Chapter 7 cont... GLEN

.......he was excited to see more of the town.

The gap between the buildings was too small for a car, but big enough for emergency fire escapes for each building.

“So, are all these buildings just empty? Where does everyone live?”

“They were full at one point and most people still own them, but when the infection hit, no one wanted to live by the forest anymore.”

“Since that’s where they were hiding out?”

“Yup.”

“Everyone moved into houses and buildings closer to the church whenever--” She paused looking for the right words. “—Whenever a new unit became available.”

“I see. And the people that weren’t able to move because there was no ‘availability’?”

“They got better locks.”

They made a right turn into an alleyway behind the Doctor’s office. The building across the alley was brick like everything else in the town. Instead of glass for windows, there were filled with bricks and the back door was reinforced steel. Chris rapped his knuckles on it just to check.

“That’s the morgue and crematorium.” Katrina said.

“Seems the Doctor doesn’t want anyone to get in.”

“Or out rather.”

Chris left it at that. They took a left through another small walkway and ended up on Roseberry Street where they took another left on the sidewalk.

“All these buildings are occupied it looks like. What makes this street different than the one back there? It’s just as close to the forest!”

“I don’t know. They only thing I can think is that this road has more businesses. And a police station.”

Katrina was right: there was a soda fountain and pharmacy, a small furniture store, a bank, a hair salon and hardware store. This street was more welcoming with trees lining it’s sidewalks and people sitting in chairs outside of the buildings; even if they were mostly elderly people.

As they passed the small police station, a stalky kid with glasses, in an officer’s uniform came running out. He had spikey blonde hair and small, evenly placed facial features.

“Katrina, hey.”

“Hey Glen.” He response was less enthusiastic.

Katrina saw this moment coming and she wasn’t overly keen to talk to her ex-boyfriend of two years; not while Chris was around anyways. She knew Glen was still in love with her, she had gotten letters from him while she was in Colorado and while they were relatively innocent, they were always ended with “I can’t wait until your pretty face gets out of there and comes home. Love always, Glen.” It was as if she had gone to jail. Katrina knew she’d always have a soft spot for him, but knew it would calcify soon enough. Glen wasn’t good for her anymore; they had nothing in common. She was infected, he wasn’t. He always talked about having a big family; she couldn’t bear children. She stopped and mumbled under her breath to Chris “Sorry.”

Chris shrugged; he didn’t know what Katrina was apologizing for.

Glen gave Katrina a hug that lifted her off her feet with her hands still by her side. “I thought I would have gotten to see you sooner. You’ve been here for two days now.” He put her down and stepped back to look her up and down.

“Well, I just got here yesterday—“

“And you must be the journalist guy.” Glen stuck out his hand “Nice to meet-cha!”

Chris obliged and commented “word travels a little too fast around here.”

“Pardon?”

“Chris. Nice to meet you too. There’s so many nice people around here.”

Glen smiled and turned to Katrina, “So I was thinking, maybe when you’re not busy we could go for lunch, or ice cream? My treat.” His face was beaming at Katrina and Chris immediately understood what Glen’s intentions were.

“Oh, um that’s very nice of you but—“she glanced over at Chris who shook his head to say: don’t look at me. “I’m going to be pretty busy as long as Chris is here. I’m helping him with his interview stuff.”

Glen looked disappointed and Chris felt bad. “I’m sure you can take some time if you like to have some ice cream of all things with Glen. Don’t let me take up all your time.” He smiled at Katrina who looked at him in disbelief. Glen looked like his parents just told him he could have a puppy. “But on one stipulation: I can come by and talk to you tomorrow sometime at the station?”

“Sure, my shift starts at seven in the morning and I get off at four, come around anytime. And then Katrina, you can let me know about that date.” He leaned in closer and lowered his voice a little. Katrina noticed his breath smelled like bubble gum. “I can take a break pretty much anytime I want, and they give me a free ice cream over at the soda fountain. Can probably get yours free too—but if not I’ll pay of course.”

Chris rolled his eyes and Katrina began to regret losing her virginity to him. “Such a gentleman.” She replied sarcastically.

“You know me. Anyways, it was nice meeting you Chris. And I’ll talk to you two later.” He beamed at them and pushed his glasses higher on his nose with his middle knuckle.

Glen walked across the street towards the Soda Fountain. Chris rolled his eyes but smiled at Katrina. “Sounds like someone has a crush on you.”

“Ugh, don’t get me started, and you didn’t help.” They continued walking again.