"Okay, okay, I got it," Sam hisses. "I said I got it! Janine, do you have any idea when we might have cameras back?"

"I'm not entirely sure but constantly asking me is guaranteed to make it quicker," She replies coldly, and I sigh.

We haven't even left the Township yet and something has already gone wrong. It's something not even I thought would happen. We've lost our cameras, and we don't know what has caused them to go out on us. Because of this we had to make some changes to the original plan, much to Janine's dismay, but it was only a small change.

But still with no cameras Sam won't be able to warn us about any upcoming trouble that might appear. I swallow down the fear rising in my throat, and stare ahead at the gates.

This could go wrong on so many ways. I counted about eleven in my head last night. Surprisingly doing that was the only thing that got me to go to sleep. But I think the evidence of worry and very few hours shows on my face, because Caleb saw me earlier this morning and suggested that maybe I should stay back at the base with weapons instead of running.

But I can't do that. Can't ruin Janine's perfectly orchestrated plan that she's already had to change once because of this unforeseen mishap.

"You know we've got..." He starts, but then simply sighs, "Runner Three?"

"Runner Three, Simon, here," Said man says with grin that's just on the border on obnoxious.

"Runner Four, Runner Six, Runner Seven?"

"Runner Four, Jody, here!" She says, and I can tell she's jittery with nerves.

"Runner Six, Maggie Doen, here."

"Runner Seven, Evan Doble, here."

"I think you forgot Runner Five," Jody comments, casting a glance to me, and I merrily shrug in reply. I was so worried I got Milo and Willis's names mixed up just fifteen minutes ago, so who's to blame him?

"I'd never forget Runner Five," Sam says, almost sounding defensive. "I just knew she wouldn't be late. But I'd never forget Five."

"Because she's your favorite?" She casts another look at me, but this time a sly grim accompanies it.

Oh, my God. It's like we're the OTP of Abel.

"I-no," He sputters, sounding absolutely mortified, and I'm not sure whether or not I should be offended. "I don't-I don't have favorites."

"Can we please get back to the mission?" Janine hisses, and I can picture Sam flinching back.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. You guys are running interference for Five, keeping the zoms off, being my eyes out there because we have no cameras, Janine."

"Don't waste your energy blaming me, Mr. Yao. Something out there has taken down our cameras down. We need to figure out what."

"Yeah, only we have no time now because New Canton is planning their attack right now, and we have one secret weapon," He replies, and I cringe at knowing what he'll say next. "Because of the extra tech we've sewn into your headset, they'll think you're one of their runners, Five. We need every little bit of confusion we can muster, so we need you to go out there and-"

"Yeah, we know, Sam," Simon replies with an eye roll.

"You say it every time." Maggie runs her hand through her curly blonde hair.

"Let's run."

And run we do, out the already opened gates and out towards New Canton territory. It's just like routine-just like a regular run-that's what I tell myself to keep my nerves down. Each step, each breath I tell myself that. I tell myself it will all be okay even if I know that might just be a lie.

Sometimes lying is what we need to do to keep going. My thoughts echo, and I look straight ahead, trying not to think on how I am the secret weapon. That makes it sound as if I'm special, which I am most definitely not.

"Three, you're heading down east with the noise makers?" Evan asks, and Simon smirks.

"Oh, you know me, Seven," He says turning on a noise maker, and I flinch at the pitched sound that comes from it. "I love to be chased."

"Steady there, Three," Maggie instructs, but Simon just rolls his eyes.

"Happy hunting, guys." He sends a wink to no one in particular. "Bag some big ones."

And then he's off, running to the east and already attracting some of the nearby zombies. They all follow after him with reaching hands and snapping jaws, while he merrily laughs and keeps running.

I don't think I've ever admired a carefree person like him so much before.

"I will wish he'd seem to enjoy this less," Jody says, her fingers twisting and fidgeting with her hair. "Always makes me nervous."

"We all find some way to deal with the pressure, Four." Maggie shrugs before raising a brow. "And the new plan for you is what? You were supposed to go with Three before."

"I'm Sam's look out to the north now that the cameras are out, right, Sam?"

"Roger that. I mean, yep... I mean..." His voice trails off into a light laugh. "Three's right though, isn't he? I mean, this is kind of exciting-all of you teaming up, working together to defeat the New Canton raid."

She scoffs. "Easy for you to say sitting in that chair with ten foot of fencing between you and the zoms."

"Hey, hey," Evan interjects. "Sam's doing his job just like the rest of us."

I nod in agreement, while Jody frowns. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Either way, if New Canton gets in, Sam won't be any safer than the rest of us," Runner Six says with a shrug, and I look at Jody with confusion.

'Was that supposed to make you feel better or Sam feel bad?' And me more worried about him, my best friend, and my kids? I add mentally.

"Beats me."

"Yeah," Sam chuckles nervously. "Oh, I hadn't thought about that at all... No, I had. That is basically all I've been thinking about the past twenty-four hours." There's a slight pause of awkward silence. "Okay, so, yeah. Four, you're heading up to the north."

"Roger that." She gives us a small smile, her eyes dancing with fear and worry. "See you on the other side, guys... if we all make it."

I send her a small glare. Well, if I hadn't jinxed us, you sure did.

"Way to guarantee we won't all make it, Four," Maggie says, while rolling her blue eyes, but Jody is already gone, heading to the north to be Sam's eyes until we can get cameras back on.

Wouldn't be surprised if it was New Canton who did it since having cameras would give us a heads up on their arrival.

"Okay, Seven, you and me are with Runner Five, correct?"

"Absolutely," He answers in his all business tone. "Here we are: Five, Six, Seven."

"All we need is Eight and we could start a dance class. You get it? Five, Six, Seven, Eight?"

I silently giggle at her joke, glad it erases some of tension I feel in my shoulders. Evan though, remains stony faced, and the coms is silent as well for a few moments.

"Right," Sam says awkwardly, "you should be getting close to New Canton territory now. Runner Five's headset might start to pick up something.

"We're not quite there yet, Sam," Seven says, and I look up ahead at the trees that make range of New Canton's headsets, or at least mine since it's been tampered with. It's still about five minutes away I believe.

Sam groans in annoyance. "I'm nothing without my cameras."

My headset crackles the second after those words leave his mouth, and I hear Nadia's voice.

"Can't view you runners much without my damn cameras, but Runners Thirteen through Twenty-seven, it's time. We've had our orders from the council. Begin the attack."

After the initial shock that this is actually happening now, I sigh with relief now that it's set in. That's only about fifteen runners since we're counting Runner Thirteen. I was expecting twice that many, possibly more, but now knowing this I feel much better. Happy, almost.

It's still obviously very bad because our other runners being defense at base only have a gun each, since we don't want to waste all our ammo on these guys. We're hoping if they get close enough to the Township, we can start firing from the lookout posts to scare them off, but there's a slim chance that will work.

I just hope no lives will be lost today. Not unless necessary... God, please don't let it be necessary.

"Look," Maggie says, pointing at figures darting through the trees. We all make sure to head toward the tree line to help shield ourselves from their view, and watch as the New Canton runners run by with determined faces and bolt cutters and-Holy Christ, that's a lot of guns.

My face morphs into one of terror as I see them pass by. I don't count them one by one but I know that they must've split up because this definitely isn't fifteen.

Each runner has a pistol strapped to their hip, some even have two, and all the others except for the one carrying the bolt cutters have a rifle in their hands.

Well, I'm glad Eight and Seventeen both have really good aim.

The thought passes my mind in a flash, and the realization dawns on me that lives will definitely be lost today and there is nothing I can do to stop it. It will be necessary this time.

"This way," Evan says in a hushed voice. "They won't be able to see us if we keep heading forward."

I nod in agreement, as does Runner Six, and we both start up again, watching each step to make sure we don't step on a twig or trip on a branch. The last thing we need is to give ourselves away.

We continue running, and it's only after a few minutes of jumping over rocks and logs and dodging tree stumps do we begin to relax in knowing we have none of them following us, at least, that we know of.

They're sneaky like that.

"Hey, just checking in. You guys doing alright?" Sam tunes in. "You should be hearing more from Five's headset now since-well, I'm hoping you've made into their territory by now."

"Copy that, Sam," Runner Seven replies. "We just saw ten runners heading towards you from the west carrying heavy arms and bolt cutters. They're serious about this."

"Did they see you?"

"We don't think so."

"There's an Abel Township runner with a noise maker being chased by several zoms to the east," Nadia states. "Looks like they're running decoy. Head in from the west. They won't know what's hit them."

I flinch at her words. God, they must really dislike us; I think hate might even fit the description of their feelings toward us, or at least Nadia's by how smug she sounded when saying that.

I can see the New Canton base in the distance. It's just a little speck in my vision right now, but I know the closer we get the bigger it will get.

"If we get much closer to New Canton, they'll start to be able to see us with binoculars," Maggie says worriedly.

I can see the watch towers of the castle, and it's not stupid to think they'll have people keeping watch, especially with the fact they don't have cameras up.

I guess that means it wasn't them who took down our cams after all.

"Be careful, guys," Sam inputs. "Remember the plan."

Evan nods. "We'll skirt 'round the edge through the woods and-"

"Wait!" Nadia yells.

"Come on."

We push further into the woods as New Canton's radio operator gasps. "I see him! There's his tracker. Damn it, why aren't those cameras working? Look! There's Lem! Runner Thirty-eight!"

I try not to wince at the excitement in her voice; The hope it holds. I tell myself this is for Abel-to keep it and its citizens safe. To keep Caleb safe; To keep Willis and Milo and Penelope safe; To keep Sam safe. That's what I tell myself and oddly enough it actually makes me feel a little bit better.

"Yes, I know it could be a zombie. I know-I know he got bitten, but look at how fast he's going and-Lem!" She calls out. "Lem! Runner Thirty-Eight, if you can hear me, change direction. Go towards Colally Curtas-that ridge with the wide patch of trees."

I look at Evan for approval and he nods and points to the left. "It's that way."

"Come on then," Maggie grins and turns, with me and Evan following, leaving the trees and heading toward another patch of trees that look to be about ten minutes away given our speed and how distant they look.

"Oh, my God," Nadia breathes, sounding absolutely awestruck. I squeeze my eyes shut in pity for a brief moment. "Look, he's moving; He's changing direction. It's not a zom, it's Lem. It's Lem. Guys, Lem is out there!"

I'm doing this for Abel.
I'm doing this for Abel.
I'm doing this for Abel.

"Where have you been, Lem? What's happened?"

Even if I had the voice, I wouldn't speak. I'm not that dumb, and I hear Nadia sigh in disappointment.

"He's not answering. Headset must be fried. Why isn't he coming in? Why aren't you coming in, Lem? What's happened to him?" Her voice is frantic-frazzled, and she sounds like she might be close to crying, but one can only wonder if it's from happiness or that aching fear that she's only seeing things. "Runners Thirteen, Fifteen, Twenty-two and Twenty-seven, head towards the wood. Lem's out there and he's-he's..."

"It's working, Sam," Evan whispers with an excited smile tugging at his lips. "It's working."

"We can see that from the lookout post," He replies. I can hear the smile in his voice.

"I know he got bitten but he..."

"Some of them are turning back," Sam cries in joy.

"Look, they gave him a vaccine at Gamberry Base when he was there in the spring. Maybe it really works." There's a pause. "I don't know why he's not coming in! Maybe they've got him trapped. Thirteen. Thirteen, can you see him yet?"

We all look back behind us, and we can see a figure heading towards us, then another, and another and another. We still have yet to reach the patch of trees near Colally Curtas. My eyes go wide as my heartbeat picks up. I can feel the bile rising up in my throat; It burns and tastes bitter on my tongue.

"They're coming up fast," Maggie states. She nervously wipes the cold sweat from her face. "We can't have them seeing us just yet, especially you, Five. Let's go. Run."

I push my legs to go faster, reminding myself that these guys have guns and most likely will shoot once they figure out I am not Lem. All I have for protection is my axe, and while it may be effective and very useful, it won't be of any use when it comes to a bullet.

I attempt to keep my breathing steady but worry and fear keeps it from staying that way for long. I try not to look back as I run, because I know when you do that you slow down, but I can't help but want to know how far they are behind me. I want to know just how close to death I actually am.

I can see the trees. It's only about a minute until we reach them if we keep sprinting like this; It might be a little less, but either way I keep going. I keep pushing and running until we make it, and even then we keep running. We only slow down a little bit so none of will trip over a root or limb and break an ankle.

I hop over a particularly large branch, feeling my chest begin to get tight and achy. My lungs are beginning to feel the stab of pain from breathing in the cold air, and my legs are beginning to ache, but I know I have to keep moving. Nadia will not stop and neither will those runners. I have to keep going.

"We've got vision on them," Sam pipes in. "Still about ten people heading for us with heavy weapons but I think you've slowed them down and confused them."

'Got to start somewhere, right?' I ask, grinning at how happy his tone is.

"You read my mind, Five. I mean, I totally think we can take these guys. I know we can take these guys!"

I bite my cheek to keep from smiling as Janine says a quiet but stern, "Mr. Yao," followed by a series of small mutterings.

"Oh... I'm being told that there's still a possibility that we cannot take these guys. Carry on."

'You are a dork, you know that?'

"Oh, shut up," He mumbles playfully.

"If we head down to Lin-Land Lake where the old barn is-" Evan starts, but Maggie interrupts him.

"Yeah, they'll be there for hours looking for us," She agrees with an enthusiastic nod. "With all those wooded islands and messed up buildings."

I nod with them, trusting their judgement since I myself have never been there. Just as we start to head in the direction of the lake my headset crackles to life.

"Yes, I see that," Nadia states, voice verging on panic. "Yes, raiding party runners, abort! Abort! Abort! I repeat, abort the mission. Come on home now. Right now."

My face scrunches up in confusion at just how on edge her voice seems. Something isn't right.

"Don't argue. Cancel orders! Abort now!" She's nearly screaming now. "No, stop searching for Lem. If he's out there we'll... we'll find him another day."

"Woo-how!" Sam hollers. "Yeah, they're turning back! We beat them!"

I want to share his joy. I really, really do. After all I was a nervous wreck and constantly feeling the fear that this plan might fail but this... this was too easy. New Canton don't just cancel missions without really good reasons.

Something is definitely wrong.

"I guess that means we won," Maggie laughs.

"Hell yeah, we did!" Sam exclaims. "We never even had to fight. They were just too damn chicken and confused."

"Mr. Yao."

"What? I'm not allowed to celebrate?" He asks defensively, but then his tone changes, and I swallow thickly. "Oh, uh, why's Runner Four's transmission so faint? Yeah. Yeah. Do whatever you can to boost the signal."

"Abel Township!" Jody screeches through a loud volume of static. "Can you hear me, Abel Township? Come on, Sam, please! Just please say you can hear me!"

Ice suddenly floods my veins, piecing my heart and making running suddenly a hundred times harder. It could only be one thing that's making her sound so afraid-so desperate for us to hear her.

Oh, God.

"They're heading for you, Sam!" She yells, panting and frantic. "From the north. There must be at least 300 and they're just-I've never seen zoms look so purposeful."

I feel the blood drain from my face.

"Abel Township, there's an army of zombies heading for your position! Abel Township! Abel-"

Her transmitter cuts off, and all that is left is static ringing in my ears as I let this new information sink in.

I should've seen it coming.

"Oh my God," Maggie stutters quietly.

I thought the cameras going out was the jinx.

"Indeed," Agrees Seven.

Or maybe the chance of those runners seeing us too soon.

"I guess we know why New Canton turned back," Sam says.

But no. That was all too simple. I should have known it would be something like this.

I should have seen it coming.

A/N: Here you are! Only two more chapters until this book is through! Hope you like, please vote and comments, and thank you and have a blessed day.