Chapter 007

Ever since I was a little kid, I was told that once I picked up a bottle of alcohol that it would soon become a lifestyle. A lifestyle that I would forever struggle to get out of, despite all of the attempts I would make. It was a lifestyle that my mother fought so hard to keep me from, despite my father's wishes. He would always tell me that if I picked up a bottle of beer and started to go out and drink with him, that I would then be worthy enough to be called his daughter. Back then I believed all of the words he said, even when my mother tried so hard to tell me otherwise.

It was after my mother was murdered that I began to believe her words over my father's, it was then that I took all of the alcohol that had been within that house and chucked it at the wall. At that time, I knew I wasn't worthy to be that man's daughter as he wasn't worthy to be called my 'father'. I just wish that I had realized that sooner and taken it upon myself to go against his wishes because maybe, just maybe it would be me buried in the backyard. And maybe my mother would still be alive and beating this world alongside the Dixon brothers. I know that they would do everything in their power to keep her alive if it was her here and not me.

Nausea is quick to invade my senses as I feel myself beginning to wake up, as the pounding in my head intensifies. Cursing myself in my head for drinking so much the night before, I force myself to turn onto my right side as I cuddle further into the cot. Feeling a slight breeze pass over my body, reaching places it isn't supposed to reach - I shiver as my entire body tenses. Feeling rather alarmed by the breeze reaching my privates, I quickly open my eyes as I sit up in a rush. Looking around in a fit of panic, I notice that my entire body is exposed as a blanket rest at the bottom of the cot.

Noticing a pair of legs resting near mine, I grow more panicked as I slowly tilt my head to look at the person next to me. My hazel eyes instantly catch sight of the gnarly pink, zagged scars that sit in a set of three on the person's back. I begin to notice the muscular arms that are reached above the person's head, buried beneath the pillow. His sandy brown hair lays messily on his tanned head, as his stormy blue eyes remain shut. My heart pounds rapidly in my chest, as the pounding in my head grows worse, while I scan the naked body that belongs to my best friend.

As the memories of the night before rushed back to me, the nausea I had felt a moment before comes back full force. Not caring if I woke Daryl up, I swing my legs off the cot as I start running toward the bathroom. Ignoring how dizzy I felt from the sudden movement, I push past the door before closing it and locking it. Rushing toward the toilet, I lift the lid before I begin to empty my stomach into the bowl. Tears brim my eyes as I continue to vomit, as the memories continue to flash in my head.

The way his lips felt against mine, the way his hands grazed every inch of my body had sent shivers and sparks down my spine. Even now, my body feels the electric waves that had crashed against the very spots that Daryl Dixon had touched. I remember the way I had melted into him as he lead me to the cot, as my legs and arms were wrapped around his bare body. The way my body had reacted to every inch of him was something I knew that I would remember forever. He had memorized each inch of my own body last night, as he took in each curve, cut, and scar that covered me.

Every tanned part of his body, every scratch, every scar, and every tattoo that laced his muscular frame had been memorized into my own brain as well. Each inch of his body I had found myself memorizing that night, hoping and praying it wouldn't be the last time I saw it. Shaking my head at my own thoughts, I wipe the edges of my mouth with the back of my head - once I had finished throwing up. Noticing the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the side of the tub, I nearly vomit again at the mere sight of it. I know that last night will definitely be the last time I drink for a while, no matter how much Edwin Jenner had in his kitchen.

Pushing myself from the tiled floors that felt cold at the touch, I walk to the mirror and looked at myself through it. Noticing how clean I was from showering last night, I couldn't help but smile. After months of not being able to see how tan I truly was beneath the dirt, blood, and grime that coated my skin - I finally feel content. Seeing my bag from the corner of my eyes, as it sits near the door despite it being on the toilet seat last night, I walk over toward it. Reaching it, I quickly open it as I pull out my toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush.

Ignoring the fact I am still naked, I walk back toward the sink and mirror as I place my objects on the countertop. Looking back at my reflection, I quickly take notice of the dark purple spots on my exposed chest and neck. Feeling heat rush to my cheeks at the sight of the hickies that line my skin, I mentally curse Daryl for leaving them on me. Grabbing my hairbrush, I begin to brush the tangles from my hair before I allow it to sit straight on my shoulders. Knowing that I couldn't put my hair up so the others couldn't see my hickies, I place my hair tie on my wrist as I put my hairbrush down.

Beginning to brush my teeth for the first time in what felt like months, I nearly melt at the taste of mint. Normally I would hate the taste of toothpaste, but after going months without brushing my teeth properly - it tastes amazing. Once I finish and rinse my mouth out, I walk back to my bag and place my items back into it as I begin to search for my cleanest clothes. Grabbing a grayish-black t-shirt with AC/DC written on the front in white bold letters, I then grab my black bra and the matching underwear before grabbing a pair of regular jeans. Rather quickly I put my clothes on as I grab my leather jacket, one that Daryl had given me, I then grab Merle's belt.

Once I have Merle's belt laced within my pants, I am quick to put my socks and boots on before I unlocked the bathroom door. I just hope that Edwin Jenner has some painkillers for this god-awful hangover. Exiting the bathroom, I instantly notice that the cot is empty as Daryl's bags were now moved by the door. Feeling rather confused, I walk over toward the door and place my bags next to his as I notice a piece of paper on an end stand. Walking over to it, I pick it up once I noticed Daryl's handwriting which causes me to smile.

Katherine,

I'll be in the kitchen with the others.

When you're done, come down to eat.

We'll talk later.

Love, D.D

Smiling down at the letter Daryl and wrote and his initials, I gently folded the paper and placed it in my back pocket. Walking out of the bedroom, I close the door just before being greeted by Rick as he stumbles out of his room. It looks rather dazed and tired, probably from being overly drunk the night before. As he rubs his head, he walks past me as he begins to walk in the direction of the kitchen. Following after him, I stuff my hands into my jacket's pockets, as I begin to look around some more. The walls still remain white and without pictures on them, which slightly bothers me.

I am hoping that someday Edwin will allow us to create pictures or even take pictures to place on the walls here, for it just feels empty. It doesn't feel like home, which is something that definitely needs to change. Continue to walk down the hall after Rick, I watch as he stumbles ever so often as if he is still drunk. I guess some of us handle hangovers differently, as I can still function a little bit despite the raging headache and nausea. After we make a few twists and turns, we finally reach the kitchen where the others are gathered around the table as T-Dog seems to be making breakfast.

"Morning, Kathy, Rick." Dale greets rather happily, as he places a plate next to Lori before he walks a bit further down the table to place another one. Rick only nods at the older man as he sits down by his wife and son, who seems to start talking to him. Smiling toward the older man, I walk toward the end of the table where Daryl sits as well as where Dale sat the plate down. Sitting down next to my best friend, T-Dog soon walks over as he places some eggs down on my plate. "Eggs. Powered, but.... but I do 'em good," T-Dog boosts, as he sends a playful wink my way before walking off toward the others. "I bet you can't tell."

Wanting to hold the man to his words, I grab my fork as I begin to cut the eggs to eat them. Plopping a piece into my mouth, I nearly gag at the slimy texture of them but I force it down anyway. I know that I can't be picky with foods these days, not like I was before, but still. Looking over toward Glenn Rhee, who looks to be more hungover than the rest of us, I watch as he rubs his head before placing it on the table. I smile at the sight before shaking my head a bit, as I force another piece of egg down my throat.

"Where'd all this come from?" Rick questions, as he holds up a bottle of painkillers and shakes them. He then hands it to Lori so she could open it for him, which causes me to smile once more. "Jenner," Lori answers truthfully, as she hands the bottle back to Rick once she opens it. He takes a couple before he hands the bottle of pills toward Carol, as she hands it off to Glenn. "He thought we could use it. Some of us at least."

"Don't ever, ever, ever let me drink again." Glenn Rhee groans out, as he takes the bottle of pills and chucks two out for him. Jacqui stands behind the young man as she rubs his shoulders, comforting him for his first-ever hangover. Shaking my head at the man, I feel someone nudge my side causing me to look over to see it was Andrea. She holds out the bottle of pills, causing me to nod and take them. Opening it, I grab two pills before closing the bottle and giving it to Daryl.

Plopping the pills into my mouth, I grab my cub of water before I take a gulp to force them down my throat. Hoping they would start to work soon, I look up from my plate that is now empty to see Shane Walsh entering the room. He looks worse than any of us sitting here, as he has dark circles under his eyes and scratch marks lining his neck. "Hey." He greets, as he sits down on the other side of Rick. Watching as he eyes Lori regretfully, I raise a brow at the two.

Had Lori put those scratches there?

"Hey. Feel as bad as I do?" Rick questions, as he looks over toward his best friend. No doubt noticing the scratches that line the man's neck. Shane looks down at his plate as T-Dog places some powdered eggs onto them before he tries to discreetly look toward Lori. "Worse." The former cop replies, which only causes Lori to look down as she begins to pick at her food as well. Something definitely happened between those two last night, whether it has consented or not.

"What the hell happened to you?" T-Dog suddenly asks, as he finally takes notice of the scratches on Shane's neck. At the mere question, Shane looks puzzled as he looks up toward the ebony man. "Your neck?" Almost as if realization had dawned on the former cop, he glances toward Lori once more as he clears his throat. It was like he is trying to regain composure and come up with a lie that most of us won't believe. "I must have done it in my sleep." Shane clearly lies, as he shrugs his shoulders and begins to eat the powdered eggs.

"Never seen you do that before." Rick says wearily, as he too begins to eat the powdered eggs that had been placed on his plate. I know that people can form habits at any given time, but scratching their own neck; I don't think that is possible for a one-night thing. "Me neither," Shane mutters tiredly, as he looks toward Lori, only this time not hiding the fact that he is. The woman shifts uncomfortably in her seat, as she nearly stares daggers at her plate in an attempt to avoid Shane. "Not like me at all."

Feeling a soft tap on my left thigh, I look down slightly to see that it had been Daryl's finger. Tilting my head a bit to look toward my best friend, I notice that he is studying my bruise and busted lip from the Mexican's from a couple of days ago. The cut and bruise are definitely not fully healed yet, or even close to being healed, but the swelling has definitely gone down a bit. "How are those doin'?" Daryl signs, so the others couldn't hear our conversation. He had always been secretive like that when he doesn't want the others knowing what we are talking about.

"They still hurt to touch, but it is nothing I can't handle. You know that." I reply with a small smile on my face, hinting that I could indeed handle this. I have been through worse growing up from being beaten and raped by my own father, so this is nothing to me. This is definitely something I can handle on my own, mentally anyway. "What about your ankle? How is that doin?" He asks yet another question, as he glances down toward my left ankle. Not ever forgetting about the pain that has torn through my ankle with every step, I look back up toward my best friend.

"That? Oh, that hurts like a bitch. I don't think that it is even close to being healed either." I sign honestly, shrugging toward the end as I am not completely sure with how healed it is. It probably isn't even in the process of healing due to the walking we have done in the last twenty-four hours. But now that we are here and resting, maybe it will start to heal correctly. "Can we talk about last night?" Daryl questions, as he looks directly at me with pleading eyes. Looking into his stormy blue eyes, I notice the fear and uncertainty floating in them.

"Do you regret it by chance?" I ask, completely dismissing his own question. Yes, I know that we need to talk about the events that occurred last night but I need to know if he regrets it first. Seeing a softness in his eyes at my question, a faint smile appears on his face as he seems to chuckle a bit. "No, I don't regret it. Do you?" He answers truthfully, followed by his own question. Looking away from him for a moment, as I remember the events from last night, I couldn't help but smile as I shake my head.

How could I regret a night that I had wished for upon a shooting star?

Before we can continue our conversation, I notice that someone had walked into the kitchen. Looking up to see that it had been Doctor Edwin Jenner, I watch as he walks toward a coffee machine. He still looks hesitant around us, but I can understand that as we are still complete strangers to him as he is to us. As he starts to pour him a cup of coffee, I notice that Dale has turned to face the man. "Doctor, I don't mean to slam you with questions for thing...." Dale begins, only to be cut off by Jenner himself.

"But you will anyway."

"We didn't come here for the eggs."

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Entering a huge room that is full of desks, computers, and rolling chairs we are then greeted with a huge screen that is on the wall. After we had left the kitchen, following after the Doctor, he had led us down many different hallways before he lead us here. Daryl walks closer to me as we all walk down a slope, as I hold the leash that belongs to Millie. She had been in the kitchen as well, enjoying some leftover food from the night before. I hadn't had the time to tie her to my belt or my belt loop before everyone had started to venture down the halls.

"Give me playback of TS-19," Edwin Jenner orders, after we all come to a stop in front of the huge screen. Keeping the leash tightly around my wrist, as I clutch it, I run my free hand through Millie's fur as she sits in front of me. "Few people ever got the chance to see this. Very few." Watching as the screen lights up before it shows a display of varying 3-D views of human skulls, I share a weary look with Daryl before looking toward the children. In my opinion, they shouldn't be seeing an actual person's skull just yet, but I don't think that matters anymore. "Is that a brain?" Carl questions in curiosity, as he stares up at the screen.

"An extraordinary one. Not that it matters in the end," Jenner replies way too honestly, as he looks away from the boy and toward the screen. Raising a brow at the man, I grab ahold of Daryl's hand as I interlock our fingers. "Take us in for E.I.V." Looking back toward the screen, I watch it changes before it shows the upper shoulders and head of the person. It then skews to a horizontal view, before it begins to magnify the image before us. As the image becomes clear, it appears to show the inside of a skull that seems to be lit with bright blue threads of energy.

Some areas are denser with light than others, but there are still threads that are lit up throughout the entirety of the skull. The screen then zooms in some more, causing the threads to become closer until it begins to pulse of light. Knowing that these resemble the person's life, and how their life was through experiences and memories, I tear my eyes from the screen. "What are those lights?" Shane questions, as he looks away from the screen himself and toward the Doctor. Pulling my hand from Daryl's, I slap my thigh to create some form of sound.

"It's a person's life. All of their experiences and memories, it's what makes us who we are." I answer truthfully, once I knew that I had everyone's attention. Feeling rather thankful that I read a lot of science books and paid attention in biology and all of my other science classes, I couldn't help but smile. "Your friend is right," Jenner states, as he motions toward me before he looks up at the screen sadly. This must be someone he had known that volunteered to be a subject. "It's everything. Somewhere in all that organic wiring, all those ripples of light are you - the thing that makes you unique and human."

"You don't make sense, ever." Daryl grumbles as he looks away from the screen and toward the Doctor. Watching as he brings his thumb against his mouth, he begins to chew at the dead skin once again. He really needs to break that habit before it becomes painful. "Those are synapses. Electric impulses in the brain that carry all the messages," Jenner explains, as he continues to look at the screen. Glancing at the screen, I notice all of the lights fading away causing me to look back at the Doctor. "They determine everything a person says, does or thinks from the moment of birth to the moment of death."

"Death? That's what this is, a vigil?" Rick questions, as he forces himself to look away from the screen and toward Jenner. He looks nearly shocked by the words that came from the man's mouth. I probably would be too if I didn't suspect any of the words coming from the Doctor's mouth. "Yes. Or rather the playback of the vigil." Jenner responds as he looks away from the screen to look at all of us. It's weird to think that this happens to all of us whenever we die.

"This person died? Who?" Andrea questions, as she leans against a bar that is in front of her. She seems rather invested in all of this, but I don't blame her at all. I would be too if someone I knew died the way Amy had. "Test subject 19. Someone who was bitten and infected.... and volunteered to have us record the process," Jenner answers, yet I can tell that he is holding something back from us. But he has every right so unless it will hurt us in the end. "VI can forward to the first event."

The screen then shows a message that states it is scanning forward before it stops completely. Noticing the brain has lights still flickering in the outer areas, I realize the center has become dark. No lights flicker in the center of the brain, as it still remains dark as if black roots had been growing inside. Feeling queasy at the sight, I quickly grab Daryl's hand in an attempt to feel calm. "What is that?" Glenn questions, after I had looked away from the screen and toward the others.

"It invades the brain like meningitis. The adrenal glands hemorrhage, the brain goes into shutdown, then the major organs. Then death. Everything that you ever were or ever will be.... gone."

"Is that what happened to Jim?" Sophia questions, as she tilts her head to look up at Carol. My heart clinches at the mention of Jim, causing my eyes to water a bit. It breaks me to know the children have to witness all of this, especially when they shouldn't have to. "Yes." Carol answers truthfully, as she pulls her daughter closer to her. Looking over toward Andrea, I watch as she looks down as a tear slides down her cheeks; most likely thinking of Amy.

I look away from the woman before looking toward the Doctor, as he takes note of Andrea's tears. It looks as if he wants to say something, but something is holding him back. "She lost somebody two days ago. Her sister." Lori informs as she places her arms around Carl's shoulders. Noticing the look that is plastered on the man's face, I realize that he had lost someone close to him as well. But who hasn't these days?

"I lost somebody too. I know how devastating it is," Doctor Edwin Jenner admits, as he looks down at the younger woman. Andrea only nods, as she forces herself to look back toward the screen, almost shutting her emotions down. I wonder if this happened to Merle after he cut off his hand? "Scan to the second event. The resurrection time varies wildly. We had reports of it happening in as little as three minutes," Feeling my heart clench as I remember Merle, I pull my hand free from Daryl's as I fold my arm over my chest. Is Merle still alive? "The longest we heard of was eight hours. In the case of this patient, it was two hours, one minute.... seven seconds."

The screen continues to show the brain like a red glow flickers from the base, while the rest remains dark. Suddenly random sparks shoot out into the larger areas of the brain but no further lights glow. Watching as the body on the screen begins to move, as its jaw snaps, a tear falls down my cheek. "It restarts the brain?" Lori questions, as I force myself to look away from the screen. Keeping my arms crossed, I look toward the Doctor.

"No, just the brain stem. Basically, it gets them up and moving." Jenner responds as he continues to stare at the screen. Everything that he is saying makes perfect sense, but I just want to know how all of this even happened. What happened to even make these monsters exist? "But they're not alive?" Rick questions, as he looks over toward the Doctor. Knowing that they aren't, I couldn't help but shake my head.

"You tell me."

"It's nothing like before. Most of that brain is dark." Rick states as he motions to the brain that is on the screen. Nodding in agreement with our leader, I look toward the Doctor as he looks back toward the skull. He folds his arms over his chest, as he continues to study the image. "Dark, lifeless, dead. The frontal lobe, the neocortex, the human part - that doesn't come back," Doctor Jenner explains, as he looks back toward us from the screen. He then points at us, before motioning toward the skull. "The you part. Just a shell driven by mindless instinct."

I look toward the screen as the subject continues to move, its mouth opening and closing repeatedly. The head moves from side to side, the arms move as if the arms were being lifted. It is like the subject was reaching out to those that were inside the room, the animalistic ways almost begging to the flesh of someone alive. Watching as a barrel of a gun appears on the screen, as it is then pointed at the forehead I was as a bullet leaves the gun. The bullet enters the brain as it tears through the red cluster of embers, causing the brain to go completely dark; the subject stops moving.

"God. What was that?" Carol questions, as we all force ourselves to look away from the screen. Dropping my arms to my side, I feel Daryl grab my hand as he interlocks our fingers. It was clear as to what happened, as they had shot the patient in the head - ending the person's suffering. "He shot the patient in the head," Andrea states, as she looks toward Carol. She then looks in the direction of the Doctor with wide eyes, as he looks toward the floor. "Didn't you?"

"Vi, power down the main screen and the workstations."

"You have no idea what it is, do you?" Andrea questions, as she finally stands up straight. At her words, I look toward Jenner as he looks away from the screen and toward the rest of us. His eyes say it all, as he stares at us in defeat as if he was drained from all he had done. "It could be microbial, viral, parasitic, fungal." Jenner lists off, as he continues to stare at all of us. Shifting uncomfortably, as I tightly my hand around Daryl's, I look toward Jacqui.

"Or the wrath of God?" Jacqui suggests as she crosses her arms over her chest. Looking away from the ebony woman, I look back toward the Doctor who shrugs and points in her direction. "There is that." He mutters in defeat, almost as if he didn't even want to put a single thought in God. Frankly, neither do I, because if there was a God, he wouldn't have allowed any of this. "Somebody must know something. Somebody somewhere." Andrea tries, as she tries to hold out hope for herself and everyone else.

"There are others, right? Other facilities?" Carol questions with hope evident in her eyes, as she pulls Sophia closer to her if possible. Feeling Daryl's hand leave my own, I look over at him with fear in my eyes. How can he not know something, he had to know at least something. "There may be some. People like me." Jenner replies as he shrugs his shoulders. Daryl wraps an arm around my side protectively, as he pulls me closer to him.

"But you don't know? How can you not know?" Rick questions in disbelief, as he steps closer to his wife and son. Holding onto Daryl's hand that holds my side, I feel my heart beginning to pound in my chest. This man has to know something for his sake and ours. "Everything went down. Communications, directives - all of it. I've been in the dark for almost a month." Doctor Jenner responds as he looks toward our leader who looks defeated as well. Fear embeds itself into my mind as I look at what all is being said by everyone.

"So it's not just here. There's nothing left anywhere? Nothing? That's what you're really saying, right?" Andrea asks, the fear settling in her eyes as she stares at the only man who would know anything. So it's not just Georgia that it's happening to, it's all fifty states and the other countries in the world. That is definitely not something I wanted to have stuck in my head. "Jesus." Jacqui mutters as she rubs both of her arms in a form of comfort. Daryl then lets go of me as he walks away, as he rubs his face in stress.

"Man, I'm gonna get shitfaced drunk again." Daryl Dixon exclaims, as he rubs his face once more and begins to pace next to me. Knowing that he is terrified himself and beginning to stress out, I walk up to him, forcing Millie to follow after. Place a hand on his forearm, I force him to look at me. I then shake my head, before I grab his hand with my own to try and calm him down. He squeezes my hand slightly as we both look toward the others.

"Doctor Jenner, I know this has been taxing for you and I hate to ask another question, but.... that block - it's counting down. What happens at zero?" Dale questions, as he motions to a clock on the other side of the room. Looking toward it, I too notice that it is counting down causing me to grow worried. I look back toward the Doctor, as he glances toward the clock himself. "The basement generations.... they run out of fuel." Jenner hesitates after a moment, as he looks around at all of us. Noting that he hesitated, I spare a look toward Daryl as a horrible feeling settled in my gut.

"And then?" Rick questions, as he stares directly at the man who is supposed to have all the answers. Doctor Edwin Jenner ignores our leader's question as he walks past us before he exits the large room. Looking toward Daryl with fear in my eyes, he pulls me closer to him as he wraps his arms around me. "Vi, what happens when the power runs out?" Before I could ask what this Vi person said, Rick, Shane, Glenn, and T-Dog rush out of the room. I look toward Daryl as he motions for me to follow after him.

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Glancing up from sharpening my knife, I look up to see Daryl walking out of our bathroom with the bottle of whiskey from last night. He takes a huge gulp from it as he walks over to the couch and plops himself next to me. Once we had come back to our room, I had quickly gathered up all of our things that weren't in our bags and placed them next to the door. I even placed Daryl's crossbow, a quiver of arrows, and a hunting knife by our two bags as well. But after the horrible gut feeling that I had when we were figuring everything out, I decided it was best if I kept my weapons on me.

I had draped my quiver of arrows across my back as well as my bow before I grabbed my sheath and holster and attached them to my waist and hip. Then I had made sure my gun's magazine was full before I placed it in my holster before I ended up tying Millie's leash to my belt loop and Merle's belt. Now for the last ten minutes, I had been sharpening my knife, as I watched Daryl searching for something to get waisted on. Tilting my head to look down by my feet, I notice that Millie's ears were perked up as she begins to look around. Daryl then stands back up from the couch as he walks over to a vent before he reaches up toward it.

Realizing that the room is beginning to grow hot as the seconds pass, I place my knife in my sheath before I stand to my feet. Pulling on the leash to alert Millie, I walk over toward another vent as I reach up to it. Noticing that no cool air is coming out as it had this morning, I share an alarmed look with Daryl. The three of us then walk toward the door before opening it, as we poke our heads out to see the others looking alarmed as well. Doctor Jenner then walks out of his room, before he starts to walk past all of us.

"Why is the air off?" Carol questions, as she pulls her daughter closer to her. Almost as if we didn't fully trust the guy who's supposed to know it all, but I understand completely if she doesn't. "And the lights in our room?" Lori asks as she walks out into the hallway with Carl following after. Daryl then steps out of the room completely, as he stares directly at the Doctor who is walking down the hallway. "What's going on? Why is everything turned off?" My best friend questions, just as the Doctor reaches us and takes his bottle of whiskey.

"Energy is being prioritized." Jenner answers as he continues to walk down the hallway at a fast speed. Tugging on the leash as I begin to follow after the man, Millie begins to walk next to me rather quickly. Sharing a confused look with my best friend, I nearly jog to try and keep up. "Air isn't a priority? And lights?" Dale questions in disbelief, as he tries to walk next to the man in the lab coat. Why does he even wear that thing anymore?

"It's not up to me. Zone 5 is shutting itself down."

"Hey! Hey, what the hell does that mean?" Daryl questions angrily, as we all continue to follow after the man at a fast pace. Edwin Jenner makes no attempt to say another word as he completely ignores my best friend, as he continues to walk quickly down the halls. "Hey, man, I'm talking to you! What do you mean, 'it's shutting itself down'? How can a building do anything?" As we turn down another hall, I notice that Glenn, Rick, Shane, and T-Dog are rushing toward us with panicked looks. Feeling rather panicked myself, I continue to follow after my best friend. "You'd be surprised." Jenner replies after a moment, as we continue to walk down hallways.

"Rick?"

"Jenner, what's happening?" Rick Grimes asks after he motions for Lori to wait, once they finally reach us. Edwin is quick to walk down a flight of stairs before we all enter the same computer room as before. "The system is dropping all the nonessential uses of power. It's designed to keep computers running to the last possible second," Edwin Jenner explains, as he comes to a stop in front of another flight of stairs. He then takes another gulp from the whiskey before he hands it back to Daryl, who angrily takes it from him. "That started as we approached the half-hour mark. Right on schedule."

"It was the French."

"What?" Andrea questions, as she looks toward the Doctor who stares directly at her. Her blue eyes hold confusion as she stares at the much older man, as he begins to walk down the flight of stairs. Why are there so many stairs in this building? "They were the last ones to hold out as far as I know. While our people were bolting out the doors and committing suicides in the hallways, they stayed in the labs until the end," Edwin Jenner explains, as we all continue to follow after him toward the desks. He looks as if he is in a hurry for something, which is unsettling. "They thought they were close to a solution."

"What happened?" Jacqui questions, as she looks directly at the man who finally sits down at a desk. Feeling the fear creeping back into my body, I share a glance with Daryl. He looks uneased as he continues to hold the bottle of whiskey, only this time he isn't drinking it. "The same thing that's happening here. No power grid. Ran out of juice. The world runs on fossil fuels. I mean, how stupid is that?" Jenner gloats, as he continues to stare at all of us. He looks even more defeated now than he did earlier.

"Let me tell you..."

"To hell with it, Shane. I don't even care," Rick interrupts Shane, as he slightly pushes the former officer away from the Doctor. He then looks toward his wife and son with panic in his oceanic blue eyes. "Lori, grab our things. Everybody, get your stuff. We're getting out of here now!" Turning toward Daryl, he quickly puts the bottle of whiskey down as he instantly rushes toward me. He grabs my upper arm protectively, as he begins to rush us toward the door. "Everybody, y'all heard Rick!" Shane then yells as he tries to get all of us running.

"Get your stuff and let's go! Go now! Go!"

Holding on to Millie's leash tightly to make sure she stays with us, we all start running toward the door that leads out. My heart pounds in my chest at the thought of leaving these walls, but I know that we have to for our safety. Just as we near the doors, shudders begin to slide down, causing all of us to skid to a stop. In a fit of panic, I look toward Daryl as realization dawns on us; Doctor Edwin Jenner locked us in here. Tears form in my eyes at the mere thought of being stuck in here with that man, as I look around toward the others who seem to be panicked as well.

I watch as the children instantly run to their mothers as tears roll down their faces, fear evident in their bodies. Feeling as if the air had been sucked from my lungs as Daryl instantly leaves my side, I watch as he rushes toward Edwin Jenner in a fit of rage. My body begins to shake as I continue to stand by the locked door, as the tears finally roll down my cheeks. My hands begin to shake violently, as my breathing becomes rapid, while my chest tightens with panic and fear. Looking around frantically, I feel the room beginning to spin as I feel myself being thrown into an attack.

Faintly I can feel Millie jumping on me, trying to alert me of an attack, but even I know it's too late. Black dots fill my vision as my knees begin to buckle, just as I begin to collapse to the ground. Hitting the tiled floors harshly, pain shoots through my body from my left ankle as well as the pain from hitting the floors. I can feel my entire body shaking frantically, as I try to keep myself awake, while tears run down my cheeks. Millie rests her head on my chest as she tries to get me to pet her, but I know that I no longer have control of my body. Gasping for breath, I faintly see Dale, Glenn, Rick, and Daryl as they hover over my body before everything grows dark.

____Word Count: 4,363

Welcome back!I am so glad that I am finally able to get Chapter 007 out for you all! It took me a long time to write this chapter due to how hectic my life has gotten, and for that, I am so, so sorry. But I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as much as I have when writing it!

What are your thoughts on this chapter?[ I'll appreciate all of the feedback from you all and will definitely take your opinions into account when writing other chapters! ]

What at your thoughts of Katherine Johnson in this chapter?[ Personally, I love Katherine in this chapter like I do in the others before and the ones after! But my opinion is definitely biased since she is my character and I am the one writing her into who she is going to become. ]

Remember to stay safe, socially distant, and wear a mask!

Lots of Love,Crimson Rose