Abigail stumbled awake. Panicking while looking around at what the cause of the gunshot was. She stood up groggily. "What the fuck happened!" Abigail exclaimed.

Seeing Malachi shot at the chair, Abigail didn't move. She looked at us with suspicion. I shook my head sideways and lifted Malachi's hand. She saw the bite wound and sat back down. "So it was too late for him huh?" Abigail asked. "Yeah. It was his last wish. To let him die with dignity." I answered.

"Bennie and I are gonna lay them to rest in his wife's flower shop a floor below. Can you help?" I asked Abigail. She nodded. Bennie removed the pillow and saw Malachi's eyes open. He closed Malachi's eyes. "May you find peace, old man," Bennie added solemnly.

After nearly an hour of making sure the unclean didn't hear of what we'd done. We made sure the flower shop was unoccupied. Bennie cleared the center of the room and laid Malachi's body properly. He sure was heavy but at least we wanted to carry him with dignity not drag him around like a sack. We came back on the 3rd floor for Meredith's body when we saw Abigail cleaning Meredith's face of dirt, soot, and blood. "It's the least we could do right? I don't want want to throw my humanity even how fucked up this world is going to be." Abigail said.

We carried Meredith's corpse beside Malachi and positioned each of their hand on top of each other. We at least tidied up the flower shop from all plants that were disturbed and covered their corpses with curtain sheets. Abigail laid roses on each of the couple's chests and bowed with a prayer. "Just as you found happiness in this life, may you also find each other in the next," Abigail whispered.

We closed the door of the flower shop, blocked it with a chair, and wrote a note that said " In memory of Malachi and Meredith. Please let them rest in peace."

I opened the locket, Malachi's locket, and remembered his words. "The unclean aren't the only ones who will become monsters huh?" I parroted Malachi's words. "And if we wanted to defeat the monsters, we must become monsters ourselves," Bennie added. "Let's go. We need to get as far away from here as possible." He added again. I really appreciate Bennie at times like this. He really is a constant in situations that I find myself not being able to cope with. "Yeah, We can't let the old man's sacrifice be in vain." I agreed. Bennie and I went back to the 3rd floor followed by Abigail.

I changed gears and set my mind to allocate tasks to our little group. If we want to survive, we need to be efficient and smart. "First things first. We need a routine bite check. Whether we like it or not, it will be mandatory to do this. For our own safety and to anyone we might encounter." I said with finality. They both nodded. They knew the risk but we don't know what would we do if the worst thing happened.

"In any case, if any of us get bit. It's either we end it then and there or send said person away. It's unthinkable yes, even I don't want that result. But if I get bitten. I would like you Bennie to end it for me." I said with a grim determination. Bennie just nodded. He knew I was serious. I would hate to endanger him or Abigail because I was too stubborn. "I expect you to do the same brother," Bennie replied. I nodded. "I don't know what to say," Abigail said with apprehension. "Understandable. But let us strive we don't get to that situation. Agreed?" I said to Abigail reassuringly. "O-Okay," she replied.

"Okay, body checks," I ordered. Each one of us started to strip leaving only our underwear. Being embarrassed is the last thing we have on our minds right now. we double-checked each other for bites, wounds, and even scratches. Yes we are dirty, or even a little bloodied but at least none of us are going to be one of the unclean. I hope. "I can't stress this enough but DO NOT GET BITTEN. Whatever the cost, avoid it. Wounds heal but a bite would spell a death sentence to any of us." I explained, "I don't know if it's transmitted through bodily fluids but our encounters suggest that direct contamination of the bloodstream especially the bites is the common vector." I added. "Let's not overcomplicate it. Just in case don't let their blood enter your wounds if you have any. We don't want to test that theory." I said emphasizing it.

"I was gonna make some makeshift arm and leg guard but I can't find any tape," Bennie added. " We make do," I said to Bennie.

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After doing body checks one last time, we donned our clothes and planned our next task. "Abigail I want you to scavenge this floor for any supplies we can bring. Especially food and water supplies or anything we can use as a weapon. If you can find better clothes for us that would be great too. I'm sure the old man wouldn't mind." I said to Abigail.

"Ben, you're on scout duty with your gun. I think there is access to the roof that we can use. We are going back out there. We need the lay of the land and info on any threats we come across too. You're our point man once we are out there so you'll lead, we'll follow. We're counting on you, big guy. Finally, the unclean are not the only threat to us now. You have the digression to act whether we treat another person or group as such." I said to Bennie.

"Roger wilco Richie. Sad that I didn't find any binoculars on the mil-bag but the gun would do. What are you gonna do?" Bennie asked.

"I'm gonna try the radio. It shouldn't be hard enough right?" I said, "A soldier was asking for help remember?" I clarified. "Oh yeah. I kind of forgot about it." Bennie added. "I hope whoever that is would still be alive and they hope can point us to somewhere safe. Maybe we can contact another group or anyone for that matter. What we need the most right now is information." I explained to both of them.

"I sure do hope you know what you're doing but if you suggest we're gonna drive to the city center just to save a few civvies. I ain't agreeing to that. Too risky." Bennie said.

"Abigail? Thoughts?" I asked Abigail. "Oh no. I'd rather just follow you guys' suggestion." Abigail said frantically. "You maybe right but 3 thinking heads are better than 2 so just say your opinion. It may give us more options and provide us with points of view that otherwise we missed." I explained.

"Uhm. I suggest we take our time slowly and surely. I don't want to risk doing stuff in the night it's scary. Oh and also we should block the stairs to the 2nd floor. Just in case." Abigail added.

"You're right. Bennie and I will go with that. We should consolidate what information and supply we can gather, rest for the night, and discuss things again tomorrow?" I asked. "Agreed," Bennie answered while Abigail nodded. "I think we know by now that traveling during the night is suicide," I added.

We all stood up and started to do our tasks. After securing the stairs and the fire escape to the 2nd floor, I came back a distance away from the 2nd-floor staircase. While Abigail scavenged and Bennie was on scouting duty. Especially the parking lot where the garage is located.

Keeping watch and making sure no unclean would silently go over the makeshift barricade, I turned the radio on and set the volume just at the right setting to avoid any detection from the unclean.

"This is Richie. Is anybody there over?" *static. I waited for a few seconds and tried again. "Is anybody out there? Hello? This is Richie, come in over." I said again. I waited for a little more delay and keyed the radio again. "This is Richi..."

"YES! Yes. This is Frost I'm still here! Thank God you came through." *Static. I was about to call a third time when a sudden reply came through.

"What the actual fuck is going on? Where's command? I've been trying to contact them ever since the other day! They weren't answering. oh uhm over" *Static.

Ok, I was a bit overwhelmed. This Frost was clearly in a panic. "Okay calm down. First of all, let's get things straight. I am not a soldier. I am a civilian." *Static. There was a pause. I thought something bad happened and was about to repeat what I said when the radio cracked back to life.

" SO WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ON THIS FREQUENCY! Where did you even get this kind of information huh? Who and where are you? I swear to god if this is your elaborate prank of an apocalypse I'd fucking kill you myself." Frost replied with gritted teeth. Most likely Frost is keeping a low profile and doesn't want to attract any attention by shouting.

Oh boy. I mean I get Frost really. I really do. Just a jarhead following order when all of a sudden this shit happened. Wait a second. Why is Frost alone? Frost should've been with a unit or something. What happened? Okay. We need to get each other story and I'll move from there. But if Frost is a soldier. It could help a lot if Frost manages to link with us.

I just hope Murphy won't knock this time. I said with a heavy sigh.