Chapter 14: They Hung a Sign up in our Town

Ethan Warren

September 9th 2022

112 days after outbreak

The apartment, Minnesota

Season 1

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The government came

With their guns and fancy uniforms

Killed the dead, ignored the living

They hung a sign up in our town

It read to stay away from the cities

They were being bombed with fire to stop the spread

So we stayed away from the city

But it didn't work

The dead still came

More of them now

Attracted by the noise

And we were powerless to stop them

Rudolph was shot by an officer

He bled

Ashton cried

Edin kept him alive

We stayed home

No weapons, nothing but four walls and a roof

We waited for them to leave

They gave us food but no apologies

I wanted to kill them

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"Rudi, it's going to be okay," Ash cried as he held his hand as he bled in the street. Rudi just stared at the sky while Edin tried to stop the bleeding. "Stay with me, Rudi."

The soldiers just walked away. We were thankful the bullet went through his stomach not the head. I was angry, but Rudolph was too important.

I ran back to the house, it was only a few feet away. I hurried inside, grabbing whatever I could. Dallen, Leah, and Amy were confused. They said my face looked like I'd seen a ghost. I might as well have.

I brought back blankets to stop the bleeding. Medical supplies were something we lacked but Edin was getting good now. She could make this work.

"I need to get him back to the apartment, it's not safe here," Edin informed as we looked at the approaching dead.

"I'll carry him," Aiden offered.

"No, I can walk," Rudi said, weakly.

"Are you sure?" asked Edin.

"Yes, just help me stand." We all crowded around him, supporting his weight as he stood up. Aiden kept his arm around him to try to help him walk but the pain was too unbearable and he collapsed, Aiden caught him and carried him gently in his arms.

We got back to the apartment. Khai killed the dead that were at the door and we all shuffled inside. Before, we had brought all the couches down to the first level. They filled the hallways to keep the dead from getting in. It was a tight squeeze just to get into Room 1.

I prayed for Rudi as I heard his screams from Edin stitching him up. At least they didn't have to fish for the slug. He was in pain all throughout the night. We had nothing for him but a few Tylenol, he took those but it didn't really help. He lost a lot of blood but there was no way for any of us to give him more.

The soldiers just brought more of the dead. We were trapped in our house as they filled up the streets.

"He's going to die if he doesn't get something stronger. And even if he does, if I can't disinfect that with something there's no chance for him," Edin sighed, her hands bloody.

"I'm not losing another good man. Khai and I will go out tomorrow, we'll find something."

"But with all the dead out there how will you even make it down the block? Have you forgotten about our weapons situation?" Edin asked, looking out the window with me.

"We can't just sit here, Edin."

"You're right but you can't die either. Rudi needs us, he needs you, Ethan. I still don't really know what I'm doing. Maybe I'll end up being the reason he dies but it isn't just my responsibility. We all have to try to save him."