I woke up early the next morning and joined Jim who was doing his morning routine of light weights without a word, just grunting since it was too early to form sentences. We then went to the loading area and after making sure it was clear started to run laps around the lot, needless to by the time we were done I was ready to puke up my liver. Jim just stood there with a pleased look on his face sweating through his shirt but barely breathing hard at all. I grunted at him now because I didn't have the breath to say anything, so we went in to wash up for breakfast. I was the last to show up but no one had yet to start eating so I sat down and closed my eyes, still exhausted from the workout. I didn't open them until I heard someone put a cup and plate in front of me, I opened them, zeroed in on my usual cup of coffee before taking a big gulp.
It wasn't until I finished the cup that I noticed that everyone was more quiet than usual this morning. I looked around to find the adults staring at Julia sitting next to me, I hadn't noticed her there before so I was deciding whether or not to look at her when she asked if I wanted a refill. Out of habit I nodded my head, and when she got up to get the coffee pot I then noticed why everyone else was staring at her. She didn't have on her usual multicolored rocker makeup or her fish net stockings and shorts which gave way to yoga pants under a miniskirt. Her sleeveless sweater with a hood was replaced with an outdoors vest, I did notice that she kept a necklace shaped like a raven and her combat boots, but this time they were tied up correctly.
As she poured me another cup of coffee she caught me staring, but waited until she sat back down before saying, "You told me I would have to put in the effort, and that is what I'm doing." Pleased with the reaction she started to eat without a care while the rest of us kept staring at her for a moment longer before they looked to me for an answer, but I just shrugged my shoulders and started eating. When we finished eating Julia started clearing the table and got ready to wash the dishes, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief of the change. I drew everyone's attention and I said, "I believe we need to put someone in charge of the group's safety and security. I nominate Jim for the role since he is the only one hear with actual training, and because he has a stake in keeping this place safe." After taking a moment to make sure everyone was in agreement I continued, "Since everyone is in agreement of his taking the position, I must add that staying fit as now more of a security concern then a health concern considering the world we now live in. It will then be his responsibility to make sure that we stay fit, also to train us in self-defense, both armed and unarmed combat, especially the children." The last part brought a round of questioning looks from the mother's, but they soon agreed to train the kids in unarmed combat as a supplement to P.E. It was also decided that we would turn the gardening center into a greenhouse. So we split up for the day, the children going with Isis for class while the rest of us went to the gardening center to build a growing bed for the plant's. We made it 3 feet high to give the roots space to grow above the concrete flooring, we still had a few pallets of dirty left but just put them off to the side. As the women started planted the seeds the guy's went to build a workout area, we decided to put it in the storage area for two reasons. The first being that if it rained for a few days the kid's wouldn't be able to use that as an excuse not to. Second, which is the real reason, is to keep the kids out of preying eyes of passerby's, and thru mutual agreement it was decided that when the children do go to play in the loading area the women would watch over them while the guys took positions on the roof with rifles.
We finished setting up the area in the back when they called us for lunch. Afterwards the kids were taken into the back for some light exercise, before being allowed to go watch TV. On the other hand Jim put the rest of through his full routine, I was able to keep up with most of it until he said to do a full set of laps around the lot but I had to tap out halfway through while Jim kept going strong. I went to take a shower while wondering if Jim was either a robot or on steroids to be able to keep going. I finished as the others started dragging themselves through the door. Apparently Jim wouldn't let the others quit early since they only did it once today and kept pushing them until they completed all the laps. But even he was trying to hide the stitch in his side as he walked after doing his full routine twice in one day. After showering everyone split up to do their own thing until dinner, I went to my room to take a nap which is what I think everyone did.
When we met up for dinner everyone looked refreshed even though nobody talked. It was then when I started to hear a banging sound, but I didn't pay it any mind until I heard yelling also. I bolted to the front entrance while Jim and frank went to the weapons cage, I reached it I noticing that there was still enough light out to see. "Whose there?" I yelled out, that's when I saw one of the kid's from the family that left a few days ago. "Please let us in, we have nowhere else to go and it's almost dark," said the kid. "Go to the wall around back, I'll let you in," I yelled back. Once they had gone I ran back through the store grabbing two ladders and headed to the lot with Jim in tow, a rifle in his hands. When we reached the wall I setup the first ladder on our side and then proceeded to setup the second on the other side so they could climb over. They were up and over the wall in no time, but I had to kick an infected that tried to follow them up the ladder, knocking others that were starting to gather back far enough for me to pull up the ladder. We brought the ladders and kid's inside while frank went to the roof to be a look out. The kids were dirty with who knows what, but that didn't stop the others from pelting them with questions. So I stepped between them and said, "They've have been through enough, let them wash up first and then rest a little." So Allison took the girl and her little brother to the shower, while Isis went to go keep an eye on the other children and Samantha went to get them a change of clothes.
Taking in this moment of solitude I pulled Julia and Jim to the side for a talk. When we were alone I said to them, "I brought the both of you to tell you that after they are done showering we have to check them for bites. Julia is a girl so she is the obvious choice to check them, but we need your backing Jim since your head of security, in case one or both happen to be infected." Jim gave a curt nod in agreement, Julia had a look of sympathy but nodded before steeling her nerves for the task ahead. So we waited outside of the showers until they finished, when they came out Allison went to guide the children inside but I stepped in front of her. "I know these kids have been through a lot, but Julia is going to check them over to make sure they are not infected," I said while holding up my hands. "I would have noticed if one of them bitten," she replied. "In your rush to help and comfort them you could have over looked it, she will do a thorough search," I finished as Samantha walked in. As Julia started to usher the kids back into the bathroom Samantha stepped forward but was stopped by her husband.
"Then why is it that you didn't have us check each other the first night we met," Allison said with a discouraging look. "Because there were too many people to check in a timely manner," I replied, "instead I slept in the office, so that I wouldn't wake up to having my throat torn out." Samantha and Allison looked at me with expressions of shock, while Jim's face remained blank. He knew what I did was the right thing, but he wouldn't verbally back me on it. After a while Julia came back out and said, "Their not bitten anywhere, I even checked in their hair and didn't see anything." As Samantha moved the kids to the table to get them something to eat I think she purposefully sat them in my seat still angry about what I did. I just shrugged my shoulders, took the gun from Jim, and went to relieve frank on the roof for dinner. The sun had long since set before Julia poked her head through the hatch. Without saying a word she took off a pack she had on and pulled out containers with food in them, setting them on the ground. I took a last look around before settling down to eat. While I ate she said, "I understand why we did it, and they should too. They shouldn't be angry with you because you are prepared to do what is needed to survive." I finished eating before replying, "The older they are the harder it will be for people to adapt to this new way of thinking. Everyone younger then I will find it easier to change with the times since they had less of an attachment to the old world."
It was too dark to make out Julia's face but her eyes had a look of empathy in them remembering the old world as if she didn't know whether she still hated it now that it was gone. She moved to sit next to me and rested her head on my shoulder, "I see that you kept the necklace, mind if I ask why?" I said. "My mother gave it to me when I was a kid, before all this happened I hated her for divorcing my dad," she replied, "I know it was because my father cheated on her, but I still didn't want them to separate. But after seeing those things tear at her in front of me I just can't bring myself to getting rid of it." Not knowing what else to do I put my arm around her in comfort, we stayed like that without say anything for a while before we decided it was time to go to bed. Once inside she gave me a kiss before slipping off to her own bed and I went to the office taking the rifle with me for assurance. I woke up the next morning alert, with the rifle ready, but everything was fine in the center so I hid the gun in my office and went to eat breakfast. The other's wouldn't even look my way, which didn't bother me, so Julia served me breakfast but went to eat with her sister at the other table leaving the empty spot next to me the other's left. By the time we finished breakfast no one had spoken, at least to me, but there were too many things to do before I left for me to cuddle their feelings. So after I finished eating I went to the lot to check out the vehicles that were left behind. There was a semi-truck which I was tempted to take, a Honda that was compact with great gas millage, a low riding pickup, an old school mustang, and then an old bronco. I was torn between the semi and the mustang, but I know that if I want to live I need something between the two, so I settled with the bronco. That's where Isis eventually found me as I was going over it to make sure everything worked.
"Lunch is ready," she said, "what are you doing out here?" "I'll head in now, I just wanted to see what we have," I replied after shutting off the truck. It had half a tank, but I wanted a full tank if I was going to leave them with fuel without leaving myself in a predicament when I go. So I decided to head out later for a fuel run, preferably on foot so I wouldn't attract too many infected. "You are not planning to leave, are you?" she asked bringing me back to the present with a hand on my shoulder as we headed inside, "we need you here, I know it's not right how we are treating you since the incident yesterday. But I know you only did it because you had our wellbeing in mind and I know the other's will come to the same conclusion, they just need time." She looked at me with pleading eyes, but I didn't say anything, I knew she was right about them coming around, I just didn't want to give her any hope that I would stay. The others left me alone as I ate and I didn't try to talk to anyone since I was trying to figure things out in my mind.
"If I make a right down the road there are two gas stations, but they are pretty far away," I thought to myself, "there is one gas station in the opposite direction, but its closer." When I finished eating I decide to go for the one that's closer since I was going on bike and there was no knowing who much it could carry. The largest bike I found was a mountain bike, but even then I could only tie six gas cans to it. Julia found me as I was stuffing a syphon and hose into a backpack. "What are you doing?" she asked with a look of worry on her face. "I'm going to get us gas just in case we need to use the cars about back or to power the generators should the power kick off," I answered nonchalantly. "I'll come with you, but let's leave it for tomorrow, we won't make it back before nightfall if we leave now," she said. I thought to myself that it would be safer to syphon with someone watching my back, and we'd be able to bring back more fuel too.
After thinking it over I agreed with her, by the time we finished getting everything together and putting it by the rear entrance, it was time for dinner. Everyone was more talkative, but continued to give me my space so I spent dinner in silence. When I finished eating I left to take a shower and go to bed. To my surprise Isis was there waiting for me in pink rabbit pajamas, causing me to turn my head so she wouldn't see the laughter on my face. Once I had regained my composure I noticed that even though the pajamas design was a bit childish, it did wonders at hugging the curves of her body, extenuating her petite body while flowing over it in delicate waves. "Is there something you wanted?" I asked her. "I want to know if you truly want to leave," she replied with a look of concern. I shook my head for saying, "Whether I stay or leave it is my decision and has nothing to do with anyone else." At that she stood up to stare me in the eye before saying "I want you to stay, and will do whatever it takes to make it happen," her face then softened, "and I know that Julia feel's the same way." When I didn't say anything or change the look of boredom that was on my face she left without another word. I just thought to myself, "Man, I seriously need to lock this door," before falling asleep.
I laid awake in bed the next morning wondering how many days it had been since I woke up to Zero-day, four, five? A moment later I dragged myself out of bed and started getting ready for the long day ahead. I wolfed down my breakfast and left to meet up with Julia who was waiting for my in the loading dock, I found her there with Frank and Jim. Apparently she convinced Frank to come with us while Jim was supposed to secure the gate once we left. The look I saw on Frank's face told me that he was kicking himself for agreeing to come, while Julia's face was steeled to the task at hand. I made sure we were all wearing boots, jeans, and biker jackets making it harder for the infected to bite through. Once Jim had unlocked the chain and opened the gate we rode our bikes through in silence as I took the lead. There were more infected starting to gather around the center but we made it by them without a problem since we just had to stay out of arm's reach. Two minutes later we reached the main road and I turned left to go to the nearest gas station.
Riding down the road was almost relaxing despite having to dodge the occasional infected or abandoned vehicle. After riding for the better part of an hour the gas station came into view causing us to stop short. Undoubtedly no one had looted the gas yet, because there were at least a dozen infected loitering around. "I'll draw their attention to me while the two of you sneak up behind them for the kill," I said and started riding down to the gas station. Stopped next to a lifted pickup and climbed into the bed before pulling out the two machete's I brought and started banging them on the roof of the cabin to get the infected's attention. It worked so well I also drew out the ones from inside the store and the surrounding woods bring the total number to over two dozen. I knew that I would have to fend for myself for a few minutes until they stopped coming out and crowded around the truck. But that doesn't mean I have to wait to be eaten, so I just started swinging and stabbing at any that got too close. When I was about halfway through a shadow fell over me, I turned around expecting to see clouds, and instead I came face to face with an infected. I was tired so I couldn't react before he threw himself on top of me, that's when I felt his teeth sink into my shoulder. I punched him and kept punching until he let go, where I kicked him off of me and proceeded to stab him before standing up stomping his head in.
Now wasn't the time to check the bite so I went back to killing the rest of the infected. When the last fell Julia jumped on me and threw her arms around my neck while crying into my ear, "When I saw the infected jump on you I thought you had dead." It took me a while to comfort her enough to get back to the task at hand. I had still yet to check the bite so I didn't tell her about it so she could concentrate on finishing up and getting back to the others. By the time we filled all the cans it was past noon, we wanted to make it back before nightfall so we loaded the truck up and filled its tank as well and headed back. We got to the center in ten minutes, after luring the infected away from the gate Jim opened it and we sped in so he could shut it before any could follow. As the others came out to help unload the truck I saw Frank whispering to Jim who then looked at me, I simply nodded at him, knowing that he needed to check me for bites. So we left the others to put everything away while I went to take a shower, Julia and Frank would also be checked, but I was of greater concern. After showering Jim looked me over, especially scrutinizing the bruise on my shoulder, I was lucky that the biker jacket I had on had shoulder pads or else I'd be a goner. Jim cleared me of bites but my shoulder still hurt like hell so I slip away to my room to get some sleep. I short while later I heard a knock at my door and sat up to Isis coming in, "They told me about what happened today, mind if I stay with you for a while," she said with a look of fear in her eyes. "She must be unnerved after hearing about what happened," I thought to myself. So I simply nodded and let her slip into bed next to me while holding me close with fresh tears in her eyes as she rested her head on my chest, and that is how we fell asleep.
I woke up the next morning with Isis still clinging to me, after separating myself from her I left to take a shower before breakfast. Upon sitting down at the table refreshed I noticed that the others were looking at me differently, my guess was that Frank had filled them in to what happened yesterday. I preferred the silent treatment they were giving me before because it made it easier to leave since they wouldn't try and stop me. Julia came out and took up her former seat next to me looking a little better after a goodnight's sleep, and we ate in peace. I could tell that this way of life was starting to wear them down so when we finished eating I went over to the TV's and started playing fighting a game. The kids where the first to come over to play, but slowly the others joined us, after a while it turn into a competition. I was knocked out half way through by Lilly, but I didn't mind since I was comfortable sitting back watching everyone enjoy themselves.
"Nice going there slick," Isis said as she sat next to me handing me a cup of coffee, she was one of the first to get eliminated. "Whatever could you mean," I replied taking a sip from the cup, "I just wanted to slack off and play a game. I didn't expect everyone to turn it into a competition." She just gave me one of looks that said, "Sure, and I'm the queen of England." But I just shrugged my shoulders at her and continued to watch the matches. The last round was between Lilly and Thomas causing a sex split in the cheers, there were more girls than boys so of course they made more noise, especially when Thomas finished her character off with a combo. Even though he won he still had a look of disappoint from all the booing he was getting. The kids stayed to play another round while the rest of us went to start getting dinner ready.
When everyone settled down to eat I could tell that they were feeling a lot better considering how much everyone was talking and smiling. At that moment the power went out causing a few people to scream, luckily the emergency lights came on and we were able to calm everyone down. I grabbed a flashlight and headed for the power box while Jim went to the roof. "I don't get what's wrong. The switches are all working there just no power coming in," Frank said to Julia and me after I had double checked it. "Let's head to the roof, maybe it's only a downed power line," I said leading the way. Unfortunately it wasn't, we couldn't even see the glow of light's from the city nearby, meaning this power outage was wide spread. We sat down at the table as the kids were put to bed. "How long will it take to fix?" asked Samantha. "This isn't like fixing a single downed line, the whole area is without power as far as the eye can see," I answered, "for all we know we may never be able to bring it back online." This brought a look of disappointment from the others, I had to do something before their morale takes too big of a hit. So I put on a confident smile and said, "We have plenty of fuel now so I think in the morning frank should connect a generator to the main box to keep the fridge going, and in the meantime the rest of us will look for alternate forms of energy. We just have to adjust our level of power consumption until this can be figured out." Once everyone was on the same page I left to go to sleep, Julia went to sleep with her sister since she is afraid of the dark. I found out just how little air circulation the room actually had without the A/C.