Outbreak Chapter 12

Ok, we're gonna take a quick break," Brendon said getting the attention of the other two. "There is a lot of food here that we can't take with us and we don't know how long we'll be stuck at Wiggins apartment so we might as well get a good meal down while we're here. There is a lot of stuff that'll go bad while we're gone like all of the yogurt, cheese, and frozen foods so spend a little bit eating whatever you want, just be sure not to over do it."
"You won't hear any complaining from me," Aidan said already on his way to the fridge. Just a couple years ago Aidan had been somewhat overweight. Around the time Brendon returned from Iraq the last time Aidan had started eating healthier and going to the gym five nights a week to lift and run. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to eat whatever he wanted, or a large quantity.
"Are you going to get anything?" Brendon asked Rebecca when he noticed that she hadn't moved from her spot on the floor and was still loading supplies into the bags.
"I'm not really hungry, I'll be fine," she replied. Brendon knew she had to get some food into her. She hadn't ate anything since the night before and her skinny frame didn't have any reserves to feed off of. He wasn't sure if she really just wasn't hungry or if everything going on around them had ruined her appetite. If that was the case he couldn't blame her, he was nervous to the point of nausea at the prospect of going outside again but he knew what they had to do.
"You're going to need your strength if we're gonna carry all of this out of here. I just need you to eat as much as you can without getting sick." He grabbed a yogurt from the fridge and brought it over to her along with a spoon from the drawer. "Start out with this then we'll see if you feel up to any more after that."
Rebecca let out a small sigh but accepted the yogurt and started slowly eating some. Unlike Rebecca Brendon was starving, his metabolism had always seemed to work in overdrive making him constantly hungry. Once Aidan was done in the fridge Brendon grabbed a yogurt, bowl of applesauce, and made a sandwich to hold him over while he microwaved a plate full of chicken strips.
While he waited for the microwave to finish he brought the rest of the food over to his laptop and checked his e-mail one more time. He still had nothing new in his inbox but he knew that his father checked his e-mail routinely so he decided to compose them a quick message before they set out.


Mom and Dad,
I've tried to call you but the phones have been down all morning. I don't know if you have seen on the news what is going on in the city but I wanted to tell you I'm ok. Aidan and Rebecca are here with me in the apartment, we got out the guns and are watching the doorway. Things are getting crazy so a group of us is going to get together at Wiggins' apartment for better protection. I'll try to get a hold of you when I can. Keep Joanna safe for me until I can find a way to get down there. Lock all of the doors and block the windows. It sounds like those things are contained to the city for now but you should be ready just in case. If any of them get into the house go to the second floor. The stairs will make a good choke point and they'll be easy to shoot as they run up, make sure you aim for their heads, it seems to be the only way to kill them. Get Grandma and Grandpa over there to help you if you can talk them into it.

Brendon