In The End: A Zombie Apocalypse

~~ The Stalemate ~~

I come to with a pounding in my head.

I look to the right and find Olivia sitting in the wooden chair. She's hunched over with her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands. She looks up and I can see her puffy red eyes.

"Oh my god, oh my god your alive oh god." She begins to laugh and cry consecutively and leans in to hug me. The sudden rush of force on my body make everything hurt once again. "Uh, yeah, hi, still just been shot."

"Oh right. Sorry." She backs away with a chuckle. "They wouldn't let me in until now. You were out all day yesterday." She wipes away a few tears on her face. "Oh, by the way, Scout told me to tell you that he's bringing the bullet to a woman who used to be a welder. Said she's gonna put it on a chain for you."

"That's... That's great. Tell him thanks for me."
"Well, you can do that yourself." Scout and Jane walk in. He sits on the edge of the gurney beside me. His hands in the pockets of his dark grey hoodie.
"Well, thanks." I tell him.
"You bloody better be. I've gotta give Chloe my peas for a week."
"don't go crying to your pa." Jane mocks. She's now wearing a white shirt and beige cargo pants, her hair in a ponytail. She moves over to the monitor and taps a few times.

"So, what's the story, Dr. Glory?" Scout says with a smug smile.
"Do you really have to make that joke every time? What a kid."
"Says the girl who mocks my accent."
"Anyways," She rolls her eyes and begins, "looks like you'll be good to go in a few hours. But you won't be able to help with the wall for a while. Don't worry, I'm sure Barkley will find a job you can do in the meantime."

After a few minutes of small talk, Scout takes his leave.

"I'd hate to go, but I have ta go. I'll see you guys when I get back." Scout gets up and leaves, but stops at the door. "By the way, There's gonna be an announcement tonight about the, current, events. Things aren't going so good with my Ol'man. After the incident, another scouting group came back with news about a huge swarm of the dead. It's got him stressed to all hell and back. Me and a few others are gonna go check it out. Be seeing you." With that, he leaves.

"Well Lukas, you just rest for a few. I'll be back when you can go." Janes says.
"How's the arm?" I ask before she leaves.
"Still hurts, but not unbearable. The worst is when I think it's still there and then I realized it's not." For what seems the first time since I met Jane, she's not being sarcastic. "But hey, At least they could cut it off in time. I feel fine, no fever. Maybe I could strap a knife to it, that'd be cool." With a crazy grin plastered on her face, she takes her leave.

"I'm sorry to have to leave you, too, but I need to get back to the kitchen. I'll see you soon." Olivia plants a gentle kiss on my forehead and leaves.

***

The next hours were boring as hell.

Alone, laying on the gurney, whistling 'mr. Sandman' more times than I can count, staring up at the ceiling for hours.
Then, finally, Jane returned. "Hey kiddo, time to go. Get something to eat then go back to your sleeping area. Once everyone returns from their jobs, Barkley's gonna give a speech."

I get up and walk outside the containment widget and into the main section of the building. It seems like forever since last time I was here. I walk to the dining widget and get a plate of beans. While I'm sitting, a young woman with short blue hair and dark clothes takes a seat across from me. After a minute of staring at me, she finally opens her mouth.

"Lukas, right?" Her voice is tough and confident.
"Yeah?" I reply.
"Here, I finished while you were out cold." She drops a chain on the table. Attached to it is the bullet.
"So your Chloe. Thanks." I put the chain around my neck and tuck the bullet in my shirt.
"No problem. Was child's play compared to what I used to do. See ya around." She gets up and goes. When she walks away, I notice a pistol hidden around her waist. Did she steal that? How?

***

After eating and wondering about Chloe's gun, I decide to return to our shelf. I climb the ladder to the top and find Jason laying in his bed. "Hey man."
"Hey." I respond.
"Ya know, I've been thinking."
"Bout what?" I ask.
"About what could've happened."
"When?"
"That first day, when half the class wanted to stay, and half wanted to go. What would've happened if we had done that, if those walkers hadn't broken down the door. I was gonna stay. Would we have still been there? Would your group have made it to Costco? Would Mr. Ryan and charlie still be alive?" He looks at me with sad eyes.

"I don't know, but this is what happened, and there's nothing we can do to change it. We can't bring them back from the dead. They'd... only return as the dead." I tell him.

"Yeah, but I can't help but think what if. Maybe it's fate, maybe this was supposed to happen, but I can't understand why. Why did this happen to us?"

"I don't know why, but all I know is that it happened. Shit hit the fan and we can't take it off. We just need to try to make it through the mess. The things that have happened are behind us and there's no going back. The only thing that can change is our future. Make the right decisions when the choices occur. Whether it's right or wrong, You need to decide."

He turns onto his back and looks at the ceiling. "I..I guess your right." He whispers. I lay down on my bed, starting up at the ceiling.

I should really use my own advice.

***

An hour or so of talking with Jason pass and people from outside working on the wall come in, earlier then usual. "The announcement's starting soon." I tell Jason.  Several minutes pass and, sure enough, Barkley's voice comes booming over the speaker. " 'ello everyone." People stop what they're doing and turn to the office, where Barkley stands alone.

"I understand the recent events have stirred up quiet a lot of tension. The incident with Doug must never happen again. That is why we must implement new rules. Somehow Doug had kept his gun. That is why only scouters may handle guns, and must hand them in immediately when they return. I ask for anyone who currently possesses a gun to please return them to the defence widget."

Several people, including Cecilia, hand their guns in. But I realized that Chloe never returned hers. Sitting at the top of the shelf, I can see over the entire building. Chloe didn't move a muscle. What'll happen if Barkley finds out?

"Thank you every one. Our second issue. The scouters have informed me of a swarm of the dead. They're close. I-" he gets cut off by someone's shouts.

"Then why should we give up our guns? Shouldn't more people get one! We need to protect ourselves!" People shout in agreement, causing a commotion. Over the shouts and screams, Barkley's voice is barely audible.

"Please... Stay calm.. Every thing is under control! People!" He desperately tries to get everyone's attention, but no one listens. "People, I understand the issue, but I assure you that we have it under control. Scout and the others are working on a plan." After several minutes of shouts and Barkley's assuring words, the building slowly settles down.

"Thank you. Now, I would like to-"

"Sir!" A young guy holding a big sniper shouts from a balcony on the front wall, directly behind us. The balcony leads to the roof, according to the sign on the wall.

"We have a problem." He begins.

"A big problem."

QOTC~
What's your favourite tv show?

AOTC~
The walking dead (obviously) and community