In the dimly lit room of their makeshift safehouse, which also was their home, Dusty, William, Samantha, and Sarah had gathered around a small table strewn with blank pieces of paper and a few flickering candles. Samantha's suggestion of leaving handwritten notes in strategic locations had sparked a glimmer of hope in the group, and they eagerly began to plan their approach.
After some discussion, they had decided on key locations where they believed their notes would have the greatest chance of being discovered: the tall buildings they had already explored.
The group envisioned leaving their note pinned to the bulletin boards in the lobbies, where it would be easily visible to anyone passing through. They would clear the board removing any old announcements and faded flyers, they cleared a space for their message, determined to make it stand out amidst the clutter and debris of the areas.
The Note: Their note they agreed on would be simple yet heartfelt, a plea for the opportunity to meet and for resilience in the face of adversity. It read:
"To anyone who finds this, We are survivors, just like you. Together, we are stronger. Let us stand united against the darkness that threatens to consume us. Leave a message here, we check it every couple days. If we hear from you we will coordinate a meeting time a place. We are here, waiting.
Please stay safe."
With the notes neatly written, they armed themselves for their travel through the city. Once ready, they set off to put the notes in place.
The first building they visited was near the town square. The town square was a spacious area surrounded by dilapidated buildings and overgrown trees. Despite the desolation that had overtaken the city, the square remained a focal point, with its crumbling fountain and weathered benches serving as a stark reminder of better days gone by. Following their plan they entered the first building and began to execute their plan. Clearing away debris and removing all of the other posters they made sure that anyone who entered the lobby would be drawn to their sign.
The next building the visited was near the abandoned shopping mall entrance. The abandoned shopping mall loomed a little closer to the outskirts of the city like a ghostly relic of the past. Its once-gleaming façade was now marred by broken windows and graffiti-covered walls, but its imposing presence still commanded attention.
"Remember when we use to spend Saturday afternoons hanging out at the mall back home?" Samantha spoke to William.
William smiled, "It was so fun, we really didn't do anything, just hung around with our friends. That seems like it was so long ago." All four grow quiet as they considered how much had changed.
As the passed by the entrance they couldn't help but notice the number of bodies lying on the ground in various states of decay. Looking, they could tell some had been killed by zombies, the torn flesh and disfigured appearance sending a clear message. But many others had been shot, the bullet holes clearly visible.
"It is as if a fight took place hear. Let's be extra careful," Dusty warned.
At the entrance, they found a weathered sign that read "Welcome to Cascade Mall," its letters barely legible beneath a layer of grime and dust. The automatic doors stood frozen in a perpetual state of half-openness, their mechanisms long since rusted and non-functional. Bodies laying against the partly open doorway.
Crossing the street the group decided to affix their second note in the lobby of the next building, where it would be visible to anyone who dared to enter the building, perhaps searching for the lab as they had done.
The note contained the same message as the first, offering hope and solidarity to any who might come across it.
Before moving on the the next building the group had decided to to enter the mall. They had not explored inside and took the opportunity to do a quick search. It paid off as the back room of the pharmacy contained a large volume of bandages and other medical supplies they could use. They were even fortunate enough to find three unopened bottles of pain medicine.
As William placed them in his pack he joked, "Now we are ready for when Dusty decides to tell us more of his corny jokes."
The others laughed and Dusty just shook his head and frowned at him.
Having finished their quick search they moved on to the next building, there were five more they planned to visit. They were the ones they had previously visited.
Visiting each one they placed their note in the lobbies, clearing the space to make sure there was a greater opportunity for someone to see what they had done.
The last building on their list was the BioTech building itself. For this building they had added more to the note. It explained that this was the building with the lab if that is what they were searching for.
As they approached the building, Sarah slowed her pace. Although she had been hear just a couple days ago she was still nervous as she approached. Taking her hand, Dusty gave it a reassuring squeeze as they walked into the building. Preparing the area and placing the sign in its proper place the four quickly left the building, satisfied with the results of their efforts.
As they left their message in the lobby of the abandoned lab, inviting others to join them in their quest for answers, they knew that they had taken the first step toward a brighter future for all.
With their notes prepared and their plan now in place, the group set out to return to their safehouse, the abandoned bank that had become their home. As they navigated the empty streets and crumbling buildings, they couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose and determination wash over them. They were determined to make their voices heard, to reach out to others who might be struggling in the darkness, and to offer them a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair.
With their notes left behind, they knew that they were taking the first step toward building a community of survivors united in their fight for survival. Sarah softly smiled to herself as she thought about the fact that, perhaps, she was another step closer to finding out the truth.