𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 | 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘯 ¹

𝑻𝒆𝒏

Chapter Ten,
A Chance

"Daryl, cover the back," Shane instructed as the group rushed into the compound. "Hello? Hello? Watch those doors. Watch for walkers. Hello?"

"Anybody infected?" A voice from out of nowhere startled the group. They turned to find a doctor standing there, gun aimed at them.

"One of our group was. He didn't make it," Rick replied, and Chloe couldn't help but wonder why he decided to mention this.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" the doctor inquired, lowering his gun.

"A chance."

"That's asking an awful lot these days."

"I know."

"You all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission."

"We can do that," Rick agreed with a nod.

"Bring your stuff in now. Once this door closes, it stays closed," the doctor added. Chloe, Shane, Daryl, T-Dog, and Glenn hurried to bring their supplies inside.

"Hurry up!" Shane urged as he handed Chloe her bag.

"Vi, seal the main entrance," the doctor ordered once they were all inside. "Kill the power up here."

The AI abided.

"Rick Grimes," Rick introduced himself.

"Dr. Edwin Jenner," the doctor replied as he led them to a crowded elevator. Chloe found herself sandwiched between Glenn and Daryl, the latter's shotgun pressed against her left arm.

"Doctors always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl asked, his usual gruffness showing.

"There were plenty left lying around," Dr. Jenner explained. "I familiarized myself. But you look harmless enough. Except you," he pointed at Carl, who grinned proudly. "I'll have to keep my eye on you."

As the elevator came to a halt, everyone exited. Chloe couldn't help but take a deep breath, relieved to be out of the confined space.

"Are we underground?" Carol inquired as she examined the area.

"Are you claustrophobic?" the doctor asked her.

"A little."

"Try not to think about it."

They proceeded into a large, dimly lit space, and Jenner spoke again. "Vi, bring up the lights in the big room," he instructed. Turning to the group, he said, "Welcome to Zone 5."

"Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?" Rick asked.

"I'm it. It's just me here," Jenner revealed.

"What about the person you were speaking with? Vi?" Lori pressed.

"VI, say hello to our guests. Tell them... welcome."

AI: Hello, guests. Welcome.

"I'm all that's left. I'm sorry," Jenner admitted.

Chloe couldn't help but wonder how a renowned place like the C.D.C. could be left with only one doctor. It spoke volumes about how the world had gone to ruin.

Their next stop was the lab, where Dr. Jenner took a sample of Chloe's blood. Everyone else had already been tested, except for her and Andrea.

"You don't look so good," Jenner observed as he inserted the needle into Chloe's arm.