Mason woke up with a long yawn. He looked at his alarm clock with tired eyes. It was six-thirty on a Monday. "Ugh." He moaned, standing up from his bed. He walked over to his closet and took out a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. After quickly slipping them on he took his backpack and swung it around his shoulder. He slowly poked his head through his little sister's bedroom door. "Morning, lucky." He said quietly as he stepped further into the girl's room.

"Good morning." She yawned, sitting up in her pink and white bed. Mason's sister, Catie, only five years old, didn't have to go to school that day, 'some illness around the school that the kids needed to stay away from for a few days' Mason had been told.

"Listen, I'm going out to school in a second, mommy and daddy are gonna be home in a bit. Are you going to be my brave little sister and stay home alone? They'll only be about ten minutes after I leave." Mason said, sitting on the edge of Catie's bed.

"Mhm," Catie said, wrapping her arms around Mason's neck.

"Okay, I'll leave you to get some more sleep, cuddle monster. Love you." Mason said, kissing Catie on the forehead.

"Love you, too," Catie said, before dropping her head back down to the pillow.

Mason walked into the kitchen. He poured a glass of orange juice, after taking a sip he heard a knock at the door. He opened it, expecting his best friend Emily like it had been every morning before. He'd wake up, go to school with Em, meet Shaun on the way, and go to their first period. "Hey Em, I…" He said whilst he opened the door. Mason dropped the glass he was holding at the sight in front of him. Shaun was standing in the doorway, blood dripping down his mouth, pale as snow, before collapsing in front of Mason.

He crouched down, holding Shaun in his arms. "Shaun, what happened?!" Mason choked, holding the boy's head in his arms.

"Get…out…of…town…" Shaun coughed, more blood spewing out of his lips.

"What?! No! You need help!" Mason cried.

"Mason?!" Catie shivered, standing distanced from him and Shaun.

"Cate, sweetie, go call 9-1-1, okay?" Mason gulped, attempting to hold back tears.

Catie ran over to a wall phone in the kitchen, dialing the numbers she was instructed too.

"Shaun, buddy, stay with me okay?" Mason said, wiping the blood from Shaun's lips.

"No…I…can't…be careful…the…the creatures…' Shaun said, his eyes beginning to close.

"Crea…Creatures? What? What creatures?!" Mason gasped. "What do you mean?!"

"Just…get out of town…take Catie…and…and Em…" Shaun said, between raspy breaths. "I love you…" He said before his hands loosened and his eyes closed.

Mason took a deep breath before completely breaking down, kissing Shaun on the head, holding his head as he mumbled for him to come back.

Emily cut Mason out of his thoughts as she sat down next to him. "You alright? This isn't like you, moping around." She asked.

"Catie. She was afraid of the dark too." Mason sighed.

"…I remember. I was at your house and there was a power cut, she freaked out and we had to watch those kids TV shows with her until she felt better." Emily said, smiling at the happy memories.

"I don't know why I'm feeling like this." Mason sighed. "I can't stop thinking about her."

"You miss having a little a sister," Emily said, laying her arm around Mason.

Mason looked over to Clementine who was sitting in Lee's lap as she spoke quietly to Omid and Christa.

"It's okay to miss people. I miss Shaun." Emily said.

"Me too. He gave the best hugs." Mason said with a small laugh.

"I know. Look, I'm going to go see what the guys are doing in the front of the train, just to see if we have any plans. Don't stay alone for too long, huh? You'll drive yourself crazy." Emily said.

"Thanks, Em," Mason said with a weak smile before Emily walked out the train carriage. Mason knew she was right, he shouldn't be alone with his thoughts for too long, so he stood up and joined Christa, Lee, Clem and Omid on the other side of the carriage.

"Hey, Mason," Lee said, moving along for Mason to sit down.

Mason sat down at his place, next to Lee and Clem. "Hey, guys. You alright, Clementine?" He asked.

"She's still a little shaken up. Thank you." Lee said.

"For what?" Mason asked, wearing a curious smile.

"You were there for her after we went through that tunnel," Lee said.

"No problem," Mason said, before hearing the sound of Emily sliding the carriage door open.

"Hey, guys, we're stopping for the night. You're going to want to hold onto something." Emily said, hanging onto the door frame.

The train suddenly thumped to a halt, making a piercing screech as the breaks activated. The rest of the group made their way through into the train. "Is everyone alright back here?" David asked as he wandered into the train carriage, followed by the three army men.

"We're fine, thank you," Christa said, politely.

"Wonderful. Oh, I forgot to mention, congratulations. Lee told me earlier." David said.

"Thank you, so much," Christa said with a smile.

"David was a military doctor before he became a pastor. He can help." Lee explained.

"Really? That's amazing!" Omid said.

"Thank you, Omid," David said. "Now, I believe we should start a campfire. It will get colder as the sun sets."

"Copy that. Me and the private will get something set up." Will said, jumping down, off the side of the train, followed by Private Allen. "Sit tight, for now, keep the doors closed. Who knows what we would've brought towards us with the sound."

"Yeah…about that," Mason said, sliding one of the side doors shut. "What happens if-

"Don't worry about it. We'll sort out a guard detail. Me and the boys'll take care of it tonight." Joshua said.

Mason felt something tug on the sleeve of his shirt. He looked down to see Clementine smiling up at him. Mason crouched down in front of her. "Hi, Clem. What's up?" Mason asked.

"I just wanted to say thanks," Clementine said, taking Mason's hand.

Mason smiled and ruffled the back of Clementine's hair, the only place her hat wasn't covering. "No, problem, Cat…uh…Clementine." Mason stumbled.

Hey! I just wanted to let you guys know I might no be updating my stories tommorow, first day back to school where I'm from, but never say never, it's just a maybe.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to leave a review!