Abandoned

To me its clear that whatever disease was spreading manifested itself fully on Monday. I know it spreads through fluid transfers, or at least blood. Bites too. Redundant. Fine, whatever. Was this airborne? Was I immune? Or had I just not gotten bit? Or do I have it and not know it yet?

I wonder what the hell happened to so many people. Like my parents. Like my wife and kids. Like my co-workers. One of them was on the road to Marshalltown that day. The other had a conference call from home, and never came in after it. Or the entire other staff we have in Iowa City. Or my friends too. They were all over the state - hell - all over the U.S. I can't think about that right now because I am worried about the answer.

I'm sitting outside the building on the steps facing downtown. Drinking some crappy coffee, and smoking a cig. My wife would kill me. I'm sure quite literally now, and not just for smoking. That's no way to think. I'm sure she's still alive.

It is Thanksgiving Morning. And we have no food. In fact just about a half-hour ago I think everything kind of changed, but I'm not sure if it is for the best or worst.

See, this complex is heavily fortified. I was incredibly impressed with the quickness in which this place was secured. Everything from cars to some of the statues on the Capitol Complex had been turned into barriers. All night the first night we could hear gunfire. I still don't know how that wall got built. Even looking out the window that night it was too dark to see. It was a whole moon, and we had no real power. They tried to keep as many lights off as possible too, so they wouldn't attract more of them.

But, somehow they prevailed the first night. The Z's still lined the wall, but there was no way they could get in.

It was also true that many lawmakers and the actual Governor were here. There were also probably about 200 survivors from the outside, probably more. We all had stayed huddled and crowded in the House and Senate chambers. We had no other option - there were armed guards at the doors. Department of Public Health went through and found anyone who had wounds and they were removed, by force if necessary. I can guess what happened, by looking over the freshly dug pit to the east. Perhaps casualties from the first night.

But suddenly today, we were abandoned. Only about 20 minutes ago. Helicopters came and evacuated everyone - and I mean everyone, but those of us locked in the chambers.

"When are you coming back!" I demanded to know.

"When we are able."

"Leave us weapons at least!" we demanded.

"We are sorry, but we cannot spare any. Good luck."

And that was it.

So I'm finally free to go search for my family, but I have no food or transportation, no weapons, and we seem trapped. I'm looking at those Zs and they are probably 30 of them deep all around the fence. If I don't get out, this will be my big shiny golden coffin.

I'm standing here with a bunch of people I don't know. I don't know what they are thinking. They could be fucking lunatics for all I know. Ok, I need to calm down. They are just trying to stay alive too.

The tunnels! YES! There are tunnels that run from this building to others. Are they secure now? I'm headed to the basement right the fuck right now. I'll need a weapon. But most importantly, I'll need a group of people and a plan.