I cross my arms and huff as I stand in front of the gates. After two sleepless nights consisting of a very vivid memory of the day Wes died and the swirling questions about the many mysteries that have yet to be solved I'm here, ready to do another mission.

One that doesn't include getting answers.

"Okay, Runner Five, special little assignment for you today," Sam says, and I scoff in reply. "Oh, don't do that. You know we have other things that have to be done. We can't just drop other missions to try to find answers."

'Yeah, I know,' I tap into the mic, a small sigh leaving my mouth.

"And at least you don't have to wear a head cam today," He says cheerily in attempt to lift my mood. "I know how much you dislike wearing it."

I smile and nod, although he can't see it. I despise wearing that stupid head cam. It's one of the most uncomfortable things to wear while running, and that's saying a lot.

But putting eight more pounds on your head and having to run with it on... the only thing comparable is when I had the stomach flu and threw up all over myself and had to run for another two hours to get back to the AMTB.

I shudder at the memory.

But at least the smell kept the zoms away.

"Anyway, it's nothing too taxing, but it's pretty damn important. You are taking our most valuable supplies to the Red Settlement. These supplies are so damn valuable, we're sending two of you to do it."

At that, a man steps up beside me. I eye him with a skeptical look, but it's hard to actually be judgmental of him. He looks to be about forty, and he's not that much taller than me so I won't have to sprint to keep up with him. His overly large glasses make him look like a bit like a nerd, but there's a look in his blue eyes that tells me he could take a zom out without a second thought.

All in all he reminds me of Cornelius from that Disney movie 'Meet the Robinsons'.

God, I miss Disney movies.

"Say hello to Chris McShell, Runner Ten," Sam introduces, and I raise a hand in greeting, which Chris does the same slowly in response.

"Hello," He says lowly, almost timidly.

"Yeah, he's quiet, but he knows what he's doing. Go on. Tell her how many zombies you've killed, Runner Ten." There's excitement in the radio operator's voice, but Chris shifts awkwardly where he stands.

"I'd rather not talk about it-"

"Y-yeah, yeah, yeah. Just say the number."

"It's just that I-I notice certain patterns in their movements so I was able to position myself in such a way that I-" He starts, seeming to grow less shy and more open about his work, but he's interrupted again by Sam.

"Three-hundred and eighty-three. Three-hundred and eighty-three confirmed kills," He exclaims with the voice of a giddy child.

I look over at him with wide eyes. I could tell by the man's eyes he knew how to take a zom out but that many... I'm impressed.

"Three-hundred and eighty-seven actually," Chris corrects with a shrug, "because of last night with the-"

"He's a machine; A total damn machine." Sam interrupts once again, and Chris frowns while I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

'I think you have a fan,' I sign after nudging him with my elbow. He raised a brow in confusion and now it is my turn to frown as I realize he doesn't know sign language.

Should've seen that coming.

"You... can't speak."

"No, it's pretty well known that Runner Five is mute. I'm more surprised you aren't wondering about her age."

"No, not exactly. Um, continue on," He says, sending me a tight lipped smile. "Sorry, you looked like someone I once knew."

I nod, confused as ever but deciding not to question it.

"Anyway, since Chris is such a damn legend, you know you're in safe hands, Runner Five. You and that extremely valuable cargo."

"From what I've heard about Runner Five I don't think she'd need to be in safe hands to stay alive," Chris mutters, sparing a glance at me while Sam laughs.

"Yeah, I'm sure Runner Five is on her way to becoming a legend like you, Runner Ten."

'What exactly are we taking to the Red Settlement?' I question hastily.

"It's not diamonds, not gold, not even guns or fuel. What is it, Chris?"

"It's five Pandora Hayes brand USB 2.0 terabyte hard drives-"

"It's knowledge, Runner Five!" He interrupts once more. His loud volume makes the both of us flinch, and we share a knowing glance. "Knowledge. We're doing a swap with Red Settlement and knowledge is the most valuable thing we have. So, raise the gates!"

I grin and get into a position ready to sprint off, with Runner Ten doing the same. The gates raise with the alarm sliding off.

"Covering fire."

There goes the gunshots, taking down the four zombies that started walking towards the gates when they opened.

"And... run!"

And off we go, sprinting off towards the Red Settlement. I've never been, but I've heard a few people talk about it. It's bigger than Abel, but almost any settlement is, and the people there are pretty friendly according to the snippets I've heard as I passed through the town. People at Abel talk so loud, or maybe I've just gotten really good at eavesdropping.

"We've got confirmation from Red Settlement that they've sent a runner out to meet you, and Five, you don't have to worry too much about receiving directions. Chris knows the way fairly well since he's done this before, but if you get off course I'll be there do steer you back on."

'Got it,' I tap into the mic. 'So why are meeting someone instead of just going there ourselves?'

"This is how we like to do these swaps," He answers. "No camp risks covering more than half the distances."

Chris clears his throat which gains my attention immensely. "You know in terms of zombie behavior that doesn't really make sense because my research-"

"Research what? Why? Because you don't get to kill enough of them, you-you big zombie killer," Sam laughs, and I squint as my eyes try to look at the mic of my headset.

Good Lord, Sam, can't you let the poor man finish his sentence?

"Because my research indicates that zombies can detect when a group of humans are heading for the same area," Ten deadpans. "It's-it's a sort of herding instinct. They swarm together and they can tell when we're swarming too."

I blink as I listen intently. Many people at Mullins and the AMTB did research on zombies, but they never actually told any of the runners, or anyone else about their studies. I wish they would have. I'm sure a good amount of runners would still be alive.

"So is that why you left New Canton then? Too many people swarming together?" Sam asks, and my brows shoot upwards in surprise. Chris was from New Canton? I almost start to ask Sam to ask the question for me but he starts talking again. "Not enough opportunity for the zombie killing action?"

Chris scowls and takes on a deep breath as he pushes himself to run a little faster. I keep up the pace but it's a small struggle. He's not as tall as Evan or even Sam, but he's about six inches taller than me, and my little legs have to pump harder to keep up with most runners. Although it only takes about ten seconds for me to get used to the new pace.

"I left New Canton because they wouldn't listen to reason, and wouldn't let me conduct my research," He hisses as his eyes get this hollow look to them. "That's all. My research is all I have left."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry, man. I just got carried away with all the excitement. The thing is, Five... Runner Ten is sort of a genius."

'I can see that,' I say while Chris chuckles a bit sheepishly.

"Not really. Well, actually it's really-very simple," He half-smiles. "Before the outbreak I was math teacher-statistics mostly. I started out trying to do statistical analysis on zombie movements, and when my wife...

"Nothing happened to me worse than anyone else. My wife was eaten on our front lawn and our daughter-she... she was nine then, now she'll have just turned twelve. She was out on a scout camping trip; Couldn't raise them by the phone." He clears his throat when his voice cracks. After a good second of silence he speaks again. "I-I still don't know what happened to her. She might be still alive... It's not a worse story than average, statistically."

He avoids my gaze as I stare at him with a pained expression. The hurt in his voice is evident and I feel my chest tighten. He saw his wife eaten alive while I only had to see Wesley with a wounded shoulder and a bullet in his head.

It's really sad that I'm grateful that my loved one's death was less gory than someone else's.

"Um, guys," Sam says hesitantly, "you've picked up three zoms. Better pick up the pace."

Chris and I both give a nod of confirmation before speeding up. Looking back at the zombies that are speed walking after us I feel my fingers twitch, but I know they can be outran, so I restrain from grabbing at my axe.

"I'm guessing you want to put them out of their misery?" Runner Ten guesses, but I only look over at him, unsure how he will respond if I nod or shake my head. "It's not a bad thing, you know. As far as everyone knows they're gone-the real them-so you wanting to put a stop to their lifeless bodies is perfectly normal.

"It's all the same for not wanting to kill them. I remember having to kill my next door neighbor. I helped his son with math," He forces out the words along with a short, bitter laugh. "Funny how one minute a person's there and the next they're gone."

I look down at the ground, slowing myself down for a quick second so I can grab a battered up book and a sports bra that is wrapped around it. With my pace now up to speed with Chris I pull off the sports bra from the book to review the two.

Both seem to be in fairly good condition, and both are very well needed in Abel, so without hesitation I shove them into my backpack. Chris lets out a huff of what seems to be amusement, but the small bit of contentment fades from his eyes when he glances back around.

"Hmm, two more," He frowns and I look behind me and sneer at the sight of five zombies chasing us. "Are we transporting anything else today, Sam? Any meat in the packs? My research says they do seem to hone in on meat smells even if they don't eat it."

Why would we be giving meats to another settlement when we are lucky to get canned spam? There better not be meat in here or somebody's getting punched in the throat.

"No," Sam answers. "L-let me have a look on my list. Janine left me a manifest here."

There's the sound of papers shuffling through the headset followed by a few grunts of annoyance. I feel a smile forming on my face.

'Having trouble, Sam?' I tease.

"Oh, shut up," He mumbles without any real agitation in his voice. "Ah, found it. Five hard drives containing what we think is a fairly complete version of Wikipedia, maps of most of Europe, 500 survival books, the major cannon of western literature, music, movies, kid's T.V.-they have a lot of kids at Red Settlement-and uh, Oh! The whole of Doctor Who from 1963 to the point where the entire cast was eaten by zombies."

'Nice.'

"Yeah, that'll keep Red Settlement going and entertained. And there's one encryption key. Those do something important but I've never quite worked out what."

"Only way for us to communicate securely," Chris cuts in. "Run to another settlement, bring the security key and a piece of paper."

He shrugs off his backpack and frowns when he opens it up to peek inside. "Huh, nothing but paper and hard drives in the bag. Those shouldn't be attracting the zom, but here they are."

Maybe what's attracting them is the two people that are currently running away, I think while rolling my eyes.

"Another one coming from the east. I think that's your left."

"It is," Chris confirms. "There's critical mass, you know. A group of ten or twelve zombies will start to grow because they moan and attract others. This is um," He looks back and grimaces. "Keep up the pace, Five."

I scoff. 'I can keep up the pace just fine, thank you.' He doesn't notice me signing, but he wouldn't understand me anyway so I guess it doesn't truly matter. Sort of like when you mumble something under your breath.

There's a small town we're quickly approaching, but it's one I haven't seen before. It's probably because it's too far away from Abel for us to go check for supplies. Plus it looks so broken down and old I'd doubt there's anything of value anyway, except for this pen.

The buildings are almost all wooden and rickety, except for the few that are brick and falling apart. If they had a building that said 'Saloon' I'd almost think it was a replica of an old western town, but they barely had those in America. I doubt they'd have them here.

Unfortunately for Chris and I, the town isn't a ghost town; It's a zombie one. Everywhere we turn there's a zom who's attention we've now just gained. Soon we're both sprinting through the town as quickly as possible.

"Okay, guys, you're getting close to meet with the Red Settlement runner," Sam tells us.

"We're tailing a loose pack of ten zoms, Sam," Chris pants. "We can't bring those with us."

"Well, you better kill them all then... zombie killer."

I nearly face palm. 'Sam, there's no way we can take them all down at one time-'

"That's not what I..." Runner Ten interrupts with a sigh. "I just know how to herd them, that's all."

I look back at the zombies and grimace before an idea pops into my head. It's not the smartest idea, but it's better than Sam's 'kill the zombies even though it's ten against two' idea.

I shrug off my backpack and pull out the few papers that was placed in there before shoving them into Chris' arms.

"Five, what're you doing?" He questions.

"What's she done? You didn't bring your head cams today and there aren't any cameras in this town."

"She-" He stops when I start tapping against my mic.

'I have an idea. I can run in a different direction and make some noise so they'll follow me, and Chris can meet up with the Red Settlement runner,' I explain. 'And we can meet back up once I've lost them.'

Sam makes a noise of uncertainty. "I well... I mean, it could work."

"What?" Chris asks.

"Runner Five suggested leading the zom off while you make the exchange, and then you can meet up later."

"That's not a good idea. This information is important as you said and what if Five doesn't lose the zoms?"

"Then she can take after you and kill them all."

My eyes widen at that. Jesus on a boat, Sam. What do you see me for?

Chris grits his teeth at that. "I know Runner Five can take care of herself, but she can't take down all those zombies. She's just a child."

I scrunch up my face at that. Excuse you.

"From the choking noise that I just heard from Runner Five's headset I don't think she appreciated that last comment."

"No offense," He apologizes, and I simply purse my lips. "But still-"

"Well, then, find a way to work your magic," Sam says with a shrug in his voice.

"There is no magic! Just science!" He snaps, making me flinch as his sudden change in his tone. He glances over at me and clears his throat, while handing me back the papers I forcefully gave to him earlier. "Um... uh, okay. Five, here's a thing to know about zombies. They have trouble with decision making and prioritization. Unlike other carnivores they don't go for the weakest or the slowest; They just go for whoever is nearest, and if two are para-distant, they get confused.

"See those two buildings heading to, with the narrow passage between them?"

He points up ahead and I deadpan. The buildings are right in front of us. I know when I was younger I had little common sense but even I'm not that dumb.

I'm mute, not blind. I want to say, but instead I just nod and shove my papers into my backpack.

"You go to the right at the exact same pace you are now, and I'll go at my exact pace just in the opposite direction. They'll slow down and funnel straight forward into the narrow gap."
I try not to show any doubt, but by the smile he gives me shows that he can see straight through me. "It'll be fine. I promise. Ready?"

With a deep breath I nod, praying that this odd plan will work.

"Go."

•

"Man, that was amazing!" Sam exclaims as I bury my axe into the zombie's head, watching it fall to the ground in a plop. "You and Five-the-the way they just kept going forward because they couldn't decide which one to head for. It was incredible!

"And then you got them all individually and they still kept coming forward because there was one of you on either side and-and the way you took them all down one after the other. Bam! Hammer to the head! Bam! Axe into the cranium! Bam-"

'We know, Sam. We were there,' I giggle, and he scoffs with only slight agitation while rolling his eyes I'm sure.

"It's just about application of the scientific method," Chris says casually.

"The awesome method!"

I laugh out voicelessly and Runner Ten eyes me with a small smile of amusement.

"How far are we from the Red Settlement runner?" He asks.

"Uh... uh, only about a K. You'll make it there easily," Sam chuckles lightly. "I can see why you wanted to leave New Canton now. If they didn't let you work on your research, they were denying the awesome! Teach me everything you know. Be my sensei."

Oh, Lord. I nearly face palm while Chris laughs again.

"Sure. That wasn't the only reason I left though. They thought I'd done enough research and started asking if I could make zombies target attacks on other humans."

I blink and a small choking noise leaves my lips and Sam is no longer fan-girling like before.

"I... uh-"

"Here's the Red Settlement runner now. I'll get my backpack and you can make that swap. Good day's work, everyone."

He gives me his bag without another word, and he couldn't understand my questioning if I tried to ask, and thankfully Sam's smart enough to stay quiet-something he hasn't done much at all on these missions.

We planned on me giving the Red Settlement runner the bag, and he gives me his and after one of those silent nods of communication we run off, but he actually talks to me as I reach out to receive his bag.

"You're the runner who got their helicopter shot down, right?" He asks, his brown eyes shining brightly. I nod as Runner Ten takes a place beside me.

"Ready to head back?" He questions, and just as I nod the Red Settlement runner speaks again.

"It's really cool to meet you. I'm Eli, by the way."

"Yeah, nice to meet you, Eli," Sam says through my headsets. "I'm sure my runners would love to stay and chit chat but they need to start heading back now."

"Yeah, of course. Be careful out there. You're too pretty to be eaten by zombies." Then with a smile he turns and runs off.

"You didn't say thank you," Chris says with a raised brow. I blink before grabbing my pen from my backpack.

"Well, I don't think that's the type of compliment a girl wants to receive," Sam inputs, and there's a slight edge in his voice, but it might just be from the headset.

Says the guy who complimented me by calling me a bird, I think, although I know I'd rather have that compliment from him than from him than anyone else.

'No, I thought he was talking to you,' I write on my hand. Chris reads my terrible handwriting and snickers.

"What'd she say?" Sam asks.

"Looks like Five has a sense of humor."

"Yeah, she-she's like that sometimes. Anyway, head home you guys. Then we can check out what Red Settlement gave to you."

'You don't know?' I tap into my mic. One of my brows is raised and a slight frown adorns my lips

"We got the transmission via Roufflenet and it's printed out somewhere here but..."

'You can't find it,' I finish.

"Yeah, pretty much."

'Figures.'

I glance over at Runner Ten, who has on a neutral expression. I know he doesn't really want to talk about New Canton or what they asked him to do, at least he doesn't right now. But with what they wanted him to do, and with their feelings towards us it's not hard to put the pieces together.

New Canton doesn't just want to capture us. They want us dead. They want to destroy Abel Township.

A/N: Here's the chapter, everyone. Hope you enjoyed and please be sure to vote and comment. Thank you and have a blessed day.