"Raise the gates! Runner Five, ready. Gates are open; Covering fire and... go!"

I race out the gates, the cold breeze stinging my skin making my eyes water. I'm glad I was smart enough to think of wearing my long sleeved shirt under my running uniform. It helps keep the cold from sinking too far in, but seeing how my body is always aching for warmth I can't say I'm actually warm. I can't say I've been truly warm-satisfactorily warm-since I had Sam's arm wrapped around me and my arms wrapped around him, and it's been two days since then.

Two days of constant cold, or at least, two days with the absence of warmth.

I shake my head in attempts to keep those thoughts from my head, knowing I have bigger problems on my hands. My love life-or lack thereof-can wait.

"Runner Five," Sam says, "obviously things are-things are pretty scary right now. I mean, well, the Major says fear is the greatest enemy but uh, I'm sort of thinking New Canton is kicking fear's ass on that front."

I nod. Six days until raiding day... six days until they attack us. Janine has been hoping they'll simply back out of it, but I've seen through the eyes of someone from New Canton. They won't stop. And even with the amount of time we had and still have, I fear we may not truly be ready. After all, we had so many more leads we were following we didn't have much time to prepare.

"So we need you to go out again and find out whatever you can using their headset. Go as near as you need to pick up their signal but not so close that they'll spot you," He says in a nervous laugh. "Easy, aye?"

'Piece of cake,' I reply in Morse Code, and he hums in response.

"Was that sarcasm I just heard?"

'So you can't recognize it anymore?' I grin.

"You're terrible at it, remember?" He snickers, and I roll my eyes. "Oh, and I'm sending a friend with you... for protection."

I nearly scoff. 'Protection? I can take care of myself, you know.'

"I-I do know, but you might need it and I... I don't want to lose another runner," His voice is low and sad, but he picks back up instantly, or at least, he sounds like it. He could always be faking it. "And two runners are better than one since you can keep each other safe."

"Hey there, Five! You doing okay?" Sarah calls, and I can't help but wonder how she can literally appear out of thin air.

Maybe she really is a ninja.

Although I should've guessed it'd be her. Every time Sam says he's sending me a friend or surprise it's her. I'm not sure why, since if he wanted to send me a friend he should send Summer or Jody with me, but I suppose I can trust Eight now that she really does seem genuine when she says she trusts me, and she hasn't hinted at any death threats in a while.

Although she still has yet to tell me about my mission.

"I know a lot of the folks at the base are getting nervous, but we're going to be just fine," She declares with a wide grin. "You and me, a gorgeous day like today, a little run. It'll be fun."

"Yeah," Sam agrees cheerful. "You guys are a real Charlie's Angels combo... Oh, wait, is that sexist, Runner Eight? You can be um... Mulder and Skully. I'm not saying who is who. Or like the A Team."

'Or Iron Man and Captain America,' I pipe in. 'I'd be Iron Man.'

"Why do you say that?"

'Because I like Iron Man more,' I answer.

"I... oh. I mean, I guess that makes sense, but wouldn't you be Captain America since you're well, American?"

I blink. Well, damn, I didn't think of it like that.

"We're just a couple of runners, Sam," Eight quips with a small shake of her head, and Sam laughs, which is nice since I haven't really heard it that much these last few days.

"Gotcha. Couple of runners. You can be the Flash and Five can be the other Flash." His giggling lasts for only a few seconds before his voice grows serious. "Stay safe out there, okay? You know what they're planning and plus, you know, zombies."

Sarah smirks. "Can't forget about those." But her smirk fades as she coughs loudly into her sleeve, and my face twists up in confusion.

I thought she got rid of that cough.

"Hey, Sam, I've got a little ticklish throat right here. I'm gonna turn off my mic for a few minutes, okay?"

"Um... yeah. Sure," He agrees albeit a bit hesitantly. "Just um, well, you know, make sure not to turn off your receiver. Ever since Bury-Out Post fell to the east there's been some gnarly zoms turning up. A few of those guys are wearing helmets; Makes for a pretty tough kill."

"No problem, Sam," She coughs out with a smile. "I just want to save you from listening to me coughing away. You'll give us a heads up when we're in mortal danger?"

"Sure will."

She clicks her microphone off, and as soon as she does the smiles are gone, and not-so-coincidentally, her cough seems to have suddenly disappeared.

"Okay, Five, we haven't got much time to talk, and runs are the only safe time for me to brief you."

Brief me? I take in a quick breath and gape at her, hope flowering in my chest. Does this mean...

"Never can tell who's listening back on the base, so listen up. Project Greenshoot. Here it is; What I know anyway which I'm sure isn't even the half of it," She explains. "Do you know what's going on in the outside world, Five?"

My lips press tightly together and my nose scrunches up. What kind of a question is that?

"No, I'm sure you don't. You know what everyone knows-how to find food; How to stay alive; Seven different ways to take a zom's head off." She shrugs. "I like a meat cleaver and a broom handle myself, but you have to keep it sharp.

"Anyway, none of us here have had time to think about the big picture, but I know someone else has. There are at least five separate organizations running private armies in this part of the world. Did you know that?"

Well, I do now.

"There's the official military, sure. Provisional government, state of emergency-they drop food and med packs when they can, and they're not doing a bad job. I'm on their side, the side of law and order, freedom, and one day a democracy again. All that good stuff, but they're overstretched as it is, and they can't hold the whole country."

I nod, trying to memorize all the details as growls and groans reach my ears. "Zoms heading in from the left. Just speed up a bit, hun," She tells, and I pump my legs to go faster and ignore the sounds of the undead farther back. "And then there are the other guys. We only know about some of them.

"There's some people in bright yellow uniforms running around in the south-west. They look like a splinter military group, but we can't be sure. Then there's a bunch of survivalist nut jobs calling themselves 'The Power'. They hacked up with a couple of arms manufactories in the far west. They're hold up in the mountains with enough fire power to take out anyone who tries to interfere.

"Now, the Scottish Islands have been declared zom free by Comansys-that big tech company with fingers in everything. Those guys made a hell of a lot of money before Day Zero, but no one unaffiliated can get in," She pauses, looking at me calmly. "I know it's a lot to take in. You don't need to remember all of it, just this-there's more than one side to this war and it's not just humans versus the dead. It's humans versus humans.

"And Project Greenshoot... all I can tell you for now is that the military think there's something important in Abel Township. They want you in there gaining people's trust, except now-well, it looks like more than one group is interested in whatever's there."

I stare straight ahead, replaying her words in my head while trying to comprehend all the information that was given to me. Sarah was right when she said it was a lot to take in because it really is. These groups... is she saying they might be or might eventually be interested in Abel? Usually you don't want your home to be the interest of any groups like Sarah was speaking of, especially if one of those groups is Netrophil.

Of course, I don't know much about said group, but I've heard stories. They aren't people you wish to mess with.

But even with that I know some of the reason of why I was sent here. I'm here to protect something, but it sort of sucks that I don't know what exactly it is I have to protect. But Abel isn't too big of a settlement. It has maybe sixty people now; There are more people attending my small town church. It shouldn't be long before I figure it out.

A groan echoes into my ears, raspy from coming from dead vocal chords and now the sound is much closer than before. A chill runs up my spine and I known this one isn't from the cold.

"That pack's getting closer," Sarah huffs. "Best pick up the pace."

•

"Okay, I think we lost them for now," Sarah pants, and I send up a small prayer of thanks. Maybe it was the repetitive music, or the cold, or maybe we just weren't running as fast as I thought, but losing those zoms seemed to take a lifetime.

Cold sweat drips down my face, making me bite the inside of my cheek to keep my teeth from chattering. Thankfully it's only a little bit further until we reach the range point that will connect my headset to New Canton's transmissions; It's about a mile or so I think. And like Sam said, I only need to get close enough to listen in, but that's it. I don't need to be going anywhere near the actual settlement.

With that in mind I still can't see why Sam wanted to send Sarah along as my protector. I guess that night run is still a clear thought in his head.

I bite at my cheek harder, but this time to keep myself from smiling more so than teeth chattering. But still, I guess Eight coming along with me was a good idea, especially with what she's told me. I now know at least a little bit of why I'm here.

Nearly six months and I'm finally getting a bit of a briefing.

"Thing is, Five," Sarah comments suddenly, quickly gaining my attention, "how do we even find out what's happening in the world? Roufflenet, right? Set up by some genius McMillin in some place far away. No one knows where that guy is... but not everyone's on there-not by a long shot."

America is on it, though. That's how the AMTB was able to talk to Mullins about sending me in.

"Did you know Finland's a total Roufflenet black zone?" She questions, and I quickly shake my head. "Either all those guys are dead or they're using something much more sophisticated. We're operating on rumors here-"

"Runner Eight," Sam calls, voice slightly strained. "Runner Eight, switch your transmitter back on. We've got incoming and they're heading fast."

A small choking noise erupts from my throat as I look at my running partner in confusion. I thought we just lost that pack...

"Those fast movers?" She inquirers after turning her mic back one. "The ones we saw before?"

Before? Be more specific. Which before? I feel my chest become tight and aching at the sight of her pursed lips and hardened eyes. Damn it, Sarah. Which before are you talking about?

"Yeah, the same," He answers in what sounds like a half-sigh and a half-groan. "The pack that infested the hospital."

My steps falter. Oh...

Oh...

"Gotcha, Sam. We're speeding up." She does just as she says, and I keep pace beside her, heading for that patch of trees that practically mark New Canton's range of transmission for the modified New Canton headset that rests atop my head. "You've met these zoms before, Five, your very first run.

"We don't know why they run-them or the ones we saw when we went on a scouting mission and found all those guns. Most zombies can't do much more than stumble after being dead for longer than a week, but sometimes one pack will start to run like this; Only ever in a pack, not individual."

"They're close behind you, coming in from the right."

I look to the right, and just a bit behind us-not directly to our right-I can see them, running, racing for us and God, it's like I think it can't get any worse and then this happens. If I squint I can see their jaws gnawing at nothing but air, and their eyes dead and soulless. That is, if they have eyes. Some... I shudder.

"Are they..." She squints at the zombies. "I know this sounds crazy, Sam-"

"And another fast pack coming in from the left. Come on, faster than that," He ushers with a voice slowly filling with fear. I try to push myself go faster, but it's harder than it looks. The winter air stabs at my lungs and throat every time I breathe, and even the gentlest of breezes sting my eyes and face.

"Are they in formation?" Sarah asks in disbelief, but before I even have the chance to observe or Sam has a chance to answer there's the sound of a gunshot-loud enough to neatly make me stop running. I don't see where it came from, or where the next one came from. Heck, I don't even know where the bullets going to, but Sarah and I haven't been hit yet so I don't stop running.

But getting shot is the only problem when somebody is shooting. Those zombies and any other near will hear this and come stumbling along, and the last thing we need is more zombies coming at us. But it goes off again.

...And again, and again and again.

"Someone's shooting," Sam sputters in panic. "Someone's shooting."

"Come on. Run." Sarah reaches out and grabs my arm, nearly dragging me behind her as she breaks out into a full sprint. It takes me about three seconds to get my feet working right and get into the same pace as her.

Where we are now is out in the open, easy to be shot at and easy to be seen, but those trees are a lot closer now. If we can reach them before the zombies get too close then we'll be hidden and they'll lose interest since we're no longer in sight, and we'll be safe from those bullets, if we are the ones being shooting at.

But who else could they be shooting at?

I can hear them, growling, snarling. I hear them and I don't dare look back. I just keep running, with Sarah's grip on my wrist and Sam incoherently muttering on my headset. The mixture of the gunshots and the chorus of moans and groans leave a pounding in my head, hitting against my skull with each beat, and just when it seems to be building to a crescendo...

One of the sounds stop.

No more gun shots.

I have no time to wonder why, because my head is still pounding and those zombies are still behind us, and they're getting closer. The trees are only about thirty seconds away now, and I push my legs to go faster, trying to forget about my pounding head for just a moment and just keep going-just keep moving.

We reach the trees with burning lungs and sweaty, red faces, but we don't stop until we're a minute into the patch of trees. Only then do rest, and Sarah lets go of my wrist while I lean against a tree, closing my eyes and trying to will the pain in my head away.

"Okay, okay," Sam breathes out, sounding like he's trying to calm himself down, "they're fast but they're still dumb. You're screened from them by the trees now so they can't see where you're heading, and I think whoever is shooting has stopped."

'Let's hope so,' I tap.

"Do you think it might be New Canton?" He asks, and there's a glitch of static that can be heard. "Mhm, yeah, you're in their territory so you should be able to tune...

"Runner Forty-six... shooting.... keep going..." Nadia's voice comes and goes and jog forward in hopes of getting a better signal, and Sarah is right behind me.

"...In," He finishes.

"We can't a view on their location," She says, sounding much more clearly now.
"That swarm of fast zombies have taken down our cameras in sector G... I told ya, I can't see! If you can help, help; If not then get out of my coms station."

She huffs and takes a second to compose herself. "Runner Forty-six, say it again. Did you say you saw runners from Abel Township?" A pause. "It is them, then... Then it must be them who are shooting. No, not that the zoms, at us!"

My eyes snap to Sarah and she's wearing an expression that nearly matches my own. It's shock, and worry, and fear.

"Did you get all that?" She asks me, and I nod frantically. She turns her gaze ahead. "New Canton thinks we're shooting at them. We think they're shooting at us. Who's out there, Sam? Who was shooting?"

"I can't..." Sam groans. "Like New Canton said, that swarm has taken out a camera in that sector. I can't even try to hack into it. I can't see anything."

'There must be something,' I say as my hand reaches up to grab at my backpack strap.

"Can you contact New Canton to tell them it's not us?" Eight asks. "We need to work together and figure this."

Before Sam can answer, Nadia's voice pipes in. "Yep, sounds like a perfect time for it. Runner Forty-six, Runner Fifty-one, Runner Twenty-two, back to base. We need to start preparing for the raid right now. We'll be heading out in the next twenty-four hours. I'll be sure to tell the council about the change in plans."

•

I don't know how long we've been standing there, but I'm sure it's been a good ten minutes. This change in date is shocking, terrifying really. What if we aren't prepared? What if we don't have all the supplies we need to protect ourselves? What if they end up raiding us anyway?

I know New Canton isn't as bad as I originally thought, but I know they will take just about everything from us just to make us join up with them.

"So, yeah," Sam murmurs. His voice still holds a certain shock, as if he didn't really think New Canton would truly think on attacking. "Runner Five, Runner Eight, head on back to Abel. With what we've found out... I've knocked it upstairs and-and there's nothing left for us to do now, huh? They're attacking and we need you back to man your stations."

With a sigh I start to jog, whipping around trees with Sarah behind me and Sam continuing to talk. "Not like there's much you can do right now if you're a runner and your station is practically everywhere you can run."

"Wait!" Nadia screeches, making me jump, but I brush it off and continue at a brisk pace. "I've got something! We're picking up a signal from a runner's headset."

I give Sarah a raised brow, but she just shrugs.

"Is that... Oh, my God. Are you seeing what I'm seeing? It's Runner Thirty-eight! It's Lem!"

I nearly trip over my own feet, and a hand goes straight up to touch my headset-Lem's headset. I keep running, praying she won't suddenly send runners out here.

"No, look at him! He's not stumbling; He's not moving after the pack! It's Lem!" She cheers. "It's Lem! He's alive!"

...Shit.

A/N: Here's the new chapter. Only four more until this book is done with. What will happen next I wonder... Anyway, thank you all so much and have a blessed day!