Chapter 26: 26
I placed my M9 which has the empty clip to my bag and replaced it with the Glock 21.
“Clean that first before you wear it okay? If some of that blood gets into you, you’re done.” I said.
I turned the lights on at the bank and found another body inside. Its head has a bullet sized hole and his legs are chewed off. I can now see the floor of the bank where it has a trail of blood that shows that the first guy dragged this guy here to hole up. He killed this guy here but he was also bitten by those things. I took the same items from this guy although this guy’s pistol is not here, it only has the extra magazine.
Allan took both of the vests and he started to wash it in one of the bathrooms, I told him the proper way to do it and he complied. I gave them the boots from the guards but it could only fit Juan, I then packed the extra to my bag. The two vests were now worn by Allan and Jenny and it fits them perfectly. I took a look below them then I facepalmed. Allan is still wearing shorts!
“Allan, you have the vest and boots from the store but you still want to wear shorts?” I said.
“Come on man! Pants are the bane of my existence! You know I don’t like being restricted!” he said with confidence.
“How about jogging pants at least? They’re super comfortable, I think you don’t want to end up like that other guy.” I said as I pointed to the guard with a mangled leg.
He gulped and he once again headed to the aisles to search for jogging pants. I take a look at the store and I see the pushcarts with the bags on them so we could quickly head for our vehicles, the store has still a lot more items to be taken but I’m afraid it would take too long to haul everything here so we just took a reasonable amount. I checked the clock, it was already 9:00 PM and I forgot that I haven’t eaten yet. I saw some of the people have opened a few packs of food or have already cooked their own, us four were the only ones that hasn’t taken a bite yet so I decided to cook for us.
I found a small stall that reads Rices on Boxes. It’s a takeout stall that sells fried rice topped with various ingredients. I washed their rice cooker and I started to cook some fragrant rice. I went back to do a little shopping so I came back with a whole chicken, a whole green onion, 2 whole garlics, 250 grams of togue, a can of mushrooms, honey, soy sauce and a few eggs.
I first chopped the onion and the garlic to small pieces and I deboned the chicken and chopped it to small pieces as well. I then put oil on the pan and I added the onion and the garlic to be fried until golden brown. The smell now started to waft inside the store as I cook it, a few heads looked at my direction as I cook. I then placed the chicken next and I added the soy sauce and the honey when the chicken was fully cooked, I added a bit of seasoning to taste and I set it aside.
Next, I placed the mushrooms and the togue to the pan where the chicken was cooked then I added the egg afterwards. I kept on mixing them then I finally added the rice and mixed the whole thing. Allan grabbed the utensils then we ate.
We ate very merrily and although no one was speaking, we enjoyed the meal.
“Hey Sky, could you… you know… give me one of your guns? You know, Jenny has the shotgun now and Juan has her revolver, you’re fully decked out and I’m still holding this bat, please? You have that extra one in your bag, right?” Allan said.
“It has no bullets though.” I said.
“We got two extra magazines from those guards at the bank, right?” he said.
“Those are different bullets, the M9 uses 9mm bullets and the Glock uses .45 ACP bullets.” I said.
“Really? Looks the same to me, never mind the bullets then, can I have one?” he asked again.
“Fine, I’ll split the bullets in the M9. Take care though, only shoot them when necessary, I only have the suppressor in the AR, one shot from those and it will be harder for us tomorrow.” I said to him as I hand him the pistol.
“So, Sky…” he smiled awkwardly.
“Tell me how to use this again? I forgot…” he said while looking away.
“Pfft” Juan almost spat the rice out of his mouth when Allan spoke while Jenny was smiling at him.
I gave him a quick course and he nodded to every word I speak. I see him trying all the things I’ve told him as he focuses on it. Several clicks and clacks, he gave a smile and he looked at me. I nodded at him so I gave him the full clip of the M9. I have 2 extra clips for the Glock and 2 for the AR so I think that’s a fair choice.
I then gathered everyone and told the plan for tomorrow.
“Okay, everyone, here’s the plan for tomorrow. I’m gonna need you to cooperate with me so that you could leave here safely. Here me out first before you ask any questions. We’re first going to leave from the back entrance towards the two delivery trucks on the corner, Juan and Jenny will drive the trucks near the back entrance so we could load the first round of supplies that the people that would go on the camps would take and the other truck the supplies I’m going to take on my place. I along with the few others will ensure that no zombies could come near them when they approach the vehicles and while we’re loading them.” I said.
“We’ll then move to a ‘C’ pattern towards the parking area towards the other vehicles while bringing the pushcarts for your bags to those of you that would split off with us. We’ll kill everything that comes near us but we need to keep everything quiet, so we need to use our melee weapons. Stay in front of me but watch the back as we move. After you load your things, you’re free to go whenever. I’ll have the AR ready but make sure to be quiet and move fast. Allan will be driving the armored van outside as we take a turn at the fast food shop towards the shoe store where I parked my bike. To those of you coming with me should follow where Allan would be driving into because we’ll be taking the shortest way possible. Ready yourselves tomorrow and get some sleep. I’ll take watch at the roof.” I continued.
A few of them have solemn expressions while some have excited ones since they will be able to leave this place. A few raised their hands to ask some questions so I pointed to them like what people do in interviews.
“Yes?” I pointed to a guy wearing a hat with his family.
“I’m Carl, we live at the Bulacan area, we would like to know the nearest DDR camp there.” he said.
“I believe the closest one is the Meycauayan Doctors Hospital, I saw it on the list of the camps in the news. Most camps will be next to a hospital or a school.” I said.
He nodded and he lifted his hat for me.
An elderly woman raised her hand while clutching her grandson, “Excuse me sir, are you still taking people in? My daughter turned to those things yesterday and we lost her, we had nowhere else to go, I could help with anything you want at your place if you take us in.” the elderly woman said.
“Of course, madam, we’ll take you and your grandson, I suggest you ride with Jenny on the truck.” I said.
She started to tear up when I said yes, she then introduced herself to be Susan and her grandson’s name is James. She was already 77 and her grandson was only 3, they were just strolling in the park when everything happened.
I looked at the crowd and saw two high school students, a male and a female having an argument with each other at the back. They saw me look at them then the male student spoke up.
“Sir? Can we also go with you? We lost contact with her family before the Internet went out. I’m living with my mom but she is… umm, gone now. Her fa-” he said before she was interrupted by the girl.
“You want us to live with a stranger? We don’t even know if what he’s saying is true. I’d rather die than go to those DDR camps, one of my friends posted a picture inside and it’s so cramped. That’s disgusting.” the female highschooler said.
“Oh, boy.” I said to myself.