It's 2PM and currently I am finishing packing my house in El Sereno, loading the last of my personal things, such as toiletries and some clothes I kept here, as well as weapons.
Twin wakizashi short swords, my Springfield saint edge pistol(it's a small rifle basically) chambered in 5.56 with a 10.3in barrel, it is good for ganking zombies and people at close or mid range. It's got a simple sight and a hand stop, nothing obnoxious or over the top. To top off my personal(current) load out I will also carry a trio of HK USP 9mm tactical, with suppressor, one in each hip and one attached to my level 3 armor. The armor will also hold 12 magazines for my Springfield and 8 extra magazines for my pistols, the holsters each also hold a spare magazine for 11 extra magazines or 14 if you include the ones loaded into the HKs.
After I get all that placed into a duffle bag and go to put it into the back seat of my 2011 Ford Explorer, I see Alicia walking out of her house, looking quite upset. 'Huh, this scene looks familiar. I wonder if I should 'help' them now instead of later?'
So I yell over to her, we aren't really that far apart as my car is parked on the road so maybe 20ish feet since she is trying to leave the house "Hey you alright?" She seems somewhat startled but shrugs it off quickly
"I'm good, just going to check on a friend real quick" she told me rather quickly, then she turned around and ran back to the house looking afraid, most likely because of her brother. I hear yelling so I naturally run to help like a good neighbor would.
I don't exactly like walking in uninvited but the door is opened anyways and I can see the dude having a seizure on the ground throwing up his guts so it's understandable I think.
"Hey is he going to be ok" I ask, concern in my voice. She looks startled again probably not hearing me walk in. "Sorry I didn't knock but I heard screaming and I was worried."
She hesitates for a second before I get a reply "I-it's ok and thanks for coming to check on us, my brother is just sick from withdrawals, trying to get cleaned up now" she said not really believing the last part herself I'm sure.
"Well that's better than being sick from what's going on in the city I suppose, is there anything I can do for you? Ahh I don't think I have really introduced myself before either, my name is Alexander."
"Alicia, Mmm could you grab me a roll of paper towels from the kitchen please?" She asks after only a moment thought. "And the idiot is nick" she says as an afterthought. Which amused me, she be pissed at him obviously.
"Sure thing, Alicia." So I do so, and even help her clean up a bit. "So how are y'all doing with how things are going out there now? And why aren't the old people here holding down the fort with you?"
She looked admittedly confused which confused me or would have if I didn't know the plot. So I just sighed. "You don't know then?"
"Know what Alexander, what is going on? Is it about that virus I heard about?" She asked somewhat dreading an answer considering how I was acting about it.
"Well... I'm not exactly sure how to explain it but if you have ever seen a zombie movie before, that pretty much summs it up. People are out there literally eating each other and once your bitten, you basically go cannibal also, sometimes it takes a few minutes depending on the wound or it can take a good few hours. The power grid will probably shut down by tomorrow night I would guess because the city seems to be in chaos with the rioting, looting and people dying in the streets." I stated it pretty bluntly I think. "Oh, and from what I have seen and been told the only thing that can actually stop them is damaging the head or brain" I added succinctly.
She just looked at me in horror and disbelief, hoping, probably, that I'm lying. Either that or she thinks I'm just crazy which to be honest is a fair guess. Thankfully nick, for whatever it's worth, finally regained the ability to speak and backed me up.
"So let me get this strait.... your both saying that... the dead? Are getting up and eating people? Come on! That's crazy man!" She definitely says with disbelief tinging her voice and maybe a little hysteria because of her boyfriend.
"Sorry Alicia, but I have already seen it with my own eyes, I can even tell you that Peter, one of your neighbors is most likely already sick with the virus or whatever it is. I seen him covering up what looked like a bite wound earlier." I tell her with a sigh and a little bit of sadness in my voice for probably taking her innocence away.
"Hey I have a few hours to kill until the party really starts at my estate house, if you want me to stick around until your mom shows up?"
"You don't have to do that, though I won't say no to the company while he's passed out" she says while looking in her brothers direction.
"So your mom had to go out and get something for your brother right? Most likely something to help to wean him off of the drugs so he doesn't go completely cold turkey?" She nods her head in agreement at that. "Well I can already guess hospitals are overrun or out of service right now and the pharmacy's will be locked down pretty hard, but I have a small infirmary on my estate fairly stocked and an even better one on my yacht that should be anchoring as we speak just off the beach of my estate house." I ask curious to what she would want to do with the extra options available.
She just sighed, I could tell she wanted to take me up on the offer but simply wasn't ready to yet. "I'm not sure what my mom will say to that, she might agree to go but I also know they wanted to go to the desert or something."
"Well either way, lemme give you directions, in case they change their mind, I will most likely stay there for a few weeks, though I have the supplies to last months anyways. Also, while the sea will also have its dangers, it will be a hundred times safer than on land soon." I mused out loud. Also adding my satellite phone number. Sigh.. I'm glad I prepared for this sort of. "Here take this also, it's a spare anyways." I tell her handing her a satellite phone.
"Why are you trying to help us so much Alex?" She asked me somewhat curious mixed with a little suspicion I think, probably because she is hot and gets hit on enough I would assume.
"Honestly, who really knows? You seem nice. Trying to protect your brother as well, so your probably a good person. So why shouldn't I at least attempt to help a bit, also your my neighbor, so that helps I suppose."
After that time quickly passed, it took her mom another two hours to get home, in that time I took the time to show her videos that I had saved to my phone, videos that showed the ugly truth.
As Madison walked through the door, seeing nick out cold on the couch and me and Alicia going through my videos on my phone she stopped. Thankfully Alicia was quick to speak.
"Hey mom, this is Alexander, our neighbor, he came over earlier when he heard me screaming when nick was having a seizure and came to help out" she got out quickly almost like she was caught with her hand in a cookie jar for some reason...
She looked at me again quickly after that recap. "Thank you, for looking after both of them" she said with a tired sigh. But I can hear the gratitude in her voice.
"You look road weary ma'am, I'm going to have to guess you ran into one of... those things...? I say while looking at Alicia from the corner of my eyes, I could see her tense at that and slightly pale.
Madison looked hesitant to answer which was basically an answer unto itself. "Yes" she simply states. Tiredness taking over and slightly sagging. Alicia just looked dismayed that everything we said was probably true now.
"Well, Alicia, I should be outtie, your mom is here and your brother is settled for now. Don't forget, the offer is open for you and your family, I got plenty of room and supplies at my estate as well as my yacht, it was stocked for dozens to last for several months as well." I tell her, reminding her as well as basically telling her mom at the same time. I also take off my Ka-Bar tactical and give it to the poor girl, maybe she will at least feel safer.
"Remember though, no matter what you decide, only head shots will put those things down." Those were my parting words as I walked out of the house and to my car, I had a party to make sure continues.