Yeah, because it's not like I'm tired or anything from running around trying to save your kid from exposure, or the ya know... flesh eating undead!

I stand there for a few short moments as Ed speeds off on the bike, but after a second or so of catching my breath I'm back to a quick jog. It's not as steady as before, it quickening and slowing down from time to time, but it's still at a good constant I think.

My mind drifts toward the rocket launcher we found-the one that's now strapped to the back of Ed's bike. I doubt we'll be able to go all C.I.A. on it and check for finger prints, but now we now where they were camped, and where they might actually be from. The closer we get to finding that out, the closer we get to finding who exactly 'they' are, and why they did what they did.

Costed Sierra her life, that's what they did. And I'm going to find out why.

I didn't know the pilot all that well, mostly because I'm not a people person, but she was still a human being. A person who had dreams and goals and maybe a hope that we might find out a way to stop this madness, and now she's gone... She's gone because of some unknown person shot down our chopper for some unknown reason.

My breathing quickens and I can feel the heat on my cheeks and neck, although I'm not sure if the reason from the two are from anger or the fact that I'm just nearly sprinting now, my rage filled thoughts distracting me from what I'm doing. Good thing there aren't any trees nearby or I'd most likely have smacked right into one by now.

She's dead because of whatever the hell is Project Greenshoot. She's dead because she knew something about it even though really it's ME who's supposed to get the briefing. She died because she just so happened to be the lucky pilot who was flying ME to Abel Township. She died...

"Hey, Five. What're you doing?"

She died because of me.

"Why're you running so fast? I don't see anything on the scanners."

With his words I come to a complete stop. My hair hits my face and flies into my open mouth which is gasping for air once more. I run one hand into my already messy hair while the other nervously grips my backpack strap.

I'm thinking too much. I realize. I'm thinking too much.

"F-five? Are you okay? Is something wrong?" Sam questions with concern practically dripping from his voice. I'm not really sure how I can respond. I don't think he'd be able to see me signing on the cameras and I haven't gotten the chance to teach him Morse code.

"Um, okay. Since I don't know Morse code just yet we're going to do the simple tap one for yes, tap two for no, alright?"

I roll my eyes as I start lightly jogging again, having now somewhat caught my breath. I tap the mic of my headset once in response.

"Okay got that. Now are you okay?"

Tap.

"Are you sure?"

Tap.

He hesitates before speaking again. "Are you lying?"

I frown at that, tapping twice a bit more forceful than the times before.

"Hey, not so hard, Five," He scolds. "It was just a question, although you did scare me a bit. Thought you might've saw something that I couldn't." There's a hint of nervousness and fear in his voice, but he plays it off with a light chuckle. "Don't do anything like that again, alright?"

Tap.

He lets out an amused huff. "That's my runner. From what I can see on the cameras and scanners you're home free. Not a zom in sight. Guess it's a reward for helping out Ed and Molly, huh? They've made it back to Abel already. You should be here in a few minutes if you keep with that pace."

I don't know if Sam says anything after that. My mind is still echoing on his earlier words.

"That's my runner."

I've never heard that before. Not at Mullins and especially not at the AMTB. I've never heard it said towards anyone else either... and I'm not sure how to feel about it. It doesn't feel bad, but I think that's the bad thing about it.

I force myself to just look ahead and keep going. It's best to ignore the pleasant feeling that's settling in my chest. Can't get too attached. Abel Township maybe my... the place I take shelter in but in a split second Mullins could say they're coming to get me and off I go. I'm theirs, and I know they aren't going to just give up a runner. Especially not one they-

"Raise the gates!"

The beeping noise of the gates snap my back to the real world, and I run back inside the walls of Abel. Sweaty and tired, I lazily dump out the sports bra I found early, as well as a few items like some canned spam-it's dented, but unopened so it should still be in good use-and a pair of worn men's trainers. Afterwards I follow Dr. Meyers into a nearby tent so she can check me for bites.

"You're all clear," She states after a few minutes of running her dark fingers over my bruised and dirty skin.

'Great,' I sign, and the doc laughs a bit sheepishly.

"Since I'm a Doctor I should know at least a bit of what you're saying, but I don't really remember much sign language," She explains. "I learned quite a bit a few years ago but... time takes knowledge away if you don't use it."

I shrug at her words. Honestly I was mute for a good few months before I was taught at Mullins, but to make her feel better I grab a notebook and pen that's nearby.

'I said, great,' I scribble down.

I hand the notebook for her to read, and she scoffs. "That's what I felt guilty for not understanding."

I grab the pen and write down something else.

'If I say I like your accent would that make you feel better?'

She reads it and raises a brow. "Are you making fun of me because I'm American?"

I shake my head, scrubbing down more words. 'No. Actually I like it because I had the accent too, but mine had more of a southern twang.'

I stand as she reads my writing. "Wait, so you're from America-"

By now I'm already out the door and walking away. It's not hard to remember where I'm from, even though America is far from where I am now. But that's in the past. I don't even know how my home country is doing. Heck, I barely know the state the country of England is in, much less the state of a country across the ocean.

I head towards the showers after grabbing a pair of baggy sweatpants and a faded pink shirt from my tent. I tell my grumbling stomach it can wait for its fill of whatever it is we'll be getting for lunch today. Hopefully something with tomatoes, since I hear there's a small garden in a corner of the town and the red vegetable (it's a vegetable. I will not be swayed by the technicalities) does become ripe in the summer months.

It might be not be true though, seeing how I got this information from Milo just before I went to bed. I was dead tired at the time, so there's a good chance I may have dreamt the whole thing, but I hope it was a real conversation. Because having a tomato would be amazing, a close second to peanut butter.

I reach the showers and strip down to nothing before stepping inside. I reach down and turn the hot water on, grimacing and slightly sputtering as the spray hits me square in the face. It takes a moment for it to get warm, so I press myself against the wall in attempts to keep the cool water away from my skin. Once it becomes the right temperature I step into the spray and start scrubbing at my arms and shoulders. It's nice feeling the grime and sweat of today's run leave my body.

I try to use this time to calm myself and not continue thinking a million miles per hour only to try to push them away to be forgotten. The process itself is tiring, exhausting. It drags out the seconds and slowly consumes you until you're not even there anymore.

I have enough things already trying to do that. I think as I rinse the shampoo that smells strongly like a grandmother's perfume from my hair. Don't need to add my own mind into the mix.

It takes another five minutes before I'm clean and dressed and heading outside towards the kitchen. That's what they call it anyway. Really it looks like a run down concession stand with a few picnic tables around it. Although there's only about sixty or so people here at Abel, so the size of it seems to fit.

After grabbing a plate of food that was handed to me, I take a seat at an empty table, sighing in slight disappointment when I see a meal with no tomatoes.

Definitely going to raid a gardening store sometime soon.

I take a small bite of the food, swallowing a moment later. It's bland, but not unbearable. I take another bite, a bigger one this time, and look around at the few people sitting around the other tables. There seem to only be a few others here, meaning I'm either early or late. I didn't exactly get a schedule so I'm not too sure about the times.

Something catches my eye a few tables over. Really, it's a someone, and then someones. Penelope. I see her standing near one of the picnic tables, talking to Ed and Molly. I've only seen her once before, and that was when she was hiding from me. Here she seems completely different-all smiling and happy. But I guess small toddlers can have an effect on you.

"Hey, Five," Willis says, sitting beside me. I flinch in surprise, even more so when I see Milo sitting in front of me.

Is Sarah Smith giving these kids lessons on sneaking up on people?

I keep the thought to myself as I give a small wave before taking a bite of my food.

"We met Ed-the guy over-and he said you helped get fuel for his motorbike." I nod as Willis points over to Ed, who seems to be engaged in a conversation with Penelope. "Penelope really likes his daughter. She loves babies." He rolls his eyes. "I think they cry too much."

I snort at that. You got that right.

"He said he was a mechanic, which is pretty cool," Willis mumbles. "Too bad the only things that really needs fixing is a few radios or so. Janine makes sure everything's all wired and we only have Ed's motorbike-which he said you didn't get to ride."

I look at the two with interest. Janine?

"Yeah," Milo cuts in. "He said you had to run back to Abel. That must've sucked."

"Don't interrupt me," Willis scolds.

"Don't tell me what to do," His brother responds, crossing his arms.

"I can whatever I want."

"Then so can I."

I watch awkwardly as the boys continue to argue, not showing any sign of either backing down from such petty matters.

I wonder if I was ever like this.

I slowly stand and pick my now cleaned up plate, having just now finished. Since the last time I saw two siblings fight I was one of the two siblings, I'm not sure how to make them stop. I slowly start to step away, hoping an adult can make the two stop with their bickering.

Neither of the two seem to notice me getting farther and farther away from them, and after a good distance I turn around and start to briskly walk...

Only to nearly plow into someone.

"Oh, hello, Five," Sam greets cheerfully, if not a bit awkwardly as he takes a step back to put some distance between us. "I was looking for you actually."

I blink at that. What a way to step right into conversation. 'You were?'

"Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you were really alright. When you were running, you broke out into a full out sprint like something was chasing you. Had me a bit worried because there wasn't anything on the scanners."

I roll my eyes at him, having a more teasing manner than usual. 'And how do you know I wasn't just trying to get back here faster?'

Sam scoffs at that, sending me a sly grin. "It doesn't take a genius to know you're not too fond of Abel, not yet anyway. I know my runners."

I shift a bit uncomfortably as he says that. It shouldn't feel as good as it does to know he includes me as one of his runners. It really, really shouldn't.

"But either way, is something bothering you?"

'Just overthinking,' I reply, and Sam nods.

"Right," He drags out the word. "Should've thought you'd be having your mind on that rocket launcher. We'll figure out who did that to your helo, I promise. It might take a while but we'll figure it out." He gives an assuring smile, which I try to return, and fail miserably. But Sam doesn't seem to notice, or maybe he does and decides not to mention it.

"Oh," Sam speaks again, "before I forget-"

"Hey," A voice calls from behind me. I turn and see Milo and Willis marching towards us. "Where'd you go?"

I point to Sam, who gives a small wave to the boys before returning his attention back to me. "Anyway, I was wondering when..." His voice dies off as he notices the two still standing there, watching us both intently. Out of the corner of my eye I see Penelope a few feet away, shying off when she thinks she's been seen.

"Um, do you-do you need Runner Five for something?" Sam questions, cocking his head to the side slightly.

"No, we just like talking to her," Willis replies nonchalantly.

He seems a bit taken back by that answer. "She can't speak and you don't know sign language."

"She's going to teach us," Milo comments before his brother can. "Plus she's a good listener."

Sam looks over at me and I shrug. 'I guess I am.'

"Well, you can listen to me ramble on so I guess you are too," He grins, and I feel my lips twitch in a small attempt to smile.

"Hey, Five," Willis calls, "when will you start teaching us sign language?"

I sign and answer, which Sam speaks for me. "Soon."

"Could you teach us something today?"

I shake my head and give another answer, waiting for Sam to voice it.

"No, she has something else planned," He explains, his eyes clouded with confusion as he looks over at me. I can see he's questioning what I planned and I sigh.

'I'm teaching you Morse Code tonight, remember?' I nearly laugh as his eyes widen.

"O-oh. Right," He stutters, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Sorry. I forgot about that."

"About what?" Milo asks, but I give a wave of my hand to dismiss it before turning back to Sam.

'I'll meet you after you finish all your runs, okay?'

"Y-yeah. That sounds good." His voice still has that hint of embarrassment which makes me smile.

'I have the day off tomorrow, right?'

He nods.

'Could you tell the boys I'll teach them then, after school?' I pause to think. 'Might have to tell some of the other runners too, huh.'

"Don't worry," Sam shrugs. "I'll be sure to tell them."

'You're the best.'

The words are signed before I actually realize it. An old habit I had instead of saying 'thank you'. I don't think anything of it. It was something I'd always done. Didn't seem that important probably because 'thank you' or any word like it wasn't used often by me anymore. I don't count myself as rude or anything, but life now is all mechanical.

Don't get too attached.

Which means I shouldn't feel as glad as I do when Sam grins, or when Milo and Willis start curiously pestering Sam to tell them what I said. I really, really shouldn't.

Scratch don't get too attached. Don't get attached at all.

•

It's about fifteen minutes into my Bible reading when I remember it.

Crap! Crap! Crap! How could I have forgotten in just the span of a few hours?

I rush out of my tent, not caring if the few people who were still out and about see me with only one shoe on and my hair in a very limp ponytail. It's still pretty early in the evening; the sun set less than an hour ago, but most people are inside doing... whatever it is the social people like to do. I know some of the townspeople are like me and just read and maybe fiddle around with their thoughts and whatever old trinkets they might have.

Still, seeing as the sun set around an hour so ago, that's how long Sam's been done directing runners. Because no one's dumb enough to go running at night, unless you have a death wish.

I knock on the door the coms shack, hoping Sam's still there since I have no idea where he sleeps (if I did that'd be very odd).

I can see why it's called the coms shack, because that's exactly what it is. A shack. A small, iron hut with a radio tower to the side. It's not much, but it's enough. And it looks alright from the outside, but I haven't seen the inside yet.

The door swings open to reveal a smiling Sam Yao. "There are you are, Five. I thought you'd forgotten."

I sign multiple apologies as I step inside the shack. My eyes are focused on the ground as I feel slightly embarrassed about forgetting about this when we'd just talked about meeting a few hours prior. Then I see he's not watching my hands.

"Why do you only have on one shoe?"

I feel heat creep up the back of my neck. While I didn't give a care that random people of the Township who I'd never met before saw me like this, Sam-someone I seem to talk to and will be talking to on a regular basis... that's a different story.

I pull my hair out it's sagging ponytail and run my hands through it, most likely making it look worse.

'This is what happens when I rush,' I reply, avoiding eye contact.

I don't know whether to feel better or worse when he laughs. "It's noted that I'm never going rush you." He jokes teasingly. "Is this why you don't like surprise runs?"

I roll my eyes at him, more embarrassed that agitated, although I feel a little of that in me too.

'Come on, funny guy. Let's get started. It's a lot of work. Trust me.'

•

I think we go on for an hour and a half before my vision starts to get a little blurry. This is a lot harder to teach than I originally thought. Much, much harder.

Sam's not too bad of a learner, although he gets confused quite often. But in all honesty, so did I when I started learning it. Plus seeing how I have to show him the different taps, write the dots and slashes, and talk all with my hands... I can understand him getting confused.

And I'm getting frustrated because of how much harder it is to teach without a voice. Plus I'm getting rather tired, which makes me even more frustrating. Although I don't think I'm letting it show too much.

"By the look on your face I'm guessing I got it wrong again?" Sam guesses cautiously, and I blink myself back to reality.

I shake my head and rub at my face before replying. 'No, just... frustrated.'

"With me?"

'With myself,' I pause and give him a sidelong glance. 'Mostly myself... It's much harder to teach this then learn it, especially when you're mute.'

"Well, you seem to be a pretty good teacher to me," He says, and I give a small huff at his attempt to make me feel better.

I run my tired eyes and nod. 'That's a nice compliment, although I'm sure I could do better.'

Sam ignores my comment and looks at me with a raised brow. "You look pretty tired, Runner Five." He follows suit in rubbing his eyes, with a yawn escaping his mouth, "maybe we should continue this another day."

'I'd really like to finish this last bit...' My hands lazily talk for me, but my eyes are already drooping. I hear a soft chuckle come from Sam.

Something gently grabs my arm and pulls me into standing position. "Come on, Five. Let's get you to bed. You look exhausted."