Would you guys believe me if I said this was actually the first horror story I've ever written? I absolutely love this genre but I've never tried my hand at it before... So hopefully I'm doing it justice!

Thank you for your reviews! :D

I apologize if there are any errors. Still recovering from my head injury so even though I may have checked this chapter multiple times and tweaked it, I may have accidentally missed a thing or two. Sorry in advance! I'll go through again later to ensure this chapter is nice and polished; in the meantime, I hope you guys continue to enjoy the story! :)

.: 10 :.

Brick paced in front of the coffee table, a troubled expression on his slightly intimidating features. Butch leaned against the arm of the couch wearily, a soft yawn escaping him while Boomer and Bubbles sat on the opposite sofa, both giving the red-haired male their full attention.

After filling Brick and Butch in on all that happened last night, both brothers were at a loss. Butch had no idea what to say; he was still half-asleep from the nap they'd woken him from. Brick, on the other hand, began to pace, occasionally wringing his hands.

"I thought I heard weird stuff happening last night," Brick muttered. "This is bad, guys. If they're in the neighborhood, it's only a matter of time before they sniff us out. When that happens... Well, I don't wanna stick around and find out."

"I'm surprised we weren't sniffed out last night," Bubbles piped up. "If I'm right, there was one right outside my house."

"The humidity was pretty high last night," Butch stated. "And you know when it's humid, there's lots of crap in the air like pollution and stuff. Maybe the bad air quality masked you guys somehow."

That was a valid theory. If Butch was correct, then it was a huge blessing that a violent thunderstorm had rocked through Townsville; otherwise, she and Boomer might have suffered a horrible fate if that infected had discovered them.

"Yeah, but even if that's what actually happened, it's not safe anymore," Brick pointed out. "I thought maybe with the military and the evacuation zones, we would be alright, that they would get a handle on the outbreak and some kind of normalcy would be restored, but everything keeps getting worse. We need to get our hands on some weapons or, better yet, we need to get out of here."

"And go where?" Butch scoffed. "You know it's only a matter of time before the evacuation zones get overrun, and you know damn well that when that happens, we'll be like sitting ducks if we're in one of them. When people panic, it only makes things worse; I don't know about you but I don't want to be there when people start freaking out once an infected breaks down their defenses.

"But the military is there," Boomer pointed out. "Don't you think they'd be able to protect the people there?"

"They can't even protect themselves let alone civilians," the dark-haired male snorted. "Let's say they fail, which they probably will since the infected have superhuman strength; after that, where do we go—back here? We're fucked either way."

Bubbles didn't like his words and Boomer noticed, placing a hand over hers. She smiled appreciatively at him, grateful for the comfort he was trying to offer, but she knew Butch was just as frustrated as Brick. This was a tricky situation and if they weren't careful, they would end up dead or part of the infected population. She may not like what he was saying, but she knew he was right. As safe as the evacuation zones were, they were safer on their own right now; if any of the infection managed to infiltrate the zones, people would panic and that would lead to more deaths, less time to escape with their lives intact, and less room to hide or run if the hysterical masses were clogging every possible exit.

In truth, Butch's pessimistic outlook was realistic. The old Bubbles would probably argue with him and try to make them see otherwise, that there was always hope... But she knew as well as they did that this situation could turn topside at any moment and once it happened, these might be their last days alive.

Brick, however, was less than thrilled with Butch's 'realism.'

"So what do you propose, Butch? That we just open our door and allow them to come kill us right now? That we give up since we're 'fucked either way?'" The redhead's eyes were blazing with fury as he motioned towards the door. "Because be my guest! Go out there and give up, but I'm not gonna give in just because things look bleak. But hey, by all means, go ahead."

Butch grumbled under his breath and looked away. The eldest Jojo brother pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to reign in his temper.

"Okay, look, I know things look bad, but we might have a fighting chance if we get some weapons," he continued, his voice slightly gruff with irritation. "All our guns are in storage back at Citysville, but if we could somehow get our hands on actual firepower like that, we could protect ourselves until we're safely in one of the zones or in a different, safer location."

"But how are we going to do that?" Butch asked, cynicism still coloring his tone. "You saw what happened to our neighbors, and that was just the beginning of the outbreak. That was them just trying to get to the evacuation zones, never mind trying to get their hands on weaponry. If they're in the neighborhood now and if Bubbles is right about them being able to walk around in the daylight, then it's only a matter of time before we end up—"

"NO."

Boomer's uncharacteristically-sharp, icy tone silenced his older brother and caused all eyes to fall on him in astonishment. His lips were set in a thin line and his eyes, normally full of mirth and happiness, were stone-cold.

"We're not going to die. We're going to make it out of here alive."

Butch looked like he wanted to argue otherwise but one glare from his younger brother and he cleared his throat, opting to let his gaze fall on the coffee table.

"Look, guys, I'm sorry, but I just don't see a way out of this," he admitted. "We're practically dead no matter which way you look at it. Why fight it?"

"Because we're not dead."

Everyone's attention shifted to Bubbles. She swallowed nervously before continuing: "I mean, the situation does look bad, but I think we can make it. We've lasted this long and even though it's a little different, even though those things finally made it to the outskirts, I think we can survive if we're smart about this. But just because things look bad, we shouldn't assume we don't have a chance; we have to at least try to figure a way out, and even if we die trying, at least we did the best we could."

"I know I'm certainly not going down without a fight," Brick agreed, appreciative of her optimism. "But we still need a plan."

But what plan could they come up with that didn't end in death or infection?

"Bubbles." At the sound of her name, she looked up, big baby-blues meeting a fiery gaze. "Does your father own any guns or keep any sort of weaponry in the house?"

She shook her head. "No. The only things we have that could be used as a weapon is my sister's baseball bat and the knives in our kitchen."

Brick cursed under his breath. "Knives and bats are great for close-combat but with how fast those fuckers are, we need long-range weapons to take them down."

"We could try the storage facility," Butch suggested. Bubbles was glad to hear that, for once, he wasn't trying to shoot down everyone's ideas. "It's a long trek and Citysville is probably swarming with infected, but if we're careful..."

Boomer and Bubbles shared an uneasy glance but the eldest Jojo brother seemed to be considering the idea.

"It's right on the outskirts of the city," he agreed. "And if we manage to get Mojo's old rifle collection, we'd be set."

"It's settled, then." Butch stood up. "Let's start getting some supplies together. The more time we sit here twiddling our thumbs, the more time the infected will have to take over the neighborhood before we can nudge 'em out properly."

"Whoa, whoa—wait a second." Boomer stood and Bubbles noticed his legs were trembling slightly. "How are you guys going to get there?"

"We'd walk." Butch made it sound like it was the most obvious answer in the world. "Those things are attracted to sound. There's no way we're taking my motorcycle or Brick's truck; they'd be on us in seconds."

"It'll be much easier to sneak by them on foot," Brick added. "It's dangerous in the sense that we won't have much to protect ourselves with, but without a vehicle, we can quietly sneak by them."

"But you guys said earlier that they can sniff people out. What good is sneaking around when they'll smell you coming a mile away?"

"That's why we'll bring a bunch of Mojo's old cologne bottles and make it hard for them to pinpoint where we are. Butch can also whip up a few stink bombs to throw them off if they're really persistent."

Boomer opened his mouth to argue further, but found that he had no more arguments left. Brick and Butch were clearly set on carrying out this new plan and would have an answer for anything he threw at them.

Feeling slightly defeated, he slumped back down against the sofa cushions. Bubbles placed her hand over his and he tried to smile at her attempt at comfort, but the bad feeling in his gut was making it hard for him to feel appreciative. Brick disappeared into the kitchen and returned minutes later with a map. He and Butch began to plan possible routes to the storage center, also taking care to plan out other ways to get there if there were too many infected in their path.

However, their voices were nothing more than background noise to Boomer, his thoughts dark. Brick and Butch seemed to know what they were doing, but if they failed, they would pay with their lives and he would be the last Jojo alive.

The thought made him feel sick.

It was almost one in the afternoon when Boomer decided he couldn't handle the worry that was continuously gnawing at his stomach. He knew Butch's idea was crazy, but it was crazy enough to work out in their favor if all went well. However, if something went wrong... He shuddered, not wanting to entertain the idea of his brothers never returning home.

Bubbles was downstairs charging her phone while Butch was in the kitchen taking stock of food and other things they'd need for the coming journey. Brick was upstairs grabbing a few other things they'd need and Boomer figured if he could reason with anyone, it was his oldest brother.

He found himself standing in front of the redhead's bedroom door, unsure of how to initiate the conversation. Brick must have sensed his brother's presence because he shoved a hoodie into his backpack before turning around.

"Yes?"

"Nothing." Boomer hesitated. "Well, actually..."

He entered the room, which was painted a rich red color with black accents, and sat on the neatly-made bed.

"You really think this plan will work?"

"It's risky, but it's necessary if we want to keep our necks intact. It's going to be dangerous and it'll be a miracle if we make it out alive, but it's the only chance we've got."

"Why not check the neighbor's houses for guns?"

Brick sent him a pointed look. "Dude, what do you think Butch and I were looking for when the outbreak began? No one in Townsville owns a gun; it's not like in Citysville where you constantly have to watch your back. We'd have better luck looking for weapons in the buildings there, anyway, considering most of their residents are trigger-happy."

He was right, of course, but Boomer didn't like the idea of his brothers risking their lives just for a bunch of guns. Suddenly, it dawned on him; why let his brothers go by themselves when he could lend them his help? And why hadn't he thought of this before?

"Well, if you guys think the storage center is our best bet..." He started for Brick's backpack. "Then I'll go with you."

Brick placed a hand on Boomer's shoulder and gently pushed him back.

"No. You need to stay here."

Boomer's mouth fell open. "What?"

"You heard me." Brick shoved a first-aid kit into his backpack. "Bubbles said there was a rescue team on their way. If she's right and they're not dead yet, you guys should be here when they arrive, that way if something happens to me or Butch, at least our deaths weren't in vain."

"But they would be in vain, you moron! What good would it do if you and Butch go on this suicide mission and you don't make it back but we get out alive?" His eyes grew watery. "And what do we do if the team doesn't arrive? We'll die if we try to leave or if we stay! And even if we somehow stay alive... How am I supposed to live without you guys?"

Brick smiled sadly at his younger brother. "Listen, kiddo, you know Butch and I care about you. We don't always say it because, well, it's weird, but you know that we love you, and Mojo did too even though he was a hard-ass at times. Our deaths wouldn't be in vain because we would have died trying to ensure all of our safety, but if you two manage to survive even if we don't, that still counts for something. We need to at least try to get our hands on those guns because if we do, we'll have a fighting chance at protecting ourselves. You need to stay with Bubbles because even though she's a strong girl, she's got a good heart."

Boomer narrowed his eyes. "A good heart? What does that have to do with anything?"

"People with good hearts don't like hurting others even if those 'others' are trying to kill them, but when you have someone to protect and fight for, you'd be surprised what people would do to keep their loved ones safe. Now, I'm not saying you guys love each other or that you don't have a good heart, you're probably the best person out of our family, but I'm saying this about Bubbles because she seems like the type who would hesitate if something tried to attack her."

"Dude, she nearly took my head off with a baseball bat the first time we met. Trust me, Bubbles can hold her own."

Brick raised an eyebrow. "So you're telling me that you'd rather leave her here all by herself?"

The blonde's cheeks grew pink with embarrassment. "N-no, that's not what I meant."

"Uh-huh." The redhead didn't sound convinced but continued. "My point in this is that you both seem to get along great and I have a feeling that if something were to happen, you two would look out for each other no matter what it took. When Butch and I leave, I'd feel better knowing that you two are sticking together instead of just leaving her, or even you, to fend for yourselves."

"But we're just two people!" Boomer argued. "You saw Bonsai Gardens; those things are fucking brutal! Don't you think we'd be better off with four people instead of two?"

"Boomer, don't you remember that one time Butch and I went out?" Brick asked. "Those things don't like it when there's more than one human walking around. They go after people that are all by themselves but they stay away from groups. Butch is a big dude and I think they can sense that he'd knock them into next week if they tried anything and you know I'm not exactly known for throwing soft punches, either. If he and I stick together, I think we'll be fine, and you and Bubbles need to do the same."

"But Brick, what if—"

Brick finished loading up his backpack with supplies and stood, sending a pointed look to his brother.

"Butch and I are going and you are going to stay with Bubbles. End of discussion."

"No..." The wounded, angry look on Boomer's face hurt Brick, but he refused to change his mind. "No, you can't go! You guys need to stay with us; all four of us need to stick together!"

"What if Butch and I are able to get our hands on some real weapons? We'd have a better chance of protecting ourselves if we got the stuff that's in storage."

"Take us with you, then! There's safety in numbers!"

Brick shrugged on his backpack and readjusted his signature red baseball cap. "Like I said, someone needs to stay behind to wait for the rescue team. Besides, it's too dangerous for all of us out there; it'll be that much harder to sneak in and out successfully when we have to worry about four people instead of two. It's for the best that two of us go and two of us stay behind."

Boomer sank down onto the bed, defeat written all over his features. "But what if... What if when you get back, the rescue team has already picked us up? What then?"

"We'll find our way to you guys," Brick replied. He reached over and ruffled the blonde's hair, earning a cry of protest. "It might take us a bit longer to get to the zone where you guys are at, but we'll find a way somehow. You're not getting rid of us that easily."

It was then that the youngest Jojo brother lowered his gaze to his feet. He didn't like admitting defeat, especially not in front of his brothers, but damn it if he wasn't honest.

"I'm scared, Brick. I'm scared of losing you and Butch... You guys are all I have left."

"Hey, now, that's not true." Brick sat next to him and slung an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, you've got Bubbles. I don't know her too well but she seems like a sweetheart, and she seems to like you. And I know you, Boomer, you don't tend to sleepover at someone's house or spend an entire day with them if you don't like them. You and Bubbles seem to be good friends and I know that if you ever needed anything, Bubbles would have your back, no question.

"Besides, like I said, you're not going to lose us. Butch and I will be fine, we just have to be extra careful out there. Don't be scared, kiddo, just do your best to keep yourself and Bubbles safe while we're gone."

A tentative knock interrupted them and they both turned to see Bubbles standing in the doorway, her big blue eyes wide with concern.

"Sorry, is this a bad time?"

"Not at all, I was just getting ready to leave." Brick pulled Boomer into a half-hug, clapping him on the back. "Think about what I said, kiddo. Don't do anything stupid while we're gone."

Butch appeared next to Bubbles, a backpack slung over one shoulder while a baseball bat was strapped to his back much like a scabbard would be. He nodded towards the oldest Jojo brother.

"You ready to rock?"

"Yup, let's roll." He started to head towards Butch when he paused, turning back to Bubbles. "Oh, actually... Bubbles, before we go, there's something I'd like to ask of you."

She blinked. "What is it?"

He placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes swimming with sadness. He knew something that she didn't and it bothered her; what could make Brick Jojo, the leader of his brothers and the most calm and rational of them, so upset?

"You and Boomer have to stay behind for the rescue team. I don't care if you stay here or at your place; I'm leaving that decision up to you two. No matter what happens, please look out for each other. Be careful, don't take stupid risks, and protect each other no matter what it takes. Boomer can handle himself and I know you can hold your own as well, so you two need to work together in order to survive.

"Butch and I shouldn't be more than a few days, maybe even a week or so if we run into a few obstacles along the way, but no matter what happens, take care of each other. Please."

No matter what happens. Bubbles didn't like the way his words sounded. Did Brick think they were going to get killed? Did he think that she and Boomer would be left the sole survivors of the Pokey Oaks region; is that why he looked so dismal?

Nevertheless, Bubbles gave a determined nod.

"Of course. You have my word."

Brick squeezed her shoulder one last time before he and Butch gave Boomer one last hug. The blonde wanted to protest, to fight them about their decision to leave, but a warning look from both young men silenced any arguments before he could voice them. As they all went downstairs and headed towards the front door, all he managed to choke out was a "Please be careful," and then they left.

Bubbles and Boomer watched them as they headed down the street in the direction of what used to be brooding, busy Citysville. It was a shame they couldn't take Brick's car, but the redhead's reasoning of the infected being attracted to sound was solid. It was for the best they set out on foot; it was their only hope of keeping a low profile.

Once Butch and Brick disappeared into the distance, Bubbles was startled by Boomer launching his fist at one of the walls, leaving a decent-sized dent in the drywall. Furious tears streaked down his cheeks and he growled at the pain, his knuckles bloody when he pulled his hand back.

Bubbles approached him cautiously. "Boomer?"

"I'm just... Upset," he ground out. "Give me a minute. Please."

She obliged him and turned back to peek out the window, attempting to give him some semblance of privacy. She heard a few angry sniffs and a much more feeble swipe at the wall. When Boomer was a little more composed, he sank onto one of the sofas and leaned his elbows on his knees, covering his face with his hands.

Bubbles sat down next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. When he didn't pull away or make any indication that her touch was unwanted, she began to rub slow circles into his back, right between the shoulder blades. Boomer relaxed slightly, but remained tense for the most part.

They sat in silence for a little while, Boomer trying to regain control over his emotions while Bubbles attempted to console him. When he finally uncovered his face, he wiped the tears out of his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"They'll be okay," Bubbles offered. "Your brothers are the toughest guys I've ever met. If anyone can do this, they can."

"I know." His voice cracked but he straightened, not quite angry with his brothers but immensely frustrated with the situation. "I know they can do it, I'm just..."

He didn't need to finish his sentence. Bubbles knew he was scared of losing the only family he had left. It was the same fear that had haunted her when she first discovered she was alone, left to fend for herself in a new world that mirrored the one she was used to only in terms of appearance.

Boomer didn't realize it, but he'd brought a lot of hope back into her life. One of the reasons she was so grateful to have met him was the fact that he had a positive attitude, even in the face of danger. Was he scared? Sure; anyone would be frightened beyond their wits at what they were up against. But he also refused to let his fear change him, and that was no small feat; Bubbles had once been like him, a happy-go-lucky person with a radiant smile and a giving heart, but not anymore. After witnessing the horror the infected were capable of creating... That sweet girl she used to be was gone and Bubbles didn't know how to get her back.

Did she even want to go back to who she was? Bubbles hated being overly-cautious and fearful, but it was those two qualities that had kept her alive so far. Who knows what would have happened if she had actually spoken up that one time she encountered an infected? If she hadn't been paralyzed with fear, her life would have been snuffed out the moment the sickly man had heard her speak.

However, Boomer was not used to behaving the way she had become accustomed. He lived in the illusion that everything was fine when it wasn't, and pretended that nothing could hurt him when nothing could be further from the truth. He was getting a nasty taste of reality right now and Bubbles' heart hurt for him.

"What can I do to help you feel better?" Bubbles asked. Boomer wiped the tears from his eyes and swallowed thickly.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Bullshit." He looked up, a tad surprised to hear her swear, and was even more surprised when she pulled him into a hug.

"I know how you're feeling. You're scared of losing them." At her words, Boomer closed his eyes to prevent more tears from overflowing. He hated the fact that he was crying, especially in front of Bubbles, and he wished he could get a handle on his emotions before she started thinking he was weak... if she didn't think so already.

She pulled back after a moment and lowered her gaze to the floor. "When I realized I was all by myself, I didn't know what to do. I was terrified. I don't know how to fight and I had no idea what was going on, and then when I first saw an infected and then Buttercup called me and screamed at me to stay inside..."

She took a deep breath. "Not a day passes when I don't worry about them. Sometimes I'm scared that I'll wake up and learn that there isn't a rescue team, or that there's no one left in the world but you and me. It bothers me that if something were to happen to my family, I never got the chance to tell them how much I really love them."

Bubbles smiled then, her own eyes becoming wet. "And I never got to tell Buttercup I'm sorry for all those times I raided her Halloween candy stash and took all the Reese's cups, or Blossom for accidentally losing her favorite pen, or the Professor, for sometimes blowing up the kitchen when I tried to learn how to cook. I once set the stove on fire and it singed his eyebrows off... It took forever for them to grow back and Blossom had to pencil them in for him until they did. I felt horrible that it happened but it was hilarious, seeing him walk around with these huge, cartoony eyebrows... That was before Blossom knew how to draw eyebrows properly."

Boomer snorted, but a hint of a smile played on his lips.

"So, I get it, okay?" Bubbles continued, patting him on the back. "You're terrified and you have every right to be. But I'm going to turn your advice back to you: try not to worry so much. I know that's easier said than done, but what good is it going to do if you're sitting here fretting and worrying yourself sick? Brick and Butch said that we should stick together and do what we can to survive, so we should do as they say."

"But your family is in the evacuation zone," Boomer argued, cutting his eyes at her. She nearly flinched but understood he was just frustrated; she would be, too, if she was in his position. "They're safe. They're not going toe-to-toe with infected right now."

"You don't know that. For all I know... For all I know, my family is dead."

Ah, and there was that third quality that had seeped into Bubbles' personality: realism. As a child, even as a teenager, she had always been able to pretend that life was like a movie; happily ever afters, heart-warming moments between family and friends, determination and steadfast courage during hard times. Blossom always warned her from getting her head stuck in the clouds and she never listened until the clouds disappeared and she landed harshly on the asphalt below. Bubbles could no longer pretend that the world was okay when adrenaline and terror pumped through her veins at every sound of the night.

And although it was a messed up thing to say... She knew it was realistic. It was completely possible that her family hadn't made it. They could be a part of the infected population as she sat there with Boomer.

Bubbles' eyes began to water and she quickly stopped that train of thought before it could get worse. Okay, so she was realistic to a fault. But still... Assuming her family was safe when they could very well be dead was foolish.

Boomer seemed to snap out of the funk he was in because his gaze softened and he turned away.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I know I'm wallowing in self-pity right now. It's just that, this is..."

He bit his lip and Bubbles continued rubbing his back, silently encouraging him to continue. After a moment of gathering his thoughts, he did.

"This is my worst fear come true. I know that you're here with me and I don't want you to think that I don't want to be with you, you're a great friend and I've had a blast getting to hang out with you, but... Ever since I was a kid, I've been terrified of being alone, of losing my family. I'd rather die with them than be left behind.

"I know that Mojo is basically dead," he pressed on, even though Bubbles could tell it pained him to do so. "The father I knew is gone and whatever is running around the city is just a body gone haywire, but Brick and Butch... What if they don't make it? I'm scared, Bubbles. I don't know if I can handle losing them. It was hard enough to lose Mojo but I had my brothers to help me through it, but if I lost them, too..."

Boomer closed his eyes and sniffled, and Bubbles took the opportunity to pull him into a hug. He held onto her tightly as if she would disappear if he didn't.

"If it makes you feel any better," she replied. "I'm scared of being alone, too. My sisters have always been stronger than me, and smarter at times, and I know that if anything ever happened to them or my father... Well, it's not exactly something I like to think about. I don't think I could go on if I lost them. I can be strong because I'm holding out hope that I'll see them again someday but if I find out something happened..."

She cleared her throat, fighting back her own tears. "A-anyway, my point is that I get it. There is a possibility that they won't make it, but there's also a possibility that they'll survive and I'll get to see them again. I obviously don't know Brick and Butch as well as you do, but I know that they're strong and they're the type to overcome anything life throws at them. Worrying and fretting about them won't do anything but leave you at risk; what if an infected got into the house and attacked you and you were so busy worrying over them that you couldn't fight back? What would your brothers do if they returned to find you dead or infected?"

He didn't reply but her words caused twinges of guilt to stab at his gut.

"Okay, so maybe that was a little harsh," Bubbles amended. "But what I'm saying is, I know that it's hard right now. You don't want anything bad to happen to them and I don't either, and I definitely don't want anything bad to happen to my family, but sitting here and worrying won't change a thing. You're not alone, Boomer; I know I'm not you're family, but I'm here. It wasn't necessary for Brick to ask me to look after you since I was already planning on helping you guys in any way I could, but no matter what happens, you still have me and I know I still have you. We need to stay alive and make it count, if not for ourselves... Then for the people we care about.

"It's perfectly understandable to be upset and scared," she finished. "But don't let your fear control you. Isn't that what you told me once? If we let our fears rule over us, we'll be dead before we can even try to fight for our lives. Have faith in your brothers and in the meantime, let's work together to do our part and stay alive."

When Bubbles finished speaking, Boomer didn't reply right away; in fact, she thought maybe he'd fallen asleep against her. However, Boomer sniffled one final time before he sat up, wiping the remaining tear tracks from his face.

"You're right. I'm sorry, I-I just.."

"No apology necessary. Let's just figure out what we're going to do while they're gone."

The sun was setting outside and Bubbles chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "And I think I know a good place where we can start: I have a hunch that scavenging is going to be much more of a challenge now that we've got new neighbors and there's still the matter of figuring out which house we're going to stay in. We're going to need a plan of our own if we have any hopes of keeping a low profile while keeping our food supply from running out."

"You know the city better than I do," Boomer admitted. "I only know certain areas, like the neighborhood and where Bonsai Gardens is, but the city is kinda easy to get lost in. I don't know it all that well, not like Citysville."

Bubbles grinned. "No problem, we can work with that. You can sketch out a map of the neighborhood and I know my family has a map of the city somewhere in the house. And we should probably start taking stock of how much food and water we have, plus batteries for flashlights, candles, first aid, medicine..."

It was then that Boomer noticed the time. "Before we go any further, I don't know if you noticed, but it's practically nighttime... Did you want to stay here or do you want to go back to your place?"

She paused. What were the odds that the rescue team would show up tonight, of all nights? And honestly, with how quickly night was falling it might be too dangerous to venture to her house now.

"I don't mind staying here," she replied, even though she was anxious to return home. It would be her luck that the rescue team arrived tonight, the one time she wasn't home... But, she reminded herself, there were bigger things to worry about at the moment.

"You sure?"

Bubbles nodded. "Let's start mapping everything out. The sooner we get the rough draft out, the sooner we can polish it and work out any potential problems that might come up."

While Boomer ran to get paper and pencils, Bubbles grabbed her phone and quickly typed out a message to both sisters. She wasn't sure if they would receive it, but it was worth a shot.

Met a friend, staying with him. Infected are now in neighborhood but we're OK. Here's his address just in case...