Survival

Chapter 11: 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚, 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙

(Joseph)

"To go out that front door would be suicide!" Bill exclaiming his voice in frustration loudly but not loud enough to let the zombies roaming the halls hear him. "Let's fucking breathe. We just went through hell to get here. Let me at least savor the taste of being alive." Bill said in a pleading manner.

"We don't all have to go! Please just let me go and save them! Save VJ...." Lee protested as his voice cracking with the overwhelming dilemma that had come to face them. Joseph tried his best to comfort him for the past few minutes. Joseph remembered what he and Lee had spoke about. Lee promising to never forgive himself if he loses VJ, and Joseph carrying the same burden if he fails to save Lee.

"Let's just calm down for a bit." EJ spoke out being the leader of the group to calm everyone down. "Let's dissect the options that we have. Let's think of options. Let's brainstorm on what the best course of action is. A few moments from now, Jireh will be back with Mikee, Noel, and Jed. Let's just wait for now." EJ said trying his best to keep things calm.

"Wrong." Joseph looked behind him to see Bern approaching them. "If you inevitably decide to get out of this room. You do it now."

"Bern.... Let's just wait for the others for now." EJ proclaimed.

"Those things outside have gone quiet, meaning they have a set amount of time of experiencing enough silence before they go back to being completely blind and idle. Once Jireh brings Mikee and the others here could mean a risk of them experiencing trouble a long the way, meaning that trouble might arrive itself here." Bern commented.

"What kind of trouble? I'm pretty sure us making noise made most of the zombies in these halls follow us. They would've had an easier trip than us I know that for sure." EJ replied.

"It's been a while since we've last seen Jireh. They would've been here by now if everything went as smoothly as you think." Bern said stern.

Joseph could see EJ's impression possess a sense of doubt. The gloom starting to shower over him. Joseph was with EJ in the sense of hoping that they could just wait for the others, but Bern was right. The time to move was now.

"I'm going out now." Lee immediately spoke up and went towards the door holding his arnis weapon. "Lee wai-" Joseph was cut off as Lee ignored his words. Joseph sighed in frustration, but he understood Lee.

Bern approached Joseph with a grim expression, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Joseph," he began, his voice low and measured, "It would be best if Lee did not go. Should something have befallen VJ and the others, Lee's reaction would be... something ungovernable."

Joseph, though conflicted, responded firmly, "I cannot deny him his decision, Bern. He has the right to attempt to save the one he loves."

Bern's gaze hardened, and his tone grew more analytical. "The likelihood of the girls surviving that horde is slim. We barely managed to escape with our lives. To assume they fared better would be an idiotic move."

Frustration bubbled up within Joseph, and he retorted, "Why do you always speak as though you're always right?"

Bern's eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on Joseph. "What have I said so far that isn't true?"

Joseph felt a pang of doubt twist in his gut. Bern had an unsettling way of stripping situations down to their harshest realities, often proving correct despite the bleakness of his predictions. It was true, everything that Bern had said to the group was true. Calculative and harsh in his thinking. It was this very trait that both irritated and reassured Joseph in equal measure.

Before Joseph could respond, Bern added with a finality that left no room for argument, "I'm never wrong." Bern left the scene walking towards the window where he could hope Jireh would return.