We're In!!

     Yesterday we hit a huge break. We found a water treatment center that was outside the fence. This water treatment center has been shut down for month. There isn't any water in the pipes, so we were able to walk into the cities water main. We came up in the distribution center. The city had quarantined this off to avoid contamination of the water, so we walked in with only a couple slack-jaws to greet us. we've set up shop here now, and I now have in my possession the emergency procedures handbook, with plenty of first aid advice, location of supplies, oh and THE NUMBER FOR THE CDC!!!! Right now we need to just find a working phone and we can call them. A good sign is that the cities power grid is still up. This means someone important needs power. I'm hoping that someone is the CDC.

The First Attempt

      Two days ago we tired getting into the city, and quickly failed. We were in the city for no longer than 20 minutes before we were overrun. Luckily we got out without losing anyone. We tried to sneak in during the day, that is when slack-jaws are the least attentive. Most of them have on eyes, and go by sound and smell. For those that still have eyes, they are fragile, and the sun blinds them, so they stay in the dark. These one are the most dangerous. Their fungus started feeding their bodies earlier than others, so they rotted less. These slack-jaws can run, not to fast but they never run out of juice, so they can wear us down.

      we're slowly working our way around the city, stopping at whatever shelter we find. We're looking for an area that has a lower population of slack-jaws, but it feels as though they've all found their way to the streets. Normally walking down a city street isn't to crowded, but imagine if the entire population came down from all the buildings and started walking around. It's wall to wall death in there. Hopefully the next couple days will provide more luck.

San Diego

     We didn't getting the reception we were hoping for in San Diego. During the start of the outbreak many major cities decided to put up giant fences to prevent the plague from spreading. The problem was that they didn't realize the plague had already made it into the city, and all they did was trap the citizen in with it. So now, all the citizens of San Diego are left, jaws slack, corralled in the city. Millions of them just waiting for us. We might be the first humans they've seen in months.

    Somehow we have to get into the city, find the CDC and convince them to help us, without getting bitten. Plus, there's the added factor that there may be no one in the CDC at all. This is gonna take some crazy planning.

Almost There

       We've been making good time. We're almost to San Diego. only about a hundred fifty miles left. We should be there in about three day. every since I had my talk with Evelyn I've been a knew man. I'm just glad this is almost over. I probably wont post again until we get to San Diego.

Redemption

             Since we left the dinner not much has happened. We've been marching on, stopping to charge the go karts, and closing the gap to San Diego. It sucks because we can only go about  30 or so miles a day it's taking so long. Luckily we're taking the freeway. Less slack jaws and there is always a building nearby, that we can duck into for the night. I've seen a change in the slack jaws recently. Some charge us like normal more often than not they just stare at us. I especially saw this when we passed by all the farm land in central California. Last night I walked up to one, I got three feet away from it before it tried attacking me, But once it got my scent it rushed me.

        This was the first time I had to fight one since the diner. as it attacked me I kept getting flashes of that girl in the diner. When I manged to get it off me I grabbed me sword, but I couldn't dispatch it. It came closer, and closer, until the the point of my sword was at it's chest, but it didn't stop it impaled itself. I could smell the rotting flesh as it inched in closer. I couldn't move I was paralyzed with fear.it had reached the hilt and leaned in. Suddenly the slack jaw got heavy. That's when I noticed the knife in it's head. I looked over and saw Evelyn hand on the knife. The same hand that in two second would leave it's mark on my cheek.

      I held my my stinging face in shock, and said, with a little laugh "This is becoming a pattern in your life." Evelyn didn't find it funny. She was really mad her face was as red as my cheek. "What is wrong with you? I understand why it upset you when you put down that girl back at the diner. It was horrible for all of us, but Jake we are at war, and we expect you to lead us. What happened to the man that crushed Quintin's rule." I responded, " I can't do it any more I can't fight these things. I don't want to lose my humanity." Evelyn just sighed and looked me in the eyes. "Jake I understand, you're concerned, but that is why I don't worry. You have a conscience fueled by compassion. You know right from wrong. That's the difference between you and Quentin. He has no compassion, so fills that void with his own desires." You didn't kill that girl because you wanted to, it was a reflex. That doesn't make you a bad man. Trust me if you ever get to far off the reservation I'll give you a good slap." I smiled at her gave her a hug, and said "Thank you." Then she looked at me and said, "Good, now you need to shape up, and be the man that survived the apocalypse, commandeered a helicopter, overthrew a tyrant, and found a cure to the worst disease of all time." I said, "I didn't do that alone I needed my team", Evelyn responded "and now they need you.

      So starting tomorrow this expedition will no longer be about trying to redeem the bad things I've done, but rather to save other people from having to share those things.

We're Off

     We have begun our trek. I'm posting to you from a small restaurant. We were able to travel about 30 miles today. There were so many slack jaws. It had actually been days since I had seen one. I most of them are in the final stage of degeneration. We also haven't seen any survivors. Yet today we quickly re-initiated into this savage world. when we arrived at the diner in which we now reside.

      We had run out of energy on our kart. so we had to roll them for 3 miles before we found a place we could lock down. We had brought with us a set a human powered generators. Ratio designed them for us. The way they work is through a spring loaded pulley you hook up the device to any firmly secured pole or from a banister and pull the ripcord. The spring then pulls the ripcord back doubling the energy produced. I found our temporary fort, and started setting up the generators, when we heard A noise coming from the kitchen. We were all very surprised when we heard it because we had already cleared the building.

      I went into the kitchen to find it was just a rat that had knocked over some dishes. I decided to see if there were any provisions we could use. when I noticed a note on the walk-in fridge. It read " We were all bitten. We ask if found please dispatch us. We didn't have the strength to do it ourselves. If possible please bury us. Our names a DOB's are Arthur Doyle July 19th, 1963, Rebecca Doyle August 25th, 1961, and Annie Doyle February 9th 2006. We will spend out last moments praying that your lives won't end like ours." He signed and dated 03/23/13. I realized it was today. I quickly opened the door. I thought if I could get them out we could bring them with us. but what I found was not pretty. Their daughter had already turned and killed them. I stood there shocked not knowing what to do. She looked up and charged me. Before I knew what I was doing she had hit the ground, and I smelled the thin wisp of smoke from the muzzle of my gun. I crumbled to the ground and screamed "NOOOOO!".

     Hearing me the rest of the group rushed in to see what was going on. I actually don't remember what happened in those following minutes. When they found me I was sobbing and yelling "no" over and over again. The next thing I remembered was Evelyn wrapping me in an emergency blanket. She told me I had run to the corpse and wouldn't let go. This was the first child I had seen turned, and my reflexes dropped her. Such innocence corrupted, and cut down. I guess for the first time I couldn't come to grips with what I had just done. I still am in shock. I feel I have lost an important part of my humanity. Killing has become a reflex, like coughing. I fear that some day I might end up like Quentin.

    When I told Evelyn about my fear, she slapped me across the face. She told me to never say that again. She assured me that I would never be anything like him. I feel very blessed Evelyn came with us. Her presence has really helped me. In these past few weeks, she has become more and more important to me. I would tell her how I feel, but I won't jeopardize the team dynamic by iIndulging emotional catharsis. I now have added motivation to get this cure made.  Tomorrow we will be that much closer to our goal.

Stubborn

  We will be leaving in two days, and we have had a new member added to our roster. Evelyn insists on coming with us. I tried telling her we needed her here at the Hospital, but she told me she had already trained a proper successor, and that she wouldn't take no for an answer. Frankly I don't this turn of events. I look forward to this journey.