Disclaimer: I do not own the characters to The Office. They are owned by NBC. I own the character of Charles.
Still trapped inside the office park commotion was still going on as people tried to make sense on how the dead could have risen especially so quickly. It happened as though it occurred over night and on a massive scale. Listening to the Emergency Alert System Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey were being placed into a form of quarantine and New York City alone had over eight million people compared to the miniscule 70,000 of Scranton. There no way to know if all eight million, half that number, or just a fraction were infected there was no way for the people in Dunder Mifflin to know what was happening down the street from where they were.
Hank was watching the cameras as they panned through the parking lot. He was the bonfire in the corner still burning emitting thick black smoke and the dark pools of blood and brains in the parking lot of where they were cut down. Closing his eyes to catch a moments rest Creed wandered into Hank's new office, "Whatcha watchin'?" the old man asked, hands in his pockets being casual.
"Zombies outside the fence," Hank said leaning back in his seat and looking away from the glare of the monitors, his thumb and index fingers rubbing his eyes.
"Any trouble?"
"No, not yet, but there's a lot of them out there especially around the gate," Hank's voice was in a low gravel tone as his hands still pained him.
Creed looked for himself at the screens seeing the zombies shoulder to shoulder all around the fence and several ranks deep, "You know what this reminds me of? Woodstock," Creed said, "Just climb to the top of the fence, throw your fears to the wind and jump into the crowd and they'll carry you wherever you want." Creed's arms were up, reaching for the ceiling.
Hank just looked up at Creed with a blank expression, "Okay, man, I'm just going to get back to work," turning his head back to the monitors.
"Okay, take care, Ace," Creed smirked then left the room. Hank did not see him go but when he reached over for his candy bar it was missing.
Taking up weapons or taking up hammers the people of Dunder-Mifflin and Vance Refrigeration were at work making this building their safe house whilst outside zombies were trying to get in. Luke, Michael Scott's nephew, had used his car to blast through the gate and allowed the zombies in. The timely return of Bob Vance, Darryl, and Charles sealed the breach and all those that made in were slain and now burning in a pyre and now Luke was placed in a corner and was ignored mostly through the rest of the day though Pam made sure to send a heavy object his way. It was Luke that endangered their lives by allowing the zombies in and his uncle pleaded for his life and though Pam wanted to strangle the life out the pipsqueak she did not have the heart of a killer. A janitor's closet was cleaned out and Luke was put into there and Ryan began to taunt him through the door, "Sucks, don't it?"
All the weapon fire and the zombie moan chain effect echoed through the neighborhood and more and more kept arriving their fingers feeling up the fence or pushing against the gate but it held fast. Having read every book on zombies he could get his hands on Dwight knew that a chain link fence would not hold long against so many of them and told this to an already scared Michael Scott who broke down and ran into the bathroom and refused to come out. The never ending chorus of the undead forced everyone inside and shut all the doors and even that was not enough and people started using earplugs. Bringing in plywood to make small rooms began to be constructed to allow the survivors to have their own rooms however many of the office workers decided to sleep on around their desks opting for the better, vacant rooms upstairs. Jim was up there sitting behind his desk looking at the pictures he had arrayed around his computer monitor, him and his friends and of Pam holding Cecelia after her birth. "I've worked here for many years. I hate this job and there were only two reasons I stayed I needed the money and because of Pam and now I'm going to die here…with Pam," he sighed heavily and sank deeper into his chair. Looking over to Dwight's desk the man was absent and so was his radio. Dwight had climbed onto the roof to get a better signal and picked up the Emergency Alert System once again this time saying a different message than before:
"The President has activated all the countries National Guard and Reserve Military. People are being told to stay inside their homes. Do not attempt to reach family or loved ones or try and leave your towns."
Dwight scrolled the dial a little and picked up a man's voice. It must be a man with his own radio transmitter, "People, this is it. The zombies have risen and are now in the streets killing everyone in their path. The government wanted to take our guns because they knew, they knew, that this was going to happen because they unleashed it."
He continued to listen to the channels trying to gather all the information he could before heading back downstairs to find his boss. Michael Scott was beside himself in fear shaking while sitting on the toilet though not using it. He used this seclusion to reflect upon his life. As boss of Dunder Mifflin, a title he coveted was now redundant with the rise of the zombies for there was no more company and no more law except for survival.
The welding equipment was also offloaded however it was too cold outside now to do this today and doing it inside was dangerous with all the flammable materials. It will have to wait till tomorrow and until that time came the survivors would have to sleep. In his many bags of tricks Charles had a few sleeping bags buried underneath in the cab of his truck. These would prove useful for only Dwight had survival blankets and he was not willing to share with his cohorts.
"First thing is first," Charles said, "We have to get these batteries charged. "I need two people on these generators, hook them to the batteries and start cranking." Kevin was giggling at the words but after being volunteered by Angela to start turning. The generators were heavy and were placed on tables and Kevin sat in a chair and slowly began turning the handles. Oscar took connector cables from the generator and placed the opposite end on the first battery's prongs then placed the opposite end on the clamps on the prongs of the battery where some sparks shot out telling him that there was a current. Oscar smiled that it was working then he heard Kevin panting for breath then quit.
"I…can't…I can't do it," Kevin's forehead was already lathered in sweat and his body was slumped forward and despite his fellow accountant's prodding could not continue.
"Come on, Kevin," Oscar said, "You just started. It's not that difficult."
Slowly peeling himself out of the seat Kevin caught his breath, "If you don't think it's so difficult then you do it." Taking up the offer Oscar sat down, rolled up his sleeves, and began to slowly turn the handles. Admittedly it was difficult at first but gradually he began to overcome the difficulty, "I have a new way to build up my biceps."
Charles also instructed, "We have to keep a low profile, try not to draw attention here from the zombies and desperate people out there."
Angela was against this, "Wait, if they're people out there we have to help them," she said arms crossed in front of her stomach. The bright blonde, petite accountant said her voice stern and resentful that her idea was shot down so easily and by a stranger.
"Hey, if you want to go out there and find them then be my guest but all those zombies are going to be after you the whole way," the soldier said.
In the office Pam was sitting down on the love seat and was joined by Jim, "I'm scared, Jim. I'm really scared," Pam said, "I don't want to die here."
"I don't want to either, but we'll make it," Jim said. Nodding Pam rested her head on Jim's shoulder and closed her eyes.
It was nearing dark, the temperature was falling fast and though the electricity was still flowing the generators were still being turned to charge the batteries by Oscar and by Bob Vance as Erin and Kelly looked into what food was on hand. What food that Charles brought was either dried, canned, or MREs, and he wanted to hold off the latter two until they hit the road for they contained water and would be better for them than the dried stuff. Large plastic containers held boxes of powdered soup, dried vegetables, meat, and fruits all of which did not suit their palate. "God, what kind of person would eat food like this? There's nothing good here. We something with more pizzazz and with….flavor," Kelly said in frustration holding one of the boxes of powdered soup all appeared to be generic. Erin merely shrugged, "We should make the best of it." Taking the food up to the kitchen they found a large pot and began mixing ingredients together to make a mean soup.
As they stirred the pot Kelly rolled up her sleeves and was bickering the whole time, "You what? Ryan hasn't done a damn thing through this entire thing, you know? He just stood there in the corner and made fun of Luke. What kind of guy does that? I mean, belittles a helpless kid…" Beside her Erin was nodding her head but was actually zoning her out. Charles walked through the kitchen and went into the bathroom and Kelly watched him the whole way and when the door closed she turned to Erin, "Oh my God he's so cute. Guys in uniform are so sexy. I wish that Ryan would be in uniform like a Marine. They have the hottest uniforms."
As the hours slowly crawled by the amount of zombies around the compound began bleeding away till only a couple were left. By that time the bonfire had consumed all the flammable material and was just spewing some faint smoke and the pungent stench hung in the cold, still air. This is the way that was wanted. All windows were covered with blackout curtains and all doors leading outside were locked and barricaded and with the outer perimeter keeping the zombies out the survivors began to relax for their first night of siege. Darryl and his co-worker Michael, not Michael Scott, had just put up several plywood rooms that were large enough for a person to lie down and have privacy.
"What are we supposed to do tonight?" Angela was heard on the warehouse floor wandering from place to place, "We can't sleep down here. It's cold and stinks."
"Then get your butt upstairs," Darryl said to her and Angela immediately put up a scowl on her face but Darryl, already warn down today would not put up with her mouth and after being stared down the accountant hustled upstairs and hid inside her cubicle. Pam and Jim did not care for they were still on the couch. In their heads they were trying to figure out how they were going to get out and how they were going to find their daughter. Pam felt a chill run up her spine at the thought that her daughter could be one of the infected and she clung to Jim ever tighter.
Stepping out from the bathroom Charles just moved past the two in the kitchen and was about to leave when he heard Erin call him, "Hey, you were in Iraq right?"
"Yes?" voice quite perturbed.
Kelly was the next one to ask a question "Was it hot there?"
Merely ignoring the question Charles began to leave again when Erin asked, "Listen, uh, do you think we can make it now that we have guns and stuff?"
"Guns are just part of it. Your head is the key. I've known people that have escaped enemy territory without firearms. Your brain is a far deadlier and useful tool and as long as you keep it under control and use it you can do anything," sounded like a cheesy motivational speech but Erin actually smiled and felt confident until Dwight poked his head into the room, "Hey, what are you guys doing in here? Oh my God, we're you making out?"
"No, Dwight, don't be gross," Kelly said wiping her hands into a paper towel however Dwight could not help but smile in his mind at the thought of two girls making out. Nudging his way through the spectacle wearing German the soldier was going to leave the office when Dwight followed and accosted him further.
"Were you in Spec Ops?" meaning special forces, "Did you kill people?" Charles did not answer instead just kept walking until reaching Jim and Pam on the couch.
"You guys alright?" the soldier asked.
"Yeah, man, we're good," Jim said in a whisper and motioned with his head at the sleeping Pam that he did not wish to disturb.
Before he could get any further Dwight was on his heels again, "You probably killed thousands of innocent children in Afghanistan," he began, "Not that I mind, less people…"
"I was in Iraq not Afghanistan."
"Fine. Then thousands of innocent Iraqi…" beginning once more only to be dealt a rabbit punch to the gut.
Just an hour before night fall, sun almost at the horizon and most of the people were inside the warehouse where Erin and Kelly brought down their soup to give to the others. Standing aside and mocking the line of people as they came up to the pot with their dink bowls for a drop of gruel Dwight could not help but scoff, "Suddenly now we're a soup kitchen. This is not supposed to be a charity, people. Zombies are outside just like I've been warning them for years. No one took me seriously and when they were literally at the front door they didn't know what to do. I said, "Hey everybody, listen to me. I know what to do" and did they listen? No. They just ran to their corners and cried like a scared bitch."
Though the soup was not terrible in taste and did fill their stomachs the people were not accustomed to just having soup for dinner but Charles also rummaged through his bags and found some chocolate bars.
A question was posted, "Who's going to take first watch?" No one raised their hands and Hank was already becoming tired of staring at the screens. When no one stepped forward Charles said he would and asked to be relieved in four hours.
When Scranton was at last cast in darkness and Charles, sitting on the roof of the building was bundled up tightly against the cold. He kept looking at his watch as the minutes ticked by. No activity outside except for a few shambling ghouls in the streets. Power to the neighborhood was still working but their brightness also illuminated the columns of black and brown smoke rising to the sky. Despite the apocalyptic and desperate nature this situation conjures up the people inside the building felt safe but for themselves, however their family was another matter that kept some up during the night.
When it reached midnight Charles climbed down from the roof and went inside the branch office to shake off the cold and found Jim and Pam still asleep on the couch, a coat covering both of them. Walking by he heard a shivering noise from behind Erin's reception desk and stepped around to see the Erin sitting on floor under the desk surface, hair over her eyes, knees bent up to her face and arms wrapped around them making a cocoon of sorts.
"You alright?" he whispered to which she jerked and backed an inch away then calmed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just cold." Charles disappeared and came back with a blanket that he had kept inside his rucksack.
"Here, use this."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine." He left to the kitchen and Erin wrapped herself up in the blanket and slowly fell asleep. Sometime later, she did not know when but the lights were off and it was still dark outside but the phone rang. It took a moment for Erin to understand that the phone was ringing then she hurriedly came out from underneath her desk and began fumbling for the phone. Finding the receiver she held it to her ear and out of instinct replied, "Dunder Mifflin this is Erin."
"Erin? It's Andy" a weak and garbled voice was heard through the receiver and the receptionist stood up.
"Andy? Where are you?"
"I'm at a….station with Gabe. We're okay but …..gonna….help…." the line went dead.
"Andy? Andy!" Erin yelled into the phone. Realizing that it was pointless to talk into it anymore she hung up and collapsed into her chair and head into her hands.