“I know,Uncle Will, I love you.” She held back a sob
“Soundsgood, Will. I can't wait to get out of here and see my family again and I can'twait for them to meet you both. Will I have already filled your bag withsupplies,” I told him. “It's in the corner of the supply room.”
“Good,thanks, I'll pick it up now on my way to my room. See you both tomorrow,” hesaid and left.
Itwas now ten pm so I locked the door, then got another two paracetamols out ofmy bag and handed them to Nia. She washed them down with some water and smiledgratefully at me.
“Thanks foreverything George. I can't wait to meet your family either.”
Welay next to each other in comfortable silence. I got the picture that Poppy haddrawn for me out of my jacket pocket and stared at it. I wondered how mybeautiful wife was coping on her own. I really missed her and the kids. Iwondered if they were still safe and if they had enough food and water left.
After a fewminutes Nia said, “George? You awake?”
“Yeah, youok?” I asked thinking she needed something and hoping it wasn't the bucket forthe toilet.
“Do youreally think we are going to get out of here? I mean even if we do where willwe go?” she asked, opening her eyes to look at me. She glanced at the picturebut did not mention it.
“We willget out of here, I have to, no, I need to get back to my family. You can allcome back to my place and we will figure it out after that. Hopefully bytomorrow night we will be on our way out of here. Just keep your head downuntil then ok?”
“Ok,goodnight George. I hope your right.” She turned onto her side away from me andwithin moments I could hear her light snores as she slept, whatever that creephad done to her had tired her out.
The planfor tomorrow was easy. Get as many supplies and people out of here as possiblethen take Deacon down. He would pay for what he had done. I folded the letterand put it back into my jacket for tomorrow. I lay back down underneath thesleeping bag with Nia but I left it undone, I liked leaving it open in case Ineeded to get up fast. I quickly fell asleep and had a wonderful dreamthat I was back home with Kelly, Poppy and Cameron having a pool party in theback yard. It was a boiling hot day, the neighbors came around and we werehaving a BBQ, everything was great until the zombies came and the screamingstarted.
At first Ithought it was part of the dream but I soon realized that it was coming fromoutside my window. I jumped up, Nia was close behind me. The scared look on herface probably mirrored my own. I jumped into action. I had fallen asleep fullydressed so at least that was taken care of. I wore my own black jeans and whitet-shirt. I grabbed my jacket and the gun Will hadgiven me the day before that I had accidentally on purpose forgotten to handback. “Nia, here's my backpack, it's full of supplies and my hunting knife isin this pocket,” I said handing her my bag. She stood in exactly the same placeas she was when she jumped up. “Nia? Nia!” I said a bit more forcefully. Itouched her arm and she snapped out of whatever trance she was in.
“What? Ohyes your bag,” she said taking it off me.
“Getdressed but stay here. Keep my bag handy and be ready to leave quickly ok?” Iasked her making sure she understood.
“I need togo and find out what's going on,” I said. There were more shouts and screamsfrom below. Gun shots could now also be heard. Once again I had that feeling ofcomplete fear but also one of excitement.
“Lock thedoor behind me Nia, do not open it unless it's me, Will or Billy. Ok?” I wasopening the door as I was talking.
“Yes Ipromise,” she said. “Stay safe George.” She closed and locked the door behindme.
Not reallyknowing what was going on, I decided the best place to start was in the dinnerhall. The upstairs corridor was chaos, people were running back and fore. Somewere crying, others were just fear-driven. I tried to ask a few of them whatwas going on but either they didn't know or were just ignoring me in theirhaste to get away from whatever the threat was.
As I walkeddown the stairs the sounds of fighting got louder, I opened the door to thelower floor corridor to find utter bedlam. Men and a few women were runningaround madly. I saw Billy in the chaos. “Billy, over here,” I called waving himover.”
“George I'mso glad you’re here. Zombies have gotten in through the gates. Outside ismadness. Deacon sent me in to continue loading the backpacks while he isoutside fighting the zombies and trying to secure the area.”
“I'll helpyou,” I said to him. He nodded, turned around and started to push his waythrough the crowd towards the storage area.
When we gotthere a man I knew as ‘big Lou’ was on guard. “What's going on?” he askedworriedly.
“Zombies inthe yard. Deacon told us to come pack everything we can into backpacks,” Billyreplied.
Lou eyed meup suspiciously.
“Deaconsaid I needed help and George is the first person I came across who’s prettycalm,” Billy explained.
“Ok then.Here you go,” Joe said unlocking the door, still not totally convinced buthearing the screams from outside seemed to go in our favor.
“What shallI do?” Lou asked.
“Just keepguard here. Let us know if zombies get into the building,” I said and henodded, trying not to look nervous.
Once insidethe room I started to put some medicines and toiletries into Nia's backpack.Then I put in some breakfast bars and water. I tried to fill it with
