chapter 20

She kissed me. Gabby kissed me and I kissed her back. Holy shit! This wasn't supposed to happen that wasn't supposed to happen. But it did, and I enjoy every second of it, but I can't let it happen again. I needed to get this off my mind and sleep, so I can be ready for the trip back into the city. I went back inside and up the stairs to find a bed and sleep. I find a bed in one of the spread bedrooms and fell into it. The bed was soft and sleep overtook me.

I was soon woken to by small hands grabbing at me. I woke up to see Casey grabbing my hand. "Hey lil'dude what's up?" I ask her. "I don't want you to leave," she said. "I know come here," I told her, and she moves onto the bed and cuddles into my side. "I know you don't want me to go but I have to, I have to see if my captain is alive and to help people who need it, I won't be gone for longer than a week two tops, I know that this is hard, but I need to watch over your little sister now," I said to her. She nodded her and put herself closer to me. "I know but I'm scared, and I want a mom who is cool and comes back home." She just called me mom and for some reason that didn't freak me out. "I'll be back," I said to her and hugged her.

I got up to get ready with Casey hot on my tail. She watched me pack and ask me questions along the way. I laugh and told her what I was doing. I understood what she was getting at. She wanted to learn so she can protect her sister and herself. After getting ready and eating with Josh and the rest we got up to leave and get ready to make our way back into the city. We decided it was best to drive half of the way there then hide his car and walk the rest of the way into the city. I kiss the girls and hug my godmothers and when I saw Gabby I blush and looked away from her. I was about to turn away from her when she grabs my hand and held it. She brought us closer and hugged me. She lightly kisses my cheek and wished us luck. I step away from her and wave as Josh and I left.

We drive for two hours before leaving the car behind to continue on foot. The sky was high, and it was hot as fuck. But I wouldn't dare drink any water until we needed it. With the sweat dripping off my face and my shirt clinging to my body I wanted to stop but didn't nor would I stop. We needed to do this, and I push Josh to do it as well. After about four hours of walking, we reach the city limits where we left the soldiers out in the open. I felt bad for leaving them like this, this wasn't their fault that they were ordered to stop people from leaving. And in the end, they gave their lives for something pointless. "I think we should pull these guys off the road and hide their stuff for when we leave," I told Josh. He seems to agree with me and we pulled them off the road and clear it out.

After clearing their bodies and hiding their stuff Josh and I went back on track and into our lost city. The sun was setting now but that wasn't going to stop us from reaching HQ. we move into the city at a slower pace now. Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves. Living or dead I didn't want to see any of them at night. Josh and I made out way into the inner depth of our fallen city with little problem. Whenever we encounter the dead we would stop and wait them out and the same for the living. However, if it were one or two of them we would kill it. we were getting closer to the HQ now. I could see some fire in the distance. We still moved at a slow pace. We were in no need of a rush. The closer we got the more fire and I could see people move about. Josh and I made ourselves known to them by stepping out into the fire.

They pointed their weapons at us as we stood there. Josh and I stood still not wanting anyone to be trigger happy. "Hey, I need to see the captain," I spoke loud enough. "And why should we," said some random guy. "Well isn't that some way to treat another officer of this city's fine police force," I said. "Also, I'm coming in any way so shoot me if you want but I'm the one who warned the captain and shit but hey it's not like the dead are running around right," I said. "yeah, I got to agree with her on this one guy, hell she save my life," said Josh. I smile at him for the support. "So, if you don't mind I'm going to go inside and speak with her and talk about this," I said and started walking towards the makeshift wall and gate. I dare anyone to stop me, but they didn't. Josh was right behind me, they open up the gates and let us in. once inside we saw small battery power lanterns and some people in groups by them. I saw one or two people in army uniforms cover in blood and dirt and some officers that looked scared out of their minds but held it together.

The captain did a good job of keeping people safe, but I wonder for how long. This city is huge and every day I see more and more dead than living. I needed to speak to the captain about getting people out of the city or making zones for keeping the living safe. There was no more daylight to burn but that didn't mean that this day was going to end without me making contact with Julie Kinser my captain. On the way inside Josh and notice more cops. They were satiation by the doors and in two men pairings with heavy weapons.

We went up to the top floor and I saw more army uniforms and more people and kids. I thought the army was trying to keep us in the city but since they couldn't contain it they left and by leaving they left some of the men behind. Damn and here I thought they swore to never leave a fallen comrade behind. Guess everything can change when the dead is coming at you. Fear and panic can make the bravest fall to their knees or run away. I didn't blame them I just blamed who they took their orders from. As we got closer to the top floor we heard people yelling and fighting. When Josh and I step into an office we find the captain and some other officers fighting. "look I get what you are saying but we need more safe areas not juts here," our captain said. "and waste man power out of the question," said some random officer. "if my voice counts I agree with the captain on this one, nice to see you again," I said, and Josh just stood there watching. "and who the hell are you," said guy number one. "I'm the person who warned the Captain about all of this Haley and I agree with her on this, my small group and I made it out to Castaic Lake and we ran into the dead there as well, so I'm guessing no matter where you go you will find them. However, it is a small place if we can clear out the high school there, shouldn't be a problem getting people over there and we can help here as well," I said.

Guy number one was still looking at me and I glare right back. The captain stood and said, "I agree with you but how did you make it out of here?" she asks. "simple a car and killing anything that comes out of the dark without making a sound," I mean it was easier said than done but we did it. josh just smile and did nothing. He knew I was in charge but that was just weird. I guess he didn't want to pressure of the job and gladly gave it to me. As the other officers look at me I glare right back, they did not scare more anymore or less than the dead and I was becoming used to the dead roaming around. I was used to it but that was something that I needed to think of right now, right now I needed to make sure we have a safe travel route for trade and for people wanted to leave the city for something a bit safer. "alright how to do suppose we do this then, how do we create these clear spaces how do we do anything," ask guy number one. "well its simple," I said.

"First we need to find a place that has a gate around it already and big for people to live but easy to defend when we need it to be. It's really easy and plays you got a map of the city right there on the wall," I said and move to it. I took some pins and started putting them where I knew of apartment complexes and schools that had gates and walls around them already, then grab a black marker to put X's through to make as zones that weren't safe. That meant all the hospitals in the area. "Wait why did you make all the hospitals," ask guy number two. "Well the dead are there one and two when I say that I mean everyone that was there or brought there since the bombings has been crawling with the dead everyone there is no longer here," I said and thought about my family. I couldn't think l about them not now. I shook them from my mind and went back to the task at hand. I have about four places mark on the map for safe zones and I also put down the farm because the map extended just to the Outreach of the surrounding areas of the city. I continue to look at the map to see other places or areas that have Gates, but nothing really catches my eye.

It was getting late and I really couldn't think of anything else to help me understand the problems that we're going through. I mean I'm away from my girls and godparents and the person I have the hugest crush on which I shouldn't have but I had anyway and I'm with the Josh who misses his sister dearly, but this is important to us this is important for everyone in this building we can't just have the police HQ as a safe location in the city that holds that held millions. I mean I'm away from my girls and boy from my step will godparents and the person I have the hugest crush on which I shouldn't have but I had anyway and I'm with the Josh who misses his sister dearly, but this is important to us this is important for everyone in this building we can't just have the police HQ as a safe location in the city that holds that held Millions. I wanted to continue working on the map, but I couldn't bring myself to do it because the exhaustion is catching up with me. I am tired so for right now I just keep staring at the map wondering when the next thing will pop up when my next brilliant idea will take hold.

I stepped away from the map and told them what I was thinking. "look here are some areas where it could be safe we just need to clear them, simple," I said to them. The other two officers guy number three or four finally spoke up talking about how this could be a good idea while the first two thought it was crazy. I could care less what they thought but I knew I was right in telling these people to have more areas in case they get overrun with the dead. But hey Josh and I were safe outside the city with the people we cared most about out of harm's way. But these people weren't. they weren't safe. Every day someone dead and then they came back. This was fucked up but this was reality, this was my reality just as much as the person standing next to me and the person on the other side of the country, giving she did survive this and lasted but she said this started for her in January that right around the time they said it was some new sickness going around and cut off New York City from the rest of the world and no we're at the ending of September we were in hell just like her, just like Jackie. "Hey, we can continue this tomorrow, I'm going to find a chair and sleep," I told them and left the room in search of my chair. I find it by the window and sat down. I saw my once beautiful city gone. Dead. Fallen. All I saw was darkness and then I felt it become me. My body felt heavy and sleep overtook me, I saw my family and I saw them smile at me. I find peace in this hellhole but that didn't mean anything. This was going to be my normal but ill be damn if I didn't live for my girls and family. Sleep took over my mind and I saw all and nothing.

I woke up the sun shining on my face. I groan and rub my eyes. I got up and my back pop and I started walking to the bathroom to do my thing. I went in search for Josh and find him on the other end of the hall with some food. He handed me a fruit bar and some water. "Hey, do you think they will do anything or not and we waste our time doing this," he asks me. I couldn't really answer him because I wasn't too sure myself, so I just shrugged my shoulders. After eating we went back into the office and I find the captain looking at the map. She seems to have added another pin in the lower west of the city. "Morning captain," I said. "You don't have to call me that anymore, call me Julie besides you seem to have a better understanding of this than anyone else. Its best you are recognized as a leader yourself," she said to me. I just look at her and thought to myself if that was really such a good idea. I mean I have had my moments, but I always had help along the way.

She smiles at me and I just looked at her. Josh stood beside me with a smile on his face as well. "Okay we are going to look into the first place on the map which first I mean closer and that is this apartment builds up the road. I put together a small team to go there and they are about to leave, and I have another one going to the high school," Julie said. "alright well Josh and I are going to look for a Dicks sporting good and see if we can get the hunting rifles from there and some more gear," I said. "that's a good idea I should put those on the map to, looking to good like that," she said and then started mumbling to herself and place more pins in a different color on the map. I look at her then left the office with Josh hot on my trail. This would be good. We can get more weapons and more clothes and goods for the people here.

After leaving HQ we were walking along the road when I saw a shadow overhead jump across the street. I quickly stop and took out my bat and Josh does the same. We started moving slower watching everything in our surrounds until I heard someone laughing. I look up and saw something there. Getting closer for a better look I saw someone standing there. "what the...," I said, and the laughing continued. "You guys are funny standing there looking like something will attack you, well I mean something might attack you just standing there but that was funny," said this person. "Sorry I scare ya beautiful, my name is Vince, Vince Henson," he said. "I'll help ya for a kiss pretty girl," he said to me. I look at him like he lost his damn mind.

"Ok first off let's get two things straight, one I'm not and two don't make me climb up there and kick your ass," I said to him. He just laughs and started walking away. When I see him again ill kick his ass.