis on squad work."
Squads are groups of eight or more players who have banded together for the purpose of mutual survival. Squad leaders, recognized by their gold bandanas, are prime targets for hungry ghouls, but the risk comes with benefits. This year, squad leaders will receive advanced information on missions, encounters, and possibly hints as to the location of anti-zombification vaccines.
The biggest change during this installment is the timeline. Whereas both previous games lasted two full weeks, this game will be shorter, lasting from October 15 through October 25.
"People have told me that it gets old. They need a break," said Ashe.
Another aspect of HvZ which Ashe is trying to emphasize is charity work. In the past, the game has been put on hold to allow for canned food drives, where the team who donated the most canned food (which last spring totaled more than 2,000 pounds) received an in-game bonus or strategic edge.
During the next ten days, Ashe hopes to raise the bar, by co-hosting a Red Cross blood drive with similar incentives.
In the past, HvZ has occasionally run afoul of the university administrators.
While the core game of tag is fairly innocuous, problems arose when buildings such as LGRT and Franklin Dining Hall were surrounded and held for long periods of time.
While no actual property damage has ever been incurred, UMass is justifiably uncomfortable about students laying siege to any part of campus.
When asked about his standing with the administration, Ashe replied, "The University regards us as a harmless nuisance. There were a few incidences, but in general people play nice."
For those who are interested in playing but have not yet signed up, time is of the essence.
Registration is open until October 17 on the game's website, www.umasshvz.com. The site contains a wealth of information about the zombie struggle, such as complete rules, leader-boards, up-to-date team numbers, and discussion forums.
If you find yourself a bystander to a one-man ambush outside of a dorm or a massive clash between ghouls and men, don't be alarmed. The bullets may fly, but they are only made of foam.
If you are among the dwindling survivors, however, beware.
Keep your eyes open and your Maverick loaded, because you never know what may be lurking around the next corner. Good luck, and Godspeed.
Andrew Sheridan can be reached at asheridan@student.umass.edu.
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