Chapter 4: Leaving Safety

Jane Cross
Friday 6, February 2015
22: 25 Hours
Phoenix, Arizona

"Alright, listen up." Joshua called for attention from the survivors in the hotel. Everyone stared at him, some scared and some amused. "I'm going to take a small group of you out of here. I'll be doing several trips, no one will be left behind."

"Why should we listen to you???" A man shouted, standing up.

"YEAH!" A second followed.

"He beat me up and all! I ain't trusting HIM with my life!"

The man that had gotten 'beaten up' by Joshua was, in fact, Leonard's father. He began to rally the males to his side, whilst the rest just stared at the young man and the one with the broken nose. Finally, Leonard's dad, who had collected most of the men to his side, decided to equip them with kitchenware and a gun he had been carrying. Without heeding the words Joshua was giving them, they left into the dark beyond the hotel. Cursing under his breath, Joshua turned to see who remained. Most were women, the children remained behind, probably abandoned by their parents. He winced, not sure what to do, when Greg approached.

"Joshua..." He said in a whisper only Jane and Joshua heard. "We can't abandon these people here, and it's too dangerous to take them with us if we don't leave anyone behind."

"You're right." Joshua said, his brain swiftly thinking of solutions. Suddenly, cries of agony came from behind and he closed the door once more. His face suddenly got a steely glance and stepping towards the people surrounding him, he said: "I'm going to head out on my own."

A sudden uproar surrounded him, and everyone was suddenly afraid. He tried to calm them down and only managed to do so after a long time of explaining what he planned to do. He told them he was going to head up to the communication tower and use their radios there to communicate with the outside, sending them news of what is happening there. They stare quietly at him for several minutes, until one of them spoke.

"Do you mind if I go with you?" A blond woman asked, standing. She was small and slender, with her hair tied back in a ponytail and had the most piercing blue eyes Jane had ever seen. "I'm skilled, I might be of use to you."

"No, I can't risk anyone else's life." Joshua said, then added: "Even if she's a trained Federal Agent."

"Heh." She scoffed, stepping forward and pulling a gun out from a holster hidden under her suit's jacket. "I'm Annabelle Miles."

"I'm Joshua Adams." He shook hands with her. "And I'm also still not allowing you coming with me. Your job is to protect these people, not to go adventuring into the chaos outside."

"I can't stand around here doing nothing!" She said, angry. "Because-"

"Because your partner is dead..."

Rebecca Alison whispered, and Annabelle nodded. Joshua deliberated for a second, then pulled Greg away from the group. Several minutes of silence passed and then the two reunited, confidence set as stone in their faces. Jane was quietly observing the scene, and realized something was amiss between Annabelle and Rebecca, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Whatever it was, needed to wait, as Joshua was talking.

"Alright, here's what we'll do. Greg and Jane will be in charge of the protection of the hotel." He pointed at Greg and Jane, and they quickly nodded. "You will all respond to them, to Annabelle here, or to me." Joshua continued. He sounded like a soldier which, in all honesty, he was. "From here on out, you will all stay in here, leave the excursions outside to the experienced. Anyone who wishes to live must not, under any circumstances, approach that door. Any questions?" When no one said so, he continued: "Good. Greg here will be on guard duty for the rest of the night. Jane, you'll take over in the morning."

"Roger." She said.

"Alright. Annabelle and I will be heading for the control tower now." He said, turning to open the door.

"Wait! What about me?" Rebecca asked.

"You stay here." He said, without turning. He then opened the door and stepped out into the dark with Annabelle at his side.