text: [Themes: horror, post-apocalyptic]
  
  You quietly sneaked out the back door, climbed over the fence and knocked on the door.
  
  "Hello? It's me, guys. I'm not... One of them." You explained, and pushed the glass sliding door open...
  
  ...and you are greeted with the barrel of a Mossberg 500, the bad end facing you. The person holding it lowered the gun when he saw its you.
  
  "Hey, what's up man? We're worried." Jason, the one with the shotgun, said to you. He motioned for you other two friends to come closer, and you can see them now: Bob and David, each one carrying a gun.
  
  "Yeah, you see, with the Apocalypse going on, I thought it might be best for us to..."
  
  > band together and take control
  "Guys, look. This is the best opportunity we might have got in out entire life. We are probably the most prepared group in this town, and I say we go out and rally people. Take control of the Gun Shop first, shoot anyone suspicious or those trying to stop us. Loot as many stores as we can and clear out the school or hospital. Everyone would feel safer to stay together."
  
  "Nice plan there, 'Boss'." Jason said, only half joking. "So which one would you choose? I don't actually care, but I like this one."
  
  "You got any other plans?" Bob asked.
  
  > lie and say no
  "No. Let's get to it, then!" You said.
  
  So half an hour later, you guys, now renamed as The Four Musketeers, walked down the street with at least ten people behind you, each with their own weapons. In no time you reached the block the gun store is located.
  
  "Shit." One of the people following you said, being offered a job as a scout - you guys at the Leaders now, after all. He peeked around the corner. "The store's looted already. There may be some guns or supplies left, though."
  
  "Hey, look!" Bob pointed at the road, where about a dozen zombie is walking around a gray van. "Isn't that the store owner?"
  
  You looked and, ta-da, there he is... Except for the zombie appearance, he looks alright.
  
  "So that's where the weapons are. Poor guy must have tried to escape just to get sneaked up on by zombies." David said.
  
  "So we get the weapons in the van? Or not risking it, and just loot the store again?" Jason asked.
  
  You realized everyone is looking at you. You have to make a decision right now.
  
  > sneak into the store
  "We are going in." You decided, "Jason, and you, sir, Eric, right? Come with me. The rest of you hide somewhere."
  
  You sneaked into the gun shop, and your face darkened. "It's a mess." Jason said, started to look around for zombies.
  
  It's a mess. The glass display case was broken, and all the weapons are taken. The ones that hung on the wall too, including Kevlar Vests and grenades.
  
  Ypu made you.r way to the back of the store with Eric while Jason stood guard. Inside the office, you see more madness: upturned table, bodies of zombies and human, and guess what you found among the garbage?
  
  A body leaned on the wall, with a Sniper Rifle leaning on the wall beside him. He has bullet holds on his head and he seemed to be fighting with the man across the room, who have an Assault Rifle on the ground beside him.
  
  Giddy with happiness, you checked the Sniper first. He never got to fire his weapon before getting shot by the looter, it seemed. The Rifle is, however, disappointing: it's empty. Judging from the zombie corpses in the room, he fought off a couple of them before one bit him. Then his friends or himself killed him out of mercy and consideration. You found a box of shotgun shells in the desk though, and Eric took the looter's sidearm, a .45 pistol. You took all the weapons as well, just in case.
  
  You returned to your group and distributed the loot: the weapons you found along with a machete Jason discovered, and some food and water the others raided from a nearby car.
  
  "Hey, look! There's a police car over there." Someone said, and walked towards it. Bob followed with his revolver in hand.
  
  They returned with a fully loaded shotgun and a working radio, and you decided to head back to "Base". After everyone settled down, you turned on the radio.
  
  > Radio
  And nothing.
  
  You talked into the hand-held radio. "Does anyone copy? Over."
  
  Five seconds later, someone actually answered: "Officer Cain, is that you? Over."
  
  "No, it's a group of survivors online, over." You paused, and added, "Do you need help? Please tell us your current location so we can see what we can do, over."
  
  "I don't know how many people you have, but we got around 20 people all armed. If you need help, come to the school near Main Street North, over."
  
  "So?" Bob looked at you. "Are we going?"
  
  > Sure. Safety in numbers.
  "We are about to head over to your location, and we have transport. Over and out."
  
  "Roger. Good luck." Came the reply.
  
  > To the school!
  The drive there was pretty uneventful, as zombies can barely run, never mind chasing a car. In about fifteen minutes, you arrived at the school, but trashed a car in the process due to zombies and junks on the road. Everyone arrived safely though.
  
  You drove your cars through the gates and parked. Five people armed with various guns walked up to you and greeted you.
  
  "Hello. My name I'd Chief Anderson, and I am currently in charge of this camp." The man in front said.
  
  > Damn. You're gonna lose your Leader position...
  "Nice to meet you, chief. Nice place you got." You shook his hand and complimented him.
  
  You silently made some calculations. Either stay with them and hope for the best, or leave now.
  
  "Please excuse us for a minute." The chief nodded and you walked to your group.
  
  "We're staying, right?" Sara asked.
  
  "Well, if you want, yeah." You answered, while the others cheered. "But, I don't really like this life... Being once again controlled by people. I mean, if you want to stay, by all means do so. But if you have the same mindset as me... Join me."
  
  No one joined you, not even your friends. In the end, only Sara remained by your side. "If we die, we die together."
  
  You said your goodbyes and went away.
  
  Weeks later, you were captured by slavers and forced to work for them or die. You tried to prove your loyalty to them to be free, and actually succeeded, while Sara still remained a slave. But you still cared for her and she still loved you, and you remained in the slaver's ranks as someone who is just average.
  
  From then on, life was good for you, not so good for Sara, but hey, at least you're both alive and well. So that's something, right?