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“Hm… fair point. Sorry… like I said, no faith,” Pollux replied, “But no, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m kind of trying to put forth some effort to save mankind. A little ambitious maybe, but someone has to try, right? I’m learning what I can about the disease. I can share what I know with you, if you’d like.”
"Are you a doctor? Or a scientist? Also, I think this place has some research on the sickness that was before the huge outbreak," Logan added.
“I was about to graduate college and apply for med school, so I mean… I guess you could say I know a thing or two about science,” Pollux said, “But um… any clue where I might be able to find that research? Combined with what I have, might be able to get onto something.”
"Honestly, no clue. But you can look at one of the maps on the walls in the hallways and take your best guesses where it would be, though right now I wouldn't suggest you do it. People are sleeping," She told him.
“My guess is it’s probably in the computers,” Pollux said, “I may not be able to access the data. I can look elsewhere, but I’ll wait until the morning. Before I go, though, here’s what I know.”
He pulled out his notepad and showed Logan the few things he had actually determined.
"Yeah, I knew that already. A doctor told me it once after… my first encounter with a zombie." Logan went quiet after that.
Pollux sighed dramatically. “Great, so I’ve got nothing new to add… I figured someone more trained than me already knew that much.”
He shifted his weight over a little.
“So where were you when it happened?”
"A funeral home," Logan said plainly.
“Jesus Christ,” Pollux said, “And I thought the outbreak was bad on a college campus.”
"Yeah, wasn't the most fantastic thing. Luckily I knew how to kill 'em, and any person there who had a messed up brain didn't turn so that was good." Logan shrugged. "A few days later I took this abandoned place over."
"I stopped going to classes when people were getting so sick. Luckily I was living off campus instead of those cramped dorms. Most of them died because living in close quarters is so dangerous. I broke into one of the labs, took supplies, and ran for it with my boyfriend…" Pollux explained, "I've been collecting supplies as I go, but I think endgame here is getting to Atlanta. The CDC is probably best bet, if I want to help research and maybe be one of the first to get a vaccine, if they come up with one. So, I'm kind of trying to go that direction. It's pretty far from here though."
"Mm. I would go with you, but there's something I need to do here first, and I can't afford to do it yet," Logan said.
Pollux then connected the dots between the selling drugs and the phrase 'can't afford.'
"Anything I could help you with?" he asked, "within reason, of course."
"Unless you have 4,000 dollars, then no can do," Logan told him. Then she muttered, "What if I robbed a bank… I'm sure I would find one… but all the money would already be stolen by now, wouldn't it…"
"I may be willing to help you find a way to do this," he said, "However, I would like to know what you need four grand for."
His gaze intensified.
"You must be a level three friend to unlock my tragic backstory, sorry babe," Logan joked. She then sighed and answered seriously. "There's this guy named Elijah. He does all the stuff for a funeral, y'know the coffin, the headstone, the hole, all that shiz. I've been saving up only partially so I can keep this place stocked with food. I really just want to give my brother a proper burial." She looked away, fixating her eyes on the wall behind Pollux.
Pollux looked away.
"Well, hon… I had you pinned wrong. You're a better person than I am…" he murmured.
He debated on whether or not to tell her what happened to Will. He eventually decided not to, and hoped she wouldn't ask about the boyfriend he had mentioned.
"I literally run a free shelter for people to hide from monsters, and I supply them with food and water. Of course, I'm a dick just because I sell drugs for money," Logan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, so I'm not the perfect judge of character. I also wasn't sure if you were going to charge later for us spending the night, or do something else to bring us down…" he said, "but I gotcha now. Sorry for being an ass."
He paced a little.
"Uh, that said, you wouldn't happen to know if this Elijah guy has any guns, would you? If he's unarmed, I'd be plenty happy to go down there and threaten him. Much easier than $4000, don't you think?"
Logan shrugged. "Probably doesn't. Haven't tried talking to him in a while. He actually might be dead by now."
"Sounds like it might be worth a shot then," Pollux said, "If he's not dead yet, he could be by the time you have the money. No time like the present."
"Yeah what better time than the middle of the night during the apocalypse," Logan said sarcastically.
"Yeah, no. I'm going back to sleep before we do anything else," Pollux replied with a laugh, "But if you would like to do this, give me the word. If not, I'll probably leave soon."
Jaylin eyes shot open as she woke up, breathing heavily. Her heart was pounding quickly.
Look…you're in the hospital still. You're fine. It didn't happen. She told herself, leaning back against the wall. Jaylin noticed that Pollux wasn't next to her, so she stood up to go find him.
Pollux had waited for a while for an answer. He didn’t get one right away, but he tried not to be impatient.
“Just let me know, yeah?”
He sighed and stood back up straight.