Chapter 33: As Good As Hers
"No," replied Alicia, lifting her head off René’s chest and taking his hand in her own. "I might not agree with them all the time, but those guys would lay down their lives for you. You know that."
René nodded his head, the weight on his chest lifting as he guided Alicia toward the armory. A part of him was worried that maybe their loyalty had shifted somewhat after the arrival of the girl, but if Alicia hadn’t seen that as part of the future, at least he knew he could still trust them.
"Those people who will betray you aren’t worth your time or the effort it would take to kill them. Simply leave them be and let nature take its course," he advised, opening the massive door in front of them.
Every last weapon in the building was kept under lock and key inside of a giant cage inside of an even bigger cage. Usually, only one person would have the key to the door, but he knew where the spare key was kept.
"LaPierre?" called out a man’s voice, and René’s head snapped up. Just on the other side of the first cage stood Gary Savoy, the man in charge of the armory. "Is that you, boy?"
"Savoy," called out René, unable to keep the smile out of his voice. "I’m surprised you are still alive. You are two days older than dirt, after all."
"I’s be retirin’ tomorrow," Gary admitted with a shrug before pulling up his sleeve and showing off a blackening wound. "Ain’t that always the case?"
"I’m sorry," replied René, pulling Alicia closer to him. It was clear that a zombie had somehow managed to bite Gary, probably when he was reaching through the little window to take someone’s gun. It was such a shame that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his retirement.
The man had been an amazing officer and an even better friend. He had taught him and his brothers everything they knew, and it was painful to see him like this.