The tension in the room melted away as the uncomfortable discussion of Robert's potential infection was gradually replaced with the group talking about what news they could get from Esteban's computer. The details were still quite sparse; a frustrating situation for people who had little to do but wait.
According to the reports online, the military was dealing with the infected by shooting them in the head. It still wasn't recommended that people try so themselves, but as a means of defense if escape was not a feasible option. Additionally, there were some plans to send military into the impacted areas, but the specific details were still vague at this point. Still, they could perhaps look forwards to rescue in a day or so.
Hearing the sound of approaching footfalls coming from the hallway, Evan spoke up. "I think the others have come looking for us. Lock the door after I leave." Without waiting for confirmation, he opened the door a crack and slipped out into the hallway. A moment later, there was an audible click.
The hallway was well lit and wide enough for a couple of people to comfortably walk through alongside each other. The walls were sparse white and very textured with the occasional smudge upon them. Doors were adorned with printouts and posters, indicating the person who was assigned that room. The floor was composed of hard, undecorative slabs of concrete, but clean apart from some dust lingering along the sides.
Evan turned to the left, where four people were approaching in a group, holding various blunt implements. They held them at their side, but were not wielding them aggressively. Simon was in the lead along with a red haired guy Evan didn't know. Behind them was the thin black man from the initial confrontation with Simon, and a short Hispanic Evan didn't recognize.
Simon spoke as he approached Evan enter the hallway. "We can't have a potential zombie hiding somewhere in the building. Send Rob out."
"We're taking care of it." Evan replied as the group came to a halt about fifteen feet away. "I had a talk with him, and he agrees that if he starts feeling sick he'll tell us."
"We had a vote, and decided he can stay for now. But he should be somewhere we can all make sure he's not sick." Simon declared with scorn, his own vote in the matter obvious from the tone of his voice. The section of pipe he held in his right hand tapped against the side of his meaty leg while he spoke. His heavy black and blue sweater barely fit over his bulky frame.
"That's very good to hear, but he is already being watched." Evan didn't quite trust the group currently assembled not to just force the guy out of the back door at their first opportunity. Not with Simon in charge, at least. After all, he was willing to let all three be attacked and called them idiots for being outside in the first place. "If he starts being sick, we'll let everyone know about it."
"They shouldn't even be in here." The red haired man beside Simon spoke with a surprisingly deep voice. He was fairly athletic in appearance and about six feet tall, but next to Simon, he looked small. His face was very lightly shadowed with short red facial hair. He wore a heavy black leather trench coat and had a short, clipped hairstyle. Like most of the residents of the building, he appeared to be in his early twenties. "They brought the zombie right to our front door and because you let them in, it's trying to get us now."
"If I didn't let them in, we would probably have four of them out there right now instead of just one." Evan stood firm beside the door. Inside, he could tell that the discussion of the news had ended. They were listening to the confrontation instead.
"They weren't even heading towards us." The athletic man countered. "They would have run off and led it somewhere else and we'd still be okay."
"Every person who gets infected makes us more likely to get infected ourselves because it makes the problem worse." Evan could tell some of the group were a little uncertain of their initial conviction. "Right now, that zombie outside isn't biting anyone. It's harmless to us as long as it's just at that locked door and not somewhere else infecting more people."
A shorter Hispanic man who had been quiet until now slipped by the two larger men in the hallway to address Evan. "It could still run off and bite other people, though." He had a rather impressive moustache for someone his age. He wore a vibrant red shirt and dark black pants. The line between the two articles of clothing was distinguished by a thick brown belt. Hair was drawn back into a long ponytail but elsewhere on his head, he looked to be showing early signs of baldness.
"Yes, it could." Evan admitted, and thought about it for a moment. "Which is why we should see if there's anything we can do to take care of it before it goes off and bites someone else who's outside."
"You can do that if you want." Simon stubbornly shook his head. "But we're not here for that, we're here to get the guy who was bitten so everyone in the building will be able to watch him."
"Wait, maybe we should let him do that." The man with the impressive moustache said as he turned towards the rest of the group. "Have him take care of that zombie in exchange for letting this guy stay up here. After all, it's not like any of them would want to be trapped in a room with him if he does become one. What do you think, Victor?"
The red haired man in the trench coat, presumably Victor, frowned and shook his head with a long sigh before replying with a shrug. "Yeah, I guess that's okay." The skinny black guy lingering in the back simply nodded once their attention naturally fell on him.
Simon scowled, glaring over his companion's shoulder at Evan as the Hispanic man with the moustache spoke for the group. "Well, then it's agreed. You find a way to get rid of that zombie, and we'll let Rob stay in there for now."
