succumb - glenn rhee

[ELEVEN] the cdc

CHAPTER ELEVEN // THE CDC
"NO, THAT'S JUST MY
WONDERFUL PERSONALITY."

ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
Jade stared at the bright light in confusion as her eyes adjusted. "Daryl, you cover the back." Rick ordered as he gripped his gun before moving towards the door.

The group filed in slowly, looking at the clean building for signs of life, walkers, and danger. Theodora was tightly gripping Jade's arms as she walked in front of her aunt. "Hello?" Jade called out.

"Close those doors." Rick said.

"Watch for walkers." Jade told the group.

A gun cocked from in front the group, causing the group cock their own weapons and point them towards the unknown man stood before them. "Anybody infected?" The man shouted.

"One of our group was. He didn't make it." Rick answered.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" The man questioned as he moved forward.

"A chance."

"That's asking an awful lot these days." He replied.

"We know." Jade spoke up, looking around the group.

"You all submit to a blood test." The man ordered. "That's the price of admission."

"We can do that." Rick agreed.

"You got stuff to bring in, you do it now. Once this door closes, it stays closed."

Jade, Glenn, Daryl, Rick, and Shane ran out, grabbing all of their needed belongings and what little supplies they had. They then allowed the man, they now knew as Edwin Jenner, to seal the doors before following him into a small elevator.

"Doctors always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl questioned, looking at the automatic rifle Jenner had in his hands.

"There were plenty left lying around, I familiarized myself. But you look harmless enough. Except you." Jenner explained as he looked down at Carl. "I'll have to keep my eye on you." Once the doors opened, Jenner lead the group down a hallway in silence.

"Are we underground?" Carol questioned.

"Are you claustrophobic?" Jenner asked.

"A little."

"Try not to think about it." Jenner replied. "Vi, bring up the lights in the big room." Once he had spoke, a circular light fixture lit up above several desks, but each chair was empty. "Welcome to Zone 5."

"Where is everyone?" Jade questioned as they walked down a ramp towards the main area of the room. "The other doctors, scientists, the staff?"

"I'm it." Jenner answered simply. "It's just me here."

"What about the person you were speaking with? Vi?" Lori asked.

"Vi, say hello to our guests." Jenner spoke. "Tell them... welcome."

"Hello, guests. Welcome." An automated voice sounded.

"I'm all that's left." Jenner admitted. "I'm sorry."

Jenner then lead them to smaller room and began to administer the blood tests, Jade sat with her family as she watched Andrea, the last of the group, have their blood taken.

"What's the point? If we were infected we'd all be running a fever." Andrea questioned.

Jenner sighed as he placed a piece of gauze onto Andrea's arm. "I've already broken every rule in the book by letting you in here. Let me just at least be thorough. All done." He spoke as he took his gloves off.