*October 3, 2005
I made it to the city...deeper into Malton now. I found the streets are cluttered, and the rumble of the underground streets scares me still. The smell of smoke of the ghost town of the once live city, gone...(looking at the page of the last sentence, you get the feeling as if he was in a hurry, and the entry continues on a sudden note)gotta go I think I can make out some people, an officer maybe I'll ask him whats going on. Also I think; I'm being followed from the warehouse, I shortly stayed clipping the cell-phone to my side, as I headed out the door.
*October 3, 2005
The officer appeared to be no help; the man was holding his arm and racing in the opposite direction, too fast for me to keep up. Then cutting fastly over the barricaded wall; he furiously climbed over a later and disappeared from sight. Before I knew I began to wander aimlessly through the horried empty streets further into the unknown of the city. The streets painted a worsening picture continuing further into the city. More overturned cars burnt to a crisp, along with burning buildings and some walls covered in bullet holes or blood smears. Even though no one was there...or a body to match those events. I remember turning away...finding anywhere else to be far from this or any other event. The reports on the radio at home didn't lie; the mass-choas the eerier quiet city of Malton basically dead. Taking a moment to rest behind a pile of cars; I'm writing here and there as I go through the streets.
Further into the city; the same moans as before at home have increased than ever before, but I needed to find shelter for the night so whatever the heck was moaning like that wouldn't find me. As I wandered further through the streets a familiar rehabilitation clinic caught my eye. White one storie building; a sorta safe house, some people came to our school talked about. It would do for the night; I'd have to see if any body was home or find me something to eat for starters. I was beginning to feel the side-effect of not eating. As I approached the white building; I made my way through the double-reinforced glass doors to the empty room. The white walls and bear rooms; a couple of books and papers from the last few days was all to be seen. On the bad note…just as I walked into the building the power shut off, before coming on later.
Taking a look around; I found a spare room, barely furnished with a single cot and a desk, along with a corner bookshelf. Throwing my bag on the cot; I gathered a few supplies from the staff room / kitchen area. Right before locking the place down; I managed to look at my phone to find no messages not even from that weird Jeff co-worker of moms. I decided to eat what was Dona's Lunch labeled in large bold ball-point pen. I later found no workers in the entire building; and the signal on the phones were here and there to the point of turning it off and charging it for the night, after the power came straight on.
*October 4, 2005
Its gonna get tough writing; even though I really didn't have a clue why I was writing in the first, probably for comfort. So leaving this morning; un-plugging the phone; and unlocking the front entrance, I felt I had a lesser sleep. Eating what little of yesterdays dinner, I luckily saved to eat, while reading a previously dated news paper about the walking dead. That the Creedy Defenses Force (CDF); was pulling back to base, along with the medical teams from a few days ago. Throwing the paper in dis-belief, I un-plugged the charger snagging a bottle of aspirin into my bag and medical tin-kit, I decided to head onward. For a laugh; if Donna was still alive and wanted luch, I left her a not in the same pen telling her sorry bout lunch. That was my sense of humor for the day; but coming out of the building I noted the large medical building plaza, with an enormous clock tower, and parking deck. So I decided to ignore papers about the major places to avoid, hospitals being number two, and Police stations number one; I decided to scope it out.
Before leaving I found the attacks were far worse than the radio descriptions. Blockades from the evacuation either fallen over by horse shaws, written in police line, caught ion's. I found the bodies of dead were mounting; and thrown across the place, few armed personnel scavedged by as the radio and papers called, "Vigilantes." With the Martial law declared for Malton's lock-down as of yesterday, and internet coming in and out of the city. To the accounts in the paper the recently departed were suddenly showing up attacking the living..
It was far more difficult task than planned, but I reached the hospital grounds to only turn back from the swarm of eight undead in the area front. The papers were right; or they were in serious pain from one or two missing a arm or leg. Luckily none of them spotted me; dashing through the empty park, I would've been mauled before I knew it. Seemingly I was better off armed of course fire-axe in hand. Wasn't only a weapon, but a tool getting onto various lower level rooftops, by bypass bumper to bumper traffic it wasn't easy but eventually I found comfort getting to a less infested area of town, that appeared quiet. As the sight of the city grew dark I knew I better found shelter before night fall.
Ok...found my way into a well off area of a well secured bar maybe a three-story building, but oddly vacant. However, for the old building...in good condition, the doors were left ajar and the first floors clean of those things and a good block and a half from that horde. I'll have to check the rest of the Mike's Pub out, from the wood sign outside. May even celebrate w/ something to eat, I hadn't thought how much starved I am since leaving home a day and a 1/2 ago and still no word from either of my parents. Oddly, the same guy Jeff left a strange text message when I went to asleep yesterday night, just exhausted.
So far...the attic and the mid-upper floor are clear, but bare. With it I scored a pair of binoculars from the upper balcony and got a view of the growing mass at the hospital. Tried to call my parents while I was on the roof the signal keeps bouncing off and on in the entire area. Doing a full sweep; I ensured all windows and non-used doors on the other part of the upper and mid-level floor and bottom entrance, now all is left is the basement. I always hatted the basement...especially in those horror movies... (theres more but someone has crossed out the rest of the sentence w/ permanent marker)
Did a sweep of the basement...wasn't too bad just a regular cellar full of wine and beer crates and dusty kegs. The areas cool, but there's no power I'll have to switch the fuses in the pub if I can find the separate grids on each level. Venturing deeper into the basement, I found an old cross-communications radio, but I could not get it to function; I'll need some tools and a manual to get this thing running again to transmit messages, but fooling w/ it. I found it can pick up loads of signals on a set of fine tuners. Eventually I found the un-used fuses; and replacing them kicked on the rest of the grid of the entire building. Nothing of any use so far besides the radio, and the power, water and etc is still running as well as an old generator in the back to kick on now.
Found some beans in a can; but the supply is cut to probably four to two days of food if I make it last, not to mention the food I snagged at the clinic as well as the aspirin bottle. And I'm dwindled down to two sodas from the house, but I decided against them to savor them for later.
* October 5, 2005
Didn't sleep very well last night, even though I went to bed around nine 'o clock or so. The moans from the various nights and the sound of gunfire, were growing steadily worse. I hardly slept a wink, I miss the comfort of my own bed. As I made my way to the lower levels from the upper room. Sounds of the door; began to rattle taking the grip of the wood-polished fire-ax I found the doors stop, as the sound of keys could be heard gangling. With the sounds of the lock loosening...I thought I might have been safe in the corner making a dash for the one of the curved arches gripping the ax tightly to my chest.
To my surprises the door opened slowly...as a man probably in his late forties early fifties stepped out. Slightly dark complicated quality to the man, with little grey to the sides of his head of hair, dressed in military gray-blue design and a dark red t-shirt showing his well built figure. Entering the room; I hid myself as the man locked the double door behind him. Noting his steady footing to the old wood floor; the man entered the room further down the line, till he caught sight of my bag, and my one slung shoulder bag on the counter. Retrieving his handgun; the older man exclaimed the leather folding revealing my name and address, so if it was lost to return it to me. As I reluctantly noted to kick my own ass later, if I was still alive that was, till the man grasped the tag peering around the room; and putting his gun away, with a grin laughed softly to himself.
Remembering loosening the grip to my axe; I found myself venturing from the corner of the room, with him saying lightly, "its been days since I've seen someone still alive in the city." confused the tall short-dark headed military style trimmed man ventured to my side in a warm greeting, "how long have you've been here?" "well...spent the night here in the upper bedroom, I thought..." before he could finish the man's welcoming smile slowly faded with him remarking, "ya...but you do what you have to survive, and the names Lt. Maxwell, but you can call me Max for short." It was that warm welcome in his eyes to see someone...anyone for that fact alive in these grim days, taking his extended hand I shook it. Muttering slightly in a dry tongue, I responded awkwardly in his direction, "Oh! The names Wes; but from peeking at my bag you already know that." We both laughed then...
As the rest of the day went on...Max lead me up stairs to the other smaller bedroom, that was earlier locked. Max had found the skeleton key when he found himself stranded here. The room was fine, and had a furnished desk and comfortable bed. The view of the city was nice on the third floor and from Max's perspective those...things could not climb yet, so it was safe to leave the windows open.
Later the two of us chatted in the room; explaining the cities situation so far; after the whole attack feasquo. That later he found himself here in the pub only a few days before, I even entered the city. With it Lt. Maxwell exclaimed the quartering from the rest of the world by blocking the entire tri-area after the few acceptable few evacuated three days ago. With it the cooperation of Nero corporation, and their research and development was involved with the entire process, but most was speculation from the last person he'd seen. Even though I have decided right off the bat not to mention my mom working as the head researcher just yet. Not knowing how he'd take it, or have a senile moment; and I thought that night could my mom and her team, especially Jeff that kept calling was involved with Malton's destruction, "why, mom?" Was the only question I asked myself over and over again.
*October 6, 2005
I slept better knowing Max was here...and the tossing and turning all night wasn't as bad. I'd chosen to leave the window shut from now on cause the moaning from the masses of noise stirred my thoughts. The food was scares but Max said it was all right for the time being...he'd said more was in the basement stored safely away from scavengers who were looting the area. Max also explained to prop a near by 2 '4 piece of lumber along the hinges when he was gone, and the dead would eventually go on their way, but Max also verified the need for no movement while their around, when they would attract others in near by areas to get to us.
Max brought the last crate of food from the basement...mostly canned stuff though. I didn't mind though, foods-food. Maxwell exclaimed we should be good for the next three days, but eventually we'll have to scavenge for some. I was getting to know Lt. Maxwell very well; sorta like an over protective uncle of sort. We laughed, we ate and Max even since decided the end was here to let me try any beverage of ale of my choice tonight at supper. Tried the cell...when Max wasn't around of course, I couldn't find a signal, but that Jeff guy kept leaving text messages and other voice mails, even though I couldn't answer them till I found a clear signal.
Supper was great...tuna and beans; but I'd regret it later after supper. I chose to try some Champaign instead, something not as strong in case of something to go wrong. In addition,...I'd couldn't tell what was what-all too fancy for my back water taste. Then the power began to flicker like at my house; but Maxwell assured nothing to worry reminding me of the back-up generator connected to the facility had plenty of fuel. The two of us sat in the dark for thirty-minuets before it came on again. Much longer than it did at the house; to actually come on, but it did stay on for the rest of the night right before I decided to call it a night.
* October 7, 2005
Maxwell wasn't around when I got up this morning, so I decided to give a quick look for him. Wasn't on the first or second floors, tried the basement so I began my climb to the roof. Opening the door to the large concrete top of the large brick structure, there stood Maxwell gazing through his binoculars tuned to the city toward the hospital. "Maxwell..."I stammered softly in his direction before noticing my presents, turning to meet me. "Oh! I see your up..." "ya," I interjected in his direction. With the two of us on the roof top; Lt. Maxwell's binoculars in hand gestured them to me. Taking the militarized style binoculars; I found the need to look in the direction of the hospital; saying confusedly, "what'd you see?" Then before he could say anything...I knew what he was gazing at....both the growing number of dead almost doubled since the last encounter, and a group of people in the building over flicking the lights in some of code.
"Its mores code, people that buildings are trapped by the swarm;" Maxwell whispered softly in my direction, while continuing once more, "their saying they need our help or any for that matter, " Knowing as Maxwell exclaimed last night he had listed to help in the city's cries. With years of Special Forces training form long ago, and guessing mores code was second language to him. "You got a plan, Lt." I began to say once more in his direction, "we've gotta help them, but how?" I remember watching Maxwell on that cheap lawn chair, as I decided to take another gaze through the binoculars. It the upper floor of the hospital room a woman, that appeared to be a doctor in a white coat was flicking the lights on and off. We both locked glances; I could tell she was in trouble through the hordes of endless undead.
So late at night...when we were eating, Maxwell decided to finally speak up. "Wes...look, I want you to stay here and watch the base till I get back, while I try and do something about those people," Maxwell chorused under his breath. Dropping the fork in my plate; making my way around the bar filling my glass with more red wine, I didn't know if it was the wine talking or my enrage to say something when I responded, "No! I'm coming with you, we're in this together know Max."With a sigh and a passing glance, Lt. Maxwell muffled under his breath, "No! If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn't know..." Maxwell brief pause his last comment and continued to chow down as the lights began to flicker softly.
It was before going to bed...when Maxwell followed me up, saying concernedly "look...its not that I don't think you can't handle yourself, but I don't want another life lost on my behalf." I didn't know what he meant; but I felt the honest sad truth purse from his mouth, with it began honestly as Max made his way upstairs. "Its just if...something happened, I don't wanna be alone again." This time I tightened my fists trying not to show emotion, while contempt like manner made his way beside me saying once more, "look..its just, I feel we're in this together." Lt. Maxwell with a reluctant sight; bega to responded stiffly in my direction, " if that's how your truly feel we'll go early tomorrow morning, that is if your up in time."
I knowingly knew I couldn't get in the way of the mission tomorrow. Clenching the fire-ax tightly; sitting their on the bed...I knew we had to somehow help those people and too ensure Max's safety and mine. Its been days since I've been in the city and from Maxwell's perspective... I was a lucky person not to encounter more than what I'd seen. Later that night; a million questions boggled through my mind; about my mom and the rest of the research team, as well as the lock-down in the entire city. As I couldn't sleep; so searching the room I managed to find a plastic ring of six 357 magnum shells, slightly hollowed out in the end. As well as a thigh hoister for the weapon too, and a operating manual.
It didn't take long for me to nearly go over a chapter or so of the book, before I went to sleep. I tiredly took the ring of shells on the small wooden night stand, and opening the draws, I put the book inside. It didn't take longer now…for the sound of Maxwell's snoring to slightly wake me up and eventually went to sleep waiting for the morning to come.
