Living Among the Dead

Moses - The Way Things Are

Day 5

"Are you sure about this Marcus?" Moses Ferranti asked, looking over at a man who was standing across from him. Both men were in lines that were slowly moving, approaching a large gated section of the city with checkpoints being controlled by soldiers that were thoroughly checking each person. It only took the government a few days to set up what they were calling a "Safezone" in the middle of the city for people to flock too while the world was slowly collapsing.

"Moses man, you gotta relax. No one cares who you are, just that you aren't one of those things." Marcus Rivers reassured. Marcus smiled at his friend, his emerald green eyes shining from the sun that hung directly over the city. His head and face were recently clean shaven, and with the sun beaming so bright, his head was basically shining and bouncing the reflection into Moses' eyes.

"Alright. Alright. I'm just tense man. This whole situation is shitty." Moses said, fixing the beanie he had on that covered his short brown hair. He scratched the side of his face, feeling his trimmed beard and let out a sigh of frustration, feeling someone pushing into his back as the line shifted forward. Moses looked over and saw Marcus being moved forward as well, but that damn smile didn't leave his face. Moses zipped up the brown hooded canvas jacket he had on and then used his back to push back against the person behind him.

"Watch it asshole." the person behind him said. Moses smirked when he realized that had finally backed off and he looked over at Marcus who was still moving up in line. His good friend turned around and gave him a thumbs up, reaching the checkpoint where the soldiers were at.

"Next." a soldier roughly spoke up. Moses looked forward and realized he had somehow made it to the front of the line. The soldier wore all black, wearing a mask that covered everything but their eyes as well. In their hands were large assault rifles that were either for show, or to let people know not to try anything funny. Moses stepped forward, being looked at up and down by the soldier. "No bags?" they asked.

"Nah. Just me. Didn't have enough time to grab anything." Moses said.

"Step through the barrier." the soldier instructed. The soldier then stepped to the side, letting Moses walk through the doorway like structure and behind the fences. He felt something cold be pressed against his head by another soldier who was on the other side.

"Temperature's fine." the second person spoke to the first.

"Check for any bites." the first one told the second. Moses felt his arms get lifted up and followed along, spreading his legs as he stood still. He was then patted down by the soldier, thoroughly, which was awkward nonetheless.

"He's all good Harper." the second soldier spoke. They then looked at Moses and gave him a nod. "Welcome."

"Thanks." Moses softly spoke, walking away from the fence and over towards Marcus who was standing off to the side waiting for him.

"Look at that! Easy peasy right!" Marcus loudly teased, extending his arms wide while a huge grin plastered his face. Moses couldn't help but smile at his friend, but still lightly punched him in the arm for acting out so obnoxiously. The two began walking down the street when they heard a man screaming.

"No! Please! You can't! It's just a cold I swear!" the man pleaded, shouted, and begged for the soldiers to let him go. Moses looked back and saw two of the blacked out people dragging a man into a building by his arms while his legs dragged on the ground behind him. He tried to wiggle and drag his feet but the combined strength of the soldiers outpowered him.

"Jesus." Moses whispered, watching as the door to the building the trio entered was slammed shut.

"Stop! No!" the man screamed, being heard through the open windows. Almost everyone who was entering the safezone was looking over at the building now. The sound of a bullet being fired caught everyone off guard, even Moses, who jumped slightly.