How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse-Chapter 233

During the move to San Bernardino, no major dangers appeared for Aiden’s group.

Zombies were visible here and there, but not in a state to worry about much, and no mutants were spotted, so the journey was becoming more comfortable than expected.

The road maintenance seemed to be somewhat completed, as it wasn’t to the point where they couldn’t move, and if this state continued, Aiden thought they might arrive in Vegas within 2-3 days.

Feeling relieved at the small number of zombies, Aiden arrived at a fairly large medical center in San Bernardino.

"We should look around and prepare for camping, Arian."

"Alright, I’ll check the exterior near the hospital."

"I’ll look around inside the hospital, it seems fine from the outside. Sadie, follow me."

"Yes!"

As the sun was beginning to set, Aiden parked the car in the medical center’s front parking lot and entered with Sadie.

Befitting its name as a medical center, the interior boasted quite a large scale.

Aiden looked at the guide sign in the hospital lobby and first searched for places where medicines might be stored.

"We have enough supplies to get to Vegas, but it’s good to stock up on anything. A hospital this size probably doesn’t have supplies left, but let’s check and if there’s no problem nearby, we’ll spend the evening there."

"Okay."

Sadie’s voice became small, as if she was nervous.

Aiden briefly put his hand on Sadie’s shoulder to help her relax.

"It’s been a while since you’ve been out, so it’s natural to be nervous. Follow me while breathing slowly."

At Aiden’s words, Sadie nodded lightly.

Her breathing started to stabilize as if she had relaxed a bit.

The two arrived at the area where medicines were stored.

No zombies were visible inside, so Aiden first searched for a place where the group could rest.

Fortunately, they could find a room with beds where they could rest.

It looked like a room for doctors or nurses on duty.

After confirming once again that there were no zombies around, the two started looking for supplies.

"What should I gather?"

"For now, bring any medicines or instruments that look intact. I’ll let you know if they’re needed or not as we look."

"Okay."

Just as Sadie was about to move, Arian appeared.

"Arian!"

Arian smiled at Sadie, who welcomed her.

"I saw some zombies a bit away from the hospital, but the inside is quiet. Seeing traces of combat, it seems the zombies inside have been dealt with."

"I see, understood. We’re looking for some medicines."

"Medicines? Do we need those now?"

"I want to show Sadie medicines and supplies she can use for emergencies."

"Ah? Good idea. Then I’ll go with Sadie."

"Please do. I’ll bring food and water from the car."

Arian and Sadie moved to find items.

Aiden returned after gathering simple supplies from the military jeep and started preparing to spend the evening.

The medicines and instruments Sadie gathered were indeed few in quantity.

Thinking this was natural, Aiden spent the night explaining to Sadie one by one the uses of the medicines and how to use the instruments.

Meanwhile, Arian took out a modified machete slightly longer than her forearm and carefully sharpened the blade to avoid making loud noises.

Sadie, who had been listening to explanations for a while, started nodding off as if tired.

Arian laid Sadie on the bed and stroked her head as she slept comfortably.

Then, looking at Aiden who was organizing the necessary medicines and instruments, she asked a question.

"Aiden, hasn’t the number of zombies definitely decreased?"

"Analyzing based on information from junk dealers, they say the east had an abnormally high number of zombies a year ago."

"And now?"

"There are traces of some groups of zombies that Ross Preston controlled moving west after scattering."

"The west? Why suddenly?"

"The reason is unknown. There’s only speculation that something might be happening in the west, given that there were quite a few sightings of Fear."

"Hell must be unfolding there too..."

The two couldn’t say anything for a while.

Then suddenly Arian’s eyes lit up.

"Someone’s coming, two people. They’re coming this way?"

Aiden quickly drew his pistol and checked outside the room.

Thump thump

Aiden quietly took out a flashlight.

Arian gripped her machete in reverse and was ready to spring out at any moment.

Looking at Arian like that, Aiden nodded once, and Arian nodded back.

In an instant, Aiden turned on the flashlight, illuminating the face of the approaching figure, and said:

"If you make any foolish moves, I’ll blow your head off immediately."

"W-wait! We’re not looters!"

The man with a thick voice shielded his eyes from the dazzling light and shouted urgently.

At that moment.

"Drop your weapons."

Arian’s chilling voice was heard from behind him.

The gleaming blade of a machete flashed at the man’s neck.

He dropped the pistol he was holding to the floor in surprise.

"Ah, uh, Arian?"

"Huh?"

The reason Arian deliberately put her machete to the neck of the man who wasn’t part of their group was because the figure standing behind him looked like a young child, but she turned around in surprise at hearing her name called.

"Huh? Luna?"

At Arian’s words, Aiden also lowered his flashlight and approached the two.

"You, Taylor?"

"J-junk dealer? You’re alive?"

"It is Taylor."

Aiden, who had suddenly come close to Taylor’s face, confirmed his identity.

Arian also withdrew her machete.

"Sorry, Taylor. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine, whew, I thought I was going to die for a moment."

"Let’s go inside first."

Aiden guided Taylor and Luna into the room.

Sadie, who had woken up from the commotion, looked at Taylor and Luna with surprised eyes.

"Sadie!"

"Luna?!"

The two hugged each other and cried.

Sadie had already given up, unable to find Luna even after a long time had passed since arriving in LA.

With Luna appearing before her eyes, she couldn’t hide her joy.

While the two were hugging and crying, Aiden, Arian, and Taylor began to talk about the situation in the meantime.

"How did you end up coming towards LA so late?"

"So many things happened..."

After Aiden’s group left.

He says he made up his mind to prepare for a trip to LA with his daughter after hearing Aiden’s advice.

But he couldn’t move irresponsibly with a young daughter, so he went through a lot of trouble to obtain as many supplies and a car as possible.

Then, while preparing to head to LA, he headed to Phoenix, and at that time, he discovered Fear leading a large group of zombies into Phoenix, so he quickly changed direction and set out towards Mexicali.

However, the journey to Mexicali wasn’t easy either, he says.

The biggest threat wasn’t zombies or looters, but the threat of fanatics.

They approached Taylor, who was traveling with a young daughter, pretending to show kindness, but their purpose was Luna.

Taylor, who felt something was off about them, sweated profusely trying to escape from the fanatics late at night carrying Luna on his back, he says.

Even after that, it took a long time to shake off their pursuit, and he was barely able to shake them off when entering the survivor group camp in Mexicali.

Aiden couldn’t help but nod at Taylor’s words that the fanatics’ target was young children.

Although he couldn’t understand what they were thinking, targeting young children was one of the pieces of information he had bought from LA’s junk dealers.

He strongly felt that friction with the fanatics would be inevitable even after the vaccine spreads in the future.

And then, while Taylor and Luna were preparing to depart for LA after gathering enough supplies in Mexicali, they learned about what LA Mayor Ross Preston had done, and heard stories from junk dealers that LA had become a mess, he says.

Taylor thought that even though Ross Preston was dead, LA’s situation without a central figure wouldn’t be good, so he had to spend more time in Mexicali for the time being.

Mexicali also saw many zombies disappear after the LA incident, he says.

Aiden, thinking it was because the zombies Ross Preston had scattered in the desert and east had headed to LA, just quietly listened to Taylor’s story.

Fortunately, after a year, he was able to hear through junk dealers that LA was recovering about half as much as before, if not to the level of previous life.

He says they finally hurriedly set out for LA just a week ago after hearing this.

"I’m glad you’re alive."

"I can’t die easily leaving Luna behind. My story is over, so won’t you tell me your story? How have you been?"

Aiden told him about the LA incident caused by Ross Preston as concisely as possible.

A few important details were omitted, but he thought they weren’t necessary to mention, and now they were curious about whether LA was habitable or not, regardless of Ross Preston, so they told Taylor various news about LA.

As the night deepened, Sadie and Luna had fallen asleep.

Taylor didn’t have a body that didn’t need sleep like Aiden or Arian, so he was also about to rest, and Aiden handed him a blanket and told him to rest before going outside the room to stand guard.

Across from Aiden, Arian was quietly sitting with her eyes closed, leaning against the wall, and the two spent the night without saying anything.

The next day.

The morning sun rose, but Sadie, Luna, and Taylor couldn’t get up easily, probably because their fatigue hadn’t lifted.

Arian stretched and said to Aiden.

"It’s strange."

"What do you mean?"

"I was looking back on our journey, and I wondered if there was anyone we met again?"

"...That’s true."

Aiden also suddenly thought that their previous journey was just a frantic one to survive and bring Sadie to LA.

"I wonder how the others are doing."

"I don’t know."

"Well, there are some people we can never see again, but I’m curious how it would be to see some people again."

"If we can meet them."

While the two were talking about various things, the door of the room opened and Sadie came out.

"Did you rest well?"

"Yes, I slept well. Did Sadie sleep well?"

"Yes! I feel so good too."

Arian seemed to be in a good mood at Sadie’s bright appearance.

While the three were gathered and stretching to prepare for departure, Taylor and Luna came out.

"Did you rest well?"

"Ah, of course. It feels like I slept deeply after a long time."

Luna came out following Taylor, rubbing her eyes, and everyone packed their belongings and came out of the hospital.

Aiden’s group, who had organized the items gathered from the hospital in the trunk in front of the military jeep, explained the current situation in LA in detail for Taylor and Luna.

The part that surprised Taylor the most was about the vaccine.

Unable to hide his excited and joyful feelings, Taylor hurried, saying he should arrive in LA as soon as possible.

Aiden and Arian told Taylor that when they arrive in LA, if he gives their names to the soldiers, they will provide convenience.

He expressed his gratitude to the two, and Aiden explained the route they had taken with the jeep, telling him the safe path.

Meanwhile, Sadie and Luna were saying goodbye once again.

But this time, it wasn’t a farewell without promise, so although there was regret, they greeted each other with bright smiles without showing tears.

Aiden’s group, watching the backs of Taylor and Luna fading into the distance, got into the jeep and resumed their journey to Las Vegas.