Everyone except Shelia, who insisted on staying away for their sake, sat around the large table in the bunker's base control. The map was spread out in front of them.
They all stood examining the marks and splotches on the map. No one could tell if the splotches were an insect shape or just a splotch that looked like one. It was hard to tell.
Zack scanned his friend's faces. "What do you all think? Do we go for it or stay here a little while longer?"
Carrie looked over at her twin, her eyes narrow in concentration. "I trust your judgment, brother; what you do, I'll follow."
Joe and Jamie leaned over the map, scanning one last time, their girlfriends behind them. "Can we discuss it for a while and revisit it tomorrow? Jamie and I would like to speak to our girls privately," Joe said, running his hand through his dark hair.
Zack nodded. "Yeah, I'd like to speak to Tammy in private, too. We'll meet in the morning to revisit and vote on it the old-fashioned way. We will use red and green straws because I don't want to waste paper. Put a red straw in the cup, and it will mean we stay here; If a green straw, we go."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I think that if we choose to leave, we need to secure the bunker so only we can get back in," Carrie said, scanning the room. "I don't want to lose our supplies if we leave and have to come back here."
Zack looked up at his sister and smiled. "You're right. We can't take much with us: blasters, food, and water; nothing else," he said. "We can only carry what can fit in our backpacks. We need our arms free in case we have to fight."
Agreements were heard all around the room.
They had a lot to think about. They were about to decide to leave the safety of the bunker that was filled to the brim with food and water. The weapons didn't matter much because the bullets didn't affect the Zombies, and the blasters didn't need you to carry extra ammo that was heavy and took up space that could hold food and water.
They would have to go three towns over before they could go underground. So they needed to move fast and try to avoid being seen. They also had to make sure they could stretch their food to get back if it turned out to be bogus.
***
Shelia knocked on the door of Zacks's room; he was inside there discussing the situation privately with his partner, Tammy.
"Come in!" Zack called through the thick door.
Shelia slowly slid the door open, stepping in. She glanced around, seeing they were the only two in the small room.
"May I speak with you, please?" she asked, watching Zack.
Zack looked her up and down, a predatory gaze. "Have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair by the bed, his expression neutral.
Walking gracefully to the chair, she sat down, not taking her eyes from Zack. She glanced briefly at Tammy before sitting down.
"I think it might need to be private," she said. "If you choose to discuss what I tell you to everyone after, that is your decision, but I need to tell you alone," she continued. "It is clear that you are the leader here, and the information I want to give you is for a leader."
Tammy eyed her, trying to gauge what was going on; shrugging, she looked over at Zack for instructions if he wanted her to leave or stay.
Zack scanned Shelia for a threat, not seeing any, and looked back over at Tammy, nodding. "Go ahead; I'll call you back when we are finished discussing what Shelia has to say."
Crossing her arms, Tammy stomped out the door. She was angry, and Shelia didn't know why.
After Tammy left the room, Shelia looked at Zack, then pulled out a piece of paper with a list of markings she had drawn and handed it to him. "These are all markings that are code for our people. If you see any of these markings on your way there, either scratched in the walls or painted on something, the map is most likely a trap."
Zack carefully scanned the list, noting that some of them looked a lot like splotches. "Are any of these markings ones that would be visible on the map?"
"Hold the map up to a light source and see the markings within the paper. I will have to add some markings to that list," she said, pulling the paper toward her. "I am unsure if you know how to find hidden markings, but the marking on the map will be hidden," she continued. "The markings on the way there, if any, will blend in with their surroundings, which will make them difficult to find."
"Why do you think I should be the only one who hears this?" he asked, observing her reaction closely.
She sighed. "If they know to watch for these markings, they will only be vigilant about finding markings. That will leave you and your friends open to attack. Since they will only see the marking, they might not notice if you are being followed or hunted."
Shelia pulled out a writing instrument and started adding more markings to the list she had already started. Zack watched her while he waited patiently for her to finish. Once she was finished, she handed the list back. "There might be more. If I remember any more, I will add them as well."
Zack was still watching her. "Why are you worried if we make it or not?"
Heat washed through her, her tinted green skin darkening. She could feel the blush. "I don't want you to get hurt," she whispered. She didn't want his girlfriend to hear that she was attracted to him. She was positive that it wouldn't go over very well.
She could feel Zack's gaze on her, making her blush further. Then, abruptly, she stood up. "Hold the map to a light source; see if the shadowing looks like an insect. If it does, I urge you not to go," she said, walking quickly to the door. Just before she opened it to leave, she turned around. "Please be careful if you go," she said, her voice soft. Then, turning back around, she quickly exited the room, leaving Zack watching her as she closed the door behind her.
***
Zack walked into base control. Picking up the map, he held it up to the light, scanning the paper it was written on. The stains could resemble an insect, yet maybe not. It was impossible to tell.
"Fuck!" he cursed.
He opened the paper Shelia had given him, then compared it to the map's splotches, shadowing, and stains. One of the splotches kind of looked like one of her markings. But he still couldn't tell.
He was back where he started. It was a 50/50 chance that this was a trap. She had a valid point about keeping the information from others. He wasn't sure what to do.
Joe walked in, his hands in his pockets. "I think you pissed off, Tammy."
Zack was still comparing the markings. "Shelia wanted to give me some information. She said that I should use discretion in telling everyone else. Tammy is pissed because I let Shelia tell me in private."
"And?" Joe asked, watching him closely.
"Shelia had a point. After she told me, then explained her rationale for not telling everyone, I think she's right."
"Are you going to tell any of us?" Joe asked, his voice a little hard.
Still staring at the map and not noticing Joe's agitation, Zack answered. "Yeah, you." Zack sighed, looking up at Joe. "She showed me a list of markings to watch for. If we see any of them, we should turn back. She said that telling everyone would have everyone looking for the markings and not noticing if we are being followed or hunted."
Joe stared at him, wheels turning in his mind, then finally nodded. "I agree with Shelia. We should keep this a secret unless we have to tell everyone."
Zack held the map up, "Do any of the shadows, stains, or markings in and on the paper look like anything on this list? If they do, this map might be a trap," he said, pushing the list over to Joe so he could inspect it.
Joe pointed at the same one Zack saw. "This one kind of does, but I can't tell."
"Fuck!" they both said in unison. They were still back where they started, with a 50/50 chance of walking into a trap.