Day 3: To Serve and Protect II

After being rescued, the police officers were in the cafeteria. Because of their unexpected presence, the civilians seemed even more worried because in front of them was the proof that all was lost. The Sergeant named Greg was drinking hot coffee while the other man, Matthew, was enjoying a good bowl of noodles because he had not eaten anything for days. Everyone could tell he was enjoying it because he was making sounds that emitted the pleasure he was feeling.

—So what can you tell us about the situation out there? —Nikolai was direct as he wanted to know what happened in the city while they were in the shelter.

Greg finished taking a sip of his coffee and the white chocolate donut and turned to Kalinic.

—Everything is lost. We come from one of the many police precincts in the city, specifically the V.P.D, the precinct located Downtown, this includes stores and establishments made by the locals themselves. It really sucks... we tried to hold out for a few days with supplies and ammunition. We managed to resist the first waves for the first two days, but everything went to shit on the third. —Greg began to recall the events that took place at the station.

—Saturday night... I can remember it like it just happened. We received many reports of attacks at Vallimorth General Hospital, plus there were a number of attacks in different areas of the city. We heard that the Hotel that is in the Tourist Center was set on fire....

—Which hotel? If I may ask, Sergeant Phillips. —Ashley was concerned because she had a strange feeling that told her exactly which hotel it had been.

—The Jupiter Hotel. That's where the tourists who come to town usually stay. There were several fires around the city and people went completely crazy. We arrested hooded men and women who called themselves....

—The Anarchists... —Bryan answered for Greg who looked at Fisher with a suspicious look.

—Yes... Mr. Fisher. Do you know them?

—I had the misfortune, Sergeant. Those sons of bitches killed my wife and almost took the lives of my son and me. Fortunately... this man, the Russian, helped us just in time. Those bastards blocked the roads out of Vallimorth and caused road chaos. No one can get out of the city except through the limits of the city —Bryan was tired. He got shivers just by remembering that night.

—Indeed... we had a helicopter giving us updates on the situation in the city, especially the roads leading to the outskirts of the city. All this shit caught people off guard. We believe it all started in Spring Hills, which is literally on the other side of Vallimorth, the chaos went all the way to the Financial District and then spread to the Tourist Center. Eventually it reached Downtown which is where we are located and, it all ended up in the Residential Area. —Matthew had traced his own timeline on a napkin with a pen.

—The first attacks were in Spring Hills, I heard some officers talking about some suspicious individuals being detained at about 5:30 p.m. Things got worse when at about 7:00 p.m. there was a fire at the Jupiter Hotel, at the same time there were fires that spread to the Kennedy Enterprises offices and the SoHo Club. All of these events happened in the Tourist Center and the Financial District. —Greg was trying to recall the wave of events that led to Vallimorth's downfall.

—I know that at 8:00 p.m. chaos hit the mall. —Megan stated. —I was working here all day, since 6:00 a.m. and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary all day, I even got to say goodbye to some friends and work colleagues... but I fell asleep until 3 a.m. of Sunday, which was the time I ran into these guys. —Megan pointed to Nikolai and Jason who were together.

—Well, that's weird. —Nikolai said.

—It was about 4:00 a.m. when I went home to tell my family that we had to leave town... but the roads were blocked. —Bryan lamented that he had not arrived sooner.

—But isn't it a bit illogical that since 7:00 p.m. the chaos on the roads has extended until 4:00 a.m.? I get the impression that surely the escape routes from the city were not blocked before that time... —Nikolai scratched his beard trying to get some answer from the civilians or the police as to why when they entered Vallimorth there were no vehicles on the roads.

—That's because Charlotte Hall asked the citizens to take shelter in their homes. With the constant attacks, people hid inside their homes, took cover instead of escaping because they thought it would be over soon. Things got ugly and eventually everyone took their vehicles and tried to get out. —Greg became more stressed as he recalled the incident.

—I have a theory that at first it was just the attacks... that maybe these Anarchist assholes had something to do with it. According to Brody the roads were blocked because there were huge trucks blocking the way, they were huge trucks that are usually used to transport gasoline. Vehicles were unable to leave and shootings started on the road. —Matthew shared more information that could clarify doubts regarding the impossibility of leaving the city.

—Then they killed the civilians who tried to escape... but they revived and killed the Anarchists, am I wrong? —Nikolai sensed.

—That's exactly what happened. We held back some sons of bitches who were part of that group and you just explained to me in one sentence what took us HOURS with our... methods. Pigs like them deserved to die, which is why we decided to expel them from our precinct and let them be eaten by the dead. Although things only got worse because... some of the people we locked up were injured or had been bitten, we had put in about ten bastards or more per cell. Imagine the carnage we saw when we went down to the cell area the next day! It was a massacre... the place reeked of blood and we already had a breach. —Greg could only feel sick at the failure he represented as a leader.

—So how did you hold out for so many days? How did the station collapse? —Bryan was especially interested to know.

—There were twenty of us survivors in all, counting the cleaning staff and a few civilians. Did you see the cops back there? They were part of our group too... I didn't even know their names because they came from another precinct. We had designated the waiting rooms on the third floor as rooms for living, there at least we could rest. During this afternoon while we were getting ready to eat we noticed that someone from our group was missing... it was a fucking kid, about twelve or thirteen years old. —Matthew was furious just remembering why so many of his colleagues had died.

—Come on, Matt... he didn't mean to...

—My balls, Greg! It's because of that stupid fucking kid that we're here! That asshole kid took the locks off the doors because he said his mom was in the back and he wanted to be with her. I'm glad that bitch ripped his face off as soon as she got her hands on him... That asshole kid didn't think about the other kids! Everyone... **eventually** we had to escape through the windows, we used the office curtains to tie some knots and went down to the parking lot to take the patrol cars. We had lost almost everyone at the police station, we heard their screams but there was nothing we could do...

—And we tried our luck escaping from the police station which was completely infested. The fact that we arrived at the mall was a product of causality. We had no plans to come here. You know the rest. And about Connor... he's right, we're hungry, we haven't had much rest and... maybe you don't want us here, so if you like you can give us some food and we'll gladly leave. We've already survived on our own... How bad can it be? —Greg started to laugh. His smile showed his tiredness, plus deep down he wished he wasn't kicked out.

—Having someone in our shelter who knows about weapons and can help us instruct civilians on how to use them could be useful. —Bryan voiced his opinion. —I know Sergeant Phillips and Officer Pockett, guys. They were the instructors that gave shooting classes and weapon assembling knowledge to my son, Thomas, before the outbreak. He went to the Police Academy to become a Police Officer. I know them and I know they'll be a good addition to our group.

—Thank you very much, Bryan. —Greg nodded quite happy. —It's good to have a friend covering your back, y'know that, right?

—Exactly! Look, we can do whatever you guys ask us to do, whatever... as long as it's not *weird shit*, because we haven't stooped that low. What's more! Since we're cops, we could serve as guards for your shelter. We can keep an eye out for you and watch over you because that's where we have plenty of experience in. Just don't throw us out! We've seen enough.  —Matthew had a hopeless look on his face, afraid to return to danger and with nothing and no one to protect him. —Just... think about it, please. I know we just met but if you give us a chance to prove ourselves you won''t regret it. Just don't throw us out!

—My men are good men, people. They like all of you have lost a lot and don't want hope to be the last thing to go. We thank you for your hospitality with Connor, the guy fucked up his foot from the crash, but he knows a lot about the dead because he took it upon himself to study them. We just need a chance to show you that we can work together and get out of this situation. —Greg was trying to make a good impression on the civilians in order to gain their trust. —I promise you that we will do our best to protect you.

The group looked at the uniformed men and thought about what they should do with them. Nikolai looked doubtfully at Greg as he was sure of something in particular. Nikolai took Jason to the side of the cafeteria to talk to him.

—You know what I noticed, Jay? I think... I think this cop, Greg, has something to do with Bobby, the guy whose head you blew off. —Nikolai whispered. —Bobby Phillips...

—What the hell? The fuck are you talking about?

—Just look at him, man! He's got his whole fucking face! As soon as he finds out we fucked up his brother...

—He doesn't have to find out then! Just don't say anything and... everything will be fine.

—Fuck, Jason...

—You take it easy. Avoid mentioning him... let's avoid... let's just... just... just be cool, we've got to be cool.

—Fuck... Fuck!

—Hey, Jason! Nikolai! What do you think? —Bryan tried to get the attention of the leaders about what to do with the policemen.

Nikolai winked his eye to Jason.

—Well, we're not animals, and it would be too low to throw you out of our safe place. We are going to let you stay, only if you keep your promise about guarding the rooftop and doing your duty as guards inside and outside the shelter. —Nikolai said loud.

—Thanks a lot, man! You won't regret a single thing! —Matthew was very happy to hear that. —Yes! Goddamn yes! Thank you!

Greg nodded again and shook hands with Nikolai and Jason.

—We'll make a great team, I know. Thank you for your hospitality.

## Next Chapter

Chapter 3: Prayers for the Slayers Part VI