You Can't Survive Alone

Part 3

A couple days later...

"Thanks for taking me out shopping, Jess. That was fun."

Jess smiled, and said, "Anytime, Ash. You didn't really have anything else to wear, so I thought we could do a little scavenging."

I was now outfitted with a clean pair of jeans and a navy blue sweater, which was better for the fall weather. But, there was one thing I still had a question about.

"So, I thought you guys had a doctor. You know, because of how I got shot, and you guys fixed it all up..."

"Yeah, I was in my third year at med school when everything crazy started."

"Cool, I didn't know that. Thanks, I guess, for helping me so much." Why do I have to be so awkward with words? It's always so annoying trying to talk to people.

There was a knock on the door, and then it opened. Aaron came in, flashlight in hand. I really miss electricity, having to run everything with battery power. Luckily, Nick and Jake found a generator and are trying to figure out how to make it work. Hopefully it will be working soon, and we can have light and heat in at least part of the White House.

"Hey Aaron. What's up?" Jess asks, smiling.

"Hey, Jess. Hey, Ash. Jess, Ash, it's your turn to take the night watch. I just came to remind you." Aaron reminds me a lot of Zack, and thinking about Zack makes me kind of sad. I want to run after him, but I can't run anywhere because I'm still recovering from the gunshot wound. It hurts; just another constant reminder of Zack. At first, I tried to run off after him, but the group stopped me and told me that we could find him once I was better.

"Thanks for the reminder. Are you ready for your first watch, Ash?"

I snap out of my train of thought and say, "yeah." Night watch sounds like a bore to me. You need two people to keep each other awake and watch the hallway that leads into our wing of the house.

I hear a bang and a muffled yelp, and stifle a laugh. Nick and Jake have been toying around with the generator all day, and keep accidentally almost blowing stuff up.

"They still messing around with that thing? It would be nice if they get it going, it's gonna be cold when winter hits," Jess says. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I had figured I would be out of here by the time winter comes. I guess I probably won't. It's December 8th now. I know because Aaron keeps a calendar. I then find myself wondering if we're going to celebrate Christmas. I decide to ask Nick later.

Jess and I are on our way to the main hallway when she suddenly stops and says, "I just realized that you don't have a weapon. Come on; let's get you one from the supply room."

I realize that she's right, because I lost my first gun when my backpack was left behind. I also lost my pack of gum.

We turn down a hall and stop at a door marked "Supply". Jess unlocks it with a key from her belt, and walks inside. The room is filled with boxes of all shapes and sizes, food cans, water bottles, guns, and blades.

"What weapon do you prefer? Sword? Or gun?"

I think for a minute, trying to decide. I know how to shoot a gun, but a sword would look really cool. I finally decide to try out a one-handed katana. I used to do karate, and had some practice with weapons. It only took a minute until I remembered how to use it properly.

Walking to the watch station they set up, I felt like a total badass. Guns are cool and all, but swords just look awesome. Swords are also completely silent, which is good for fighting zombies.

We sat down in the spinny chairs that had been set up for watch. We didn't know it then, but it was going to be an interesting night.

Middle of the night

There's a shadow moving at the end of the hall. I shake Jess's shoulder to make sure she is awake, and point to the spot in the blackness.

"What is it?" She whispers quietly, trying to not be heard by the person.

"I think it's a person. It can't be a zombie, it's trying to stay unseen and not making any noise." I whisper in response, hoping the person can't hear us. I decide to go down the hallway and see who is at the other side.

I crawl down the hallway, and call quietly, "Hello? Who's there?" I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. The shape stands up suddenly and looks around for where my voice comes from.

"Hello? I heard of a group here, and I want to join." A male's voice, low and hoarse in its whisper. "I'm a doctor, I can contribute to the group if you let me join."

"Set down your weapons, then we can talk. Ok?" This was Jess.

"Don't have any weapons to set down."

"Do you trust him?" I ask Jess quietly. He seems ok so far to me, other than the whole sneaking up on our base in the middle of the night thing. I kinda get why he would want to scope us out before joining though.

"He looks ok to me, maybe he can come back in the morning?"

"I'll come back in the morning if this isn't a good time. I just came to find out stuff about you guys, y'know, before I join up," he says, obviously having heard our top secret conversation. He turns to leave, but I stop him.

"Before you leave, what is your name? So we can find you in the morning."

"Oh, uh... My name is Ethan. What are your names?"

I look to Jess for confirmation that it's ok to tell him our names, and she nods a go-ahead. "I'm Ash, and this is Jess."

"Nice to meet you. Hopefully, I'll see you in the morning." He turns to leave again, and this time I don't stop him.