Day 6
8:00
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I woke up first, it seems she was quite tired.
She was deeply asleep with a relaxed face, i can't recognize her, she must have been scared and lonely.
Looking at her, sleeping so peacefully, i cant help but smile.
But she can't be too relaxed. We need to stay on the lookout.
Today i want to go a lower floor yet again, when she wakes up I'll ask if she wants to come.
I hope she is ready for this.
10:00
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While planning for the future on my desk, i hear a yawn.
I got up and went to the living room.
Smirking, i say:
-"It seems you needed a break"
"Yeah, this day i couldn't sleep because i constantly felt in danger but being around someone else made it seem safer."
-"That's true being alone is though..."
-"Cough Cough You can take a bite and we'll talk about the future and how to survive starting now"
"ok"
30 min later
We sit on the sofa.
-"So i made some plan, tell me what you think about it"
"Tell me"
-"First and foremost we need to clear the entire building and go down to the caretaker's lodge on the first floor to get the key to all the apartments and we'll make the whole building our base."
"I hope we find other people alive in the building"
-"Yeah me too after all, humans greatest strength is number, and that's why when we clear this building we will actively search for survivors to build a community. With more people, we could have various people of various skillset, we would be able to protect this place of hordes."
"...Wow your plan is quite big, i thought you would talk about a plan to go to the tenth floor.
How will we supply ourselves with water and food in the future because as we grow bigger in number as a group the need will increase accordingly."
-"That's a good question, for the near future i think looting will be enough for years as a lot of people died early on. We can't think too long term, tomorrow's world will be different from today, so we can't predict this far. Maybe we could farm."
"Do you know how to grow crops, do you have seeds??"
-"I don't but that's not the problem, i am talking about years later the real challenge in this is to stay alive this long."
"I think your plan is good and having an idea of the future is good but we need to think of the short term for now so first let's concentrate on how we can clear this building."
-"You are right, then, starting now you will come with me every time i go out so we'll watch each other's back. Do you agree?"
"Yes!"
I am stunned !!
She is fierce i thought she was weak-willed.
-"You are accepting quite easily, from what i saw i thought I'll need to persuade you, weren't you scared to death yesterday?"
"I was scared of being..., of dying alone more than scared of the zombie, since i met you and with your little speech i feel like i can do everything."
That's dangerous!
-"Fear can freeze you and that's no good but, fear is also a strength because it highlights danger so don't be reckless and keep your confidence in check, there is no such thing as an overconfident survivor."
A little bit disheartened by my words Lana answer in a low voice
"I'll keep that in mind"
Was i, too harsh?
-"Ok that's the end of the meeting let's eat."
13:00
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We are gearing up with thicker clothing, weapons, and phones in the hallway.
-"Check if there is anything beyond the door."
She check out the peephole.
"It's empty"
-"I'll go first."
She nods.
We step out, quietly close the door, and begin descending in total silence.
13th floor,
12th floor,
11th floor,
10th floor,
The areas were clear and the door closed.
Finally the 9th floor.
I look back at her.
We can't talk just in case so when we get back we should establish a hand sign code like the military in the movie. But for now, i take her phone to write and show her:
"I'll let you do it, you need to accustom yourself to these kinds of situations"
She nods.
"First you try to hear if there is any growling at each door. When you can't hear then you open it to an eye's size and look, if there is still nothing then fully open it and check where you couldn't see with your weapon ready"
She nods again.
---
After his instruction, i nodded confidently but in reality, it's quite stressful.
What if I mess up and die? No... worse, what if he dies because of me?
I take a moment to breathe and then i try to eavesdrop beyond the door.
It's silent.
I gulp.
I open the door slowly trying to make no noise, thankfully it's a new building and the doors don't make any noises.
I peek and don't see anything wrong.
I write on my phone that there is nothing.
He nods at me.
I flinch as he tap my shoulder and i turn back instantly.
"Do you want me to go first?"
I shake my head, i want to go, i need to go or else, I'll be dependent on him.
I open the door and go in, i quickly check, nothing.
I let out a sigh of relief and relax a little.
I go to the front door of the apartment. I can't hear anything, i try to open it.
!!!
It's open.
I try to open the door but then Alex suddenly catch my hand.
Startled i look at him full of confusion and he point to his ear.
I forgot to check for sounds inside!
There is no sound maybe these door are too thick?
Only then i open the door and my heart tightens.
I see someone, rotting alone, strolling around very slowly.
I hold my breath and close the door with extra care.
I sit on the floor and breathe out.
I take my phone out and show him.
"There is one inside"
-"Ok we will go in, I'll try to tackle him and you hit its head as hard as you can
Let me see first."
He peeks.
He comeback.
-"I go first, i will run into it and it will put him on the ground, and you following me finish it."
I nod.
He opens the door and starts to run, he runs into the zombie and pushes it with his shoulder, and the 2 of them fall.
I run from behind him and just in front of the walking corpses i look into his eye and i freeze for a second …his eyes… there was nothing. Like looking into a void that used to be human..
It starts to turn its head right toward Alex .
No, he will kill him!
I smash its head.
Again
and again.
Little pieces of its brain got on my shirt my hand my face, in my hair.
After i snap out of my hitting frenzy i look down at it, i see a blackish mass smashed on the ground, sticking to it.
And i vomit on the body.
It was my first kill.
I am still trembling.
Because of my hesitation, i almost made Alex die, i need to strengthen my resolve, he needs to be able to count on me for the future.
I wipe my mouth.
"I am sorry"
-"That's nothing it was your first, i understand, it was the same for me yesterday. Stay here and I'll look into the apart if there is another surprise."
---
Leaving Lana behind i turn back and look in every inch of the residence.
There was no zombie but i found a proper flashlight, a backpack, and food for 5 days in the kitchen and in the bathroom i took the disinfectant and the bandages, i put it all in the bag, and went to see Lana.
-"We doubled the number of days we can survive with the food i found, we should last at least 9 days."
"That's good news."
-"Do you want to take a look if you find something?"
"No, i just want to take a shower, i have a lot of him in the hair."
-"Yeah, its really dirty"
She seems to have recovered from the shock.
Now i want to confirm something. Earlier i didn't see any blood on the zombie but i need to check.
-"Can you go up alone?"
"Why?"
-"I want to do some more research"
"Ok, its safe i can go, don't worry."
Once she is out, i wait a minute and start to work.
I put him on the dining table and totally undress the corpse.
With an almost frightening calmness i examine every inch of the corpse for a bite mark but
-"There's no bite mark."