My Zombie Army

Chapter 5 Preparation before fighting

Ignoring Abigail who froze from fear, Elvis continued to go to the tearoom to find something useful.

Having searched every corner of the room, Elvis only found a knife, two boxes of instant coffee and a roll of cling films.

Elvis went to the office area with the stuff he got to test whether the knife could be used in fighting. Reaching the corner, he noticed that Abigail was holding the washstand vomiting. She must have been to the office area and seen the dead body on the ground and blood brains scattered around.

What a poor man she was! She was just about to graduate from college and a young man full of hope for the future. But now the befalling of the end of the world would break down everything promising, she would become nothing but a man struggling for life, like a mouse.

Thinking of that, Elvis walked up to her and patted her back gently comforting, “You must be strong and do your best to survive. Actually, we are luckier than most people are because we are still alive. You can get through this as long as you overcome fear.”

Abigail burst out crying.

His clumsy comfort did not seem to make any difference.

Elvis intended to further comfort her, but realizing that he was sharing the same situation with her now, he smiled bitterly. Who could guarantee anything?

Back to the office area, Elvis began to make the final preparations. He took a bag of printing papers, wrapped them around his ankles and shanks. And then he had his neckwear layers of cling films which were fixed by scotch tape.

Elvis’s body was protected by a thick down jacket, his hands and wrists were protected by thick leather gloves, and his head and face could be protected by a motorcycle helmet. With that protection, it would be hard for the zombies to bite his skin.

Now the only places exposed were his thighs and knees. Since he needed to ride the motorbike and run, he had to give up the thoughts of wrapping them.

As for the weapon, Elvis chose the scissors in the end. He tested the knife just now, it proved that the blade was too thin for cutting hard bones though it was good enough to stab through the flesh. And it was easy to get stuck when pulling it out.

“Are you leaving?” Abigail appeared in the office area and stopped Elvis asking timidly.

Elvis did not reply. He just looked at Abigail and nodded his head.

“Can I be with you? I…I’m scared of staying here alone.” Abigail looked at Elvis expecting his reply.

Thinking for a moment, Elvis replied, “It is dangerous outside, and you are safe here. With snacks and half of the bucket of drinking water, you can stay here for a few days and think of other ways out. If you go out with me, you may be eaten or become a zombie at any moment.”

“No. I don’t want to stay here alone. I will go with you. I trust you.”

Elvis thought it was funny of her to say that. Now the willing to live would deprive people of the last kindness. How could you put your trust on others?

"You can come with me. But I might not be able to take care of you when confronted with dangers. And I might even sacrifice you if needed. You can depend on no one but yourself." Elvis said seriously under the mask of the helmet in a cold voice. The words he said was even colder.

“What should I do here if I do not go with you? The food and water are only enough for a few days. When I run out of them, I would not be able to go even if I want to.” Abigail said with tears in eyes. She was now so clear with the situation. With no backup, what was waiting for her just died if she stayed.

Looking at her crying face and shaking shoulders out of crying, Elvis’s heart was softened. He took off the helmet and fetched the scotch tape and a bunch of papers for her.

“Wrap the papers around your shanks and arms. Be quick and I’ll take you with me.”

“Really?”

“Come on. Don’t waste your time talking. Any delay would increase the chance of being bitten by the zombies. We are just like two candles in the night attracting them to blow us out.” Saying so, Elvis grabbed Abigail’s arm and began to wrap.

Her slim figure made it easy for the wrapping, so it didn't take them long. Abigail found a piece of clothing and wrapped her neck with it.

Elvis had planned to give Abigail the knife for defense, but seeing that she was too clumsy to know how to keep it, he had to give up the idea. What if he was not killed by the zombie but by her?

“Follow me.”

When they were ready, they observed that there were no zombies outside the company and walked out of the door in tandem.

There were neither zombies nor people in the corridor. Elvis’s colleagues that had escaped already gone. The rooms beside his company were all closed, and the zombies inside might still be unable to open the doors.

“This way,” Elvis said to Abigail.

They two were divided the moment they came out of the company. Elvis walked toward the stairs while Abigail walked toward the elevator.

Elvis gestured to Abigail and showed her the direction of the stairs. It was risky to take the elevator now. The elevator may stop halfway due to a power cut or there might be many zombies inside.

“Elvis, do you know the password to the safety gate of the staircase?” Abigail asked Elvis.