Zombie Exodus: Side Stories, Brody & Madison, scene 11
Added 2023-07-03 19:01:37 +0000 UTC"We need to be able to defend ourselves," Madison says, twisting a lock of her hair around her finger.
"Great. Basement it is." Before Madison could think twice, Brody marched towards the basement, and she followed.
Brody and Madison descend the stairs, their footsteps muffled by the plush carpeting that lines each step. As they reach the bottom, their eyes widen in awe at the sight before them. Half of the finished basement unfolds into a lavish man cave with luxurious furniture, a massive big-screen TV, and a state-of-the-art surround sound system.
Their gaze darts to the metal gate that separates the basement. Behind the barrier lie rows upon rows of shelves, neatly organized and brimming with an impressive arsenal of weapons and survival gear. The room is empty of both people and zombies.
Madison takes a deep breath, her mind focused on the task. "Brody, search for a key. I'll go inspect the lock."
Brody nods, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of a physical key. He begins exploring the nooks and crannies, methodically checking every surface and drawer. Meanwhile, Madison approaches the metal gate, her fingertips tracing the cold metal of the lock. A keypad with numbers sits before her. She examines it closely, searching for clues or indicators that might give her insight into how to open it.
Very tricky, Uncle, she thinks. She tries his birthday. It doesn't open. She tries her mother's birthday. Fail. She tries her birthday and Brody's. She even chose her older brother's birthday. None of it gets her through.
"It's not a physical key, Brody," Madison calls out, frustration lacing his voice.
"Good, because I can't find anything."
Madison turns towards him, her brows furrowing in deep thought. "Right, Uncle Nate always liked to be a step ahead. It must be a code."
Brody snaps his fingers, his eyes lighting up. "That's right. He had a thing for codes. Remember when he called it a Caesar salad?"
Madison rolls her eyes, a smirk dancing on her lips. "It's not a salad, Brody. It's a Caesar cipher," she corrects him. "I remember he taught me about it, a historical code system used during World War II."
Madison approaches the keypad, her fingers poised above the numerical buttons. She starts to recall the system her uncle explained to her—assigning numerical values to each letter of the alphabet. Her mind races, deciphering the combination that would unlock the gate.
"Milford," she whispers, her voice filled with anticipation. She enters the corresponding numbers for each letter—13, 9, 12, 6, 15, 18, 4—and presses the final button with excitement and trepidation.
Click. The gate's lock disengages, and the metal barrier slides open with a quiet hum, revealing the treasure trove of weaponry that lies beyond.
Brody's eyes widen in amazement as he steps forward, marveling at the sight before him. Rows of rifles, pistols, and various other tools of survival gleam under the soft glow of overhead lights. Ammunition is meticulously arranged, ready to be loaded into the waiting firearms. Survival gear, from backpacks to medical kits, lines the shelves, a testament to Uncle Nate's preparedness.
Madison's face lights up. "Don't waste any time looking. Let's get what we need and go."
"Or, and just hear me out…we stay here."
"Stay here?"
Brody grabbed a rifle off a high shelf. "We have everything we could need down here. We block the door upstairs and wait for the outbreak to be over. It's a few weeks tops."
Madison thought for a moment, twisting her hair on her finger again. "How could you be so sure it will be over in a few weeks? What if we get stuck here for a long time? There are multiple points of entry into this house, and there are lots of people around. As people become infected, they will turn. The more people, the more zombies."
"Well, where are we supposed to go? Out in the woods? Will we live like cavemen, huddled around a fire and trying to catch animals for food? It's a bad idea. We can stay here, eat his stored food, and watch all those old movies he has on VHS. He even has a generator. Yeah, we would be stupid to leave."
Madison leaned against the metal gate, thinking of all the possibilities for where they could go. "I'm just worried that staying here is like imprisoning ourselves. I don't know, Brody…"
