Sorry for the lateness of this chapter I had no idea in what direction to take the story so This chapter may be subject to small changes but the rest assured the next chapter will be out in a couple days by the latest friday.
The alleys were laden with rubbish and hanging on every street were signs enforcing strict rules such as curfew, military vehicles passed by and soldiers patrolled the streets. Fences were adorned with razor wire the closer they got to the military district the more it seemed like a prison. On several roofs soldiers were perched looking down like hawks.
"Once we get inside let me do the talking this isn't the most hospitable zone in the world" said Derrick
Joel and Sarah followed in silence and as they entered the building it became much more lively with people filling the halls it seemed the building was used for public relation with each person voicing their concerns whilst some of the louder ones were pulled away by soldiers, looking up you could see more soldiers heavily armed looking down upon the foyer alert to every movement scanning the crowd.
"Right were here now just sit down on the bench and I will go explain everything" said Derrick gesturing to a bench that was outside an office
Joel and Sarah sat down as Derrick entered the office Joel sat silently looking down the bustling halls whilst Sarah tucked her legs under her leaning into the wall managing to overhear parts of the conversation within.
"By god man your dripping blood all over the carpet" an older croakier voice said
"Sorry sir me and my team were ambushed outside by a group of bandits I was the only survivor" a voice obviously Derricks responded
"And your radio" the man snapped back
"Damaged in the ensuing fight Sir" Derrick instantly replied
"At least you got back now for god's sake man get yourself patched up" said the man
"There is one other thing sir there are two people outside a man and a little girl I found them during the ambush" said Derrick
"Oh really and now we just offer free entry to any one that walks up to the wall now we are over capacity as it is and how the hell do you know they aren't with those bandits" yelled the man
"Sir they are the reason I am alive they shot the one which would have killed me" Derrick retorted
From what Sarah could hear it sounded like the man had just slumped back into his seat and then murmured a few more words that were drowned out by a man being dragged away outside followed by a single gunshot. Then the office door swung open and Derrick stood there.
"He will see you now" he said gesturing for them both to enter before leaving himself.
"Please take a seat I'm Captain Manford" the man as he sat in his leather chair sporting some rather large glasses and chewing on a toothpick.
"I hear you are the reason Derrick is still with us"
"We did shoot his attacker" replied Joel
"Well then that makes you more deserving than most people in the quarantine zone so now if you will give me any other FEDRA documents you have and we can get all the paperwork out the way and then you will officially be allowed to live here" said Manford
After several minutes filling out documents with much the same information as they did for the last quarantine zone Manford got Joel and Sarah to stand against the plain wall and he took a picture of each and after some typing on his computer handed over two id badges. After handing them over Manford went over the rules and explained that in order to survive they had to earn ration cards and that jobs would be posted on notice boards in each district.
As Joel and Sarah left the office Derrick followed now with bandages around his wound.
"Hey I can show you where you will be staying if you want" said Derrick as he caught up
"That would be helpful I have no idea where to go" replied Joel
Walking through the streets of Boston it became clear that the military was in full force and Derrick began talking to Joel about how he had gotten to Boston in the first place and how smuggling in a few objects now and then can really improve your standard of living. Derrick continued leading them and after several turns he had led them to an old apartment building.
Upon arriving on the second floor a few doors down Derrick handed Joel a key which he quickly used to open the door revealing an apartment with 2 bedrooms a kitchen with adjoined lounge all crammed into a small area.
"Most of the good buildings are gone and with some becoming condemned the list of residences is shortening up" murmured Derrick
Looking around Joel smiled thinking this will do glancing over to see Sarah had already claimed a room.
"I will let you settle in but you owe me and one day I intend to collect" said Derrick menacingly as he left the apartment
Joel moved over towards the sofa sitting down putting his feat up looking out the window he could see streaks of rain on the window and the spotlights of the wall through the rain as unnerving as it was for the first time in ages Joel felt that both him and Sarah were safe.
"So do you like our new place" said Joel calling out to Sarah
"It certainly makes the previous place look like a luxury but it will do" replied Sarah as she sat beside Joel
"What do we do now" she asked
"I would say sleep" replied Joel
"You know what I mean" said Sarah as she gave Joel a nudge
"Well you find a school to enrol in and I find a job" said Joel
After a few hours Joel found himself on what was to become his bed for the foreseeable future and he began to doze off but he could faintly hear some music playing in the background thinking to himself that Sarah had been able to charge her music player closed his eyes and cracked a smile before drifting off.