In the following days, Dominic spent countless sleepless nights searching for a better way to protect the soldiers. The harsh reality was that in such confined spaces, there was no easy solution for solving cleanliness problems.
Even with tanks, armored cars, and numerous combat helicopters now available, none of these would be effective if the enemies were hiding in a basement or a dark parking lot.
But everyone had to keep fighting.
Dominic had to keep sending his soldiers to face all the walkers. Yet he knew he couldn't afford to lose so many lives, so after some consideration, he and his team began to personally move into the most dangerous sites.
...
A month later, on the border with Canada,.
A few days later, Dominic led an elite squad personally to face the walkers.
The elite soldiers moved quickly through the abandoned streets, scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger. Dominic, their leader, took the lead, his sharp senses alert to every minute detail.
Like an old, experienced bloodhound, no one doubted following him, and everyone felt very calm seeing Dominic's back. This time, Rick followed closely, covering Dominic's back in case of any unexpected events.
Rrrr!
Suddenly, they heard a growl, and Dominic signaled the squad to halt. They quickly took defensive positions, their weapons ready.
"Prepare yourselves!" Dominic warned as he took the safety off his silenced weapon.
Roar!
From the shadows, a group of fast, dangerous zombies emerged, their eyes gleaming with hunger. As soon as Dominic saw them, he raised his P90 and shouted, "Fire!"
The squad opened fire, the sound of shots echoing through the streets.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dominic moved forward; his combat skills had been honed through years of training. He drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the moonlight, and charged at the walkers emerging from the left.
Crack!
As he fought through the first wave of enemies, he noticed a special walker with eerie green, glowing eyes. It moved with lightning speed, its sharp claws aggressively ready to strike.
Dominic stared at the special-class walker, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He knew this would be the toughest fight since he arrived here.
The two charged at each other, the sound of their clash echoing through the streets. Dominic dodged the walker's initial attack, his sword shining in the moonlight as he countered with deadly precision.
The walker growled, its claws bouncing off Dominic's armor. But Dominic remained unfazed. He continued fighting, his movements fluid and elegant as he danced around the attacks of the walkers.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of combat, Dominic saw his chance. With a swift strike, he plunged his sword into the walker's chest and, with a powerful upward thrust, split its body in two.
The walker let out one last guttural growl before collapsing to the ground. Dominic stood over it, panting heavily, his sword still clenched tightly in his hand.
The rest of the squad had finished off the other walkers and gathered around Dominic, eliminating any remaining threats.
But Dominic knew the battle was far from over. There would always be more walkers to eliminate wherever they went.
However, the pressure was gradually decreasing.
...
At night, Dominic and Daryl sat at a small table in the back of a dimly lit bar, each with a glass of whiskey. It was a rare moment of relaxation in their hectic lives as frontline men, risking their lives every moment, leading the organization they had created from the beginning.
"So, Daryl..." Dominic said, swirling his drink. "Do you ever wonder if it's all worth it? The constant fighting, the loss of lives, the destruction of everything we once knew?"
Daryl took a sip of his drink, contemplating Dominic's words. "I do, sometimes. But then I think about what matters to me, and I just keep going. You know you can trust me. Lately, I've been looking for a cat, but I can't find one no matter how many times I search."
Dominic chuckled. "Yeah, I guess cats have a way of keeping us busy, but I've only seen dogs."
Daryl raised an eyebrow and joked, "If anyone heard that you, the respected leader, were worried about the possible disappearance of cats, wouldn't it be funny?"
Dominic smiled. "Hey, even the toughest of us have a soft side. I'm still thinking of a name if I ever come across a cat. It would be so soft to pet."
Daryl nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I still remember when we ate a cat, and Rick agreed with my brother and me to eat it."
"Should I test you for rabies?"
"Nonsense..."
Both Dominic and Daryl fell into a quiet silence, each lost in their thoughts about the cost of surviving in a walker-filled world. But after a moment, Daryl spoke again.
"You know, Dominic, I think the key is finding joy in the little things. Like what we enjoy doing, for example, having a good whiskey, smoking, or hunting."
Dominic smiled. "Yeah, you're right. It's important to hold onto those small moments of happiness. That's what makes it all worth fighting for."
Daryl raised his glass. "Here's to finding joy and helping many to keep going until we get through all this."
Dominic clinked his glass against Daryl's. "Cheers to that, and to the cats."
As they sipped their drinks, Dominic couldn't help but feel grateful for Daryl's friendship. They had been through so much together, and their shared sense of humor had helped them stay sane in a world that often seemed mad.
"So, do you have any good jokes for me, Daryl?" Dominic asked with a playful glint in his eyes.
"I don't know any, but I'm sure T-dog knows a lot of dark humor jokes."
Dominic laughed genuinely for a few seconds, feeling the day's tension melt away. "That's terrible, but I love it."
Daryl looked at Dominic, unsure why he was talking about jokes. But he couldn't deny that he didn't feel uncomfortable, and he soon realized that spending time with Dominic was not uncomfortable at all.
They spent the rest of the night sharing stories, drinking whiskey, and talking about cats and dogs. It was a much-needed break, despite their responsibilities.
But as the night wore on, both knew it was time to rest—not before Daryl mentioned he would go hunting with a group while trying to find survivors in the nearby woods.