Inside the armored vehicle.
The low roar of the engine was muffled by the thick armor, leaving only a dull hum.
Andrea tightly gripped her sister’s hand, feeling Amy’s palm sweating.
They sat on a long metal bench, facing five fully armed Soldiers.
Black combat uniforms, full-face helmets, bulletproof vests, and those cold M4 rifles—though the muzzles were pointed at the floor, they could be raised to aim at anyone at any moment.
Andrea suddenly felt a pang of regret.
She had been too impulsive.
After hearing just a few words from that man in the suit and seeing that video of Atlanta, she had dragged her sister along and stepped forward.
What if it really was a trap?
What if T-Dog was right?
What if they were being sold— “Hey.” A voice interrupted her wandering thoughts.
Andrea looked up and saw the female Soldier opposite her had removed her helmet.
She had short, dark brown hair and a resolute but not fierce face.
She looked to be in her early thirties, with a Soldier’s sharpness in her eyes, but at this moment, they held a friendly smile.
“Don’t be nervous.” The female Soldier said, “Everyone is like this the first time they ride in one of these.
I’m Sandra.” Andrea blinked and managed a smile: “Andrea, and this is my sister, Amy.” “Hi.” Amy gave a small, quiet greeting.
“You’re sisters?” Sandra looked at them: “You look a lot alike.” “A lot of people say that.” Andrea relaxed slightly: “Are you…
really from the Umbrella Corporation?” “Yes.” Sandra nodded: “Joined a week ago.” “A week ago?” Amy’s eyes widened in surprise: “Then what did you do before that?” “National Guard, retired for three years.” Sandra leaned back: “I was sleeping at home the day it broke out.
I woke up to find two of those things downstairs eating my neighbor.
I hid for three days, ran out of water, had no choice but to run out, and then I met the BOSS.” “BOSS?” “The one who was talking to you just now.” Sandra pointed toward the driver’s cabin: “Leon, we all call him BOSS.” Andrea hesitated for a moment before asking the question she was most worried about: “That base…
does it really exist?
Are there really researchers studying a vaccine?” Sandra looked at her with a serious gaze: “It’s real.
The CDC building—you must have heard of it?
We’re right there.
There are over a dozen doctors inside, studying that virus every day.
I’ve seen them dissect Walkers with my own eyes.” Andrea and Amy exchanged a look.
The CDC.
That was indeed a real place.
“And…” Sandra added: “The conditions at the base are much better than that quarry of yours.
There’s electricity, water, hot showers.
The food might be canned and compressed rations, but at least you can eat your fill, and you don’t have to worry about being bitten in your sleep.” Actually, there were fresh ingredients available, but Leon only arranged for the researchers on the first floor of the Hive to eat them; the security personnel were temporarily assigned collected canned food.
Amy’s eyes lit up: “Hot showers?” “Yes, ten minutes per person per day.
It’s limited, but it’s enough.” Amy grabbed her sister’s arm: “Sis, we made the right choice!” Andrea also breathed a sigh of relief, but a trace of wariness remained in her heart—she still needed to see it for herself.
“What’s the deal with the three-day quarantine?” She asked.
Sandra nodded: “Standard procedure.
Anyone coming in from the outside has to be quarantined for three days for observation and blood tests.
This is a rule set by the BOSS.
Over at the quarry, if someone got bitten, would you know?” Andrea thought for a moment and shook her head: “Not necessarily.
Sometimes the person who got bitten doesn’t even know themselves, or they hide it and don’t say anything.” “So that’s the logic.” Sandra said: “Three days, room and board provided, nothing to do—just think of it as a vacation.
If there are no symptoms after three days, you officially start your job.” Amy whispered: “That sounds pretty good…
I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in so long.” Andrea held her sister’s hand, feeling her relax.
Maybe this impulse really was the right move.
The armored vehicle continued on.
Half an hour later, it slowed down.
“Prepare to disembark.” Sandra put her helmet back on: “We’re here.” The doors opened, and sunlight flooded in.
Andrea and Amy followed the Soldiers out of the vehicle and stood on the concrete ground.
They looked up and saw the grayish-white building—the CDC.
Four stories tall, square, with several antennas sticking up from the roof.
It was surrounded by barbed wire.
There were some bullet holes and bloodstains on the walls, but overall it was in good condition.
The rolling shutter door was closed, but a small side door was open, with two armed guards standing at the entrance.
“It really is the CDC…” Amy murmured.
Leon walked over from the front and nodded to them: “Welcome.
Before you go in, there’s a rule I need to make clear to you.” Andrea perked up and listened intently.
“Anyone coming in from the outside must undergo three days of quarantine observation.” Leon pointed toward the second floor: “There are isolation rooms up there, one per person.
Food will be delivered every day, and someone will come to do blood tests.
After three days, if there are no issues, you can officially start work.” “Blood tests?” Amy was a little nervous.
“Just a small vial.”