Welcome to the End

Chapter 15: Adam

Kevin and George became aware of a commotion as they approached the area with the other survivors. Moving in stealthily, they found a standoff between their group and a stranger.

Despite the man's slim frame, he was heavily muscled. Tattoos created colorful imagery on the back of his hands and up both arms to where they vanished under the edges of his sleeveless shirt. His head was shaved to a thin fuzz, and his partially grown beard had more black hair than what currently resided on his scalp.

When Kevin and George arrived, they found the stranger holding one of their people in a headlock. A knife in the man's fist was tilted back against his prisoner's neck behind the ear. His opposite hand leveled a sawed off shotgun toward the others of the group, switching between targets and silently threatening anyone who even looked as if they would interfere.

"Whoa," Kevin said. "Who are you?"

"Since you clearly don't have a clue what's going on, that must make you the leader," the man commented, shifting the aim of his shotgun toward Kevin. He noticed the badge in his belt. "Cop, huh?"

"Used to be," Kevin replied.

"Can't say I cared much for them, even before the end of the world," the stranger said. Despite holding the shotgun at arm's length, his muscles let him keep it steady and unwavering.

"Things are different now," Kevin said, trying to defuse the situation before one or more people got killed. "My name's Kevin."

"Adam," the man stated.

"Good to meet you," Kevin said.

"You don't know that yet," Adam interrupted. "For all you know, it won't be good at all that we met."

"Let's find out," George said.

Kevin didn't know how, but George had managed to draw his katana sword without him noticing until the sunlight flashed along its mirror surface.

"Why are you holding our man prisoner?" Kevin asked, trying to bypass the growing tension.

"He tried to take my things," Adam answered. "No one takes from me what I don't offer."

"This has clearly been a misunderstanding," Kevin said, keeping his voice calm despite his rapid heartbeat. "We didn't know anyone else was here. We were gathering a few supplies before we leave."

"I'm passing through myself," Adam explained. "You can help yourself to whatever I leave behind, but until then, this place and its stuff is mine."

"He's got medicine," the hostage managed to gasp before Adam tightened his arm around the man's throat.

"Like I said," Adam reminded. "This stuff is mine."

"We're not trying to steal from you," Kevin promised. "We're putting together a few things for.."

"Look, Cop," Adam interrupted. "I don't care. I don't care who you are, where you're going, or in what way you die. If it doesn't affect me, I don't care."

"I does affect you," Kevin insisted. "It affects what remains of the whole human race. This is about making sure we have a future."

"There's no such thing anymore," Adam denied. "There's only today and maybe tomorrow. Day to day is all anyone gets. I'm headed to Montana or Wyoming, one of those northern states with loads of undeveloped territory. The lower the population level, the fewer zombies."

"

You won't be able to get away from the undead," Kevin warned. "They're spreading out from all infected cities, merging into larger groups. Eventually, they'll converge from all directions like ocean waters swallowing a sinking ship. They'll find you no matter where you go."