Chapter 8 - Life Doesn't Give A Break

Feeling his long-needed, peaceful sleep getting disturbed, Mark slowly opened his eyes. He saw a person on top of him shaking and saying his name.

"Mark, wake up. Mark."

He fluttering his eyes and slowly got up, waving his hand indicating the person to stop shaking him. Rubbing his eyes, Mark finally got a better look at the person and noticed it was Mona who was in a hurry to wake him up.

"What is it, Mona? Is the military already here yet." Asked Mark slowly, still not completely out of his sleep, and but he then noticed the still dark sky and Denton standing at the back.

"No, there's a problem and we might have to go back down."

Mark felt he heard something wrong, and it was just his brain playing with him and said, " I think I heard you wrong, were you suggesting to go down again."

Mona simply nodded and said, "Yes, we may need to go to the 14th floor."

Frowning at her statement, Mark asked, "why?"

"I'll tell you as we go towards the group, come with us." and went towards the end of the small roof he slept on.

Mark noticed it was ready past midnight and could only exhale hopelessly at the situation he was in. Getting up, Mark patted the dust off his clothes and got his bag. He took the metal rod and the machete he created before he slept.

He slowly kept the machete inside the bag with only the handle sticking out of it and wore the bag. He gripped the metal bar tighter and got down off the roof. Looking at both of them, Mark made his way towards the group while Mona explained what happened.

"As everyone was taking rest, one of the elderly suddenly got an asthma attack and she forgot her pills in her office. She works on the 14th floor and has her inhaler in her office drawer. As she has had a serious case of asthma for a long time, she might find it hard to breathe as time goes on and it would be better if we bring it."

Hearing her, Mark stopped and looked at Mona and asked, "So, why to wake me up?"

Hearing his question, Mona and Denton were shocked and rooted in their places. Mona looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?" 

"Why wake me up, if an elderly in your group has a problem? Can't you guys solve it without my help." his intention was apparent. Why should he help an unknown person? 

Denton looked at him and said, "Won't you help? I mean, it is a person's life we are talking about here. We can't send people down, it would be a death trap if we do. I was hoping both you and Mona could go down. Both of you are strong, and that is obvious."

Mark shook his head and said, "Denton, I think you are getting something wrong here. Just because I found the way to this place and accepted that everyone can come up. Does not mean I will help you guys. And you guys finding out the way was purely coincidental." 

Hearing his answer, both of them were taken back. Denton looked at him and said while gritting his teeth, "What do you want to save the person?" 

Mark smiled hearing him and said, "What can you offer?" 

Denton clenched his fists and said, "My father is the General of the military camp in the city. I can ask him for anything you want." 

This time it was Mark's turn to be taken back. He didn't expect the general of the camp in the city to be his dad. It did not seem like that at al. Denton was a coward. He smiled and said, "Anything?" 

"Only if it is within reasons. This is me owing you a favour. You need to discuss with my father, if you want anything."

Hearing him Mark nodded and started to think about a plan to go down. He possibly could not take the stairs he used to get up to the 15th floor. 

He turned towards Denton and asked, "Is there another way to get down to the 14th floor without using the stairs I used." Continued to walk towards the group. 

Hearing his question, Denton knew he accepted their request and thought about a way as they reached the group. Mark noticed an old woman trying to breathe with some difficulty while some other people tried to ease her. 

"AH! Yes, there is a way to go down."

Both Mona and Mark turned towards Denton who hit sudden realization. Denton turned towards them and continued, "There is an extra staircase which was closed on all floors for a month as it needed maintenance. You can take those stairs as there would be almost no chance for zombies to be there."

"Oh! That's great, we can take that staircase then," exclaimed Mona.

"Yes, but there might be a small problem. You might have to go to my office for the keys to open the staircase and the lock of the 14th floor."

Hearing him, Mark fell into deep thought. When he stayed on the 15th floor, he noticed Denton's office to the complete opposite of the lobby from the hallway of the ladder. The difficulty just rose to another level for the keys.

"Ok then I will go alone," said Mark, surprising Mona and Denton. 

"No, it's too dangerous for you to go alone. I will come with you," said Mona with a serious expression on her face.

"Yes, Mark. Take her with you. We don't need security here, anyway." supported Denton.

But despite their protest Mark simply shook his head and said, "No, If two people make their way inside it would get tougher. The possibility of the zombies finding out is more if there are 2 people than one."

"Then I'll go," said Mona, gripping her sword tightly.

"No, it's ok. I'll go and end the decision. Now Denton, tell me the route to the stairs and the old woman's cabin." Not willing to change his decision, Mark told in a firm tone.

Noticing how fixed he was, Mona and Denton did not try to persuade him to change his decision. Denton told Mark the route to his room and the keys, then the stairs, and finally the old woman's cabin.

Mark had a reason to go alone. He needed an opportunity to fight against zombies more and this was the perfect reason for it. Mark knew he had to strengthen his resolve and will while facing the zombies and was only possible if he had more encounters with them. This was like a cheery on top for him with the favor from Denton.

He decided to go alone after observing the skill of Mona before. He knew it would be easier if he went with her, even if there is the risk of attracting more attention, but he needed this. He was ok to keep his life on the line, he already lost hope in it and this all was just like an extension.

After getting the complete route in his head, Mark slowly tried to relax the anxiety he was feeling. Taking some big breaths, Mark was able to calm down a bit. He started to stretch his body a bit as he did not want to get some muscle cramps due to the high intensity he is going to be in a few minutes.

After he felt he was ready he slowly went towards the ladder and slowly got on the other side. He strapped the pole inside the bag so it didn't fall down and held the ladder as tightly as he could.

He looked up and noticed Mona together with Denton staring at him with full of worry evident in their eyes. He could only nod and Denton and smile at Mona. He slowly made his way down until he reached the window level and peeked inside to see the condition of the hallway.