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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Mike's Diary Day 57 - I Told You Happiness Doesn't Last Forever.

          Happy? Yes, but happiness doesn't last long. Happy but not over-happy. I'm glad that Julie is fine, though I was doubting the success of the cruel operation done to her. She's tough, I can tell you that much. I was exhausted from that operation, slept, and Jack woke me up. I saw and woke Julie up, the joy and happiness. Everyone joined in and celebrate the temporary success. I asked everyone if they'd like to continue on the journey, but they said no. Including Jack surprisingly. Even though he's always be the one who wants to get this over with, this time he's the one who said no. Yes, he has his reason, we're all tired, and Julie isn't in the best condition. There's something odd about this place though, I don't know if it's just me or there's someone watching us, but I didn't really bother. I just thought that that was my paranoia kicking in. I woke up, untied Julie from the tree, and told her to sit beside the fire place for some breakfast. She did as what I told her to do, she sat along with Victor, Jess, and Ann, while Jack is standing behind our tents as if he was looking for something. I approached him
           "Jack."
           "Huh?"
           "There's something odd about this place don't you think?" I said quietly
           "Someone's watching us."
           "You feel that too?"
           "Yeah. I'm gonna set up a traditional alarm along the perimeter, you keep everybody in place."
           "Be careful." I said as I gave him my shotgun.
He headed north, and I went back to the group. I whispered to Victor to have his gun at all time, and the others to not stay away from each other, and they obeyed.
         
            It has been roughly one and a half hour since Jack's long gone. I was still on guard, the girls were in the tent, Victor watched the back of the tent, while I watched the front with our guns. I head some footsteps, and saw Jack walking towards the tent. I asked him what has he got, but he shook his head. He said that the rope wasn't long enough for him to connect each can-filled rocks to each other, so he left it there and decided to do it tomorrow (too tired I suppose). That afternoon, we decided to pull our tents together, side by side. No, more like back to back. My tent heads towards the North, Jack's towards West, Victor's towards South, Jess's and Julie's towards the East, and Ann's towards South-West. This will keep us close to each other, and will allow us to communicate with each other without going outside our tents. After we were done, we set the fireplace, and re-positioned it so that it's right in front of my tent. We sat there for hours, mostly busy doing some checking to our gears. I looked at Julie, who sat quietly, the blood went through, so we had to re-wrap the wound. I opened the cloth that was covering her chopped-off arm and it looked very nasty. I grabbed a t-shirt from my bag, ripped it into half, and re-wrapped her wound. She flinched and groaned here and there, but she said that she was feeling better.

             Night is approaching, we were in our own tents. We were chatting inside our own tents (We've set up our tents so we were able to do so), when somebody didn't respond. It was Ann. I asked Jack where she went, but he didn't answer. We rushed outside our tents, but didn't want to yell (that's suicide). I told Jack to come with me, and told him that my best bet is that Ann is near the lake. We rushed there with our guns ready, jumped through logs, scratched by branches, and there she was. She was on the side of the lake, sobbing, and crying. I didn't know what her problem was. When I was about to approach her, Jack held my hand and said that he'd go talk to Ann. I didn't know what the deal was, but as long as everybody is safe, I'm fine. After that, I decided to left those two, and went back to where the group is. I re-assured the group is safe, and told them where Ann went. I proceeded my way back into my tent, and decided to write. Write on this diary in which I will remember once we escape from this hell.

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Day 56 - Mike's Diary "Safe? Think again!"

      Last night without the others noticing, I was secretly watching from inside my tent, the group. One person in particular, Ann, the new comer. She had been staring at Jack all night long. it makes me wonder what is up with this girl.
      The next morning is raining, sucks I know. I get out of my tent to see the others were already packing their stuff. Jack is checking the weapon supplies, Julie, Ann, and Victor checking the food and water supplies, and Jess is checking the medical supplies. Everything goes smoothly without any distractions or challenges. Once we are all done, we decide to proceed our way to our destination.
       "Alright you guys good?" I ask
       "Aye sir" some shout
       "Never better." Jack yells with a grin on his face. He seems up today, happy, I don't know what is going on inside his head, but iit's a good sign. I too smile. We proceed our way to a dark forest with our flashlights in one hand and weapon in the other. We are taking this trip slow and steady. I am trying my best to keep everybody safe, but just when I think we are, a horde of craze swarms us. Jack is about to shoot, but I told him to use his crowbar so that he won't attract more hordes. The struggle lasted for 15 minutes or so, no-one is injured, or so I think. We continue our long trip when  I hear Julie groans.
         "Are you okay?" I ask, she lifts her right sleeve a wee bit.       

        "Holy shit, you're bitten." Says Victor. Jack raises his gun, and points it on her head, but I manage to block it with my body and I told him to lower the gun. He hesitates, and yes I understand, he cares about the group, I get it, but I can't stand seeing a little girl, Julie, is shot in the head. I told Jack to calm down.

          "I'm immune." Julie says
          "Have you ever been bitten before?" Jack asks
          "No, but I would feel the fever by now if I wasn't immune."
          "Stop it you two. I'll tie her on a tree beside my tent. If she turns, I'll kill her." say I. Everyone seems okay with this, but not me. We unpack and make our own tents. Everyone is busy, I see Jack is chatting with Ann, but decided not to go and bother them. Instead, I decide to approach Julie and sit beside her. Long silence.
          "You're gonna kill me?" She asks
          "Not if you really are immune. I hope you are."
          "Mike..." she reaches for her bag and hands me a ring. It was Lexi's. "Jess took it, back at Lexi, before you met me. I don't know why she chose me to do this." I stare at her, I almost weep, but look away and said "Wear it. We'll continue our trip tomorrow." I stand up but Julie holds my leg.
          "But what if.." she asks
          "I said we continue OUR trip tomorrow." she stays quite. Jack seems to notice this, so he walks towards me and asks what's wrong. I said nothing, and I give Jess a disappointment look. I know she cares, but reminding me to Lexi isn't going to help. I decided to make fire since the night is approaching.
           At night, we eat, feat and drink, with Julie staring at us from 5 feet away. I walk to her and give her a cup of hot chocolate, then she thanks me. I was about to walk away, but I stop. I turn my head halfway to the right, and whisper
           "Please don't turn."
She doesn't respond to me, but stares at me. I walk back to her and give her a crowbar as a weapon, and walk back to the group. I chat a little while more, then look over to Julie who's already asleep. I walk towards her, take her cup away, and cover her with a blanket, and notice that the group is watching me, but I ignore them. After I'm done, I drink some water, write this diary, and now I'm done.

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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 54 "Funny Threat. How scary."

     I woke up the next day feeling exhausted and dehydrated. I needed a drink. Everyone was still sleeping, except Rider, she was a usual playing with Sam. I approached her and said
     "You failed the first test." Should I trust you?
     "What are you talking abut?"
     "Sneaking up through my diary." I responded, and she stayed quite. I proceeded, my way into a tent and looked for alcohol, a knife, heated the knife up, ripped my sleeve, poured some alcohol on my wound, and sunk the knife into my shoulder trying to get the bullet out.
     "Need help on that?" she said
     "What? You think I should trust you? No I've done this may times."
     "I could've killed you with my knife if I wanted to." She threw her knife  sunk into the tree beside me. I picked it and threw it back to her, I chuckled, and got the bullet out.
     "You got some problems lady." I said to her
     "Yeah? You're the one who almost killed us all!"
     "whatsup?" Jack asked
     "Just a little chat." I said
     "You know, you're stupid." She said to me, "Even Jack agrees." I saw Pack's jaw dropped, and I smiled and woke everybody up.
     "That's true, I'm stupid." I told her, then looked at Jack. I smiled again, to myself this time. I mean I've been having a tough week, give me a break for fuck sake.
     "let's go guys, we're going." I said while packing everything up. After we packed up, I led the way through forest, it was dead, quite, but breezy. I just simply love this mood. Julie caught up to me and said "I heard it all. I believe you Mike." I looked down to her then continue walking. Jack approached Julie and said
      "Hey do me a favour, give Mike a little space okay?"
We continued to walk, Victor was talking to Jess, Julie was talking to Ann, and Jack was arguing with Rider. I stopped walking and everyone stopped talking all at once.
      "Why the hell are we stopping?" Rider said
      "You'd be dead if you were alone." I responded. No seriously, I could hear a horde coming our way, I'm pretty sure no one notice this because they were too busy talking. I told everybody to stay where they are and proceeded my way hoping I could find a good way around. Too many people walking at the same time will just alert those craze. No way around. Great. There's a lake though, we might be able to cross it. I found a canoe that fits 3 people, so we had to make 3 trips across. Rider, Julie, and Victor, then Jack, Jess, and Victor, then of course, it's a bad luck when it came down to me. The horde was alerted because of, I dot even know what. Ughhhh..I was really frustrated at that point.
        "MIKE!" Julie yelled. I looked at her, at Victor in the water, and Jack who was too already across the lake.
        "YOU GUYS GO. Jack you're in charge." I said, I ran off to lure those craze away, but I managed to give Rider the death stare, and yelled "HAPPY NOW RIDER?!" While I disappeared into the forest. Okay now it's just me. I ran until I got far enough and found  big tree. A rope? Great! I climbed onto the tree and tied myself to it on the waist so I don't fall while I sleep. Weird enough, there's no breeze, no wind whatsoever. I'm here a lonely wanderer with his diary observing deep into the paleness of the night sky decorated with  a moon and nothing else. Once again, Lexi, no. Julie, pops up into my head, and I try not to let that attached itself to my innerself.

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Mike's Diary - Day 53 "Tis' not a Murder, More Like a Game."

     I've been sleeping for who knows how long. Sweat I thought, good, I'm feeling a bit better now. I don't know what I should do now, I don't want any trouble with the valors, yet I want Julie to stay with us.

     "Good morning Mike!" Julie said. She has been there in the tent, I didn't even know that she was there the whole time.

     "We have a new comer, name is Evelyn Rider." She adds. Wow, one day I gone unconscious, we have another new comer, Evelyn Rider? Cool name. I thought to myself

     "Huh?" I said. Just before Julie opened her mouth, this "Ms. Rider" came in.

     "So you're the leader of the group?" She said while reaching for my hand.

     "Don't, I'm sick." I responded.

     "Okay then so where are you guys heading next?"

     "First of all who let you join this group?"

     "Victor, I believe."

     "Who else is with you?" I interrogated her

     "Sam, my dog." she said.

I didn't say anything and just signaled Julie and Rider to go outside.

     "I'm Mike. Nice to meet you too." I said just before Rider exited my tent.

I gathered my thought, changed clothes, and drank some more water before I actually to go out of my tent. Man the smell. We really need to get out of this man hole as soon as possible. When I went outside my tent, I saw Jack running towards the group.

     "There... uh.. mmhmm... there are.. two guys near by. What do you guys want to do about it? Mike?" He asked.

     "Everybody pack up." I said, and they did. 

     "I'll go see them. Jack follow me, but don't let them see you. Keep a safe distance. Rider, you think you're useful?" I said

     "We'll see."

     "Okay I need you to signal the others once we confirm that these guys aren't bad." I said.

Off Jack and I went to approach these groups.

     "Who's there?" One of them asked

     "Friendly, don't shoot." I yelled

     "How many?"

     "A group. Let us pass? We want no trouble."

     "You have guns? or food?"

     "Yeah. Look we can only give you some food." I said

     "Yeah that's fine." One of them answered.

I signaled Rider to give the signal to others and we started walking towards them.

     "Hey, you didn't say you had some girls." One of them said

     "I forgot to mention that. They were talking about girls." Jack whispered to me

     "We're not letting you. They're our friends."

     "I mean we can always share." Said the other.

     "Here's your food." I said while handing them some of the food.We continued walking when BANG! They opened fire. I didn't know how to react, but the first thing that I did was turn back facing them, hid behind a tree (everyone did this), and Jack opened fire. 

     "Right in the head!" Jack yelled

     "Nice, the other one is mind." I yelled back. I don't know why but Jack and I think this as a game now, we're merciless, and then BANG, I shot the other one in the torso, then BANG-BANG, twice more, and he's dead. We took the food back, and we just casually walked pass those dead bodies. Oh, we also took the guns from them which is a bonus in our part I'd say. 

     "What.. Whatt was that?" Rider asked

     "That's how we do things around here if there's someone threatening our friends." Jack said

     "You're going to get used to it." Julie added

Rider stood there in shock, but we continued to walk. After 10 yards away, I looked back and yelled

     "You stay with us, you survive. You stay still you're dead."

Then all I could see was Rider trying to catch up with us while breathing heavily. Well I guess this is her first time witnessing this. After thirty minutes walk, my fever relapsed, I collapsed, sitting down, using a tree as my support.

     "We.. I can't. Set the tents here. I'm sorry guys." I said to the others, but they did it anyways. See I just don't want you guys to know that I have a bullet in my shoulder, and I cover it with a sling bag so you guys are not worrying about me. I thought to myself. The pain became unbearable, I tried my best to stay conscious, and not make the pain so obvious. I think this is why I have fever, infection, plus I fell into that shit hole made it worse. Just sleep it off I thought, it'd be better. The only thing I remember is my diary is opened on my lap, and I'm sleeping against a tree without anyone in the group noticing.

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Mike's diary - day 52 ''Smells like Shit, literally''

     long story short, I saw a truck (Jack's truck was parked right on the road.) and sneaked up to the driver seat and just wait for another 5 minutes also when suddenly the group reappears everybody hoped in and the rest is just a quite trip. Jack is looking outside the window, everyone else was asleep.
     "why did you come back?"
     "Don't want to be in charge of the group" he said quietly while chuckling, I chuckled too.
     "Glad you speak now."He said.
     "Me too."
I continue to drive until I see an abandoned liquor store. I told Jack to stay in the truck while I search for some beer and wine. I go back to the car with a six pack of BudLights and two red wine bottles. I gave Jack a can and we cheers to the new group, New beginning, and new year. We have forgotten about New year, I just can't believe it. We drink, then continue the journey.
      "Are you sure you don't want Julie to stay?" Jack asked, but I didn't answer. Instead, I took a deep breath, and shrugged. he then continues to look at the passenger window.
      "Glad to have you back Mike. Jack is having that time of the month thing." Julie said in a sleepy voice.
      "Knock it off, give the guy some slack Lexi." I say
      "Who?" she responded, but it goes quite.
      "Go back to sleep you little shit." Jack says
      "see Mike!" she responds and goes back in the trunk.
I swear that that was the most awkward and uncomfortable moment in my life. Jack looked at me sympathetically, but I didn't notice him. I continue to drive, thirty, fourth, sixty miles North until I get tired, then I switch with Jack. This is the first time in the history when drinking and driving is legal. he continues to drive us north until the highway is blocked and some sort. We got off, and Jack wakes everybody up.
      "There's only one way guys, the sewers." I say,
      "Awh man." Victor whines, and the others blank out in disbelief. we unpacked everything and off we go into the sewer. the smell I can't stand, smells like shit, literally. We are walking very careful and steady when I slip and go right into the puddle of 'you know what'. I get up but unable to walk, sprained my ankle I guess.
      "I'm not supporting you unless you change." Jack says, while he gives his sweater to me. I took off my shirt and put his hoodie on. Then he supports me, we decided to stop and build a camp there, yes in a sewer. I'm inside, it's Jack and Victor's turn to patrol. Worse thing is that I'm catching cold, and later fever. Ann and Jess look for medicine, and Julie looks after me in the tent. Man, the trip has to be delayed until I get better. If I get better, but from now on, we might have to try our best to live in these crappy, smelly, hot, and disgusting sewers.

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Day 47

     "Are you okay?" I asked Lexi.

     "Yes, but Victor..."

     "Yeah I know. Go get some rest. You kicked ass though." I chuckled and gave her a hand gun. 

     "Now what." Said Jess who was taking care of Victor at the time. I looked to her, then glanced over to Jack. Oh I see you want revenge right Jack? Well it'd be better to do it after we deliver this thing don't you think? More guns, gather more people? Ask for Valors' help? 

     "So Jack." I asked

     "I'm going with or without you guys."

     "That's what I thought."

     "You, guys be safe. I'm going tomorrow morning"

     "No, everyone comes with you. I'll deliver this to valors myself."

     "Mike WHAT THE FUCK!" Lexi yelled from across the room.

     "Language." 

     "Don't tell me that. I'm going with you." She responded. All I could do is let her be. 

*NEXT MORNING* 

Everybody wakes up, and is packing their stuff.  

     "Jack how far is it? Their base?" I asked

     "Far enough. You two. We don't need two more dead people."

     "And I don't need three." I said, then I continued, "you see that church? The one over the mountain. We'll be there in 2 days. Try to catch up if you can. If you can't, turn back to base or go to this address." I handed him a copy o the address. Then we went on our own ways. Me and Lexi walked, far, far enough for her to collapse and just sit down in the middle of the muddy road to take a rest. It's not yet evening, but since winter is approaching, it gets pretty dark.

     "You haven't answered my question. What happened to you before you met me." I asked

     "I was with my aunt. But you know, shit went down. I try to survive, blablabla, 5 days later, you found me." She answered. "Yourself?" 

     "Me?" I asked "well, had a family once. They all dead."

     "I'm sorry." 

     "Me too."

I got her up and we continue walking. Craze here and there but they don't even bother us anymore, we tried our best to be unseen. Uzi in my right hand, a revolver in Lexi's. Lexi for some reason doesn't complain that much during the trip. You're a tough little kid for your age kiddo. We walk until it was really dark, approximately 15 miles away from the church. We set up a tent, went in it, I'm staying up and she's sleeping. We'll take turn obviously. There's nothing else to do, so I decided to write this. Hopefully those three are just fine, and can meet up with us in two days in the church. I was so stupid not telling them what the signal is when we're near by because yelling and screaming out names just doesn't cut it. It'll bring us to our own deaths. Mike, you're so dumb.

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