Shoot Or Run

Chapter 5

  "Daryl, you cover the back," Shane ordered as we walked inside and it was really quiet. I looked around the place, no one in sight. "Hello?" Rick said. A gun cocks behind us and all the guys held their guns to a man with short blonde hair. "Anybody infected?" He asked. "One of our group was. He didn't make it," Rick said. He was talking about Jim.

The man walks down the stairs, still holding the gun. "Why are you here? What do you want?" He asked. "A chance," Rick said. "That's asking an awful lot these days," The man said. "I know," Rick said. The man looked at us and lowers the gun. "You all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission," He told us. "We can do that," Rick agreed. "You got stuff to bring in, you do it now. Once this door closes, it stays closed."

Rick, Shane, T-Dog, Glenn and Daryl went to the cars and got our bags. "Vi, seal the main entrance. Kill the power up here," The man said into a little box right next to the doors. The shutters one again cover the doors to the outside. "Rick Grimes," Rick said, held his hand out to the man. "Dr. Edwin Jenner."

We were all stood in the elevator, going down I guess. I held hands with Sophia and Carl. "Doctors always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl asked Jenner, about the gun in his hand. "There were plenty left lying around. I familiarized myself," Jenner said and then looks at us.

"But you look harmless enough," He said. Then he looking at Carl and me, "Except for you two, I will have to keep an eye on both of you," He said. Makes me and Carl giggle a little, and so some of the adults behind us.

Then we walked down a hallway, following Jenner. "Are we underground?" Carol asked. "Are you claustrophobic?" Jenner asked. "A little," She replied. "Try not to think about it," He tells her.

We followed Jenner into a dark room, "Vi, bring up the lights in the big room," Jenner shouted at someone and all the lights turned on and we were in some kinda computer lab. "Welcome to zone 5."

"Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?" Rick asked. Jenner turns and looked at us, "I'm it. It's just me here," He said. "What about the person you were speaking with? Vi?" I asked. Jenner smiled down at me, "Vi, say hello to our guests. Tell them ... Welcome," He said. "Hello, guests. Welcome," A comuterize voice anounce. "I'm all that's left. I'm sorry," He said. We went into a room where Jenner's going to take a little of our blood.

Then Jenner took all of us in the cafeteria and made us food. All the adults were getting drunk. I sat between Carl and my mom. We were all happy and ready to celebrate. I wanted to drink. I'd never had any. I didn't see why I couldn't though. The same old rules didn't seem to apply anymore. "I want a drink," I said.

Everyone fell silent and then began laughing again. "I want some too," Carl said eyeing a bottle of wine. Daryl wandered around the cafeteria with a full bottle. I looked at my mom, "Can I have some?" I asked. My mom and Lori smiled at each other. "Why not? There's no harm in a little sip," Rick said and I nodded smiling. My mom and Lori looked at each other again. Mom shrugged, "Okay," She said as Lori nodded with a smile.

Daryl poured a little into Carl and my glasses. It was dark and smelt funny. Carl held his up and I did too. Everyone was silent waiting for us as I took a sip. It stung my mouth but I didn't spit it out while Carl did immediately. Instead I slowly swallowed. "Eww," Carl and I said at the same time.

Everyone laughing again. Mom and Lori share a high five and then they took our glasses. "Good kids," Lori said. "Well, just stick to sour pop there, guys," Shane said. "Not you, Glenn," Daryl said. "What?" Glenn asked. "Keep drinking, little man. I want to see how red your face can get," Daryl said and we all laughed.

Rick got up and clear his throat, "It seems to me we haven't thanked our host properly," He said. "He is more than just our host," T-Dog announce. Everyone raise their glasses up, thanking Jenner.

"So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here, doc? All the ... the other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened, where are they?" Shane asked Jenner. "We're celebrating, Shane. Don't need to do this now," Rick tells him. "Whoa, wait a second. This is why we're here, right? This was your move... Supposed to find all the answers. Instead we- We found him," Shane said, pointing at Jenner. "Found one man. Why?"

Jenner cleared his throat, "Well, when things got bad, a lot of people just left. Went off to be with their families. And when things got worse, when the military cordon got overrun, the rest bolted," He said. "Every last one?" Shane asked.

"No, many couldn't face walking out the door. They ... opted out," Jenner said. "There was a rash of suicides. That was a bad time," He said. "You didn't leave. Why?" I asked. "I just kept working. Hoping to do some good," Jenner said. "Dude, you are such a buzzkill, man," Glenn said to Shane.

We followed Jenner down a hall, where there were a lot of room and listen to his instructions, "Most of the facility is powered down including housing, so you'll have to make do here. The couches are comfortable, but there are cots in storage if you like. There's a rec room down the hall that you kids might enjoy. Just don't plug in the video games, okay? Or anything that draws power. The same applies... If you shower, go easy on the hot water," He said, and he disappear down the hall. "Hot water?" Glenn asked. "That's what the man said," T-Dog said with a smirk.

Soon everyone went their separate ways. Me and mom walked into a room next to Dale's. I looked around as mom closed the door behind her; a bed, a couch, a desk, and a bathroom. I drop my bag on the bed and pulled out something to sleep in. "I'm going first," I said and went into the bathroom with the clothes.

I turned on the water and stripped away from my clothes. I got in and I felt a relief of a happiness rush through me. I never thought I would bathe in a real shower ever again. I grab the soap and wash the dirt off my body.

I got out and grab a towel to dry off and then put on my pjs. I brush my fingers through my wet hair. I walked back to the room. Mom smiled, "How was it?" She asked. "Great," I said and she giggled. She took her clothes and walked to the bathroom.

I heard a knock on the door. I open the door and see Carl "Hey Eli," He said. "Hey," I said. "Carol and Sophia in the rec room, want to come look around?" He asked. "Sure," I said. I walked to the bathroom door, "Mom, I going with Carl to the rec room," I said. "Okay," She said. I closed the door and walked down the hall with him.

It was full of games and books but it was too bad most of the games didn't work so I planned on settling for a book. I sat on the ground watching Carl and Sophia play checkers and Carol reading a book but I couldn't get interested in the book.

I tossed it behind me as Lori and Mom came into the room, laughing. I smiled, I'm glad my mom and Lori good friends like with Carol. "Any good books?" Lori asked. "Uh-huh. Enough to keep us busy for years," Carol said. "Come on, kids, it's bedtime," Mom said and Carol nodded. "Baby, go say your prayers. I'm gonna browse a bit," Lori said to Carl.

I pulled myself to my feet and walked with mom down the hallway into our room. I walked to the bad as mom closed the door behind her. I pulled a blanket and I lay my head on a pillow. Mom lay down next to me. "Goodnight, Mom," I muttered. She smiled, "Goodnight, baby," She said. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.