Day 1: Fish Out of The Water Part ll

George and Lilly emerged hours later from the break room. Both were wearing gloves and masks, but their clothes were stained in blood.

Most of the group members were waiting outside, frightened.

—How is he...? —Ashley was the first to speak.

—He's stable. We managed to stop the bleeding. The projectile luckily went in and out, but it did a lot of damage. I'm afraid Tommy won't be able to use his arm for a long, long time —Lilly sighed, she was tired and the smell of blood made her feel dizzy.

—We need to transfuse him. He's lost a lot of blood. I have the equipment and I can do the thing. Do any of you have A-, B-, AB- or O-blood? Tommy told me he is AB- —George saw how most of them looked crestfallen, that answer hurt him. Even Lilly didn't respond.

—I deduce that you are all positive?

—N-no... not everyone. I'm AB- —Molly stepped forward.

—Molly, honey...

—You know, Mom? I think for the first time that asshole Charles did something right in his pathetic life and that was to inherit the daughter he never wanted rare blood. I can't fucking believe it... I did everything wrong, even fucking born!

—Don't say that, sweetheart.

—George, I want to donate my blood. From what I see these men helped you bring the medicine you need for the girls, I want this to be my thanks.

—Are you okay with that, Mrs. Jones? —George turned to Holly who crossed her arms.

She nodded.

—Molly is already aware of her own decisions, and I'm not going to stop her. If donating blood will save someone's life... I'm with you, sweetheart.

Bryan smiled as he listened to what mother and daughter were saying.

—Thank you so much! I can't repay your generosity to a stranger! I hope God repays and multiplies!  —Bryan hugged Molly who turned red, she was a little embarrassed.

—Oh, sir! You have nothing to be thankful for —Molly smiled, she seemed genuinely pleased. —We're all a team, and we have to act like one. So... yeah... Will you just stand there, George?

—No, no. Please come in.

George invited Molly in and Lilly followed, to help with the procedure. They all watched what was going on as if it were an everyday occurrence.

—So... Can you explain who you are? —Jason was a little dazed by so much information and all these events from one moment to the next.

—I'm Bryan Fisher! This is my son, Thomas. We were in the park when all this happened, and since then we've been moving through the streets looking for a safe place.

Bryan FisherThomas Fisher—The streets... What's it like out there? —Mia asked as it had been a long time since she had been home.

—It's hell! The city has two big plagues: people and zombies. My son and I were going to be executed by criminals, but the doctor and the Russian man saved our lives. It's not safe to go out, it's not... most of the streets are blocked and the zombies have concentrated in the center of the city.

—I am not Russian... —Nikolai commented quietly. —Still, we are glad to have you with us. We are currently planning how to get out of Vallimorth.

—Exit? Impossible, my friend! We tried to get out of Vallimorth but all roads are blocked, both inbound and outbound.

—But how is that possible? If my friends and I arrived in the city through the road, it was last night.

—Maybe you got there before things got really bad! I'm just telling you what I saw and what I know, and you saw it yourself!

—Bryan? Maybe it would do you some good to calm down a bit. If you like, I can make you some coffee and you can explain what happened back there, okay? —Holly approached the man and he nodded. Holly's feminine charm calmed him down a bit.

—Tommy will be fine, Bryan. When he recovers, please share absolutely everything you know about what's going on outside. This will help us plan something in case we need to evacuate the mall —Nikolai grabbed him by the shoulder and squeezed him tightly. Bryan could only smile at the kindness.

—I don't know how I'm going to repay you, really, I really appreciate it!

Bryan agreed to go into the cafeteria next to Holly, and the two of them stood there chatting. Bryan kept smiling every time Holly spoke to him, and she seemed to be too interested in what he was saying.

—Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to sleep. I'm really fucked up and haven't batted an eyelash. I'm going to take a shower and go to sleep.

Nikolai was so tired that he just waved to Jason and headed for the showers.

—Oh... —Jason was hurt by the curt way he spoke to him.

—Hey, Jason... —Ashley waved, so happy.

—Ash! Hey! How's your leg?

—Much better. George worked miracles and fixed me up. I have to talk to him about changing the bandages and my healing.... And how are you? You're going out a lot and that worries me... I don't want you to die like... I don't want you to... Just like Rocky.

—I hope you recover from that. I'm so sorry about what happened to Rocky. I bet he... I want to think that he is in a better place. And Ash... I think I'm finally doing something I like, I think now that I know I can die, I'm taking risks and, I'm having fun. I like saving people, of course I do, but doing it while having fun is great, too...

—Just... take care of yourself, right? I know thing is really exciting and you might be all.... well... feeling the adrenaline rush, but please... be careful.

—I'll try. By the way... Is there anything we can use to look for your friends, Ash?

—About that... One of the girls you've rescued from the gun store: Chelsea, told me that she thinks she saw my friends... she's a waitress and she said that some tourists came to her bar.

—And did she say where they went?

—Yes. Chelsea said that they were drinking heavily... and that they had a room booked at the Jupiter Hotel.

—Another dead end... if she'd tell us what room they slept in...

—That's all I can know... it would be really stupid to go to the hotel without knowing what room we're looking for. First of all... I'm really sorry I brought you here, Jason... maybe if I had come alone...

—Ash! Ash... don't say that. I don't know what it would do to me if anything happened to you. The best thing you can do now is rest, we'll find more answers, believe me... it's no coincidence the viral outbreak, and this town in the middle of the mountains.

—Also... do you believe it?

—I don't believe it, I KNOW it. I KNOW. You take it easy, Ashley. And I have nothing to apologize for, I made the decision to come and I can't blame you.

—Oh, Jason!

Ashley gave her friend a hug. He just stood there not knowing if it was right to hug her back.

—If you need to talk, or anything...

—Right now I need you to rest and recover, okay?

Ashley nodded and left shortly after, wishing Jason a good night. Coming out of the camera room, Megan had a large cup of coffee and, she was covered with a pink unicorn blanket.

—Jason! Good night.

—Good night, Megan! What's going on?

—Too much going on to process. I saw a man completely bloodied, mutilated women were brought in, and things are happening on camera that I'd rather know were from a horror movie, not real life.

—Oh, Megan...

—Still... maybe you'd like to know that... there are three men who took refuge in the kitchen of the Bellymorth restaurant in Grand Mont Plaza. It's just a few feet away.

—Oh! And what have you seen of them? Are they bad guys?

—I've seen them for a while, they look like ordinary civilians. One of them seems to be scared... when he got to the kitchen he threw himself on the floor and started crying. I think... I think I know who he is. If you see him, ask if his name is Kevin Beckley, he is a cook. If it's him, tell him you've come on behalf of Megan Knox.

—Do you know the workers at Vallimorth Shopping Mall?

—I got to know a lot of employees, not all of them, of course. If you are an employee you should have a shirt or jacket with the logo of your respective work area and a "Vallimorth's Shopping Mall Employee" and an ID card.

—If you are a worker... Does that mean that he is also, like you, working overtime?

—And without overtime pay. Be very careful. Jason... Do you have a gun?

—I have two. Nikolai gave me two guns and some magazines. I changed my clothes and put on a police uniform. Do I look okay?

—You look like a real cop. Come on! You even have your pads.

—They look good, don't they?

—They look great!

—I'll be back in a bit, Megan. I'll try to bring them all in, if they're not a threat.