𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦

✮10. Base Camp✮

We drove towards the camp and I almost wanted to cry. We had driven 8 hours straight, fought the undead and saw countless dead bodies. All for this moment. 

"The next left should lead us to the entrance", Yara said, looking at me. She had halted the car and was gripping the steering wheel with both of her hands. Yara seemed tense. Frankly, so was I. 

I mean this next turn would get us to safety, right?   right? 

"Let's go", I said in a tone of enthusiasm, though lined with uncertainty.

We took the next turn and I could tell that our lives were yet again, flipped upside down. 

"STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE", yelled a man wearing all black and pointing his fire arm at us. Around five other people, all pointing guns at us came from behind. There was so much to look at. 

A huge watchtower, the one we had seen earlier, stood beside the entrance to the base camp. On it were two people both of whom were armed and ready to fire down at us. Two caged barriers that reached over 12 feet had a huge neon sign that stated, 'BASE CAMP' and a board plastered with all kinds of information. There were around 10 illustrations, showing us the symptoms of the virus and how it developed and thank God, it wasn't graphic. 

"WHAT DO WE DO?", Yara yelled at me, frantically backing the car. "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TURNING AWAY FROM THEM, THEY'LL SHOOT US!", I screamed in return. 

I have no clue what got into us at the moment. Perhaps, being out of touch with humanity did not make us realize that they were part of the SWAT team and were clearly officers sent to aid us. Yara pulled the breaks in a rush and we both slowly opened our car doors and stepped out, with our hands raised in the air. 

Before we could make small talk, four of the officers ran towards us and tackled us to the ground. We both tried to resist but from behind the black-worn men came two white-coated people, wearing a sought of a visor. 

They knelt down beside us and pointed a device at our foreheads. I thought it was a gun and almost accepted my fate of death when instead of a boom I heard a beeping sound. "37 degree Celsius, this one is clear", a gruff voice spoke from behind the visor. Before I could move however, I was pushed back once again and my eyelids were stretched while the man looked into my eyes, lowering his head more. "Clear."

With that, I was let go of the harsh grip of the officers and got up. I dusted off the dirt from my clothes and started to look for Yara. She was just let go and I went over to her. 

"Please follow me to the examination room", came a voice from behind us of one of the doctors.

Just as we were about to go through the caged barriers, both our arms were pulled back and something was latched on to our wrists. Hand-cuffs. 

"What the hell?", Yara exclaimed, agitated.  The officer who put them on us replied calmly, "safety protocols." Shrugging it off, we followed the doctor who introduced himself as Dr. Shekar. 

"I apologize for the rough formality but here, we are responsible for the safety of more than a hundred people. Better safe that sorry", he looked at us, now his visor off. 

He looked like he was in his middle ages and had black hair, which were just starting to whiten. His face was wrinkled along the cheeks and his eyes had under bags. Dr. Shekar had a face of authority, though his eyes reflected sadness and a look of regret. My gaze fell on his hand and he wore a wedding ring. What was his story? I wondered.

"First you will be taken to the examination chamber, where you will be analyzed for any bites and tested for the virus. It takes around 5 to 30 minutes for any symptoms, but it may exhibit later, up to an hour, as well. For that, you both will be quarantined for an hour in separate rooms. We will provide you with water, food and new clothes. In return, we ask for your cooperation", he stated. Yara nodded while I replied, "of course."

"Great, follow me", he turned and we officially entered the camp. It was a sight of hope yet disparity. 

I could see people who seemed joyous to be here. They were hugging each other and reuniting with their loved ones. Some were carrying food trays and eating so rapidly as if they hadn't eaten in days, which doesn't seem so far off. They were content to be here. A little girl ran towards her father and into his arms. A man showering another man with kisses, happy to be united with his lover. A family sharing a group hug and a couple of laughs. 

But amongst the happiness and love, there were lonely silhouettes, wandering about. They looked as if life had been sucked out of them. Their faces were numb and blank, underlined with grief. I saw a woman on her knees, holding on to a pink blanket and crying silently. A man held a photo frame and looked down upon it with an expression of longing. A toddler, crying for his mom who was no where to be found. 

As I said, hope yet Disparity. 

We were led into the examination room where we were given water and asked a few questions about our interactions with the undead. After the interrogation was done, two female doctors came into our the make shift chamber and asked us to remove our clothing, to make sure we did not have any bite marks. Of course, Yara and I were separated. They ran a few simple tests and finally I was allowed to take a shower, of not more than 5 minutes. 

I quickly got dressed and my hand cuffs were one again put on. From then on, I was put into an "isolation room" for an 45 minutes. I was handed food through a slight gap in the door which I ate in silence, occasionally humming tunes thinking, what had life come to?

An officer came to fetch me and I finally came out into open ground. I frantically started looking for Yara and yelled her name in all directions although I couldn't find her. I was about to head to the informational desk when I heard my name being yelled.

"Diana, over here!" 

I turned around to see Yara waving her hands in the air but got even more surprised when I saw who was behind her. There stood a slender man, with honey brown eyes. 

James Hill.