Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night
Chapter 105: Life Beneath the Surface

It had been nearly a month since the apocalypse began, an unknown virus swept through the earth, turning humans into mindless cannibals. And before anyone could really even understand what was happening, the governments around the world quickly collapsed. No longer capable of protecting even the most minor of cities from the violent outbreak.

During this time those who were paranoid, or perhaps one might say under the circumstances "wise" fled to their shelters which they had prepared in advance of the outbreak. Not necessarily knowing that a literal zombie apocalypse would befall humanity, but Moreso suspecting the end of times were nigh.

Though the government had its own facilities as a result of measures taken during the cold war, most of which were currently operational, hiding the important figures of the federal government, other such shelters were in the hands of private citizens, or potentially even a few state politicians.

Frank Moore was the governor of the State of Nevada within this world, and he was an exceptionally paranoid man.

After replaceing himself, and more importantly the American government woefully unprepared during the outbreak of the corona virus known more commonly by the name of "Covid 19" a few years ago, Frank became certain that a far more dangerous disease was destined to come around sooner or later.

In other words, from his perspective, a genuine global pandemic, one which had the ability to wipe out a significant portion of humanity, and not just the old and physically feeble, was simply unavoidable. In Frank's mind, the American Government, utterly incompetent as it was, had not learned a thing from Covid and the disastrous effects it had caused to American society as a whole.

The effects of which could still be felt by ordinary citizens up until the outbreak of this new and more dangerous virus. Frank had quickly hidden himself in the bunker complex he created via embezzling millions of taxpayer dollars. In doing so, he reserved a spot for those special donors of his who had helped elect him in the first place.

The bunker complex was designed to keep several dozen people alive for years after the fall of society. But unfortunately for Frank, one of the donors who was supposed to make it to the shelter never arrived. Frank now assumed the man was dead, as he had not had contact with him in some time.

But it was this man who was captured by slavers and sold out Frank and the others in exchange for his family's freedom. A small price to pay considering the horrific shit that these slavers were doing to women and girls that ended up in their hands.

Frank, of course, didn't know any of this, instead he and his family, along with several other families, had been staying patiently in the bunker trying their best to survive without overcoming to fear or paranoia.

While the bunker was powered by its own on site facilities, internet access was restricted out of security firms. Because of this, nobody really knew what was happening in the outside world, or the extent to which this virus had utterly destroyed the human population.

Nor were they aware that the survivors of the aftermath were awakening special powers to combat the undead hordes. Among the survivors in this compound was the young daughter of a wealthy Nevada billionaire.

He and his family had been visiting Carson City shortly before the outbreak of the virus as a way to show their support to Governor and his campaign for re-election. However, the daughter of this billionaire was the only person her own age in this secluded environment.

She also did not have access to the internet, and by extension all the social media apps she frequently used to entertain herself. To say that she was bored was a horrific understatement. It had been four weeks since the outbreak began, and during this time, the spoiled gambling princess was truly losing her cool.

In fact, she was currently throwing a temper tantrum to her father, demanding they go outside and get some fresh air, as it seemed like a lifetime since she had seen her friends. Friends who were all dead, not that she knew such a thing.

"I'm like soooo bored…. It has been a fucking month since we locked ourselves up in this grimy old bunker. Can we like please go outside? It doesn't even have to be for long, just long enough for me to get Wi-Fi access so I can talk to the girls! They're probably worried sick about me right now!"

The girl's father was reading a book while he listened to his daughter's complaints and those of his wife and other children. They were all sick and tired of staying in this bunker. And if he was being honest, the wealthy billionaire suspected that his family was truly underestimating the threat of this virus.

He had no idea himself just to what extent the world had changed. In fact, he himself vastly underestimated how quickly society had fallen. Still, his job was to protect his family, and thus the man was quick to speak to his daughter in a somewhat stern tone, as he tried to convince her to remain calm and to be patient.

"Madison, we have been over this…. It will take some time for the CDC to develop a cure for this virus. We are lucky enough to have a safe place to wait out the storm, a place stocked with ample supplies. I bet the world outside is having its own issues, issues I won't subject you, your mother, or your brother to.

So please just remain patient. I'm sure any day now Frank will receive word from the CDC that a cure has been found, and we can leave this place behind as little more than a distant memory. Okay?"

This was not the response that the young woman wanted to hear, and she immediately groaned while rolling eyes as she begged her father to let her leave the bunker.

"Uggghh! O.M.G. It will only take like a second! Why can't you ever let me do what I want!?! Don't you understand how fucking bored I am? Besides, I'll be eighteen in a month.

You can't keep treating me like I'm a child!"

Madison's father narrowed his eyes and gazed upon his teenage daughter, one who utterly refused to respect his wisdom. The girl was, as she said, almost an adult, but like so many young adults these days, she still had the mentality of a child.

There was quite literally a crisis going on outside the safety of the bunker which they were inhabiting, and all the girl could think about was hanging out with her friends. Quite honestly, her lack of caution considering the circumstances was an act of both naivety and stupidity.

The man fell short of outright telling the girl the truth, that in all likelihood her friends were already dead. But he did raise his voice and speak to the girl as if she was being a petulant child, which in all fairness she was.

"Madison! I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation we are in now. Frank would not have called us here in this bunker had the severity of this outbreak been much worse than the pandemic we, as a country, underwent a few years back.

We have no idea what is going on outside these walls, and until Frank hears from the CDC and gives us the go ahead. We will stay in these walls and that is final! Besides, even if I wanted to permit you to exit, you know as well as I do the security team would never allow it. So in the meantime, why don't you go do something useful like read a book"

Despite the severity in her father's tone, and the wisdom in his words. Madison either didn't understand that the world was currently in a state of crisis, and that their lives would literally be in danger if they left this bunker, or she was living in denial.

Either way, Madison's response was typical for a spoiled brat like herself, as she flung her arms in the air and stormed off, but not without leaving some choice words for her father as she did so.

"Fine! I'll go to my fucking room! And while I'm at it, how about I just hang myself? Maybe then you will regret not letting me leave this fucking bunker! I hate you!"

Madison stormed off in a tantrum befitting a child, leaving her father to shake her head and return his attention back to his book. Except he could not replace himself having the ability to read, as he too was beginning to wonder just what the state of the world was outside?

Being locked up beneath the surface for a month was enough to get on anyone's nerves, and yet Frank kept ignoring any request for information. Worse yet, the governor had locked himself in his own private quarters and had not been seen for days. Perhaps maybe he should check in on Frank and demand an update?

With this in mind, Madison's father placed his book down on the table and stood up before walking across the bunker complex towards the private quarters of the governor. Knocking on the man's door thrice. Completely unaware of the horrors which their conversation would entail as he did so.