Ever the optimist, Sam didn't stop talking there. Five knew he couldn't. He wouldn't let himself stew in the sadness. That just wasn't in his personality.

"But you never know, right?" he questioned. He continued rambling to distract himself from his lost sister. "You know what else is weird? How… some person you barely knew will just suddenly just come floating into your head. Like... like this guy I used to see in engineering lectures. This really tall guy, red hair, gangly-looking. I think his name was Steve, or, um, maybe Simon; I don't know if I ever spoke to him once. And, uh… I hadn't thought about him for a minute and then today, this morning, I just woke up from dreaming about him, and I realized I—I—I couldn't remember his name. Uh… and he's probably dead, and maybe I'm the only person left alive who remembers him at all anymore and… and maybe, you know, well, maybe that's how it'll be for you, Runner Five. If you're gone. Who'll be left to remember you?"

Five's mouth fell open. Wait… wouldn't—wouldn't Sam remember her? If she never made it back, would he just refuse to acknowledge he ever knew her? Would she just become another forgotten name on his list of Runner Fives? Part of her fractured a little as she ran.

Sam sighed. "Oh, yeah, uh, sorry. I guess that's not too inspiring. What I mean is… run, Runner five. Run on home." His voice broke. "If you can."

Home.

Five took a shaky breath and fought the tears now forming at the corners of her eyes.

Mullins had certainly never been a home to her. The militaristic atmosphere had felt more like a war zone than a home. And then… and then, she had literally stumbled into Abel. She had survived the initial suspicion, gained the tolerance of the other citizens, found Runner Seven's support, Dr. Myer's approval, Janine's acceptance, and Sam's friendship.

Abel was more than a township. It was a family.

"Oh… Oh, Sam…"

She let out a small croak, a tear slipping down her face before hearing a sharp rustle in the forest. She gasped and ran faster, not wanting to know what was behind her.

No. No, she couldn't do this. She couldn't cry now. She couldn't waste her energy on tears. She had to save it for running. Sobbing wouldn't save her from the hordes.

Sam inhaled deeply. "Oh, I dunno, Five… they said to me just now I should probably hit the sack sometime soon."

"Oh, no…" Five breathed, hearing Sam yawn.

"They'll send on someone else to keep sending out pings through the night, but… I've got to be honest. We're losing hope here. Couple of zombs have arrived at the gates, and that usually means the bigger horde is on its way. Maybe only a few minutes till we bar the gate."

That sent another thrill of fear down Five's spine. She peered, terrified, through the darkness, wondering if she were anywhere close to Abel… and then, she saw it.

The red beacon. The comms tower.

"Another good runner gone," Sam sighed. "Another piece of equipment lost. And we're… the next time I see your face, maybe I'll have to shoot you in the head."

"No!" she puffed. Abel's gates were slowly becoming more visible through the trees, the red light shining loyally and guiding her way through the greenery. "I can see you!"

"No one stays sane through this, Five," the radio controller continued dejectedly. "Whatever the future is, it—it's not gonna be like the past. No ice cream rolls will make it better. No… no one saying they're proud of me would make it okay."

"I'm here!" Five panted, her eyes stinging as the wind whipped at her face. She could definitely see the gates now, and she waved her hands wildly, begging to Sam through the dead connection to see her. "Look, look, I'm right here!"

"Maybe you're better off, see, is what I'm saying," Sam was explaining, audibly upset. "I know we're not supposed to say that, but—but sometimes I think—ugh. Maybe if you—if you don't have to try to build the future, you're one of the lucky ones. Maybe."

Five continued waving toward Abel widly, screaming at the top of her voice. "I'M HERE! DON'T LOCK THE GATES!"

She heard, through the radio, the comms tower's doors bang open.

"Sam!" a worried voice called. It was Jack, one of Abel's music DJs. "Look! One of the observers just heard—we think something's coming!"

"Wha—what is it?" Sam asked, confused. "I told you the scanner's down, we can't—"

"Just look at it!" insisted another young man in a strong Canadian accent—the other music DJ, Eugene.

Sam gasped and a loud thump resounded from the connection; Sam had just fallen out of his chair. "Oh my God, is that—Runner Five, I can see you!"

Her voice practically hoarse, Five did not stop yelling. Her knees shook in pain as she ran, but she refused to slow. She could hear definite footsteps behind her in the forest now… and heavy, labored breathing.