Rework - Inside Apocalypse

Hello,

I recently have been thinking of re-working our story. For some of you are late comers to this blog, the original content of this blog was actually a collaborative story with another writer with a post-apocalyptic plot. Go ahead and search it. It is a day-to-day journal of 2 different survivors that took place at the same generation. (Just different perspectives). I have now a friend of mine who will be re-working the story, editing it with me and we will possibly turning it into a graphics novel. For more updates, just bookmark this blog, and this will be where I post the updates regarding this "book".


Best Regards,
Me.

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EMP: The End of The Grid As We Know It

Blog Post For Inside Apocalypse
August 16, 2016
By Cal Wilson


I just wrote and published a book about the phenomenon of the high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, known as EMP, and the disastrous effects it would have on the United States and Canada if an EMP was ever unleashed.  My book is now available on Kindle, at the American Amazon website here, and on the Canadian Amazon website here.

EMP is caused by a nuclear explosion at a high altitude.  While the early days of the nuclear age focused on the damage that could be done to targets on the ground by a near-ground-level nuclear explosion, a much more crippling method of damaging a target would be to detonate a nuclear bomb high in the atmosphere above the target.  Such a high-level nuclear detonation would cause a cascade of electrons downward that would instantly and irreparably destroy all of the electronics on the ground below.

EMP has not been very well-studied and has many mysteries surrounding it.  It is almost as if the EMP feature of nuclear bombs was discovered by accident, and by the time the EMP potential was realized by the defense community in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, an atmospheric test ban treaty was signed, which caused all EMP tests to stop abruptly.  All of our current knowledge of EMPs is based upon the few high-altitude nuclear tests that were conducted in the 1950’s and 1960’s by the United States and the Soviet Union, and some mathematical models.

What we do know about EMPs should alarm everyone.  Whereas a typical lightning strike would produce an isolated, instantaneous electrical burst on a tiny area, of several hundred thousand volts per meter, an EMP attack above the United States or Canada would produce a country-wide electrical wave of 35 – 60,000 volts per meter.  This is enough to destroy the country’s entire electrical system and infrastructure.  All communications, the power grid, engines that use electronic circuitry, electrically-based medical devices; almost everything electrical would be permanently destroyed by a precise EMP attack.

A prominent government scientist who has studied EMPs has estimated that because of the resulting starvation, disease, and societal breakdown, at least 90% of the American population would die within one year of an EMP attack.  At one time, a congressional commission, set up to study the effects of EMPs, estimated a two-thirds mortality rate, but whatever the true mortality rate of an EMP attack, it would be such a catastrophic figure that the United States would probably not remain intact.

I started the book with an educational Introduction that goes into a lot of the science involved in an EMP, and some info on small nuclear bombs, including the now-lost Soviet suitcase bombs.  Then I wrote a story of a man stuck in a far-away town when the EMP happens.  He spends the rest of the book trying to get home alive.  Along the way, he must battle prison breaks, food riots, criminal gangs, looters, cannibals, terrorist sleeper cells, nuclear fallout, and otherwise total anarchy in his quest to get home.

There is an Afterword at the end of the book, in which I advise the reader on how to survive an EMP.  I include a lot of tips I had in a book I wrote last year, entitled Dirt Cheap Valuable Prepping.  But in the Afterword of the EMP book, I go into detail on the idea of a Faraday Cage.

A Faraday Cage is important, and let me explain why: it is possible to have a ham radio, or any electrical device, survive an EMP attack if the electrical item is inside a Faraday cage.  A Faraday cage is an ammo can or metal trash can that is sealed up, so that electrical waves go around and not through the items inside.  When the EMP is over, the person with a Faraday cage can get the items out and still use them.  In chapter 16 of my book, there is a high-school aged kid who charges food and water to use his still-working ham radio to report news that he has heard across the globe, and he even offers to try and locate family across the country with his ham radio.

The book is doing well, and I hope it educates people on EMP.  Check it out.

Thanks,

--Cal Wilson
Author

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Mike's Diary 137 - 1 Last Request

Since we separated from Jack, everyone stayed silent. No one talked, they just couldn't believe that Jack decided to leave us, that is until Julie told me what she heard. Man, it really is fucked up, humanity is destroyed, and we are left with nothing. Victor, Moses, and Jess are cooking something in the bonfire right now, it's been too long that I haven't heard from Jack. Is he still alive? I was sitting there just playing around with the walkie-talkie hoping that a static from Jack would come up. We are not yet at the cave that I have been talking about. Still a long way from that, and when we were all eating, chatting, and drinking, a noise shut us up. It was a static from the walkie-talkie that I've rested right beside the log that Julie and I were sitting on. Everyone looked at me, then the walkie. There were a lot of static but I still did make out a word or two "Mike, if you're still there say something, copy."



I quickly grabbed the walkie and mashed the side button to talk back
"Jack?"
"Hey Mike, it's been a while bud. Sorry that I didn't tell you about what Julie has probably told you."
"It's alright, at least now I know why you want to do your shit so bad, heh.."
"Yeah, it's fine. It's all good, and hey! Good news is I got another person who might be willing to do this with me. Name's Kathy"

"Yeah? That's great Jack, that really is. Glad you checked back on us."
"About that, I just want to tell you guys to go back to the river where we stayed and lost Mike last time. Remember?"

"Yeah, crystal clear. Why?"

"Just go there, you'll see my sign. Oh and I left something for you under a tree trunk, dig it out, about 2 feet deep. The only evergreen tree with white paint on it."

"Oh okay, so where are you?"

"Nice Mike, you're not coming over. Well, I wish you all the best. Good-bye for now, tell me when you're there!"
"10-4" I said.

I couldn't sleep that night, and we all decided to do what Jack has requested. We packed up, and travel as fast as we can the next morning.

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Last Destination - Mike's Diary Day 95

Morning

It's been a while, since grant's accident. Jack's recovery shows signs of improvements, and for all you know, you are already seeing him walking around again. It's as the usual morning, some people are preparing breakfast, some keeping watch of the premises, and some doing whatever they need to do. We have to leave today. Everyone, including Jack, my next plan is to establish the cave that we found before we got where we are right now. Make a base, stay there, explore, and probably die there. The more people staying in there not the better because jealousy and conflicts will arise. I have been plotting what we will be doing to the cave for a while now, but I have not yet talked to anyone just yet. Just not the time I guess, until this afternoon. I will tell them what I was thinking during lunch.

Afternoon

Julie, Victor, and Moses were there, busy preparing our lunches, Jack and I were talking in the corner about the plan. I told him everything, that after we left the mine, we should go back and establish our long live out of conflicts place to live (the cave). He disagreed. He has a plan of his own, and that is "Operation Inferno". He rambles about not being able to go on  and live to survive like this. He feels like he has to do something. To make an attempt to get rid of as my craze as possible. As crazy as this sounds, I will have to pass on this one. I still have someone to take care of, to love, to protect, unlike Jack (no offense), but he has nothing to lose, and moreover, he's a genetically improved fighter. Though he's now like a brother to me, it is still hard hearing this from him. I tried to convince me to stay with us, and he tried to convince me to make a difference in the world. After the talk, I told him to tell everyone what you're going to do after we leave this place. He agreed and we sat down right across on  the same table. We didn't talk at all, until we all have finished lunch, he stood up and called out for our group's (Julie, Victor, Jess, Moses, and I) attention. He told us a little speech about how great full he is to be meeting with survivors, who would die for someone else, to protect, he did a speech about me, Julie, and most importantly, he mention about HOPE and COURAGE. It's his goodbye message.

Evening

We are leaving tomorrow, I have begin repacking everything, to go and build a new future. I gave Jack a walkie-talkie in case he changed his mind or need help. I told him to always keep the frequency at 98.9 just in case. Jack has his sword, weapons, supplies, everything that he will need to do his mission. I looked at him, and think, this might be the last time I'll see him. I walked up to him, and thanked him for everything that he has done for the group, we shook hands, no we bro-hugged and I gave him my dog-tag (AGAIN TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM TO STAY).  He said thanks, then Julie came, the chatted (whatever they were chatting about).

Night

I couldn't sleep, I drank some beer, smoked some cigarettes, but still nothing. Of course, we are losing another valuable asset from our group. How can I not worry about it?

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Singled Out - Mike's Diary Day 87

*Morning*

I lost all sorts of hope. I don't know whether we will find Jess and Victor again. If God allows (not sure if he really does exist), we will meet again in no time. No doubt about that. This is our second day at the Grand Oak river, and hopefully Victor and Jess can reach us tomorrow right before we leave. The morning was really gloomy, quiet, and very foggy. I've never seen a fog this thick since that thunderstorm that hit 3 years before this happen. The river was calm, nothing was really going on, so I just sat there on a rock staring straight down the river, keeping watch of the camp. I have plan for today, that is to see if there is any suburbs or town around. Probably gonna take Moses, or Jack, or Julie with me. Julie most likely. I'm pretty sure this is one of the best sleeps that those three have had since forever. In fact, they're still on their own spot, snoring. I got lost in thought, and wasn't paying attention of what behind me, and there they were. There were 2 craze and 1 cutter. I didn't wanna wake the others up, and alerting the craze that they were there, so I decided to lure them away. Away from those three. I thought they weren't able to go across the river, but they did with ease. I knew I was screwed at that moment.

*Afternoon*

I have successfully lured those craze away, killed two of them, but spared the cutter since I don't have any good weapons to kill it. I lured it even further, but now the fog is really thickened out. I don't know where I came from; therefore I don't know how to get back to them. I'm starting to think that what if they decided to wait for me for another day, then something bad happen to them. That would suck and just kinda defeat the whole purpose of trying to survive. As if for now though, I have no where to go, and it's all just a waiting game. I bumped to several craze, but the good thing about this fog is that you can't really see 2 metres beyond your position, so when I sat down, all I can see were craze legs that are wandering about. Again, they can see me due to the thickness of the fog. That fog saves my life.

*Evening*

I'm hungry, thirsty, and exhausted. I didn't even think about Jack, Moses, and Julie. I just try to find some water, but I came out short. No food, no water, so I guess I have to go through the night without those things. It's getting dark, and I wouldn't risk my life trying to find a way back. It's just going to complicate the situation, and I would've gotten lost even more than  I already am. I just hope that one of those three try the flares. It's very risky, but it's a chance that they might have to take if I can't find my way back to the shore of Grand Oak River. God help me.


*Night*

I walked about half a mile away from where I was from. Stupid idea I know,  but hey taking chances right? I don't know where to sleep since there is no one keeping watch for me. I didn't bring any ropes whatsoever, so sleeping in a tree is a choice that I have to pass. Digging a ditch? well I could do that, but I'd probably pass out of dehydration before I even finish digging the whole thing. One way to do it I guess. I don't sleep. I am right now proping my back on a tree trunk. Watching the stars, listening to all kind of creatures' noises. Getting creeped out, scared, no food, water, or weapons. I'm really tired and can passed out anytime, and hopefully I can wake up healthy the next day.

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Day 85 - Separation | Mike's Diary

*Morning*

I woke up doing the usual thing, and planning the stuff that we will be doing for the day. Yesterday, I couldn't find Victor, Jess, and Moses. Good and bad. Good because there is still a chance that they are still alive, bad because we don't know where they are, or what they are doing at this point on time considering most of our crew members are dead. Jack has gotten much better, so the three of us decided to with respect burnt the dead. Not risking it if they were to turn into one of those craze. The smell of mud and blood is all around us, but it didn't bother us no longer. We've gotten use to it. The world is violent, but at least there is no more Ann. No more witches, or some super power, magic, shit. The world is now full of craze and humans, and nothing else.

*Afternoon*

We have gathered most of the fallen, and made a big pile. It was pretty terrifying looking at these dead people who were once our friends, still are in our hearts. Julie couldn't hold back, so she decided to leave the pile and waited for Jack and I.While Jack and I were watching the flames, we head a scream, not a panicky one, but an excited kind of scream. It was Julie's, and Jack and I rushed through the thickets and we managed to reached Julie in time. It was Moses, but where are Jess and Victor? He said that he couldn't find anyone when he woke up yesterday morning, and thought that they went with us. His suspicion starts the next day when he found out that everyone was still gone. Then, he heard screams and gun fires, so he decided to go on his own. I told Moses everything that happened, and he barely could make sense of all of the stuff that I told him. Yes, makes sense to me if Moses is angry with Jack for not telling any of us this beforehand. He confronted Jack, they fought, threw punches at each other. I just let it all happened until finally they both got tired, and sat right beside each other. Talk, I don't know what they were talking about, but hopefully they understood the situation.

*Evening*

We didn't do much except for looking for some supplies and avoiding craze here and there. We went back to base just in case if Victor and Jess were back, but we had no luck. At this point we were convinced that it's better for us to give up and move on. Flares will most likely attract more unwanted visitors. All we could do was left a note to both Victor and Jess in case they came back. The note says "We will be 40 miles out near the Grand Oak River in 2 days and we will stay there for another 2. Please reach us as soon as possible". I don't even think this is going to work. With our tears held back, we left the place, ditching 2 of our members. NO, 2 family members. We have been through together. We wouldn't be able to make it without them.

*Night*

We are only 16 miles out from our base (approximately). We are all too tired for any conflicts with both craze or another group of survivors. We really tried our best to avoid them all, but again we can't avoid death or danger anymore. There were craze here and there. Jack got his foot stuck in a vine, and a horde is approaching. Moses and Julie quickly grabbed their hatchets while I fended off the horde with all my strength. Jack was almost out, 3... 2... 1... He's free, and we quickly made a run into the road. "I didn't want to make you guys panick back there because I saw 2 cutters about 10 feet away from me." Everyone looked at me a with a blank face. "We're staying here for the night. No tent 2 guards each shift. It's safer that way" Moses said. We all agreed upon it, and it's time for Moses and I to sleep. Jack and Julie woke up, well we woke them up to be fair. Hopefully we can meet up again with Victor and Jess as soon as possible.

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Mike's Diary - Day 83 | I REALLY HOPE MY BROTHER, JESS, AND VICTOR WERE NOT ONE OF THEM.

*Morning*

Yesterday was the worse of the worst. I couldn't stand it. My body is all busted up, making every move is a struggle. I don't know what to do today, I don't feel like doing anything until tomorrow that is. I can barely sit myself up, so I have to prop my body against the tree. Jack is still passed out from last night, I'm pretty sure he's not in a better condition than me either. My eyes were still blurry when I woke up, when I saw a figure walking toward us. I didn't make a move, neither did I care, even if I die. The figure got closer to us, where I heard a familiar voice. It's Julie, she brought water, and the fire on my right side is cooking up some nice rabbit meat. "Oh you've woken up!" Julie said rushing to hug me. "Are you okay?" I asked, and she said yes, though I could see some bruises on her body. "I'm the one who's in the best shape between us three." She added. That's true, I couldn't even get up even if I tried. Julie went towards Jack and put a cloth that she has dipped in a cold water on Jack's forehead. "Fever", she said. I the looked over to the right, and that hideous  face is still on the ground. (Ann's head). "Yeah I got creeped out by that bitch too, but if I throw it out, Jack might get so mad. You know he's obsessed." Julie said jokingly. I crawled my way to the fire to warm myself up and to get some taste of the rabbit. I'm starving, I could eat a skunk if I had to.

*Afternoon*

We still stay in the same place. No craze surprisingly, and very VERY quite around the perimeter. Jack woke up, still he couldn't get up considering that the is the one who got beat up more than all of us. I told him that Julie took care of him, so he better say something to her when they see each other. Jack asked me where the head was, and I just pointed at him. All he gave me was a huge sigh, disappointment? or relieve? I wasn't so sure. Seemed like both, but why? This guy is very hard to be cracked open. We ate lunch and did our own regular routine when suddenly Jack's fever got worse. He had a seizure, so I had to force myself up and get every objects away from Jack. I put a stick in his mouth, which he bite on. I didn't want him to bite his own tongue. That'd be pretty fucked up.


*Evening*

I asked Jack about his condition. "Never better" he said. Now he's just writing in his diary. Writing what though? Probably the same thing as me? That's funny. Everything that I see, but in somebody else's point of view. I would love to make a story by combining both of our stories together. That'd be a great idea don't you think? Julie is there, looking at her only hand and comparing them both. She looked sad and grateful at the same time. She even said "Fuck, I wish I had both of these still. Thanks though, I would've died". "Don't mention it." I said.

*Night*

Julie said that we need some rest, so she's going to be the first one up guarding the three of us. She insists to do it, so yeah I'll go second. Jack still can't do anything, so him guarding us is not an option. Julie and I will be guarding a 6 hours shift, so we can all have enough sleep. Which is pretty good, because hey we haven't had a good sleep since forever. Deep down inside though, I'm still wondering who we have killed. I need to make sure that Victor, Moses, and Jess weren't one of them who we killed. During the battle, I noticed the twins from our group, but the rest were pretty hard to see considering they were covered in mud. I saw several more recognizable faces which drowned me into a deeper depression, but nothing we could've done. We would've died, and Ann would still be alive. I will rest now, and begin half of the search tomorrow. God help us. I don't know what I would do if Moses was one of them.

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Day 81 Mike's Diary - Good Karma

*Morning 10:20 AM*

I still couldn't processed what is going on with those people who attacked us yesterday. It's driving me nuts, and it's driving my curiousity even more toward Ann and her puppets. Everyone is still asleep, but soon I will wake Jack and Julie all at once. About 2 hours ago during my shift, I'm pretty sure Jack had a nightmare. He almost yelled, so I had to cover his mouth with a piece of a clothing, just in case if one of those people hear it. It's either Ann is just his imagination, and that Jack is crazy about her, or she really is a psychopath. No way though, those people are like Ann's own red-eyed army. Which is very insane if you think about it. I don't even know where to go today, so I will for sure let Jack to lead the way for the whole day. Whole mission even.

*Afternoon 2:30 PM*

We're on top of a tree right now taking a break. Eating snacks, Jack still anxiously scouting using my binoculars, Julie nervously holding my rifle just in case if there is another attack. Surprisingly enough, on our way here, we didn't see a thing that indicates an attack. It was very odd if you ask me. The weather is also weird, no wind, no rain, no sound, no nothing. It is also very humid, I'm very lazy to even do anything in this weather. Now Jack is packing up ready to hit the road once more. I don't know what we will even encounter along the way. Hopefully something good. Something that can possibly end this search because I'm really tired of this thing.

*Evening 4:55 PM*

Several more attacks. We were attacked for about 4 times during that 3 hours period of traveling. This time, it's more severe, why? They actually aim and shoot. I got hit on my arm, though the bullets only barely hitting us rather than penetrating our skins. It sucks really, though every single time we were attacked, we managed to take 4-6 people out. I yelled at Jack once, "until when will we keep trying to find this bitch? You don't even know where to go Jack." He only said "I know where I'm going." We ended the conversation there. Now, we're not doing anything, taking another major break, Jack is sharpening his knives while Julie is keeping a look out.

*Night 7:35 PM*

We decided to look for another shelter for us to stay for the night, nothing. It's late and it's very dangerous to even blink our eyes. Those fuckers are everywhere, and we can't see at night. The only thing that we have is just my thermal scope. I don't even know how we're going to survive in this situation. Jack is getting stressed out, walking back and forth for about 5 minutes now. Looks like he's trying to figure something out. Right at this point, I have no idea what we're even looking for anymore. All I know is that Jack needs to do his business with Ann. That's all. I'm just returning the favour by helping Jack to find Ann because Jack has helped us a lot. I believe in good karma.

*11:56 PM*

We were ambushed, again, I don't know how those fuckers keep finding our hideouts. It seems like they have cameras on every trees in the forest. It's freaky. Very freaky. Being watched on your every moves. You can't even take a very short nap. In the last ambushed, Julie is wounded, 1 shot barely misses her hip. I patched her up with a piece of clothing that I have, and poured some alcohol onto it. She screamed, though I put my hand over her mouth, so her scream can't be heard from a mile over. Then again, no matter how hard we try to hide, those fuckers always find their ways to us. Now, everybody is just resting, nothing to do, we've almost given up. Jack, please find Ann ASAP.

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Deals and Strategies - Day 77 Mike's Diary

Yesterday evening, I requested two people to go and find Jack. He had been wondering around all day, and haven't seen his face in a while. The reason is that one of the representatives from the tree house village want to see us, and who is responsible for who. I told him, Moses is the leader, also is my brother. Me myself is in charge of battle plans mostly, and other stuff regarding safety and strategies, and Jack, he is responsible for creating new weapons and different strategies how to survive (farming, etc). Jack is a reader. I said. The representative, Hannah, welcomed us, though it was intense at first, later she realized that we're good people.
We were given the permission that we can stay here (not in their tree houses), but in their premises, and agree to help each other, as long as we protect their people too from bandits, and craze.

*morning*

I have never had any sleep this good before, since this is all happened. I woke up and I saw Julie was using her axe on a tree, probably practicing, or just bored or some sort. Jack is still asleep, and Victor is sitting on a bench. I got up, and unpacked my backpack:
1. 1 axe
2. 1 crowbar
3. a handgun and a hunting rifle
4. amunitions
5. liquor
6. rope
7. sunglasses
8. a compass
9. map
10. snack.

I quickly grabbed the snack and ate it. Man, I was so hungry, I might have even forgotten to eat on the way here after the battle. I finished my snack in seconds, then I drank some of the water that has been given to us last night. I then started making plans as of what we should do to help this place better (Moses is pretty much useless at this point, and let me in charge).

*afternoon*

I then proceed to find a useless table, round table, and this is going to be my new work desk.
I laid my map on it, pin it down with rocks, so it doesn't go anywhere. I took out a piece of paper and started jotting down the stuff that I want to get done for today. After I was done with all of my preparation, I started a fire, boiled some water, and prepare them for everybody. I woke them up one by one (literally, but more like ditch by ditch). I gathered everyone around. From about 160 people, we're down to 125 people because of Valors. As much as I would love to go back, and retrieve the body of our fallen, it was way too dangerous. I grouped the group into several, and divided the jobs.

I called the leaders candidates of each group to the front table, so I can tell them what the plan was.
first up, Victor.

Victor's to do list:

Once I drew a 2 miles radius circle on the map, covering our parameters, I told him to bring 15 men with him. I told him to dig a hole circling the tree house village (ours too). 5 meters deep, and 3 meters wide, and after you guys are done cover it with branches, so craze or bandits don't know that it's there. Now, you have to do this carefully, and divide the physical resources management. I suggest you to have 5 men working, 5 rest, and 5 guarding, and the cycle continues. Bring guns, and make sure they are equipped with silencers. Safety is number 1, and leave no man behind unless they asked you to leave them.

Jack's to do list:

Jack, I know I can trust you with hunting. Make sure with have enough food either meat or vegetables for the next 2/3 days. Bring 20 men with you, divide them into groups 2 each, but keep them close in case of troubles. I want you guys to be safe, don't fool around, and if the group mess up, we're all not eating. No pressure. Safety is number 1, if you guys have little food and there is trouble, signal everybody, and go back. You will be 1 mile away from Victor, so warn them if you guys see anything. One more thing, don't make too much noise.

Moses' to do list:

Moses, you and I will bring 5 men with us each and we go about another mile away from Jack. To patrol in the front line. I'll bring walkie talkie, one for each leader, and each leader must have a whistle. We patrol, if we see anything, get to safety. Bring sniper rifles, melee weapons, and shotguns.

I then said one more thing to them :

I'll contact you guys through each walkie-talkie, frequency 67.9FM. You heard warning from us, blow the whistle twice, and wait for your crew. Tell your crew if you guys can't find each other and heard the whistle, head back to the base. When these whistles are blown, every men is on his own, and head back to base IMMEDIATELY. Pick your men wisely.
Be safe all

They were all then spread out and pick their own men, and after their done, I yelled everyone who is not going, please you're our only defense. Arm yourself, and get ready for anything. Split yourselves into two groups. 1 for farming and planting, and 1 for defense. After things were finally sorted out, we all spread out, and proceed onto our quests. (p.s Julie is with me)


*Evening*

I was watching with a sniper rifle, and Julie had her binoculars. Nothing, then we circle around the perimeters, and still nothing. This is how it went. 3 people, Julie, Craig, and I were patrolling the North to West, Moses and his group were patrolling  the South to West, and two other groups were patrolling South to East, and East to North. Sometimes we see each other, but not for long because we had to keep patrolling. The sun is going down now, and our shifts should be over sooner or later. I was sitting duck with my sniper when Julie said to look 20 degrees to the left. I saw a cutter, walking towards us, but it's very far away. I took this chance to see it's weakness with my silenced sniper rifle. I shot it's face, and blown of half of it, but still nothing. It was confused as if where that (my bullet) came from. Then, I took another shot on its knee cap, and it fell, but later got back up. When it got back up, I notice something behind it's neck. It's a huge blob, yellow-ish color attached to it. I took my chance to shoot it, and it popped. The cutter didn't die, though it just stays there. Not making any moves, as if I had taken of it's nerves. I looked at it curiously through my scope, for about  15 minutes or so, but still nothing. I took this into consideration, and took notes from this. After that was done, I contacted all of the leaders of the team to head back. There was no problem so no whistles were blown.

*Night*

It was a success. The tree house village was impressed on how our group handle things. We even had dinner with them. Now, everyone is drunk, having fun (not loud fun), telling stories, and bond with each other. I have not yet told them about the weakness of the cutter, so I will make sure I will tell them tomorrow morning. I'm writting this, while Julie is right beside me, humming.
"Good shot" she said. I'm just smiling and I told her, good eye for spotting that cutter.


 
This is where we sleep at night, make sure we're not visible to anything (we still have patrols)

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ARTSY WEDNESDAY!

Hai all, welcome back to another day of ARTSY WEDNESDAY. There will be crapload of pictures that I found in the previous week that I will share with you guys. Yes it's all about apocalyptic shit, and all that good stuff for you hardcore fans of infecteds and zombies :D

First up we got

 

This is what you call a sexiness you can't handle ;)

Second we have

 

Signs! You have to know the signs!!

Then we have this 

 

 Whoever drew that, he's/she's pretty godamn talented!

That's it guys for today, and as always, protect your brains.

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Mike's Diary Day 71 - Best Inventions Come At the Worst Era

*Morning*

I woke up earlier than usual today. Took a little walk around the base (not too far this time). After a good 30 to 35minutes or so, I decided to go back into the gate, but then I saw Jack, so I followed him. He headed towards the weaponry storage, then to his work-bench which he later used to fiddle around with his new project. He did some target practice, and it was impressive. Not so much noise created from that thing, but it has still some weaknesses. I surprised him, he turned around and almost press the trigger, but he didn't. I told him that his innovation is pretty impressive, but he works more than he rests, so I told him to catch a break sometimes.

*Afternoon*

I was fiddling and doodling around on my sketch book (originally trying to come up with a battle plan, but nothing just comes in today). Instead, I was sketching soe architectural stuff that I think would be really cool if we make one. After hours, I finnally got it. A vertical farming method. We build an opened building without ceilings, only stairs and 5 floors of dirt (not tiles) so we can plant stuff on, without wasting our backyard space. It will take at least 3 men to do this, so I assigned the twins and Victor to do the construction (Victor was a bachelor graduate in engineering). After we finished some calculations, it came down to a conclusion that it'll take 1 week to make it with 3 men, and we are short on wood (I need to work on that). We took a break, and this was when Julie nwas reported missinh.

*Evening*

I spent the rest of the evening trying to look for Julie. Finally decided to get Jack and Victor to come with me to the city to find Julie. Long story short, we met Julie at an arcade. I don't know why she went there. She said that she wished everything was working like it used to because she misses the old games. Then we went "shopping", she was really happy. Never seen that happy face anywhere else before. We got tp the dolls and girly stuff and I clerly remember what she said "Man, that's gay." Anyways, later I told her not to travel alone again (ironically). She made a deal with me that she won't do with unless I do it again. "Jack? Victor? back me up here? well fuck you guys." I said. Clearly they agreed and support the deal. hmmmm what can I do right?

We proceeded our way back to the base, and during the trip, I askwd Jack about Ann. Where she is and all, and Jack looked disturbed by those questions. Crazy thought, Jack killed her? but why? Anyways,we spent the rest of the trip with silence.

*Night*

We arrived at base, had some dinner. beans today just FYI. It tasted pretty good I'd say, well then again, everything is good when ypur food shortage is kinda low. Jack seemed morebothered than before, fiddling around with his invention, his work is more sloppy this time, so I told him to get a major break (maybe he's boyhered by my questions aout Ann.) We're in front of a fireplace. Julie, Jess, Victor and I. Jess and Victor are playing cards, whereas Julie is busy reading the comic books that she has found at the arcade. I'm exhausted because I haven't recovered fully from the gun shot wounds. I'm gonna get some rest now.

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Mike's Diary Day 61 - We're Undefeated

          I woke up the next day feeling a little bit better. My wound has partially healed, my body is no longer sore. I went outside my tent, it was approximately 5 in the morning. I got on top of an RV, set a mini chair, sat down, and wait for the great star to rise. It was very quite, only a few birds chirped, dead craze, and me with my beer bottle. I popped it and took a sip. It has been a long time since I drank my last beer. As the sun slowly rises, the light overcame the darkness. The first person to got out of her tent was Jess. She looked up and said good morning, and I replied so. She went up to the RV with me and sat right beside me. We stared at the sun, quietly, cherishingthe quite and peaceful moment. You don't get this often in this kind of era. A few minutes later, more and more people went out of the tent, and there was one guy in particular that I was most interested in. The guy who we caught before we reached the valors' base. I thought he was going to leave us, but I guess he changed his mind. Though, it is not right to stay without my permission, so I decided to mess with him. I called him over, asked for his name, Brian. I told Brian to wake Jack up. He hesitated but he obeyed. I figured that he's scared of Jack. I waited, a few seconds later, all I could hear was Jack yelling at Brian. Yeah I was being a dick.
           Once everybody was awaken, I told him to wrap up because we will not stop until we reach our base. I splitted the group to 4, 8 members each. Me, Victor, Julie, and the other five were going to look for any blunt weapons in the abandoned buildings. Jack, Jess, Brian, and other 5 looked for medicine, the third group (where Ann was) looked and scavenge for gasoline, and the rest 4 were going to look for food and drinks. I told the group to come back here in 40 minutes, and the rest 4 people to guard our viechles. I gave each group 2 flares, if they're in danger, fire one, and one for reserve. Off we went in our hunt. First building, I went inside an abandoned police station. There was a basement, and were two other floors. We scavenged the basement, few craze, I told Julie to handle it, practice I thought. She did great! Julie and I proceeded to the second floor, 3 people in the first floor, another rest 3 guarding the door. I was talking to Julie, about stuff, our bond is getting stronger, yet I still think about Lexi sometime. When I looked out of the window, North east from where my position was, a flare was fired. North east, that's Jack's group, they wouldn't use that unless they're in a really deep shit because I know Jack.
           I grabbed everything I could and signalled my group to hurried up, and we rushed to the flare's position. It took us almost 10 minutes running when the second flare went off. Uh oh, I didn't have a good feeling about this. When we got there, the group was on the edge of the roof defending themselves from an unexpected horde of craze. The roof was too tall for them to jump (suicide), so I decided with 2 other males to go up there and whack and kill as many craze as possible. I rushed in, the two went to the roof to kill the horde from behind, and when  I was about to go upstairs, I heard a scream from a room beside the stairs. I busted the door, and I saw Jack getting cornered by craze. My assumption was he lured the craze in so the others can go to the roof, but I wasn't so sure myself. I took out my axe, and whacked one of the craze's head right off. Then I immediately rushed to Jack's aid. He was aalmost bitten, but I managed to grab the craze's shirt and pulled him towards me. I broke its leg and stabbed its head with my dagger. I got Jack up and we went upstairs to help. When we reached the roof, Victor and another guy had already taken care of the horde.
           That was a very close call, but let's just forget about it, though I still want to hear what happened from Jack himself. We are back in our cars, we looted stuff we needed, but didn't have the chance to talk. I might change my mind about the non-stop road trip just so I can talk and let them explain what happened, but right now, I'm just writting in the lead car, and glancing out of the passenger window. Wondering what will happen next.

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Mike's Diary Day 58 - Last Day

           This is it I thought, one more day before we arrive at Valor's base. I want to keep my promise, but sat the same time I don't want Julie to go with the Valors.
            I woke up the next morning, everyone was still asleep, I went out to prepare our breakfast. Not so fancy, but filling. I cooked, and boiled some water, and Jack approached me. Yeah, he just woke up.
            "What happened last night? with Ann?"
            "I don't know."
            "Well, I think you should really find out what really happened to her before she joined us." I said. I was still boiling the water when I heard cracking noise from behind us. Jack and I turned around and saw a guy running away. So he's the one who has been watching us all this time. Jack and I looked at each other for a milisecond, and we dashed towards the man right away. We were running, and running, and running, just like what they do in the Olympics. Jack raised his hand gun and threatened the guy that he would shoot if through guy disn't stop. Bang, Jack fired and hit him right in the leg. He fell down and we caught up. Jack gave the guy a blow to the face with his fist and questioned the guy, while I gathered what he had in his backpack. After he was done, Jack came back to me and said that the guy is a lone adventurer, and that he didn't mean any harm to us. I know that Jack didn't believe him, and so did I, but I decided to give him a chance to tag along, with hands tied behind his back, and with Jack as his guard so he doesn't do anything stupid. We walked back to camp, and everybody was already awaken, and was proceeding to eat the breakfast without Jack and I. Once they saw the figure, their faces looked worried, understandable. Jack tied the guy to the tree where I tied Julie before, and Jack asked for his name (I don't know because I wasn't ear-dropping). Jack walked back to the group and told them what he told me.
           "He better not fucking things up." Julie said.
           "Oh now you're back from a whiny kid to Julie." I responded.
           "Shutup, you're not the one whose arm got chopped off."
Everyone chuckled and continued their chatting.
           "Look Julie, this is your last day with us. Do you have anything to say?" I asked her, "Thanks guys for everything." She responded. She seemed sad, everybody noticed this, and they looked at me. Even Jack stared. I didn't know what to do, I mean as much as I'd love Julie to come with us, we better have a good reason to do so. After breakfast, we decided to pack up and continue our journey. The order was me, the 'guy', Jack, Jess, Julie, Ann, and Victor, making a single fIle line. We walked for hours, stopped for minutes, then continued. The valor's place isn't that far ahead, and I started to see the opening path from the first to highways and suburbs. We walked out, and there was a road sign that has been scratched up and rewritten 'Valor's base. Can be your saviour, or your death.' I guess that's it. I continued to walk, leading the group where we stopped right beside a liquor store. The huge dorm (fortress) is visible from where we were at, and I was pretty sure that that is the base. Since everyone had no energy left, we decided to go into the liquor building. Ann, once again ran inside without noticing any danger, but thank God Julie was able to chased her down, and got the hold of her. We saw 4 craze which takes no more than a whack in he head. We unpacked, set the tent so that we are not exposed by anything that is potentially dangerous, and sat down in a circle. The guy's hands are still tied, we don't trust him just yet. Victor is re-bandaging Julie's arm, Jesse is keeping an eye on the guy, and Jack is arguing with Ann. I don't know what their deals are. I peek, only to see Jack notices me, then he looks uncomfortable. I went back into my tent, bracing myself for what is going to happen tomorrow, and writting this journal.

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Day 55 -Mike's Diary "Lost of another"

         I wake up to the chirping of birds, the hissing of the wind, and the warmth of the sunlight. This is the moment when I actually get to relax without thinking about craze who are trying to gut me, and savages who are trying to raid and kill me, but once again the thought of the others came to my head. What if they won't make it? What if Lexi, Jack, and the others get killed? What if Rider betrays them? These unpleasant thoughts revolve around me, like planets orbiting the sun, and trapped in its orbital motion. I looked down the tree which I slept on to make sure there is no craze, or no one is around. I untie the rope from my body which later I used to climb myself down. The forest was quite after a while, and all I can hear is the sound the bugs buzzing around me. I look at the sky, while the dark cloud is approaching. I better hurry. I thought to myself. I pack my stuff and try to find my way back through the forest. ThanKS to the 6 months police academy camp, I was able to practice my sense of directions, so finding my way back to the lake wasn't a hard task.
          I walk through the bushes to reach the lake shore when I suddennly see Rider on the canoe. I approached her,and she told me to get in. I get in the canoe and say

          "Thanks. What happened to your face?" I asked

          "I fell. I want to leave. the group."

          "Why?"

          "I feel better alone."

          "Okay, and you're here because?"

          "Jack told me to find you."

Then we get on the shore, and we get off of the canoe. We continue to walk to thee group when we hear Sam's bark, followed by the appearance of Jack, Ann, Julie, and others. 

          "Thank's guys, I'm leaving."

          "Why?Julie asked

          "We all have our reasons" Rider says

          "We're going treat you first. until you feel better." I say

          "Follow Ann." Jack said

Rider follows inside the tent where she is being treated. Sam runs towards the tent and disappears. I don't what Jack is thinking right now, he's probably happy and sad at the same time to watch another comer goes. After Rider is being treated, she packs up and says her last good bye. Sam runs towards Julie as if he says his good bye to her, then runs back to Rider. All we do is just watch as Rider and Sam's appearances disappear behind the bushes, and the night goes quite. Jack is right beside the campfire along with the others. I look at Jack from a distance, and he looks back and waves as if it's a signal for me to go over there. Then I look at Ann, the mysterious figure who doesn't know anything, then Victor, Jess, and lastly Julie. I don't want her to go. I'm starting to get used to her personality considering she's similar to Lexi, but with the vulgar level over 9000.

           I walk towards the campfire, and sit right beside Jack. I look at the fire in front of me. How abstract, free but trapped. It's just like us living in a world like this. I turn my head to others who look at me weird, and I say

           "What?"

           "You need some rest." Jess says

           "Damned right you do." Jack adds

I smiled to thegroup, get up, and proceed my way into the tent where I'm right now writting this journal. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, plus we still have to deliverJulie. I have plan, if the valors' base which they said for kids doesn't turn up to be so, I'm taking Julie with me. I know there's going to be a war but... I just can't... I'm done writting.

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Mike's Diary - Day 49 "Still to early."

    Nothing lasts forever, and I guess Jack was right. They were off of to burry Lexi. The girl who I been taking care of. The girl who I treated SS my sister. I got up, and walked towards them, just in time when they had finished their goodbyes. I walked towards Lexi's grave made out of rocks, and crouched down. I shed more tears, rage inside me is flaming up and I almost burst put again, but managed to calm myself down.
     "Lexi. I'm sorry." I cried even more, and yes I was thinking of wiping the clowns out. All of them, but I'm sure Jack already did so.
     "Mike." Jess called out, I didn't say anything and walked towards them.
     "Are you guys okay?" I said
     "Yes" Victor said
     "What's our next move?" Jack asked me.
     "Deliver the package. And who's this?"
     "Ann. I'm sorry for your loss." She said, but I didn't answer.
I'm becoming a very depressing person, I no longer talk a lot, barely answer questions. I feel emptiness, as if something in me is missing. I walked towards the truck that Jack and group road to this place, and sat on the passenger seat. Jack was Driving.
     "You gotta move on sometimes right?" He said, but I didn't answer. I just lost my appetite for everything, talking, food, even water. I don't feel thirsty all of the sudden. I just look out the window, thinking of what I could've done. Jack tried his best to make me let a word out, but it was all useless. I feel the breeze hitting my face, in the windy, and gloomy night. We kept driving and soon the sun rises from the east, as we reached the valor's base. I got off the truck, and met with one of the leaders. I gave him the letter, and told that we made a deal with his branch.
     "Ahhh... my postmen." Says he, then continues "you will be delivering, well not an object exactly." At the same time two vapors came out with the "package", it was a little girl.
     "You have to deliver this girl back to the kids camp that we have 400 miles from here." He said to me
     "You've got to be sitting me!"
     "I turned my back on him, and saw Pack's face." I know that look. I walked towards him and said
     "I can't."
     "It's too late now, we've made the deal. They could kill us."
     "...I."
     "We'll take it." Jack said. I looked at him and shook my head in a disappointment, and sigh. We took little girl with us, and she sits beside me.
     "Where the fuck are we going?" She asked me
     "Another base."
     "I Don't wanna go with you guys."
     "You're just gotta deal with it."
     "Can't you be anymore rude?"
     "You're the one who swore and complain about shit." I said
She looked over to Jack and said
     "What the fuck is his problem?!" Jack didn't answer.
     "What the he'll is wrong with you people?" She asked. Judging from how vulgar and young she is, reminds me to Lexi, but worse. Brunette, 5'2 feet, brown eyes, pony tail. I don't even bother to ask what her name is. There, we stopped to take a break, we unpacked and set up tents. Jess and Ann are in these tent, Victor and Jack, the girl sleeps alone, but close to Jess's tent, and I stay up. We made a campfire, I was the only one who sits with my book open on the trunk of the truck, still thinking about Lexi. This is too early for me I though to myself. I saw that vulgar girl talking with Jack, she asks too many questions and I'm not in the best mood. All I heard was
      "What the hell is that grumpy old man's problem??" She asked Jack
      "...los..breaa..." Jack said, which I couldn't hear clearly since our distance was 6 metres away. Who the fuck cares? I just wanna get this "package" delivered right away so I don't have to deal with anything complex ever again.

   

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Long Weekend !

Hey guys! I (representing the whole crew of IA) just wanted to say one thing: long weekend is coming up; as much as the authors love to keep you up to date with the story, we will not be posting any entries next week -- Due to the needs of the authors to have sometime with their families. It has been amazing creating stories with you guys, and we will not be able to do this without your support and without the help of my fellow author Mike Weidman. That notwithstanding, I will very soon be posting new sets of journals (once mike aka jack's journal reaches the point where my character is at) You guys are awesome !!

- Inside Apocalypse Team

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