A flare shoots up high into the sky, passing the treetops and heading to the direction to the base, and giving the zombies something to follow.

"What was that?" Jody squeaks, and I gasp at hearing the sound of her voice. It's been ten minutes since her last transmission warning us about the zombies. I thought she had-

"Four, is that you?" Sam questions. "You're still alive?"

"Just about, Sam. I'm trying to out pace the zombie horde but there are just so many, and they're heading right for the base. What's driving them?"

"We think it's New Canton. They were going to raid us but they've turned back and now they're using flares to encourage the zombies toward us."

'Do you really think they'd do that?' I question. I know New Canton residents don't exactly like us but would they really encourage zombies to head toward us? Do they not realize there are good people here? Do they not realize we have children here?

Milo, Willis, and Penelope... I have to keep them safe. The thought of anything happening to them makes me feel sick to my stomach, but the thought of them getting bitten-the thought of them going gray... Oh, God.

"They're the only ones around to," He answers.

"Someone's going to die out here today," Jody panics. "Probably lots of someones."

"Runner Three, Runner Five, Runner Six, Runner Seven. We need you north of the base urgently-running decoy on this horde. Get here now or when they arrive they'll tear down the whole base." His words are hard and authoritative, but I can hear the fear lying underneath. "Run!"

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, each pulse of blood running through my veins, each inhale, each exhale-I can feel it. Adrenaline pushes me forward, and my mind won't stop racing, repeating the same thought over and over and over again.

I have to save them.
I have to save them.
I have to save them.

The fear of losing Caleb, or the kids, or Sam or Maxine or Summer or Ed or Molly or Sarah or anyone... it threatens to overtake me. I can't lose anyone else. I can't let anyone else die. I can't. I can't.

I can't.

I don't realize how shallow my breathing has become until Maggie places her hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, Five. You'll be no use to anyone if you pass out from hyperventilating."

I nod, trying to get back to a semi-normal breathing pace while my hand reaches up to grab my backpack strap, clutching it tightly in my hand until my knuckles turn white. My fingers ache, but I don't let go. I'm too scared. I'm too worried and panicked as we leave that patch of trees out into the open field.

I see them in the far off distance.

Lord have mercy.

I've only seen a horde like this once before, and it was because I was sent to be a help at another base in Kentucky for a few weeks since it was just starting to get bigger. I hated it because I had to leave Wes and Katelyn, but I still went because I really didn't have a choice.

I remember watching them approach. I remember the fear some of the residents had in their eyes as they got closer and closer. They ended up breaking in. I've forgotten how many people I had to kill that day. Although I know they weren't people when I killed them.

That base had metal walls and way more guns than Abel. Their defense was amazing, border lining superb, and it still fell. If those zoms make it to the Township, we won't stand a chance.

"Sam, we need someone making noise," Evan says.

"If we need to we can just shout," Maggie states, and I narrow my eyes at her in annoyance. She notices, and her eyes widen a fraction in realization and she looks away, trying to ignore my eyes that stay on her for a couple more seconds.

"Can't keep that up for hours," He answers, giving us both a serious look. "And it could take hours."

"You can't lead them back here so you can pick up noise makers," Sam says. "You'll attract them right back to the base. We're sending two runners out to you."

'Smart thinking,' I tap with my free hand, the other still gripping onto the backpack strap like a vice.

"And in the meantime we'll do what, Sam? Wait out here to die?" Jody shrieks in fear, and I cringe. In a way I can relate to her fear, but I can't think about my own life right now. Of course, I don't want to die, but Abel is more important that I am.

Sam is more important than I am.

"Easy, Four. Easy," Evan says in a gentle but firm voice. "Five here is a strong runner and so is Six. We've got miles left in us. Sam, we're heading out towards the horde. Can you get your runners out here before we reach the zombies?"

"Sure can. Sending out the fastest runners in the place."

I shake my head as a small smile stretches across my face. I know exactly who he's talking about, one of them at least. Maggie shares my grin and gives me a knowing look, both of us having forgotten her earlier comment.

"Oh, they'll be a sight for sore eyes."

"Okay, so here's the plan," Evan starts. "We head towards the zoms now, Sam's runners intercept with the noise makers, and we head off leading them away from the base. Three, you're heading toward Digites De Park. You should be able to get on top of the pavilion there, remember? Like we did before? Wait there 'till morning, and Sam will send a squad to shoot every one of them for you."

"I'm on it," Simon replies. "The mission, that is, not the pavilion. I will be on the pavilion soon but now I'm just the mis-Ah, you know what I mean!"

I have to suppress a smile as Evan keeps talking. "Okay, Five, you'll head out towards the gorge. Should be able to fly right in. Six, you can fly a helo, right?"

She nods. "Yeah, uh, you want me to head to...?"

"Camina Memorial Airfield. It's quite a run-eighteen miles-but they have helicopters up in good working condition. You'll be able to get back eventually. They might have use for you there for a while."

She shrugs in reply. "I was thinking I wanted a holiday."

"I can see them on the horizon!" Jody yells, terror evident in her voice. "Just a wall of them; Just a gray, shambling wall of people!"

I shudder, and my brown eyes snap to what's ahead of me. They're closer than they were before, and I can tell there's a lot of them from this distance, but we aren't close enough for me to describe them like that.

"They're not people anymore," Evan reminds us all. "They're the things that killed those people. Just remember that."

"Hey there!" A voice says from my right. I turn and see two runners coming toward us. "It's me, Five's buddy Runner Eight."

"And me, Runner Seventeen." Summer says with a slight pant mixed into her voice. She reaches into her backpack and withdrawals a small device. "Now that we've got the introductions done with, who wants a noisemaker?"

She doesn't wait for an answer and instead she and Sarah pass out the ones they have with us. The chorus of loud beeping and whirling sounds that comes after we all turn ours on is deafening.

"Alright," Evan says, "Eight, you'll go with Five to the gorge, and Seventeen, you will go with Six and then stay with Four when Six splits off."

"Gotcha," She responds with a nod.

"Now, we'll run towards the horde just a bit more and then split off. We have to make sure we catch their attention."

We all nod, and keep our eyes toward the horde. I can hear them-growling, snarling, moaning. Sometimes it almost sounds like they roar. It's a terrible, horrible sound that only a monster could make-only the dead could make. It's makes the ice already in my vines freeze up and spike painfully, and my chest feels as if it might cave in.

It only takes a few minutes before we split off. First Summer and Maggie, then me and Sarah, and finally Evan, although I'm not sure where he's heading off to.

Sarah and I are silent as we head toward the gorge. Her face is calm, collected, completely focused. I can't help but wonder is she's actually feeling any fear behind that mask, or if she's just fine with the fact that zombies are heading toward Abel, and now some of them are chasing after us.

I don't dare look back at them. I don't want to see their dead hands grasping at me, trying to catch up and reach me so they can sink their teeth into my skin. I don't want to see their eyes-their cold, dead eyes. I don't want to see how many there are. I don't want to know.

People say fear is an enemy, but I like to think otherwise, because if I wasn't afraid I doubt I'd be running this fast.

"Good, that's great," Evan breathes through my headset. "Runner Four, you're heading towards New Canton. You and Seventeen head part of the way with Six. If you get as far as the old mill you two can take shelter there."

"Got it," Summer mumbles, and Jody mutters quietly,

"I'm going to live. I'm going to live."

"That's the spirit," He says. "Sam, how're we doing?"

"Pretty good, Seven. Five's heading toward the ravine with Eight, Three's taken quite a pack, and Six has... must be about forty zoms chasing her and the others north," He replies. "Janine here is also impressed with your leadership skills. I've often wondered about you; Are you ex-military?"

"We're all military now. It's not important."

My eyes narrow at nothing in particular. He's evading the question, but I don't think on it long. A loud growl that sounds far too close than I like pulls me from my thoughts in an instant.

"What I don't understand is... where are they even coming from?" Sam mutters, and I can picture him scratching his head as he thinks. "Has someone been storing zombies for a special occasion or is it my worst birthday ever?"

"Is it your birthday?" Janine questions.

"Not so much. I guess... Five's worst birthday ever, then. So much for sweet sixteen."

'Sam, my birthday isn't for another three weeks.'

"I-I know but it's just yours is the closest birthday and-and... you know what, never mind."

I give a half smile. Dork.

"I know where they're coming from," Janine says suddenly, her voice low. "We've had word just now over the Roufflenet. A settlement to the north has fallen."

"Brunswick?"

"Red Settlement," She answers, and Sam groans. I remember making a swap with them. It was a mission with Chris McShell-my first and only mission with him.

"Oh, geez. The one with all the kids?"

My heart wrenches.

"New Canton said they could protect them," She says spitefully.

"Can't trust a damn thing they say," Sam mutters angrily. "Runners Five and Eight?"

'Yes?'

"Hey, there!"

"You're doing an excellent job. They're are about thirty zoms chasing you towards the gorge. Just keep running. Our lives are in your hands."

No pressure or anything. Jesus, Sam, are you trying to encourage me to defeat the zoms or to have a nervous breakdown?

"Oh, and uh, stay safe. Please. I don't want to lose any of you."

A small smile forms on my face, and then in drops. Damn, I'm in deep.

•

"Seven here checking in. I'm holding steady; Making my way towards the steps at Meekley Park. We all know zoms are terrible at steps, and there's a flight of about 200 there. Should hold 'em for a while."

"Yee-ha!" Simon yells out suddenly, and I jump in surprise. "Three here. Feel like a regular rodeo driver with my great ole cattle."

I deadpan at his terrible attempt to sound southern. I think I just lost all respect I had for this man.

I wish I could speak so he'd know that most southerns don't sound like that. Except Texans, but they're like a whole other group. I think they are their own group.

"Six here. Just checking in. Me, Four, and Seventeen are making good time."

"We're going to live," Jody says with a bit of relief woven into her voice.

"Yep, unless you have other plans. I certainly don't," Summer replies, only half joking, but Maggie seems to find it humorous because she gives out just the tiniest of laughs.

"We're heading out towards the high street now towards open country."

"Wait," Jody cries, "there's a pack coming from the left and they're coming in fast."

"Run! Go now!" Summer yells right after her. "Come on, Mags!"

"Oh, no. Not the kids." Her voice holds a mixture of pain and disgust. "I hate kids. They're just so-Ah! Get off me! Get off! Get off!"

Maggie lets out a scream just as Summer screeches out her name. There's pain in both voices and I have to stop myself from ripping that headset off and chucking it.

Funny how I've seen death so many times and yet still when they scream I feel the urge to throw up. Funny how I cared next to nothing about Maggie-I barely talked to her, never have gone on a mission with her before now-but her scream... I know I'm never going to get that out of my head.

"They got Six!" Jody cries out, and I can hear muffled cries from Summer. "Oh, my-they've bitten Six!"

"Jesus," Sarah whispers, "not Six."

"Just keep running. Just keep running. Just keep running." Jody chants it over and over to herself, and soon enough, Summer joins her, but her voice sounds clogged with tears.

I don't know much about Summer, since we are more acquaintances than friends, but it doesn't take much to guess that from her reaction Maggie was someone she was close to. I take a deep breath and look forward, trying to block out the mumbles said by the two runners. One person already gone.

Now that one person is dead, what's gonna stop it from being two people dead, or three? After all, you never lose one person in a situation like this. Once death starts gets an answer to one door it was knocking on, it won't stop until it's had its fill. It won't stop until everyone is shedding tears. Salty, wet tears.

If the death angel has to pick another life, let it be me, God. I mentally pray. Please don't let it be my children, or my friends. If someone else has to die let it be me.

I'm not sure God will answer my prayers. I've pretty sure I've built a wall between the two of us-a wall of sin, sin of deceit and lies and secrets and murders. But, I just hope He'll take my request into consideration since it's self-sacrifice. It's not selfish but instead the opposite.

Of course I'd be happy if I didn't die and we all got to live, but there are very slim chances of that happening because-well, I don't have to be a math teacher to know the statices of a horde like this takes more than one person's life.

Just don't let it be them. Please don't let it be them.

We reach the gorge, crossing over one of the narrow bridges that leads to the other side. With how narrow it is a good chunk of zoms will surely fall off when they reach it, but I know not all of them the will, and we'll still have to keep running.

I try not to look down as we cross. I keep my eyes up and my mind occupied. At least I try to. I'm not doing all that well though because I'm shaking like a leaf in autumn wind, or winter wind because of the season. I can't help but feel afraid. One wrong move and down you go. I may be willing to die, but this is not the way I want to go.

I do get a bit more relaxed as we reach the end of the bridge, and also Sam starts talking so that helps too.

"It's okay. It's okay," He breathes calmingly. "Runners Five and Eight, you're doing great. You're leading them away. I can see some of the zombies start to get to the gorge. A lot of them are falling off but... there are a few actually crossing over the bridge."

"Okay, where to now, Sam?" Sarah asks.

"Um, head towards Imram Park. You should already be near it anyway."

Good Lord, how many dang parks are around Abel?

"Remember that broken bridge across the gully there? If you stay ahead of them, you can tempt them to try to get to you across the bridge and fall in."

'Doesn't that mean we will have to go over that bridge first? The broken bridge that is... broken?' I ask, feeling my shoulders tense.

"You should be fine as long as you go quickly and jump over the part of the bridge that's missing. It's only about a three foot jump. Zoms don't jump so they'll just fall in."

"Don't tell me your scared, Five," Sarah says with a grin.

"Why would she be afraid of heights?" He asks, and I scowl.

'Do you not remember how I arrived here at Abel, Sam?'

"Of course, I do. Your helicopter crash land-oh... The whole fear of heights makes much more sense now."

I resist the urge to face palm. My crush is an idiot.

"You'll be fine, Five," Sarah reassures with a genuine smile. "It's going to be okay."

I nod, even though I'm still shaking because honestly I'm still trying to get over that last bridge we crossed. That long long bridge that I'm eventually going to have to cross again to get back to Abel and-shit.

"Uh, hey, you guys are going to reach high ground soon-before you get to the broken bridge. You should be able to see back as far as the Township. You can be my eyes out there, even if only for a few minutes."

"Okay, Five. You heard the man," Sarah says. "Sprint for the top of the hill and we should have enough time to take a good look around, see what's going on."

I hear gunshots in the distance, towards New Canton territory. I give Sarah a side glance as I look that way. With all the trees and hills I can't see it, and I won't have time look for anyone over there because we have to see Abel. I thought New Canton would have gotten all their runners back by now.
And why would they be shooting the zoms? Don't they want this to happen?

I swallow at the quick thought of something else being out there, but it disappears when we reach the top of the hill, we turn to look at the view. I can see for miles it almost seems like, but that might just be a trick of the mind. The Township is closer than I thought it would be, but maybe that's because how the bridge across the gorge seemed to go on for an eternity.

"Runner Eight, report."

"Okay, me and Five have made to the high ground," She answers. "The zoms are about three minutes behind us, which means it's time for a breather and to get the lay of the land." She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a pair of binoculars. " I brought binoculars just like you suggested."

"Good work. What's out there?"

"Well," She starts, holding the binoculars to her eyes and glancing around. I squint in attempt to see things better but it doesn't really work. In makes everything in the distance look more blurry and disfigured. "Runner Four and Runner Seventeen are doing okay, holding pace. Runner Three... ha, I can see him on top of the pavilion. Hey there, Runner Three."

She waves her hand in greeting, but I doubt he'll by able to see it because he's just a speck from where I'm standing. I doubt he just decided to bring binoculars with him.

Actually I shouldn't sound so sure about that. He's been known to bring some random things with him on missions.

"About forty zoms are trying to get up at him and totally failing," She snickers. "Only a small group of zoms left advancing on the Township, Sam. Although..."

I tense up, and I can hear the Sam tension in my radio operator's voice. "Although?"

"That can't be."

"You're making me nervous here, Eight."

"Sam, I know this sounds crazy. Believe me, I absolutely know how it sounds, but that group coming toward you... well, it looks like they're carrying something."

I blink in surprise, and it takes everything not to rip those binoculars away from her to take a look myself.

"Together?" Sam asks incredulously. "Zoms working together? That's-that's impossible."

I squint, seeing that there is something they're carrying, but I can't make out exactly what it is. I can make out it is a weapon of some sort-two of them.

"Describe exactly what you're seeing Ms. Smith," Janine commands. "Exactly."

Sarah nods and purses her lips. "There are about twelve zombies stumbling toward the base. They're zoms, no doubt. One's missing an arm; One's got no jaw; There's one with his eyeball hanging out on a bit of flesh-"

"Okay," Sam interrupts, "you can describe it a little less exactly, in fact."

Finally-finally-she offers the binoculars to me. "Five, take a look here."

I swipe them out of her hands, pressing them to my eyes. I scan around, my eyes finally landing on the group heading for Abel Township and-oh, God.

I choke.

"Uh-oh. Five made the noise, the noise when it's something really, really bad." Sam panics.

"That's what I think it is, isn't it?" Sarah asks me, and I nod frantically. "I'm not imagining what I'm seeing."

"What? What are they carrying, Ms. Smith?"

"Don't keep us in suspense."

"Runner Five here agrees. They've got rocket launchers. Two of them. One larger and one smaller. Two are carrying the smaller and the ten are carrying the larger." My eyes widen in horror as the zoms fire the larger one at the Township. "I guess we know who left that out there in the wilderness."

"Okay-"

The rocket hits, and suddenly I'm lunging forward. Sarah wraps her arms around me to hold me back.

No!

I want to scream. I want scream as loud as I can as I watch Abel go up in flames. I want to scream and cry because Caleb is in there. Milo and Willis and Penelope are in there. Sam is in there!

Sam!

I don't know when the tears started falling but now they're streaming down my face.

No, no, no!

"Five, you have to calm down," Sarah barks as I struggle. "You have to-Oh, Holy Mary mother of God."

I stop moving and look up, and my tear-filled eyes go wide as I see the two zombies turned toward us. I can't see their faces, but I know what they're holding-the smaller rocket launcher.

And they're pointing it right at us.

"Run!"

Sarah pulls me along, and I think we make it fifteen feet before the rocket launcher hits the spot we were at only moments ago. Sarah wraps her arms around my waist to shield me, but is blown away from me by the blast. The last thing I remember is my ears ringing.

Then it's all darkness. Nothing but quiet black.

I don't even have dreams this time.

A/N: Holy crap, you guys! I didn't think I'd be able to write all this but I was and ha, I don't think I can say hope you like it this time, huh? Anyway, please vote and comment and remember only one chapter and To Be A Runner is finished! Thank you and have a blessed day!