Chapter 11

Mark and the group gathered in front of the door that led down to the parking lot. Mark smiled at the girls and spoke with a reassuring tone.

The girls wore expressions of concern as Mark leaned in and gave each of them a tender, reassuring kiss, one by one.

"Head up to the rooftop and stay by the walkie-talkie."

He looked at Terry, "Make sure to lock this door, and don't open it unless we contact you."

Mark, accompanied by Kenneth, Michael, and Cj, descended into the lower levels of the mall. After a brief while, they reached a door marked "Employee's Only." With determination, they pushed it open and entered the area beyond. As they moved forward, they discovered a chained gate that served as the entrance to the sewer.

As they walked through the sewers, Mark noticed the dim, damp surroundings. The air smelled musty, and the brick walls were slick with moisture. Occasionally, they heard the faint scurrying of rats. Their footsteps echoed softly in the quiet tunnels.

Mark, finding the smell unbearable, lit a cigarette to help mask the unpleasant stench. He offered one to Cj, who accepted and lit his own. However, Michael and Kenneth opted to forgo the cigarettes.

They continued to walk in silence, navigating the dark sewers until they reached a ladder leading up to a manhole cover.

Kenneth asked seriously, "You sure you want to do this solo?"

Mark nodded confidently, "Yeah, no big deal. Just wait for us outside the gate, and please lock it in case something goes wrong. Wish me luck!"

As Mark climbed up the ladder, Michael gave him a nod of support, while Cj mockingly saluted, a grin.

Mark cautiously opened the manhole cover, leaving it slightly ajar for easy re-entry. As he emerged from it, he looked around and spotted Andy's gun shop nearby. He also noticed several zombies shuffling around the area.

Mark whispered into the walkie-talkie, "Hi, love. How's my situation? Could you let Andy know I'm nearby?"

Anna and the girls on the rooftop used binoculars to survey the area around Andy's gun shop. The streets seemed eerily quiet, with abandoned cars scattered about.

Anna's keen eyes caught a group of zombies in the distance, slowly moving along the sidewalk.

In the immediate vicinity of the shop, it appeared relatively clear for now, but the threat of the undead loomed close.

Anna noticed Monica quickly grab a whiteboard and write a message. It read, "Mark is already nearby."

She replied with concern in her voice, "You're in the clear for the moment, but it won't last. Andy has already gone downstairs."

With a sense of relief, Mark responded, "Thanks, love. I've got eyes on him." He watched intently as Andy's gun shop door opened slightly.

Anna's heart raced as she witnessed Mark's lightning-quick movements. With a swift swing of his machete, he decapitated one zombie, and a powerful kick sent another stumbling backward. The tension in the air was palpable as more zombies surged toward him.

Nicole, Luda, and Monica watched in a mixture of fear and admiration, their eyes glued to the intense scene unfolding below. Mark continued to display his impressive combat skills, dispatching the oncoming undead with a flurry of strikes.

Their rooftop vantage point provided a clear view of Mark's every move, and they couldn't help but hold their breath as he expertly fought his way toward Andy's shop. The relentless zombies pounded on the door.

Inside the gunshop, Mark found Andy, who was visibly relieved.

"Glad you made it. I've packed as many guns and bullets as we can carry. But the problem is, how do we make our way out of this mess?" Andy asked, his voice filled with tension, as the relentless pounding of the zombies on the door continued.

Mark reassured Andy, "We'll figure out our escape, but for now, you need to eat." With a flick of his hand, Mark retrieved an assortment of food in his storage to the counter.

Andy looked surprised but didn't question it further as he quickly devoured all the food Mark had laid out on the counter.

Mark's keen eyes took in the interior of Andy's shop, assessing the available resources. He noted a modest collection of firearms displayed on the wall and in a glass case, containing an assortment of handguns, shotguns, and a few basic rifles. It was a functional but not extensive selection.

Adjacent to the firearms, neatly arranged shelves held various types of ammunition, primarily catering to the guns available in the store. It offered a limited yet serviceable choice for customers.

As Mark continued his inventory, he also spotted a rack stocked with basic gun cleaning supplies, complete with cleaning kits and solvents. Nearby, holsters hung on a display, providing customers with options to securely carry their weapons.

In a corner of the shop, he discovered a stack of ear protection gear and paper targets, clearly intended for practice at the range. It was evident that this gun shop catered to beginners and those seeking essential firearm equipment, lacking the specialized or high-end items found in more advanced gun stores.

While Mark took note of these items and stored them one by one inside his dimensional storage, Andy, still in the middle of his meal, observed with surprise but didn't interrupt. He respected Mark's privacy and didn't want to pry into any secrets Mark might have held regarding his unique abilities. Instead, he focused on finishing his meal

"Hey, love, what's the situation like outside?" Mark asked into the walkie-talkie. As he crouched down, he examined the bags of guns in the corner.

Anna's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, "It's still pretty chaotic out there. Zombies are milling around, and there are a lot of them banging on the shop's door."

With a hint of humor, Mark reassured her, "Don't worry about it. We'll chat later. Give my best to the other girls. And remember, I'm surviving just fine with Andy's zombie friends here. Love you."

Mark stored the bags filled with the firearms that Andy had gathered, Andy finished his meal and then turned his attention to Mark.

"Do you think you can handle more items?" he inquired. "I've still got a substantial stash of bullets stored away. Can you still accommodate them?"

Mark nodded and followed Andy to his storage area, where the two of them began transferring all the remaining bullets into Mark's dimensional storage.

As they worked, Mark's eyes fell upon a box of flares. Memories of a scene from the movie flashed through his mind, where they had used a propane tank to create an explosion as a means to escape the gun shop.

Mark couldn't help but crack a joke to himself, "Well, this seems rather convenient, doesn't it?"

He took a moment to catch his breath and then turned to Andy, ready to share his plan.

"Here's the plan," he began, making sure Andy was listening attentively. "You'll stay down here. Once you hear an explosion, open that door and make a run for the manhole. Don't wait for me, just get inside. Got it? Don't hesitate," Mark instructed, emphasizing the importance of Andy's swift response.

As Mark glanced at Andy, he couldn't help but notice his bare arms. The memory of the danger posed by zombie bites and scratches flooded his mind.

Above all, his mission was to ensure Andy's safe return to the mall, and he couldn't afford any accidents along the way.

"Put on a thick jacket or something," Mark advised Andy with a tone of seriousness. "We can't risk you getting scratched or bitten out there. If that happens, it's game over. You'll turn into one of them, and I'd rather not have to make that choice myself."

On the second floor, Mark's eyes fell upon an aquarium with a small goldfish gracefully swimming in its confines. As he waited for Andy to prepare, he gestured towards it and asked, "What about the fish? You don't want to take it with us?"

Andy emerged from his bedroom, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Oh, I almost forgot about it. It's a gift from my daughter," he replied, his voice tinged with concern for his little girl's safety with her grandparents. Andy carefully transferred the goldfish into a clear plastic container and then placed it in a bag he wore on his back.

Mark instructed Andy to put on thick gloves and then helped him fashion a makeshift layer of magazines around his arms, securing them in place with duct tape.

He retrieved a propane tank from the kitchen and securely strapped a flare on top of it.

After ensuring everything was set, he reminded Andy once more, "Remember, don't wait for me." Andy nodded in acknowledgment and descended to wait for the explosion signal.

As Mark surveyed the rooftop's edge, he realized that, with his peak human physique, he had the capability to make the jump safely from his current vantage point. His enhanced physique gave him the confidence that he could land without sustaining any injuries.