Chapter 2: End of Day 2

Jason woke up some time later on the stretcher in the infirmary. It was hard to see the ceiling because of the intensity of the light. Jason tried to get comfortable but his body ached. Next to him was Nikolai who looked worried.

As soon as Jason woke up, Nikolai approached him and stroked him.

—Jay... How are you feeling? —Nikolai was devastated. He felt so bad about leaving Jason behind.

—Like a fucking truck ran over me... —Jason smiled. —How are the others? What happened to...?

—They've all been go through the inspection and have entered the shelter. We've locked the outside doors and no one else will be able to get in... as for the woman... her name is Bessie Doyle. She wasn't alone... the reason she was going so slow was because she was carrying... dogs.

—Dogs? —Jason looked at him in confusion.

—Bessie worked in a pet store... when the epidemic hit, she released all the animals and kept only three. She named them Coconut, Mr. Sprinkles and Fluffy.

Bessie DoyleCoconutMr. SprinklesFluffy—Did I risk my ass to save animals? —Jason looked over the side of the bed somewhat dismayed.

—The presence of animals will cheer people's spirits here... besides... the girls have already grown fond of them... Lilly didn't find you injured in any way, fortunately... Jason... I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave you behind... but these people... you wanted...

—You did the right thing... I think it had something to do with me getting blood on me. Some of the zombies didn't react to seeing me... I think I went unnoticed because I started to smell like them.

—If it were true...

—We would never have discovered this if it wasn't for that woman... we should see her later, Nikolai. I'd like to know how she is... she must be pretty scared about what happened.

—First you should rest... and take a shower, Jason. You have fluids all over your body, we'll have to throw those sheets away immediately...

—Oh, Nikolai... You thought you'd lost me forever?

—I thought of so many ways not to go on, Jason... I didn't know what I'd do if I went out again and found you...

—But it didn't happen, so there's no need to think about it. I'll take your word for it... I'll get up from this place and go take a shower. I suck!

Nikolai hugged Jason, not caring that he was stained with blood, or that he stunk.

—You are the most important thing to me. I'm so sorry I yelled at you back there...I'm...I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me...I'm not worthy to be your partner, not after what I did.....

—I know you wanted to protect me, Nikolai. Don't be sorry... and I won't give you forgiveness for a situation that could have happened in different roles...

—How do you manage to be so kind-hearted? With people you don't know... with everyone...

—Maybe it's a factory defect, haha.

—Jason Dominic Slater... Come on, Jason, I'll help you walk to the bathrooms. We really need that hot shower.

—Will you carry me?

—I'll carry you!

Nikolai took Jason in his arms and carried him through the corridors of the shelter. Everyone present could see how content he was and how happy he looked just existing next to Jason.

The civilians had survived another day, grateful to be alive.

Outside the shelter the dead wander without a fixed path.

However, someone from the outside seems to be interested in the mall.

## SURVIVORS

* Asha Love
* Markus Thompson
* Amber Williams
* Zoey Hilton
* Kali
* Mariana Guadalupe Hernández
* Cliff Emerson
* Danny Lennox
* Rob Shiner
* Clark Kennedy
* Chris Anderson
* Lawrence Redfield
* Bessie Doyle
* Coconut
* Mr. Sprinkles
* Fluffy