Deadly Mistakes

The rifle that is levelled towards Neil is snatched up by Simon. He raises it to the mayor while carefully assisting Jay and the other man. The man quickly shook Jay's hand and said,

"I'm Michael." When the mayor called for his guards, they have yet to arrive. The mayor and Debbie are led into the street by them. All hell has broken free because the gate is broken. They rush through the gate, leaving the mayor and Debbie behind as they see people being eaten.

Michael discovers a sign as they flee into the streets. The group finds an automobile that Neil hot-wires and exclaims,

"There's a town nearby!" For the stirring wheel, Neil and Simon wrestle.

Jay, who was seated in the passenger seat, yelled,

"Stop acting like kids, Michael, you take control." Neil flips off Simon and enters the back. "It'll be fine, I'm here, aren't I?" Jay says. Simon nods subtly, then gets in the car. They entered the town and started to explore. While empty, the streets are covered in blood. The mall is illuminated as they arrive. As Neil and Simon gently exit the vehicle, the weapons are prepared. When Jay lightly taps her bat on the ground, four zombies race at them. , Michael steals the gun out of Neil's hands and shoots the zombies in the knees then walks up to them and shoots them in the head.

Astonished, Jay insisted that he return the gun to Neil. Neil notices his dog pacing the area. It is pursued by Neil into the security room. He sees a woman and a young girl. When ranting at her over his dog, he rushes her. Tackling the woman to the ground.

"How dare you steal my dog, he was not yours to take!" He feels cold metal on the back of his head.

"Mytia!" the girl yells and the dog barks at Neil.

"Get up nice and slow," says a woman taping a shotgun barrel to his skull. Michael shoots the woman with a shotgun in the arm, as Neil slowly stands up. The young girl sobs while holding the dog as tightly as she can. The woman with the shotgun grips her arm in pain.

Neil rushes towards the young girl and takes the dog from her, making sure it's safe. Michael, still on high alert, keeps his shotgun aimed at the woman to prevent her from causing any further harm.

"Stay away from us," Neil warns the woman, his voice laced with anger. "You have no right to hurt anyone or take what doesn't belong to you."

The woman winces in pain, clutching her injured arm.

"You don't understand," Mytia stammers, her voice trembling. The girl's hands turn yellow and she starts to talk to the dog.

The woman's expression shifts from pain to remorse. Tears well up in her eyes as she realizes the gravity of her actions.

"I... I didn't know what else to do," Mytia whispers.

"Her name is Kimora... she's been struggling so much since she was separated from her parents. The dog was the only thing keeping her stable."

Feeling a mix of sympathy and frustration, Neil ponders the situation.

"You should have tried to find its owner before taking him."

"We never took the dog it was with the girl when I found her," Mytia says as the dog jumps out of Neil's arms and nuzzles Kimora's cheek.

Michael lowers his gun, signalling a temporary truce.

Neil nods, understanding the desperation that led to her actions. "Sometimes, compassion and understanding can mend bridges that seem broken beyond repair. We just want what's best for the dog and the girl."

Simon smiles and nods as if he was proud of Neil. As the woman nods in agreement, the tense atmosphere begins to dissipate. A collective understanding forms among them, a shared desire to find a resolution that benefits everyone involved.

At that moment, they all realize that amidst the chaos and conflict, there is still room for forgiveness and empathy. And maybe, just maybe, they can find a way to prioritize the well-being of the innocent beings caught in the middle of their struggles.

Simon starts to patch up the woman's bullet wound and gently sets her against the wall. Simon carefully examines the woman's bullet wound, assessing its severity. He quickly goes through his mind to recall his first aid training and begins to gather the necessary supplies to effectively patch her up.

With steady hands, Simon cleans the area around the bullet wound using an antiseptic solution and sterile gauze. As he works, he maintains a calm and reassuring demeanour, trying to ease her discomfort and anxiety.

Once the area is clean and prepped, Simon skillfully applies a sterile bandage over the bullet wound, carefully ensuring that it's secure and providing enough pressure to control any excessive bleeding. He wraps a clean cloth tightly around her upper arm to provide additional support and prevent further blood loss.

As he finishes dressing the wound, Simon gently helps the woman sit against the wall, providing support and comfort. He speaks to her in a soothing tone, assuring her that she is in good hands and that medical help is on the way.

Understanding the importance of keeping her conscious and alert, Simon asks her questions to gauge her level of awareness while continuing to monitor her vital signs. He makes sure to keep her warm by covering her with a jacket or blanket he finds nearby.

Throughout the process, Simon remains focused on his task, providing professional care and maintaining a composed and compassionate demeanour. His primary goal is to stabilize her condition until they transport her to the Pharmacy upstairs. Mytia tries to stay by her side but Simon writes down on the board.

'You better stay down here its better for Kimora.'

Mytia hesitates for a moment, torn between wanting to be with Kimora and trusting Simon's judgement or to be by her friend's side. She looks over at Kimora. With a heavy heart, Mytia nods in agreement and takes a step back.

"I understand," she says softly, her voice filled with concern.

"But please, promise me you'll take good care of her. I don't want her condition to worsen."

Simon nods, a determined look on his face.

"I promise, Mytia. We'll do everything we can to stabilize her before transporting her to the Pharmacy upstairs."

Reluctantly, Mytia moves away from the woman and takes a seat with the girl. She watches as Simon continues their work, and Simon provides updates on her condition periodically.

Hours pass, filled with anxiety and worry. Mytia tries to distract herself by flipping through a magazine, but her thoughts keep returning to Catherine. She wonders if she made the right decision by staying downstairs, away from her side.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Simon approaches her with a sigh of relief.

"We've stabilized her, Mytia. The bullet passed through her arm and breached the ribcage. It's time to transport her to the Pharmacy upstairs. You can come with me now."

A mix of emotions floods through Mytia - relief, hope, but also lingering doubts about leaving Kimora alone for any amount of time. She stands up, ready to follow Simon, determined to be there for her friend no matter what.

"Thank you, Simon," she says, gratitude evident in her voice.

'Let's go help Catherine get better.'

Simon turns and smiles at Mytia, appreciating her determination and loyalty. He nods in agreement and starts walking towards the medical tent, with Mytia right beside him.

As they walk, Simon glances at Mytia and asks through the board, 'Are you worried about Kimora? I can understand your concern, but I believe she'll be safe here. Once we help Catherine, we'll hurry back, I promise.'

Mytia nods, trying to calm her fears.

"You're right, Simon. I trust the dog and her ability to keep Kimora safe. And I know we need to help her. She's been through so much, and it's the least we can do."

Together, they reach the Pharmacy and find Catherine resting on a makeshift bed. Her face is pallid, and beads of sweat dot her forehead. Simon and Mytia approach, offering their support.

Catherine weakly raises her head and manages a small smile. "Thank you for being here Ferret," she says, her voice barely above a whisper to Mytia. "I'm sorry to have burdened you with this."

Mytia kneels by Catherine's side, gently taking her hand. "You didn't burden us, Catherine. We're here because we care about you, and we want to help."

Simon chimes in,

'Yes, Catherine. We're all in this together. Just tell us what you need, and we'll do our best to make it happen.

'Catherine's eyes well up with tears, touched by their compassion. "Thank you," she says softly.

Mytia stands up, determination shining in her eyes. "Don't worry, Catherine. I'll fetch water for you. You rest and take care of yourself."

Simon nods in agreement, adding, 'And I will stay by your side and keep you company. We won't leave you alone.'

Catherine's grateful smile grows, and she squeezes Mytia's hand gently. "Thank you. I'm so lucky to have you as my friend. Please hurry back."

With renewed purpose, Mytia heads out of the Pharmacy to gather the supplies, while Simon stays with Catherine, offering words of encouragement and comfort.