PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!

I can hear it. Everything. I can hear it all-gunshots, explosions...

Those tones.

I hear it, but everything is so distorted, and slurred, as if I'm underwater. Black is all I see, but there is no silence. Explosions, gunshots, tones.

And her voice.

"Holy Mary, mother of God."

"Five, wake up!"

There's a loud groan of a zombie.

"I guess we know who left that out in the wilderness."

"Come on! Damn it, Five."

There's more gunshots.

"They've got rocket launchers."

"I've got to go," Sarah says urgently. The underwater feeling stops, and the gunshots are loud, piercing and painful to my ears. "Open your damn eyes, Five! You can't stay here and I can't stay with you."

It takes everything to do as she says. It feels as if something is weighing my eyelids down, but still I force myself to open my eyes. Her face comes into view, leaning over me with hard green eyes with just a hint of worry. My body aches as loud, various mixes of gunshots and zombie groans ring into my ears, followed by static in my headset.

"I can't see anything," Nadia says. "Cameras aren't working. Runner Twenty, stay where you are."

I grasp Sarah's forearm as I try to sit up. My body screams for me to stop, but I don't. The ache in my muscles make me wince, but I know I can't stay still. Sarah grabs my arms and helps me to my feet, and I lean against her for support.

"That's it. That's it," She says encouragingly, pushing me away gently. I almost fall over before gaining my balance. "You have to stand up on your own; You have to be ready to run when they come. I'm going to lead the pack north."

She takes her pistol from its holster and raises it up in the air, firing two shots. "That's right! Over here!"

I turn to focus on the zombies heading for us, but my focus falters when I hear it. I hear it loud and clear.

The tones. Those bells and organ music mixed with autotune. I know it. I hear it.

Maybe I hit my head too hard when I was blown back.

"Don't worry," Sarah laughs, her eyes glancing over to her gun. "I'll save one bullet for myself if the time comes."

My brows knit together and I give a slight frown. Time comes? Bullet for herself? What does she... oh, no.

"There is a possibility that I've been bitten. When the blast hit us I obviously was blown away from you. There was a crawler in the tall grass. I have a scrape in my ankle. I can't know for sure but I have to be safe and get clear of you and the Township."

I stiffen just as the tones sound off again. They're faint, but I can hear them through the gunshots and growls. I want to ask about them, but I can't because my heart is pounding in my chest. Because Sarah might be bitten and she's the only person who I know is still alive and she can't leave me. I can't believe left alone. She can't leave me here alone.

I try to keep a calm face, but it's so hard when I know she's going to leave me here, all alone with no coms and no Sam or Janine and I just don't know what to do.

"I've checked you, by the way, and you're clean." She glances down at the zombies only a few minutes away from reaching us. "Here they come. Listen, Five, Abel might be gone. The coms are silent, there were zombies with rocket launchers and everything's gone crazy, but if she's still alive, tell Janine something for me. It's important."

I nod quickly, ignoring the subtle hum of the tones as they come and go once more, and ignoring the anxiety and fear that is bubbling up in my chest.

"Tell her she was right," She coughs, making me tense in panic and fear and pain. "I've heard those tones every time, just before they attack. Just like we discussed."

My eyes go wide and I suck in a sharp breath. She heard them too. She knew. She heard them all this time and never said. I'm not sure whether to be angry at her for not telling me this or be relieved that I'm not crazy.

"Tell her exactly that, okay?" Sarah asks, prompting me to nod, which I do. "There's town west of New Canton-Volley Vill. If you just head in that direction eventually the land will come together and you won't have to worry about crossing any bridge.

"The town is almost exactly beside New Canton. It's old and abandoned, but you should be able to find an old house to take shelter in because Abel-or what's left of it-is swarming with zoms and trying to head back there now would be suicide. I know you're scared, but now you have to be brave. I know you're just a child, but you've always been a good runner." She gives me a hard shove forward. "Now go! Run and don't stop!"

I take off, Sarah running in the opposite direction while waving her hands around to attract the zombies. "Over here, you damn freaks!"

Her screams and yelling begins to fade, and the reality of it all crashes down on me as I continue running.

Abel is gone. The Township, the people, the things-all of it.

My home...
My kids...
My best friend...
Sam...

I don't realize I'm crying until my vision gets blurry, and I instantly reach up to wipe away the salty tears running down my face. There is no time for that. I have to get to Volley Vill and wait a few days and then return to Abel and see if there are any survivors. They can't all have died, right?

I mean, Simon might still be alive, although I don't know how he's going to get down from that pavilion now.

Summer and Jody might still be alive, and maybe Evan.

I try to keep that in mind-to remember the positive, but I can't stop thinking about everyone who's probably dead now. Not just Sam and Caleb and the kids, but Maxine, Janine, Cameo, Kytan, Ed, Molly, Jack and Eugene. They're probably all dead, and I'm out here alive.

You were supposed to protect them, The voice in my head whispers and I shake my head in attempts to make it stop. Not now. Not now.

You failed them. Now they're all dead because of you!

My hand reaches up to grab at my backpack strap.

You failed them just like you failed Wes!

My eyes that were once closed tight fly open, and I desperately wipe away at the tears. I can cry when I make it to Volley Vill. I pull my hands away from my backpack strap, seeing as I have now made it to the end of the gorge. I turn and start heading forward. Sarah said it was near New Canton, so I'll just have to make it near there and I should find Volley Vill.

I flinch as static glitters through my headset, and hope swells in my chest. Could it be Sam or Janine? Are they still alive-

"Runner Twenty-Two, say that again?"

My hope vanishes as soon as it arrived.

"No, we don't know what to do either," Nadia says. "My cameras are still-wait, wait... All runners, cameras are coming back online. Just a few but-oh, this is fantastic! Did you do this, Allison?" There's a pause. "Huh, okay then, whatever voodoo it was seems to be working."

My nose scrunches up. Why does she care about her cameras right now? Aren't all her runners back at base? Aren't they all back in New Canton?

But what if they aren't? What if they didn't make it back and that's the gunshots we've been hearing?

What if they weren't sending those flares to direct them towards us, but just to get the zoms away from them?

The thought makes sense, because we know they wouldn't try to help us, especially since they just tried to raid us, and they only seem to care for themselves.

"Guys, I can't see everything but I've got cameras to the east and some to the south. There are still a lot of zoms heading in the direction of Abel Township and... no, Runner Twenty-seven. I can't see anything in that direction; Can't raise any communications with them either."

Why would they want to raise communications with us? Didn't they encourage the zombie horde toward us, even if it was just to keep themselves safe?

"I think... our orders are for you to head back as soon as it's safe. I think there should be a clear pathway if you stick to the course of the river," She pauses. "Yeah, stick to the banks of Bailey and you should be safe. Come on in, everyone."

There's another pause, but it's longer this time, and for a second I begin to think that was the end of her transmission, but then she speaks again.

"No, we can't risk looking for any Abel Township survivors," She answers with a sigh. "They're gone, guys. Something blew them up. They're all gone."

There's a sickening crack that sounds off after those words are said, and I'm not sure if something inside me just broke or if I accidentally stepped on a twig or branch. It's most likely the latter, but still... all of them?

She-she-she must be exaggerating. She's just saying that as an excuse because she doesn't want to send anyone out to look for survivors.

That must be it. I... this can't be my fault. If I'm the only survivor I'll never be able to forgive myself. I don't think I could handle being guilty for this one. I can't handle the guilt of being the only one from Abel still alive.

I feel an anger suddenly start to grow-an anger that I haven't felt in a long time.

I prayed for it to be just me! I asked you to kill me if you were going to take another life! But instead you let everyone else die except me! Is this some sort of punishment?

I want to scream those words out. I want my words to echo through the open air, over the gunshots and zombie moans and tones. Maybe then God will hear me.

I just don't understand. I know He does everything for a reason and let's everything happen for a reason but why would He let this happen?

I want to scream. I want to scream and yell and cry and man, it pisses me off that I can't. So I just scream in my head. My mind screams so loud I don't hear anything as I enter Volley Vill, and it still screams as I search for a place to take shelter, and it still screams when Nadia starts talking again.

"Wait, are you seeing this, guys?" She asks in a voice that sounds just nearly awestruck. "Look at this. The signal's come back again. No cameras available in that section but our beacon is still good. It's Runner Thirty-eight!"

My mind stops screaming.

"There he is again! Lem, respond if you can!"

I don't think death has been as quiet as I'm being right now.

"Nothing," She sighs in disappointment, and I bite my lip in pity. "No, he's not responding. Okay, Runner Thirty-one and Runner Thirty-four, head towards Volley Vill-that little town where we set those construction worker zoms on fire."

My breath hitches in my throat. This is not good. This is not good.

"Lem's not responding but if you hurry you can intercept him. Bring him home." She pauses. "Yes, I understand. Intercept him or put a bullet in his head... I know it might not be him. Just get him and we can find out."

With fear coursing through me I pick up speed, taking a hard right and running past the wood buildings that are all rotting away and look like they could collapse at any given minute.

"W-wait," Nadia stutters, "he's speeding up! Runner Forty-five, head in from the left down Scot Road. Runner Forty-three, come in from the right near Pupin Hall. Come on, he's getting quicker!"

I push myself to go faster, a string of curses running through my mind as I take one step after another. The biting cold nips at my skin and eats away at whatever warmth is left in me, and I can feel the exhaustion starting to take over, and my muscles ache more than ever, but the fear of getting caught pushes me forward.

I have to keep from getting caught. Who knows what they might do to me if they find out I'm not really Lem?

"Whoever or whatever is wearing that beacon is going to be found," Nadia says harshly. "We're going to get him. Now run!"

My steps are uneven and so is my breathing as I leave the town and enter its cemetery, which is scarily larger than the town with its hills and trees and massive headstones. It's terrifying-especially since it's the zombie apocalypse-but it's the perfect place for hiding, although I'm afraid with all the runners that have been sent after me, I won't be able to hide for long.

I almost want to rip this headset off and leave it here, but I need it with me, I know I do... just in case Sam comes back on coms.

Of course, it's not the smartest idea to actually believe they're still alive but Sam didn't give up on me when I was stuck out in the dark for hours and hours, and if he can do that then I know I can keep up the faith that he's still alive.

Maybe not okay, but alive.

There's a rustle of a bush about twenty feet away. It could be a zombie, or it could be a New Canton runner, and since I don't want to be seen by either one I keep running in the opposite direction. I pull my ponytail holder out of my hair, grimacing as if sticks to the back of my sweaty neck. As much as I hate it, I know my crazy messed up hair will help shield my face if a New Canton runner sees me. If though, only if.

There's another rustle of a bush, then a twig cracking. It's coming from all parts of the cemetery, but I refuse to stop. I can't let anyone see me-

Shit.

I'vejust been seen.

He's tall, brown hair, blue eyes, and he's standing over one of the hills a few yards away. I turn away so he can't see my face, but from the corner of my eye and through the mess that's already become of my hair I see his gaze harden.

"All runners in the area of Volley Vill cemetery, report," Nadia commands. "Do you have visual contact with Runner Thirty-eight? Runner Forty-five, report. What do you see?"

He turns his body to keep his eyes on me as I pass by, and I see his lips start to move to give out an answer.

"Oh, are you sure, Runner Forty-five? The light's not good and all the smoke from the-" She gets cut off, but I don't stop to look back and see what Forty-five might be saying. I just keep my head down and keep running.

"Yes, okay. I understand. Yes," She says somberly. "All runners, the signal from Runner Thirty-eight is not Lem. Repeat, not Lem. We think an Abel Township runner is wearing one of our headsets. Come back, guys. That Abel Township runner isn't worth you risking your lives for 'em."

There's a bite in her voice as she says that-a hatred. I don't have to look back to see them running back towards New Canton; I already know. They don't care about Abel or its citizens, and knowing I took one of their headsets they especially won't care for me, but I know they didn't see my face. They don't know who I am, so that means for now, I'm safe.

"So, Not Runner Thirty-eight," Nadia spits out, "Not-Lem, I've switched to a private coms channel. It's just you and me. Not that you can talk back since I've switched off your microphone... I have to wonder who you are. I'm going to have to tell my people about you. I think they'll be very interested to bring you in and talk to you."

Then the coms go silent, and I gulp as the blood begins to drain from my face.
My heart has either stopped or it's beating so fast I can no longer feel it. I honestly can't tell.

I know what I could do. I know what every logical part of me is screaming to do. Chuck the headset and run. I could run back to Volley Vill. It is only a few minutes away. I could stay there for a few days, scavenge on whatever it is I find, which will probably be something good since I have a talent for finding things. Then after a few days I could go back and look for Janine and tell her what Sarah wanted me to say.

I could do it. I could do it and never have to face any of the consequences for my actions, but I won't.

Because even though a very strong part of me wants to leave this headset here, another part of me is keeping me from doing so. It's almost like it's telling me to hold on just a little bit longer, and drop it later. Just not now.

I try not to think about what might happen to me if they find out I'm the one who took the headset. They might have mercy since I look like one of their runners but then again they might not. It all depends.

But they might not catch me. I might find someway to get out of this alright. That's how it seems to be with me. I'm terrible with luck and yet I'm the one who almost always seems to make it out okay.

I'm a jinx to everyone around me, it seems.

Maybe that's why I have no friends.

"I've spoken to the council, Abel Township Runner," Nadia says in a clipped voice. She almost sounds like Janine except...less scary. "They want you to come in."

I sort of saw that one coming.

"I said, 'Why would the Abel Township runner trust us?' And they said, 'Well, Nadia, that Abel Township runner has no choice. We're the only safe haven within fifteen miles and Abel Township is gone. Enormous explosion; No coms. Gone. So that runner will have to come in to us eventually."

I swallow thickly and change my direction towards New Canton, keeping my head low and eyes looking just ahead of me.

"Oh, yes. I can see you on my cameras now," She sneers. "Funny, imagine my thinking of you being Lem just because you were wearing his headset. Imagine how you ran around letting me think that all this time."

I lower my eyes in shame, feeling guilt start to weigh me down as I run. Now that Abel's gone I have no excuse as to why I wore his headset. I can't say I did it for Abel. I did, of course, but that doesn't matter now, does it? Abel is gone, and so are my excuses.

"I should send you into a swarm... but no, I won't, because I don't lie, and I have a job to do." She takes in a deep breath and releases it slowly. "Abel Township Runner, head straight on. You'll be with us soon enough."

There's more static in my headset, and I blink in confusion when I hear a muffled voice. I gasp. I can't make out the words but it...

That sounds like Sam's voice.

But then it's gone, the static faded as if it were never there in the first place, but it was there. I know it was there.

"Yes, Runner Forty-two, you can come back from the west. There are some zoms to the east still. Thanks for your status report," Nadia says, seeming to not have heard a thing. "We're gonna need you to run decoy for the next twenty minutes while we try to get cameras back up."

More static comes through my headset, but this time no mumbled voices, and soon it fades just like before.

What the hell?

"Runners Thirty-one and Thirty-four, can you check the camera of the northern perimeter before you come in? We think that zom attack shook loose some wiring. Uh, no, I'm not hearing anything," She says in confusion. "Is there a problem with the transmission? Runner Twenty-two, can you tell me what you're hearing-"

"This is a test."

I blink in confusion. The voice sounded automated.

What the hell is going on here?

"What was that?" New Canton's radio operator questions. "Are you doing something, Abel Township Runner? Have you done something to my coms system?"

Don't look at me. I'm just as confused as you are.

"This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System," The voice says again.

"Did you hear that? No, I don't know what it was. I don't know who has the capacity to override my coms like that." Nadia pauses as static once again begins to come through my headset, slowly drowning out her voice. "No, it's not in the damn manual..."

"Runner Five," A voice I don't recognize says, "it's Major De Santa. I'm back."

"You can stop running now."

The End.

A/N: Hello, everyone. While I'm sure you're confused, I want to let you know I do have a sequel to this book. Actually, I have multiple sequels to this book already published on my wattpad, if you want to go over there and read those now. My wattpad username is GravityWillFall01, and this should be the link to the sequel in this series, story/115941672-to-be-a-survivor

Just copy-paste this into the search bar and it should lead you to the sequel.

In my wattpad bio I also have the list of the books laid out, so if you want to go over there and start reading, I highly suggest it just because it may take awhile before I start posting that on here, as I will remember I have an account here and then post a bit and then immediately forget again. So, if you don't want to wait, you can go over to Wattpad and binge read this series to your heart's content. So far there are 7 books in the series (7.5 if you count the short story).

Anyway, I do hope you enjoyed this book, and please leave me a review because I would appreciate to hear from you. Have an blessed day!