Day 2: Lights Out

Again Jason and Nikolai ventured out to the mall. They had faith that they could find something relevant in Pink Flamingo Plaza offices. Nikolai smiled as he watched the members of his group shooting at the zombies, making use of the sniper rifles they stole from the gun store.

—We'll definitely have a lot of trouble cleaning all this up. At least we're sure the dead on the ground won't rise again... —Nikolai smashed the head of a zombie with his shoe, proving his point.

—I noticed that they've erected some barricades in the stairwell and escalator areas. We should hurry, Niko... Megan won't turn the lights back on until tomorrow and, we should make use of what little daylight we have left.

—Then we must hurry.

Nikolai opened the gates for Jason so they could exit through the park across Dark Horse Plaza. The lack of lights gave the park an even gloomier appearance as the zombies' growls could be heard in the distance, but could not be seen clearly due to the lack of light. They had to cross quite carefully, making sure not to attract the attention of the zombies. In view of the fact that they would be entering an unlit area, Nikolai looked well prepared when he brought some flashlights and, they also armed themselves with gloves and protectors to avoid bites on sensitive parts.

Entering Pink Flamingo the duo climbed up the escalators that were no longer even going up on their own. Jason shivered because he didn't have the security of the light when he walked through the squares, which made him more alert and he didn't leave Nikolai's side, who was illuminating with the flashlights.

Arrived at the third floor, Nikolai and Jason were in front of the door of what was the office area. To their surprise the door was closed.

—This is weird... I thought it would be open. —Nikolai had the slight intuition that something was wrong.

—I don't like this... they could close it because there might be zombies inside... what better than locking them in one place... —Jason replied, worried.

—Stay behind me.

Jason positioned himself behind Nikolai and, looked all around to avoid any zombies taking them unawares. Nikolai took the key Malcolm gave him and, gently turned the doorknob as he inserted the master key.

The door opened easily.

—Let's walk carefully. We must take the keys to this square to get control of it. We don't know how useful they can be to us...

—Understood, Niko.

When they entered they could see that the office area was empty, completely desolate. The flashlights illuminated the rooms, leaving in sight some tables with briefcases or handbags, there were also several clothes hanging on the hangers and, open lockers with different objects, among them cosmetics, some snacks or photographs stuck to the locker doors.

—All these people came to work... and will never go back home. —Jason couldn't help but feel sorry for a picture of a man hugging what appeared to be his two daughters.

—It's a shame. Remember why we're here, though. Help me get the keys... —Nikolai illuminated what appeared to be a much larger office than the others. This one itself was locked. —It won't open...

—Maybe you should try using the key... if Malcolm was planning on stealing, he'd probably run into this locked door.

—We'll do magic... Jason, cover me.

Jason held the flashlight with one hand while holding a gun with the other. Nikolai inserted the key and it turned smoothly. The door opened smoothly, revealing the interior of the office that could be seen through the mirrors.

—It would probably have been easier to destroy the window, but that would attract the attention of the dead. Watch my back. —Nikolai entered the room. His footsteps could not be heard at all because of the red carpet that decorated the office. He could see a computer on a large desk, some shelves with books that he didn't bother to check, and also a wall decorated with white tapestry. There was a wooden picture with different keys on it. They all indicated a specific place in the three squares as a whole: Pink Flamingo, Children's Heaven and Black Card Plaza.

—Can we go back now? I really think we should go... I don't like the idea of staying here, much less in the absence of light.

Nikolai told Jason to be quiet as he thought he heard something outside the office. Kalinic thought he saw something moving in the shadows.

—It seems that we have guests...

—Did you leave the door open when you came in?

—Nikolai, we are literally in a dark place. We didn't know if there were dead people inside and we had to escape quickly... I didn't leave it closed all the way, but I left it a little ajar.

—Just fantastic...

Nikolai became angry. He grimaced in disgust and shone one of the flashlights through the window. Fortunately it could be seen that there was a man hiding behind a table, but the shadow his body made ended up giving him away. Kalinic came out of the office, still pointing to the subject's location.

—Show yourself! I order you to show yourself, stranger. Put your hands where I can see them. If you do anything stupid I'll fucking shoot you.

The Serb's thick voice was to be feared. The man was slow to get to his feet and raised his hands. He turned around and it was a guy in a suit.

—Please don't shoot me! —He begged, getting down on his knees.

—Who are you? —Jason asked, naturally at the appearance of someone else alive.

—Chris Anderson! Please don't throw me out! It's too dark out there! —The man was trembling. —Don't throw me out! Those monsters ate most of my coworkers... Please... I'm begging you...

Chris Anderson—Are there more people with you, Chris?

Anderson was silent for a few moments as he didn't trust Jason's question, nor did he trust Nikolai to keep pointing at him.

—We've run into some very bad people... like that cop who offered us protection but ended up killing everything in his path.

—We?

—We... yes, we. Lawrence and Clark. We decided to take shelter in this place after what happened with the cop. We were a big group... but he killed most of us.

—Lawrence's last name is "Redfield," by any chance? —Jason knelt down to come face to face with Chris. The guy was surprised to hear the stranger say such a precise name.

—Do you know him?

—Not him... but his friend, Malcolm Hudson. Malcolm gave us information about Lawrence and also told us that we should come to these offices to get the keys that would allow us to open some premises or safe places in the mall... he told us about Mr. Simpson and how badly he used to treat his workers.

—Oh! Yes... Mr. Simpson... he abandoned us, that damned pig... the cop told us that he made a deal with Mr. Simpson... to leave us behind with him to do all kinds of things to us while Simpson was released. Since then we haven't heard from that asshole... There were twelve of us... now there's only three of us.

—Chris... Could you please tell us where Lawrence and Clark are? We can take them to a safe area. It may be hard to trust again...but you must believe us. Malcolm will be very happy to see them again, and I'm sure Megan will be quite happy to see them as well.

—Is Megan alive? Megan Knox? —A smile came across Chris's face.

—Because of her we have saved many lives! Please let us help you.

—Lawrence and Clark are on the roof. We agreed to stay up there as a last resort... there are stairs leading to Saint Michael's Park, in case the zombies broke into the offices. Please follow me. Are you sure there are no dead people in the room? One of them was able to sneak in because the door was open.

—Then let's check every room. I think it's too dark in here and I don't think it's a good idea to go back... Megan turned off all the lights in the mall to save energy. Oh shit... —Nikolai seemed to regret the side effect of his plan.

—If you like you can stay in our little shelter. It's just some offices but... it's better to be safe, locked up, than expecting the worst —Chris commented with the intention of reassuring Nikolai.

—Whatever.

The trio began shining flashlights into the rooms, the bathrooms, inside the lockers and under the tables. They also chose to check under couches, in offices with closed doors, and in the middle of cubicles, only to find that no one was there.

One hundred percent zombie-free zone. I like it —Nikolai nodded with a smile as he felt safe, at least for a moment.

Soon after they went to the rooftop. Chris took his bunch of keys and unlocked the doors leading outside. As they stepped outside, Nikolai and Jason's flashlights illuminated two men standing there.

—Chris, thank God you're back! —A man with a big smile but thinning hair, almost bald, greeted.

—Clark! —Anderson hugged the man, and he couldn't help but look at Nikolai and Jason strangely, as there was still some light from the sky that allowed them to see each other.

—Who are they, Chris? What the fuck are they doing in our shelter? —Clark asked somewhat annoyed.

—We are Jason Slater and Nikolai Kalinic. We have come to rescue you, we are here on behalf of the workers of Vallimorth Shopping Mall Megan Knox and Malcolm Hudson because of their concern about the possible existence of survivors in the Pink Flamingo Plaza offices. We are especially looking for... Lawrence Redfield. Do you know him?

The last man who was furthest away came closer when he heard his name, plus he was intrigued.

—Malcolm is...? —Lawrence looked surprised, his facial expressions revealing some relief.

—Luckily. He told us that a group of criminals in Black Card Plaza murdered his friends... only he and Harry Wilkins survived... —Jason commented to the workers, who looked at each other, frightened.

—We know them... especially Malcolm. It's good to know that more of our people are still alive... the more working people from the Mall are still alive, the better our chances of knowing how to move... Where is their shelter? —Chris asked, taking Clark's hand.

—We're in the Grand Mont Plaza warehouses and offices. We've blocked the doors leading to the second floor through the music store —Nikolai said.

—On the other side of the mall... and judging by the time and the absence of light... —Clark looked discouraged.

—We could ask Megan for help. She can reactivate the power...which would give us some time to get across the park and into Grand Mont Plaza —Jason suggested. —I'm sure she'll agree, especially if she knows there are civilians at stake.

—I'll notify her.

Nikolai went to another end of the rooftop to use his walkie-talkie, while Jason was watched by the three curious workers.