it's an epidemic {open

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His equipment had began to fall apart a few weeks ago, not that it had been much too begin with. After his last meeting with another group he had traded some of his supplies for some of theirs. One of his newly gained items had been an walkie talkie, but now he had began to realize that in best light it was in such an bad shape that he would be lucky if it even worked. In the pockets of his pants he had an water bottle filled to an third and an old wallet with only an photo inside, the only thing that he had really kept on to together with his gun, an small caliber pistol with seven rounds that was stuck into the waist of his baggy pants. 

But none of that was the reason he had decided to enter the city, but the fact that he had completely emptied his food stock and he knew that he'd soon be a goner if he couldn't find something to eat. He had been lying in the grass for quite a while before he had deemed the coast clear and began to crouch forward, stepping silently between the buildings as he kept his head up and an hand loosely held over the butt of his gun. There had been a few walkers in his way, but he had managed to sneak past without having to fire his pistol which he was happy over. Firing in here would probably cause more trouble than it'd save him. After a while of pointless scavenging he had found an house that he had an good feeling about. Crouching up to its back wall he had stood up to throw an eye inside. As it seemed empty he decided to walk around and try the door, but walking around the edge he had no idea about what he'd stumble upon.

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As Dan passed the corner he almost jumped as he noticed the gesture of a man, his first thought counting it as an walker. But after an second his reasoning came back and he saw that the man was very much alive and reached to grab something in his pocket. Damn, this isn't how I wanted things to go. He thought as he drew his gun from his waist, holding the man at point as he spoke with an uncertain voice. '' Hey man, don't.. don't take anything out of your pocket or I'll shoot. ''

His words didn't reflect his thoughts though, as shooting the man in here was the last thing he wanted to do, but he wouldn't hesitate in case the man tried something funny. As he stood there with the gun in his hand, he mustn't have looked much to the world, dressed in his squared shirt and baggy pants with an unshaven chin. And yet the pistol in his hand had suddenly became the center of attention.

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Dan narrowed his eyes from the sun as he watched the man raise his palms into the air before swallowing deeply, his saliva feeling dry in his mouth. The mans empty hands made his mind clear up a bit as he sized the man top to toe. For some reason he didn't feel like someone who would try and do something funny, so Dan afforded to lower his gun somewhat towards the ground as an thought came to his mind. What was he doing? Threatening someone to gun point simply because they held their hands in their pockets? What am I turning into? He thought briefly before shrugging it off.

Silently clearing his throat he began to speak to the man again. '' You're from around here? '' His voice sounded cautious as he kept his eyes aimed at the man. '' Look man, I don't want to shoot anyone, but you startled me.. I'm just looking for supplies, food and stuff you know? '' He continued as his voice turned somewhat more normal as the calm off the stranger began to rub off against him. 

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Dan couldn't help himself but to let his face drop a bit as the man replied. Maybe this whole time was already emptied of everything of worth. It had been an bet to come here in the first place, but he had at least felt certain that there would have been -something-. As the man then looked over at the house his eyes followed, as he understood the hint. '' You haven't checked it yet? ''  He asked a bit surprised as he raised an brow, turning back towards the man as he counted his options. If I send this guy away, he might put an bullet in my skull when I can't see him.

After an brief moment of thinking he took the pistol and shoved it back into its place at his waist as he gave the other man an nod. '' Got something to open that door with? '' He asked with an questioning look as he threw the door an eye.

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Almost surprising himself, Dan didn't even reach for his gun as the man began to lower his hands and grabbed the knife from his pocket. Somehow he felt like the danger had passed, for now, and that the man wouldn't try to do anything stupid. As the man then continued to speak he couldn't help but to crack up an faintly ironic smile. '' Don't count on me sticking around if things starts going south either. '' He said to make it clear. If it hadn't been for the food he wouldn't even be here and he surely wouldn't play the hero if things began to turn sour. Right now he had to keep just as much of an eye at the man as the walkers that could be closer than they'd think.

As the man declared his point about the medical supplies Dan had already began to walk up towards the stairs leading to the door, his eyes scanning the terrain around them for anything moving as he gave off an faint nod. '' Sure, whatever medical stuff you find's yours. '' He said bluntly. It wasn't like he had much use for them either way, traveling alone he doubted he'd have much of an chance if he got injured, bandaged or not. As he came to an stop with his left foot at the first step he turned to watch the man work over his shoulder, interested in how well he'd manage to get the door open without making too much noise.

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Dan watched with peered eyes as the door came open, before raising one brow slightly impressed at the efficiency of the break in. '' Not the first time you're breaking up an lock I take it? '' He asked casually before walking up the stairs. As he walked he listened to the mans reasoning, and replied with an easy nod. '' Suppose, just don't cut me down from behind and run away with the stuff, alright? '' He asked with a bit of irony in his voice. While he doubted that the man would do anything like it, if he would he probably wouldn't reply honestly to his request. And even Dan realized that it was reasonable that he went first as he pulled the gun out from his waist and held it tightly with both his hands at an arms reach in front of him.

As he began to walk inside in an slow, cautious manner he noticed that the room was in pretty good shape in comparison to how it looked outside. It almost felt surreal, as if the family could come home any minute to put on the stove if it hadn't been for one thing. The work spaces in the kitchen had been drenched in old blackening blood, and Dans expression soon turned into an frown as the odor reached his nose.

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He stood frozen for an moment as the other man began to walk around the kitchen island, and as he stopped with an sigh Dans eyes followed him. Curious, Dan took an step up to peek below the mans shoulder and noticed the woman who was laying dead in what he counted as her own blood. Suddenly he didn't feel the cautiousness he had felt outside towards the man and he cleared his throat with a nod towards the woman. '' She's.. dead, like dead dead? '' He asked as he looked up at the man, waiting for an obvious answer before nodding faintly as an reply.

'' Sure. '' Was his reply to the man when he continued to talk about searching the house, and he began to walk through the hallway that led to the other rooms with his finger held lightly over the trigger on his gun, as he was beginning to feel the chills creeping over his spine. Maybe this hadn't been such an good idea after all? Maybe he could have found food elsewhere? Ah, it was too late now either way. He came up to the first of the doors, and as he held his gun pointed at it he used his spare hand to softly push it open in front of him. It went open with an cool creek and his eyes caught the vision of an dusty bed in, undone and lighted up by the sunlight that shined in through the dirty window, leaving black spots on the sheets. He took an deep breath to gather himself a bit before taking an brisk step inside, quickly scanning the room before letting out an relieved sigh. '' This one's clear.. '' He said to the man back over his shoulder.