The five of us race to the other side of the field to avoid the creatures, and to get to that exit. My breath starts to run out, from all the intense exercise. However, we make it to the door as a group of five, where Clark welcomes us in quickly. Outside, I see a group of about forty people, including Alice, Sofia, Sergio, and Luna, all scattered about in groups. Some groups of survivors are bringing tents, duffel bags, and basic survival gear. This makes me think that they found a place somewhere.

"Thank God you guys are all okay," Clark tells us. 

"The growlers got them. All of them," Dad says. "And now they've infiltrated the entire community." 

Alice begins to speak up. "So we found some place a whole group was set up in. Had all these camping supplies. We need them." 

Alex nods. "Hell yeah, we do." 

Something catches my eye. I'm standing next to my dad, when I spot a red circle on his chest. Wait, could that be what I think it is? 

No. No, no, no, no. 

I rush out of the camp, into the deep forest. After three minutes of sweating, I sit myself down near a tree, hold my legs, and block my vision. All I am doing at this point is waiting for someone to come find me, but I don't want to have that happen.

This is the most terrifying, sick, sad, and unfortunate thing ever. 

I want to die.

Someone comes my way. 

"Marcus. Honey." 

I recognize her. It's my sweet, loving, mom's voice. 

"What happened?" She sits down next to me. Oh, my God. She doesn't know.

"Daddy, D-Daddy..." I begin to bawl. "He was bitten!" 

A shockwave flows throughout her face, mind, and body. "Are you sure?" She asks me softly. "I saw the red circle," I affirm.

"Oh, God. Marcus, I... I think I saw it too." I watch as she, too, starts to wail. Words pour out of her soul like a poet. Then we hold each other into a deep, comforting hug.

We do that for the next few minutes before we head back to the camp. Mom tells everyone what happened, and she takes Dad into a tent.

 Alice tells me not to intrude them. Whatever I do now is... well, up to me. But a part of me wishes, that I could be in the tent too with Mom and Dad. Instead I receive a long hug from Alex. 

"Now, let's... let's go and... find all our friends, okay?" he orders between sobs. Everyone knows there's no cure. I heard there used to be, but not anymore.

We approach the grieving Sergio, and both of us know one thing.

Lucas is gone. They shot him, and Alex is saddened beyond belief. He traps Sergio in an everlasting embrace. Then I realize I should go talk to someone else, like Sofia or Moira. And I come up to my friends, who are assembling a new tent. Moira has a bandage on her wound. 

"Hey, guys," I greet solemnly. "I'm sorry, Marcus," Moira sends her condolences. "I really am." Sofia looks too preoccupied. "It's not your fault, Moira," I finally tell her after thinking about it.

After all of the tents have been set up, all of the supplies and food have been gathered, we drift off to sleep. When everyone wakes up, there's one thing missing: Dad. 

"Where's Mortimer?" Mom questions Clark and Alice frantically.

"Where's Mortimer!" She turns angry now. 

"Calm down, Bella," Clark tries to keep her under control, but he fails until Luna pulls her away. 

So he's missing. But I didn't even get to say goodbye. Without thinking, I run away in the direction of the house that we got all the supplies from. 

Over the course of time, I hear a faint "Marcus!" coming from the opposite direction I'm running in, but I don't care. 

Just wanna say goodbye. Just wanna say goodbye to my dying dad.

That message is all that runs through my brain as I rush to the site. I make it, and the big house is in my vision, without seeing any growlers, and I sit down by another tree, to rest.

So I'll just say goodbye to my dad, if he's in there. And if he's not, I'll just... head back to camp. I'm gonna get in so much trouble, I think silently.

I walk in the site. It's empty, bare, and without any supplies. I don't even think to check for growlers. There's a letter on a nearby table. Actually, many letters. They're pieces of paper, all addressed to our friends, Mom, and Alex. Honey, Alex, Sofia, Sergio, Moira, Hugo, and Marcus. I open the folded Marcus paper.

Dear Son,

If you're reading this, I've done it. I've already killed myself. Now, I appreciate you looking for me, but there's something you need to understand, Marcus sweetie. It's my fault I was bitten. Not Mom's. Not Miko's. And certainly not yours. There was no use coming here, because there's nothing here for you. Or for anyone. Now, go back to camp, where you belong. I hope you, and everyone can continue without me.

I love you, Dad