Discernment

Chapter 22

I woke up early in the morning to discuss even more with Eddy. "So, Eddy, from what we went over from last night. Where did we leave off?" I question. "We only discussed building a large wall around the city." He mentions. "Right, okay. I'm thinking we mainly do walls around the subway stops. Build walls around the surrounding blocks." I mention. "That's smart, though we may grow this community big. So I suggest we simply build around the whole city, or at least build around all the stop with the walls connecting." Eddy mentions. "Sure. Where do you think we can get all the resources for this wall?" I question. "Well, the Zealots stayed in a lumber factory, right? I'm thinking we take that risk to go back there and get the resources. It's going to be risky, of course, but it'd do the job. Plus, if I remember correctly, there's at least five junk yards within a fifty mile radius, we can of course use things from there." Eddy mentions.

"Do.. You think we can really send those people back there?" I ask him. "Sure, they'll maybe resist at first, though when they know what it's for, they'll give in. Don't worry about that. What else do we need to cover?" Eddy replies. "Oh, I was thinking of having mini leaders for each stop, once we get these walls up, or we could do it when things get settled. Who do you think they should be out of the group?" I ask. "Well, I definitely think you should be one, then Washington seems like he could handle that, along with  Devan, and the new one.. Ryan."  He suggests. "Washington, definitely, same with Devan. Ryan.. We'll need to get to know more.. Though, Eddy, I'm thinking you could be one. You're a very handy person and could handle that task." I offer him. Eddy's face brightens. "That'd be amazing.. Thank you for trusting in me, Thomas." He says and shakes my hand. "We'll ask the others later if they want to, except Ryan. He needs to gain our trust before we hand him off with these people to look after." I say.

"Anything else we need to go over, Thomas?" Eddy asks. "Well, we're most definitely sending out scavengers for supplies throughout the city today, and when we do that, I'm going to send some of our original group members with each party, and they're going to look for key things that could be useful in this city." I say. "Thomas, there's another thing I want to talk to you about." Eddy mentions. "Yeah, what's that Eddy?" I reply. "I want to start studying the biters.. If that's too much of a risk, I'd understand." Eddy mentions. "That's not a bad idea. I'm sure, even after a year and a half, rarely anyone knows anything about them. We can do that. After we get everything settled though." I nod, after patting Eddy on the back, then open the door and go outside after him.

"Everyone's awake. You go tell them what's going on and I'll go grab Washington and Devan to tell them what's going to happen." I tell Eddy. "Alright, Thomas. I'll give you feedback after I send out the groups for exploring and getting supplies." Eddy replies. I then walk near the front end of the train and call for Washington and Devan to come over. First Devan comes over, then after Washington finishes up his conversation with one of the new members, he comes over to us.

"Yeah, Thomas? You need me?" Washington asks. "Yes, I wanted to make an offer for you guys. Not that you have to give anything in return except for your time." I say with a chuckle. "What's the offer, Thomas?" Devan questions. "I'm going to have someone take control over each subway stop, after we set up a wall around the entire city, after all, it's not that big. Anyways, Eddy and I are going to be leaders of two of the Stops, now we want you two to choose a Stop of your choice. Are you up for that?" I offer them. Devan instantly nods. "Yeah I can do that but, do we choose what people to come with us or do we have them choose for themselves?" Devan questions. "Oh yeah, of course. As long as it's evenly split or close to it. We can't have five people at one Stop and fifteen at another. So as long as it's not that, then yeah, we'll have them choose." I say. "So, you, Eddy, Devan and I are going to be Stop leaders? Who's the fifth one?" Washington asks. "It's a tough decision, though Eddy and I were thinking that Ryan might be a leader. He helped free the prisoners from the Zealots and helped me escape." I mention. "Sure, he may have helped us, Thomas. But can you really trust him with such a big responsibility? You did only meet him a little more than a week ago.." Devan says. "Yeah, Thomas, I'm sure there'll be other survivors that are capable and willing to do that job. It is just like a supervisor job after all." Washington adds in. "Okay, I'll just look over two Stops up until then. Thanks for the talk, men." I conclude.

Soon after, Eddy walks over to us and tells me that he sent out four supply parties. "Who did you send?" I question him. "Quinton's group went to Stop B, Kiki's went to Stop C, Erin's party to Stop D, and Ryan's to Stop E. I told them to look for buildings we can return to in the near future, and get any food possible. Each group also took five members, leaving around eighteen left behind here." Eddy mentions. "You sent Erin out there without me, Eddy? What the fuck, man?" Devan says, getting frustrated with Eddy. "I-I'm sorry.. I didn't know-" Eddy begins to apologize. "No, you should have known. It's pretty fucking obvious that her and I are together. Yet, you send her out to her possible death." Devan says. "Calm down, Devan. Erin's a good survivor, I'm positive she'll be alive." I say softly to him. "Alright, fine, whatever." He mutters and walks off.

When Quinton's group stepped outside of Stop B, he's already looking around. He spots a hardware store. "Alright, let's check out that place and the ones around it." He says, then leads the small group to the front. "Do we go in with a bang or with stealth?" He offers. One of the people, a woman, steps forward. "Let's go with a bang." She says. Quinton smirks and nods, continuing with a strong kick to the entrance, pushing the doors open and making a loud crashing sound. "That'll get any fuckers in here up and moving. Let's head in." He says, then grips Abira's leash tighter and readies his hatchet that he had brought from the subway weapon stash then leads the group in.

So far, it had seemed void of any infected, and the group splits and roam around the store. Abira's sniffing around and spots a slightly opened door. She pulls Quinton to it and pushes it open. "What is it, girl?" Quinton's muttering to her. Instantly, a biter springs forward. Quinton loses the grip of Abira's leash and panics and spring forwards as she bolted for its neck. "Abira, leave it!" He shouts to her. She didn't stand down and Quinton steps over her and swings the hatchet onto its head, and pulls it out as Abira let's go of it. "Listen next time, girl." He says, then shines his flashlight around the room. It takes him a minute, but he finally realizes what he was in. It was a metal shop, attatched to the hardware store. He nods and pulls up the radio. "Hey, Thomas, is Eddy there? I need to ask him something." He says into it.

A few seconds later, I respond. "Yes he is, hold on a second." I reply to Quinton. I then tell Eddy to pick up his walkie talkie. "Yeah, what is it, Quinton?" Eddy questions. "Well, weren't you a big nerd about smelting and metalwork or some shit?" Quinton asks. "Yeah.. Why? What did you find?" Eddy replies. "That's fucking wonderful. 'Cause I found a hardware store and a metal shop here. None of it's touched." Quinton chuckles out of shock. "Really? I think I can work with that, I'm sure I'll come up with something to do there." He mentions. "But, yeah, thanks for telling me this. I could probably really find a way to help the group with that." Eddy says.

At Kiki's group around Stop C, they find a scrap yard. Fences aren't touched, like most of the city. Kiki radios in, of course, and tells us what she had found. She decides to leave it untouched until we're ready to get in there. She then scouts the surrounding area, finding numerous drug stores, corner shops, and small coffee stops. Her group grabs all they can and puts them in packs, boxes, and some shopping carts they randomly found. "We're heading back, Thomas. Have a spot ready for supplies." Kiki warns me.

Most of the groups returned, though Erin's hadn't yet. They were still out there, searching for places with significance. Erin's group, who were out of their search zone and in the dead center of the city, find a continuation of a few motels, apartments, and very few dosshouses. "Thomas, we found places for everyone to stay in the middle of the city, though one of the buildings is straight up filled with the infected, what do we do?" Erin resorts to me for advice over the walkie talkie. "We'll get it later, just return here. You weren't supposed to leave your Stop's area, Erin. You have Devan worried." I mention to her.

Within thirty to fifty minutes later, Erin's group returned. She and Devan are catching up, talking and making sure each other is okaym while I'm sitting with Eddy and Fay looking through the supply stock and planning things out, like splitting it between the five Stops. I'm sure everyone, especially myself, is looking forward to the near future.