Survival Mode

Chapter Nine

Early the next morning, Dashi entered the kitchen and found the majority of the guests sitting in the living room. Dashi spotted Tunip and a smile reached her lips. She came up to him and sat beside him. "Good morning. Are you feeling better?"

Tunip looked up at her with a slight smile. "Hello. Shellington apologized to me last night before I went to bed, so yeah, I'm feeling a whole lot better. Thank you for helping me Dashi."

Dashi nodded her head to him. "Oh, it was no problem! I was happy to help you." She looked to Shellington who was now entering the room. She mouthed him a "thank you" and he nodded with a smile.

Doctor Wilson, who was sitting on the chair nearby Tunip and Dashi, stood. "So, my dearest guests, what is on the agenda for today? Will we continue to prepare or have this one day to relax and converse with one another?"

Dashi stood to her feet to give a suggestion. "I believe we should go along with your second plan, father. There will only be more and more people within the town as each day of the zombie apocalypse passes. Besides, yesterday we gathered up enough supplies to sustain us for a couple days."

Doctor Wilson however did not look pleased by her words. He stayed silent though and nodded his head. "Very well. I suppose you have some appropriate suggestions in your words. Today is a relax day and we will converse more about the zombie apocalypse. Peso?" He looked up from his book he had been reading on the couch. "Prepare us some breakfast."

Peso nodded his head with sadness evident on his face. "Yes, sir. I will see to it I get it done right away." With that being said, Peso stood and left the living room for the kitchen.

Dashi began to leave the room as well and follow Peso into the kitchen. Although before she could enter, her father stepped in front of her to stop her. "And where just do you think you are going, my daughter?"

She smiled at him. "I am going to help Peso prepare us breakfast. During the zombie apocalypse, we must all pitch in to keep us alive. If you have a problem with that father, then so be it. I will no longer listen to your annoying nagging."

Doctor Wilson pointed his finger in her face. "You listen to me Dashi, and you're going to listen good. You never are to command me to do absolutely anything! I am your father!"

Dashi rolled her eyes and let out a scoff. "Yes, and not a very good one indeed..." She could see Doctor Wilson's eyes narrowing with defeat. Dashi smirked to herself then turned away. "If you will excuse me, I believe I would enjoy helping my friend." She then entered the kitchen. Peso looked at her and shook his head. "What?"

Peso released a loud sigh. "Dashi, you can not keep standing up to your father in order to fight for me like this anymore! I am happy where I am. I enjoy my life here in the mansion. I don't mind a little work..."

Dashi's mouth dropped. Her eyes widened. "A little work? You are telling me he doesn't lay a damn hard burden upon you every single day at all!? Look Peso, I've known you since our teen years. I know you almost better than anyone else. I know you are lying."

He sighed once more and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay. You have caught me. I do not always enjoy the mountain load of work - but do I really have a choice? Your father chose me to work for him. And by his decision I must do as told. It's...It's my responsibility."

Dashi narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Darn it Peso. You are always looking on the bright side of horrible situations such as these. And sometimes I truly don't understand that."

Peso patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Possibly you need a lesson in happiness. I know how much you miss Michael...we all miss him. He was a terrific man and an over all great husband toward you. I know how much you also loved him."

Dashi shook her head and released a sigh. "No Peso. Yes, of course I miss him but that does not mean I am going to spend my whole life mourning over his death. He's been dead for more than a year now and there is nothing I can do."

Peso smiled at her. "I realize that. It will be okay Dashi. You'll see. Something good is going to come out of this." Dashi looked up at him with a smile. Peso looked toward Shellington who was sitting in the living room and smirked. "I've seen the way you look at him."

Dashi followed his gaze. Her mouth dropped once more and she shook her head. "Who, Shellington? No way. I only met him four days ago and you really think I love him already?"

Peso nodded. "Of course! Love at first sight does exist Dashi. I know you felt it with Michael - so you must feel it with Shellington. You two give each other this look that expresses hidden love. Maybe it is time you found a new man."

Dashi shook her head continuously. "N...No way! Shellington is merely a friend - possibly more of an acquaintance. There is absolutely no way I could ever fall in love with such a man as him."

Peso motioned to him once more. "But he has something for you. Is it not obvious? He looks upon you with almost evident pleasure Dashi. If such a man does something like that, of course he likes the woman."

Dashi smiled at him. "What ever. I have no time for love and neither should he. After all we are in the middle of a violent zombie apocalypse. Now that we have this out of the way, shall we make breakfast?"

Meanwhile Carter could feel himself heating up with anger. He threw his coffee cup across the room and it shatter to pieces when it hit the floor. Carter formed his hands into fists and growled under his breath.

Jonathon came running it. He rested his hands on his knees and panted as he tried to relax. When Jonathon had fully calmed down, he looked to the broken coffee cup and at Carter. "Carter, are you alright? What ever happened?"

Carter jumped up and pointed to the computer screen. "No I am most definitely not alright! The whole point of this zombie apocalypse was for her to come to me - not run off to...to..."

He released a sigh and looked out the window. Burkland was filling with the city's residents. A smirk came to his lips. "Jonathon, prepare the lab. We're going to make this city a little more...disastrous."