Journal:St James
| James Clearwater | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Searching Clare General Hospital you find a brown book. You almost toss it aside, mistaking it to be another medical text book or journal, then you notice something unusual.
Opening the book you notice a faded picture of a young girl taped to the inside front cover.
You open the book to the first page. It appears to be journal chronicling the life of a medic working in eastern European countries. You skip ahead to the year of the outbreak.
This is the journal of User:St james
2007
April
26
I am writing this to help me understand. To make the world explain itself to me, to control it. Because if I don't get a handle on what has happened to me, I will not able to prevent myself from taking my own life.
Yesterday I came into being, I was born. A fully formed adult with a mind full of reason and morality. This body has lived another life. Perhaps many hundreds of lives. However, today has been the second day of my life.
After I came to I walked through a mile of rumble, burnt out buildings and past some of the strangest corpses I’ve ever seen.
There is a large wound on my arm, it seems as though I was bitten by a large animal.
I am alone in this world. Yet I understand that to be alone is a concept, that only exists in relation to others. Reading the street signs, and the lifeless forms of those around me told me that there had once been others like me here.
But.
All the streets are empty.
I found no signs of life until I stumbled upon Clare General Hospital. Something in my mind pulled my feet towards its doors. Almost as if I was returning to familiar ground.
Inside I found At least 30 patients suffering the most unusual sorts of injuries. Most disturbingly, some had bite lesions. These marks do not suggest canine wounds. At the sight of this I immediately offered my assistance, though the doctor in charge was too tired to tell me anymore than where I could find First Aid Supplies.
I found this diary and a photograph of a woman in my pocket. The name Emily is written on the back. I’ll start my search for her tomorrow.
28
One of the patients told me today that Malton is infested with the undead. He’s obviously suffering some sort of post traumatic stress related disorder.
29
I spoke to a man today on the Hospital's only Radio system. He was recruiting for the Malton Red Cross. I immediately offered my services. He wished me “the best of luck”.
May
2
Words cannot explain... It's true. The dead really have returned.
I'm too sick to write anymore.
7
More patients flood in everyday. The doctor has gone missing. The great realisation I experienced on Wednesday has finally sunk in. Thank God there was only one of those things outside the hospital. I may not be so lucky next time.
Perhaps this bite wound on my arm explains why I cannot remember who I am, or why I ended up here...
Hopefully drink will help me through this.
12
I discovered a map of the city today. It is immense. At least 100 suburbs. I seem to be in Earletown in the northeast. I feel compelled to leave here.
14
I have decided on a course of action. I’m relocating to Santlerville to help in a Mall siege. A helpful patient taught me the basics of free running, a technique which seems popular amongst the survivors here.
15
I’ve arrived at the mall. Free running is an incredibly effective technique. I was encouraged to loot the stores in search of supplies. I began healing the multitudes of survivors I found there.
16
I took my first look at the horde besieging the mall today. It made my brain hurt. Hundreds of the walking dead. It's not right. What the hell has happend here!!?? I didn’t receive much information from the survivors. I have decided to stay until the situation resolves one way or the other.
20
I have become obsessed with observing the horde for any sight of Emily. A survivor pointed out that I've become emaciated. They suggested I should rest more often. I was assured that the siege would soon be over. I’ve been forced to stop drinking due to the lack of alcohol in the city. It seems people have already tried to escape through drink.
22
Those things broke in today. The smell was overpowering. I did all I could to reinforce the barricades along with other survivors. There are hundreds more out there. The look in their eyes stops me from sleeping most nights.
24
I discovered more medical text books today. They helped me recall the basic medical procedures. I seem to be familiar with many of them. Who was I before I came to this place? The tides have also turned in the siege. We are now close to victory.
26
Victory has been declared! Though the mall grounds still have many of those things shambling around. I have decided to stay to continue to treat wounds and help survivor efforts.
29
I have been in this city for a month now. I have tried to keep my spirits up. I have tried.
June
10
I am still using the mall as my base of operations. However I now plan to return to Clare General. Hopefully I can maintain the building to help the survivor effort. My goal is to assist the remaining population.
14
I arrived at Clare General today. The building is in a poor state of repair compared to other hospitals I have visited since. I installed a Generator to provide light to building and to assist medical operations.
15
The hospital is under attack. A group of at least 13 of those things is attempting to break through the small barricade erected in the main hallway.
This is different to the mall siege; it’s only me and a few helpful survivors keeping the barricades up this time. I have used the radio to call for reinforcements from the local survivor group. I’m not sure if they will arrive in time.
22
What happened.....?
I remember the barricades falling and then nothing. It seems I blacked out. Or something.
Most disturbingly are the numerous deep scratches and cuts all over my arms and neck. I guess I was attacked by those things. There's blood under my finger nails, and all over my hands. Some of that must have come from myself, some of my nails have been ripped off...
The pain is unbearable, but I’ve got to keep moving. What was I doing for the last seven days?? I dare not think that I may have been one of "them". I’m heading back to the hospital to recover from my wounds.
29
I've taken some time out to recover from that experience. Its true. I was dead. As ridiculous as it sounds. It seems I never strayed from the hospital though. Despite what happened here I’m beginning to love this hospital. I expect I defended it even whilst I was dead, or undead. I’m in talks with the local defense force, the BOW, to turn this in a Red Cross institution.
July
10 I healed my 286th patient today.
17
I have not had the time or motivation to write much recently. The dread and despair of the city has sunk in now. I am but another survivor clinging onto life in this forgotten place. For the second time this week I am at Dulston’s mall, restocking my supplies of First Aid Kits.
23
I have remained at Dulston mall. This life is getting too difficult to bear. I have considered taking the easy way out on a number of occasions. All that has stopped me is my devotion to helping others. After I have had a significant rest at this location I plan to move further into the city, in search of more dangerous suburbs, where my expertise will be greater demand. For now I will find a safe place to hide and rest.
2008
The pages between July of 2007 and April of 2008 are mostly blank. Here and there are lists of places with crosses next to them, and lists of items, mostly food and esstential survival equipment.
April
29
I found this diary again today. Reading the old entries almost makes me laugh. I was so different then. It’s been a year since I moved into my hide out in Dulston’s Mall. Plenty of supplies come through the mall, and there are always more patients to attend to.
The creatures raided the whole of the mall in February. They didn’t find my hiding place though. I guess that’s a testament to my building and supply gathering skills.
My search for Emily is over. She's dead. I found her remains in the basement of Clare General Hospital. Not even this plague could bring her back now.
I am resigned to the fact that the outbreak has probably overtaken the whole world by now. But I can't hide away any longer. There are people to help. I have the power to help them, but I'm doing nothing.
I’ve got back into contact with the Malton Red Cross again. They assumed I was dead, rightly so. I haven't really spoken to anyone properly for almost a year. I’m waiting for orders. When I hear from them, I'll leave this place behind.
30
It’s nice to go free running and be helping the injured after all this time. It gives me reason to go on.
May
2
I healed my 300th patient today. Remembering all those faces helps me retain what is left of my sanity.
5
I've made plans to move into St Ninian's Hospital (Pescodside) while I wait for news from The Malton Red Cross. I went over and inspected it today, its certainly in much better condition than Clare General.
13
After waiting 8 days for fellow Red Cross members to arrive, I have decide to move again since the undead presence in Dulston is too high. I am now relocating to Ridleybank.
2010
May
13
This diary is redundant. It has been exactly two years since I have recorded anything. Within that time I have been forced to experience the destruction of my consciousness more times than any man can bear. I am unable to write anymore. Hence forth I will record my movements to assist myself in the future: Twikie Mall -Dulston to Kelreher Walk Police Dept in Randlebank
14
Ridelybank - all the hospitals are ruined, I am therefore moving again to St Pius Hosptial in Darvall Heights as I have heard over the radio that is under siege.
15
Passed through Malton Zoo for the first time, found the hospitals in Eastonwood to be completely destroyed
2012
October
12
I awake with blood on my hands. According to the pale faces I see before me, over two years have passed since St Matthews Hospital in Gatcombeton was overrun.
The last thing I can remember was the light bulbs slowly burning out.
I am cold.
2022
December
Ten years. Ten years have passed. My fingers can barely grip the pen, they have been struck with rigor mortis for so long. The city has led me to Fort Creedy. Even after all this time the massacre continues. The creature's appetites are insatiable. The patient's blood flows endlessly.
2025
March
3
The news came over the radio. The bombs are coming. After 20 years, everything is going to end.
9
Malton Zoo is deserted. A solitary zombie skulks around the giraffe enclosure.
10
I stand in the ruins of Caiger Mall. Supplies are dwindling across the city.
13
I've made it to the Burchell Arms. There are already 76 survivors gathered here. If I am going to ride out the end of the world, at least I can do so with a drink and some company.
14
I am alive. My hands continue to shake. The sun sinks below the rooftops. I await the end.
