"It's not much but it's home," Mike says as he unlocks the door and the four step in to a small, two bedroom apartment. To the right is the kitchen, with a bar table separating it from the living room to the left. Not much made the kitchen appealable; a two-heater stove, a few cabinets, and a small fridge plastered with magnets, notes, and a few pictures. The living room didn't have much either; a black leather couch, a couple coffee tables on each side of the couch, a large shelf filled with movies and books, a large flat screen TV, and a few lamps. Down the hallway in the center stood three doors; one in the middle and one on each side. Both windows behind the TV have been taped up with black tape and cardboard to block out any light from the inside. Rain could be heard pounding heavily against the glass and thunder softly echoing.

"To the right is the only bedroom. You two are welcome to stay there. In the closet to the left, bottom drawer is a few shirts left by my ex. You two are welcome to take them. Hope they fit. The middle door is the bathroom. We got plenty of baby wipes and toilet paper so help yourself with that. Sergeant and I will prepare dinner and we can talk then after you two have cleaned up okay?"

The two sisters thanked him and after retrieving said shirts they both enter the bathroom and lock the door.

In the mean time, Mike and Jenkins began taking off their drenched armor and jackets and hanging them up and leaning them against the wall near the door. On the coffee table to the left and right they placed all of their weapons and while Mike opened one of the cabinets and retrieved a couple cans of soup, Jenkins began unpacking his loot from the Wallmart.

"Did you have any success on your search Jenkins?" Mike asks as he sets a kettle besides a large pot and pours two bottles worth of water into the kettle.

"Yes Sergeant. The Police Station was crowded with Z's so I had to lure them outside. Inside I had to kill a few turned members of Strike Team Zulu. I also found another journal from Private Egbert," Jenkins says as he pulls a small note book from his pack with the name 'Egbert' sloppily written on the green cover in black ink.

"Very nice. What does it say?" Mike asks as he takes a seat besides Jenkins and leans back against the wooden chair.

"Not much. He writes that they are down to four and low on supplies. They still got the chip and will be heading to Fenway soon. Then Egbert rants again about how the world has fallen apart even before the outbreak and that he will leave behind such journals in hopes someone could pass along his tales. It cuts off half way as he begins talking about the chip they have. Looks like that was the moment they got overrun,"

"So the wild goose chase then leads us back to Fenway?" Mike asks, his relaxed expression now gone.

"I'm afraid so," Jenkins said as he too has a look of frustration on his face.

"Goddammit," Mike cursed as he takes the whistling kettle from the stove and pours its steaming content into two mugs snatched from one of the cabinets. He turns to the bathroom as its door opens and the two sisters step out, the dirt and grime removed from their bodies and both holding their dirty shirt.

"You two can just leave those in the bathroom," Jenkins said as the sisters made a motion of where to put their dirty clothes.

"Tea?" Mike asks as he motions his hand to the steaming mugs. They both nod and sit down at the bar table. After placing a small box of mixed tea Mike hands both girls and Jenkins a steaming mug and snatches himself a pouch of 'Green Tea with Lemon'.

"You two look much better now all cleaned up. How do you feel?" Jenkins asks as he places a pouch of 'Herbal Tea' into his mug and began tugging the bag up and down in the hot water.

"Much much better thank you," Rebecca says as she takes a sip of her herbal tea.

"So how did the three of you meet?" Mike asks as he once again gets up and removes the pot from the heated stove top to the nearby counter and began pouring ladle fulls of soup into white bowls.

"Well," Stacy says as she looks at her sister then back at Mike. "We were taking shelter there from the rain. It wasn't as crowded. We were looking for canned food when we heard gunshots coming from a couple aisles away. We checked and saw Henry there completely surrounded. We helped him clear a path and then we barricaded ourselves in the Employees Lounge as the numbers of the undead grew too high. Henry threw a grenade into the store and the noise allowed us to hide without them breaking down our barricade," Stacy continued as Mike placed for everyone a steaming bowl of noodle soup.

"Well then I owe you two a thank you for saving my friend," Mike says with a smile as he sits down and begins eating.

"Not as much as you clearing out the entire store. Thank you Mike," Rebecca says smiling back

"So," Mike says after putting a spoon of soup in his mouth, "What are you and your sister still doing here Rebecca? I figured after the military evacuated the city, there wouldn't be anybody left,"

"It's not like we didn't try to evacuate with the military," Rebecca says, taking a sip of her tea. 

"But we've always arrived too late," her sister continued.

"Cambridge Side Galleria," Rebecca continues.

"The St. Bernard Church,"

"Not to mention the Police Stations,"

"Fort Greyesmorre,"

"And of course Fenway. We always arrived too late. We heard the broadcasts sometimes but have always arrived too late. So after Fenway fell we decided to lay low. Move from place to place. Scrounge for supplies and never stay at the same place for long. That is how we survived. We wanted to wait till the right time came to leave. Head West," Rebecca continues, a look of sadness and disappointment on her face.

"But the city is so crowded with the undead, we never had the chance to. What about you and Henry? You said the military evacuated from the city weeks ago. I didn't think there wasn't any military left in Boston," Stacy asks as she gives Mike and Jenkins a quizzical look.

Mike looks at Jenkins, Jenkins looks back at Mike while taking another sip. Jenkins thought about it, then nods.  

"Jenkins and I, we are on a mission of our own. The day of the outbreak, the CDC sent out a file. It was supposed to be sent to Fort Greyesmorre, but the plane crashed during the entire chaos A strike team was ordered on that day to retrieve it but were never heard back. Just before Fenway got overrun, we got ordered to find said team and if had to, retrieve the chip and deliver it to any nearby base," 

"Why are you telling us all that Mike?" Rebecca asks, surprised by Mike's surprise. Stacy had the same look on her face too.

"One, it's not like we are going to get in trouble with the current crisis going on and two, Jenkins and I need your help,"

"Our help? Wh-why? Only Stacy here knows how to shoot. I can barely swing a bat," Rebecca stammers.

"Because the four of us will have a greater chance of surviving, rather than just two. Especially since we have to go back to Fenway,"

"What? Why?" Stacy asks, a look of worry on her face.

"While following the team from location to location, we found journals left behind by one of their members. The last entry mentions that they are heading to Fenway. It dates only a couple of days ago.

"I'm not sure if that is such a good idea," Stacy says while glancing at her sister.

"I don't like it either. The only reason Jenkins are still here, pursuing this chip and that team is because we believe the file holds data that will help us fight this outbreak at a larger scale. Maybe a cure for earlier symptoms or something. Either way, it gives us hope to survive day after day,"

"I don't know," Rebecca says, a sad look on her face.

"Take your time. I am merely asking. Oh and Jenkins?" Mike asks turning to Jenkins after drinking what's left of his soup.

"Yes Sergeant?" Jenkins asks after doing the same.

"It's your turn for fire guard,"

"What? But I did first shift last night!"

"True, but it also cost me the last of our grenades, most of my ammo, and almost my life to save you, so you owe me first shift,"

"Sounds about right," Jenkins sighs as he places his bowl into the sink and heads towards the bedroom to the left.

"Fireguard?" Stacy asks Mike, raising her eyebrow.

"Means pulling security. We have set up a few cameras around this block so we can have an eye on the streets. Anyways, don't worry about your lack of skills. I'll teach you both how to handle a knife, hand to hand, and how to shoot. Jenkins and I have combined almost 20 years of experience. We'll make sure you two know how to handle each out there. It already seems you two can,"

"It sounds good but-"

"Sergeant come quick, it's really bad," Jenkins interrupts Stacy as he burst in, a terrified look on his face.

"That bad?" Mike asks, matching Jenkins' look of concern. Jenkins nods hastily and the two run to the room. Stacy and Rebecca look at each other, then too run to that bedroom.

The room consisted only of several shelves, a desk with multiple monitors, and a couple of chairs. From all monitors, the four could see countless amount of blood covered men, women, and children crowding the streets. Mike moves from the deck and glances a peak through a small hole in the cardboard of the taped up window, then lets out a loud curse.

"So, what do we do Sergeant?" Jenkins asks, wiping sweat from his forehead and trying to control his breathing.

"How much food and water do we have? Do we have enough to stay here again?"

"I'm afraid not Sergeant. If it were just the two of us, barely a week even with rationing but with Rebecca and Stacy, only three days.

"So then we'll have to leave with what supplies we have left and look for another apartment or camp on a wet roof top,"

"I'm afraid so Sergeant," Jenkins says as plumps back on his chair and lets out a heavy sigh.

"Wait, why are you two suggesting on leaving? The zombies out there don't know we are here. We could just wait it out,"

"Last time this happened, we did wait it out. The horde of a similar magnitude didn't disperse for almost six days, and after finally the roads were clear we were out of food and nearly out of water. We barely have enough supplies for just Jenkins and I, but with the four of us we won't last long. We need to leave now. Jenkins! How long till the undead are passing our doorstep?"

"Don't know Sergeant. But it won't be for long," Jenkins says.

"Then we'll have to run for it. Shoot a clearing and run for it. Jenkins and Stacy, you two go the kitchen and pack what food and water we have. Rebecca, you and I will grab a rucksack and pack what ammo we have from that shelf," Mike says, pointing at a set of closets at the end of the room, "And feel free to grab the M4 too."

Stacy and Rebecca nod and went to work with Stacy helping Jenkins, and Rebecca opening a shelf filled with boxes of ammunition and a single M4 leaning on an applied weapon rack. Jenkins walks in a few minutes later and tosses Mike his set of riot gear and gas mask. In a flash, the two got dressed and armed, all four carrying a rucksack, and headed for the door.

"How is it?" Mike asked, his voice amplified by his tinted gas mask.

Stacy, admiring the scoped M4 replies while nodding "Not bad. Lighter than I thought. How about you Rebecca?"

"Heavier than I thought," Rebecca replies, holding her sisters Sig Sauer P226 with both hands.

Mike nods and lets out a heavy sigh before the four ran down the three sets of stairs and stop at the front door. Bright light from the street lamps casts a rectangle beam of light onto the floor and casts the rest of the stairwell in shadow.

"We move quick and stay together. Jenkins, you watch our rear. Stacy, you'll cover Jenkins. Rebecca, you do your best to cover me. Stay close and don't let fear get the most of you. Keep a clear head understand?" Mike asks, placing his left hand on the door knob while keeping his Scar-L up with his right. Rain continued to pour down but the thunder has seized.

The three nod in agreement and Mike nods back. He counts to three and then yanks the door open, the four rushing outside and into a crowd of undead that surround them from both sides, their moaning deafening.

Quickly, Mike looks around for an opening and spots one at an alley affront of them. He signals Jenkins, Stacy, and Rebecca with his hands and points at the alley where only a handful of infected are.

They nod and begin moving forward while firing at the undead crowd, Jenkins and Stacy firing from behind while Mike guns down the handful of infected with Rebecca. Rebecca's eyes widen in horror as she glances left and right at the shear amount of undead that surround them. She jumps at every gunshot going off around her.

Despite the loud gunshots going off right by her, it soon sounded muffled to Rebecca as all she then began hearing was the deafening moaning. The pistol began to weigh down on her and her legs began to feel like jelly as she sees the hundreds of blood covered men, women, and children approach her from all directions, a terrifying undead expression on their faces as they reach out to her and gnash their teeth with every moan. She covers her ears, hoping to mute the moaning. She looks back, expecting her sister getting torn apart by the undead but instead she sees her and Jenkins firing at the undead crowd. Her sister too has a terrified look on her face, but keeps shooting. Jenkins' face was unclear with his tinted gasmask but she sees him looking left and right and pulling Stacy close to him.

Rebecca's began gasping for air, as if her lungs lusted for every breath, and she could hear her heart beat go faster alongside the heavy moaning. She closes her eyes again, hoping that she could block out the approaching nightmare. Mike looks back and notices Rebecca with her eyes closed, covering her ears.

"Hey, hey!" Mike shouts as he grabs Rebecca by the shoulders and shakes her, trying to get her back to her senses. "We need you right here, right now. Can you do that?" All she heard though was his amplified voice muffled as if there was cotton stuffed into her ears. "Hey!" Mike shouts, raising his hand and slapping her. The moaning quieted down and she could hear Mike and the loud gunfire again. "I need you right here Rebecca, covering me. Nothing will happen to you as long as you follow my instructions. Can you cover me? Can you fire at the undead? Can you do that?"

"Ye-ye-I-I-" she stutters.

"Can you do that?! I can't do this alone Rebecca!" He shouts louder.

"Yes, yes I can!"

"Good cause there are more infected coming from the end of the alley" Mike says, pointing at the dozen or so undead approaching them from the end of the alley.

Rebecca nods, her fear still lingering but as strong as before. She takes in a deep breath and aims at the closest infected; a woman missing her left arm and half her face torn off exposing bone and muscle. She places her finger on the trigger and fires. The gunshot and recoil nearly caused her to drop the gun as the bullet hits the infected woman in the shoulder. She aims again and pulls the trigger, hitting the chest. She grunts and pulls the trigger again and again. The first bullet hits the infected woman in the chin, but the second bullet hits her in the forehead. Her head jerks back before sagging to the ground and getting stepped on by her undead brethren. Rebecca smiles and fires again, striking an infected man in the neck. After two more shots, he too sags to the ground.

A smile of confidence forms across her face as she fires again and again, killing another. She looks up at Mike, who looks back at her and nods in approval. It didn't take long and the dozen or so infected in the alley lie still in the alley.

"Now! Run for it!" Mike shouts as he grabs Rebecca by the hand they run, Jenkins and Stacy turning around and following them with the horde of undead only a few feet away.

They ran, the rain still pouring down on them. They ran down a completely carless street, its street lights flickering as it casts the street in bright light, showing countless infected pouring into said street from the alley they came from and other alleys.

They ran down street after street, turned countless times, and kept glancing back until the streets behind them is empty. They finally come a stop, catching their breaths at a four story apartment building made out of dark red brick. The door has been left untouched and remained locked. Jenkins retrieves a small tin box from one of his pockets and with a set of small tools he began picking the lock. It didn't take long for the door to make a loud click and open with a soft screech. Inside, the stairway remained clear four floors up. On the fourth floor Mike and Jenkins pounded against each door and waited. After hearing nothing Jenkins picked the closest door. It too opened a few minutes later, which to Mike and the sisters felt like an eternity.

A deserted apartment similar to their own welcomed them though it's windows have not been taped with cardboard. The four didn't care though as they stepped in and called it their home, a look of relief on each of their faces.