Tristan:
We spent the whole day walking out of Boston. Shortly after getting off the bridge, Rebecca told us about a freeway that cuts through most of Boston nearby. We found it fast, and despite most of it being gone, there was still enough for us to follow. We stayed low the whole time and kept our heads. Every two hours, we stayed for a few minutes to rest before going back on the road. Since it was daytime, there weren't many infected to worry about.
"Son of a bitch," I say, combing my hair with my hand. As I do, I look at my hand. It's shining with sweat. "Boston is a lot bigger than I thought."
Wiping my sweaty hand against my shirt, I crouch down and walk toward a rusted four-door sedan. The paint is long faded, the windows are all shattered, and the tires are both rotten and flat. Hiding behind it, I look around to make sure everything is clear. Once I see it is, I wave at Rebecca and Bailey to move up.
While the two run toward me, I look around.
"If memory serves," I say once the two are with me. "Then we should only be a few more miles from the city's limit."
As I look around, I recognize some of the landmarks from when I first entered the city. Now looking up at the sky, I estimate how much time we have left before the sun sets and we have to hide again.
"The sun is about to set," Bailey says, looking up with me. "Right? Should we find a place to camp for the night?"
"No," I answer, "The sun won't set for a few more hours. We still have time. Come on. As I said, I want us out of the city today."
"Even if we walk non-stop until the sun sets," Rebecca says, "We won't be out of Boston by today."
"What not," Bailey asks. "What are you talking about?"
"We're still at least ten miles from the city's limit."
"Ten miles," I repeat, "No, that can't be right. Look over there."
I point over to what looks like a rainbow-covered building. Parts of the building are destroyed, and much of the paint has faded, but I can still make out the red, blue, and yellow.
"I made a mental note of that building the first time I saw it. It's close to the city's limit."
"That building is called the Rainbow Swash," Rebecca states, "And yeah, while it is closed to the city's limit, the city's limit is still about ten miles away."
"Ten miles," I say again, looking up at the sun. "Damn it. If Rebecca is right, then there really is no way we'll be out of Boston before we have to camp again."
I have no choice but to rethink my entire plan.
"Judging by the sun's position, we have maybe two, maybe three hours before the sun sets, and it becomes nighttime again. And with ten miles still left to go, we can try and cut them in half before having to camp again."
"Okay," I say, looking up at Rebecca and Bailey. "So if you're right, then I guess we're staying in Boston for one more night. We'll walk five miles and then make camp. Rebecca, if we keep walking five miles in the direction we're heading, then do you know where we would be?"
Rebecca pauses and thinks it over.
"My best guess. We would be in the suburbs."
"A bunch of destroyed families' houses all squeezed together," I sigh. "Side-by-side. Hmm. Boston was alerted to the chimera invasion, and the bunkers looked more full than any of the bunkers I've stayed at. That means most people were evacuated. Still though."
"Can we please think about this while we walk?" Bailey asks. "I mean, the sun is setting, and we're still out in the opening."
I look at the sun once more and nod.
"Okay. We're heading to the suburbs to camp for the night. Hopefully, there's a house we can camp in."
Having to move fast while staying low and keeping our eyes out for any danger, we barely make it in time. Just as the sun disappears into the horizon and the sky turns pitch-black, I can see the outlines of dozens and dozens of houses.
Every single house I see is practically destroyed. The roofs are completely blown off, and each house is missing at least two walls. As the three of us walk off the freeway and onto the street, I see that most of the doors are also gone. They're broken off and lying on the floor.
"What's this?" Bailey asks, walking up to one of the houses. It's white and two-story-tall. The front door is lying in the front yard, and in the driveway is a stripped minivan.
Rebecca walks up beside her and nudges her head. Walking up behind the two, I can barely make out something on the house. It's a warning written in red paint.
"Stay out! This is your only warning."
"What the hell," Bailey asks. "Why is this here? I thought everyone fled into the bunkers before the chimeras attacked."
"Not exactly," Rebecca says. "Most of us flee to Fenway Park before entering the bunkers. However, a few people stay behind. They thought the chimeras' invasion was nothing but bullshit. They tried to fight off the soldiers that came for them."
"How did that go?" I ask.
"Not too well. I remember hearing stories of how the soldiers had to drag people from their houses, and if they shot, then the soldiers would shoot back and then drag them out."
"Damn," Bailey says, still looking at the house. As she looks at the house, I notice some of the windows on the front. There are two sets of windows on adjacent walls. One set of windows is broken and scattered, but the other windows look fine.
"I'm guessing this homeowner put up a fight."
As the three of us keep on looking at the warning sign, I begin to hear something. It sounds like something is moving in the bushes near us.
"Fuck," I say, looking at the bushes. I see some of the leaves on the bushes shake, and a shadow moves. Looking around, I don't see anywhere we can hide. The houses are all too open. Still, with no other options, I push Bailey into the house with the warning.
"Inside. Inside. Now!"
Bailey turns her head and makes a sound, but stops when she sees Rebecca pull out her kitchen knife. While I push the package in, she makes sure nothing is chasing us.
Once the two of us are through the front door, Rebecca jumps in herself.
"There's something in the bushes," Rebecca says, looking between me and the open doorway. "Any idea what it is?"
"No, but I'm okay not knowing," I answer, looking around. "Damn it. There's nothing in here."
As I look around, scanning all over the room, I can't find anything to put in place of the missing door. I think there's a sofa in a nearby living room. It looks heavy.
"Guard the door," I say, running into the living room. Rebecca and Bailey stand guard while I run and jump over the sofa. As soon as I can, I start to push against it. The sofa skids against the hardwood floor as I move it all the way to the front door.
"Watch out," Bailey says, watching as an infected jumps out from the bushes and charges toward Rebecca. Quickly putting up her arm, Rebecca blocks the infected and stabs it in the stomach. Having to stab it over and over, the infected drops to the floor.
The infected's body stops me from pushing the sofa any further.
"Son of a--," I cry, jumping over the sofa and grabbing the dead body. Quickly throwing it outside, I see a bunch of infected stumbling out of the surrounding houses. As they walk out and onto the street, they see us.