The wind picked up with a chin biting fierceness as the small squad of marines patrolled the car piled streets of Kenmore Square. Woods trudged in the rear as he tried desperately to keep his beardless face warm. He looked at the various boarded up shops and abandoned gas stations before spotting a familiar street past an alleyway.

“Newbury Comics is close to here, isn’t it?” asked Woods. His eyes tried to peek down a connecting street that crossed into Newbury street.

Newbury Comics was this hip comic store that was part way between a Hot Topic, Suncoast Video, and the graphic novel section of a Barnes and Noble. It was the coolest place on Earth and I wish to the Lord Almighty that we had one in Wolcott.

“South of us, less than a couple blocks, I believe,” answered Diaz. “Of course you would read comic books, wouldn’t Woods?”

Woods beamed a bright smile. “Yes, I would, Captain!”

“I read comics as a kid too,” piped up Tomlinson. “X-Men was my go to book.”

“Stay frosty, men,” spat Burns. “Keep your lips zipped. A Helix Frag is going to hear your squawkin’ and blow us to kingdom come.

Woods ignored the cranky gunnery sergeant and continued the conversation. “My old man used to take the family to Boston and always let me run wild in Newbury Comics. I read Ghost Rider, Runaways, Teen Titans, and of course X-Men. Can’t go wrong with X-Men.”

“Their movies sucked,” mumbled Tomlinson. “Rogue was my favorite character and without her smoking hot body and skin tight suit, there’s no point. She can kill you with a kiss, forbidden love, man.”

Diaz turned to Tomlinson and smirked. “Southern accents turn me on.”

Woods let out a chuckle.

Comics were a big part of my childhood. My grandpa bought my dad a stack of manga for his sixteenth birthday. He had all the classics. Naruto, Bleach, Attack on Titan, and Dragonball Z. When I turned sixteen, Dad passed them onto me. I gobbled them up like ramen. Awesome action and you read them backwards! I always thought I too would pass them onto my kid, but then when the Frags reached my town I had to leave them behind. I can’t believe I lost them! I lost a lot of things in this fucking war.

The marines reached the Hynes Convention Center when the snowstorm finally hit them. Lumps of snow dropped at a rapid rate as did the temperature from a brisk forty degrees to below three degrees. In like a frozen wildfire the snow swept through the roads and sidewalks. Diaz tried to press on to the end of their route, but the air was a complete , blinding white out.

“Captain, we should find shelter. We’ll all get frostbite if we don’t,” Kekipi shouted over the roaring wind.

The United States military had done well for itself considering we’ve been in a losing war for the last fifty years. Yeah, I know, I know, the cities have been mostly infested with Helix and Frags. All our beloved celebrities either died out or went into hiding. Worst of all, social media is now a lost art. The only memes we get to see is “Kilroy was here”! But, it’s not all that bad considering our shitty situation.

Headquarters makes sure we're stocked with warm food, necessary supplies like…razors…clothing, and the odd way to entertain this marine. Books, soccer balls, and the good old AFN. That would be the American Forces Network. They broadcast news and music over our radio.

However, they have neglected to send us cold weather gear other than beanies and gloves. Oh, but they never fail to send us PT Belts! Got to have those reflective belts for our jogs around the field. Idiots.

Diaz nodded in agreement to Kekipi and ordered Woods and Burns to scout out the convention center.

Woods clicked his safety switch off and raised his rifle to his shoulder. Together he and Burns filed through an opening in a broken glass pane and made their way into the main hall. Woods scanned the upper balconies for Helix or the mind controlled Frags. But found none.

“Main hall is all clear, Gunny,” said Woods. He lowered his rifle and took a knee.

One by one the rest of the squad made their way into the main hall and rested along the walls. Captain Diaz arched her neck and reared her sights on the higher floor.

The massive building creaked and echoed with noises that bounced off the ceiling and walls. It may have been birds or rats, but it might have also been the Helix. The marines kept their eyes alert and their nerves on edge.

“Tommy, take Woods and make sure the upper floor is empty. There might be some stranded people we can bring back to Fenway,” Diaz ordered.

Tomlinson jumped to his feet. “Roger that, Cap.” He slapped Wood’s kevlar helmet. “You heard the boss, let’s check out that second floor.”