Chapter 24: 24
I placed the thought on a corner of my mind then I continued on to the supermarket. The supermarket is a medium-sized establishment that sells a variety of goods. It looks big because of the few fast food restaurants around it with a few other stalls. It has a parking area in front of it which directly leads to the highway.
I saw the store, but the roll-ups are down and zombies are banging against it. A few zombies running around noticed my presence and started running towards me. I pulled the AR-15 from my back and started aiming at them. Each shot goes straight to the head and the suppressor helps to reduce the noise I’m making. 17 zombies are now down on the ground and I pulled my blade for the few remaining in the parking area. I killed 3 more and then I also took care of the five in the roll-up.
“50… 56 if I include everything. There’s a lot here than my place.” I said in my head.
I walked near the roll-up and I shouted with a hush tone, “Allan! You there?!” I started to raise my voice to call him but I heard a voice from the roof.
“Holy Shit! Did you do that?” a man in a store uniform said.
“Can you let me in? I’m looking for someone, his name is Allan, a short guy, skinny, brown skin and short hair.” I said.
“I think I saw him below, go to the back, there’s a white door there. Wait for me.” He said.
“Why can’t you just-” I was about to tell him to open the roll-up here but he’s already gone.
I took a glance at the side of the store but there is still more roaming around. I once again pulled the AR-15 and started clearing the area. Luckily, most of the zombies are gathered in the People’s Park across the street.
I heard the magazine empty so I quickly reloaded as I waited at the door at the back of me open. I killed 16 more before I heard the click on the door.
“Quick!” I heard the same voice.
I ran inside the place and I heard the door being locked behind me.
*click*
I saw a few people still in their uniforms and two security guards along with a few other civilians are in the vicinity.
“Are you military?” one of the guards asked me.
“No, something different, do you guys know a guy named Allan here?” I said immediately.
“Sky?! Holy F.u.c.k! You came!” Allan said as he sprinted towards me. He’s carrying a metal bat and a duffel bag is slung in his shoulder. He gave me a strong handshake where it locks at the thumbs and we gave each other a quick hug.
“What happened here?” I said as I looked around. The supermarket is still full of supplies while a few lights are flickering on and off. All of them are seated in the food court where a variety of food items are sold by the stalls while some brought out mattresses from the store so they could lay down comfortably.
The guy with the uniform that I spoke to earlier walks up to me as he lights a cigarette.
“It started yesterday when the sirens rang. Most of those things came from the expressway and some came from the streets near the park. An ambulance crashed in the municipal hall next to the People’s Park and people gathered near the crash site. I was cleaning the roof when I saw everything go down.” He said as he puffs a smoke.
“I just saw the crowd immediately scattering when I spot a few guys wearing those EMT suits charging towards one of the crowds. I ran down and immediately closed the roll-ups in the supermarket, a few people managed to come inside before it fully closed and a few came from the back like you did.” He continued.
“So, is this all of you?” I said as I looked at 30-ish people inside.
“No, we’re actually a lot more yesterday…” Allan said.
“One of the guys that was bitten entered the backdoor where you came from. We focused on closing the other doors at the front but we forgot the one that is accessible for the delivery guys…” the man said.
“The bastard actually hid in one of the stalls and we found him too late, he killed and infected more than half of the people here before we managed to shoot him.” One of the female guards said.
“So where are the bodies?” I asked.
“We placed the guy and the other ones he killed in the freezer, what we didn’t know is that those who are also bitten could turn in an indeterminate amount of time. A few more people died and some of those bitten ran outside the door. We barricaded the door and stayed here ever since.” The man said.
“Sky, are we leaving? How about these people?” Allan said.
The group showed dissatisfaction when they heard I’ll be taking Allan with me so I fell into deep contemplation.
“Yeah, I’m thinking about that…” I said as I look at everyone.
Everyone’s focus is on me as I looked around.
“Here’s the truth, I only came here on a motorcycle. I parked it a block away from here and only me and Allan could obviously fit in it. I saw a few delivery trucks out the back and some other vehicles parked at the front. I could only do a few things for you so decide among yourselves.” I said.
“What are deciding on?” The man said.
“Staying here or going outside. If you stay here, you have a lot of supplies, you could barricade the door and wait it out. If you preserve your food and water, by the looks of this place, you could last maybe a few months depending on how many of you stays. But if you go out, I could help you get in the trucks to drive to a different location. You probably have the keys for it right?” I said as I looked at the man.
“Yes, I do have the keys, My name’s Juan by the way.” The man said.
“I’m Jenny, nice to meet you.” The female guard said.
I looked at the two and I nodded, “My name’s Sky, I cleared most of the zombies at the back and I have a few more mags for my gun. What’s your situation on weapons?” I looked at the guards.
“I have four more bullets for my revolver and…hey Bert! How about that shotgun?” Jenny looked at the other guard.
“None of your business, I’m f.u.c.k.i.n.g staying here and all of you should too. It’s a f.u.c.k.i.n.g mess outside and you want to go out? Heh! Better to just shoot yourself in the head.” Bert exclaimed.
“And who the f.u.c.k is this guy even anyway? He just came here and he acts like the freakin’ CO of this place! We’ve been doing good here since yesterday and we could do more for the days to come!” He continued as he stared at me dead in the eye.
The group is now just focused on us as the room started to fill with silence.
“Great, another idiot.” I said in my head.
“Bert! This guy is clearly here to help us and you’re acting unlike yourself.” Juan said.
“What is even out there? Those f.u.c.k.i.n.g DDR camps? F.u.c.k me! Give those a week at most and they’ll all turn to those meatbags soon!” he bellowed.
“But!” Jenny tried to interject.
“But f.u.c.k.i.n.g what! Look around! It’s the end of the f.u.c.k.i.n.g world! Know my f.u.c.k.i.n.g solution? This!”
*BOOM*
Before I could even react, he placed his gun to his mouth and he pulled the trigger. A loud noise assaulted our ears as his head blew to a million pieces.
His body flopped to the ground and the blood started to make a pool beneath his body.
“Damn.” I said to myself.
Everyone was stunned. Screams from some of the kids and Allan even vomited at the sight. Juan was clutching his ears and Jenny was sobbing in the ground next to Bert.
Allan helped Jenny in moving the body in the freezer.
I looked at my watch and it’s almost been an hour since I left the compound. I grabbed the radio from my belt and I tried to contact Oscar.
*bzzt*
“Oscar, copy?”
*bzzt*
*bbzt*
“Oscar, this is Sky, copy?”
*bzzt*
No response. “I should’ve brought the Satellite Phone.” I said to myself.