How could he say that?

Yes, tonight has been rough, but back there, he acted as if his life meant nothing. It's like he has given up on life itself; after we've worked so hard! Crazy, just crazy. Doesn't he know how important he is?

Shaylin and I depend on him more than he thinks! How I felt after learning about him being there when those high schoolers attacked Shaylin back in junior high and I wasn't, it threw me for a loop. I would be dead if he hadn't been here with me tonight. With him I faced my fear of heights, learn how to use a gun, and most of all, I learned more about him tonight than I would've in ten years.

Then again, this is Timmy; I've hated this kid for years. Even before Shaylin introduced us. He was the popular kid, and I hated him for it. My parents ignored me enough, I didn't need him to make my school years miserable. Why he irritated me so much, I will never know. He's looking at me weird again... It's because I hated him that he irritated me...right?

"What are you looking at?" I snapped, feeling uncomfortable. His head cocked to the side. "You suddenly got mad..."

"Well of course I did dumbass! You're over there downing yourself when you should be focusing more on getting us out of here."

"But-"

"You have the map right?" I asked, "You do know where we are going."

"Yeah, it right this way, but I-"

"Well, let's get going then!" I said, shuffling past him.

I remember why I hated him. He's an idiot.

Once he caught up to me he resumed his place ahead and led the way towards the next part of the tunnel systems. Judging by what Jake had said, we should be about halfway there by now. The water is getting shallower and the walls are dryer than earlier; that's a relief. My feet were wet and the feeling of blisters everywhere grew by the second.

Shaylin and Jake should be almost there too. Maybe Jake can talk to her about fighting with Timmy less often. It would suck if they stayed like this even after we escape, I don't think I could take it. I

meant what I said to Shay about understanding her and Timmy more. It makes sense that they are confused. I am from just me in general. Something about turning from fifteen to sixteen changes the way you think.

Maybe I should've been more understanding. We are both confused in every way yet here I am yelling at him like an ADD teenage girl who can't find her Midol. I don't even know what I am doing anymore. The only thing that keeps me sane is the thought of getting out of here. Things are supposed to get better once this has bonded, by the looks of it everything will be fine.

"I..." Timmy turned his eyes to me. "Yes?"

"I...wanted..." Man, why is it so hard to apologize to this guy? "To say...that I'm so-" My voice froze, so I tried again. "That I'm sor...ry" When that last part came out in my mind, I gave up.

"It's okay." He said quietly.

"No, it's not." I insisted, "I am just as confused as you are and that's just me. There was no reason for me to gripe you out."

Calmly, he put his hands on my shoulders.

"It's okay, its not your fault that you can't apologize correctly." He gave me a goofy grin, "We will work on that later, okay?"

With that out of the way, he resumed walking ahead of me and left me there staring blankly at him.

Dumbass, I thought to myself, but a smile spread across my face and I ran over to catch up. My stomach began to feel weird. Not like I was going to throw up, but light as if I was floating. Is this what girls called butterflies? If it is then I hate it. Wait, Timmy gave me butterflies? Smack!

When I looked up I saw that I had ran into him. He gave me a weird smile and chuckled. Suddenly, to me he began to look taller, broader, and more like a man. "Sorry..."

"It's okay," We resumed walking, "Let's get out of here." I hung my head behind him in worry.

No, Miley, your not falling for Timmy, your not. He's is just a stupid guy...right?

Shaylin's POV

When Jake took my hand it threw me back into reality. We had been standing there for a couple of minutes, maybe longer. I just don't remember stopping. We had been walking for a while, by now we should be almost halfway there. Which makes me wonder how Miley and Timmy's progress is going.

"It's not too far, only a couple more tunnels to go." He said pulling me slowly behind him. "Hehehe, you chose an unusual time to go into shock."

"We are only several tunnels away?" I asked, surprised. With a nod he let go. "They should be almost out. Who know's maybe we will get out at the same time."

"That'd be convenient."

Jake paused and grabbed my hand again. Just as a frog jumped out for me, he pulled me out of the way in time. The frog hit the wall and croaked at us. More came around the corner after us. They circled towards me as if too taunt us. They didn't bother Jake though...

"Damn, not these guys again!" He said in frustration. After sending a bullet into several of them he pulled me along behind him as more monsters began too gather.

"Jake!" I asked, seeing the horde grow. "What if we don't make it?"

"We will. Just hold on!" He ordered, pulling me around the corner. "I'll take care of them."

Although his words meant a lot, it didn't stop one of the frogs from pulling me to the ground with it's tongue. We hadn't even made it down the same tunnel and they had already caught up. A pop with a light crack came from my ankle. The pain spread through my body like lightening.

After they surrounded us again he helped me up with my arm over his back for support. Even though he was taller than me and my arm only reached up to his elbows, I held on to his shoulder while he shot. When the last frog was finished he leaned me against the wall.

I sat down while he checked on my ankle. When he saw that it had swollen more he forced me to lean on him the entire way down the hall. The pain was unbearable, a tears welled up in my eyes. I blinked to keep them away as the first wave passed.

When we turned the corner I felt him jerk to a stop and release me a little. My grip on his shirt weakened and I fell to the ground. The water around me wadded away as I hit the ground like a rock. Another wave came back and I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. This was worse than anything I had ever felt before. Now I know what Miley was feeling in her shoulder.

"Jake, what's wrong?" I asked through the pain in my voice.

"I see your shape has worsened as well." A female voice said, and when I fought for the strength to look up I saw that woman from earlier.

She had bandages all over. It looked as if she was in the hospital after a massive car wreck. Her gun was in one hand, but she didn't look like she had the strength to use it. She blocked our way as she stood there, amused that we had made it this far.

"Did I miss the reunion?" She asked, "I though your friends would still be with you." I took in a breath. "What happened to you?"

"Just had something to finish." Her voce didn't sound weak at all. It was still as mischievous and cunning sounding as ever.

Jake helped me up while his eyes remained on her, "What business do you have here?" She shrugged, "Just to see how you two were holding off." She turned to me "How's your friend?"

"She's fine," I said weakly, " left with Timmy a while ago. Her wounds are healing now, thanks to you."

"That came out more like an accusation than a thank you."

"Well just take it as a thank you an leave." Jake said harshly, but she ignored him. "That's good that her wounds are healing, they looked pretty bad."

"There was only one," I corrected hoarsely, then a little smirk appeared on her lips. "Right?"

"Are you sure?"

I opened my mouth to say something like, of course so, or, duh, she's my friend, she wouldn't lie to me, but nothing came out. My mouth closed and I swallowed, my throat dry. When I didn't answer she stayed silent while Jake gave me a concerned look.

What's wrong with me? Miley wouldn't lie to me...would she?

She smiled, "That's what I thought."

"She would do anything, if it meant her friends would be safe." A voice inside of me seemed to answer.

Behind me a series of choking filled the air and a shuffle. Jake suddenly fell to the ground on his knees gasping for air. When I realized what was happening the woman grabbed me and pulled me away. I struggled to get free, but her grip tightened.

"Let me go!" I screamed, trying to get away. The pain became breathtaking, but that didn't matter.

Jake's face paled and he began shaking his head repeatedly. I've never seen anything like it. It was as if his body was on fire. But there's no bite on him. Not a single scratch of blood. There is no way he could be infected.

"Shaylin, look." She said as she let me go. I caught myself with my hands and landed onto my knees.

When I glanced up his eyes were red and his tears became blood. Suddenly he began unbuttoning his shirt as his skin reddened. Jake seemed to lose sight of reality along with his sanity. Once the shirt was undone he opened it and his skin began to smoke.

I froze up and my blood went cold.

Jake's body was covered in scars, most of them were little dots. It reminded me of smallpox or chicken pox the way they acted like a sever mosquito bite. He shook his head and glanced at himself.

"No, no this can't be!" He cried as this skin began to move around. "This isn't fair for her, I need more time! Stop, please!"

"Jake, who are you talking to?" I frantically asked as my voice cracked. The woman answered for him. "The virus is taking over. It thinks and decides if the body is a controller or the controlee." Their eyes met as she spoke. "And it looks like it's already decided..."

"But I need more time!" He yelled at her while his body grew. Then his eyes found mine, frozen in terror. "Run, Shay, run!"

"No..." I breathed out, then slammed my palms onto the ground. "I won't let you die like this. There is still time." I began to move towards him. "There is still time to get the vaccine-"

His hand shot up and grabbed my wrist tightly. His eyes met mine. "Shaylin Elizabeth Mendel, you listen to your father and RUN!"

The woman grabbed my pale stricken body as he let go of everything he held dear and let out a scream. He had given up and let the virus take him like it took everyone else. This must've been 'G', the virus that took William, the virus that caused the lickers, the virus that took my father. I couldn't even process what was happening after that.

She had taken my hand and led me away from him. Down the tunnel we ran, cutting around the corners at jet speed towards the train. Now that I think about it; it was better that I didn't see him die, it would've made leaving even harder. The echo of the tunnel crumbling rumbled underneath us. She still pulled me along though, while I was frozen in time with his words forever repeating.

That man was my father.

*Okay, this was a hard chapter to write. Just because it's hard to write sad scenes when you don't know what people really feel inside when they lose a loved one. If anyone can help me in any way possible better project these mixed emotions Shay is feeling, let me know. I hope you liked it and leave me feed back. And I know my story is still missing that little thing that makes you want to keep reading, but it's my first full book that I have written so I hope you guys will be patient with me. Comment, read, vote, :) I await your replies! BTW This chapter is unedited...just like the entire story is ...hahaha. Again sorry for spacing...