13 New home

Zs are an easy pattern to code.

With enough time you can learn their mannerisms. Learn how to fight them. How to avoid them. What draws them away. What pulls them in. What makes them tick. All things that you can learn to survive longer.

Humans, on the other hand, is much hard to figure out what they will do next.

Our footsteps were softly muted by the carpet. Bryce leading me to some unknown location in this maze of offices and desks. Clearly he already knew the layout long enough to remember where places were. It made me wonder just how long I was passed out.

Before long we reached to a cleared out area. There was the rest of the crew. All crowded about doing some sort of task. Something which, I've decided, is used to pass the time between events.

The first to greet us was the guy who Jake called Dylan. Running up with a smile as he stared at the both of us through grey eyes. As my companion conversed with him, I took the time to actually study his features.

He had wire like curls. Dark brown in nature and was extremely unkempt. He was taller than Jake and still had a bit of meat left on his bone. He wore a simple puffy green vest. The one people usually wear for winter which made it all the more confusing as to why he kept that as his main staple for his outfit. That is since it is late spring.

"Oh, right!" He exclaimed as he turned his head to look at me. A smile gracing his lips as he stuck his hand out.

"Since you don't remember, I'm Dylan. Glad to see you up and alive despite not remembering much."

I gave an awkward laugh back before letting my shaking hand clasp with his to return the courtesy.

"and how are you Marie?" He questioned with a slight rasp in his voice. I stared a bit longer before my gears finally jumped.

"I-I um... I'm fine."

"You sure about that?"

"Elenor." Bryce responded back with a bite in his tone.

I blinked and turned my attention to the blonde woman busying herself by studying and examining a blade. She gave, me another look before shrugging. A huff leaving her cracked lips as spoke.

"I wouldn't bother remembering my name if I was you."

With that, she pushed herself off the wall. Her hands fishing about in the pockets of her jeans only to pull out a cigarette. She promptly informed Richard about her needing a smoke break before exiting. Her hips swaying as smoke was all that's left of her.

I gulped as the feeling of alienation began to creep on my back. My teeth chewing and gnawing on my bottom lip out of nervousness when another body came up. His arms crossed as he, too, stared down at me.

"Vincent, just go with Vincent or V. Whatever suits your boat. Good too see you're still kicking B." The man from before sighed. My eyes, once more, drawing up to see, in detail, the numerous trinkets placed in his hair. Bands and rings and ribbons all braided in. I noticed the deep scars running on each cheek as I, once more, saw those butterfly tattoos when he stuck his hand out.

As I shook it, I felt a part of my heart darken. The warmth of his hand seemingly waking up something inside but it soon receded when we broke apart. I could only chuckle as I rubbed the back of my neck, unknowingly scratching at what bumps I found there out of anxiousness.

"I feel bad for not remembering ya'll..." I said aloud in earnest as Dylan just gave a strong pat on my shoulder.

"Hey, we all do what we need to just to survive."

I smiled at his words. The kindness behind them was all the more welcomed for me. Clearing my throat, I looked around to address the rest of the room really.

"So uh... Mind if someone give me the basics of this base?"

John stared at me confusedly causing me to sigh.

"Y'know, where the exit spots is. Areas of danger. Sleeping arrangements and what not?"

"Well..."

"Main base here is where you're gonna get your food and essentials." Vince responded instead. Soon pointing to other hallway that connects this room.

"Down there is the main offices where Ace sleeps at. At the end of the hall where the main office is would be where Elles is. Avoid her if you rather keep living." He paused before shrugging. "Or don't. After all who still wants to be in this shitty world anyway?"

"I sure as hell wouldn't." He laughed, deep and base like before eventually coming back down with a sigh.

"Back down the way you came from is where I sleep. Mainly the entrance where the escalators are." Dylan quickly said, picking up where Vince left off.

"The post room is also there where you'll be able to find Vincent."

"I can't help it. Reading through all the old mail helps pass the time y'know?" The man chuckled once more, "Something about reading these old normal shit just seems entertaining."

I gulped and just nodded along. This was when Richard interjected.

"My humble abode is the bathroom down where Elles is," he smirked as he seemingly began to head that way, "If you need to use it, knock twice alright?"

Shortly after Ace left, silent as ever, leaving four of us left.

"I take up shop at the little break room," Bryce finally said as he offered me a smile, "You're free to room with me and all that."

"Or just use any of the other open offices or cubicles 'round here," Vince sighed as he headed down the way we walked from. Calling out one last phrase before dipping into one of the rooms.

"Not like anyone uses them anymore anyway!"

I just pursed my lips and turned to Dylan.

"Wasn't there an elevator system that reached this floor?"

"You remembered that?"

"I may have lapses in my memory when it comes to people. But locations and environment are my strong areas."

He chuckled before tilting his head towards the hall behind us. Soon enough guiding us back down the many rooms and doors before taking a sharp left from where the break room was.

This particular area seemed even more deserted than anything. Anything that ranged from the chairs to the plants to even pictures seemingly was ripped away from the walls. The lights flickered slower and slower the further down we were until eventually we were plunged in pure darkness. In the very back of this hallway laid a large mass. One which all the missing furniture was made out of no doubt.

"Here it is," Dylan explained as he left our sides. The sounds of his hand groping the wall was the only thing to fill the silence before a low buzz began to hum. The area suddenly becoming illuminated by a dull yellow light that stemmed from a network of dollar store flashlights and lamps. He let out a huff as his gaze became lost the more he stared at it.

"The electricity here cut off a few months back after that large black out in the city. The elevator stopped working then but... You can never be too sure with stuff like this you know?"

He turned back, his hand placed back on the switch, as he gave us a tired look.

"Now let's get you looking at the other rooms we got-"

"I'll take it."

"Huh?"

I stepped forward, standing proudly in front of the mound with the lights casting long shadows on my face.

"I'll sleep here."