With Viola strapped to my chest again- this time with a real baby carrier that Mrs. Logan had in storage from when her grandkids were little- I walk around the small town. And when I say small, I really mean small. There isn't much around here, with a bakery, a used bookstore, and a tool shop being the most popular stores on the main street. Luckily, Mrs. Logan is letting us stay at her bed and breakfast without any extra charge, all because Finn has been helping her husband with the general maintenance of the place.

Most of the people who were renting rooms in the bed and breakfast have moved on, some of them deciding to go find relatives who live farther away and others just wanting to get as much distance between them and the city. A few of the ones with no place to go decided to check out the safe haven that is set up farther east of us, talking about how they have been able to keep the monsters out.

The whole thing seems a little suspicious to me, though, and Finn agrees. How in the hell are they able to keep the monsters out when the United States Army was not even able to control their movements?

So, with no place left to go from this place, we decided to just see how long we could stay. The locals don't seem too worried, talking about how it would be a while before the monsters could make it out here, since there are just so many people in the city.

But people are being driven out of the cities, and the monsters will follow suit. It is just a matter of time before the creatures come out here as well, and hopefully, we will have moved on by then.

Harry lets out a small bark, causing me to shake my thoughts away. Looking down, I see that he has managed to get himself tangled around a tree, his leash wrapped around the trunk multiple times.

"Seriously, Harry? How did you even manage to do that?" I ask, crouching down so that I can work on untangling him.

"Need some help with that?" Someone asks from behind me, causing me to jump a little bit in surprise. Viola isn't happy about being jostled and lets out a small grunt, before settling down again.

Squinting my eyes against the bright morning sun, I am met with the sight of an attractive guy standing in front of me. He has a blonde brow quirked in question, watching as I take him in.

"Uh, sure," I say, quite intelligibly, allowing for him to take my place crouched in front of the tree while I stumble back up.

"I haven't seen you around here before, and everyone knows everyone in this town," he says, quickly undoing the knot that Harry had created.

"Ah, yeah, that's because me and my friend just got in town a few days ago."

The guy nods his head in understanding. "Well, that makes sense then." With that, he stands back up, handing Harry's leash back over to me. "I'm Jacob, by the way, I co-own the tool shop on Main Street with my brother. You should maybe come by sometime."

He has a charming smile on his face, and normally I would be jumping at the chance to spend some time with someone who is so clearly interested in me, but it feels wrong to even think about it, now. Viola moves against me, trying to get comfortable, and I settle a hand on her back to soothe her. Jacob's eyes follow my movement, and his smile falls slightly.

"No thanks, I am not too handy with anything outside of a laboratory. Thanks, though." With that, I turn away, catching a glimpse of his mouth falling open before I start walking back in the direction of the bed and breakfast. Mrs. Logan should be about done with breakfast right now, and I like to get there as soon as the food is put out.

"Wait!" Jacob yells from behind me. "What's your name?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, now is it?" I call back, not even bothering to turn around. Viola is getting agitated anyways, probably because her usual morning walk that soothes her has become way too loud for her liking.

Jacob doesn't say anything else after that, and I am able to get Viola calmed down in no time. It won't last for long, though. I know she has to be getting hungry and will most likely want to eat when we eat.

By the time I have gotten back to the bed and breakfast, Viola is not happy with me at all, her crying starting up as soon as we walk through the front doors. Luckily, it is much warmer inside than it is outside, and it helps me to keep my cool a little bit.

The smell of breakfast is drifting in from the dining room, and I know that Mrs. Logan must have just gotten finished with everything. My stomach lets out a loud rumble at the enticing scent, but I walk towards the stairs instead.

It doesn't take too long to climb the stairs and make it to our room, Harry keeping pace with me the entire time. Once I open the door with the key, I unclip Harry from his leash and let him do his usual exploring.

Viola is screaming her little head off now, not happy in the slightest. As quickly as I can, I unstrap her from my chest and gently lay her down on the bed. The diaper bag is leaning against the foot of the bed, making it easy for me to grab a diaper and some wipes. It takes a few minutes for me to get her all cleaned up since she is squirming so much, but I manage. Just as I am picking her up again, Finn walks through the door, a warm bottle in his hands.

"Oh, thank god," I say, sighing in relief when Finn takes Viola from me with ease and slips the nipple of the bottle between her lips. She calms immediately, her swallows the only sound in the room now.

"Heard her crying from the basement and thought that you might want some help," Finn says, motioning his head in the direction of the door, and I follow behind him as he leaves the room.

"Yeah, I thought I wouldn't have to take care of a baby for a long time, not until I was ready for one." Finn looks over at me, and I continue to talk when he doesn't say anything. "Not that I am upset that she is with us, I did save her after all. It is just so much to take in and learn at once."

Finn nods his head. "I can agree with that. At least now we have some distance between us and the monsters, so she is out of harm's way, at least for now."

"How long do you think we have until the creatures make it out here, cause this town isn't going to be safe forever."

"I don't know. Mr. Logan was saying that some of the veterans in the town have taken it upon themselves to guard the town. Apparently, they think we have a little while before the monsters get hungry enough to venture this far, but I am not so sure."

"What do you mean?" I ask, both of us slowing once we reach the bottom of the stairs.

Finn looks around the small living room, making sure there is no one there to overhear us, before turning to meet my gaze. "We both saw how quick and smart those creatures were. It isn't long before they follow everyone out of the city and into the countryside. Hell, I think we may have a week at the most, but no one is willing to listen. They just think these creatures are those zombies on television, the ones that are slow and just stumble around aimlessly, so they aren't worried at all."

"Do you think we should leave then?" I ask, worry creeping into my tone.

Finn takes a little while before answering. "I think that we should pack our stuff and have it ready to go and easy to grab, that way we can leave at the first sign that those creatures are getting close."

Nodding my head, I start walking again, Finn following behind me. "Alright, then we will start packing right after breakfast."

Mrs. Logan and her husband are both sitting down at the table by the time we get there, sipping their morning coffees as they converse. Mr. Logan- the quiet man- lets out a soft grunt at our arrival, something akin to good morning in his own language. His wife, though, immediately lights up when she sees us.

"Oh, boys, I am so happy you were able to make it down. I heard the little miss a few times last night and wasn't too sure if you were going to make it down."

"No way would we miss your cooking, Mrs. Logan. Your meals are the most delicious things I have eaten in years," I say, not wasting any time in sitting down and serving some breakfast for me and Finn.

"Here, I'll hold Viola for you while the two of you eat your breakfast," she says, scooping Viola out of Finn's arms before settling back into her chair. Something in my chest twinges slightly at having Viola being held by someone other than me or Finn, but I brush it off.

The breakfast is amazing, just how I knew it would be. Mrs. Logan made a Spanish style breakfast skillet, and homemade biscuits as well.

"So, Alden," Mrs. Logan says, watching me eat with a fond smile. "I heard you ran into Jacob earlier."

Her words cause me to swallow wrong, making me cough. Taking a long swig of my water, I look over at her. "How did you even know about that? It just happened."

She just waves her hand in dismissal of my question. "Oh, dear, there are a lot of little old ladies in this town, and gossip spreads like wildfire."

"Who's Jacob?" Finn asks, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as he looks in between us.

"He owns the tool shop down on main street with his brother. Good kid," Mr. Logan says.

His wife eagerly nods his head. "He is a great boy, just graduated college with a business degree and started that tool shop." Mrs. Logan drops her voice, even leaning forward a little bit as if she is telling us a secret, despite there being no one else around. "I heard he broke up with his boyfriend too, before graduating, and is now available for the taking." She sits back in her chair again. "I wouldn't waste any time, Alden, all the women and a couple of the men in this town are circling him, ready to pounce if he shows any type of interest."

"Uh," I stammer, not quite sure what to say but having this woman who is as old as my grandmother suggesting that I 'pounce' on the guy I had met earlier this morning causes my face to flush in embarrassment.

Finn mumbles something under his breath, making my eyes flick over to him. He is glaring down at his plate, his jaw tense. Confusion spreads through me at his actions.

What the hell is he so upset about? Me being gay or something?

Before I can question him, someone starts pounding on the front door. We all look at one another, curious as to who would be causing such a ruckus. Mrs. Logan hands Viola to me before standing up and walking out of the dining room, her husband following behind her.

Voices start up in the other room, loud enough that we can hear the anxious tone of the conversation but not the actual words.

Seconds later, the door connecting the dining room to the front room swings open, Mrs. Logan rushing in.

"Come on, you two, it is time to go."

My heart drops in my chest. "The monsters are here, aren't they?" I ask, quickly standing up and racing behind Finn as we rush up to our room.

Finn doesn't even have time to answer, a familiar and terrifying shriek cutting through the morning air. The clicking follows soon after, meaning the monsters have to be close.

"We have to hurry or we aren't going to make it out of here alive." Finn slams the door behind us once we get into our room. Setting Viola down on the bed, I rush to help Finn pack up the rest of our stuff. Luckily we never got too comfortable here, so most of our stuff is still in the bags.

The screeches are getting closer, and I peek out the window, watching as half a dozen of the creatures are sprinting down Main Street.

"Come on, Alden, we have to get out of here!" Finn says from right behind me, his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me away from the window but not before I see two of the creatures break away from the others and head right towards us.