Chapter 5

The dim sky and fluffy clouds were painted with a blazing orange with a dash of red that emphasized its beauty, it's a shame it can't be appreciated since everyone's only focusing on surviving the madness that descended. The people of this world are facing threats that they only thought to be fiction. In such short time humanity has been dethroned by deadly creatures that look 'human' and have become their prey.

On a road leading out of the city outskirts that had crashed cars and other debris scattered on it, was a car that was maneuvering its way through the mess. Damon decided to take this route since it was the one he used to enter the city.

After a while he reached a turn leading to a building that was in a very forest like area and took it. As he got closer the building appearance was revealed. It was an abandoned that was 3 stories high with an unfinished roof, a few of the windows that were barricaded, a tall metal fence that lead around the property and had 2 people standing at the gates entrance acting as guards. There were other people also patrolling the area to check if any of those things have entered.

As the car approached closer to the gates the guards looked at the source of the sound and saw the headlights. They instantly became cautious at the approaching vehicle since it could be a group of people coming to rob them or a trap made by those 'zombies'. They became tense when the car got closer and was going to alert the others but the car stopped a few meters from them and then the diver poked his head out. Before he could speak he was interrupted by one of the guards.

"Who are you?"

One of them said loudly to attract the attention of the others so the stranger won't be able attack them easily. The ones who were close by started walking over with weapons like machetes and axes. The guard that shouted started to feel more confident as more persons gathered. He looked at the stranger as if expecting him to do something. Damon looked at him calmly and said.

"My name is Damon and I am a member of this group, if you don't believe me, call Xavier."

The guard got a bit more serious as he looked at Damon.

"How do you know his name?"

"I am his friend, and as I had said before call Xavier"

The guard started to think about situation he was in. If the stranger was hostile he would not be this patient and far away from him. Even though he thought that it could be a trick so he would lower his guard and allow him in. He looked at the other and started to discuss what to do.

"Can we actually trust him?"

"Well he said he knows Xavier and hasn't tried to force his way in"

"That is true since everyone wants to survive"

Most of them agreed with letting him in and while the others disagreed. The guard made his decision but decided to ask a question.

"What would you do if we don't let you in?"

Damon was confused as to why he would ask that when he heard them agreeing to let him in. He decided to respond by revving the car shocking the survivors that they took a step back and held there weapons while shaking a bit. The guard who gathered everyone looked at Damon with A hint of fear in his eyes. He and the other guards opened the gate and allowed Damon to drive through. He drove towards the parking spot where 2 other cars were parked along with a van and parked.

"Wake up, were here"

Dolores woke up while gently rubbing her eyes and stretched her arms while yawning. She looked around and noticed that there was an unfinished building in front of her and it was evening. She also saw people occasionally walking by with a weapon in their hands with a serious and slightly tensed expression. From what she saw, she came to the conclusion that these people are patrolling the area to make sure those 'zombies' don't catch them off guard. As she thought of that she remembered how she was almost killed by one of them and shivered a bit.

"Are you ok?" Damon asked.

Dolores nodded her head in reply.

They got out of the car and Damon went to the trunk to take the bags out and called one of the passing patrollers to help him. The 3 of them walked towards the building and placed the bags in a room that contains the supplies that was guarded. The survivor went back to patrolling as Damon told Dolores to follow him.

Dolores walked behind him as he maneuvered his way through the building and towards the back. He saw a partially opened door and heard the sounds of clicks and clanks of metal that echoed through the slits of the door into the hall way. He pulled the door open the see a man sitting while looking through a box of metal of the table to fix the gun in his hand. He had dark skin with broad shoulders and a bit of a muscular physique hidden beneath a layer of fat, a chubby squared baby like face that had quite a bushy beard.

"I TOLD YOU ALL TO NOT BOTH-"

He said in a loud and aggressive voice that shook the fat the fat on his face while looking up. As he was about to continue he looked up to see that it was Damon that entered. He stopped what he was saying and rushed over to him at a speed that didn't match his physique and was about 6'3 and hugged Damon tightly. He had a wide smile on his face as Dolores looked at them with curiosity as Damon returned the hug.

"HAHAHAHAHA MY MAN YOU MADE IT BACK IN ONE PIECE!"

Xavier bellowed laughing happily.

"Ugh I'm right here; you don't have to be shouting like a madman"

He released him and then said

"You came back a lot later than you said"

"Had a few run in with those things, nothing I can't handle"

"I can tell"

He said while observing Damon to see parts of his shirt torn with patches of blood all over it. As he was doing that he noticed a small figure with a head of silver hair staring at him with her dark silver eyes with curiosity as if she is inspecting him. Damon saw this and decided to introduce them.

"This is Dolores and the guy that wants to make everyone deaf is Xavier"

Xavier stared at Dolores as he rubbed his chin as if contemplating what to say. He then silently stared at Damon who also stared back at him with a calm look. They continued this for a bit until Xavier just sighed and then had a huge smile plastered over his face as he reached down and picked up Dolores with his giants arms and hugged her.

"IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU DOLORES" he said in enthusiastic voice.

"Likewise" she replied in a muffled voice as he tried to wiggle out of grasp.

Xavier then put her down still smiling while Dolores's face was a bit red and was breathing a bit deeply after almost being smothered. Xavier felt regretful at hugging her so tightly as Damon just sighed at this. He then closed the door and then looked at Xavier and then asked.

"How much food do we have, how many people are here and when will the others be back"

"We have enough to last about 2 weeks, the others are leading to group to mark areas we can go get supplies and will be back in about an hour and overall there are about 32 of us"

Hearing this Damon was satisfied with this since it meant that their chances of survival are high especially compared to other people. Dolores listened to this and started to wonder how this group of people managed to be organized when most people would be dead or struggling. Damon saw that Dolores had her eyebrows creased as if she is trying to figure something out. He knew what it was and decided to explain.

"We come by this place a few times before to test out some guns and thought it would be good place to become our base"

She nodded at this and then looked down at her dress and saw that it dirty and frowned. She didn't notice at the time but know that she does, she is displeased especially since is from a rich family, well…was from a rich family. Xavier looked at her and shook his head at the fact that this little girl who should be playing with dolls and having tea parties will now struggle in this messed up world. He removed that thought from his head and smiled as he looked at them.

"You two should clean up, wouldn't want to be fighting flies all night hahahahaha".

Damon just chuckled at this while Delores furiously nodded her head in agreement. Xavier laughed even more at this as his laughter made them feel relaxed after such a tense day.