I sigh through my nose as I re-read a verse in my Bible... for the eighth time. Scowling I close the book and rub my eyes, frustration and disappointment a clear feature.

Three days... I've been here three days and I already can't stand this town. And it's not even how pitiful it is or how I've gone on one supply mission since my arrival-well, that last one might have something to do with it-but the most annoying thing about this place are the people, and how nice they are.

Especially to me.

I know it will wear off soon, but people constantly asking how I am and all that is getting a little irritating. Their concern about my condition and how I'm handling myself after the crash is almost unsettling. I can tell some of them are only trying to hear more of the action, using my young age as an excuse for their questions. But some of them...a lot them... most of them are actually, genuinely concerned. And besides an few hands interpreting to 'I'm fine' and 'thanks for asking' I'm not sure what more to say.

Maybe because I'm not used to it anymore. At Mullin's they'd only give you a day off if it was something like a broken bone, and at the AMTB you were lucky if you got that. It's not normal to me anymore...

I've never been good with people. At church I had some close friends, but I was considered the awkward friend, and it's not that I don't like nice people, but how do you handle it? I'm used to being alone. To me, people who care-really care-are foreign, weird even.

Man, that sounds awful, I think back to my old church friends, when we always had something to smile about. I guess there's still something to smile about-being alive's a good one-but I wonder what it'd be like to feel the happiness I felt three years ago before all this crap began.

Suddenly I hear Sam's voice over my headset, reminding me I still had it on. I wore it constantly, just a habit from wearing headphones when I was younger.

"Raise the gates," He says, and I hear that annoying sound meaning the gates are being raised as he asked. Then I hear a weird CLUNK sound, and I blink at the change in routine.

That's new...

"Agh, that's not suppsed to happen," Sam says with a distressed voice.

Oh, dear...

"The gates are stuck. Can everyone see the gates are stuck? Have we got an engineer?"

Static crackles through my headset before Runner Seven's voice rings in my ears. "Runners, we have an emergency. The gates have gotten stuck in open position, and we're open to all attacks."

I can hear guns being fired, and an uneasy feeling settles in my stomach as bullets are continuing to be fired.

"The following runners are to report to the main gate immediately for run and distract, Runner Two, Runner Three, Runner Five, Runner Eight. Go, Go, Go."

I'm already up and ready before he finishes the sentence. The second my name is called I'm ready. It's one thing the AMTB taught me: If you're called, get up and listen to the rest as you go. Time is a very crucial thing and it cannot under any circumstances be wasted.

"Um, Runner Five," Sam says what sounds to me a bit nervously, "We need you ready to go right now, Runner Five. We're pairing with you up with Runner Eight here."

Suddenly there's someone coughing beside me, and I jump. My muscles are still tense as I look at the person standing beside me.

What is this lady, a ninja?

"Sorry about that," She says after her coughing fit. "Hey, there. I'm Runner Eight-Sarah Smith. How ya doin'? Ready to go out and misdirect some zombies?"

"No time for chit-chat," Sam buts in, voice irritated and shaking with panic. "Grab one of the noise makers from the lockers."

Sarah hands me one quickly and it starts to make an loud beeping sound. Yep, that's sure to catch some attention. "That's it. Now go out and get some zoms to chase while we... try to fix the gates. Go! Run!"

'I'm going! I'm going!' I sign, even though he can't see me, and then Sarah and I are rushing out the gates, trying help save Abel.

•

As I'm running I study the person I'm partnered with...

I don't like her.

I don't necessarily think she's a bad person, because well, I've just met her, but I hate her name. It's stupid, really, since it is a very popular name-Sarah, but I've come to find I dislike a lot of people who own the names of my old church friends before all... this happened.

She doesn't look like the Sarah I knew. She has dark hair and green eyes, while the Sarah I knew has... had blonde hair and blue eyes. The Sarah I knew was happy and kind, and the most sheltered kid I knew. She wouldn't hurt a fly. I don't think the same goes for Eight. I feel kind of bad for disliking her for her name, and I know it's not very Christian like, but every time I meet someone with one of their names... Sarah, Ashley, Zoey, Eddie, Anthony...

Wesley.

I shake my head, trying to push those thoughts away. I know if I ever met someone with his name... Well, I'm not sure what I'd do. And then-then Her name pops up into my head. I scowl, knowing if I ever met anyone with her name... I don't want to think of all the ways that could go down.

"You okay, Five?" Eight asks me. "You seem pretty deep in thought."

I shrug, not in the mood to in start signing out lies. I doubt she knows it anyway.

Then she starts speaking into her headphones. "Okay, Abel Township, we're clear. Nice, steady pace. About ten of the zoms on our tail; all going well. How you guys holding up?"

"Yeah, not so well here, Runner Eight." There's a slight hesistation in his voice. "We're kinda," He sighs a bit dramatically. "The mortors are shot, they're telling me. It looks like... it looks like something got in there and chewed it up."

I don't even wanna think about what that something might be, I mentally say as a shudder runs down my spine. But those thoughts are ripped away as Runner Eight begins to cough raggedly. I send her a raised brow, half concerned for her and half worried for myself.

"Sorry about that. Bad chest cold," She explains with a small smile as I nod and look ahead. "So do you guys want more time?"

"The longer you can keep the zoms away the better."

"Got that," She coughs. "We're just having a great day out here. Me and my buddy Runner Five can get to know each other."

'We are not buddies,' I sign, although she's not paying me any attention. Her head is craned back to see how many zombies are tailing behind us.

"Yeah, yeah, That-that cough," Sam says skeptically, "You're okay, aren't you, Runner Eight?"

"It's just a cough." Eight rolls her eyes, looking over at me. I keep my face neutral, effectively not giving away the emotions I don't feel.

"We just need to be careful. You know the drill: First a cough, then a rattle, then a moan-"

"That's how you know the dead are walking," Sarah interrupts with another eye roll. "It's just a cough. Sam."

She turns over to me with a slightly annoyed look. "He's always fussing about something. Hey, Sam, if it bothers you so much I'm turning off that transmitter. That way you won't have to hear my coughing."

I raise a brow at her. Is that really a good idea?

"Oh, no you don't. That's not how it works-"

Click.

And it's off.

"That's better," Eight sighs. Then she looks over at me with a glint in her eye that I can't quite read, but I tense nonetheless . "Now it's just you and me."

I blink, feeling the slight weight of my stomach dropping at her tone and how dark it suddenly has become. Now I'm not sure if my disliking toward her is just because of her name.

•

We run in silence, leaving me to my thoughts. I don't enjoy that very much, not complete silence. Music is alright. I like enough, but usually when I'm on a run without multiple zombies chasing me. I like hearing someone talk, usually the radio operator, but I'll listen to Sarah, or at least her voice. I've learned how to tone out the words.

But I don't like complete silence, because that causes me to think, more specifically over think, which I tend to do quite a bit. And usually when I overthink, things get to be very depressing very quickly. Even if I think of something happy, it'll bring back memories of something that will never be the same again and then I'll be upset again. But it's not like I'll start crying during a run. Oh, no. I've gotten good at keeping tears at bay if they every do rise to the surface.

I used to be horrible at it when I was younger, but now I've gotten much better since the apocalypse. I haven't cried since...

I push the thoughts of the past away and try to focus on my breathing, or my step pattern, or the repetitive music that's just barely considered audible through my headset.

"So you just came down in that chopper a couple of days ago, huh?" Runner Eight says. I nod, my eyes flashing to meet hers for a split second before returning my gaze ahead. "Must've been pretty scary. Seems like you're the only one who survived, at least, we haven't seen any other survivors."

I hear a moan come from behind me, and I quicken my pace a bit.

"Duck down for just a second there, honey," She instructs, and I obey, gritting my teeth as a gunshot rings in my ears. "There we go. We don't usually have guns; There's not enough to go around, but they like to try and help us out on a decoy mission like this."

I blink as I'm reminded of the patheticness that is Abel. At the AMTB we almost always had guns on us, and if we didn't we had at least a crossbow on us. And the only time you didn't carry a gun at Mullins was if it was an easy supply mission.

And I'd almost forgotten about how bad this place is out of shape.

"Amazing how you turned up here. Just dropped out of the sky, after someone fired a rocket launcher at your helicopter."

'A miracle from God, I suppose,' I sign, but my words are ignored.

"That's really strange, isn't it?" Eight asks. "I mean, you were just bringing in supplies. We've been in touch with a military base about a hundred miles north, and they drop off supplies like medicine and wet weather gear. That sort of thing."

I keep running, feeling myself growing tired of her talk about my interesting arrival. If she could talk about something else it would be great, or at least change that odd tone of voice.

It sounds like she's trying to bait me for something.

"So, who would do a thing like that?"

I don't know.

"And you know what I keep thinking about?"

No, but I'm about to find out, aren't I?

"How do we know it was you who was on that chopper at all?"

My head snaps to the side to meet her gaze, my eyes wide. Okay, now she's got my attention.

"We haven't gotten anyway to transmit pictures anymore, so we didn't know what you'd look like." Sarah shrugs before continuing. "Sure you show up in the right uniform, but that could've been stripped from a body. You could've not been in that chopper at all. It'd might've been you who shot that chopper down."

My jaw drops as I stare at her in disbelief. I start to sign rapidly in my defense, although I have no idea if she can understand me or not, when I hear a moan from behind me.

Eight clicks her gun and points. "Duck down, will ya? Wouldn't want to hit you by mistake."

My eyes widen slightly. Looks like I was right. We aren't buddies.

"There, got him," Sarah says after shooting her gun. "That was a close one. Better stay close." She turns on her transmitter and smiles mischievously. "Hey there, Sam. Were you worrying about us? Just didn't want to irritate you with this cough, that's all."

"Never ever, ever, ever, Runner Eight-Runner Eight, you know-you know you never ever turn your radio off. Never do that, okay?" Sam asks, his voice practically dripping with irritation. I can't help the small smile that forms on my lips.

I wonder how many times I'm going to end up ticking him off while I'm here...

"He gets lonely without us," Runner Eight whispers over to me, and my smile widens ever so slightly when Sam pipes in.

"I-I heard that," He stumbles, before his voice becomes stern. "And it's not about me, okay? It's about keeping you alive. Eight more have joined the pack chasing you. You're still ahead of them. Just-Just keep going."

"We're heading west. We clear?"

"This is why you never ever turn off your radio," He says though what sounds like gritted teeth. "There's a swarm to the west and we think they've... ugh, yeah, here we go," He groans, "they've heard you. That's zoms to your west, east and... yeah, south."

'I guess that means we head north?' I sign, but Sarah just looks at me with a raised brow.

"Huh... well then, time to-"

"Head north," He finishes.

I roll me eyes. 'That's what I said.'

"I have a plan," Sarah casts a glance toward me, while I stare at her with curiosity, wondering whether or not she's going to tell me said plan.

"Hey, Sam," She says after a moment or so of silence, "I've just realized that we haven't shown Five around the neighborhood. Or the neighbors."

I tilt my head to the side. We have neighbors?

"You mean New Canton?"

"I sure as heck don't mean the zombies."

"Do we want to start a war with New Canton?" Sam questions.

I narrow my eyes in confusion and fascination. War?

"Just a little payback," She answers. "Don't you remember when New Canton hearded those zoms towards us when they were building new barracks?"

Sam groans. "Yeah, but-"

"If the Major were here, we'd check with her," Eight cuts him off, "With the situation as it is, New Canton's to the North, our exit is to the North. You know it makes sense."

She looks over at me. "Speed up, quick, towards New Canton."

I feel a slight sinking feeling in my stomach, but I know Eight's right; It does make sense, and if she'd stop with that dang coughing I might actually be able to enjoy a small fracture of peace in this run.

•

"Stop!" A voice rings out as guns are fired. "In the name of New Canton not a step further."

Great. Either I get shot or I get eaten alive. Isn't this just peachy?

"There are zoms behind us! Run!" Runner Eight yells, but I'm not sure who she's really talking to. I just keep running, ignoring the impulse to squeeze my eyes close as a bullet flies past my face.

"Stop!" The man says again. "Stop or we shoot to kill!"

As if you aren't already!

"Keep going!"

We continue running past New Canton as the zombies are now attracted to them instead of us. The loud noises of the gun fire keep them coming to the settlement, and I sigh with relief.

"Wa-hoo! Well, that's one way to take down a bunch of zoms." She smiles slightly when I glance back at the settlement. "Oh, don't worry about New Canton. They've got the fire power to deal with them. Means you and me are home free."

I nod, feeling no longer worried. I mean, sure I don't like talking to people that much, but people are still people. Each life is a life. Not worrying would probably scare me more than worrying to death.

"Hey, Sam, how's the gate coming?"

"Yeah, nearly there. Come on in if you don't have a pack dragging behind you."

"I guess this turned out to be less of a good time for a little chit-chat than I hoped, Five," Sarah pauses when I give her a confused look. "Truth is, I wanted to find out if I could trust you. There's some pretty strange stuff going 'round here.

"The Major's called away on urgent business, someone brings a chopper down firing from the middle of the zombie wilderness, and you show up like a white knight." Her eyes harden and I can see the danger in them. "Too damn convenient, Five."

I start to sign again in my defense but Eight just laughs. "If you haven't noticed yet, Five, I don't understand a single thing you're saying, so you're wasting your time."

I huff. I knew it.

In about fifteen minutes time we've made it back to Abel, because those fifteen minutes were filled with silence, sideways glances, and the occasional snippet from Sam that only eases the tension for about half a second. So all in all, I'm actually quite grateful to be back, seeing how Eight's the one with the gun and seeing how suspicious she is of me I wouldn't put it past her to shoot me at some point if I seem too suspicious...

Well, I guess she could probably do that at Abel as well but still. If she doesn't want to trust me then she doesn't have to, because I sure as hell don't trust her.

"We got her working again," Sam says with glee as that annoying alarm goes off as the gates open. "Welcome home, runners. Not a single hostile anywhere near our gates."

"Oh, yeah. Me and Runner Five make a great team. We'll be going out all the time, won't we, Five?" Sarah smiles at me but I can see the look in her eyes. It shows her weariness of me crystal clear, and I just sigh.

Great, Just great. I think sarcastically.

"I uh, yeah, maybe not next time though," Sam says, and I officially declare that he is my favorite person here in Abel. "We have reports of a child stuck in No Man's Land. Get some rest, Runner Five, because we'll need you to do another fast run as soon as you can."

I smile to myself. Now that I'm back here, I can finally get some quiet. Like Sam said, I'm going to have to do another run very soon. So getting some rest is a pretty good idea. And rest means quiet. Well, as quiet as you can get in the zombie apocalypse.

A/N: Look who finally decided to update. Hope you like this chapter and please vote and comment. Thanks!