Athens, Greece

Date: 5th of January
Location: Fortified bunker on the coast of Athens, Greece


Journal Entry #235:

"I am currently isolated inside a bunker located on one of the less inhabited coastlines of Athens; trying to make contact to the other islands for status updates and to the capital as well. Mainland Greece is under a state of emergency. I can't believe how fast it has spread. Maybe it's because of the high population density in the capital. I have ordered the city government to shut down all possible entrances and block the borders as well as being on full military alert...

My beautiful Mediterranean country... It's now in more ruins than are not at all very cultural-looking. And besides, it's littered with those... things..."

Just as he wrote that last sentence, he heard a thump against the concrete wall. He parted a small opening between the blinds and saw another one lingering about. After some time, when the creature had turned it's back, Heracles unlocked the small sliding opening on the middle part of the metal door. The space was just enough. With a rifle in his hand, he shot down the creature on the head; the gun shot caused a booming sound that echoed throughout the area.

"The capital has been secured already. I've asked the deputy generals to have the islands on a total lock-down and to block all forms of immigrant transportation except inter island trades excluding that of the mainland. Now, the military is trying to eliminate the remaining creatures within the country border since there hasn't been any cure found yet and in order to stop the further spawning of those things as well.

The economy has dropped very dramatically over the past months. The capital is losing resources fast, so I needed to find help urgently. Lately, there hasn't been any response from Turkey, and Europe is already worse as it is, so I didn't try to make attempts of help with the other European countries. I have no choice but to traverse the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean towards Japan. Although it would seem easier to bypass the Asian countries, I highly doubt that they would allow it. Fortunately, there is a reserve dock not far from here with a boat and enough fuel to travel across the two oceans. However, I need to find more resources in order for me to survive that long travel. I have already sent a message to the headquarters back at the capital and all I need now is a reply to come pick me up."

Heracles stood up and searched for the first-aid kit for some medicines. He got some Ibuprofen and drank them down. Afterwards, he locked the metal door tight as well as the small opening. He lit up a gas lamp and sat down again to continue writing.

"Lately I have been having this strong headache. I don't know if I am going to have a fever or not. I sure hope it does not lead to a fever, since I can't afford to waste more time to be able to go to Japan. I wonder why the capital is taking long on replying. Yesterday was the day that the last batch of immigrants were sent off to Crete for evacuation in order to be safe. However, the evacuation plan had attracted a large movement of those creatures. For now they only appear one by one, but sooner or later there would hordes that would come bombarding at the bunker. I could not go directly to the capital since the jeep doesn't have any fuel at all and my current amount of artillery and firepower would not suffice to wipe out all those creatures waiting there.




It has already been two hours and finally I received a transmitted message on the radio receiver. The capital said that they would be escorting me to the dock tomorrow in full protection and with enough resources to last for three months for a small crew. Finally! I sure hope that everything would go according to plan. And I hope that they get here fast. I have been sensing a big movement towards this direction on the signal. Let's hope I can still make it through the night."

He put out the flame in the lamp and as his eyes got heavier and heavier, he rested his head on the crate box and fell asleep.

January 15th
Startus: Uninfected (for now)




Traversing over the Northern Greek countryside had proved to be a tumultuous task indeed. Sadiq had not made this long of a haul since his days as the Ottoman Empire. All the same he still did not recall there being so many mountains here. Perhaps it would have been better to take a boat to the shores? Though, his main concern with that idea had been navigating to the mainland. There would not have been anyone he could find to willingly steer a boat, and no one would especially be keen on traveling to another infected area. The military would also probably not allow Sadiq within Athens the normal way. Typically the Turk would not be so keen on running to Herakles in a time of crisis but, inwardly the man was worried terribly about the Greek. When and if he saw him would he say so? No. Perhaps it was out of a sense of pride that he could never show that side to Herakles, ever. Sadiq would just need to keep to his seriousness, and at times his jovial joking manner.


Passing by a farm the man tread quietly along the dirt road glancing over at the field. Goats were still grazing happily as if there were nothing wrong. The structure appeared to be inhabited but, Sadiq was not sure he felt the urge to stop to find out by what. Would the zombies had really gone out this far? When he was up in the mountains more he had not seen many, if any at all to be honest. It appeared the infection was far more spread out which allowed citizens to get rid of the threat. Though the sun shone brightly over the glistening emerald countryside there was nothing optimistic about the air. A sense of dread and depression seemed to have swept over the lands. Such a feeling of negativity, hopelessness, and despair had not been felt by Sadiq since the Crusades. The man would make no exaggerations about that; those were some of the darkest times had been through. Yet the circumstances of this outbreak of the undead seemed to top that sense of severe disillusion with the world around you. Would the Governments of the world be able to eradicate this threat? Or would Turkey and everyone else need to watch helplessly as their beloved homes, people, and land fell victim to this evil?


"Allah, what did we do?" Sadiq inquired in a voice barely above a whisper as he spoke, his eyes lifting up to look at the blue sky. Throughout his week long travels the had asked this question many, many times. All he asked for was a sign, some sort of answer to his question. Sadiq never prided himself in recent years to being overly religious like his siblings. Yet, every single time had been in a terrible situation he prayed, and would talk to Allah. The talking and praying had done a lot to alleviate his fears, and bring him a sense of peace and renewed hope. If at any time he had doubts then Sadiq would just speak again, and try to ease the anxiety in his mind. However now came the question that most had asked over the centuries when a catastrophe struck. What did we do? Was this some sort of holy judgment upon the people of the world for their sins? Did Sadiq even believe in all those tales about a doomsday, and the wrath of Allah? It used to be engrained deep into his mind, and was still there in his subconscious. Only in recent years had he been trying to take a reasonable approach but, situations such as this did not seem like they needed rationality.


"Are you going to let us all die? Not all of us are terrible people you know, please do something. I cannot bear to see my people suffering." Oh how he must have looked completely insane talking to himself. Coming up the road he could see the city of Athens sitting along the blue waters of the Mediterranean. For a moment a small smile curled at the corner of his lips, and he began to slowly make his approach. From upon the hilltop Sadiq could spot the military barricades. Well at the very least there some semblance of order and control here. Looking around momentarily the Turk stepped off into the bit of woodlands by the road. Something told the man they would not just let him in normally, or willingly no matter who he was. This meant that Turkey would have to find a way to sneak inside unnoticed. A task that would possibly prove more harrowing than fighting hordes of the undead. Living people, with guns, military vehicles, and a brain to think with could be much more dangerous. It was really too bad that none of the cellphones worked or he could call Herakles. With no way of getting in touch with the man, there was no way to be safely allowed inside.



Creeping along the broken branches with the quietness, and careful footing of a hunter he went along. Not like Athens was surrounded by a great outer wall but, there were military personnel going back and forth. He needed to find a way to slip through during one of their rounds. Perhaps create a distraction? A small grin crept across his face, and he remembered the grenades he brought. A distraction it would be then. Though Sadiq knew he had to be extra careful not to blow up the barricade; that would not end well. Getting towards the edge of the woods the man stopped, and set his rifle down. Looking around to check his surroundings Turkey made sure nothing was following him first. Finding out he was safe he pulled the pack off of his back, and pulled out one of the grenades. Holding the heavy metal object in his hand Sadiq looked around for a proper place to throw it. Somewhere that it would not destroy the blockade but, would direct their complete attention to it. Popping the pin out Sadiq threw the device down the hill but, kept it away from a brunt of the guards as it exploded. The explosion suddenly set all the men in the area dashing towards the place the grenade exploded, a flurry of yells prevailing in the air.



Giving a small smirk Sadiq picked up his rifle, and suddenly burst into a run. While the soldiers were checking out the area of the explosion, Turkey was running like a marathon racer towards the barricades. Scrambling up on the metal fencing he heaved, and pulled up with all his might to get to the other side. With a thud he hit the ground landing on his feet, and then steadied himself as he almost toppled over. Behind him he could hear the guards start to get closer, their voices still frantic from the unknown grenade assailant. Running again Turkey tore through the familiar streets seeing that some were empty, and that others were teeming with the undead. Thinking fast on his feet the man pivoted to his left, and started down towards the shoreline.