"Runner Five, Dr. Meyers here," Her voice comes through my headset. "I um, well Sam's letting me use the booth for a while."

I nod as I get in position to run. While I usually would feel disappointed in hearing Sam isn't going to be with me on this mission, I feel a bit relieved since I accidentally told my whole 'staring' incident to Caleb. He's been teasing me and-although not brutally-his words always seem to echo in my mind when I hear the voice of the radio operator.

I don't have time for this. I have a mission to do, more than one mystery to solve and a secrets that I need to keep kept.

"No one else knows I'm here and if anyone asks this was just a regular meds run, okay?"

Add that to the list of secrets and lies.
God, forgive me.

"They'd probably call me crazy, anyway," She laughs airily. "Now, how does this go again? You'd think after these missions I'd remember... Um, raise the gates. Runner Five, ready?"

I crouch lower as a hand reaches up to shove the small slip of paper the doc gave me into my bag before grabbing its strap. The slight comfort in it helps settle my nerves as I see the zombies that are shuffling towards the gate.

No matter how many times I've seen, I still feel that slight bit of fear... but then I remember what Wes told me once.

"There are two things that keep a person alive: fear and hope."

"Covering fire... and go."

And off I go. Same as always.

Always being maybe two and a half months... I'm getting too comfortable if I think of it like that.

"I haven't even told any of the other people in the meds center what we're doing, because I know it's probably crazy to-but it's just possible. We could be about to save the world, Runner Five."

No pressure or anything. I think with a bitter laugh that only plays in my head. But that unnerving thought is better than the others that swirl in my head. For a split second I wonder what thoughts would be flowing through my teenage mind if the apocalypse never happened.

Probably about how my makeup looks or whether or not my dress is cute enough... When's the last time I wore makeup, or a dress? Will I get to do any of that after we find a vaccine?

I'm quick to correct myself.

If we find a vaccine...

The thought seems impossible, yet here I am, running toward some building in attempts to find one or how to make it.

They always believed there was a way to stop this, I muse. I was always the one who had the twinge of doubt, and yet I'm the one who's running around to save the world. What irony.

I reach grab a can of meat and nearly gag, remembering the taste of it a few nights ago. I've learned to like quite a bit of food that I didn't care for since the apocalypse, but whatever preserved animal that's been stuffed in this tin is an exception. I almost throw it away but I know it's either this or nothing.

The music stops coming through my headset with a sharp click, and Dr. Meyers starts speaking just as I reach the insides the city.

"You listened to Paula's recording with me so you know what we're doing here," She says as I turn to run in an alleyway, effectively evading five zombies. "Paula thinks she saw Patient Zero-the first person to turn zombie-and we need to find that patient's files. And it's-it's hard for me to..."

There's a low sigh that leaves her lips. "Do you know what I mean if a person can keep having an instinct even after the reason for it is gone?"

Uh... no? Maybe?

What sort of question is that?

"It's-it's like um, my parents had a dog, Buddy."

I had a dog named Buddy too...

"A little mutt-half Spaniel, half something else but real, real smart, you know? He was a great dog, Buddy, and-and even after I left home he used to come and greet when I came home for a visit," She explains with a laugh, although I'm still confused as to why I'm being told this. "So excited like I was the best thing he'd ever seen... He died in the end, of course, but even ten years after he was gone I-I used to walk into that house ready to crouch down with my hands on my knees so he could jump up and lick my face. Even ten years after he died...

"We should go easier on ourselves, Runner Five. Yes, it's been three years since the world ended but we've been so busy just trying to survive-stands to reason we're going crazy. Us against New Canton; The world's split into fractions. I mean, people are constantly using or turning against each other."

My eyes are downcast and a scowl forms on my face. I know that both are true, unfortunately.

"And I still miss that damn dog," She laughs, but it sounds forced. "Some part of me still believes I'm gonna see him again and some part of me... I-I guess I'm still keeping Paula's secrets because some part of me still believes that that the old world is coming back. With how crazy everything has been have you even had time to grieve-really grieve for the people you've lost, Runner Five?"

That last question causes my steps to falter, and in all honesty I don't know. I don't remember what it feels like to properly grieve someone. When I lost Wes I just... cried and went numb.

"You're going well-strong running. You're heading for the Post hotel. Take a right and keep going forward." I do as told, and take my axe off my back as soon as I see the zombies roaming around the street. They all turn to me with gaping mouths and bloody teeth. I take a deep breath as I take the quick strides toward them.

"I've told everyone here I think the nearby Pharmacy might have stores of antibiotics but we both know that's not really where you're going."

No, crap, I think as I slam my axe in the skull of a zombie who is wearing a really cute blazer. Well, it would be cute if it wasn't covered in blood and bits of skin that's fallen off its face. Another lunges at me, trying to bite at my hand, but I pull away with a sneer. I nearly trip on my own feet, but luckily I regain my balance in only a few steps as the zom comes for me again.

With a uncoordinated swing the tip lodges in the zom's temple. It's sloppy but it does the job. There's some resistance as I pull the axe from its place, and I know I shouldn't wait to try and kill the others, because making any more noise will only attract more.

I hastily run by the few remaining zombies that are groaning at me with outstretched hands. Post hotel is now in my sights. My steps are uneven as I try to keep from tripping over the rubble and broken glass. This is probably what the city looked like after... a week? Yeah, a week after the infection arrived. Although there were probably a lot of screaming people instead of it being deathly quiet with only the random zombie groans to break the silence.

"Okay, head down past the Post hotel," Maxine instructs. "You're aiming for a long squat building painted brown. You should be able to see it in the distance. It looks like a warehouse attached to a toy store but it's-but it's not. It's a disease research facility-the Tessen-Dory street facility Paula mentioned-where she used to work and... well, oh obviously I was supposed to know that. And obviously Paula was never supposed to have told me.

"All my instincts tell me I'm betraying the civilized world by telling you," She pauses for a quick moment before sighing deeply. "We've all had to get used to ignoring our instincts, I suppose. Ain't for the head, not the body; Forget the people you love; Kill your patients. I just keep telling myself that if this works maybe all this will be over."

I don't think so. Even if this works they were still be a lot of rebuilding to do, I silently say as I jog towards the building the doctor described. Also instincts are the only thing that's kept me alive.

I smile at the fact she said the word 'ain't'. I haven't heard that word said in over two years. Now hearing it again I can see why some people think it ridiculous.

"You see that building? Head straight for it. If the door's not opened I've given you the code, which I should never have known."

I reach the door, and just as the doctor said it was locked. I slip off the backpack and fish out the slip of paper, inputting the numbers on the code pad near the door with nimble fingers. When the red light turns green I hear the click of the door unlocking.

I smile in relief that it worked, because as much as I would love to be like the cops in movies and kick down the door, this one isn't wood. It's that metal type that belongs in warehouses. I'd rather not break my ankle trying to kick it in.

I peer inside the door, but am hesitant to enter. It's dark, and eerily quiet. I swallow thickly and tighten my grip on my axe, ready to swing at anything and everything that comes near me.

"Okay, Runner Five, head inside. Once you get to the hallway I'll tell you which room you'll need to head for, but you'll have to tell me when you reach it since there are no cameras in here-none that we've hacked into anyway. Just tap when you find it, okay?"

I slip on my backpack and axe before sliding into the room, closing the door behind me. In complete darkness, I feel my way into another room, which has more light from the windows, but no hallways. As I continue searching for one I pick up a few pens, scrap paper, cups-random things that Abel will find useful.

"Paula said breaching security protocol like this would get her fired in the end, but because I knew the code I could sometimes sneak in when she was working late and... well, she liked that," Maxine giggles quietly. "You deserve to know as much as I do, Runner Five. It'll help you in finding what we need.

"Paula was working with the disease research facility but she was also... she working with Pandora Hayes Technologies. That tech company, they didn't just make those cute kids toys or advance burn patches-"

Why would a company make both of those? How is that a normal thing? Brits, man.

"They were doing some research which-it sounded far out to me then-some stuff about massively increasing cell regeneration. But with everything that's happened, nothing sounds far out anymore," She mumbles out that last sentence, and I smile when I finally open the door and instead of finding another large conference or break room I find a hallway. Doors line it with numbers above and on each. I reach my hand up and tap my fingers on the mic firmly.

"Oh, you found it? Okay, you'll need to be quick. There are zombies approaching from the door's six o'clock . You're looking for the clinical trial patient records in room 1272. It won't be on this hallway but you'll reach a flight of stairs that will lead you to it. That's why they called it VS72 because they were developing it there."

I look at the darkened hallway before turning and rummaging through some of the nearby draws, grinning when I find a flashlight. I'm surprised it still works.

Well, no need to question blessings, especially when zoms are approaching.

I jog through the darkened hallway, the flashlight being my only way of seeing. I check the each door as I pass by, but none of them match the numbers I'm looking for. At the end of the hallway there's a metal door, and behind it a staircase.

Just like the doc said.

I rush up the flight of stairs, trying to keep as quiet as I can as my feet hit the hard, metal stairs. I open the door to the next hallway slowly, peeking out just enough to see the outside. When I see the coast is clear, I shuffle along and shine the flashlight on the doors until 1272 is in my sights. I release a breath and wrap my fingers around the cold doorknob, twisting it to find that it's locked. I smirk.

This door is made of wood.

I kick my foot out against the door, a sickening crack of wood reaching my ears. I push in the broken door and cringe at the loud squeaking sound it makes. I look around at the rather clean room.

It's a lot bigger on the inside, with equipment and papers everywhere, but there's really no filth, or any broken equipment or any blood.

Apparently no one turned in this room... or got bit.

I grab a paper, scan it quickly, and toss it aside. I repeat the routine over a dozen times, gritting my teeth in frustration when I find nothing of value.

Until I see a a corner of yellow paper from under a desk. I crouch down on me knees and shine the flashlight under the desk. My hand reaches out, finger stretching to wrap around what I now recognize as I folder. I pull it out from under the desk and sit on my rear while shining the light on it. On the front of the folder says exactly what I need to see.

VS72.

I grin and start to open it up to read the contents, but Dr. Meyers speaks with a panicked voice.

"Runner Five, I-I can't see or hear you, but there are zombies surrounding the entrance you came in through. You can't go back that way, and if we know zombies-and I think we do by now-they'll be around the building in a few minutes."

Damnit, I silently curse as I pull myself to my feet. I shove the file in my backpack, not caring if the papers get crinkled. I hastily make way to the broken door and race down the hallway towards the stairs. There has to be another way out.

"I need you to head toward... No!" She screams, making me flinch. "No, Runner Five, I think a maintenance hatch was left open. I can see a zombie trying to worm his way into the building. If he's there, there may be more.

"Get what you can, and run to the back of the building," She instructs. "There should be an exit at ground level. It looks clear, Runner Five, but you won't be safe for long. I only hope there are no zombies in the building with you. Run!"

I race toward the staircase, knowing I'll have to go downstairs before I can run to the exit in the back. As soon as I open the metal door to the stairway, I hear the growl of a zom.

Damnit. I'm not alone.

Each step down the staircase makes me wince; Each sound that's created as my foot touches the cold metal causes a cringe. I reach the ground floor, and see the door I came through earlier, but there's another door there as well. It's one I didn't notice before in my haste to find 1272. With my ear pressed to the door, I listen for any groans or growls.

Nothing.

I push open the door, stiffly stepping out into another hallway, but most of the doors are open here, and there is blood splattered on the wall.

Guess someone got bit in here and was too afraid to leave... Turned and then got everybody else infected. The assumption flitters through my head as I walk, my axe in one hand and flashlight in the other. But then my steps falter as an added thought enters my mind. My eyes grow large and I suck in a sharp breath. If people got infected here... does that mean they're still...

A loud chorus of moans answers my question before I can even finish asking it. I twist around and shine my flashlight at the many, many zombies that are filing out of one of the conference rooms. I feel the blood drain from my face as they start running-no, sprinting after me.

I turn and run. My feet pound into the floor as the noises of the zombies pound into my skull, searing into my brain. My heart beats into my chest as I turn the corner, my hand grabbing the blood stained wall to help me ease into it and not run into the wall.

I hear them stumbling around behind me; I hear the sound of their feet hitting the floor as the come after me. They sound like a stampede. A loud, growling stampede.

I shine my flashlight ahead of me, the light shining down to reveal a door-the exit. My breathing is quick from both running and fear as I crane my neck to look behind me. My heart nearly stops when I notice they're catching up.

Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.

My vision zones in on the exit. I push myself to go faster, my hand reaching out to open the door. The second my hand wraps around the handle the door is swung open. I race outside and pull it shut just as the zom's decaying hands reach the exit. They pound on the metal door, growling and clawing in attempts to get out as my hands are gripping the doorknob so tightly my knuckles are stark white.

I sigh in relief after a few deep, panicked breaths, resting my head against the door, feeling the vibration of the zombies' hands hit the door with more force than any dead person should have. With chest heaving and skin sweaty, I send a silent prayer of thanks before I push off the door and begin to run away from the facility, remembering the doctor's warnings of the other zoms that are heading my way.

"Oh, thank God," Maxine breathes. "I see you. I have you back on the scanner; City cameras operational. There are-there are three behind you but they're slow. Keep going; You're fine."

I reach my hand back and pull out one of the crinkled papers that were in the folders inside my bag. I hold it up the air when I see a nearby camera.

"I see you've found something." There's a smile in her voice. "Whatever you found in that building I am more than grateful. The world, though they don't know it yet, is grateful."

I force back the smile that tries to etch on my face at her praise.

"I hate putting you at risks like this. It's just the opposite of everything I've been trained to do. But as the Major says, 'Can't put the doctor at risk.' You're disposable and I'm not. That's the logic of the world now. You, a kid, can be replaced because you're a runner, but because I'm a doctor I'm so special."

There's pain evident in her voice, and guilt, but I don't blame her. I've been told this since the start of the apocalypse. I'm replaceable, and I always will be. The only thing that actually upsets me was the fact that she referred me as a kid.

I'm nearly sixteen...

"I would never have been in this country if it hadn't been for Paula, you know? We met when she was working for Pandora Hayes in Chicago and she dragged me over the pond when she came back," She explains, and again I can hear the smile in his voice. "She didn't have to drag too hard, and it's easy for a doctor to-to find work. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I had stayed. Maybe I would have met you in the start of the outbreak. I remember you telling me you're American too.

"Anyway, she was the one whose career told us where to go. I don't know much about her research to be honest. It was all confidential-"

No, I was thinking it might be published in the paper for all to see.

"-and whatever it looked like, she was good at keeping that stuff a secret. But I knew from about four years ago by the look on her face when she came home one night that she'd made a breakthrough; Something to change the world. But I knew once the outbreak started and she sat there watching it on the news crying and not able to let go of me..."

You didn't think she might be crying because she's literally watching people die on the news and wouldn't let you go because she didn't want that to happen to you?

"I thought that there was more than she could tell me, and if she really had seen Patient Zero she couldn't say, or wasn't sure, or thought that she'd be breaching national security by telling me..." Dr. Meyers mumbles. "Well, that explains a lot. This is the deal, Runner Five, it's not that Paula was moonlighting. Pandora Hayes Technology was working with the government. It was a joint venture."

I raise a brow in confusion. Joint venture? On cell regeneration? Yes, the idea of healing more quickly from a bullet or stab wound is great, but usually the human trials would have to pass multiple tests before the government would get involved.

Or maybe that's just the American government...

"They were looking for... it wasn't on cell regeneration. Not really..."

Oh... then what-

"It was an investigation for the possibility of eternal life."

I trip and fall flat on my face.

A/N: Here's the new chapter! I really hope you all enjoy! Please be sure to vote and comment. Thank you so much for reading everyone!