Chapter 9

I snapped out my thoughts away as I looked at the main entrance and observed the large graffiti with the words 'U.S. ARMY' written on it. It was painted in black and yellow colors, and it was surrounded by a brick wall and standard size black-picket fences on all sides. Justine smiled at me as he tapped me on my shoulders. 'Come on inside, let's go." 'Yeah," is the only thing I replied. I followed him inside the base, my gaze wandering everywhere. As usual, Peter was in front of us. The entire place was deafeningly silent, and it appeared that no one else was there except us. I believe we came here to stay and partly because Justine knew someone from the base. But, judging on how things are looking right now, I believe it will be just the three of us again. Staying here doesn't seem too horrible either. I mean, it could serve as a safe haven for us. Who knows? We can stay here for whoever knows how long until we got rescued. Or will any rescuers ever arrive now? I let out a heavy sigh as I mentally formed a mental inventory of every emotion that had abandoned me since leaving my hometown and my family behind. Or, more specifically, our families. Remorse, dejection, and despair. Everything has vanished. Bewilderment, on the other hand, has not made the cut, and I find myself yearning to see things for myself. Peter suddenly jogged to where Justine and I were right now as he glanced at Justine with a questioning look. 'I don't see anyone here. I'll try to look for anyone inside," he said, his eyes were glazing. Justine nodded at him. 'Clementia and I will try to find for them too." 'Great, man!" Peter exclaimed. After that, he returned to where he was and kept jogging until he eventually vanished from our sight. On the other hand, Justine and I kept trekking in search of a human trail. We went entirely inside the military facility. As the scarlet brick walls embraced my eyes, I exclaimed. It appeared to me to be modern yet vintage, with a primitive yet intricate design at times. If I were to describe the interiors, I would say they are from a medieval period but have been blended with postmodernism. I would compare it to a museum. As we walked further, I saw lots of machines like it was placed there was a statue. But of course, I knew it wasn't the case. It was placed there for a reason. 'Is this really a military base?" I asked Justine in a low voice, almost like a whisper. 'Yeah, fortunately, it is," he replied to me, his eyes focused in front of us. The two of us continued walking as we still try to search for anyone. I did not respond to him anymore and instead focused my attention on something else. Unfortunately, after a long time of walking, I ended up feeling exhausted. We had already roamed all around the entire place, but it's really only us who were there. There's no sign of any people there and rotten. So, we ended up securing all the locks and the main gate, so that those rottens won't be able to make their way inside. I suddenly wonder where these armies have gone to. Have they become infected as well? Thinking of it makes me really sad. They could've fought and helped us, but if that's the case, then having hope is far from reality. I mean, if they weren't able to defend themselves considering that they have gone intensive training, then what more of us who were only a normal regular person? What more about me who knew nothing when it comes to fighting, using a weapon, and such? But well, I had already killed a rotten before, so maybe that would suffice? My abilities and skills would suffice. I just need to practice, focus and learn more, and in that way, I'll survive. 'Everything is clear," Peter told us as soon as he got into where Justine and I were. Justine sighed. 'Yeah, even Martin wasn't here. There are no any traces from them. Looks like it'll be the three of us again," he said as he sat on the ground. The lights were dimmed and enough for us to see each other. 'Well, I've got no problem with that, man. I'm okay with the two of you," Peter replied which made Justine smirk. Justine tapped him on his shoulder. 'Is that supposed to be a compliment?" I laughed as they continued to tease each other. 'Maybe? I supposed you could say that," Peter replied, shrugging. So, for the entire night, we decided to stay there, and for the next following weeks. Fort Hamilton base has served as our little sanctuary. The next morning, I halted on the way to my twelve in the noon routine and watched Peter crouching outside the restroom with his forehead against the wall, scratching at the paint. After a long moment, I hesitantly reached out to him. 'Hey, Peter. What are you doing there? Are you all right?" Peter glanced at me with his crumpled face, and bullets of sweat has been trickling down his face. I winced. 'Jesus Christ, you look like crap. You sure you're okay?" 'Ugh, my stomach aches. Don't start with me, Clementia," he replied, rolling his eyes upward down. "What did you eat last night?" I asked which made his expression more sour. I raised both my hands, surrendering to him, and spoke. 'Fine, you take your time there." I left him on that disposition as I continued walking to the back of the gate. I collected all the empty cans of beer and put them all in one place. The whole place was quiet too which I like, and the not-so-blinding gleam and warmth from the sunray that touches my skin were very nice to feel. As much as I enjoyed the cool breeze of air and luminous lights coming from the moonlights and stars, I loved the cool and warm air during the daytime. I stood in the shadow of a large acacia tree as I simply enjoyed the scenery. This was the closest I could come to truly relaxing with the rotten's virus running through my brain and putting a substantial adverse effect on my temper. As fragrances assailed my nose, I took a massive intake of the refreshing, chill air. Well, to be honest, my odor was more sharper than any bloodhound's, and I could detect at least fifteen distinct types or species of plants on the air mist. The creek's bitterly cold scent diluted the air, allowing various fragrances to go even further. I could hear and smell both the rodents obscured in the long thick grasses a meter away, and the odors of some of the other warm-blooded animals, such as the meadow sourness of bunnies, the heavy, dense musk of a vixen, the strong aromatic stench of a weasel, and the faint redolence of birds of prey, hovering on the wind. Nonetheless, paradoxically, I could not really smell these infected creatures. These still-living corpses. They're just too difficult to detect. Aside from the fact that they stink, which is unavoidable, they have a distinct odor within me that prevents me from even smelling their scents. The soothing patchouli fragrance of a deer eventually brought my menu pondering to a halt. A deer would keep me going for three to four days before I had to go hunting again. And I'm sure Peter and Justine would appreciate a calcium as well. Although killing or even hunting animals isn't really my forte. In fact, I am more like a vegetarian that I rarely consume meats. I have huge compassion for animals. But being in this dystopia changed me completely, and there's something within me that woke my inner animalistic instinct. Being trapped in this apocalypse for weeks and days made me crave for something that I ended up getting tired of eating herbs, plants, and ready-to-eat canned goods. Also, we're close to running out of food and supplies, so we have to be sort of thrifty until we get ourselves again and do some raiding at a nearby grocery. Suddenly, a voice from behind me enveloped my ears. 'Hey, what are you doing here?" It was Justine. I turned my way to him and smiled. For a small amount of time, I already had memorized his voice. 'Nothing. Just enjoying the fresh air and beauty of nature," I replied. Justine was now beside me as he also looked over to the trees in front of us. He crossed both his arms as I stared at his side profile. For some reason, I found myself staring at him for more that I didn't even want to look away anymore. His lashes were both curled up in a beautiful manner and his deep blue ocean eyes were so brooding yet filled with so many unknown emotions to which I couldn't name. Now that I think of it, he's handsome. I would not deny that he has this charismatic aura and attractiveness which will make every girl drool over him. I bet everyone likes him. Women were obsessed with him. His lips were pressed in a thin line like a cupid's bow, his jaw was so prominent and defined, and above all, was his smile that never failed to have brought me into another world and made me somehow inhibit foreign emotions. What am I even saying to my thoughts? I have no idea when I have become so good at observing to the extent that I had described his face in one go. Oh, God! Clem, what the hell is wrong with you? Since when I have become so good at observing people? Jesus Christ. Get a grip on yourself, Clem. 'Are you okay?" Justine suddenly asked out of nowhere which caught me. I laughed nervously. 'W-what? Of course, I am. Why else would I not be, okay?" 'Sure, if you say so. I'm just pointing out because your face was red as a tomato," he replied which caught me off guard. What? What the hell. I placed both my palms to my face immediately when I realized that I was feeling hot and all. Out of embarrassment, I turned my back to him as I bit my lips and told him something without realizing how much humiliating my answer to him was. 'I saw a deer not so far from us. I'll go hunt it for our supper." I know that the transition was very bad, but I had no other option left with me. On the other hand, Justine only burst into a hoarse laugh, which of course, made me more embarrassed than I was before. Jesus Christ, this is so insane. As Justine trailed behind me, I whirled and vanished into the trees and bushes, becoming just another silhouette in the blinding light. I proceeded walking with caution and delicacy past a slew of low-hanging twigs and branches, trying to make sure my clothing and midriff, waist-length hair didn't snag on any twigs or brush against the branches. My movement scarcely made the slightest trace of a sound. I stealthily approached the sleeping deer and regarded it. My instincts rang with sympathy and antipathy to attack. My human heart didn't like to see animals suffer, but it is a choice I need to make. There will be always that one time in our life where we need to make sacrifices and choices, and in times like those, sometimes, we have to portray the bad side of us, combat our inner angels, and to be submissive or to let down to our inner demons. So, this is how I ended giving up my ordeals and principles in life. I squatted down and leaped upon the peacefully sleeping deer with one last groan. I snapped its spinal cord with a firm whack and a rapid twist of its neck, slaughtering it instantaneously. My sheath dagger removed some wool off its neck prior to actually slicing through the skin and flesh to reach a massive artery. I crouched on the grass, watching its lifeless body and blood draining from the wound. 'Have you always been this brutal?" Justine asked as soon as I finished doing my business. I carried it and glanced at Justine with the dead deer in my arms. I paused for a minute while staring at him, thinking about the question he threw at me. 'No, I had to make a decision," I replied. I started walking, making my way back to the base, while Justine was following me. Justine raised his brow at me. 'Decision like what?" 'Like this." He sighed. 'Clem, this is not a decision that you need to choose with in the first place. We can always have our way to avoid famine and scarcity. We could go out, raid groceries, and we survive. We don't have to do this. We're not running out of options." 'Yes, we are. We don't know what's waiting for us outside. We could get bitten by those rotters and become infected sooner or later. It's better to be safe than sorry, Justine."