The van lurched to a stop after a few more hours. I jolted awake.

"Ugh where are we?" I groaned.

"Still not a clue." Nicole responded.

The doors at the back of the van swung open. I leapt to my feet. My hand darted to my belt. My heart sank as it felt around for nothing. Instantly it was clear what I lacked. The memory flashed in my mind.

Defenseless, ready for the slaughter.

Two men I didn't recognize opened the van's doors. They wore military grade suits of protective Kevlar, equipped with helmets and guns which they pointed right at me.

"Put your hands on your head and step out of the van, Miss." The taller of the two commanded. He wore a tag on his uniform which read: #184.

I raised my hands, slowly stepping out of the van and looking around. We were in a city, somewhere far from the peaceful state of Montana. A walled city, perhaps some sort of zombie free military base. It was impossible to tell. #184's shorter friend grabbed me. I read his tag. #279 bound my hands, leading me towards a plain white building, near the wall where the van had parked. The building was attached to the wall it seemed.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Jacob, Nicole, and Callie receiving similar treatment.

Inside was probably the most boring waiting room to ever exist. Just like the doctor's office, only with no posters, toys, magazines, or anything colorful to distract and entertain with.

"New citizens, rescued by Puckerman's crew. You're gonna have to take a look on them, doc." #279 barked across the waiting room's counter.

A pretty woman in a lab coat narrowed her eyes upon seeing him. Her dark skin was contrasted against her clean white lab coat, a matching white hijab covering her hair.

"Rescued, huh. I'm sure that's the word they used." Her voice drawled, unimpressed.

"Khan, what's going on-" A man's voice called from the back room, behind the counter.

A dark haired young man entered the room. His shockingly bright blue eyes grew wide upon seeing me. He sucked in a breath, before frowning at #279.

"Another one?" He asked. He too wore a white lab coat.

Something about him struck me as familiar.

"Another four actually. Dale's bringing in three more. I should go check what's taking him so long." #279 said.

"Carter, I can handle them. You go teach that first aid class, okay?" The first doctor- Khan as it seemed she was called- said.

"Alright, but if you need any help send someone over, okay?" Carter nodded. He ducked back into the room behind the counter.

Dr. Khan approached me, shooing #279 away. "I'll take it from here."

He slipped out the doors, probably to help #184, just as she began untying my bounds.

"Please, don't causes fuss. I'm just a doctor, well scientist really, but apocalypse makes us wear many hats. I don't want any trouble. I just want to make sure you're alright." Her accent sounded posh, perhaps some sort of British.

I could tell she meant what she said. No use in causing more drama, perhaps even getting my brains bashed against the wall in the process. I did nothing once my hands were free.

"Follow me- Oh!"

The rest of my traveling companions took her by surprise, by entering the waiting room. I gaped.

Jacob and Nicole sported bloody noses, likely curtesy of #184.

"Watch our for these two, Dr. Khan. Ungrateful, idiotic wildcards they are. They attacked Dale." #279 said, holding Jacob by the arm.

"Well they're probably startled! Your men kidnapped-"

"Not that word, Doctor. You know we don't use that word." #279 glared.

Dr. Khan huffed, before plastering a smile on her face. "Of course. Well I'm sure they won't be like that with me. I truly don't want a fuss."

I nodded to Jacob and Nicole. They relented, relaxing. Their guards let go of them, before exiting. Callie grabbed Jacob's hand, once the doors shut.

"Well, I'm sorry you haven't got the most welcoming welcome. I'm Dr. Soraya Khan. I'm the head scientist here and well, the medical examiner. We're a tad understaffed as you can see." She gestured around. It was empty besides the five of us. "I know Baltia probably isn't where you want to be, but you may find yourself liking it in due time."

Her smile said she was trying to believe her words, but her eyes gave away that she didn't.

"Alright, let's start with you. The tall one. We'll go by age and height, shall we?" Dr. Khan stated. "The rest of you can wait out here. Unfortunately the doors are locked, but fortunately that means you're a wall away from being near those unpleasant soldiers."

Jacob followed her behind the counter, into the back room. Nicole found a wade of tissues, which she shoved up her nose to stop the bleeding. None of us spoke.

After a few minutes Jacob returned, the blood cleaned up. He seemed unbothered by Dr. Khan's checkup.

"Alright, Miss. You're next." She nodded towards me.

I followed her.

It was a small examination room, connected by windowed doors to other rooms that appeared to be used for other types of scientific experimentations. No sign of her colleague, Carter.

"I know this is a bit awkward but I'm going to need you to remove your clothes."

"Excuse me?" I stared at her.

"I have to make sure you haven't been bitten, anywhere."

My face grew hot. I took off my jacket, showing off my arms. I lifted my shirt, briefly and rolled up my pants. There was still a bandage around my leg.

"Does that suffice?" I asked.

"I suppose. What's with the leg?" She asked.

"Bullet grazed me. You can check. Not a bite anywhere on me."

She peeled off my bandage, double checking the injury before replacing it with a clean bandage.

"Any medical issues I should know about?"

"Depends what else you need to do to me." I responded.

She was not amused.

"Alright, fine. None come to mind."

She listened to my heart and took my blood pressure and checked my eyes.

"You seem totally healthy. Stressed perhaps, but otherwise pretty healthy. No noticeable drugs in your system as far as I can see and you haven't turned into a walker, so I suppose you're free to go. If you don't mind filling out this chart..." She handed me a pen and a clipboard.

It read:

FULL NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
DOB:
DATE:
PROGRAM OF INTEREST: (Circle one)
• EDUCATION
• R PROGRAM
• MILITARY
• SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
• SCAVENGING
• OTHER/DO NOT CARE

IF NONE ARE CIRCLED ONE WILL BE CHOSEN FOR YOU. IF MORE THAN ONE IS CIRCLED ONE WILL BE CHOSEN FOR YOU.

WELCOME TO BALTIA: THE NEW AMERICAN ORDER.

STAY IS PERMANENT.

I sat down next to Jacob, who held a similar clipboard. I glanced at his sheet. Same thing, but filled out.

FULL NAME: Jacob Screwyou Swedtcga
AGE: 19
SEX: Sure
DOB: May 12th, do the math
DATE: Heck if I know

Nothing was circled.

"Really? Haven't you pissed them off enough?" I sighed.

He glanced at my sheet. "Hey, no fair! I want to know the deets."

"No. What do you think the R Program is? It sounds dangerous."

"It sounds interesting. And shady. Better not." Jacob clicked his pen against the board.

"Everything here seems interesting and shady. Think we can get out?" I asked.

"Absolutely, once I find out what they did to Ducky. They wanted my car, I just know it." He muttered.

I squinted at his sheet. "Your middle name's not actually Screwyou is it? With the tongue ripping gargle that is Swedtcga I have to ask, how much did your parents hate you?"

"Hey, Swedtcga is not that horrible. That part is real, Screwyou is obviously not. It's actually Jacob Nathaniel, if you must know, but these clowns don't." He smirked. "And my parents love me. So hah."

Nicole exited the back with her own sheet to fill out. It seemed customized for a child, the part about program of interest completely left out.

Callie shyly followed Dr. Khan to the examination room, while Jacob and I pondered which program to circle.

Which would give us the best opportunity for escape?

"Oh no." Dr. Khan could be heard from inside.

Oh no? No, oh no! There couldn't be something wrong with Callie, could there?

We bolted to our feet, all three of us tossing our clipboards aside. I pushed open the door, to find Dr. Khan looking at Callie's now exposed arm, her sleeve rolled up.

My heart raced, terror filling my blood with adrenaline. Jacob and Nicole were struck dumb.

Raw teeth marks blemished the skin on Callie's left arm.

A clear zombie bite.

Well that was a major chapter. Very important. Very long too. I had fun writing it and I hope you liked reading it. Thanks for reading! Comment and click the star please if you enjoyed! :)