Day 1: Extra Hours

—It's the end! We're going to die, Niko! —Jason was frightened to see how the dead that were in the parking lot began to gather at the entrance of the mall, so many that they were already beginning to move the van with which they entered.

—We're not going to make it! We're not going to make it! —Ashley was crying from the pain of having the glass embedded in her leg. Her fear of dying was so great that she even peed herself because she already had a mental picture of how painful it would be to be eaten alive by each one of those bastards.

—Hey you! Over here! —A girl's voice could be heard at one end of the square. —Over here!

The girl had come out through one of the music venues on the site. She was waving her arms to attract the attention of the civilians.

—You take her, Jason! —Nikolai took one of those posters advertising a new product and, with it, hit anyone who came near. —We're coming! Don't leave us!

Jason was trying to carry Ashley as much as he could, and with her help he was also trying to support her with his other leg since it was difficult for him to walk. Thanks to the fact that there was a shopping cart nearby, Nikolai took it and started to push those who were in his way, not for nothing he had worked those muscles since prison and after that...

—Where are we going? —Asked the agitated Jason. The young woman waited for everyone to enter the door so she could lock it again and put some boxes of flour with Nikolai's support to make weight.

—Follow me. We can take her to a safe place.

The little woman seemed quite determined. She led the trio through a huge hallway that connected to some warehouses containing all kinds of products well packed and stored in perfect condition.

—And as much as I love overtime... they better give me an extra this month! —The young woman smiled, while using her bunch of keys to open another door that connected to another area of the mall, an office area and also with different empty rooms.

—What is this place? —Nikolai asked, rather puzzled by the nature of the place.

—Well... this is an exclusive area for us employees. Some rooms are used as storage rooms. The offices are for the administrative staff of the shopping center, as they are in charge of the smooth running of the mall and they are in charge of the complaints department. We also have a break room.

—Do you work here, Miss? —Nikolai asked.

—Yes! As a matter of fact I was a stock girl and I was checking to make sure none of the products were out of date. I guess... I guess you guys aren't the help I was calling for, are you?

She asked so worried.

—We're sorry... no, we're not the help. The spotlights illuminating the sky caught our attention... Do you know who turned them on or why they were turned on? —Jason asked. After a while the girl took Ashley to a room, there were some beds in the room.

—Please lay her down. We have a first aid kit over here. And to answer your question... it was me, I turned on the lights. You can get to the roof from here, just use the elevator. I thought that if I turned them on, I could... I could get help... since about six or seven hours ago all this happened...

—Do you know what's going on, girl? —Jason helped Ashley lie down and asked her not to cover her wound or touch it.

—I'll get the damn first aid kit. —Nikolai left the room.

—I don't know... people went crazy from one moment to the next and I think I'm the only survivor in the mall. In the Security Room I can see everything that happened and... it was horrible, a lot of people died. I don't understand why they are all killing each other, eating each other... hell broke loose....

—What's your name, girl? You look very young... too young in fact.

—Oh! I'm Megan Knox. It's nice to meet you.

Megan Knox—The pleasure is ours, believe me.

Soon after Nikolai arrived with the first aid kit, which by the way didn't have much in it. They needed some bandages and hydrogen peroxide,

—We don't have enough to treat Ashley. It seems to me that we will have to go out to look for what we need... Do you have anything in this warehouse that we can use, girl? —Nikolai asked as he held out the almost empty bag.

—I'm afraid not... these warehouses have multiple products but only edibles and cleaning stuff. Anything having to do with medical equipment or products of that nature are brought exclusively to the Pharmacy. The Pharmacy is located in the Spring Plaza, which is on the other side of the mall...

—Then we have to go out and get what we need...

—I'll go! —Jason got out of bed determined. —I'll go. You should stay, Niko, to protect them...

—But Jason! It's too dangerous to go out there, alone... What about...?

—No! They need you, and you'll know how to defend them. Do you have a map, Megan? So I know where to orient myself, because if I have to, I'll have to search the other establishments for things we don't have here.

—Oh! I have a map, actually. What's your name?

—Jason, Jason Slater. This is Nikolai Kalinic and this is Ashley Carter.

—Nice to meet you, Megan. —Nikolai smiled.

—Hello, there! So... Jason. Look, I'll give you a map and... this walkie-takie. If you're going to go out there, you should know that it's too dangerous and all kinds of things could happen. I'll keep an eye on the cameras if anything interesting comes by, and if I get to see anyone alive through them... Do you think you can take the call and see if you can go help them? Please bring as many people as you can and ***if you can***.

—I'll try, I'll give it a try. Anything else I should know, Megan?

—As a matter of fact, yes. The plaza that we entered through is the Grand Mont Plaza, we have a total of eight plazas spread throughout the mall, each one of them has places that you might be interested in. We also have a recreational park, that park is infested as most of the dead entered through it, and started infesting the mall. I will call you if I see anything interesting. Follow me.

Jason hugged Nikolai and asked him to protect them and that he would be safe. After that, Megan led Jason to the warehouses, where she proceeded to open a door located on the rooftop. They were now on the fourth-fourth floor of Grand Mont Plaza, and the prospect was much more unpleasant from above than from below, as they could see all those dead people walking around, in groups.

Megan and Jason had a great perspective after removing one of the glass panes from the ceiling and looking through it.

—You can guide yourself on the map, remember, you must go to Spring Plaza to get to the Pharmacy. If you see that this plaza is full of infected, you must notify me by walkie-takie, so I will activate the fire alarms to move the strangers from one plaza to another. I highly recommend that when transporting people you take these stairs to get here to the roof, since apparently they don't know how to climb stairs.

—Perfect. I assume you are going to block access to the second floor door, correct? That's why you're telling me to go back through the fourth floor.

—That would be ideal. I will ask your friend to help me transport elements and machinery to block the door.

—Very well. Then... I'll be on my way. I'll come with news of anything your cameras can't see. Agreed?

—That sounds ideal. Thank you very much, Jason. Ashley will be very grateful for the sacrifice you're making, and please... try to save as many as you can, I want to believe that my claim of being the only survivor here is false. And... well, I'll guide Ashley to the bathroom, there are some showers there, you know... since she...

—I know... thank you. We're strangers but you're helping us as if we met before... and I think it's pretty brave what you're doing.

—It's nothing, really! I'll do as much as I can. You're the brave one!

—So that's how it starts...