CRACK
I heard something fall and break behind me.
I swiftly turn around and see a shattered vase on the ground. A cat dashes between my legs and runs away.
I let out a sigh of relief.
-"He scared me."
---
11:00
I looted houses all morning until our backpacks were filled to the brim with food.
"Let's head home, we, I mean you can't loot anything else," Louis, finally breaking his vow of silence, said.
-"Oh he can talk!"
"Very funny, yeah."
Louis led the way as I didn't know the neighbourhood but suddenly we heard a trash can fall.
I hastily turned back drawing my knife, ready for confrontation.
But I saw a black cat running into an alley.
-"! It's the cat from the first one."
"He must have followed us."
We continued our journey.
-"How did I do on the test?"
"Well, I am impressed to say the least.
You take your time so as not to get surprised.
You can fight pretty well even if I just saw you 1v1 or 1v2.
You are composed and think before acting.
Well you did break some windows so it made noises."
-"..."
I looked behind and the dark cat was following us 20 meters away. This time he didn't flee and I got a good look at him, he looked thin, dangerously so thin.
Poor thing.
I can't give you food sorry, we need it.
---
"Open the gate it's Louis and Alex!!"
The gate opened to let in just a person and closed behind us.
"Follow me we'll drop our loot in the storage room."
-"Our?"
"What, said something?"
-"Never mind …"
---
Come I'll introduce you to your new teammate.
!
So I am in.
I followed to a classroom where all the team sleep and prepare their expedition with a map and a lot of red crosses, because they searched there, no doubt.
"Welcome our newbie guys, introduce yourself Alex."
-"Hi, I am Alex."
"That's not much of an introduction Hahaha." Said one of the guys, he is quite thin with long black hair and a grin.
-"Well if you have questions go on."
A woman with toned muscles and what seems military clothing and boots stood up.
I heard the sound of her dog tag clinging.
"What did you use to do before the fall?"
-"Independent game dev."
The young man with long black hair startled me with a shout
"Cool !! Was it released? I played loads of games maybe I know about it?"
-"What does it matter?"
He sighed, his shoulders slumping as he looked down.
"Ok guys your turn, introduce yourself shortly." Ordered Louis.
The downcast black-haired guy: "Hi, I am Lucien, I used to study engineering."
The military woman: "Rhea, Sniper."
A short blond guy with a buzzcut wearing an oversized hoodie: "Dante, I like parkour."
The last one, a woman, with shoulder-length brown hair: "Zoe, I was a cashier nearby."
He walked over to the map.
"Now that presentations are done let's talk about our next expedition.
We will empty the supermarket we left tons of food, sadly it's pretty much the last large source of food in this little town.
Prepare your backpacks, water, food, weapons."
-"I want my crowbar back, and some more ammunition would help."
"I'll ask Lucas to give you back what belongs to you.
He lets the team keep their personal weapon in their room but you can only carry your personal weapons when you're going out.
Either way keep it hidden in your room and close it.
We don't want anyone to steal your gear."
-"Ok."
"Let's eat, we leave at 1300 be ready."
---
12:50
In my room, gearing up.
I take my knife, crowbar and gun with two full magazines.
While I packed my backpack I heard a screeching sound against my window.
Behind it I see a small black cat with green eyes.
Should I let it in?
Meow Meow
-"Ok I'll let you in but don't be noisy inside."
He jumps in and slips between my legs.
-"Hungry?"
I take out one of the cans of tuna I hid in my desk and open it before leaving.
-"I'll leave the windows open, do whatever you want."
13:00
I sit in the passenger's seat with Louis in the pickup, the car following us.
"So Alex, what did you think of the team?"
-"I don't know, what can you tell me about them?"
"Well, they are good, Rhea is a marksman, I never saw her miss.
Lucien is smart and silent, he can lockpick so he is a great asset.
Dante can move like no one in the street, he is a true monkey.
That's how I found him, a horde below, he was sitting on a pole, so calm like he was not gonna die.
Zoe is a good fighter and she knows how to treat wounds, like bullet wounds, cuts and amputations."
-"You found yourself such a team in such a town, you sure are lucky."
"Yeah, for sure."
---
In the other car
Dante starts the conversation: "So what did you think of the newbie?"
"Well, we didn't see him in action, we'll see." Said Zoe
Lucien retorted "I trust the leader."
Silence lingered.
13:34
"There shouldn't be much zombie we cleared it already, maybe some slackers but no real dangers.
Still don't let your guard down newbie.
We'll check every corner just in case and steal all of this."
I nod and follow the others with my crowbar.
I took a step inside and I was attacked by the pungent smell of rotting meat releasing its death smell in the supermarket.
The inside is dark we can't manoeuvre without flashlight.
We move away from each other each searching on his own.
For the first 3 rows I don't see anything but on the third I see shelves on the ground with a zombie below scratching the ground in a useless attempt of survival.
I almost pitied him. But still, I bashed his head with my crowbar.
This feeling, it's terrifying to think I missed this.
But what can I do, I am like this, I can't change it, better accept it and move on.
Feeling a bit better I moved on and resumed my search of the area assigned to me previously.