27 27. They came...

Sound of helicopter resounded in quiet streets. Suddenly loudspeakers started sounding alarmed.

Tens of thousands of zombies started running towards the sound that overlapped the sound of nearing helicopters.

As the sound slowly moved from one speaker to another the zombies started running, crawling and even jumping over each other, trampling some of their kind to the death.

On top of buildings groups of people rushed as this was an occurrence that happened every day at the same hour. Exactly at mid of the day, tens of these helicopters would rush to the city and pick up one round of people. Then the rest would hide until the next day.

The people that were sent to the other town shelters regretted to the death. They slept on the bare floor and had just a thin blanket and small pillow as their support. Everyone ate military rations every day and only when some of the soldiers got raided some stores in the neighborhood, they got some food that is quickly perishable.

''Boss, there is a new wave of zombies coming from the other state. If this continues, we will be in danger as well.'' One of the young men on the computer showed the millions of zombies running towards their state in zombie waves, giving them creeps.

''How many are left to save?'' She worried about the safety of her own people in the first place.

''In the first and third city, we cleared some streets and most of those that were not accepted in their shelters on time is already here. Cities two and five are now in clearing. The problem is the city four.''

Emma felt uneasy. ''Why is city four such big problems. It is actually nearer than city two?''

Mario Santini just walked around looking at the peculiar situation in city four.

''As you can see, there has been some change in the animal world as well. It seems if we bring people from that city, they have to pass the quarantine time. Luckily the uniforms you made are anti-bug secure. Some animals got bitten and turned into zombies themselves. But the weird thing, they won't attack other animals, they just hunt humans.''

Rats, cats, dogs, birds and all kinds of bugs started attacking the city. The biggest problems are birds and bugs as even helicopters are not safe from them. So the helicopters in the fourth city are actually sent to kill as many birds and flying animals as they could.

The worst thing is not that problem. It was a blank expression on Emma Thompson's face. She stared with big eyes and open mouths at the group of people on top of one building and didn't set the rescue command.

Glossy eyes returned to normal but her behavior became weirder. She started pacing while sending glances at dozen or so people.

''Find out if we could send them to the shelter there.'' Her command could be heard but soon she was contacted by the other side.

''You, are you trying to kill me? I took over those you send me, fine. but if I add more people here we might just all die of starvation. Sorry, but I can't do that. I hear you have enough space there.'' The woman answered her request.

''I will send you enough food for everyone. Just take these please.'' Emma hoped with that offer she could get rid of her biggest headache.

''You can forget that. We literally lack space. Thank you for your offer but we cant. Seriously.'' It seems that the woman grew older and wiser these days.

Emma Thompson nodded. ''I understand. Listen, I can do something for all of you. Send me a list of what you need and I can send it with the next group of helicopters. There is a huge zombie tide coming, so don't move anywhere, don't make sounds and just stay still. I will send you enough so you can survive until they pass by. Be careful. I mean it.'' Emma was holding grudges but not to that extent that she wanted to kill thousands of people because of her petty mind.

The woman smiled at her first time after a long time. ''You too. You are just too soft. But since you started cleaning your backyard I understood that all of us became stronger. We had to, don't we?''

Emma was truly grateful for her calm words. ''In future let's cooperate. And Maike, please, don't turn into a bitch every time we talk. Just tell me straight in my face. I might argue with you, but it is a way of opinion, so just be straight, ok?''

The conversation ended, but her blank look turned on again while she stared at the people on the building. "This is an upcoming headache. Mario..."

"Yes?" His deep voice resounded as he watched her pace.

"Send for them. It seems I will have to invite a couple of troublemakers in my household. I have an idea how to keep them busy but I don't know am I to mean to do it." Her answer was more whisper.

"If you plan their activity in advance to keep them out your sight it is fine as well." Now everyone had normal jobs. From the finishing from more than half apartments that had just bare walls up to cleaning service, cooking, caretaking the plants and animals as well.

"Where should they be sent?" He could see her face turning into one of her evil smiles and he gave little prayer to these people.

''First send them for apartment building and renovation, if they think that is not good enough go by the procedure. If they make too much trouble we have prison as I remember."

Even those that are temporary in there had to do some kind of thing and were not lazy.

"Understood. Miss Thompson, you may be assured we definitely won't let anyone be lazy."

She just pressed her lips as scowl started to be deep etched in her face. "Connect to my daughter. Where is she?"

"She is on level one in dual training. Connecting."

"Aida, my child, I think I need to talk to you. I'll be on the first level in a minute or two. Wait for me there. Mario, take over."

He stood up and saluted. "Yes, mam."

Actually there was no direct need for her to stand here as he did for now good job, but somehow deep inside she felt somewhat restless. She didn't trust him and had no idea why. Something about him bugged her. But, what is it?

On the first floor the steam of people that entered gathered in groups and were led to their accommodations. Some choose the apartment houses some with the garden but all were overwhelmed by the peacefulness of the shelter.

"Mom, you sounded like something bad happened. What is it?" Aisa came in her uniform from the group of people that waited for the next escalator.

"It seems I had to save someone that I really had no wish to see in the present." Emma held her head with one hand she feeling headache pulsing forward.

Aisa stared at her with open mouth and exclaimed. "It couldn't be..., right? That woman and father?" She really despised those two.

Seeing her mother having a headache upcoming she took her by the hand and brought her to the nearest medic.

"Mom is hurting. Can you give her something or should she go down to the hospital?" The painful expression didn't leave Emma's face.

Medic just sighed. "She had too much stress lately. Send her first to check her up. I will let them know that she is coming."

Aisa nodded and helped now trembling Emma to enter the escalator together with the group of people.

When they all exited on the fourth floor the team was already waiting for her and under the stunned eyes of people, she was hauled onto the electrical car and driven quickly to the hospital.

"Who is she?" Asked one woman curiously. She could see that women had a uniform like everyone else.

"She is the owner of this place, our savior and our boss." The young man said courtly while showing them the building they will stay at.

"I understand that. I would like to ask one more tiny question, how do I get a job here, I can see people running around and doing stuff."

He now gave her a proper smile. Those that want to contribute to the community are always welcome. "Soon we will give you a list of open working places. You can choose from those."

She smiled at him and started winning she everyone else just shook their heads. They just came, what work is she talking about?

Later she hot to choose her working preference while they got assigned randomly to do odd jobs.

When the helicopters with the last batch of people for this day came back from the fourth city, Mario waited to see who is it.

An unknown group of people passed him and as they argued about some unrelated things he watched two people holding hands as they stood and blankly stared at the place where Aisa trained with others.

She somehow felt their gaze and turned her head but when she saw them she just smiled coldly and turned around to follow everyone else in training.

Suddenly a soft voice came behind her. "Aisa, my child, you are here. In safety. Good. Is your mother here as well?"

The look on the face of that woman made Aisa turn even colder as she looked at the man next to the woman. "What is it to you where is my mom? You two better stay away from her. She still didn't forgive you. By the way, mom told me you are pregnant. Congratulations. Now get out my face, you are bothersome."

She rushed to catch up in others in her squad as they entered the escalators. As the door closed she didn't even give second look at those people.

But the two people were rushed as well to the escalator and had own thoughts. His eyes greedily looked around and a smile emerged in his lips. "So you are here all hidden? Can't escape me this time, my previous Emma."

The woman next to him shook as she saw his crazed expression and tried to stay further away from him but his iron hand held her wrist tightly and she was dragged away to their accommodation.

The new days of torture began for both people but they have no idea what she really planned for them...