Heading down the stairs with Blake I was nervous about stepping outside for the first time since the terrorist attack. I honestly didn't know what to expect but after the scenes that I had seen played out on the news, I expected something akin to The Walking Dead. An apocalyptic landscape, with abandoned cars and grass growing through cracks in the sidewalk. Danger lurking around every corner. A million scenarios ran through my mind as we walked past Mrs Penbrook's apartment.

"We should grab Mrs Penbrook a ration pack while we are out" Blake agreed and we headed out of the door into our apocalyptic reality.

Our apocalyptic reality really looked like our pre-apocalyptic life from three days ago. In fact, other than no traffic and a slight sepia aura to the atmosphere- Nothing seemed to have changed. But I supposed the only thing I had to compare it with was what I had seen in movies and then you only saw months or years into the future when the shit had really hit the fan and containment had failed.

In all honesty, it was kind of anticlimactic.

We still needed to be on our guard though, if the news was correct- The threat was still very real. The community centre was only a few blocks over and usually we would make it there in no more than ten minutes but constantly looking over your shoulder and scanning the shadows really slowed you down.

"I should have brought my baseball bat" I mused, hindsight making me wish I had been more prepared before stepping outside.

"I think we will be ok" Blake said trying to placate me "They only said to be vigilant, they never warned us to be loaded up to the back teeth" I nodded absently, still not sure we should be out here without any protection.

I just wanted to be back at the apartment with Agnes. Ideally in bed, naked, with her creamy white legs wrapped around my waist- I shook the thought out of my head before I ended up with a raging hard on in the middle of the fucking street. I know that I haven't known her long, but that girl has turned my life completely upside down and I have no clue which way was up anymore. I've only had a small taste so far, but my body ached to be near her, to be inside her. Being this far away was almost painful.

But it wasn't just me. Connor was smitten with her also and even though we had talked about it in the past, I never truly thought I would be able to share a girl. Especially a girl I felt this strongly about. But the three of us- It felt, right. The only thing holding me back from diving in with both feet was Blake's reticence. I'd known Blake since we were kids. I know a lot of what he went through growing up- not everything, but enough- He usually had good instincts and normally, if he had taken this stance on any other woman I would trust him enough to walk away in an instant. But there was more going on with him and Agnes than he was letting on. His attitude was just the tip of the ice berg and I needed to do some serious digging to get to the bottom of it.

"Blake-"

"Yeah, what's up, man?"

"We've been friends along time, right?"

"Since forever" He looked over at me curiously "Why'd you ask?"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life. Where's this going?"

"Enough to tell me the truth?"

"I'd never lie to you, you know that. Look, just fucking spit it out will you!"

"Fine! What's your issue with Agnes?" My question made his shoulders tense up.

"Don't want to talk about it"

"But you said-"

"I said I'd never lie to you, I never promised to answer all of your questions."

"But-"

"I said I don't want to talk about it! Just leave it will you"

"Fine, just answer me one thing then and I'll not push it further-"

"Go on-" He accepted sceptically

"Why do you hate her so much?"

"Honestly, I have no idea but I'm also not sure that I do completely hate her. But that could just be Damian."

"Yeah, who would have predicted that little turn of events" I laughed at the absurdity of his alter ego forming a crush on the one person he has taken a disliking to.

"Not me, that's for damn sure"

"What do you think he will do?"

"I have no idea, but if my past has taught me anything, it's to never underestimate him. He's never really tried for control when shit isn't happening so your guess is as good as mine and that scares the hell out of me"

"Me too, but could you do me just one favour?" He raised an eyebrow in question "Could you at least be civil with Agnes. I really like her, man. And I mean really like her and you're being a real dick to her and that bothers me because I love you, man. But I also think that I could love her in the future."

"It's only been three fucking days!"

"That's what I am trying to tell you. I don't love her now but I have never felt this way about anyone and if there were ever a chance of me falling in love with someone, she would be a main contender."

"Wow, you like her that much?" I nodded "Ok, then. I don't like it, but for you I'll try to be more accommodating."

"Objections noted and I promise, I will be cautious purely because you are but I don't think she is the problem that you believe she is. Suppose only time will tell."

Our walk to the community centre had thankfully been pretty uneventful, I guess the government were telling the truth about exceeding at something for the first time in probably all of American history.

I breathed a sigh of relief as the centre came into view, but my relief was short lived once I saw the long line outside waiting to get in through the check point on the main doors. The main doors that had a testing station set up in front of it and was surrounded by soldiers. Every single person in the queue were giving blood samples willingly before entering.

"Looks like you were right" I nodded over to the door, Blake's face turning grim. "Although, no one seems to be being coerced even if it is implied."

"We'll see. Come on, lets join the queue."

I followed him to the end of the line where about fifty people- Adults and children alike- were waiting ahead of us with more people joining behind us.

"Are you going to see the medic when you get in, see if you can get more of your anxiety meds?" I spoke quietly to avoid anyone listening in.

"I'm going to try, but I have a feeling it will be emergency care only and not a general dispensary to get a prescription filled."

That sucked. The episode Blake had had in the hall way earlier was just a drop in the ocean compared to how bad it could really get. I'd been there through some of the worst of them and it took everything I had to keep him from ending his life. You've never seen panic until you have seen someone literally clawing the skin from their face with their finger nails. I really hoped someone could help him inside. There were only a few pills left in the emergency bottle back at his apartment. And if they ran out, he was screwed. Weed couldn't control his panic attacks alone.

Thankfully the line moved quickly and before we knew it, there were only a few people in line left in front of us.

I watched as a tall scruffy set man, stepped up to the testing station but instead of heading to the paper lined seat waiting for him, he bypassed the station and the soldiers heading straight for the community centre doors instead. Nerves contorted his face.

I elbowed Blake in his side and nodded my head towards the man. This was our chance to see if Blake's theory was correct. We watched intently at the scenario that was unfolding before us.

Two soldiers approached the man before he had a chance to enter the centre. Their faces were kind as they spoke to him and their arms gestured towards the testing chair that was set up waiting for him. The man shook his head with a nervous smile on his face, politely declining and that's when the mood shifted. The soft expressions disappeared from the soldiers face before they made a move to grab the man. He tried to make a run for it but the soldiers were prepared for this and were too quick grabbing for him. He didn't stand a chance.

They dragged him kicking and screaming over to the chair, which garnered the attention of the whole queue now. They strapped him down before a burly nurse appeared and withdrew a small amount of blood. Ignoring the mans very colourful protests. Parents in the line covered their children's ears while turning their heads away in order not to frighten them,

We watched as the nurse took his sample over to a table at the side of them and dropped a few drops of some unknown chemical into the vile. I had watched them do this over and over while I awaited my turn and each time the vile stayed the same vivid crimson as it had started with. I was beginning to wonder if the test actually worked. I had secretly wished out of morbid curiosity that the next person would be infected so I could see the comparison. But now there was a possibility that it was actually happening in front of me, I felt sick.

After shaking the vile, she held it up against the light, like she had done many times before. But unlike last time, the vile reacted. The blood inside began to bubble and congeal. Within seconds the blood inside the vial had separated. A clear liquid at the bottom and a thick congealed lump at the top. It looked strangely beautiful, you would have expected it the other way around with blood being thicker than water and all. But I guess the clear liquid wasn't water. It was most likely the pathogen.

The nurse gave the waiting soldiers a curt nod almost as if activating them. They loosened the mans restraints and motioned him towards a waiting van to the side of the tent. The man obviously had other ideas and for the second time tried to make a run for it.

"Guess the tests are mandatory after all. Fuck, I hate being right sometimes" Blake grumbled. We both jumped when a gunshot rang out and the infected man hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Shit!" I gasped. They weren't taking no for an answer. It was now clear that to everyone in the line had to be tested and if you were infected, you either had to comply or die. They weren't fucking messing about.

I noticed a few people trying to inconspicuously leave the line without drawing the attention of the soldiers but it was to no avail. They were either escorted right back or more gunshots echoed out of sight.

Make no wonder the streets were clean of the infected. The government were starving them out of hiding and then executing them for non compliance. This shit just got fucking real and I was thankful more than ever that Agnes was still back at the apartment. Blake had saved her life. Fear still twisted my stomach though as it turned out to be mine and Blake's turn next.

Chewing my nails to the wick, I quietly walked over to the seat and sat down without having to be told. The nurse had my blood drawn and the chemical mixed in before I could blink. I sat holding my breath, staring intently at the vile, praying to anyone that would listen that the blood wouldn't change. The nurse shook her head and I breathed a sigh of relief as the soldiers gestured me towards the door of the community centre. I was in the clear.

Blake's turn was next so I waited in the door way with baited breath until his test came back negative also. A teasing grin broke across my face as he sidled up next to me.

"What the fuck are you smiling at?" He accused

"That puts the shit to your theory about Agnes being contagious," I laughed "So that's one more thing off the I hate Agnes list"

"Shut the fuck up Jay, lets get this fucking over with as fast as possible. These fuckers with the twitchy trigger fingers are making me nervous." That's when I finally noticed that the hall was surrounded by more armed soldiers eyeing each person inside as if they were the enemy. Fuck he was right, I didn't like this either. And after Blake had his prescription turned down just like he had predicted, we headed over the rations queue and grabbed what we were entitled to for us and Mrs Penbrook once I'd explained she was elderly and disabled before hightailing it the fuck out of there and running the rest of the way home once we were out of sight of the soldiers.

I hope these rations lasted a while as I didn't want to do that again anytime soon.