What am I doing back here in dream New Canton? I think to myself as Archie continues to ramble in about the word 'raring'.

"I'm going to get you a dictionary on etymology for you birthday," Nadia chuckles lightly.

"Etymology," The raven haired girl repeats. "Insects?"

"Meanings of words," She corrects, "but that would make you do this more, wouldn't it?"

"Do what?" Archie questions with an innocent smile, and I roll my eyes with slight amusement.

"You clear on the mission? Know where you're going?"

I raise my hand to tap out an answer, but once again my knowledge of Morse Code and sign language has left, so I sigh and speak in a voice that definitely isn't my own. "Well, actually-"

"I told you where we're heading, silly Nadia," Archie interrupts. "Steve Reeves Hospital about five kilometers away. I know a group of scientists held up there after the apocalypse. Two people I know from the Keeley Center were there. We have to warn them that Keeley has been destroyed."

"Do you think they'll know what's going on?" I ask, very much wishing I had my southern American voice instead of this one with the British accent. I mean, I already have a new name an eye color, can't I at least have my old voice?

"I hope so. We need to see at least what they think is going on."

"And Runner Five's there for your protection," Nadia says, and I nod at hearing my purpose. Archie grins and bounces lightly on her feet, causing her black pigtails to bounce slightly.

"I feel so safe," She says sincerely. "Let's go!"

"Open the tunnel!" Our operator commands, and just like before the tunnel opens up before us. "Set off noise makers to the south-east. Go."

It's funny how vivid my imagination is. This outside of this tunnel looks different from the last one-not by much, but there's slight differences in the scenery, as if my brain decided that since this tunnel isn't the same one I exited last dream, that the scenery behind it should be different.

Maybe it's created this over the few memories I have of New Canton... although I've only seen New Canton twice, and both times I was busy trying to get away from either them or zombies. Strange...

We set a steady pace, with our feet hitting into the ground for only a split second before rising to take another step. It creates a steady tapping
rhythm that seems so real, almost too real.

"Imagine that," Archie mumbles quietly, quickly gaining my attention. "Van Ark is still alive. I heard he died when they tried to evacuate the university." She shrugs and her lips press together in a half smile. "Crazy talk."

"You knew him?" Nadia asks.

"I met him a couple of times. I liked him-funny guy-and when he got angry this one little piece of hair would flop in his face and-" She bursts into a fit of giggles and shakes her head with a smile. Nadia sighs through the headset and I'm sure she's rolling her eyes.

"You like everyone."

"Not everyone," She insists with a scoff.

"You still like Runner Thirty even after she set your bunk on fire!"

My eyes widen and I frown. What the hell?

"It was a joke," Runner Twenty rolls her eyes, and again I think, what the hell? "I thought it was funny."

"What the hell?" I exclaim, outwardly this time. Archie looks at me in surprise, and sends me a look that questions my shouting. "What is wrong with you people? I don't think anyone would do that at-"

My voice cuts off and I sigh. This is just a dream, I remind myself, knowing that this doesn't mean anything.

"At where?" Nadia asks. "Chrys, you've never been anywhere else but New Canton. You acted a bit odd on your last mission at the Keeley Center a weeks ago-and you're acting like that now. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Right as rain," I nod, not sure if she can tell through the much smaller head cam I'm wearing. I don't question how that mission was a few weeks ago, meaning it must be around the beginning of October, which is still a week behind current time; And I don't ask why we're waiting so long because it's dream logic and will probably make no sense at all.

"Alright," She says, her voice skeptical and questioning, but still she moves on and doesn't question it. "Well, Archie, I'm still not trusting on whether to like people or not. Keep running. I'll come in if I see anything."

Music comes in after that, but it's new songs-well, newer since no new albums have been made since the middle of 2013 when the apocalypse started. There's even a few songs I don't recognize, some I don't remember, and some I don't think I've ever even listened to.

How can that be possible?

"Oh, I love this song!" Archie exclaims. "Runner Forty-seven and I use to dance around in the rain while listening to it... until I had to shoot her in the head because she got bit by a zombie, but still remembering it is fun! Do you like to dance, Runner Five? I saw you dancing with Nate when we had that little festival for springtime. You were quite good at it."

I snort at the thought of me-a white Baptist girl-dancing. "Like the famous Corbin Bleu once sang, I don't dance."

"You did with Nate though." Archie grind mischievously. "Does that mean you've got a crush on him?"

I don't even know who Nate is. "No, I don't."

"Chrysalis has a boyfriend," She sings while still having that sweet little smile. It's the only thing that stops me from punching her in the face.

"God, it's like you're Anna with a bit of Caleb mixed in just for annoyance," I mumble.

"Who is Anna and Caleb?"

"Just forget it," I deadpan.

"Guys, I'm picking up a cluster of zombies from the cameras," Nadia pipes in. I never even noticed the music stopped playing; I was too busy talking to Archie and being irritated.

My partner's face suddenly becomes serious, all giggles and smiles gone. "How far out?"

"One K and closing in fast."

"They're the fast zombies?" Archie asks as I mutter out a curse.

"Yeah, and they're coming from the same direction we've seen them emerge from before. North; North-west."

"How many?"

"Between fifteen and twenty, closely packed."

Archie sighs and looks behind her, lips pursed as she watches the zombies that are just blurred figures become more and more prominent as they get closer to us. I try not to study them for too long. Even with how long it's been staring at the rotting flesh of the walking dead isn't my favorite thing to do while running for my life.

"We can't outrun that many," Archie says with a straight face, and I refrain from saying that I can since I've outran more than that in the past. I want to say it, but I don't.

"Probably not. There's a rise if you cut west now. Should give you a good line of sight. Good luck, guys."

"We don't need luck," she replies as she pulls her pistol from its hold. "We've got guns."

And there's the American part of my brain talking.

It only takes us about three minutes to get to the targeted area, huffing up the incline as quickly as possible. The rise of land does give better line of sight, but the scene I see as I look behind me doesn't make me feel any better.

The zombies are rushing after us, growling and groaning and making noises I never knew a mouth could make, but I keep from thinking too much on it and opt to look ahead and listen to Nadia instead.

"Runner Five, tactical is suggesting you head on. Runner Twenty, cut hard to the west. You'll still be able to see each other but the split up will confuse the zoms. Try to keep moving. Fire as they approach and then run on."

"Got it," Archie says with a nod. "We're splitting. See you soon, Runner Five."

She gives me a small wave as she heads west. I suck in a deep breath as my legs keep pumping, pushing me forward as the zombies keep catching up-their growls and groans strangled and inhuman sounding.

"Runner Five, I've got you on hard channel now, not the multiple channel," She explains. "Keep moving. I'll tell you when to turn and fire."

A particular loud moan causes my shoulders to tense. "Now at five o'clock and seven o'clock."

I swivel around, twisting my torso and pulling at the trigger. The bullet leaves the gun with the sound of a loud boom and takes down one zom by a perfect headshot. I shoot at the second zombie, just barely making my target since it had to turn its head just before the bullet went through.

But still it does the job, and they both fall to the ground as the other corpses walk over them to try and get me. I turn ahead again with my pistol still in hand and ready to fire at Nadia's command.

"Good. Archie's bagged two. Continue on that path." She pauses for a few seconds. "Fire now right behind you at six o'clock!"

Again I twist around, nearly turning my whole body to see the zombie reaching out a few yards behind me. With the pull of the trigger I send a bullet straight through the zom's skull, a swishing sound as the rotting flesh bag hits the ground. It's a sound I really would like to forget.

"Good shooting, Runner Five. I can see you haven't lost any of your skills," Nadia praises. "Four down and Archie's got another two. Now take the path slightly from to the right."

As I nod a few drops of sweat drip off my chin and hit my already soaked shirt. I curve to the right a bit, my feet pounding into the ground and kicking up dust and dirt which I'm sure is ruining my socks.

"Fire now at two and nine o'clock!"

I turn and fire, hitting the two in the head perfectly. Their heads snap back as they fall to the ground in a dead heap. I go to turn around again but through the dust I kicked up there's a glimpse of another zombie running after me.

I take the shot without a second thought, firing twice just for good measure.

"That's amazing shooting, Chrys. I didn't see that last one," She says. "And I think-yeah. Archie's mopped up those last two. Okay, head on down the path and you'll meet up with Archie at the end.

"You've been running for three kilometers now and you're going strong. Drink some water and well done. You've taken out some fast zoms. They won't be bothering New Canton again."

Or Abel. Well, dream Abel anyway, I add mentally.

I place my gun back into its holster which is on my hip and continue running. My hand comes up to wipe the sweat from my face and out of my eyes, and when I open them again I squint at the object on the ground a few feet ahead of me.

Just like routine I bend down and grab it, stumbling slightly before regaining my balance. My eyes scan over the bottle in my hands, and I hum at the unusual find.

Why would my mind conjure up whiskey for me to find?

Weird. But I shrug it off and twist in attempt to push it into my backpack. I shove it in my pack as good as I can, grunting as I realize this backpack is not my backpack and explains why it's taken to much effort just to shove a bottle in there. I try to zip up the zipper but it won't close all the way, and with a sigh of frustration I simply keep running to the end of the path where I meet up with Archie.

"Hey, Runner Five," She greets. "That was fun back there. I love how it plays out. 'Turn this what. Fire! Turn that way. Fire!' It's so exciting."

"I guess so," I say with a small smile, but it drops when Archie looks at my backpack with furrowed brows.

"You've got something sticking out of
your backpack, Chrys."

"It's fine. I don't-"

"Slow down so I can fix it," She interrupts. Her face holds an expectant look that I know won't leave until I obey so with an annoyed sigh my pace begins to slow and Archie gets behind me and tries to fix my backpack.

I stiffen when I feel the backpack move against me-the movement caused by her hands instead my running. "What did you put in here, Five? Is that a bottle of... whiskey?"

"I'm not surprised," Nadia mutters, and I raise a brow in question.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" I ask, not even bothering to keep the edge out of my tone.

"We all know you pick up that stuff to give to June so she'll forgive you even though it wasn't your fault," Nadia spits back, and I can almost hear the eye roll.

"Fault? What would Runner Five be at fault for?" Archie asks before gasping. "Did you steal her boyfriend?"

"No," I answer quickly.

"Her girlfriend?"

"Oh, God, no." What the hell, brain? Why would my mind even ask my a question like that?

"She blames Chrys for getting Runner Two-Emit Johnson-killed," Nadia answers, "although Five had nothing to do with him getting bitten. She just gave him the mercy shot."

Ah, so even in my dreams I'm guilty for someone's death. Perfect. Abso-freaking-lutely perfect.

"Anyway, you've been running for four kilometers and you're coming up to Steve Reeves Hospital now. Just as you pass those last buildings you should be able to see it at the end of the road.

"They've only had intermitted coms to save generator power for research, but we heard from them a few days ago and..."

Nadia's voice trails off as we reach the hospital, and my feet come to a stop with Archie's as we see the building that we were sent to.

"Jesus on a boat," I mutter, studying the building and the half of it that's nothing but burnt ash and rubble. I see something in the grass from the corner of my eye and when I turn to the right-

"Oh, God," I look away instantly, feeling appalled by this sight.

"Looks like things have changed from a few days ago, huh?" Archie says with her eyes never leaving the building. "Can you see what I'm seeing, Nadia?"

"If what you're seeing is the place half burnt down than yes, I do."

"There's more. Turn to the right," I croak out, still unable to look at it.

Archie does as told and goes completely still-completely silent. It takes about a minute for her to talk. "Bodies... three bodies shot in the back. By the looks of their clothes they worked here."

"If they were shot in the back then that means they weren't bitten," She states. "Be careful, you two. Watch yourselves."

That means they were simply trying to get away. They were innocent. The thought makes my heart wretch, even if this is just a dream.

"We'll run inside and take a look, but I think someone got here before us, Nadia. Someone with rocket launchers."

"Before we go in could you check and see if anyone else is hanging around?" I ask.

"I don't see anything for the nearby cameras or your headset. It looks like you're clear to go, but hurry."

"Okay, then," Archie says with determination as we walk through the door, although a piece of the wall right beside the door is missing so I could have easily walked through that instead.

The further we walk into the building, the more destruction we see. I cringe as I pass one of the office rooms. Its once white walls are black and crumbling and the desk and drawers that were once in it is destroyed beyond repair.

"A lot of it is burned up, but nothing seems to be falling down," Archie reports, and a second after the words leave her mouth a nearby wall gives way, crashing down loudly and causing the two of us to jump back. "Nothing that would hurt us anyway."

I think you mean 'nothing that would hurt us yet.'

"We'll be quick. We'll just look and see if there's anything-"

"Yes, hurry," Nadia interrupts, uneasiness a clear feature in her tone. "There's probably no one left alive anyway."

"We're in the main corridor of the hospital." We both come to a stop and look around at the shattered glass and strewn about medical equipment. "Everything's been smashed. It looks like... there were small fires in this room on the left, and that one. It's... I don't know how you're keeping your calm composure, Five."

"Because this doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the dead human bodies outside. What bothers me is that they were killed," I bend down and pick up a scrape of paper. There's many small ripped up pieces, all burned nearly to ash. "They were killed because they knew what was written on these little scraps of paper."

I stand upright and walking with Archie around the front desk, freezing when I see the puddle of dark red blood-human blood. Twenty let's out a sharp gasp.

"There's a-there's a woman's body here. There's blood all around her. It's coming from her head, I think. It's all stuck in her blond hair." She lets out a shaky breath. "I know we've all seen a lot of corpses but they're all gray with that watery-red fluid leaking out of them. Not dark red blood like humans.

"I can't remember the last time I saw dead person and not a dead zombie."

I close my eyes for a brief second. I can.

Another gasp leaves Archie's lips and my eyes snap open, and they widen when I see the fingers of the woman's hands twitch. I start to reach for my weapon on instinct, just in case she might be reanimating.

"Help me," The woman gasps, lifting up her head to reveal brown eyes filled with fear. "There are... zombies in the next room. Help. You've got to get me out of here. Help."

I take a step toward her, but the floor gives away. I jump back, but the small area of the floor giving out creates a loud crashing noise that unfortunately is loud enough to get the nearby zombies' attention.

"Just my damn luck," I grind out, but my irritation dissipates when I look ahead and see zombies trying to get out of the room they're trapped in.

The door is closed, but the glass of the window is broken, and the zombies are currently trying to climb out, the broken glass cutting deep into the gray skin and tearing it from the bones. I gag at the watery-red fluid starts to pour from the newfound cuts.

"Quickly," Archie urges, grabbing a nearby wheelchair that is in adequate shape. "We'll have to get her into this and run out of the hospital. Quickly!"

I step over the puddle of blood and grab at the woman's arm, pulling her upwards enough for me to wrap an arm around her waist. I pretty much drag her to the wheelchair, and as soon as she's somewhat situated Archie grabs the handles and takes off, pushing the wheelchair towards the exit.

I rush after her, quickly catching up. The added weight of having to push the wheelchair is slowing her down, and the some of the zoms have climbed out of the room's window, although now they have several cuts and missing pieces of skin. I grab my pistol as soon as I realize they can run, and then I start shooting while running backwards.

This is just a dream, I tell myself. This is just a dream.

•

We make it out the hospital safely with no fast zoms after us, although I emptied my entire clip (and most of Archie's) trying to take down all those zoms.

But we're safe, and that's all that matters.

"There's one shot left in your gun, Twenty," I tell her, handing it over for her to put in back in her holster. "I left it just in case one of us gets, you know."

"Okay, I've got her file from that information database and the photos we from Vilala Clinic," Nadia explains. "The woman you're helping is... Monica Kaye. She was head of radiology, and has an expertise in immunal blotting?

"She's on our list of key personnel to find and retrieve if still living. You have to keep her safe. Keep running."

"How are you feeling, Monica?" Archie asks gently before I cut in.

"What happened here?"

"There were eight of them," She rasps, her voice sounding as if she's been sick and coughing. "They said they'd come from Pandora Hayes. They've set up a research station at Jeffro. They said they wanted to help; To look at our research; To share information.

"Their leader was an expert. They knew so much more than we did already, but the Geno research was new. He was impressed by that." She sniffles and let's out a strangled gasp. "We thought they were our friends. They left to bring us more technical supplies, and food, and drinking water."

"Who are they?" Archie softly questions , and Monica's eyes grow widen and her breathing quickens.

"Last night they came back with guns and fire... and zombies. Zombies-zombies everywhere. It was like they were obeying orders." Her eyes dart from one place to another as if the scenes are playing right before her very eyes. "They killed Brink and Alvin before we knew what was happening. Allie, Flincher, and Jonsie died trying to go for help.

"I wanted to protect... the specimen." Monic breathes in deeply through her nose. "They burned them in front of me. All of my work-years of work-they burned it. And Pro. Van Ark... laughed."

Archie opens her mouth to speak but Nadia cuts her off before she even has the chance to start.

"There are zoms on your tail. They're slow, but you're out of bullets. Keep running."

I look at the broken woman in the wheelchair, and I have to remind myself that she's not real-that this isn't real.

It's just a dream. This is all just a dream...

So why haven't I woken up?

A/N: Here you go guys. There will be more soon. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to vote and comment! Thanks and have a blessed day!