By late afternoon the next day, the two scouting teams returned to the temporary base one after the other.
The news they brought back was a mix of good and bad.
Carver's report was blunt and straightforward.
"That so-called medical center is like a damn iron hedgehog! The walls are reinforced, and there's even barbed wire wrapped along the top!
The main gate is completely welded shut—no gaps at all. We circled the whole place and couldn't even find a rat hole!"
Bossie nodded.
"And there are plenty of walkers in the surrounding blocks. If we try to force our way in, the noise will definitely draw a horde. Totally not worth it."
The result was exactly what Calista had expected.
A top-tier private medical facility serving the wealthy would almost certainly have been a priority site for protection or lockdown during the early days of the apocalypse. Its security level was naturally far beyond that of an ordinary hospital.
Even if they managed to break inside, the large number of security guards and staff might already have turned into walkers.
On the other hand, Mike brought back relatively good news.
"The Emory University area is crawling with walkers. We couldn't get anywhere near the main hospital building," Mike said, fatigue written all over his face.
"But following Felipe's suggestion, we avoided the main building and focused on the smaller clinics and medical research offices nearby."
Wells picked up where he left off, sounding a bit more upbeat.
"Right. We found the Emory Neurological and Metabolic Disease Research Center.
It's not a tall building—only five floors—and the inside is a mess, like it's already been looted. But that also means there aren't many walkers inside."
"Of course, there's still risk," Felipe added.
"But the building's layout looks simpler than the hospital. If we move fast and know exactly what we're looking for, we might be able to get in and try our luck."
Calista listened carefully and turned her gaze toward Dr. Jenner.
Dr. Jenner immediately perked up.
"The Neurological and Metabolic Research Center! I know that place!
They do have analytical equipment. It's not the most advanced, but it's definitely good enough for basic blood biochemistry analysis and cell activity testing!"
After weighing the situation carefully, Calista made her decision.
She looked at everyone.
"Tomorrow, we'll try our luck over at Emory."
Leah immediately spoke up.
"No. Tomorrow I'll lead the team."
She looked at Calista.
"Someone has to stay here to guard the supplies. Tomorrow I'll take Mike, Wells, and Turner. You, Carver, Bossie, and Jenson stay here."
Calista considered it briefly and nodded.
"You should bring Felipe too. He's familiar with the area."
Leah nodded in agreement.
"Dr. Jenner, you're coming as well. You'll be responsible for identifying and evaluating the equipment. Only you know exactly what models and functions we need."
Calista added,
"The rest of us—including me—will stay behind and guard the base. One of the Governor's men escaped, so we can't let our guard down."
...
Early morning on the third day.
"Check your gear. One last time."
Leah personally inspected everyone's weapons, ammunition, and most importantly—the firearms fitted with high-efficiency suppressors.
Today, noise is death.
They took only one modified Humvee.
The closer they got to the Emory area, the heavier the stench of decay in the air became. It was almost tangible, thick and clinging to their noses and mouths.
Abandoned vehicles were piled across the streets. Many had their doors hanging open, the interiors either stripped clean or containing unrecognizable, half-eaten remains.
"My God..." Felipe muttered as he looked out at the familiar neighborhood, now twisted into something monstrous.
"Quiet. Stay alert," Mike said calmly, his eyes constantly scanning the road ahead and the side mirrors.
The engine noise inevitably attracted some unwelcome attention.
From the crumbling buildings along both sides of the street, figures slowly began to turn.
Their movements were stiff and sluggish.
But once they locked onto the sound and scent of living humans, their pace immediately quickened.
"Twelve o'clock! Five of them! Three more coming out of the alley on the left!" Leah whispered quickly, already raising her rifle.
More walkers emerged from the corners of nearby shops, their throats producing hoarse, hungry groans as they began converging toward the Humvee.
"No good. We can't keep driving. It'll turn into a steel coffin," Leah decided instantly.
Mike jerked the steering wheel hard.
The Humvee screeched against the pavement and barely managed to swing into a narrow alley packed with trash bins.
"Out of the vehicle. On foot. Move!" Leah barked, already pushing the door open and landing silently on the ground.
The others reacted instantly, jumping out and using the car doors and alley walls for cover.
The first few walkers were already staggering forward, rotting arms reaching toward the vehicle.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Two extremely soft shots, almost like bursts of air.
Leah and Mike fired at nearly the same moment. The suppressed rifles produced dull, muted sounds.
Small bursts of blood appeared between the walkers' eyebrows.
Both dropped backward without a sound.
"Move."
Leah gestured, and the team immediately advanced deeper into the alley in tactical formation.
Leah and Mike took point. They slung their rifles and switched to pistols and knives, silently eliminating the occasional stray walker emerging from side alleys or doorways.
Turner and Wells covered the rear, carefully watching their flanks.
Dr. Jenner and Felipe stayed protected in the middle.
Jenner clutched an empty backpack, breathing rapidly. Felipe's face was pale as he tried to identify landmarks and keep their bearings.
They moved lightly. The faint crunch of boots on broken glass and trash was almost completely drowned out by the distant groans of walkers.
But the density of walkers in this area was far higher than they had expected.
Even the faint gunshots seemed to draw attention.
More and more rasping growls echoed from all directions.
"Left turn! Through that parking lot! The office building is just behind it!" Felipe pointed ahead, his voice shaking.
The team cut through a relatively sparse group of walkers and quickly crossed a parking lot filled with abandoned vehicles.
At last, the five-story gray-white research building came into view.
On the side was a freight entrance—a heavy metal door.
Just as Felipe had said, it stood half open, with clear pry marks around the lock.
"I'll go first. Mike, follow and clear the lobby. Turner, Wells—secure the entrance and control the door.
Dr. Jenner, Felipe—stay with me."
Leah spoke rapidly, issuing clear commands.
She slipped sideways through the gap into the dark lobby, pistol sweeping across the narrow field of view as Mike followed closely behind.
The lobby was extremely dim. Only a faint beam of light filtered in through a small high window.
Papers littered the floor, and a reception desk had been overturned.
"Clear."
"Clear."
The two quiet confirmations sounded one after the other.
Turner and Wells immediately took positions at the entrance, sealing the doorway with their bodies and gun barrels.
Dr. Jenner and Felipe quickly ducked inside.
"The lab is at the end of the first-floor corridor, on the left," Felipe reminded them.