Extinction Event¹ ━ FTWD

CHAPTER 19: Ashes to Ashes

EXTINCTION EVENT

chapter nineteen: ashes to ashes

[ season 1, episode 6; the good man ]

NIGHT 15

Inside the building, Daniel held a hand out to keep them back as radio chatter echoed off the walls in the room ahead. He checked around the corner, then motioned them forwards into a darkened room with flickering lights, and paperwork scattered over the floor and secretary's desk.

"This must be the checkpoint," Travis said. "Adams said there'd be a sign marked administration."

At that, Katie's ears perked up and she scanned the room. This was where Adams had said they worked out of, so it made sense their files would be here, as well.

They checked around the room, scanning for the administration sign.

"It's here," Madison pointed to the sign, and the group began to follow her lead down the corridor.

Katie hung back, and called out, "You guys go on ahead, I'm going to catch up to you."

They paused, surprised at her change in plans. "You can't stay here," Daniel insisted. "There are soldiers everywhere. We need to keep moving."

"I'll be fine," she assured the older man. "I'll catch up, there's just something I need to find." At Daniel's hesitance, she met his gaze. "Go find your wife," she said emphatically. "She needs you more than I do."

Daniel's jaw tightened, and he gave her a short nod, then went on ahead, followed by Madison and the others. Travis hung back. "It's not a good idea for you to be on your own in here," he said.

Katie gave him a look. "It's not a good idea to be here at all," she noted with a trace of humor. "We're here because we don't have a choice. All of us."

Travis's brow creased — obviously conflicted about leaving her behind, but understanding her logic. "Once you're done, follow the sign marked administration," he ordered, pointing back to it. "If you can't find us, double back to the garage and we'll meet there."

"I will," she affirmed. "Now go find Liza."

He nodded, then continued on down the path the others had forged.

Left to her own devices, Katie began to search around. There were several rooms scattered just off the entrance they'd came from, many offices too small to be of any use. Finally, just off the main room, she found what she was looking for.

It looked like a former conference room, complete with a wall of windows overlooking the main hallway and circular table, and seemed to be the center of the military's operation. File cabinets had hastily been pushed in, almost overburdening the area, while the swivel chairs had been discarded in a nearby office.