Luke's Diary: An Unlucky Man In A Zombie Apocalypse. Entries 957 - 1157

Entry 1010: Wednesday 3rd July 2019

Entry 1010
Wednesday 3rd July 2019

My God! I'm fuming!

Blade made another announcement today that has not only made me feel utterly dismayed, but also completely angry! I'm so angry that my head is hurting!

The day started with me once again lying through my teeth to Nikki. I got up and gave her the impression I was getting ready for work. I left the house making Nikki think I was meeting Gary, who would drive me to The Hive for another day's work, at the end of the street. Whilst I was giving this impression to Nikki, the truth of course is that I walked into Sandown and spent the following five and half hours drinking cup of tea after cup of tea sitting at a table, in the back of The Beach Café where I spent the morning hiding.

Another day where I've lied through my teeth to my girlfriend. I do feel bad. The guilt is really starting to set in now, but I need to keep telling myself that I'm doing all of this to avoid an argument where Nikki kicks off. There's no point in rocking the apple cart if I don't need to, and once I get a new job and once Nikki feels a bit more relaxed at the idea of me seeing Mike and Cyn, there'll be no need to continue lying.

Anyway, right now my mind is focusing on other, frankly more annoying matters. When I got home from The Beach Café, Nikki asked me if I'd had a nice day at work and if I'd had any problems with Natasha. Not telling her that I spent my "shift" drinking tea in The Beach Café, I lied and said it had been an OK day at work. At that moment, my lie was interrupted by Blade who was preparing to make another public announcement to the island. Once again, Nikki and I stood on the front doorstep so we could hear Blade more clearly. Again, Natasha was also stood on her front doorstep. Blade did his usually long winded and frankly pointless introduction and then got to the point. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced to the island, "Yesterday I announced that a utilised infected was found killed on Cowes Beach with a sign around his neck saying 'KEEP THEM LOCKED UP OR ELSE.' I also announced that I would not tolerate such behaviour and that I will not give into threats. This morning another infected person was found killed on Cowes beach, this time with a sign around his neck saying 'I WILL KILL THEM ALL'. I also announced yesterday that an urgent meeting would be held where decisions would be made. The meeting has taken place, and decisions have been made. I am making this announcement today to inform you all of what these decisions are, and what they mean for you as island residents. From this moment forth The Protection Of The Infected Act will be in force. This is now law on The Isle of Wight and all islanders will receive a copy of The Act later today. My team and I have been working very hard with Natasha Swann and her team at the TITWAN.... I mean 'The Infected Treated With Acceptance And Kindness' Group and we hope you will all respect and adhere to the new law. We have made the Act as robust yet as easy to understand as it can be. The majority of islanders voted in the Quarantine, Care, Utilise and Cure Proposals, known as QCUC and based on this democratic decision GRID and 'The Infected Treated With Acceptance And Kindness' Group have developed a legal act that will formalise how we quarantine and care for the infected, as well as how we will utilise them and do our best to work towards a cure. Based on recent events I would like to make it clear that if anyone is caught killing a utilised infected when there is no clear need to do so, they may be incarcerated within The Isle of Wight Prison for a number of days. If they repeat this offence, the offender will be incarcerated for a longer period. Other rules within The Act include treating the infected with respect, not assaulting them and not preventing them from being utilised, along with other key points. I hope all islanders will respect the new laws and adhere to them, but please make no mistake; if anyone breaks these new laws they will be punished. Thank you."

I could NOT believe what I heard. I was totally shocked. A stunned silence lingered for a while. I turned to Natasha who had what I thought was a smug grin on her face. "You!" I snapped at Natasha, pointing my index finger, aggressively at her, "This is all you, isn't it!?" "It's not ALL me," said Natasha, "Yes, I was involved, of course I was. I run 'The Infected Treated With Acceptance And Kindness' Group and I run The Hive, so of course I had some involvement, but it wasn't ALL me." "I bet most of it was," I snapped, "Locking someone up who kills an infected. That's got you written all over it." "Luke, Jon was going to have a meeting about the killing of the infected without me," said Natasha, "That's unacceptable and he knew that. I insisted on me and my group members being in that meeting to have a say in this new legislation." "This is f*cking madness!" I loudly snapped, "There's so much we need to focus on, on this island; healthcare, food supplies, developing civilisation, increasing safety... and what are we doing? Creating legislation to protect the f*cking infected! It's f*cking mental!" "Luke, whether you like it or not, the QCUC proposals are here to stay and so is the new POTI Act. Get used to it. Oh, and if I were you, I'd tell your little vigilante mate that if they get caught, they'll be locked up in the Isle of Wight Prison with Harold Endo." "What are you on about?" I said, "I don't know who this vigilante person is." Natasha raised her eyes, signalling she didn't believe me. "Look, I don't give a toss if you believe me or not," I snapped, "I don't know who this person is who's killing the infected, but if I did know, I wouldn't tell you. This mysterious person is making the island a safer place." "Your opinion is irrelevant, Luke," said Natasha, "If they carry on, the GRID soldiers will find him, or her and throw them into prison." "You and your proposals are running this island," I snapped, "Putting people in prison for killing infected. It's absolute madness. The person who needs locking up around here is you." Natasha gave me an unimpressed look and then went back inside.

Nikki and I went back in the house. "Luke, babes," said Nikki, "I know Natasha's a b*tch but you need to be careful how you talk to her. She could sack you, and we need the credits you get from working at The Hive." "She's a complete tw*t!" I angrily snapped, "A complete and utter tw*t." I spent a bit more time ranting and raving. I think Nikki got bored of me going on. Maybe if she'd ever been up close and personal with these infected f*ckers, she'd have more understanding as to why I'm so angry.

I can't believe Blade! I remember him announcing that he had concerns about the message Natasha and her TITWANK group were spreading. He even worked with us on our campaign to try and stop the QCUC proposals getting voted in, and now it sounds like he's the biggest supporter! UNBELIEVABLE! I bet he's regretting letting the islanders vote for all this sh*t. If he isn't, he should be. I bet some of the islanders are regretting it too. Locking up people for killing infected. It's madness, absolute madness!

In the afternoon, our copy of The Protection of The Infected (POTI) Act was delivered. Reading it just increased my anger! The document says that it is now against the law to kill an infected resident when there is no clear need to do so. It says that if we are attacked by an infected resident, we should follow the following steps:
1. Quarantine: Using previously issued neck-grabs, quarantine the infected resident in a safe and secure area.
2. Restrain: Using previously issued neck-grabs or other items, use reasonable force to restrain the infected.
3. Defend: Using previously issued neck-grabs or other items, use reasonable actions to defend yourself.
4. Run: If you cannot quarantine, restrain, or defend, run and hide in a safe place and inform GRID personnel.
5. Kill: Only when the above options are not possible.

The whole thing is crazy! If I have an infected rolling around on top of me, I'm meant to get out a bit of paper and go through a f*cking flow chart thing. Stupid! And what do we do with them once we quarantine them? Stick them behind a big concrete wall and either use them to stop people swimming late night, or store them until we get a cure that is probably never going to come. F*cking ridiculous!

We are able to kill the infected, but only if we think our life is in danger and we are unable to do any of steps one to five. If an infected comes running at me, I think it's more than fair to say I'll be thinking that my life is at risk. The document says that GRID soldiers can shoot the infected and kill them, but again, it says they should only do this if they can't complete steps one to four. It does say the soldiers can shoot the infected in the leg or the arm, or shoot them in a non-fatal area to protect lives of uninfected islanders, but the document is clear that the first port of call should be quarantine. It even says that if we are heard insulting the infected, we can be given a formal warning. What the f*ck! That's got Natasha's name all over it.

I'm furious! Absolutely furious! I can't wait to see Cyn and Mike tomorrow to have a good moan to them about it. Although I suspect Cyn will do all she can to stick up for Blade and not hear a bad word against him. God, he needs to get a backbone. What the Hell is happening to this island!?

I wonder if a utilised infected will turn up dead tomorrow?