Walking back into the motel room, we found Hazuki and Yan-Hua waiting for us, their expressions expectant, and their bodies reflecting the tiredness of a long day's search for jobs. The space, previously just a holding ground, had taken a more homely appearance with personal belongings strewn about and the comfort of having familiar faces around.
Hazuki was the first to speak, breaking the thick anticipation in the air, "Guess who got a job at the hospital?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement and a dash of relief. The pride in her voice was palpable as she relayed her day's victory, her nurse's expertise finally finding a place even amidst the chaos of the new world order.
"I too got a job at the daycare. They were in dire need of teachers," Yan-Hua chimed in, her voice echoing a similar sentiment of achievement. Being a school teacher before the apocalypse, she had found a way to hold onto her past even in these uncertain times.
The news filled us with a sense of hope. It was a small step towards normalcy, a small victory against the harshness of our reality. The room filled with cheers and high fives, the first wave of good news since we had arrived in Banff.
We sat on the bed, forming a circle as we exchanged stories from the day. It was then Cassidy, Kaya, and I shared our news. "We met this guy, Cody," I started, pausing as I took in their curious expressions. "He's a scavenger. Wants us to be his bodyguards on his next trip to Calgary."
Their initial surprise morphed into expressions of understanding. It was an unconventional job, but it was a job nevertheless. "He's providing all the equipment and transport. And the pay is pretty good," Cassidy elaborated, defending our decision to take on the dangerous venture.
The room was quiet as Yan-Hua and Hazuki took in our news. We could see them processing the risk associated with our new job, the dangerous landscape we would be venturing into.
After a silence that felt like forever, Yan-Hua broke it:
"Just don't die Chang, and that goes for you girls as well."
"Stay safe senpai...And look after the girls please." Hazuki spoke with a soft voice.
"Don't worry we can cover our own, it's boss that needs our protection." Cassidy nudged me in side with a playful grin.
"We can handle our own." Kaya crossed her arms.
"I know you girls can. I trust my back to you girls." I grinned. "Alright, let's get some sleep now, we got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
***
The night gave way to the earliest streaks of dawn as the town square of Banff stood veiled in the day's first light. Its usual bustle lay dormant, replaced with an eerie tranquility that resonated with our nervous anticipation. A group of five pick-up trucks eventually disrupted the silence, their engines rumbling through the quiet morning, their headlights slicing through the dim pre-dawn fog.
One of the trucks slowed to a halt in front of us, and the window lowered to reveal Cody. His face, crisscrossed with lines of experience, was cast in a soft glow by the truck's interior light. Despite the early hour, his energy was infectious, a smirk playing on his lips and a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Good morning, sleepyheads!" Cody's voice, thick with a rough joviality, rolled out of the truck. "Didn't think you'd show up. But here you are. And right on time too!" His eyes twinkled in the early morning light, his grin broadening as he took us in.
Cassidy was the first to respond, her usual fiery demeanor softened by the early hour but not entirely absent. "Well, we've never been ones to back out of a deal," she shot back, a hint of amusement flickering across her face.
Kaya and I exchanged a brief glance, our shared understanding passed in a silent exchange. This was the path we'd chosen. Risky, yes. But necessary. With a mutual nod, we moved towards the truck.
Cody leaned over to push the passenger door open. "Come on aboard!" His voice echoed into the still morning, bouncing off the nearby buildings. It was a call to adventure, a beckoning towards the unknown.
As we clambered into the truck, the exchange between us was minimal. The hour and the seriousness of the day ahead subdued our usual banter. Cody shifted the truck into gear, and as the convoy began to move, we took one last look at Banff. The town, with its quaint charm, was beginning to stir with the promise of a new day.
Turning back to face the road, we gripped our guns a little tighter. Our hearts pounded with the rush of adrenaline. And as the trucks picked up speed, disappearing into the dawn, we were ready for whatever lay ahead. A day in the life of a scavenger had begun.
Q: What would be your preferred job in a zombie apocalypse?