Chapter 11

She went on to explain her actions as a way to preserve her precious stock of ammunition and maintain a decent level of stability and control over her people by providing them adequate equipment. By allowing others to kill more zombies, she had inadvertently found a solution to quell her short-term dilemma.

"Get out of my face, Ruby; we'll make sure to give you what you need if you give us what we need." Adamo warned his superior in a stern tone, making Ruby wince uncomfortably in response, obviously ashamed of herself.

"Oh, come on, now." Ruby chuckled dryly. She was attempting to sound playful, although her body language gave away the fact that she felt humiliated by her own subordinates' comments.

Ruby led the group to the armory. All types of guns were lined neatly on a table under the bright illumination given off by a lone lightbulb dangling directly overhead. They were arranged alphabetically based on the weapons' model, manufacturer, make, and model, and the ammo required to operate them. In front of them, three sets of stairs lead up towards three different levels containing all manner of gear and uniforms for soldiers, including camouflaged uniforms, combat suits, bulletproof vests, helmets, respirators, body armor plates, eyewear, and anything else required.

"Take what you need; I'll make sure everything is accounted for. Do not ask permission from me beforehand or wait till I agree to give them to you."

"Is this okay? Shouldn't you have told someone to take inventory, count it, write it down, or whatever it is that needs to be done when it comes to organizing and recording shit for people?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow while glancing briefly at the man questioning her judgment, watching him examine every single item he picked up and took with him while storing his possessions in a knapsack tied around his waist. She suppressed an urge to chuckle softly at the sight and turned to look around her room as she waited for him to finish packing.

As the group was geared up and about to leave, Ruby raised a hand, stopping Adam, who was heading straight towards the exit door, and commanding their attention.

"Hey! Before you guys go, you need to make sure you check in and out every weapon that you guys get. Keep track of the type and name and record where it goes for later. Record them accordingly once everything is accounted for, and note down where everything is supposed to be stored and where each item should be kept. All of these details should be recorded onto this clipboard I am handing out to all three of you, okay?" Ruby was handing out the same clipboard she was holding, and it seemed heavy. It contained three large binders labeled for each weapon: handgun, semi-automatic rifle, and assault rifle, which she pointed out for Adam when handing him hers.

Adam smirked at his boss and nodded joyfully, grinning. "Yes ma'am." Adam mockingly saluted his commander, causing Ruby to glare angrily. Adam turned around and immediately disappeared behind the thick double doors leading to the armory entrance.

The group gathered all the supplies that they needed in order to survive for at least a long time out in the wilderness without running low on ammo. After collecting a fair amount of everything available within the store, they immediately walked up towards the stairs, leading them back upstairs to continue doing errands or tasks around the barracks. Once their arms had been stuffed full of materials and weapons, they finally decided that it was time for them to go and confront the real dangers waiting outside of their base and test out their fighting capabilities against the ever-lurking threats lurking deep inside the city where no human was in sight.

Once outside, it didn't take long before they got separated due to their own individual preferences about the route that they each wished to follow. They agreed to rendezvous at nightfall, not knowing what fate held in store for each of them as they proceeded forward in the harsh environment surrounding their humble village and hopefully finding safety amidst the desolation before danger overtook them and the others nearby.

Adam was with Ren, Adamo was with Connor and Ayoub, and Ruby was alone; each headed their separate ways throughout the day. Each of them went to different parts of town while checking for potential threats before setting up base camps or outposts of some sort for future usage in case things went horribly wrong as the nights drew on, thus putting their safety at stake, potentially making them vulnerable targets for enemies who might approach them at the most inopportune moments possible. They would be vulnerable unless reinforcements were available, like previous survivors that they'd come across previously living near this vicinity, or worse still, if no help was coming to them anytime soon from those dwelling nearby, which they didn't exactly trust anyway.

NIGHTFALL.

Everyone rendezvoused at a certain location; however, everyone was left in shock when Adam was holding Ren in his arms.

"What the fuck happened?!" Adamo shouted, enraged by the events unfolding right before him.

Adam dropped to the ground and held Ren in his arms as he wept. "She was fine three hours ago, and then she suddenly collapsed. I know it was inevitable, but for it to happen this soon... FUCK!" He howled in agony as tears rolled down his face. Adam and Ren were lovers; Adam realized that her death hit him pretty hard.

The five of them went back to the base for Dr. Haynes to examine Ren's condition; he stated that she was suffering from extreme levels of sickness. Her illness is getting worse by the day. Everyone realized the severity of her condition; they immediately called their best medical practitioner for his evaluation and assistance in treating Ren's ailment.

Adam walked into the bedroom and watched her through the large glass window. Her body was emaciated, and her cheeks had sunken inward from hunger. The life she once knew was slowly fading away, and a bleak, dreary future awaited her. The plague that has corrupted this world took Ren away from everyone who loves her, and it seemed like nothing could reverse the damage that had already occurred, leaving Adam shattered as he continued crying miserably throughout the night while hoping for some kind miracle to happen. He hated the fact that there were no chances of recovery for those who were already ill.

"When is Voltage X ready?" Adam said, his eyes glaring with hatred inside of him.