Security and Scavenging

Time: 6:40 PM. Location: Fourth Floor, Lecture Room 412.

As we finished our meal, Rick leaned back and asked, "So, what's our first move, bro?" I set my utensils down, took a sip of water, and replied, "We should make this room our temporary base for now. Since it's on the fourth floor, there might be a few wandering zombies, but nothing we can't handle. We should also search for other people. Some of our classmates might still be alive since we were supposed to have class here. It's safe to assume they could still be somewhere in this building."

"Hmm, yeah, I agree with that, Amon. But what if we find a survivor, and it's a stranger? What will you guys do?" Nadia asked seriously.

"I suppose we could try to recruit them, right, bro?" Rick replied, glancing at me.

I took a moment to think. Recruiting strangers was risky, especially with our limited supplies and the uncertainty of their personalities. I sighed and said, "Let's not rush into recruiting anyone. We need to gauge their intentions and personality first. They could be dangerous, and our supplies can only last a week as of now."

Sarah hesitated before speaking. "B-but are we just going to leave them to d-die?"

I shook my head. "No, Sarah, we won't. But we have to make sure we can trust them. The world has gone to hell, and we need to prioritize our group's safety. Of course, if we find friends who are still alive, we'll take them in, but they'll have to contribute. We can't afford slackers."

Sarah still looked conflicted, but Rick stepped in. "Amon's right, Sarah. Me and Amon can only do so much. If we bring people in, we need to make sure they're trustworthy and can help keep this base safe. We also need help scavenging supplies."

I glanced at Nadia, who had been silent. When she noticed, she finally spoke. "I agree too. Considering what's happening, many people will turn lawless. If Amon hadn't saved me, I'd be dead. And if I had ended up with the wrong group, the worst could have happened... I might've become a plaything for some perverted people."

Sensing the darkening atmosphere, I quickly said, "Don't worry, me and Rick won't let that happen to you guys. Even if I have to kill someone to protect you, I won't hesitate."

Nadia gave me a small smile. "I know you'll protect me, Amon. But I'll also try to learn how to protect myself. I can't keep relying on you."

I smiled back at her, then looked at Rick, who was gripping Sarah's hand tightly, his expression serious.

"Anyway, enough about that. Rick, how about we gather plastic pipes from the other rooms and grab some curtains? We can use them to make makeshift rooms for sleeping and changing clothes," I suggested. We needed some privacy, especially since Rick and Sarah would likely share a space, while Nadia and I would have separate areas.

Rick nodded. "Should we start now? It's already dark, and we don't know how the zombies act at night. Judging by what we saw outside, they might be more active."

"Yeah, but let's move quietly. We don't have to go far, just to the classrooms in this hallway. Maybe tomorrow we can explore the North Building since it's connected to this one."

Rick scratched his chin before agreeing. "Alright, sounds like a plan. Let's get ready."

Me and Rick prepared ourselves. Now that I had dismantled the steel parts of the chairs, I could once again use my deflect-and-bash fighting style. I offered to teach Rick, but he declined, saying he had sword training from ROTC in high school and was used to wielding a weapon like a steel pipe.

After a brief discussion about our teamwork strategy, we headed out. We decided to start with Room 413 since it was right next to our base. After gathering and dismantling the plastic pipes and taking the curtains, we returned to store our loot before heading out again.

As we explored, we encountered a few zombies wandering in the hallway. Rick and I stuck to our strategy—kiting them one by one and bashing their heads in. However, we quickly realized that zombies at night were more aggressive and faster than during the day. They were more violent and unpredictable. We had to watch each other's backs carefully. When I deflected an incoming attack, Rick took the opportunity to stab the zombie's head with the sharpened end of his steel pipe.

The pressure was higher at night, but our teamwork was improving. We continued exploring the nearby classrooms, gathering more curtains and plastic pipes. After some time, I decided we had enough and signaled to Rick that we should pull back to avoid unnecessary risks.

When we returned, we saw Nadia and Sarah already working on setting up makeshift rooms and a changing area. Rick and I grabbed one of the curtains, cut it in half, and headed to the restroom on this floor to wash off the blood. Luckily, most of it had only splattered on my hoodie, so it was easy to clean.

By the time we got back, the setup was complete. The makeshift rooms consisted of three sleeping areas and one changing room. Since Rick and Sarah were sleeping together, the remaining rooms were for me and Nadia. I couldn't help but think, Lucky bastard. I glanced at Nadia and saw that she was also looking at Rick and Sarah. When she realized I was staring, she quickly looked away, her cheeks turning red. I looked away too, feeling a bit embarrassed myself.

Without saying much, I headed to my designated sleeping area, using a spare curtain as a blanket. The moment I lay down, exhaustion hit me like a wave. My body felt heavy, and my eyes drooped shut. Before I even realized it, I had fallen into a deep sleep.