You all head out quietly about an hour after dawn and make your way through the main streets, you don't have a gun like the others but you do have your bat which you trust a lot more, using it doesn't cause enough noise to call others to you after all.


"I heard you guys had originally cleared this place out of infected?" you whisper to the nearest guard.


He thinks for a moment before replying. "We had, but then that thing lead hundreds more to us, and what with all the ones bitten again when the walls fell… well let's just say it's not as safe as it used to be. Seems the vaccine doesn't always work too well against direct exposure either, only the airborne strains, some people are immune but others turn right after getting bit."


You file this information away for later and keep a look-out since you're nearing the store now and the leader is speaking up.


"Right it's go time, two for the front, two for the rear."


The front is visible, it's fairly open and all the large windows are broken giving easy access and sightlines. The rear must be through one of the alleyways you glimpse to the side.

You rear?

You are considering the rear of the shop when someone else volunteers for the front which makes your mind up for you. You are paired off with a younger man who is clearly wearing a suit under his jacket. You ignore his choice of clothing and you both begin to carefully circle round the back of the store.


The first alleyway you come too is clearly the right one. You see the dumpsters with the shops logo all over them and think you can see the back door some distance down the alleyway. You turn to your partner. "So what's the plan?"


He simply smiles at you before replying "Oh I have several plans. I have assessed dozens of situations like this and have backups for every eventuality. Careful research and planning is what always leads me to victory!"


"Odd" you think before speaking aloud again. "Of course, that makes perfect sense, but what's our plan for right now?"


The man stares at the alley for a moment or two, "Ok you lead and I'll back you up. Prod each dumpster and garbage pile you pass to check for hidden infected. If a shambler appears then you bat will be the best choice, a different kind or more than two of them and I'll use the gun while we retreat to meet up with the others!"


You shrug and start forward; it was an acceptable plan after all.


The man whispers to you as you progress. "Names Drak by the way, not the one my parents gave me of course but I took it on after the infection, has a nice ring to it!" You nod back to him as you prod another garbage pile with your back and get no response. "A lot of people did that, kind of like a new start thing right?" You poke around inside a dumpster again for no response.


"Exactly!" The man replies. "For all intents and purposes civilization ended, we are beginning anew in a new world so the new life begets a new name, don't you agree?"


You have just reached the backdoor and are about to open it when you hear a startled cry from behind you follow by two shots. Spinning around you see Drak with blood pouring down his arm and a dead shambler half out of a garbage pile you had just poked. "He didn't respond when you poked the pile then went for me faster than I've ever seen one move!" He manages before wincing and grabbing his arm.


You swear and force the door open; you both pile inside and slam it behind you. The others are headed your way guns at the ready. "What happened?" the leader calls out to you as they approach. You take half a step forward and do the talking for Drak since he is clearly in pain. "We were moving forward and being careful, I swear we poked and prodded every single piece of garbage when one leaped out and bit Drak."


The man swears and glances at him before turning back to you. "Drak's always so careful too; we should get out of here soon. Grab what you can and let's go." You nod and turn to help Drak just in time to find him leaping at you, there's no time to react as he sinks his teeth into your throat and rips out a large chunk of flesh, you knock him off and stand up again but immediately feel dizzy, he must have caught an artery. You feel blood pouring down your shirt as you see him spring to his feet and come after you again.


"Gorram idiot had to turn into one of the fast ones didn't he!" you think as you meet his lunge with a swing from your bat. His head caves in and his body his the floor only moments before you fall too due to the massive blood loss.


You manage to roll over and see the leader of your team pointing his gun at you. "I'm sorry, but this is the only mercy I can give you now." He says as he fires.