At 7:00 AM, as Arlo woke up, he gazed out of his room window to witness the grim sight outside. Blood-stained roads, wandering corpses, and the remnants of demolished cars and burning houses greeted his eyes. The absence of any living humans compelled him to sigh in disbelief.
Contemplating the situation, he muttered to himself, "Who could have predicted that this would happen? If it weren't for my foresight, I would have met the same fate." After freshening up, he descended the stairs, intending to grab a meal. As he did so, he pondered, "Today, I should procure some firearms and ammunition from the nearby police station, not only for my own protection but also for the safety of others. This way, I can earn more points."
In the kitchen, Arlo prepared an omelet for himself. Just as he was about to indulge in his breakfast, Sakshi descended the stairs. Arlo wondered why she chose that particular moment to join him.
Sakshi stated, "You're having breakfast? Make an omelet for me as well."
Arlo furrowed his brow and replied, "If you want to eat, cook for yourself."
Without uttering a word, Sakshi proceeded to prepare her own omelet while Arlo continued with his meal. Upon finishing, Arlo looked at Sakshi and suggested, "Sakshi, it would be best if you gathered everyone here. I have something important to discuss."
Sakshi glanced at him and inquired, "What is it? Share it with me first, and if necessary, I will inform the others."
Arlo's frown deepened as he stated, "I am planning to go to the nearest police station to acquire firearms and ammunition. Before I leave, I want to ask if anyone needs anything specific."
Sakshi's thoughts raced, "He wants to depart now, possibly using it as an excuse to find a safer location. His theory about the zombies turned out to be true."
When Arlo retreated to his room, Sakshi and the others contemplated his words and the increased threat posed by the zombies at night. They were astounded by the accuracy of his observations and resolved to pay closer attention to his future statements.
Sakshi felt compelled to persuade him to stay, asserting, "We don't need guns here. It's safer for you to remain indoors."
Arlo responded firmly, "I am going outside, and I don't require anyone's permission. It's my own decision."
Sakshi hadn't expected such a response. She countered, "If you go outside, we can't allow you back in. It's a preventive measure against potential infection."
Arlo's frown persisted as he declared, "Call everyone down; let them decide. If they say 'no,' I will give all the supplies and guns to you and depart."
Sakshi was taken aback, contemplating whether he had any fear for his own safety. Realizing further arguments were futile, she left to gather the group once again.
After a few minutes, everyone reconvened. Arlo greeted them with a smile and said, "Good morning, everyone. I've invited you all here to ask if anyone needs anything specific, as I plan to go outside and retrieve some guns for emergency situations."
As they looked at each other, a man stood up and requested, "If you're willing to go out, please bring some inhalers with you."
A woman chimed in, "Could you also get more pads and medications?"
Another man added, "Can you obtain..."
Arlo interrupted, "Alright, I'll do my best to acquire all these items."
Then he posed a question, staring at Sakshi, "When I return, will you all let me back in?"
The room fell silent as the group pondered the dilemma—should they allow him entry or not?
After a brief hesitation, a couple spoke up, "We agree to let you in, but you must hand over your bag and guns for us to inspect before granting access."
The others nodded in agreement, stating, "Yes, we will allow you inside if you comply with these conditions."
"I don't have any objections."
One by one, they all concurred, their decision reached.
Arlo, looking directly at Sakshi, inquired, "Is it acceptable now?"