Day 1: In Health and Sickness

Nikolai went downstairs and pulled out the map of the mall. He was looking for a store that sold products related to sound equipment, or music in general. Then he remembered the Earotic Store, which was located on the second floor of the Grand Mont Plaza.

—We could use sound as our faithful friend.

Arriving at the music store, he stole the stereos and recorders from the store, he also brought electronic music with him by stealing it from the shelves.

—Finally listening to this from upstairs will be helpful. Thanks, blender noise and trash music.

Nikolai stuffed all the equipment into the car, and making sure the battery was charged in the recorders, his plan was set in motion. He drove to the park and, from a safe distance, tried to examine the situation. Sure enough, there were two men on the roof of the cafeteria trying to find a way to escape, but they could find none as everywhere the dead were raising their arms, trying to reach them.

Nikolai got out of the vehicle and brought the stereos with him. He arranged a total of five of them, inserted the music discs and turned up the volume as high as he could, to the maximum.

The sound of that music using drills and also what seemed to be the sound of music on equalizers edited to extremes he didn't even think possible, were enough to attract the attention of the dead.

Nikolai got into his car as he approached the cafeteria. As the dead came in contact with the recorders, they tried to bite them, managing to remove a few teeth in the process. The loud sound at such a volume made them more violent, as they even began to attack each other because they became desperate when they could not find any meat.

—Hey, over here!

Nikolai pressed the horn and the men came down immediately, even jumped off the roof since it was not too high, since the advantage was that there was a ladder, which the dead didn't even know how to use.

The men entered the van. Nikolai could notice how they both carried backpacks that were open, there he could see boxes of medicines.

—It looks like it was a bad idea to honk the horn.... —Nikolai could see how the dead began to approach the van, as in their fits of rage they broke the stereos, getting rid of all distractions.

—Get us out of here, man! Please!

—We have to get out of here! They'll kill us!

Nikolai did not answer to both men, as he was more focused on looking in the mirrors and knowing where he was driving, crashing into various decorations, such as Christmas decorations or some tables of the cafeteria area. The dead started to surround them because the noise he was doing with the car was attracting them.

—We're going to die! We're so FUCKED!

—No! Damn it, no! —Nikolai was hitting the horn as he saw how they were not getting tired, and seemed to be getting closer.

It was then that he heard something that seemed like a complete miracle, considering the circumstances.

—Fireworks? —One of the men guessed, due to the constant sound of something exploding in chain. His suspicions were realized when he saw a rocket explode in the sky, revealing the colors white, red and blue.

—Nikolai! —Jason's voice rang out over a walkie-talkie.

—Jason! What's going on? I'm kind of busy here, buddy!

—Did you like my show? I saw you on the cameras and decided to help you out. I took all the explosives I could from a store and put them in a shopping cart. Trust me... This shit is great!

—Jason! Are you out of your mind?! Are you fucking crazy, dude?

—The dead are getting closer to the noise! I suggest you take advantage of the distraction. I'll wait for you in the shelter. Good luck!

Jason hung up. Nikolai could notice how the zombies were beginning to be scorched by the fire, as they got too close to the lit pyrotechnics, they began to burn.

—They're human torches! As the sun doesn't even come up properly you can actually see them burn! Fuck! —One of the guys commented happily, as if he was seeing something truly incredible.

Nikolai drove to Dark Horse Plaza, where he abandoned the vehicle as soon as he reached the entrance as there was no way to get inside with the van. He helped the men to guide them to the fourth floor of Grand Mont Plaza once they evaded the dead, where they proceeded to take the stairs to the roof. There the trio could see how some of the dead were still burning and, at some point, something exploded. Nikolai thought that Jason somehow got a propane tank in the shopping car.

—That was incredible! —Commented one of the men, truly amazed by what happened.

—It was fucking crazy, George! We could've fucking died! —The other man replied, angry at his companion's behavior.

—But Michael! It was unbelievable! This man came out of nowhere, and some lunatic set off the fireworks like it was the Fourth of July! That's what I call First Class Rescue.

—I see you guys are very excited. If you'd like to join me, there's a Safe Zone, where there are more survivors —Nikolai offered, scratching his nose.

—I don't think so! George and I are getting the hell out of town. We're sick of this shitty mall anyways. If you'll excuse us...

—It's too dangerous! —Nikolai stopped them, as they had already turned around. —My friends and I came from the city, from the streets to the Mall. Believe me, it's a real hell a thousand times over. All the streets are infested. There's no way to get out of the mall either, we crashed into the Grand Mont Plaza Entrance, our car blocks it.

—I beg your pardon? —George was interested to hear what Nikolai had to say.

—It's horrible! We've been trapped in the mall for about six hours, or a little more. We lost a friend back there, they literally fucking tore him to pieces. Look, I may not be able to offer you a ticket out of the city, but I can offer you somewhere safe and a little quieter than the shithole out there. Sure, if you want you're free to go, I'm not going to stop you.

—Come on, Michael. Yesterday was complete hell to sleep. We couldn't even make it because we were going from store to store trying to hold out.

—But George... We don't know these people. They could be very bad people...

—Mike... this man and his friend saved our asses! We would be DEAD right now if it wasn't for him, for them. Let's give him a chance. If we don't like it, we leave. Okay?

—Ah... I hate it when you make that face at me. All right, let's stay, just for a little while. Then we'll leave, okay? —Michael was serious. He crossed his arms, waiting for instructions.

Nikolai led the two civilians down to the warehouse area. When they came down, they could see Molly and Mia talking with Jason.

—I swear! This guy was such a gentleman when he rescued me. I was so terrified, but he came to my rescue right from nowhere! —Mia moved to Jason's side to hug and kiss him on the cheek.

—Interesting. I was rescued by his friend, the Russian. He broke a fucking window pane to get in! His stunt saved my mother's ass and mine. He seems like a nice guy, well, he seems like a bad dude with this though attitude and all, but he is a sweetheart! Don't let that face of his to intimidate you!

—I'm not Russian. —Nikolai commented, smiling. —Girls and boy! I found two more civilians. The ones Megan reported in the park.

—Good morning, everyone! I'm George Tennyson. This is my husband, Michael. Say hello!

—Damn it! Remember not to tell everyone the details of our relationship, I don't want any more trouble....

—Who the hell would be mad to see a couple of homosexuals? —Molly crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, as if she had just heard something stupid.

—Sorry? —Michael asked.

—Yeah! In a situation like this I think those dead guys don't give a shit if you like people of the same sex as you or if you're straight. They just want to eat the hell out of you. —Mia supported, high-fiving Molly.

—Exactly! And how long have you gentlemen been together? —Molly was curious to know.

—Twenty-Five years! We met twenty-five years ago. —George answered as happily.

—Discretion! —Michael reprimanded him again.

—Nikolai and I are something —Jason tried to make the situation a little less awkward for Michael. —I think this situation has motivated us to take the next step in our relationship. Right?

—Hey, that took me by surprise, ha ha! —Nikolai smiled, pleased. —Jason and I have known each other for eight years, haven't we, Jay?

—That's right! I was the photographer at his brother's wedding.

—We just want to say how grateful we are for your help. —George said happily.

—And do you have any plans? Because I want to get out of Vallimorth as soon as possible —Michael was direct. He didn't like the idea of being in Vallimorth a moment longer.

—Not at the moment... as such we don't know well the areas we could take to get out of Vallimorth, because we could simply have all the vehicles and still run into a dead end and thousands of those idiots behind us. To get out of here we need people, we need resources, weapons... guidance —Jason crossed his arms, exhausted.

—So we don't have a plan... ah... fine. I'll stay for a while, but only because George wants me to. If you say there's no escape without a plan.... Okay, fine. —Michael sighed wearily, as George hugged him, contentedly.

—Thank you! In return, —George gave Michael a kiss on the cheek, which made him blush, as his face turned red.

—Very good, very good. Let's... explore the site.

—By the way! We've... we've seen through the cameras that you robbed the pharmacy. I was wondering... Do you have any bandages you could give us? We have a civilian... on the way to the shelter she got hurt, a piece of glass fell on her leg and we are very afraid that it might get infected. —Nikolai asked, clasping his hands together as if he was pleading.

—So that's why you saved us! You only wanted our resources... I thought so! George, let's get the hell out of here right now!

—What? —Jason looked at everyone in surprise. —What the fuck?

—Man! Dude, you're getting nuts. We didn't rescue you for you goddamn resources, we rescued you because we all deserve a chance. If we only wanted you for what you have, I wouldn't have even bothered to go out there, risk my ass and help you— Nikolai got defensive.

—No? Then why the fuck are you making it look like that? We put our asses on the line for those meds! We FOUGHT for those meds to just give them away to a bunch of strangers. At no time did we ask for your help!

—We know! We did! Come on, it's just bandages! We're not a threat, in a situation like this we should be helping each other, not arguing over trivialities! We're all a team, —Jason interjected, you could tell he was shaking.

—Bullshit! You can all go fuck yourselves. We need these meds more than you do. Let's go, George!

Michael ordered. George, however, he was looking away, undecided.

—Hmm...

—George! Let's go! These people just want to use us. Let's go.

—I...

George was scratching his head, grieving over the situation.

—Whether you like it or not, they saved us, Michael. These people opened to us the doors to their shelter... Look! Look around you... these people seem nice. What does it cost us to give them bandages, if instead they give us shelter, bed, food and safety?

—George... —Michael felt hurt, which is why he crossed his arms.

—Take me to the injured person. I worked in the paramedic service and I can treat the wounded.

—George... you can't...

—I CAN. It's my duty to help the wounded, Michael! I wouldn't want us to be in this person's situation and be ignored. Please...

George left the place to enter one of the interior rooms being guided by Nikolai.

Michael felt hurt, as everyone had left.

Jason was the only one who stayed.