"I see you've worked yourself hard today, Runner Five," Dr. Lobatse says with a grin, and I nod, wiping the sweat off my forehead before peeling off my shirt, gloves, and pants. "I'm guessing the mission was a success?"

'A complete one, as Sam said,' I reply with a happy nod. 'Although he did say a few things he shouldn't have.'

Over the past few weeks I've been here at New Canton, I've had the pleasure of meeting one of Chrysalis's friends, Dr. Labotse. She is older than both me and Chrysalis, but she is a very nice person and one of the few doctors who knows sign language at a professional level. While I would rather be inspected by Maxine, with how many runners and soldiers are sent out I can't exactly choose my doctor.

"Like what?"

I hesitate in answering, knowing she has known Nadia and Lem much longer than she has known me, and probably cares for the New Canton operator more than she cares for me.

'He just said something stupid,' I answer while giving a small shrug for emphasis.

"Alright." She smiles, before scanning over at my skin and inspecting for any sign of infection. "I think he's waiting for you outside, actually."

I nod. He probably wants to make sure I get a piece of cake.

That is one of the better things about staying with New Canton while we work on rebuilding Abel and continue our plan to defeat Van Ark-the food. But the thought of Van Ark pushes away all of my appetite.

It didn't take us long to piece it together that he was the one who destroyed Abel Township, even though we still are confused as to how he has zombies that are smart enough to jump and run and fire rocket launchers at townships...

And helicopters.

When I arrived at New Canton, I saw many others had come in before me, and for a while we thought they might be the one to blame somehow, since they wanted us to join up with so badly and we refused. It was only after the Major talked to the council over whatever coms was left in Abel that we decided it most definitely wasn't them.

Then we relayed what we all knew, about the zombies. When I told Janine about the times she simply nodded but didn't mention it to the New Canton council. I was only to tell them about what I saw at the Jeffro Complex. But even with only that information given, it didn't take long to put it together, although there are still pieces missing.

Like how Van Ark was able to make zoms this advanced, and how he can actually control them. Really, how can a person control a person who is a walking corpse? It's still something we're looking into but now we're one step closer because of this mission.

And the professor was dumb enough to believe we actually trying to stop him.

"Well, you are clean," Dr. Lobatse says, taking a small step back. I quickly pick up my sweaty clothing and start to put them back on, ignoring the gross feeling that prickles against my skin as I do. "Runner Five, I know you're in a hurry to see Sam and Willis but..."

She stops as the door clicks and another runner's head pops in the room-that's where we check for bites in New Canton, small wood rooms and not tents.

"Sorry," The redheaded woman says, glancing away from me as I scramble to get on the rest of the clothing and my backpack, "the guys waiting at the tunnel sent me in here. Are you almost finished?"

"Yes, I am," She answers, albeit a bit reluctantly. Then she turns to me. "Runner Five, I would like to speak with you soon."

'Is it important?' I question.

"Somewhat, but it is alright for you to talk to me another day. I know you must be exhausted."

I nod again, and pass by the redheaded runner as I leave. The doctor is right; Sam is waiting outside for me, and he appears to have something hidden behind his back.

He waves his free hand in greeting. "Hello, I guess you're not as happy to see me as I'd like you to be."

'Are you referring to the whole 'might' thing or giving me up to Nadia?' I smirk, and he chuckles nervously and rubs the back of his neck with his free hand.

"Uh, both, but-but Nadia said she harbors no bad feelings and you know I didn't mean it like that."

'Yeah, I know,' I reply with a half smile, although I know Nadia's words are lies and will be lies for a while.

"So forgiven?" His voice is hopeful and I can't help but giggle and nod. His eyes brighten. "Great! Now uh, I know you're birthday was a few days ago and I know you actually had a pretty good birthday because it was Thanksgiving and New Canton had a big feast and where was I going with this? Uh... oh, yeah. I know you had a great birthday and it's late but I got you something."

I blink. 'Like a present?'

"Well, yes. That is what it's called when you get something for someone and expect nothing in return," He snickers.

'You did not have to get me anything.'

"But I wanted to. I mean, it's the apocalypse. It's not like you get much of gifts anymore, anyway, and I'm your friend. Friends do nice things for each other." He shrugs. "And didn't Caleb get you something too?"

'He got me tweezers for my eyebrows and I'm ninety percent sure he stole them.'

"Still, I got you a gift, and I want you to accept it happily... Well, actually Simon helped me in getting it." He moves the hand that was once behind his back to the front of him, and my lips part in surprise.

'You... got me peanut butter.'

"Well, me and Simon. But you told me on a mission that next time I say I have a surprise to just get you peanut butter." His eyes are nervous and hopeful. "It might be just a little outdated but I just uh-I just-"

His words stop when I pull him closer to me into a hug, but I don't give him a chance to truly react before I'm pulling away. I take the small jar of peanut butter from his hands. 'Thank you.'

"No problem," He grins. "I-I'll tell Simon you said thanks too."

'I could probably find him and tell him myself,' I say with a shrug. 'Where is he?'

"Probably disappointing Jesus," He giggles while I narrow my eyes playfully.

Since Abel was blown up and we came here, Caleb and I have both become closer to Simon. He's a pretty cool guy except for the few dirty jokes he keep trying to pull on me. I know they aren't aimed exactly at me. He mostly wants to see if I'll actually get it and he does know when I do and when I don't. Because when I do my face completely red and when I don't... well, everything just goes on like normal while he snickers mischievously.

We are friends now mostly because I have been put on multiple mission with him these past few weeks and Caleb is always waiting for me when I get back so there's no way he can really go without talking to him.

Except today he's not waiting for me.

'Where's Caleb then?' I question.

"I'm not sure. I know he usually meets you when you come back. He might be with Willis." Sam winces when he sees my playful face falter. "He's not going to get any better, is he?"

'There's nothing wrong with him,' I try to say. 'He's changed a little but he... still likes to make stories and talk to me and he's still curious and-'

"I know, Five. But you know what's happened has made him different. He only likes to talk to you, Caleb, and his siblings. Five, he actually thinks you're his-"

My face has gone from playful to sad to scary. Sam stops as he knows he shouldn't say much more on the subject. He knows how I feel about that, but what is worse is he knows I blame myself.

'I have to go give this basketball to Willis,' I say, my eyes darting away from his face. 'Save me a piece of cake.'

I start to walk away but Sam is quick to come after me. "Hey, uh, do-do you want me to come with you or-or something?"

I shake my head, trying to ignore the way his eyes cast downward in defeat. 'No, you go to the Victory Celebration Party. Have fun.'

"It probably won't be that fun anyway. Not without our star hero, anyway."

'If anyone is a hero, it's the Major,' I say, 'and you should go. Eat cake and stuff.'

"But what about you?"

'I told you, save me a piece.' I jerk my head towards the large building used for special events. 'It's probably already started so you'd better hurry.'

He opens his mouth as if to say something but then closes it with a sigh. The look he gives me is sad, but he masks it with a forced smile. "I'll uh, see you later then... and save you cake."

I nod. 'Thank you for the gift. I really love it.'

That brightens his mood, but only just a bit. He doesn't say any goodbyes, but just gives a small wave and walks off. I let out a breath of air, put the jar of peanut in my backpack, and the wrap my arms around myself as I finally start to notice the cold seeping through my sweaty clothes and prickling my skin.

I feel bad for rejecting him so fast, because usually I love talking to him, especially since he didn't die during the rocket launcher attack on Abel. Most days I can talk to him or Caleb or Simon or Summer for hours, but only after I've visited Willis.

And no party is going to change that.

As I walk towards New Canton's school, I can't help but wonder if Caleb is with him. He is the only other person outside me and his siblings that Willis likes to talk to. He of course will talk to others, but that doesn't mean he actually enjoys it that much.

I don't think much of what's happened to him, because he isn't much different and he is by no means any less of a person. I know he can still become anything he puts his mind to...

Except a runner. Not because he actually cannot become one, but because I will never allow it. The same goes for Milo and Penelope. I care about them too much to risk losing them to the undead.

When that rocket launcher hit Abel, a lot of people were blown back and injured. I wasn't surprised at hearing that, because I honestly thought most of the Abel residents were dead. But that knowledge still didn't soften the blow when I heard Willis was in a coma.

It only lasted a few days-four to be exact-but when he woke up, he was different. I don't know exactly what happened, but the doctors believe he must've hit his head, that being what put him in the coma and also being what changed his thought process.

He's still creative, and funny, and kind and caring. He's still him, so I refuse to think of him any different. But I know he's different in who he talks to, and what he thinks of me.

In all honesty I think I'd prefer it if he thought badly of me now, for not protecting him-for not stopping the attack on Abel, but he doesn't. Instead now he idolizes me even more, especially since he thinks-

I open the doors to the large school. With 12000 people here in New Canton, it's safe to say there are many more kids here than there were in Abel. That means their school is much bigger than Abel's and actually has more than one teacher. My feet tap against the shiny hardwood floors, and I can't help but wonder how they managed to get floor polisher. The walls are clean with none of the yellow paint chipping off or fading and the ceilings are pristinely white with lights bulbs that are probably brighter than my future.

All the buildings in New Canton are like this. It's all well kept up and together, but there's one problem with it that I cannot forget or push away.

It's not Abel.

It's not home.

When I reach the hallway leading to the special needs classroom, there's a certain redhead standing there watching the classroom through one of those mirror windows. The echo of my steps gain his attention, and Caleb turns his eyes to me and they widen slightly in surprise.

"You're back already?" He questions with a raised brow that now has a thick pink scar that nearly reaches his eye. He got it after a piece of metal from the building he was in scratched him during Abel's attack.

'Apparently. I was wondering why you didn't want to come to meet me.'

"Yeah, I came to get him since school will be out in..." He glances at the clock above the door a few steps down, "ten minutes. Penelope and Milo should be heading this way soon."

I nod and look at the children through the window. There's only a few in this classroom, and they're all around Willis's age. He's currently reading a book, but I can't see the title. But then the teacher walks up to the head of the room and begins speaking, probably about homework or studying or something. I remember how much I used to hate school.

'Sam got me in trouble with Nadia today,' I say while keeping my eyes trained on Willis.

"What'd he do?"

'Told her that I was the one wearing Lem's headset."

'Well, were you?"

'Yes, but I only did it to keep them distracted and away from Abel.'

He shrugs. "Maybe so but that was one of their people. I mean, if that happened to you I think Sam would be furious."

'I don't think we'd ever raid anyone who had far less people and supplies than we do just because they don't team up with us.' I cross my arms and give him a raised brow.

Caleb scoffs but doesn't say anything more, and then the door opens with the teacher leading all the children outside. Willis is one of the last, but as soon as he sees me his eyes light up in such away that it makes my chest tighten and my breath clog up in my throat.

I wish it was someone else-someone actually worth it.

"Mum!" He cheers, racing over to me and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I hug him back with no stiffness, since this how he's been greeting me for the past few weeks after he woke up from the coma. Plus he knows when I'm being awkward or nervous. It's one of the senses that's gotten stronger since the accident.

His belief on me has changed as well. He believes now that I am his mother-his real mother. I've tried to explain that I'm not his actual, biological mother, and that his real mom isn't here because she left, but he refuses to believe it. He remembers her, but always insists that she's not his real mother-I am.

He pulls away, smiling brightly even though he just had his arms around my sweaty, stinky body. 'How was school?' I sign slowly. Even though Willis remembers most of the sign language I taught him, I still have to sign slower to avoid confusion.

"Good. I got to share my story with the class. Mrs. Clata loved it," Willis replies with a proud smile, then he looks down the hallway expectingly. "Where is Milo?"

'He will be here soon,' I answer. A small frown passes his features. Willis does like to spend a lot of his time with me, but he hates spending more than a few hours without his brother, but I think he's always been like that. I think it's a twin thing. I know my dad was a twin, and he told me when he was a kid he didn't like not being around his twin sister for long periods of time.

It crushed him when she died.

'I got you something,' I say, shrugging off the backpack that is only halfway on. A wide smile appears on the raven haired boy's face, and if grows even wider when I pull out the half aired up basketball.

"You got me a ball!" He exclaims. "A basketball."

He grabs it from my hands, admiring it like it's the best gift he's ever received. He glances up at me with expecting eyes. "Will you play with me?"

'I'm not very good, and the ball needs to be aired up,' I excuse lamely.

"Then air it up," He answers. "Then play with me."

'Caleb is probably better than I am at playing the game. Maybe he and Milo will play with you.'

"But I asked you."

Caleb coughs, muttering something that sounds like 'rude' under his breath.

'I will... try.'

"Willis!" A voice calls from down the hallway. We all turn and see Milo running down the hallway, with Penelope trying to keep up.

"Slow down," She whines. "I'm tiny!"

I feel you, kid.

"Milo!" Willis exclaims, running down the hallway to meet his brother half way. He nearly tackles him to the ground. "Mom got me a basketball and said she'd play with us!"

The brunet boy blinks. "I thought she was terrible at basketball."

"She is," Caleb shrugs, earning an unamused glance from me.

"She still said she'd play," Willis beams, and I sigh.

'I did, and I'm already gross so I might as well do this and shower and eat later.'

"Yeah, how did the mission go?" Milo questions.

"Did you stop Pro. Van Ark?" Penelope asks. "Did you beat him? Did you win?"

'We haven't beaten him yet, but we did succeed in this mission.'

"So you'll beat him soon then?"

'I hope so,' I answer as Caleb and I make our way over to the three kids. I never want him to hurt any of you ever again.

"I wanna be a runner like you," Willis says, grabbing ahold of my hand with his free one. "I wanna be a hero like you."

It's so hard to make myself smile at hearing that. So, so hard.

No, you don't. You really, really don't.

A/N: Hope you enjoy! This chapter explains a bit more, does it not? Anyway, please be sure to vote and comment! Thank you all and have a blessed day!