Quarantine Zone Ask Your Mom Poem Locations Guide

In the tense aftermath of the outbreak, the Quarantine Zone is a place where every detail matters, especially when strange poems start appearing on the walls. These cryptic messages aren’t just decoration—they’re central to the “Ask Your Mom” quest, a mission that challenges you to track down each poem in a precise order. Missing a step here can stall progress, making it essential to understand how and where to find these elusive writings without wandering aimlessly.

Before you set off, make sure your flashlight is on by pressing F . There’s a small flashlight icon on screen to confirm if it’s active, which is vital since many poems are hidden in darker corners.

First, make sure to turn on flashlight (press F). If you’re not sure whether it’s on or off, there is a flashlight icon on the right side of the screen that will show you.

Right outside your room, the very first poem awaits your discovery. Approach the wall and press E to interact with the graffiti and collect this initial clue.

Go outside your room and the first poem should be right in front of you. To interact with it, go next to the wall and press E.

The game guides you by showing a trail of footprints to the next poem, so don’t waste time wandering around. These marks aren’t just visual flair; poems will only appear if found in their exact sequence. Step away from the Command Room Area and move straight forward into the Garage Area where the footprints direct you. Follow the trail as it veers left along the wall until you spot a blue bathroom stall. The second poem is nearby, perched on the wall.

Instead of having to run around camp trying to randomly find each poem, the game actually gives you this set of footprints to follow that leads you to each one of them. Also, unless you find the poems in their specific orders, they simply won’t appear. I tried.

First, leave the Command Room Area. Then go directly forward into the Garage Area.

The next set of prints will lead towards the left side. Keep going forward while follwing the wall until you reach a blue bathroom stall and you will find the second poem.

Poem 3

Retrace your steps and look for another set of footprints leading you into the Laboratory Area. Upon entering, turn left and head towards the security officer dressed in black. The path might feel a little indirect, but the footprints trace along the perimeter until you reach some green and yellow-orange boxes.

If disoriented, the poem can be found on the right wall as you step into this zone.

If you get lost, the poem is on the right side wall as you enter the area.

Poem 4

Exit the Laboratory Area next, then follow the footprints to the Survivor Block. Circle back into the Command Area and navigate around the container; the fourth poem is tucked away at the rear of this room.

Poem 5

New footprints lead you to climb—press Space to jump on a stack of boxes and get to the roof. From there, follow the path outside towards the Quarantine Check Point. Head right towards the Liquidation zone, then take the stairs on your left to uncover the fifth poem.

Poem 6

Last one!

For the final poem, descend the stairs and exit the Quarantine Area entirely. Continue straight ahead and look for a wall on your right marked with a sign indicating the “Laboratory”. The last poem is painted here, wrapping up this cryptic scavenger hunt.

Ask Your Mom Quest Ending

Once you’ve read all the poems, the quest directs you to engage with survivors and key figures around the camp to tie up loose ends and uncover more story.

You’ll find Abe Crow in the Survivor Block—look for a man who talks on his own without needing interaction. If you don’t spot him immediately, check through the survivors as he only appears if admitted prior to this quest.

Check Garage

The quest instructs you next to check the Garage. Follow the marker until you locate a scientist who will similarly deliver exposition without needing you to engage directly.

Find Vandal

Returning to the Survivor Block, look for a suspect with stained clothes. Each playthrough may assign a different character as the Vandal, so watch for those with red stains and see if any dialog kicks off as you follow them around.

Take the money or Leave

You face a choice: take the money found at tents near the back of the area or leave it. No immediate reward comes from leaving it, but repercussions may arise later because the Vandal stays relevant to certain quests if you try to evacuate them.

The money will be located at the tents, towards the back of the area.