Capsule Outbreak

23 Detached

Maggie's POV

We're coming back to the car with a young girl named Lilac. She's still in tears while we walk, holding my left hand, and I just hug her tightly. I know she's grieving and needs time to rest and move on. We get inside the car, seeing Allie, Duke, and Charlie sleeping in the back seat. Lilac and I sit in the front seat, and Louis starts to drive the car heading to Austin, Texas.

After some time, we're nearing Texas. Allie, Duke, and Charlie wake up, and we decide to park somewhere to eat our lunch. Duke and Louis get the food supplies from the back of the car, and we start eating inside. Lilac still can't believe what just happened; she's been staring out the window for an hour.

"Who is she?" Allie asked while eating.

"She's Lilac," I replied after chewing my food.

"Hi, Lilac, come and eat with us!" Charlie softly said, but Lilac ignores him, still looking somewhere.

"What happened there?" Allie asked, confused, seeing Lilac in tears.

"It's a long story, but I'll make it short. Lilac has been living with her addicted uncle nearby there, who killed her father and her young brother. We heard someone shouting for help, and it was her mother who was down there at the well. We pulled her mother up, and she sees her daughter again. But we heard a gunshot, and her uncle shows up carrying her young brother, a zombie shot dead. Her mother is furious for what happened to her son, so she fights the man until he attempts to kill Lilac. But her mother saves her, then runs towards the man, intentionally falling with him into the well full of zombies," I explained to them.

Allie approaches Lilac and comforts her, giving her food, and Lilac eventually eats it. After we finish our lunch, Louis decides to continue driving.

We arrive in Austin, Texas at 6:00 PM. Soldiers are guarding the two doorways, holding weapons for zombies. We park the car somewhere and walk towards them, holding our supplies and weapons. I approach a soldier there.

"Do you know my Uncle Greg?" I asked the soldier.

"Is that Sargeant Gregory Ryder?" a soldier said, confused.

"Yes, I'm Maggie, and here's my younger brother Charlie. Uncle Greg told us he would meet us here!" I said.

"I'm Sargent Maveus, a friend of your uncle. He told me to meet you here because honestly, Sargeant Gregory is on a mission right now. So, I'm the one who will take care of you until he comes back!" Sargeant Maveus informed us.

We all look at the two doorways, unsure of what's going on. Soldiers start checking our bodies, and luckily, no one is positive or has been bitten by a zombie. Sargeant Maveus informs us of the camp's rules: the men and women are separated. The first doorway is for men only, whether children or adults, while the second doorway is for women only. This rule ensures the safety and privacy of all the people inside. Furthermore, no weapons are allowed inside, so we need to surrender them, even Louis and Allie's skateboard.

"What? Really? But I can't be separated from my boyfriend," Allie argued with the soldiers.

"Sorry, but all soldiers here are strict. The rules must be followed, and I can't change that," Sargeant Maveus said.

"But we're just here for Uncle Greg. We're not going to stay for a long time!" Allie argued.

"If you don't want to follow the rules, you can go back where you came from and not meet Sargeant Gregory here!" Sargeant Maveus said.

Duke suddenly approaches Allie and hugs her tightly while she's crying. We don't know how long it will take for my Uncle Greg to come back for us, but we will wait for him.

"Allie, I love you. Don't worry, we will see each other again, I promise!" Duke softly said.

"I love you too, Duke. I swear, even for a while, I will miss you!" Allie said while looking at Duke, and they kiss each other for the last time.

"Charlie, I love you. Be a good boy while I'm not with you, okay?" I softly said to him, and he nods yes while Louis looks at us.

"Louis, please take care of my brother there!" I softly said while looking at his face.

"I promise to protect Charlie no matter what!" Louis softly said while looking into my eyes. I suddenly kiss him on the lips, and Charlie notices it in a glance.

Before Louis walks in, he softly said, "I love you, Maggie!"

"I love you too, Louis!" I softly responded, and Duke, Louis, and Charlie start walking into the first doorway. Then, Allie, Akira, Lilac, and I also start walking into the second doorway.

While we're walking in, I see a high-rise building here for only women to live in. Soldiers are still watching over the residents. We walk to the first floor; it's like checking into a hotel for our room.

"Welcome to the women's site here in Texas. Here is your number card for your room!" a personnel said, and we're glad someone is welcoming us here. She gives us a number card with the room number 275 on the 18th floor. Sargeant Maveus walks with us upstairs. He tells us that there are 20 floors here, with 15 rooms per floor. As I look around, it gives me goosebumps and a little bit of fear because of the unclear lights here; you could fall downstairs any second. All women are inside their rooms, especially at night, and all the doors are closed. We're so tired from walking up so many stairs until we reach the 18th floor and our room.

"There are so many stairs here. It's really annoying," Allie said while sighing deeply.

"Well, that's normal for us, especially when new residents come in here," Sargeant Maveus said, and we open the door.

I see a small room with two beds, one window where you can see the moon so closely, a table with relief goods, and a water dispenser, all for us. Before Sargeant Maveus leaves us, I ask him about my uncle Greg's mission.

"I can't say anything about it, but because you're related to him, I can say his mission is to bring food supplies, water, and first aid kits somewhere. But don't worry about him; he's safe. Anyway, I can leave you now. Good night!" Sargeant Maveus informed us, and he leaves.