Shutting the large double doors behind me, I stepped on the slightly wet grass and glanced around. The atmosphere was peaceful. The sun shone softly, its rays touching my skin with a cozy warmth. I took a deep breath and let myself savor this false sensation of freedom and peace for a while.

I decided to explore in another direction today. Yesterday, I'd gone forward, so today, I'd be going in the opposite direction. That seemed to be the best option, especially considering that 02 might be a zombie nest.

Besides, what if there had been a road just behind me all along, and I just couldn’t find it because I kept insisting on going forward? That would be embarrassing... Only after exploring in all directions would I be able to make a smart decision.

The problem was with getting lost, I thought. Last time I almost couldn't find my way back to 01. I'd have to find a solution for that.

Even though I'd found some supplies in the house, the only things I'd be bringing with me were my knife, one canteen of water, and one flour sack with some supplies. I packed light since the plan was to come back before nightfall. Anything else would only slow me down or make too much noise.

After preparing and making sure I had everything, I circled the house and headed to the back. Glancing at it, I noticed how comically plain it looked. While the front side was a bit luxurious, the back had nothing, just plain wood. It made the house resemble a movie prop, with one side much more detailed than the other.

Turning back and looking at the grassy slopes, I began walking. Yeah, this would be another long day.

**********

The sun burned bright up above, right at its zenith. The clear blue sky didn't provide any cover, so I could vividly feel the sun on my scalp. Tired, I decided to take a breather under the shade of a tree and rest for a little while. My shirt was sticky with sweat as I leaned my back on the rough tree trunk.

"Damn, why is it so hot today?" I grumbled. "Next time, I'm bringing a shirt or something to cover my head".

Taking out the metallic canteen, I took a long swig and savored the water going down my throat. It wasn't cold, but it was cool enough to refresh me a bit.

With nothing to do, I began thinking and listing my priorities. After exploring south, I still had west and east to go. My plan was to map this region in a circular manner, using 01 as the center. After gathering enough information about my surroundings, I'd choose one singular direction and commit. I already knew 02 was north and that the region was infested. It could be that 03 was even further down the same direction or in a completely random location, so exploring was my only option. Urgh, and to think I expected a prisoner to give me a clue.

After resting enough, I stood up, took out my knife, and carved a mark into the tree. The marking was to show the direction I'd come from and how many steps it took. I also drove sticks into the ground to help me identify the tree and note which checkpoint this was. It was extremely hard to maintain the same direction out in the wild, so the marks on both the tree and the ground would ensure I could roughly remember the general direction of my last stop. Other than that, I was also paying attention to the movement of the sun, so I was mildly confident I could find my way back to 01 if push came to shove — at least in the daytime.

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Continuing my walk for another hour, I finally caught sight of something in the distance. Another construction, passingly similar to the manor in 01. It sat atop a distant slope, looming against the blinding sunlight. Approaching it, the building's full shape came into view. It was rectangular, with clean edges that gave it an air of solemnity. The outer walls were tall, but not entirely featureless. Faint traces of intricate carvings lined the edges, worn smooth by time and neglect. They were smooth, save for the occasional dark frames and the cracks, stark against the grey stone. By how large it was, it probably had more than a single floor.

The structure was austere, but not to the extent that it seemed too out of place.

I carefully approached it. The doors looked old, crafted from reddish-brown wood, their once-polished surface now dulled and worn. They also had those old iron knocking rings attached to them, likely to compensate for the lack of doorbells.

My hand touched the door, palm resting on it but not exerting any force. Should I really... what if there's something inside...

Yes, I knew that taking advantage of the daytime was crucial. There was a high chance those things appeared only at night, and that talk with "Martha" only reinforced my suspicions but...

Looking around, no matter where my eyesight went, there was only green. Green, green, green. Everywhere. A whole lot of nothing. My eyes returned to the door.

I back out and then what? Go back to that monster den with nothing to show for it? Wait for my time to come?

Nonsense.

I carefully pushed the door open and peered inside. Not locked, huh. Entering the place and minding my step, I took in the interior. It was a very small hall that promptly connected to a long corridor. The walls were lined with faded paintings and tarnished mirrors, their edges worn, reflecting the dim light in strange, distorted ways. The paintings were of still life and simple landscapes, as far as I could tell from a passing glance.

Crossing the corridor, a spacious, squared courtyard, stood right in the heart of the place, completely empty. The hallway I was in opened and forked to the right and left, tracing the entirety of the courtyard, with only a low half-wall separating the open area from the corridor. On each side of the square stood a weathered entrance leading directly into the patio.

There were also three other rooms, each on a different side of the building. The one directly across from me, passing the courtyard, had a big open entrance leading to a set of stairs, while the ones to my left and right were hidden behind closed doors.

Without dwelling on it too much, I turned right and started walking. Frankly, the central area looked completely lifeless: no plants, no tables, no nothing. It reminded me of those old playgrounds with sandy, harsh ground where kids always scraped their knees.

I could still remember running back to my mother, face streaked with tears after falling off the monkey bars and grazing myself all over. That must've been, what, 15 years ago? Time sure flies.

Bah, enough.

My gaze tilted upwards at the second floor. It was just like the first one, with semi-open hallways directly facing the courtyard, featuring white stone balusters in a balcony style.

This construction seemed a bit more ordinary compared to the other places I'd seen. Sure, it seemed old too, but the materials were different. There was still wood in the interior — the baseboard, the ceiling, the doors — but it wasn't all wood and stone like before.

As I strolled along, taking in the walls, something caught my eye: a dark smudge on a corner. Why was this section so dirty?

On a closer inspection, it wasn't just a smudge. It was more of a splatter, dark and dry. Now that I was paying closer attention, I noticed these blots were everywhere. Even the patio had these darker patches scattered across the ground.

Walking further, the place became progressively messier, with splatters on the ceiling and cracks on the walls. My calm state quickly gave way to alarm and my mind sharpened. Something had happened here.

Or is happening, I thought.

Finally reaching the door on the right, I placed my hand on the handle, only now realizing it was broken.

I pushed the door open anyway.

There, in the center of the room, amidst a puddle of dark dry blood, lay two mangled bodies.