A line of people loaded their Nerf cartridges with darts before streaming toward the stairs inside the Ecumenical Campus Ministries building Friday evening. Participants spent the time double-checking that their Nerf guns were loaded and their glow-in-the-dark flags were securely tied around their waists.

The soon-to-be zombie killers discussed their strategies and practiced their formations.

The ground floor of the ECM at Kansas University was the preparation zone at Friday’s Lawrence vs. Zombies event, where participants divided into two groups — zombies and zombie hunters — and battled it out. It was a mix of flag football and a Nerf war, one coordinator said.

“Lose that belt, you become a zombie,” said Jason Gevargizian, a KU student who helped organize the event. “Get shot as a zombie, you die.”

While zombie hunters crammed as much ammo as they could into their guns downstairs, a battle was waging upstairs. Once given the OK, the first group tore up the stairs and into the war zone. The humans were bunched up in the back of the darkened room hurtling bullets into the zombies, who were at a disadvantage.

The best they could do was hope the humans ran out of ammo before time was called.

“We have to rush them,” one frustrated zombie said.

After swarming the trigger-happy humans, the zombies retreated with their hands in the air. The lights came on, signaling the end of the round.

About 30 people participated in Friday’s event, which lasted from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Lawrence vs. Zombies will continue tomorrow at the ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. The event is open to anybody 14-years-old and up, and the cost of entry is $20. A discounted price is given to groups of seven or more.

Participants may bring their own Nerf guns, or either purchase or rent one on site.