"Good news, Runner Five," Sam says with excitement as he hands me my headset. "Abel Township's been doing pretty damn well lately. You might have noticed that zombie attacks are right down, people aren't crying so much, the children have less scurvy, and there have been more conversations about the weather and not about the inevitable demise of the human race. Pretty good, right?"

'Yeah, I guess talking about how much I hate the cold is better than talking about... the demise of the human race as you put it,' I say in a lame attempt to be humorous.

"Well, it's a virtuous circle," Maxine states. "Happier people have better immune systems."

I raise a brow at that, but don't question it. She is a doctor, after all. 'I thought this wasn't going to be medicine run,' I say instead.

"It isn't, but right now only a few people are actually in the hospital and there are other people who can see to it," She explains. "And there's no major sicknesses or injuries at the moment and Caleb can get his own medicine-"

I take a quick step towards her, my movement causing the doctor to stop her words as I look at her with worried eyes. 'Caleb's sick?'

"Oh, no, he's just not feeling well," She replies nonchalantly.

'Is it because of whatever is wrong with his chest?'

"Five, I'm a doctor, so you know that's confidential and I can't say anything about it. If Caleb wants to tell you about it, then he will."

'But-'

"Five, sorry to interrupt but you do have a mission to run," Sam interrupts, handing my head cam and helping me adjust it to my head. God, I hate that thing.

'Do I really have to wear this on a not-so-important mission?' I ask, making a face that shows if my words were voiced it would sound like a childish whine.

Unfortunately, Janine said there is no way to make the head cam any smaller without reducing the quality of it, so I'll just have to deal with it and learn how to run with eight pounds of tech strapped to my head.

Lucky me.

"Yes, you do," He answers sternly as I head toward the door. "We're letting you wear it because it's a low risk mission. We're still testing it out because well, I'd rather not have it glitch on me while you're going into zombie infested territory. Is your headset on?"

I click a small switch and give him a thumbs up before heading out the door and to the gates.

"This mission is pretty special, Five," He excitedly says as I walk. "We've heard that the big toy store on Possum Place is untouched. We need you to go out there and get us... well, fun stuff."

Fun stuff, huh. Yeah, I think I can do that.

"Any particular fun stuff?" Maxine asks as I reach the gate. I ready myself and get into sprinting position.

"I think we can trust Runner Five's judgement on this. Fun stuff, Five. The funner, the better."

I wonder what I should get Willis and Milo, and Penelope, of course.

'Hey, Sam, what do you think-'

"Remember to also watch out for the zombies, alright?" Maxine reminds me, and I give her a thumbs up through my head cam.

"Maybe Runner Five can even make the zombies fun-like some sort of game."

I scrunch up my nose at that. What sort of messed up games did Sam play as a child?

"Don't be ridiculous," Maxine deadpans.

"Yeah, yeah. S-sorry. Okay, gates are open. Covering fire. Runner Five, ready, set... and go."

I spring off into action, running outside the gates and toward one of the cities. My mind wonders off for a brief second, wondering if Sam chose to put this secret mission on hold just to go to the toy store. I know he wouldn't, but it's a cute idea to laugh at. But mostly I wonder if Britain even sells the same games that I used to play in the states. I'm sure they'll have Monoploy-the game that's ruined family night since 1933, and I'm sure they'll have Uno.

I love Uno.

And they better have Mario Kart. That was the best video game ever. You got to shoot stuff at people but it was funny instead of mean.

But also I have no idea what anyone here likes. I've haven't discussed any games with the few friends I've made since I came here. I know Milo and Willis like soccer-or football as they call it, and Penelope likes puzzles, but what else could I possible get?

Maybe Chutes and Ladders?She liked that game a lot, and Monkeys in a Barrel. Wes... he liked all those video games like Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed, but that was also before shooting a bunch of people in the head was a requirement to survive. I don't know if they'd actually like that.

Ugh, why is this so hard to think about? It's literally a bunch of games. And we're in the zombie apocalypse. They should be fine with whatever they get.

I continue running, reaching the city and grabbing my backpack strap as I watch out for any zombies. I turn a corner to keep from being seen, and then after running around the block I continue on my path. I'd rather jog the long way than have to go on a killing spree and risk getting zombie fluids on any of the games I plan on bringing back.

"Okay, there's the toy store just at the end of the road," Sam says through my headset before gasping in delight. "Aw, man, look at the displays in the window! Chipottle Labs games, Data Spire games, the new tie-in for Neroy, the Ronal Vault movie. Well, I say 'new', I mean, 'new' three and a half years ago before the apocalypse."

I reach the store windows, and tilt my head slightly as I look at the games that I have never seen or heard of before. I stare for a good moment or so and nod before heading inside, my hopes for finding Mario Kart diminishing slightly. There are multiple racks of board games and video games, and a few books too, and I quickly grab a few coloring books and word finders for Penelope.

"I-I know this makes me sound lame, but I don't think I've played any of these games," Maxine says.

"That's because you spent all your time saving lives and stuff, not-not on important things like playing video games," Sam says, and I roll my eyes and walk down one of the weirder looking game isles, with books that are set beside their board games.

If you need an entire book to teach you the rules, chances are the game is too complicated, I think with a nod.

"Wait," She commands, and I stop where I am, "They have the new Creotic module. Evening of the Shambling Ones? Oh, my God, I thought that never arrived from the States before the apocalypse."

"What?" Sam breathes, and I can't help but think the exact same thing. What the hell is she talking about?

"Creotic? Best set of modules for Darkness and Demons-the roleplaying game? The best roleplaying game ever."

"You... role-play?" Sam asked, sounding bewildered, and Maxine simply laughs in reply. I quickly look around the store, seeing the more simple board games at the far end of the store, and head for it while Maxine explains.

"Paula got me into it. We talked about this. Our conversation about the magical parasite that infected her spine-"

"I thought that was a story about a really weird day at the hospital."

I giggle quietly as I shrug off my backpack and shove Monopoly in there, as well as Sorry and Jenga. That should keep the trio happy.

"I had to sacrifice a goat to the god Loki to save her-"

"I did wonder about that, given your stance of alternative medicine."

"You're an idiot," Maxine says, and I can almost see the eye roll. I snort loudly.

"Are you laughing at me, Five?" Sam questions suspiciously, and I'm quick to tap out an answer.

'Maybe.'

"Runner Five, go back to that isle and pick up that module right away," The doctor says before Sam can respond to my words. I hastily jog over to the isle, searching for the it. Once found, the module is shoved into my backpack, which is already starting to get a bit cramped. "And... damn, do they not have the original Darkness and Demons game pack?"

"Can't we just work with what we've got?"

"No, we need to role up new characters," She answers, and I have absolutely no idea what she means by that. "Five, you've got Creotic: Evening of the Shambling Ones, right? I still can't believe they have it."

I nod, still confused.

"Okay, leave the store and head straight on. You should come to a store that'll definitely stock the original rulebooks."

'So there's nothing else here that you might want?' I question, and Sam murmurs out my words.

"I think you've gotten a good amount of entertainment from here," She says, and I roll my eyes but leave the store, heading straight down the road. "Okay, see that Seawolf building-the little gaming store? Yeah, they should have it."

I swing the door open with one hard pull and enter the little gaming store, which surprisingly has no Mario Kart. I sigh in disappointment as I walk over to the section in the back part of the store.

"You're looking for the uh, Darkness Demons rule book fourth addition. That's very important; Not the third edition. That one doesn't have the additional rules for handling mind controlled warlock driven horses."

It takes a few seconds for that to actually register in my brain, but I blink a couple of times to clear my thoughts and continue my thoughts for the fourth edition of Darkness and Demons.

"Okay, up 'till now I thought you might be joking but this is... really scary," Sam says in completely serious voice.

"Are you telling me you've never dabbled with role playing games?"

I didn't even know that was a thing-a real thing anyway. I thought that was just a thing people used to be funny in television shows.

"O-obviously not. They're for nerds."

"Unlike video games," She snickers.

"They're mainstream."

"Superhero comics?"

"Everyone likes Batman, and Superman... and Aquaman."

"Cosplay?"

"I told you," He mutters, "th-that was one time only, and-and just because my girlfriend liked Aquaman."

Oh, Lord, I think while trying not to laugh, and grab one of the books and look at them with a raised brow.

"Mhmm," Maxine hums. "Oh, okay, good. Runner Five, that's the right rule book."

I nod and start walking around looking for anything else that might be at interest. I see a glimpse of something near the stuffed toys in the display window, but before I can go over to investigate Maxine starts speaking again.

"Now that you've got that you can start head-"

"Oh, wait-wait, look. They have the figurines. Turn to your right, Five." I quickly swivel around, my eyes landing on the plain looking wood figurines. One looks like the characters on the rule book.

Oh, God.

"Look," He exclaims. "Ashlack the Snow god; Varta the warlock of Pearl Mountain; Oh-oh, Regilem the Magnificent."

"Yeah, you never played role playing," The doctor says, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Okay, get the figurines too, Runner Five. Now you can-"

"But-but... if we have the figurines we need paint," Sam interrupts. "Go too.. uh, head down-head down D-Jarold Lane, and there should be a store there."

"Which you've never been to," She teases.

"Shut up."

I shove the figurines into my bag with a slight frown. He is so lucky he's cute...

I run out of the toy store and take a right down D-Jarold Lane just as Sam instructs. My backpack is beginning to get full, and I'm sure I'll have to fill up the side pockets if I'm going to get everything for them.

"There. There, Philip's Craft Store. They'll have the special paints there," He says as I enter the store, the little bell on the door ringing as I do so. "Get lots of white; You'll always need more of that than you think."

"For the dry brush work, right?" Maxine guesses.

"I think I actually love you."

I roll my eyes and reach to grab a few more paints, as I've already got in quite a few.

"No, no, Not that paint, Runner Five," Sam says quickly, causing me to pause. "That's only for plastic. It flakes off later."

Dually noted, I think to myself as I started grabbing different colors.

"Wait," The doctor says, "doesn't that-"

"Yes, yes, the red-all the shades you can find."

"Wait, but doesn't one of those... I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that one of the ingredients in Crucibal Carmine have been linked to cancer in rats."

I deadpan and immediately start tapping a reply into my mic.

"Maxine," Sam says.

"No, I-I read it in a medical journal."

"Maxine, do you know where we are right now? Middle of the zombie apocalypse? You're wondering whether something causes cancer in rats? Like Five said, there are certain ingredients in cereal that are linked to cancer."

"No hospitals; All the more reason to stay healthy," She states with a shrug in her voice.

"Yeah... I-okay. Grab all the red except Crucibal Carmine and then... wait, are those acrylic paints?"

I examine the bottle and nod. 'Yep. Used to use this a lot for the art competitions that my school held.'

"That's great, Five, but um..."

"Those don't last long," Maxine states, and Sam sighs.

"Yeah, it wears off. We need oil paint or enamel."

I internally groan at that. 'So I have to put all this back?'

"Heh, yeah. Sorry," He says, although his voice sounds more nervous than apologetic. "To the other craft store."

I grit my teeth as I pull out all the paints and place them back on the nearby tables; Most of them roll off onto the floor, but honestly I don't care enough to pick them up.

That is until I nearly fall on my rear for stepping on one.

"You alright, Five?" Maxine snickers, and I roll my eyes in slight annoyance.

'Tell her I'm peachy,' I tap to Sam. 'So where is this other craft store?'

"Um, Maxine, she's peachy and go straight down the street until you reach the end of the road and take a... right, a-and go straight for a few blocks and you'll see it."

I nod as I leave the store, the bell above the door ringing again. I leisurely jog down the street to eventually take a right. With the fullness of my backpack with my head cam I can't run as fast, which ticks me off more than I thought it would.

"Do you think it's possible that we've sent Runner Five on a rec run for something that's kind of a... niche interest?" Maxine asks as I enter the store, heading straight for the oil paints.

Yes.

"Hey, if you like role-playing games, and I like role-playing games..."

"I'm pretty sure we can get Runner Eight on board with this."

"And Jack and Eugene," He says excitedly with a smile in his voice. "You know, those guys from the radio show. What about you, Five? You want in?"

'Do I have a choice?' I question, and Sam laughs almost obnoxiously.

"Nah, I'm going to pester you until you agree to do it. Wait, wait... do you think we could find costumes? I've always wanted a Perplexa costume."

Oh, God.

"With all the exclamation marks? Mmm, wouldn't suit you; Not with your uh, look." She lets out a small gasp. "Do you see that?"

"Oh, right. Uh, yeah um... Runner Five, looks like there are some zombies after you," He says in disappointed, while I actually sigh with relief. "I uh..."

"Looks like those exclamation mark underpants will have to wait," Maxine teases. "Sorry, Sam."

I'm not.

"Yeah, Runner Five, best work ever. Come on home," He says, and I can hear the excitement that's still lingering in his voice. I'm sure he looks like a small, jubilant child in the coms shack.

I start to run at the fastest pace I can, shifting my bag uncomfortably as I leave the store. My steps echo loudly through the empty street, but I can hear the groans of the zoms following behind me. I'm tempted to look behind me and see just how many rotting flesh bags are after me, but since I can't run as fast as normal, looking back would send me into panic. That definitely would not be good.

"The zombies are pretty slow, Runner Five, so you don't have to worry about them. Just keep up with that pace and you should be okay. Now, um, just take a short cut to the right."

"Sam, don't the scanners say-"

"Crap. Crap. Runner Five, don't do that. Don't-"

But I've already turned that way, and my heels screech to a stop as I gain the attention of six zombies. I don't even wait to turn around and go the left way.

"Sorry, sorry," Sam mutters quickly. "Uh, thankful those zombies are just shamblers but try to uh, go a little faster."

'I'm trying,' I tap into the mic, picking up speed as much as I can with my full backpack. My feet carry me down the street, and to another left until I'm passing the first toy store I visited. Only then do I stop because of what catches my eye in the window; It's the same thing that caught my eye before, although now I can see it clearly. It's something I haven't seen in years.

"Five, why did you stop?" Maxine nervously asks, "The zombies are only a minute behind you-"

"Make that more like forty-five seconds," Sam corrects. "Go, now."

I take off my axe and turn it towards the blunt side.

"What are you looking at in the window? Just run!"

I swing the blunt of the axe into the display window, listening to shattering of the glass as it falls from the window, glittering like rain. I reach in and grab the stuffed bear, scraping my forarm against a piece of sharp glass in doing so. Then I run.

Sprint more like it, since the zoms are now only about ten seconds behind me.

The little bear is clutched in my hands and I keep ahold of my axe, not willing to slow down to place it across my back. I breathe heavily pushing my legs to go faster while trying not to lose my balance.

"Did you-did you just risk your life for a Winnie the Pooh bear?" Sam asks in disbelief, but I don't answer because of my full hands.

Yes, yes I did.

I'm surprised I actually got it, since I usually don't like reminders of the past but this... this was something I've known since I was a baby. I couldn't just leave it there. It's... it's what made me feel safe before...

Funny how I risk my safety just to get it.

"Okay, Five, I would chew you out over that not very smart decision but since you've sprinted away from those zoms and are home free-if you don't stop-I'll let it slide," Sam says as I roll my eyes. "Just don't do that again."

I look down at the yellow bear and smile, but it soon fades as my mind-my oh so clever mind-whispers something I never realized.

This is the one family member that didn't lie to me.

A/N: Hello, just wanted to say hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for all the amazing votes and comments that's been given and please continue to do so because I love hearing from you guys. Hope you all have a blessed day!