Fred stumbled inside, clutching a bottle of alcohol, tears streaming down his face as he thought about Harrison. Memories flooded back—Harrison confessing to cheating on his wife, and the times they'd spent together with Margaret, all three of them. The pain was unbearable, and Fred wept uncontrollably.
Jane entered the room, startled by the sight of Fred. She placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly but firmly.
"Fred, you have to stop crying," she said. "You can't cry all day. They're gone. Gone for good. All we can do now is remember them and show them love in our hearts. That's the only way we can honor their spirits. But if you don't want to lose anyone else, we need to get back to work. Now."
"But why them? They don't deserve to die." Fred said with a trembling voice.
"That's what life show them, just forget it."
Reluctantly, Fred wiped his face and nodded. Together, they headed to the lab, where the equipment lay waiting for them. As they checked the instruments, a loud, frantic banging echoed from the gate.
Fred froze. "That sound... it's coming from the gate. Who could it be?"
Jane frowned. "Let's find out."
They rushed out and asked the guard stationed there to open the gate. He hesitated, gripping his weapon tightly.
"No way," the guard said. "What if it's a zombie?"
Fred approached him, his voice firm. "Ask them the family number."
A panicked voice from outside called out, "Please, open the gate! Zombies are after me! They'll kill me—please don't let them get me! I wasn't bitten, I swear!"
Fred turned to the guard. "Open it."
The guard shook his head. "The head of the family doesn't like visitors. If I open that gate, he'll kill me!"
Fred's patience snapped. He pointed his gun at the guard. "I said, open the damn gate. Now!"
With trembling hands, the guard complied, unlocking the gate. A man in a lab coat stumbled inside, panting heavily as the gate was slammed shut behind him.
Fred stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The man stammered, "I-I'm Edward. I'm a doctor. I worked at a lab nearby—a big one. But… but I was framed. They said I killed someone, trust me I didn't! You have to believe me! I didn't do it. They forced me to leave!"
Fred narrowed his eyes. "How did you find this place?"
Edward gulped. "I-I followed you. I saw you and your friends coming here, so I stayed nearby. But then the zombies came… I almost didn't make it."
Fred was about to respond when the head of the family stormed out, his voice dripping with anger.
"Well, well, well," he sneered. "It seems Fred thinks he's the new head of the family. Who gave you the right to let someone into my community?"
Fred held his ground. "He needed help."
"You know I hate visitors!" the head of the family bellowed. "How many times do I have to say it? I don't like new faces! The last visitors you brought in got your friends killed! Do you really trust so easily?"
"Calm down," Fred urged. "This man said there's a lab nearby. Maybe we can find something useful there."
The head of the family scoffed. "Oh, sure, listen to the killer! Didn't he just say he was accused of murder? And you think it's a good idea to trust him?"
Fred turned to Edward. "Where is this lab?"
Edward hesitated, then said, "North. You'll know you're close when you hear a melody playing."
Fred's eyes lit up with recognition. "A melody? Jane, remember the sound we heard when we went out for supplies? That must've been it."
Jane nodded. "I remember."
Fred pressed on. "Aren't zombies attracted to the sound?"
Edward nodded nervously. "Yes, but… we handle them. We kill them."
Fred looked at Jane. "We're going to that lab. Edward will guide us."
The head of the family exploded with rage. "What the hell, Fred? Are you giving orders now? This is my community! You don't call the shots here!"
Fred turned to face him, his jaw set. "If there's a chance we can find something to help us survive, I'm taking it. With or without your permission."
"You're not leaving Fred! If you leave don't come back because I am not ready to loose my community because of your stupidity!"
Fred realized he has to calm down if he wants Head of the family to agree with him. "Head of the family, you have to calm down, please. Remember, you gave us just one week—one week—to find a solution. We have to do everything we can to make this work. Please, you have to get used to this situation."
The head of the family scowled but eventually sighed, with frustration. "I think I'm done here," he said, storming off to his office.
Jane turned to Fred. "I hope you're making the right decision, Fred. His just a stranger, we can't trust him just like that because we're desperate" she said, her voice heavy with doubt.
Fred nodded resolutely. "Don't worry, my decision is right."
With that, Fred, Michael, Jane, Cassandra, and Edward loaded up into the van and set off toward the North, heading for the lab Edward had described. As they drove, Edward recounted his story, his voice shaky with emotion.
"Those people in the lab were friendly," Edward began, "but I don't know why they accused me of killing her. I didn't kill her. She'd been locked in a room for over a month."
Cassandra's brow furrowed. "Who is she? And why was she locked up?"
Edward exhaled heavily. "She lost her entire family and started losing her mind. She couldn't control herself anymore, so they kept her confined. She was receiving treatment every day, but there was no improvement. One day, I went to check on her. I thought I could help her. But when I got there…" His voice cracked. "She was dead. Raped to death. I don't know who did it, but someone walked in while I was there and started shouting, accusing me."
Edward's hands trembled as he continued. "I didn't do it. I couldn't have. Sure, my wife is dead, but that doesn't mean I'd do something like that. I'm not that kind of man. But the lab coach didn't believe me. He kicked me out, said I'd keep raping and killing patients. I begged him to reconsider, but he wouldn't listen."
Cassandra tilted her head. "Patients? You had patients in your lab?"
Edward nodded. "Yes. People we were trying to help. They were our patients, and we cared for them."
Fred's eyes stayed on the road, his jaw set. "If what you're saying is true, I'll talk to the lab coach myself. Maybe I can convince him to take you back."
Edward's voice softened. "Alright. Thank you."
When they reached the lab, it was an imposing structure surrounded by barbed-wire fences. The towering building loomed over them, its security tight. Zombies roamed outside the perimeter, though not in large numbers. Inside the fence, armed guards patrolled, their rifles trained on any approaching threats.
Fred drove closer to the gate and rolled down the window. "Please, open the gate for us," he called out to one of the guards.
The guard narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
Before Fred could answer, a zombie lunged toward the van. Fred swiftly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed it, its lifeless body collapsing to the ground. "Just open this damn gate for us!" Fred snapped. "We need help. We need to speak to the lab coach."
The guard's suspicion didn't waver. "Do you have any zombies in your van?"
Fred gritted his teeth. "No! We don't keep zombies in our van. That's ridiculous."
The guard's gaze swept over the group. "Anyone bitten among you?"
Fred shook his head firmly. "Nobody. We're all fine. Now, please open the gate!"
Finally, the guard relented, opening the gate just enough for the van to enter. Once inside, the gate was quickly shut behind them. As they stepped out of the van, one of the guards spotted Edward and immediately stiffened.
"This man again?" the guard spat. "He's not allowed here."
Another guard joined in. "You need to leave. All of you. Take him and get out!"
Fred raised a hand. "Calm down. We just need to speak to the lab coach."
"You can't speak to him, one of the guard said."
"Why? We have information that can benefit him. So, please!"
The look at them and say, "Come with me." The guards didn't lower their weapons. Instead, they pointed their guns at the group and escorted them inside, disarming them of their weapons and locking them in a small room.
One of the guards left to inform the lab coach, who eventually arrived. The coach was a tall man with a stern demeanor, his presence commanding attention. His sharp eyes scanned Fred and the others before landing on Edward.
"So," the lab coach began, "why do you want to see me? And how did you even get here? More importantly, why are you with that rapist and murderer?"
Fred raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Just calm down, okay? We came from the family community. We need your help. The head of our community gave us one week—either we provide a vaccine, or we leave. And we can't leave. We have nowhere else to go."
The lab coach folded his arms. "And how is that my business? You think you can find a vaccine here? This isn't a vaccine production facility, young man. We treat patients. That's all. We're not working on any vaccine."
Fred stepped forward, determination in his voice. "I know that. But you can help us. I used to work in DC with my friends here. Jane, Cassandra, and I—we all did. We have the skills. All we need is a team. Let's work together and produce the vaccine. Let's change the world back to what it used to be."
The room fell silent.