Okay, chapter 2. Thank you so much to MusicBeeQueen for reviewing! Thank her for the next chapter.. I need another review though for Chapter 3!

Chapter 2

I placed my chin on the stand as Kylie behind me laid on the metal table. I was five years younger than Kylie, making me 23.

The man in front of me but behind the eye scanner thing smiled at me kindly. I could see from the corner of my eye that girl and boy. She was obviously older and he must have been about 11 or 12.

They were brother and sister and from what I had heard, he had one brown eye and one green eye inherited from his mother. I had no idea where she was and didnt have time to think about it either when the man cleared his throat.

'Just look right here.' He shone a torch in my eye through the glass so it wasn't too bright and then turned around to face the computer as images of my brown eyes appeared on the screen.

'Okay, they seem normal. You were negative for any major diseases and afflictions, how old are you miss?'

'23,' I answered and cast a sideways glance at Kylie who gasped when the woman squirted some spray in her eye. Kylie was diabetic and was nervous if it would affect her returning back to London.

We were both relieved when the doctor had said it wouldnt be a problem except she would have to undergo some more tests.

'Okay, I think we're done,' I turned back to the man who grinned, 'welcome back to Britain.'

Their American accents were thick. And they seemed to cringe every time one of us Londoners spoke too, it was understandable I guess, they weren't used to it.

I stood up from my seat and waited around as Kylie finsihed up grasping a small green bag.

'What's that?' I asked pointing at it as we were ushered down more corridors and up an escalator. We had no idea where we going but we figured it would be better to just follow the instructions of the big army men with big guns.

'Insulin.' She said bluntly, her attention out the window. I gazed through too but the sight made me want to puke. Houses were trashed and Army men patrolled the streets.

Big yellow piles of carrier bags flooded the streets and fires were burning throughout.

I stepped closer and put my hand on the glass, I saw people throwing things on fires and gagged when I realised it was bodies. I looked down and took a deep breath,
fighting the urge to just break down and cry.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and Kylie was stood there, she was looking out the window but then looked at me and smiled gently. I couldnt smile back but continued to walk down the corridor.

When we reached the end, a huge red train was in front of us. 'Move it.' Demanded a very tought looking miliatary woman.

We got on board and struggled to find 2 empty seats so we could sit together, we walked up and down the aisle and then spotted 2. Opposite the brother and sister.

We approached them and the older, blonde haired girl looked up at us.

'Mind if we sit there?' Kylie asked. She forced a smile and nodded. I took the seat opposite the boy and shot him a friendly smile when he looked my way. He returned it politely.

'I am Kylie by the way,' she told the girl who offered her hand and said, 'Tammy.' They shook hands and Tammy turned to look at her brother, 'this is my brother Andy.'

'Alice,' I said when she looked my way silently asking what my name was.

We had a small, rather comfortable conversation, more Kylie and Tammy doing the talking when another more friendly looking army woman spoke through a microphone,
gathering attention from all passengers.

'Welcome all and we hope your flight was okay, currently, we are headed for the Greenzone; our area of security and reconstruction designated as District One.'

Her voice was polite and informative and me and Kylie shifted slightly so we could get a better look, I noticed Andy seemed more morbidly interested in watching the demolished city out the window.

The woman paused and then continued noticing our slightly confused expressions, 'District One is located on the Isle of Dogs. Although the Isle of Dogs is completely safe,
the surrounding area of London is not.'

Andy gasped quietly and we turned to see what he was looking at. A house with bright bold white letters reading, 'I AM HERE' was painted on the roof of a house.
A man on a ladder was spraying it off.

I didnt notice many of these streets, but it never occured to me how many people were here, helpless and dead.

I looked back at the woman whose tone turned softer, 'there are a large number of bodies still left to be cleared from the original outbreak of infection. Rats and dogs are prevalent;
as is disease.'

I took a breath, so infection was still being found? On a regular basis? Now I understood why there was so many armed military around. The infection was not completely gone.

And that thought made my stomach flip and my mouth go dry.

'New arrivals are reminded for their own safety it is absolutely forbidden to cross the river and leave the security zone.'

I rolled my eyes, well yes! Who would want to leave the safe area? After the sight outside that met our eyes, I wouldnt even consider it.

The woman mentioned something about another 15,000 more people in the District One.. Whoa, out of like a million people who were usually walking the streets of London,
you are lucky to find just a thousand in Asda.

'-dramatically increased military presence.'

My attention was back on the woman, I agreed with this, there were army men everywhere. And just to emphasize, we passed some sandbags with 2 heavilly armed men with a heavy piece of artillery in front of them.

'The US Army is responsible for your safety.'

And death, I thought silently looking back out the window only half listening to the woman now. Helicopters were landing in the free space provided around the city.

Tankers and trucks loaded with either guns or the clean up bags drove through the streets. I dont think I could ever imagine what kind of catastrophe the outbreak caused.

'Inside District One however, we believe you will pleasantly surprised,' the woman was grinning, 'we have hot and cold running water,' this seemed to catch Tammy's attention and she smiled.

'...24 hour electricity, a medical centre, a supermarket and even a pub.' Chuckles errupted throughout the train and Kylie was smiling now.

I looked back at Andy who was still forcing a smile.

Tammy caught his upset and tried to reassure him, 'we're nearly home.'

This seemed to make Andy smile more and I smiled too and leaned back on my chair. 'You think we'll have to work, Ali?'

I couldnt help but laugh and shot an incredulous look at my colleague and friend, 'no, I sincerely doubt it.'

The train began slowing and Army Men greeted us as I looked grimly out the windows, but then a man came into view which threw Tammy and Andy into hysterics.

'Dad, Dad!'

'That's your Dad?' I asked.

Tammy beamed and nodded, grabbing Andy's hand she said, 'it's Dad! Come on.'

And they ran down the aisle. Kylie giggled, it never occured to me they would have family there. Andy had mentioned his Mum, but there wasn't a woman present.

'Come on, let's go meet their dad.' She said as we all stood up to get offboard.

I saw Andy and Tammy eagerly waiting by the doors and when they opened, they stepped out. Kylie ran to get them though, 'hold up, stay close.'

We walked fast noticing their impatence and soon enough, Andy ran into his father's arms. Tammy close behind.

'Oh, I missed you so much.' The man said hugging his children. I looked away and around at all the people who were being reunited with friends and family.

I instantly felt guilty again and a little isolated, the only person I had now was Kylie.

'Kylie Williams.' I heard Kylie introduce herself and offer her hand, the man took it smiling like an idiot.

'And this is Alice,' Andy said before I could speak, I laughed when he grinned like he was thinking the same thing I was, I shook the man's hand but his smile faltered.

'Are you okay?' I asked concerned as he looked away from me, he seemed to get over it quickly and Andy and Tammy noticed it.

'Yes, fine. I'm Don.' He said smiling again then turned back to his kids, 'I never thought I would see you again, you know that?'

We said goodbye as he took them away and then me and Kylie looked at eachother, 'what was that about?'

I shrugged, 'no idea. Come on, let's find our house.'

And we followed in the direction Don, Tammy and Andy had gone.

District One was a change of scenary after all the destruction we had seen outside the walls.

More military instructed us into a hall and there we was met with fresh smelling food, I couldnt notice some though, they obviously hadnt hired a British chef.

'Ali! Over here!' Andy was waving at me frantically and I smiled and walked over as Kylie stared at the food.

I sat at their table. 'Hey Andy,' I said, turning to Tammy and Don I nodded at them before saying, 'hey.'

We talked more and I discovered that we were to be housed in an apartment block that Don was currently resident in too. Before long Kylie came over along with an army woman.

I recognised her as the medic that had analysed Andy and she talked to us more thoroughly about our housing arrangements and the infection and reminded us again that crossing the river was forbidden.

After an hour or so Scarlett, the woman, had to leave and then Don said that we could follow him to the apartment block we would be staying in.

There were people who were lugging suitcases around suggesting they were as new as me and Kylie but there were people that seemed to have been living there for longer since some of them were more than familiar with everything going on.

The armed men and women didnt phase them at all, the trucks constantly driving around and even the machine guns placed at near enough every street corner was just a minor detail to them.

To me however, it was a huge uncomfortable presence.

'What about this place, then, Andy? Eh?' Don asked trying to make him feel some excitement. I chuckled at Andy and Tammy's faces. Beaming.

I looked up and breathed, 'wow,' the apartment building was huge. And probably housed all of the current residents in District One.

'It's 25 floors. We have the penthouse up there. Believe me.'

Tammy laughed and I noticed Kylie's awkwardness and hesitation. I looked back around, 'you okay?'

She had stopped in her tracks, 'I dont want to be at the top.'

I laughed and took her hand guiding her back to the entrance where Don, Tammy and Andy were waiting patiently, 'come on, it will be okay.'

Out of all the things that were surrounding us right now, she was more terrified of living on the top floor.

'So, what do you do here Don?' I asked remembering he mentioned working here.

'What do I do? I'm a section officer. I keep the lights on, the water running, the heat running. See this? Look.'

He took out an ID card and showed it to all of us, 'it says, Triple A - "access all areas". That's me. I basically run the place, you know.'

Andy and Tammy rolled their eyes at his bragging nature and I laughed at them.

'No, you're the caretaker really, aren't you?' Tammy said curtly but jokingly.

We walked into the building but the doors suddenly locked and an alarm sounded, my heart fell into my stomach and back into my throat.

We turned back to look at Don, 'no, I run the place.'

I calmed and let out a nervous laugh along with the others, Kylie took Andy's hand and together we went into the building.

'Floor 25, Room 5.' The receptionist told me as we asked for our room. I heard Kylie whimper a little, and turned back around, 'is there any way we could have a lower room?'

The receptionist shook her head without even checking and I made a face at her before walking away, 'responsible for our safety, my ass.'

'If I commit suicide, it's on your head.' Kylie said over her shoulder at her before we ascended the stairs to the top floor.

We walked in and the first thing we seen was the huge window pane opposite us. The living room was seperated from the kitchen by a single partial wall.

The colour was cream and it looked spotless. Practical furniture was in the house and when we took a look at our bedrooms, 2 single bed, neatly made, were there.

A box with some simple clothing and washing necessities laid on top them with a note saying, 'Welcome to your home.'

I inwardly smiled but I couldnt look at Kylie as she began unpacking and throwing away any clothes she didnt like. 'You wanna have this?'

Looking over, she was holding up a black long sleeved plain shirt, I shook my head and she threw it to the other side of the room.

I couldnt help but notice the large window in the bedroom and instantly felt like my privacy was being invaded, I only had to walk a few steps to reach it since my bed was closest to it but there was no string to pull the curtains or blinds.

A sign on the wall next to it made me cringe, 'For Safety Reasons, Please Do Not Attempt To Block Window View.'

Kylie came up behind me, 'shit,' I heard her say as she read it. I smiled and fought back a chuckle, 'lucky we aint got guys because sex would be awkward.'

She laughed and went back to her own bed, 'the Army have rifle men up there. They just check in. They wanna help us, Ali.'

I bit the inside of my cheek in thought, turning away from the window I went back to the kitchen to explore the food.

Night time approached quickly. After deciding not to go out, Kylie and I explored the rest of the apartment and discovered that Don and the kids lived just across the hall.

Kylie had fell asleep earlier on as I continued watching some TV to get an update. Images of us getting off the plane made me turn it off though, we were famous for returning back to a country in ruins after a huge apocalypse.

I walked into the bedroom and mentally kicked myself that I couldnt draw the curtains, so I changed in the bathroom and braced a hand on the window looking out.

I couldnt see any of the said Army Rifle guys, a few lights, traffic and helicopters circling the sky sure, but no people. Looked like people tended to stay off the streets at night.

Regardless if it is now a safe zone.

I got into bed, switched off my lamp and slept soundly for the first time in ages. I was home, it wasnt much, but it was home.