To Be A Survivor

by Aqua Elsa

A blown up township, one sworn enemy, a huge annoying crush, still no name, and a chance to speak again. We have made some unlikely alliences to stop a common enemy, but will that be enough? New friends, traiors, experimentations-it’s all something I’m going to have to face, and i can only hope I’ll be able to survive it. Book 2 of the To Be A Runner series.

1. 1: Back Once Again

Gunshots are fired by both the allies and the enemies. Its sound pierces my ears as the cold pierces my skin. My feet crunch again the snow and ice as I run, and I can see my breath in white puffs of air in front of me.

"There are too many. We'll never hold them!" One of the New Canton runners says in panic.

"Just hold the line, Runner Forty-seven," Nadia instructs. "Remember the formation we practiced. Hold the line. We'll pick them off one by one."

"Okay. Okay," She breathes.

"Runner Ninety-three, I know you haven't been running out with New Canton for long, but this one's all on you now. We've got you on head cam and long range cams. We need you to get after Van Ark and his soldiers before they can get to the helicopter."

You make that sound as if it's easy.

"You have to run down that gantry you're on and drop down onto the roof of the next building and keep running. If you do that you might just get to the helipad ahead of them."

I raise my hand to tap out a reply in Morse Code, but a loud scream followed by gunshots stop me, and I almost start to slow down.

"Don't think about anything else. Focus on the mission. It's time to be a hero, Runner Ninety-three. Now run."

I nod, my lungs burning from the cold as my chapped lips release breath after breath. But I have to ignore that as I think on the mission: Stop Van Ark. Stop the main enemy.

I keep running, ignoring the fear that claws at my stomach as I jump from the gantry to the roof of one of the nearby buildings. It's a small jump, but with the ice there's more of a chance of my slipping and falling to my death, or me slipping and hitting my head.

Stupid winter.

Even with the spiked shoes I was given from New Canton, I still slip around from time to time. It's not enjoyable, but what is less enjoyable is the screams, growls and gunshots I can hear coming from the ground. Van Ark's men are hitting at us hard. I just hope we can hit at them harder.

I know the mission. I know what I'm supposed to do. It's smart thinking; A smart plan created by smart people. But it has to succeed. Even the most well thought out plans can fail, and I really don't want this to be the case.

Not after what's happened to Abel.
Not after what's happened to a lot the people in Abel.

I'm running along the edge of the roof, and the sound of gunshots is normal at this time. Annoying and loud, but normal. So it catches me off guard when one whizzes by me, nearly hitting my left side. It would have hit me if I had been just a second slower.

"Watch out, Runner Ninety-three," Nadia scolds. "You need to stay focused. That shot was close. Head to the side so you're out of eyesight."

I obey, my feet crunching against the ice as I continue.

"That's good. Van Ark's just coming out of that building," She says, and I can see him in the distance, leaving one of the buildings and heading towards another where the helicopter sits on the roof. I sneer at him as I see the smug look his face holds. I want to smack it off.

"We know he and his soldiers came to this lab to pick up valuable intel about the zombie plague. We need that intel, Ninety-three, and we need it not to fall into Van Ark's hands. We know he'll use it against us."

'Just like everything he knows that we might not,' I reply.

"Exactly. You're going well. Now, when you reach the end of the building there's a ladder down. It's icy, so you might just want to slide down and you'll-oh,no."

Anxiety blooms in my chest. That's never a good phrase to hear, especially on a run like this.

"Oh, no," She says again. "Runner Ninety-three, fast zombies heading for your position from five o'clock, seven o'clock, nine o'clock. They're on ground level but... there's nowhere for you to go apart from ground level. You have to get down that ladder as fast as you can. Get down and sprint to... the high rise building along the other side of the plaza."

I reach the ladder, starting to slide down knowing I'll get down faster and have less chance of loosing my footing. My gloved hands still sting from the cold, and my heart is drumming in my chest as I don't dare look down. Only when my feet hit the ground do I open my eyes and start to sprint toward said building.

"That building's got steel bolt-able doors and we know they're open. Go, Runner Ninety-three, go."

I don't respond. I don't need to. I have no other choice but to run as fast as I can towards that building, even if it that means running in the opposite direction of Van Ark, his men, and where his helicopter awaits. I want to turn and run to them, but the only clear way for me to get to that building is its entrance, which is where Van Ark and his soldiers are heading. If I even tried to get there before him now I'd be spotted and then shot.

They've already spotted me-not Van Ark's guards, but his zombies. They're sprinting after me. Sprinting. I'm still baffled as to how he made zombies able to sprint even with their rotting limbs and broken legs.

Their growls are deafening as it mixes with wind, but even with the chorus of the near-howling wind and loud roars of the zombies I still hear the soft click of a door opening and closing.

"What the-Nadia, what the bloody hell is going on?" Sam asks in irritation. "I leave your coms room to go to the bathroom for five minutes-and by the way, you need to better signing in New Canton. That bathroom was not easy to find.

"But anyway, I was gone for five minutes and when I get back Runner Five is getting chased by... forty zombies, Nadia. There are forty fast zombies. How did this happen?"

I make it to the high rise building, going inside and then grabbing at both the doors' handles and pulling them closed, bolting them closed. I'm now safe from the freezing air and fast zoms, at least for now.

"I need you to head up those stairs, Runner Ninety-three," She says, ignoring Sam's question. "As fast as you can. If you can get up to the twelfth floor there's a walkway joining this building to the next one which is outside the fencing of the place so you should be able to get out there-"

"Why are you calling Runner Five Runner Ninety-three?" He questions as I start to ascend the stairway.

"We've re-numbered your runners during the period of joint operations with New Canton," She answers casually. "While we deal with our mutual enemy who destroyed your Abel Township, if you recall, we have to put our differences aside and-"

"And you don't think that's confusing for a runner who is fleeing for her life to be called by a new designation?"

'It's okay, Sam. I've only been Runner Five for six months-'

"Shush, you're my Runner Five. Don't argue."

I sigh but don't argue. Nadia's doing that for me.

"The designation 'Runner Five' is already assigned to another runner here in New Canton."

"Yeah, I know. Runner Five's less cool look alike-Chrysanthemum or something like that."

"Her name's Chrysalis," She corrects in a unamused tone, and I try not to laugh. It isn't too hard since I can hear the zoms banging against the doors at the bottom of the stairs. It takes away the giggles in record time.

"Yeah, okay. And where is she now?"

"London."

"And she'll be in London for how long?" He prompts.

"A few months..." Nadia answers lowly, and Sam scoffs.

"A few months, did you say? Then we can fight over designations after Runner Five is out of this incredibly dangerous situation. Probably, you know, after a few months." He sighs and I'm sure he's rubbing his temples or running a hand through his hair. "You're doing well, Runner Five. Just get to that walkway and we might get you out of there alive."

'You sound so sure with that 'might' you added in there,' I say with a frown.

"I-sorry. Just go as fast as you can, okay? Fast as you can. We'll get you home safely."

'Don't you mean you might get me home safely?'

"No, that's not what I mean," He argues in exasperation.

'So you will bring me back home but I might not be alive when I get home.'

"Will you stop being a smart alec and run?"

I purse my lips and don't answer as I continue up each flight of stairs. The pounding against the metal doors get louder and louder-stronger and stronger-with each step I take. My breathing is beginning to get heavy, and my legs are beginning to feel heavier, in turn my steps getting slower.

Too bad the door breaks, and then the zoms flood in.

"Um, Runner Five," Sam says in a tone much different than the one he held with me a minute ago, "I-I don't want you to panic, but the zoms have broken down the door at the bottom of the stairwell. Zombies are often bad stairs, you-ah, oh, right."

I look back down the stairwell, and I see them. Their eyes aren't even on me. It's like they just know I'm there and up these stairs, and they're running up with with little to no trouble at all.

"These zombies seem just fine at stairs. Well, good for them."

"They're gaining on you, Runner Ninety... Runner Five. You have to speed up. You've made it to the twelfth floor now so now if you can get through that door..."

I open said door, rushing in and slamming it shut as the sound of the zoms get closer and closer. I lock it up tight, although I know they'll break through in a matter of minutes.

"Okay, good," Nadia continues. "You're in an empty office space."

'I can see that,' I say, observing the room filled with cardboard boxes and styrofoam peanuts. A few items are out of their boxes and simply wrapped in bubble wrap, and some have no wrapping on them at all.

Like that basketball.

"Runner Five, at the far end of the room-" She stops suddenly. "Wh-what's in your hands? Is that a basketball?"

"Looks like it," Sam mutters, and Nadia sighs.

"Runner Five, I know you like to collect things but this is a very important mission and-"

'It is for Willis.'

"I know about what happened with him but-"

"Nadia, don't. Just... don't," Sam interrupts, and while he can't see it I send him a grateful smile as I shove the partially deflated basketball into my backpack.

"Anyway, at the far end of the room there should be a door leading to the walkway. Sprint for that now."

I do as told, heading to the door on the other side of the room, passing another door I have no interest in because I can hear the zoms beating on the door I came in through. Judging by how hard their rotting hands hit against the metal, I can tell I have about a two minutes before they break through.

"So the-the walkway leads to-" Sam starts before Nadia interrupts him.

"To the next building along. Runner Ninety-Th... Runner Five should be able to come down that building. A couple of our snipers are heading for that position now to take out-"

"Where's Van Ark?"

"Look, he's going to his chopper," She points out.

"Sauntering! He's bloody sauntering to his chopper," Sam fumes. "Man who might have engineered the entire zombie plague and he gets to saunter!"

"There's nothing we can do."

'Nothing?' I ask.

"Nothing. He's won this one; We've lost. Only thing that matters now is to get our runners safely home. So, Runner Five, open that door and-"

Her words stop when I open the door, and I choke on my own breath as I see the dead eyes staring back me. The zombies all stare at me and start heading towards me with reaching hands and open mouths. I open my mouth in a silent scream and slam the door shut.

They bang on the door and I dart away, hearing the moans and growls from both doors, and the pounding of their dead, cold hands against them-their fingers trying to grasp the handle of the locked doors.

They're smarter than the others.

"Did you know that way was-"

"Full of the undead, Sam?" She finishes. "No, no, I didn't know that. Runner Five, head back the way you came."

"Back to the stairs that are full of living dead?" Sam scoffs.

'They're banging on the door,' I say, starting to panic.

"There's a second staircase on the eastern end on the side wall. You came up the southern staircase. Go to the staircase and go up."

"And then what?"

"I-well, we-we'll think of something. Just run, Five, run!"

I'm already going to that side door. I barely have time to get it open and get inside this staircase when the southern staircase door burst open. I try to slam the door shut, but one of their arms stop it from closing and they all file inside. I'm already a flight up the stairs, and I hear the walkway door break open.

My pulse is racing and my heartbeat is like that of a drum. The zoms are maybe thirty seconds behind me, and if I trip-if I fall-I'll be dead before I can think on it.

Just keep going. Don't stop.

I swallow down my fear, determined to not be afraid as I keep going up. Higher and higher I go and each step drags out a ragged breath from me. I can't tell what floor I've reached, but I know from just glancing upward I don't have much longer until I reach the top of the stairs.

Then what?

"Yeah, got it. Yeah," Nadia speaks. "Runner Five, you're on the twentieth floor now. They were doing construction work on the roof before the apocalypse and we think there should be a... yeah. There, service stairs leading up to the roof. Climb up there and open the hatch."

I don't tap out a reply. I just go. I push open the hatch and scramble outside, my breath coming in as a gasp as the cold air strikes me. But even with the wind whipping my hair and prickling the skin beneath my gloves and thick clothing, I run.

"Do you see that gantry at the far end of the roof? Run there."

"No," Sam says, "you're not gonna-"

"What option do we have?"

I look ahead, at the gantry I'm running for, and even though I try, I can't help but feel absolutely terrified.

Shit... Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Runner Five," She continues, "that construction gantry extends almost the whole way to the next building which is just one story lower. So, if you take a run up the gantry you should be able to get across."

"That gantry-which extends almost the whole way to the next building. Almost except for that six foot gap," Sam says in panic, "not to mention that gantry is covered in ice and snow!"

"We gave Runner Five shoes to help with that, and she can make that jump. Take a good run up, Five. You can do it."

"Fast zoms are coming out of the hatch behind you. They're pouring onto the roof."

He doesn't have to tell me that for me to know. I hear it as my foot steps into the beginning of the gantry. Their snarls are louder-angrier. As I continue along the gantry my mind is screaming for me to stop running, because if I miss this jump I'll die.

But if I stop, I'll also die.

This is a lose-lose situation here.

But I know one option gives me a small chance of surviving.

"Go, Five! Go!" Nadia screams as I make the jump. I can't close my eyes matter how much I want to. I fall, getting closer to the roof, until I roll into the hard concrete, ripping my sleeves and pants and tearing at my skin.

"Yes, you-you did it!" Sam cheers as I push myself up and start again, the pain making my pace slower just the slightest bit. "You bloody did it! That'll show those fast zombies... who's-they can jump!"

I crane my head back and watch as the zombies jump and roll onto the roof, just as, if not even more graceful than I did it. And they don't stay down for a few moments like I did. As they still roll they push themselves to their feet and start running.

"When did zombies become able to bloody jump?" He asks and I push myself to run faster, heading closer to the side edge of the roof.

"Now apparently."

I keep running beside the edge, resisting the urge to look back at the undead sprinting after me. I keep my eyes on the edge of the roof, steadying my breathing and trying to keep a steady head.

"Okay, that was a really good idea, Five," Sam praises, causing a smile to grace my lips. "A lot of those zoms have fallen off the side of the building leaving only... twenty zombies chasing you. That's um..."

"Just another burst of speed. We're trying to get our guys in position now. Just keep going. Climb down that ladder onto the stairs and then head down and across the railroad," Nadia instructs, and again my stomach twists at the fact I'll have to slide down another ladder, but the fear of falling and breaking my neck is a lot less than the fear of me getting eaten alive so down the ladder I go.

I hit the small platform that has the stairs. It's like the emergency exit apartments have, and trying to do all the twists and turns makes me slower, but I'm not sure I can say the same for the zombies.

"You remember, Five, where we told you the barricades would be set up in the event of... well, in the event of an event like this."

'Yes,' I manage to tap out while scurrying down the stairs.

"Good, just-hey, hey. W-wait a minute, you're trying to get your soldiers into position?" He asks Nadia. "You mean they're not already in position?"

"They're trying to get into position; There are a lot of fast zoms... I can see Van Ark getting into his chopper."

"Oh, no. What will we do? There goes our last chance to get ahold of those crucial plans." His words sound forced and fake, and I roll my eyes at his terrible acting skills.

"He could still be in audio range; He might still be monitoring our coms," Nadia snaps, but he just scoffs in response.

"Five, twenty fast zombies are right behind you. They're not giving up. They can do pretty much anything you can do. You've got to keep moving-you've got to."

I've gotten of the bottom of the stairs, but I don't have time be thankful for having my feet on the frozen, icy ground. The zoms are right on my tail. I have no time to think, just run.

I pass the railroad tracks just as Sam's voice comes through my headset. "That's it. Good. Major De Santa's in position on the ground. Handing you over now. Do exactly as she says, Five. Remember, she runs this operation."

There's a brief moment of loud static, and then she speaks.

"Runner Five, keep going the way you're heading, towards the barricades," She instructs, and I obey. "That's good, yes. Now just as we practiced. Deploy the nets."

Nets fall from the tops of the tall barricades, just missing me and trapping the zombies behind me. I breath out a sigh of relief and finally start to slow down.

"Got 'em!" Sam cries as Nadia lets out a holler in excitement. "Bloody got 'em! Mission is a complete success, Runner Five! Repeat-can I just repeat that?-a complete blooming success!"

"And Van Ark away in his chopper before he knew that we were intending to capture his fast zombies for our testing," The Major says with a smirk in her voice. "Jolly good work, everyone."

'Good acting, you too,' I praise.

"He probably thinks you're dead, Five."

"That's an unexpected bonus," Nadia laughs, and Sam joins in with her.

"Ah, you were amazing back there, by the way. All 'oh no, how could we have anticipated the fast zombies? Oh, no.' We definitely didn't specifically put Van Ark in a threatening situation so he'd release his fastest zombies so we could catch them and find out what was different about them. That's not the reason at all."

And he says I'm bad at sarcasm, I think with an eye roll.

"And you with your 'Runner Five is in terrible danger and who knew zombies could jump?' We definitely didn't plan this route beforehand so we could get his strongest, fastest zombies to run tests on."

'Well, you could have prepared me a bit more on the jumping zoms thing. I wasn't told all the details on that,' I say with my lips pressed firmly together.

"Oh, did I not tell you about that this morning?" Sam chuckles nervous. "W-well, you were absolutely incredible Five, and so brave, especially since you know, you're not the biggest fan of heights and this is the first time you've done the route and-"

"I thought you did a test on this?" Nadia asks.

"No, we just went over the route. Five refused to do the test and said she'd do this only one; One of your guys tried to... persuade her and she uh, gave him a black eye. A-anyway, we have an amazing New Canton-Abel Township Victory Celebration Party planned."

"Yeah, I guess you were pretty great at this, Runner Five."

I grin at the praise in her voice.

"Oh, yeah, Five's great at this spy stuff," Sam boasts and in turn making me blush. "Like, she was incredible at wearing your dead-"

His words cut off suddenly and I cringe, all blushy cuteness gone. Damn it, Sam. You've officially just screwed up.

"Dead what?"

"Dead nice uniforms." That sounds more like a question than a statement. There's no way he can backtrack out of this one.

"That's not what you were going to say," Nadia says sternly. "You were going to say 'dead runner's headgear,' weren't you?"

"I-I, uh-"

"Someone wore Lem's gear so we'd think he was still alive and get distracted. I never knew which Abel runner it was. Foggy images on the cameras and the runner's hair was in her face. Whoever it was dropped Lem's kit before heading into New Canton. Could have been several runners. I never... I never knew."

"All water under the bridge now, aye?" He says shakily. "New Canton and Abel Township working side by side against the greater enemy. We harbor no hard feelings about that time you tried to raid us."

"Yeah," She mutters, but it sounds false. Very, very false. "Yeah, water under the bridge. Yeah, we're allies now. That's what counts."

"And we've got the biggest MarsBar cake ever made waiting for you here, Five," Sam says in excitement, and I feel the smile I had before start to make its return.

'Is it a late birthday gift?'

"Not exactly, but I actually... uh, just come back, you old-you old hero, you."

A/N: Here it is! First chapter of To Be A Survivor! Do you like it? If so, please tell me through votes and comments. I hope you all enjoy this new book and thank you! Have a blessed day!