The Walking Dead: A New Beginning From the End of the World

Tyler listened to Jason's words intently, not interrupting or asking questions at any point. He had wandered through the dark web and learned a lot from others considered primary sources of information.

What he knew was insignificant compared to what Jason told him. In no time, he realized that he had only scratched the surface, which terrified him as he considered what could happen to the world. Only now did many of the things he had previously overlooked make sense.

What he considered trivial was immensely important to others. Some people on dark web forums had even gone to the extreme of preparing for a global epidemic.

Maybe he had been ignorant at the time, unaware of many things. Tyler knew that even if he had been interested in buying supplies, he lacked the money or tools to protect himself. But now, with a stranger who shared his survivalist mindset and had the means to act, he would be a fool to walk away from him.

On the other hand, Jason came to the conclusion that Tyler was not an ordinary person. A typical individual would have mocked the words he had just said. Jason wasn't sure if this was because Tyler already knew something about a disease recently spiraling out of control in France or for some other reason.

But Jason wasn't too surprised. After all, he had dealt with unusual people before, like his colleagues in the military prison.

Now, Jason had learned much from Tyler and knew he was telling the truth. As a result, he decided to trust him to handle trivial matters more efficiently than he could.

After giving Tyler a brief overview of a virus that could endanger humanity, Jason began outlining his plan to stay prepared and informed about changes around them.

After some time, Jason and Tyler brought the suitcases from the truck. The money inside would be the key to initially securing primary resources before acquiring more.

"With these funds, we can hurry and start making preparations."

"That's a lot of money..."

Tyler looked at the money and weapons inside the bags. He felt a chill run through his body but didn't back down. He knew something big was happening in the world.

"I've managed to gather this money for now. Later, I know where to find more. But for now, we can use this to start buying what we'll need for the future."

"Oh..."

Jason closely observed Tyler's expression. He wasn't stupid, and he wouldn't fully trust someone he had just met. But he had a plan. With the money now in Tyler's possession, even if he refused to help, he would still be entangled in the problems that might arise. Jason wasn't worried about what could happen.

As they stored the weapons and equipment, Jason and Tyler began organizing ideas for long-term strategies.

Not long after, a black truck pulled out of the apartment building.

…

Jason knew there was no time to waste. The sense of urgency followed him like a shadow from the moment he realized the world's precarious state. So, alongside Tyler, he crafted a detailed plan to prepare before chaos descended upon them.

The first step was to establish safe shelters. They scoured the suburbs of Atlanta and selected farms with spacious basements—remote enough to stay unnoticed but close enough to access easily. Although Tyler suggested renting warehouses for their capacity, Jason immediately rejected the idea. Warehouses and supermarkets would be the first targets for looters when society started to crumble. Instead, houses offered the anonymity they desperately needed.

Jason wasn't going to leave resources in plain sight. He would hide them in the basements, sealing them later.

Once they identified potential locations to store massive amounts of supplies, the next step was resource acquisition.

They systematically raided supermarkets, pharmacies, and supply stores with unmatched efficiency, filling trucks with non-perishable foods like rice, oil, dried meat, instant noodles, and canned goods.

Jason insisted on purchasing seeds for easily maintained crops, convinced that sustainability would be key to long-term survival.

He left nothing to chance, stockpiling large quantities of drinking water, tobacco, and alcohol—not just for personal use but also as valuable trade items when current luxuries became scarce in the future.

They also loaded up on vitamins and over-the-counter medications, filling several more trucks, while Jason mentally cataloged every item they acquired to keep track of it all.

When the massive stockpile was ready, it was time to hide it. The supplies were divided into batches and carefully stored in the basements of rented houses. Jason ensured that each hiding spot was so well camouflaged that even if someone ransacked the house top to bottom, they wouldn't find anything.

Tyler, the more technically inclined of the two, marked each location on a physical map.

For Jason, forgetting the locations would be a waste. To prevent this, he made notes, even considering tattooing a map of the most critical points where he would later store weapons.

This map became one of his most valuable treasures—a compendium that held the key to survival and the foundation for expanding their group in the future.

But Jason knew that supplies alone wouldn't be enough. They would need to defend themselves.

This time, he didn't rely on Tyler for help. Instead, he sought out Tommy, who listened attentively to his words. Tommy wasn't the brightest, but he trusted Jason implicitly.

It didn't take long for Jason to convince him, and together, they acquired an arsenal of weapons and ammunition from the black market. These were also distributed among different locations, never all in one place, because, as Jason often said, "Never put all your gold in one cave."

…

As the days passed, Jason moved with the precision of a Swiss watch—methodical, efficient, yet restless.

During this time, he assembled a team of ex-special forces soldiers and marines, quickly forming a unit that expanded with contacts brought in by each new recruit. Their sole objective: to prepare for the end of times as they knew them.

Holding the rank of captain in the special forces, Jason had the training to command a group of sixty men. They all called him "Captain," a title he had disliked since his last military experience, though he eventually accepted it due to the pressing circumstances.

But he knew that supplies and weapons were only the beginning. He needed to be careful. To face what lay ahead without error, he would need more than physical preparation—he would need a plan, strategy, and, above all, time.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jason stared at the lifeless bodies of the mobsters he had just killed to steal their money. He glanced at Tommy, who was watching as crates of weapons were loaded onto trucks, and asked, "Hey, Captain, when is this virus supposed to hit?"

"Unfortunately, the only thing I can't determine right now is the exact time of the virus outbreak. I don't know how much time we have before it happens." Jason wasn't a genius; the few resources he had were limited, and predicting when each event would occur was impossible.

"So, we just wait?"

"Let's not rush. We can still go to the CDC to find out exactly." Jason knew precisely what his next steps would be. So far, everything was proceeding orderly, aligning with his sudden ideas.

Now that everything was prepared, his next steps were to devise a plan to infiltrate the CDC in Atlanta.

…

Half a month later.

In the CDC building, a man and a woman stood by the window.

"Edwin, to be honest, I don't have much hope for this 'Wildfire Project.' We're running out of time and chances." The woman, named Candace, looked at her husband and confessed her fears.

"Darling, you'll definitely succeed. You're the most capable pathologist I've ever known. If you give up like the others, there won't be any hope left for the world as we know it." The man, named Edwin, approached the woman and firmly held her hands, hoping to instill courage in her to keep going.

"You know me. I won't abandon this place as the lead researcher, even if it's just the two of us left at the end of the day." Candace had lost many colleagues who had abandoned everything to flee, but she didn't have that privilege, being the most important doctor at this center.

What would others think if their leader practically gave up hope of finding a cure for the devastating virus spreading like wildfire?

Edwin smiled indulgently and gently embraced his wife, who leaned against his shoulder. The two simply stood there in silence, enjoying the tranquility that moment brought to their hearts.

"We'll make it, Candace. We'll definitely make it and leave this hell behind forever…" Edwin murmured, though his mind was collapsing.

At that moment, Candace lifted her head, grabbed Edwin by the shoulders, and her tone turned serious.

"Edwin! More people are planning to leave. Since we've decided to stay, the next thing we need to do is hold on to as many people as possible! Let's split up. You go for Jonathan's group, and I'll go convince Tiana's group. We have to try to keep them here to continue the research."

Edwin, lost in thought, was jolted back by his wife's serious tone.

Looking into Candace's determined eyes, Edwin quickly organized his thoughts and nodded without showing any hint of giving up.

…

Just as Edwin and Candace went their separate ways, two people on the top floor of a building across the street from the CDC facility were watching them through binoculars.

These two people were Jason and Tommy, both of whom had been monitoring the CDC up to this day.

"It seems the time for action isn't far off," Jason thought silently.

"Are we really sure this is a good idea?" Tommy asked, his expression worried.

"Well, this is a risk I'll take if we want to survive."

Jason, having done everything he could, had been observing the CDC's situation.

In the first three days, someone else was tasked with thoroughly investigating the CDC's interior and exterior. Jason also managed to obtain an access card from an employee who had abandoned the place and even found out where the Jenners' home was to learn more about the couple.

During this time, Jason had installed monitoring devices in the couple's house and cars. All of this was achieved thanks to the black market and Tommy's skill at searching the right places. With enough money, you could truly buy anything.

"I'll start moving now. Stick to the plan," Jason said, putting away his binoculars. He quickly ran to the edge of the rooftop, heading for the emergency stairs.

"That guy's insane…" Tommy murmured, following Jason, who had been acting like an automaton for some time.

"It looks like the 'Wildfire Project' is in its final stages, and the CDC staff will soon start leaving. The plot is about to begin."

Jason, glancing at the information on his watch and the current situation, noted the date: June 27, 2010, 4:50 PM.

"It's time…"

Focusing on the task ahead, he waited for the two doctors to exit the CDC.

While Tommy was handling other matters, it was time for the staff to return home. At that moment, a black car drove toward the street exit where Jason was waiting.

When the target appeared, Jason also started his truck and began following them. The car ahead belonged to the Jenners, and Jason's truck followed closely as they headed toward their home.

No matter the outcome, Jason knew he had to act.

After thinking it over, Jason decided there was only one way to proceed. Finally, when the car was nearly at its destination, Jason began to accelerate.

Crash!

Jason's truck slammed into the rear of the Jenners' car and then veered to the right.

Shocked by the sudden impact, Edwin turned to his wife and asked, "Candace, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Relieved that his wife was unharmed, Edwin sighed. He'd never been in a car accident before, and though he knew these things could happen, he was thankful it wasn't worse.

To assess the situation, Edwin stepped out of the car and saw the front of a black truck that had severely hit their vehicle from behind.

"What happened?"

While he knew accidents could occur, he felt that now wasn't the time for unnecessary trouble.

All Edwin wanted was to resolve this issue quickly. As he approached the driver's seat of the black truck, he saw a man slumped over the steering wheel. Concerned, Edwin hurried to check on the man's condition.

"Are you okay, sir?"

"Can you hear me?"