We were walking along Broadway getting closer to Union Square 14th street where for me everything began. I slow down a bit to let them boys know where we were heading and I told them about that day. It felt so long ago but in reality, it was only a week ago. One week and everything changed for me for the guys and for everything maybe all over the world. One week, I wonder if this is happening all over. I mean they can't really be taken down unless you hit or shoot them in the head and after getting bitten I've seen what it can do. After telling everyone that was with me to be careful and follow my lead.

We were near the Empire State building when we hear something. It wasn't growling or ticker; it was more of a small whimper or a cry. We stop to make sure the noise wasn't nearby, but it was. They showed themselves to us. It was two teenagers, they were fraternal twins. They look scared but ready for a fight. I put my hands up and started to speak to them. "Hey no take it easy, we're not here to hurt you we are just passing through," I said to them. They still look ready to run and to fight. I took out my talkie and told Sally what was going on. She replies by telling me to send them to her. "Hey look we got a safe place we are calling The School now. Trust me we have food and clean clothes" I said to them. They look at each other and the girl spoke up first. "How can we trust you," she asks me. But before that, I check them for any wounds and that were substance and any bite marks. Then I told them you can't but I give them a walkie-talkie and told them to go to W 77th St and you will see it. They look at each other and the girl took the talkie and she and her brother began their walk. It was barely 7:15 a.m. and we helped two more people.

Watching them walk away, we continue on our way to REI. We were now 4th Ave. We went through Union Square and we didn't encounter anything besides the twins. It was weird really, maybe I was overthinking it. Then heard that clicking sound. I stop dead in my track. I looked around and saw that there were four of them. I hope they were any more but I was wrong, I hear the growls next. There were more than twenty all over. Shit! I looked behind us and saw that we weren't completely surrounded. I did a hand movement that let the boys know to follow me. We slowly made our way out of what I'm going to call a black zone or as Jimmy would put it as a nest. I needed to remember where this was so I can mark it with a box and shade it in. back to Union Square and got back on Broadway to get to REI. I am so glad that I know my way around the city so well.

We finally made it to REI but we did run into some more growlers but no tickers. We finally made it to the damn sports store and began to clear up. It was a long but we did it to be safe and to make sure it was safe to explore. After checking the store we got to work. I went to the animals section and got a dog bag for Jade and started to fill it and put it on her. After that, we looked for clothes, shoes, you know the works. After filling shopping cards we tied them together for from a train of carts. The first two had close and shoes, we just grab whatever ranging from kids to adults and the same for shoes. We saw some air mattress and cots with some other sleeping things. Then we got lights in two more carts as well and some water treatment supplies and some solar and portable power supplies with other things like cookware and first aid. In total we had eight carts and what we could carry on our backs. They also had some different types of knives and bows and arrows and I grab some of those as well to learn and maybe train the other on them if they wanted to learn.

We spent the whole day there getting what we needed. I knew we were going to go back tomorrow because that place has a shit ton of things we can use and shit. Then my talkie came to life with the sound Sally's voice."Hey, Jackie the two people who sent are here safe and sound" she told me. I smile that and said ok check off. After making sure we had most of what we need we started the long way back to the school. It was almost three p.m. and we started and our journey back home. It was cold but we got used to it. We were nearing the black zone and I told them of a different way to stay clear of them because we were a bit noisy with the carts. They nodded in understanding and we made our way more west but still close to Broadway. We were now between 34th street and 35th street when we heard gunshots. We hid our things and ourselves. But when I got up to see what was happening I saw Sally's wife! She was wearing an NYPD S.W.A.T uniform running away from ten growlers. Well, I wouldn't see running away but take them on and keep space between them and herself. She is a goddamn badass and I need to learn from her. Her weapon was an M16A2 rifle. She took them all down. I stood up and yell out "You're Sally's wife she's safe and with us" and run to her. She stares at me like I was crazy. "Your little boy Johnny is with her as well and your name are well I don't know it because Sally never told me it," I said.

"My name is Claire and take me to my family," she said. I told her to follow us and that it will be a walk before we get there. We were close to Time Square now and that's when I heard a lot of growling. Holy shit they were a lot of them. And I hear very few clicks. I looked around to find a way around them and make it back safely. "Alright, we need to be quiet and find a way home without alarming them to us. Noise attracts them and I am small and fast so I'll distract them and you go home understand me. Go to the left and follow 9th Ave and I'll radio you when I am safe" I said. The brothers looked piss at me for making this plan but what were we to do. Claire looked at me and nodded but before I left she gave me her Beretta M9 pistol. She shows me how to check and clear it and how to load it. I got a crash course on it and told her she will have it back soon. I told Jade to stay with the boys and tied her to the cart as she cried in protest.

I took out Max and walk away from the crew and I told them as soon as I hit a car leave. I walked up to an Audi A4 and smash its window that the alarm set off. I took off running while herding of growlers and a few tickers were running towards the noise. I did it again a few more time until I was near the U.N building. I continue to run even though I was tried. I ran north on First Ave and find my way towards my old high school and to find a place to rest. I stop near the high school on 53rd and Lexington next to Barnes and Nobles. I love that place but I wasn't there to sit down in read. I took out a bottle of water and a fruit bar and ate to regain my strength. I almost forgot to tell the boys and Claire I was safe and heading their way so I radio them. Jimmy yelled at me for doing something reckless and Zac and Erin didn't say a word to me. I knew I was in deep shit because they saw me as her little sister and I made the worried. I told them I'd be there in half an hour. After my short walk to The School, I told the boys I was outside. They all look mad at me but I did what I did so they can be safe. It also turns out that I am in really great shape.

They all hug me tight and told me to never do something so dumb again but I couldn't promise that. Claire looks over to me and just nodded after handing over her weapon. I guess she was used to doing something like that since she was NYPD. I told her to follow me and we made ours to the library. I open the door and walked it. The twins and Tabi were reading and Sally and Johnny had their backs to the door. I spoke up" Hey Sally I'm back and sorry for scaring you and the boys," I said. She gets up and turns around so fast that she actually scared me. She was about to start yelling at me until she took notice to the person that was standing next to me. "Claire" Sally whisper. Tears gathering in her eyes. "Yeah baby it's me," Claire said and they run to each other and held on tight. Johnny looks up and she shouted ma! And ran to her. They kissed and all hug. I was happy I was able to put a family back together but I knew this may never happen again. I had my phone with me and called my uncle and aunt for what would be the last time. I told them I was safe and I was with good people. They cried yet again but told me they would find a way to get not just me but the people I was without as well.

I turn up my phone and blasted Selena Dreaming of you. I fucking love Selena and I have all her music on my phone and IPod. I started to sing and was just finally relaxing. I planned on staying that night so the brothers can relax about my recklessness. At the same time, I was also going to help them set up classrooms as storage and bedrooms. But for now, I just wanted to listen to Selena sweet voice and to feel the space around me and relax into the song for a bit. After it was over I turn off my phone and made my way to the boys to help remove the desks from the room to set up the cots and air mattress. Two hours later we were done. We had 11 people and a dog in one room. It was a good size and we could have added two or three more people. Sally and her wife and son share an air mattress. Tabi didn't want to sleep alone so she came to me and lied down on my cot, the twins slept on their own and so did the boys. I knew tomorrow we were going to go back to REI and Claire ask to come with us, so we can carry more and Sally and the twins were going to set up more rooms around the school. For now, it was time to sleep. Jade bed was next to mine and Tabi was cuddling into me. At that moment everything was peaceful and I went to sleep.

I woke up before my alarm and notice that there was somebody next to me. It was Tabi, I had forgotten that she didn't want to sleep alone and slept with me last night. She was so small and she shivered. I pulled off my jacket and cover her with it. It was not even five yet so I lay back down and Tabi reclaims her stop on my chest cuddling closer. I went back to sleep only to be woken up by my alarm an hour later. Tabi groan in complaint and so did I. I didn't want to get up but I had to. Today was a going to be a long day and we were going to get more stuff from REI. This time, it will be six of us and we can carry more on our backs and have ten carts instead of eight. Getting up I was handed a bowl of soup and a cup of water from Jimmy. He looks tired as well but still ready to get and so was I wasn't fully awake but shit had to be done today. Even though there was ten of them living at the school they still had a lot of room for more people to come and join them and maybe we can live this thing out together, yes we may lose people I know that but it won't stop them or me. Yes, I live alone with a dog in an office but I like having my own space.