virus

Chapter 8 - Grove City

Jorge and Aidan walk towards Grove city. They see ruins of the city, they wonder what exactly happened to the city that was fine a few months ago. It looks like a nuke went off a decade ago and nobody thought to rebuild. 

"Is this really Grove?" Asked a still stunned Jorge.

"I mean, I guess it is." Replied Aidan confused about what happened to the city.

They wander the streets searching for any sign of life. After wandering for about a half hour they realize the city was completely abandoned. Nobody in sight throughout the entire city. They start to search for supplies when they find a grocery store.

"Should we go in?" Asked Aidan

 " We should try to see if there are any zombies inside before we try to bust in there." Replied Jorge.

Jorge grabs a rock up off the ground, looks around to make sure there is no zombies or people nearby. Jorge throws the rock through a window and looks in. 

"Clear." He says to Aidan.

Jorge breaks the rest of the glass from the window he broke so he and Aidan can get inside the store. They both grab canned food and bottled water. There isn't much left but what there is they grab. They leave quickly after grabbing supplies.  They go back to searching the city.

It's about five in the evening now. They know the sun won't be up for much longer. They head into what remains of a building. They board up windows and the door and they set up to sleep there for the night.

"Do you think we'll be safe for the night?" Aidan asks Jorge.

"The city's abandoned, I'm sure we'll be fine." Replied Jorge.

"Should we take turns sleeping so the other one can be on look out?" Asks Aidan.

"You've watched too many zombie movies. You don't actually have to do that. Especially not in this city." Replied Jorge.

Aidan was still cautious. Later in the night, around three in the morning. While Jorge is sleeping Aidan is wide awake. Thinking about what could happen to them. He wants to leave the house they're in right now but doesn't want to put himself or Jorge in danger.

It's morning. Aidan didn't get any sleep, he stayed up all night worrying about what could happen. Jorge however, got one of the best night sleeps he'd had in a while.

"You ready to head back out there?" Asked Jorge.

"I guess." Aidan replied.

They go back to searching the city soon after. They're still both surprised how abandoned it is. It's almost as if no-one ever lived here, to begin with. Jorge spots a zombie near a bank. 

"I'll be right back, I gotta take care of it." Jorge said.

Aidan wasn't paying attention, he kept moving to find supplies. As Aidan goes towards a gas station he hears a noise. 

"I should probably check that out." Said Aidan. As Aidan turns around he hears Jorge yelling in the distance.

"Aidan, run!" Screamed Jorge.

Aidan now confused he goes towards Jorge hoping he's not in any real danger. As he gets a little closer to the bank that Jorge was at he sees Jorge running closer to him. Jorge still screaming at Aidan, telling him to run. Soon after Jorge passes him Aidan sees a horde of zombies. Aidan starts running.

Aidan quickly catches up to Jorge.

"How did this happen?" Aidan asks while both men are still running.

"I killed one and then there were like twenty of them." Replied Jorge who's quickly losing his breath.

They seem to have outrun the horde but are now back outside the city. Knowing they have to at least make it through Grove to make it to the next city. They take a small break before going back in.

"Jorge?" Aidan asks "What is that and when did you get it?" Aidan says while pointing to a gash on Jorge's arm.

"Uh, I don't know." Replied Jorge. "Probably when I was running it happened." Said Jorge

"What happens when a zombie gets you like that?" Asked Aidan 

"Hopefully nothing." Replied Jorge.

They rap part of a thin blanket over the gash as a makeshift bandage. They head back into the city but do it very cautiously. They get to around the same point they were at before. They are near a bank when they see a zombie.

"Given what happened last time I think we should, I don't know, not go towards it this time."
 Said Aidan.

They decided to go to a park on the outskirts of Grove city. They're sitting on a bench. Aidan's checking Jorge's wound. He slowly removes the blanket bandage and sees it has gotten worse. As Aidan searches through one of their bags for something that might help somebody walks toward them.

"Stay there whoever you are." Jorge says while trying not to sound like he's in pain.

"Ok. It's just I see you need help and I'm a nurse...Well, I used to be a nurse before all this stuff started to happen. I can help if you need it." Said the person off in the distance.

"Should we trust him?" Asked Jorge.

"I don't think you can afford to not." Replied Aidan.

"Alright, come here. I'm kinda having a blood issue." Said Jorge to the man in the distance.

As the man comes closer to them he asks "What's the blood issue?"

"I'm losing it." Replied Jorge.

The man is now right in front of them. 

"Hi, I'm Christopher." He says.

"Hi, I'm dying." Replied Jorge.

"He's Jorge and I'm Aidan." Said Aidan.

"Well nice to meet you both, now let's take care of this arm." Christopher said.