Left to Wander • • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Two

I awoke to the same ceiling as the past days, sighing softly. I know it's safe and calm in the building but that serenity will not last as long as this epidemic will last. Today's the second to last day, it's all ending tomorrow. The Center for Disease Control will be no more.

I dressed in a pair of stretchy blue jeans and a dusty gray long sleeved sweater. I let my earth brown hair rest in waved upon my shoulders, reaching about the middle of my shoulder. I laced my ankle length tennis shoes, glancing around my room I've laid in so many days before packing essentials. I brought my brush, a couple of rags, all the pills bottles I could get my hands on, anything medical really. I continued with my desperate search of supplies with food, alcohol, water and other items. I packed only about two different outfits before zipping the army backpack closed. Heavy, but not the worst.

I walked around the empty halls, scoping out how to get out of here. Many doors lined the walls but none had the pleasure of making it to the outside without the higher up password and key card. I made it to the control room where Jenner sat, staring at a screen where small yelling could be heard. "You're killing us!!" I was confused and was intrigued to know who needed help. "Vi, put the security camera on the main screen." My voice was loud to be heard as I awaited. "Putting security cameras on main screen." Her cold voice replied on command and I gasp seeing the display.

Six men, two looking like brothers, an asian, an older gentleman, an african american, and one that looked rougher than the rest. Five women, two I assumed were mothers seeing as children accompanied their side, a blonde haired woman and an African American woman. The children were a boy and girl looking no older than the ages of twelve. There were twelve people in this group, and they desperately needed our help. "Jenner open the doors!!" I cried put of desperation to see other living people.

"They need to go away, you know as well as I do that when that timer hits zero decontamination is starting!" His voice was harsh, obviously wanting to help the strangers but knew that the doors would take a lot of the power we don't have to spare.

"Please Jenner they are going to die out there." I pleaded, rather begging actually and he sighed imputing the code to open the doors.

"Their blood is on your hands then." The words hit me like a rock as he left to greet the group into the building with one of the bigger guns we had to spare. I glanced back at the security footage and saw them rush in as I followed soon after to greet them. I could already hear Jenner's voice asking the run of the mill questions and I soon appeared next to him, measuring in at about his shoulder. "You all will submit to a blood sample, that's the price of admission." Jenner said and the group quickly agreed bringing everything else they had and I gave a friendly smile to them as they were lead to what seemed to be a break room as I gathered supplies to take the blood. After everyone's blood has been taken they feasted on food and wine, really anything and everything. I laughed and smiled along with the jokes the group had to offer, enjoying the human contact.

Soon one of the men who looked like brothers, I believe his name was Shane, spoke up rather rudely about the work we had been trying to do. I glanced Jenner who looked rather uncomfortable and explained how we had done everything we could but there was really nothing else we could accomplish. I took a long drink of wine glad that I was finally 21. Lucky I turned 21 last week instead of this week. Shane questioned further and I shot him a small glare, Jenner just stood motioning for the group to follow them to the control room. The lesson for the guests was test subject 19 which I knew was Dr. Jenner's wife who had unfortunately came down with a bite from a walker, she had been so dedicated that she was willing to let us observe the side effects. She was one of the most serious and beautiful women I've met, strong too, even to the very end. The guests were entruiged, especially the blonde woman, Andrea I believe.