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Soon after Marty spoke, two youths on bicycles, chased a younger boy on foot down the street. The child was soon overpowered and cowered at the curb while his assailtants gave in to their infection. He managed to scream, leading his mother outside. She grabbed an empty flag pole off the porch and ran out to beat away her son's attackers.

Looking back at Scotty, Marty watched a few kids crossing the street, one chased by two others. After they were again out of sight behind some buildings, he heard one yell, and the mother went running. Shaking his head, Marty chuckled. "Well, things can't be that bad. Seems kids are back out, tormenting each other. Maybe it was just a temporary thing, you know?" Turning back around, he glanced at the pizza place Dave had mentioned, and headed inside, the bell ringing as he opened the door.

Inside, it was empty, but there were a few pizzas laying out, and they seemed to be still warm. Looking around, Marty tried to find any of the workers. "Hello? Anyone in here?"

With a sigh, Marty glanced around, then at the pizzas. After a moment, he lightly hopped the counter, glancing at the cash register. Making his way to the stack of pizzas waiting to be given out, he found one for three large pepperonis and breadsticks. Checking inside to be sure it was still good, he pulled it off the shelf, rang himself up, added a pair of two-liters, and swiped the card. By the time Scotty was back, Marty was waiting for him, holding out the two-liters of mountain dew.

"You ready yet?"

Considering that, Marty nodded and waited for him to finish writing the note, then handed the two-liters over to Scotty, grabbing the pizzas, and leading the way outside. Turning toward their destination, he walked calmly, and in a rather good mood, the rest of the rather short walk from the pizza store. As they neared, he shifted the pizzas to one hand, he pulled out his cell phone, scrolling through his contacts, he lifted it to his ear, standing near the door.

"Yeah, just wanted to see if you could get the door, so I can bring in the pizza"

A pause, as someone on the other end spoke.

"Well, at the main door to the complex. Three pizzas, a few two-liters, and some breadsticks. Did I miss anything?"

Another pause.

"Eh, pretty much. Come on down and I'll explain it, alright?"

Very brief pause, then he finished with "Alright" and hung up. Leaning against the doorframe, Marty took a moment to smell the pizza, glancing at Scotty. "He's going to meet us here."

David practically jumped out of his skin as his thought train was de-railed by the ringing cellphone. He shook his head of the remnants of his inner dialog and flipped open the phone.

It was Marty.

"Oh, hey, are you alright? ...Oh. Where are you? ...That sounds amazing. Was the place empty? ...Sure, lemme grab Liz's keys and unblock the door, I'll be down in a second."

The prospect of pizza was already making him salivate. He hadn't realized how hungry he was. Snatching Liz's keys from the kitchen table, he then cleared out the noise alarm in front of the door. He paused as he reached for the handle, and slowly looked out the peekhole first. The hall was empty.

He decided to grab a large cooking knife, before leaving.

He slipped it into his pocket and slowly opened the door. Looking both ways down the hall, he then left the apartment and locked the door behind him.

The stairs seemed so very close when he saw a stranger's head pop up, as they ascended them. David froze in place and slipped his hand around the knife's grip, watching the man closely. The fellow seemed distracted, tired and puzzled, and then noticed David's awkward glance as he stepped onto the floor, mail in hand.

The man stopped and stared back.

David watched him quizzically, as his pajamas suggested he had no idea what was going on outside. "...Hi."

The response was weary, but the man stared at the makeshift wrappings. "Uh... are you okay?"

"I will be," David continued. "Got jumped on the way home today."

They both continued walking.

"Guess that explains the bandages," the man said. "Feel better."

"Thanks."

After the exchange, David regretted not warning him about what's outside. Hopefully he'll turn on the news when he gets in.

He opened the door for Marty and Scotty soon after, looking at them both with his one good eye. He was suddenly very glad for his friend's presence.

He couldn't help but smile, stepping back into the building after opening the door for them.

"I told you I was attacked. He punched me in the face and and I lost one of my lenses. Eye's swollen." He then turned to Scotty. "Nice to meet you. Wish we could have met under better circumstances. Let's head on up, follow me."

Climbing the stairs, he was suddenly reminded about how much pain his body was in. He was looking forward to eating some pizza and falling asleep.

He blinked a bit at the man's state. He resisted pointing out the obvious.
He nodded. "The feeling is mutual."
With that, he followed.