Sitting up I look towards the door and see Abby standing next to it through the glass in the wall. She’s no longer wearing the white jacket from the restaurants. Instead she has a white under shirt that has the occasional flecks of blood spotting it.

  “Yeah. Is something wrong?” I ask.

  I stand and walk to the window. Standing before her in only a shirt and boxers makes me feel uncomfortable. I wish I had asked Decker for a spare change of clothes.

  I feel my face heat up as her eyes quickly dart down my body. They take a second to lock back onto mine. The green orbs of her eyes seem to almost glow in the dim light.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to check up on you. How do you feel?” She asks.

  “I’m feeling a lot better.” I say.

  “That’s good.”

  A strange silence falls between us. Leaving me feeling even more awkward.

  “Um… Thank you.” I force out of myself.

  She takes a second trying to understand my words. Then her face lights up when she understands what I’m thanking her for.

  “I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t fought that thing while giving us the chance to escape I think all of us would have died.” She says.

  I nod unsure of what to do or say. She’s not wrong but still it feels awkward having it stated. As the moments turn to seconds a desire in me to understand burns.

  “Why did you come back?” I ask.

  “What?” She asks.

  I take a second to organize my thoughts.

  “You made it back to the building and were safe. Why did you come back for me?”

  Moments pass between us in silence as I search her eyes. I can see thoughts behind them as she thinks over her actions.

  “I’m not entirely sure. It just felt like the right thing to do. The world has changed so much and I don’t even know if my family is safe or not. You’re the only familiar person here and to just run and leave you to die after you risked your life to save me just feels wrong.”

  In all honesty I still don’t get her reasoning. But even Decker said something similar. They think we have to look after each other. My father would have never subscribed to their ideals.

  He’s a predator to the core. He would have left them for dead or he would feed off of their hard work. But if that’s what it means to be a predator then do I really want to be one?

  I fought that banshee without thinking about the consequences. It even felt good to a point knowing that my actions may have saved the others. Granted I started to regret it when it seemed like I was going to die. But then Decker and Abby came back for me.

  They’re willing to risk their lives for me. They may not be predators like my father but I want to be more like them. I want to be better than just a predator like my father.

  “If that makes sense. I don’t really know. Why did you put yourself in front of the Banshee and give us the key?” She asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

  “I just did. I wasn’t really thinking in all honesty.” I say.

  “Well it was so cool. You were like some super hero.” She says her face is becoming animated. “You were like ‘get to the office’” She says, lowering her voice a little.

  Even though she’s mocking me I can’t help but to laugh at her impression of me. She puffs up her chest and places her hands on her hips in a superman like pose.

  She holds for a second then breaks into some laughter. Our laughter dies down a second later and she continues.

  “You then became engulfed in blue flames. It looked like something out of an anime. It was so cool.” She says.

  She looks away as she talks, her face growing red. I feel my own face heat up in embarrassment. Did I really look that cool?

  “Then when I got inside the building the first thing I did was go to the man, Decker. I told him you were out there fighting some monster. He ran up and got his sword. While he did I chose the mage class. It was so freaking painful that I think I passed out. Next thing I knew Decker was trying to get people to follow him outside to save you. I volunteered as soon as I could stand.

  Once we got outside you were still burning bright in that blue aura and fighting like a total badass. I never expected to see something like that in real life. It was like some superhero film came to life.”

  She grows silent after her little story. Her face rises to mine as she seems to have made some decision.

  “I know you already promised to teach me to fight with mana but I have another request. Will you help me to my family's house? We don’t live far, only seven or so blocks. I want to stay here but if they’re alive I need to get to them.”

  Her green eyes stare into mine desperately hoping I would. My gut tells me to do it. To help her make sure her family is okay. But a darker voice in me questions why I should.

  Going that far from the office is risky. But at the same time I’m supposed to be trying to grow stronger. And if we can get more people who are willing to defend the office that would be good. But the distance is a bit much right now.

  I owe her. That much is obvious. If it wasn’t for her and Decker I would have been overrun when I was fighting the horde. I owe it to her to try and help.

  “I want to help but I think we should check with Decker first. I don’t know if just the two of us can get there alone.” I say.

  Her face falls, making me feel like an idiot. I want to apologize and tell her that I’ll go right now. My mouth parts as I start to form the apology.

  “Thank you. You’re right we should try to get a few more people to come.” She says.

  It’s all I can do to nod at her. She turns and runs off leaving me alone. I feel like I’ve done something wrong.

  I return to the couch trying to push down the feelings of guilt in me. I lay down and slowly let myself fall asleep. Memories and dreams fly though me as I sleep. Only ending when someone’s hands shake me awake.

  “Rise and shine Kid.” Decker Says.

  My eyes snap open and are bombarded by light. I flinch and pull back away from the painful brightness. After seconds of blinking the pain away and adjusting I find Decker standing over me with a smile on his face.

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  “Good morning. How are you feeling?” He asks.

  “Good morning. I’m feeling fine.” I say.

  “Good good. Here put these on and follow me.” He says handing me some black sweatpants, my utility belt, and my boots.

  I quickly get dressed and follow him to the eating area on the seventh floor. Once there I find Abby, Andy, Angila, and six other people. Looking over the group I realize we’re missing four.

  “What happened to the other four?” I ask Decker.

  “They decided to go out on their own. They’re still in the building but by evening I’ll have them packed with some food and set on their way. But that brings us to why we’re all meeting here.”

  He turns to the group.

  “So we have under sixteen days left on the countdown. We need to prepare for anything before then but while doing that we need resources. Food is a must followed by water, weapons, clothes, and building material. Through the zone management menu I can set up some defenses but that will require us to kill more zombies. So I want to try and strike a balance with building stuff ourselves and purchasing anything else we need.”

  He stops talking, letting his words sink in.

  “On top of that we still have countless bodies in this building to deal with. So here’s what I’m thinking. A group of four will be our hunting party. Their goal will be to go out and clear routes and spaces for scavenging. Another group of four will be a scavenging party. Their purpose is to mostly find resources and possible people. They don’t have to also try and rack levels or kill points. The last group will be focused on getting this building ready for anything.”

  “Who will be put into what group?” Kyle asks.

  “I figured it would be decided by volunteering but I get that some people may not want to be part of a certain group. So if we don’t have enough for a group we’ll have to draw lots to figure out who fills in the empty slots.” Decker says.

  “I volunteer for the hunting group.” Abby says.

  “Me too.” Kyle says

  Everyone else proclaims what group they wish to work in. Angila chooses the scavenging group. Halley, Chris, Kenny, and Jessica all say they want to be in the building group. Rabecca chooses the scavenging group leaving Andy, Decker, and I unassigned.

  Decker turns to me. Our conversation from the night before flashes through my mind as I realize what he wants of me.

  “I’ll go with the hunting group.” I say.

  Decker smiles and turns to Andy. Out of the corner of my eye I catch Abby also smiling.

  “What about you?” Decker asks Andy.

  Andy takes a second while staring at the ground.

  “I want to be in the building group.” He finally says.

  “Alright. I’ll join the scavenging group. That leaves one spot for the hunting and scavenging groups each.” Decker says,

  He pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket. He rips it into five strips and with a pen from a nearby cubicle marks them one through five.

  “Alright one through three stay in the building group. Four will join the scavenging group while five will join the hunting group.” Decker says

  He holds the strips of paper so you can’t see what number is written on them. Then he shuffles the scaps before presenting Chris with strips. He pulls number two. Next is Halley who pulls four. Her shoulders shag but she doesn’t fight it.

  Kenny joins the building group by pulling three. Decker then turns to Andy with two strips in his hands. Andy grabs the paper to his right. The number five is written on it’s base in blue ink. Andy’s eyes fall at the sight and his shoulders shag.

  “Alright that leaves you to be part of the building group.” Decker says while looking at Jessica.

  “This is bull shit.” Andy says.

  A silence falls on our small group as Andy’s face grows beat red. He breathes hard and heavy. His shoulders visibly rising with the effort.

  “Do you have a problem with how we picked who does what?” Decker asks.

  “Why do I have to risk my life? I already worked so hard to clear the building I shouldn’t have to go outside and risk my life even more.” Andy says.

  “So then other people should go out and risk their lives for you to just hold yourself up in here?” Decker asks.

  Andy fumbles for words but doesn’t find any before Decker continues.

  “Does anyone else have an issue with how we divided up jobs?” He asks.

  No one speaks up causing Decker to continue.

  “I tried to do this as fairly as possible. If you aren’t willing to work then you don’t have to stay here. You can leave at any time. But if you stay you have a job to do and we don’t have time to deal with you complaining. So what is it? Will you leave or will you do what you need to?” Decker asks.

  His voice drops low reminding me once again of my father. But instead of resorting to beating Andy like my father would have, Decker just talks to him. I can tell he’s annoyed and angered by the guy but he hasn't laid a hand on him.

  “I’ll work.” Andy grumbles.

  Decker sighs and turns to the group.

  “Alright so first I think we should try and get some better weapons for everyone. Does anyone have any ideas on where we can find some?” Decker asks.

  The group falls silent as we ponder his question. My mind races back when I was having to learn the map of downtown as part of my training for the job. We went over quite a few businesses and I know where a few stores with weapons might be, but they’re all a decent walk away. Then I feel like I’m being struck by lightning as a single word passes through my mind.

  “Police” I say.

  “What was that?” Decker asks.

  “The police station.” I slowly let out.

  As I think about it the more it makes sense.

  “The police station should have the weapon lockers for the police and riot squad. Along with an evidence room that’s probably full of weapons. And it’s only three blocks to the south on third street.” I say.

  “Do you think you can actually break into their armory and evidence room?” Decker asks.

  “Given enough time I’m confident I can. Especially if some of the other Mages help.” I say.

  Speaking of Mages, how many people have chosen classes?

  “Wait, how many people have picked a class?” I ask.

  “Oh yeah you were passed out for that.” Abby says.

  “Well Decker took us out in groups and let us each kill a zombie so everyone has chosen a class.” Jessica says.

  “Oh that’s good.” I say.

  “So then the Hunting party will set out for the police station. They’ll clear the building and gain access to any place with stuff we need. Then over the radio they’ll call for the scavenging team. We’ll run over and collect what we can then run back. Does anyone have any issues with this?” Decker says.

  “Umm. I have a request.” Abby says.

  “Yeah?” Decker asks.

  “After we clear the police station can we push a little further south to my house? It’s only four blocks further down.” She says.

  “Hmm. It’s a little far but if everyone in the hunting party agrees to it I don’t have an issue. As long as you guys run if any high leveled zombies show up.” Decker says.

  Abby grows visibly more hopeful. Her shoulders rise and her face brightens up into a smile. She turns to me pleading in her eyes.

  “I’m fine with going.” I say.

  She turns to Kyle.

  “As long as we book it at any sign of issues.” Kyle says.

  Finally she turns to Andy. Her bottom lip sticks out slightly making me realize that she’s pretty cute.

  Andy stares at her. His eyes travel down her body stopping at two spots in particular.

  “You’ll owe me.” He says.

  I feel something in me rise at his words. I grow hot and a desire to hit him burns in me.

  “Deal. Thank you all so much.” Abby says.

  “Alright hunters get ready. You should leave soon.” Decker says.

  We all rise. Ready to try and tackle the day. My stomach feels queasy at the thought of going outside again but I push the feeling down. I need to get stronger. Not just for myself but for others.

  I don’t think I’m a predator anymore. I don’t think I have the temperament for it. But maybe I can grow stronger.