End of the World - The Apocalypse

Chapter 8 : Going down again

Feeling his long-needed, peaceful sleep getting disturbed, John slowly opened his eyes. He saw a person on top of him shaking and saying his name.

"John, wake up, John."

He fluttering his eyes and slowly got up, waving his hand indicating the person to stop shaking him. Rubbing his eyes, John finally got a better look at the person and noticed it was Olivia who was in a hurry to wake him up.

"What is it, Olivia? Is the military already here yet." Asked John slowly, still not completely out of his sleep, and but he then noticed the still dark sky and Peter standing at the back.

"No, there's a problem and we might have to go back down."

John felt he heard something wrong, and it was just his brain playing with him and said,

" I think I heard you wrong, were you
suggesting to go down again."

Olivia simply nodded and said, "Yes, we may need to go to the 14th floor."

Frowning at her statement, John asked,

"why?"

"I'll tell you as we go towards the group, come with us." and went towards the end of the small roof he slept on.

John noticed it was ready past midnight and could only exhale hopelessly at the situation he was in. Getting up, John patted the dust off his clothes and got his bag. He took the metal rod and the machete he created before he slept.

He slowly kept the machete inside the bag with only the handle sticking out of it and wore the bag. He gripped the metal bar tighter and got down off the roof. Looking at both of them, John made his way towards the group while Olivia explained what happened.

"As everyone was taking rest, one of the elderly suddenly got an asthma attack and she forgot her pills in her office. She works on the 14th floor and has her inhaler in her office drawer. As she has had a serious case of asthma for a long time, she might
find it hard to breathe as time goes on and it would be better if we bring it."

Hearing her, John stopped and looked at Olivia and asked, "So, why to wake me up?"Hearing his question, Olivia and Peter were shocked and rooted in their places.

Olivia looked at him and asked,

"What do you mean?"

"Why wake me up, if an elderly in your group has a problem? Can't you guys solve it without my help." his intention was apparent. Why should he help an unknown person?

Peter looked at him and said, "Won't you help? I mean, it is a person's life we are talking about here. We can't send people down, it would be a death trap if we do. I was hoping both you and Olivia could go down. Both of you are strong, and that is obvious."

John shook his head and said, "Peter, I
think you are getting something wrong here. Just because I found the way to this place and accepted that everyone can come up. Does not mean I will help you guys. And you guys finding out the way was purely coincidental."

Hearing his answer, both of them were taken back. Peter looked at him and said while gritting his teeth,

"What do you want to save the person?"

John smiled hearing him and said, "What can you offer?"

Peter clenched his fists and said, "My
father is the General of the military camp in the city. I can ask him for anything you want."

This time it was John's turn to be taken back. He didn't expect the general of the camp in the city to be his dad. It did not seem like that at all.
Peter was a coward.

He smiled and said, "Anything?"

"Only if it is within reasons. This is me
owing you a favour. You need to discuss with my father, if you want anything."

Hearing him John nodded and started to think about a plan to go down. He possibly could not take the stairs he used to get up to the 15th floor.
He turned towards Peter and asked,

"Is there another way to get down to the 14th floor without using the stairs I used." as they continued to walk towards the group.

Hearing his question, Peter knew he
accepted their request and thought about a way as they reached the group. John noticed an old woman trying to breathe with some difficulty while some other people tried to ease her.

"AH! Yes, there is a way to go down."

Both Olivia and John turned towards
Peter who hit sudden realization.
Peter turned towards them and
continued, "There is an extra staircase
which was closed on all floors for a month as it needed maintenance. You can take those stairs as there would be almost no chance for zombies to be there."

"Oh! That's great, we can take that
staircase then," exclaimed Olivia.

"Yes, but there might be a small problem. You might have to go to my office for the keys to open the staircase and the lock of the 14th floor."

Hearing him, John fell into deep thought. When he stayed on the 15th floor, he noticed Peter's office to the complete opposite of the lobby from the hallway of the ladder. The difficulty just rose to another level for the keys.

"Ok then I will go alone," said John,
surprising Olivia and Peter.

"No, it's too dangerous for you to go alone.

I will come with you," said Olivia with a serious expression on her face.

"Yes, John. Take her with you. We don't need security here, anyway." supported Peter.

But despite their protest John simply
shook his head and said, "No, If two people make their way inside it would get tougher. The possibility of the zombies finding out is more if there are 2 people than one."

"Then I'll go," said Olivia, gripping her
sword tightly.

"No, it's ok. I'll go and end the decisionis final. Now Peter, tell me the route to the stairs and the old woman's cabin." Not willing to
change his decision, John told in a firm tone.

Noticing how fixed he was, Olivia and
Peter did not try to persuade him to
change his decision. Peter told John the route to his room and the keys, then the stairs, and finally the old woman's cabin.

John had a reason to go alone. He needed an opportunity to fight against zombies more and this was the perfect reason for it. John knew he had to strengthen his resolve and will while facing the zombies and was only possible if he had more
encounters with them. This was like a
cheery on top for him with the favor from Peter.

He decided to go alone after observing the skill of Olivia before. He knew it would be easier if he went with her, even if there is the risk of attracting more attention, but he needed this. He was ok to keep his life
on the line, he already lost hope in it and this all was just like an extension.
After getting the complete route in his
head, John slowly tried to relax the
anxiety he was feeling. Taking some big breaths, John was able to calm himself down a bit.

He started to stretch his body a bit as he did not want to get some muscle cramps due to the high intensity he is going to be in a few minutes.
After he felt he was ready he slowly went towards the ladder and slowly got on the other side. He strapped the pole inside the bag so it didn't fall down and held the ladder as tightly as he could.

He looked up and noticed Olivia together with Peter staring at him with full of worry evident in their eyes. He could only nod at Peter and smile at Olivia. He slowly made his way down until he reached the window level and peeked inside to see the condition of the hallway..........