My hand runs back and forth along the dulling hardwood floor of Janine's living room. I can't say how long we've gone over the plans, even though they are so easy to memorize. Most of the runners have left, since their job is just to stay and defend if New Canton actually infiltrates Abel. Only five runners are actually leaving the base: Runners Three through Seven-Simon, Jody, myself, Maggie, and Evan.

"You understand the importance of your jobs?" Janine asks, and we all nod, and Sam looks like he wants to bash his head into a wall because he unfortunately he has had to stay and listen with us as well since he is our operator.

I try not to get to worried, but many times I've caught my hand reaching up to grab an imaginary backpack strap during Janine's long speeches and lectures. The thought of something going wrong frightens me more than I actually thought it would.

Of course if New Canton runners sneak in we'll have quite a few of our runners with quite a few guns ready to do what needs to be done, even if we'd rather not shoot anyone outright. We're hoping we'll be able to stop them before they reach the Township, doing so without killing anyone.

But still there's always that fear-that nagging voice-that whispers how something could go wrong. What if New Canton's plan is better? What if, even with the knowledgeable of them coming, they still manage to get in and raid Abel?

I try to swallow down the knot in my throat, but I can't. I can't shake the feeling something will go wrong, but it could be because of that fact I am bad luck walking.

"Five... Five," Jody nudges me with her elbow, and in an instant I snap my gaze to her. She sends me an amused grin. "The meeting's ended. You've just been sitting here staring into space for the past minute."

I wince in embarrassment, looking away as my face starts to get warm.

"Don't blame her for spacing out," Simon grins. "I can only listen to Jenny repeat a plan so many times."

I admire him so much. He's the only one who's brave enough to give Janine a nickname, and surprisingly Janine hasn't killed him for it.

"You look a bit worried, Five," He continues. "Afraid something might go wrong?"

'Define wrong.'

"I guess she must be used to worryin'," Jody says. "Has there ever been a mission you've gone on that hasn't had a bump in the road?"

I ponder on the thought. 'There was the time me and Eight stopped a traitor from giving New Canton our tech."

She scoffs in disbelief. "So the one mission that goes right is because something went wrong beforehand."

"Don't worry about it, Five. We always make it out fine." Simon shrugs and holds out his hand to help me. I reach out to take it, but before I can he wraps his hand around my wrist and pulls me up. It's abnormal, which is why I stare at my wrist a few seconds after he lets me go, but it isn't exactly weird, so I shrug it off. "Chin up, Five. It'll all work out."

That's what I pray for as I walk away from Janine's house and to the showers, which was something I failed to get after returning from today's run. I had just gotten my clothing to change into when I was called, so I've been toting it around with me and kept it in my lap during Janine's briefing of the plan.

The hot water helps soothe the afterthought of my headache from earlier, but it doesn't get rid of it completely-mostly because of my worrying and thoughts of doubt. But I don't think anyone could blame me, because after all, Jody is right on my missions always encountering some sort of obstacle or set back, especially the few recently with Van Ark and Jeffro.

With the Jeffro Complex in mind my thoughts turn to Chrysalis and Archie. Will there be some of the runners to take part in the raid? Since there's so many people in New Canton, 12000 to be exact, there must be at least 1000 runners. After all, there's about sixty people in Abel-maybe a few more-and we have just about twenty runners, which is a third of our entire Township, so 1000 in a settlement of 12000 isn't exactly me making an exaggerated guess.

It wouldn't surprise me if Chrysalis was a part of the raid, since we look so much alike. She could probably walk right into Abel and no one would notice except for Caleb and maybe Sam. For her to go on a raiding party wouldn't surprise me.

I don't exactly think Archie would take part of this; She's too nice. She actually cares about people's lives which is why she wanted to help us while we were being cornered by Jeffro. I want to say the same for Chrys but I can't be sure because when I was her I felt like those were my words and mine alone, and simply because I knew who was in there.

I close my eyes and rest back on the shower wall, wishing I could just stop time for a moment so I would have peace for a while instead of fretting and being frantic.

Too bad for me I guess.

My hand grasps at the shower knobs and turn them off. The lack of warm water makes me feel instantly cold, but I know my shower time is almost up anyway and unless I want a pissed off Rajit yanking the curtains open to curse at me then I'd better just finish up now.

I dry and dress myself, and head out of the showers with slightly damp hair and skin. As soon as the cold night air touches me I start sprinting towards the sleeping quarters, ignoring the way my hair swings around and hits me in the face sometimes.

I swing open the door of the sleeping quarters, rush inside and then slam it shut. This gains me the attention of basically everyone in the room, but I ignore them and head for my little corner with all my things. I weave through the people, and as I pass Sam he appears like he's about to say something, but I don't really give him much of a chance at the pace I'm going.

I reach my sleeping bag, and plop down on it, bringing me knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them in attempt to get warm. My eyes cast a glance at the little collection of trinkets beside my mat. If the plan fails and they actually get in, then this won't be something they'll want; Most of my possessions will be looked over but there is one thing I have that they might actually be interested in taking.

"You cold?"

I cast a glance up at Caleb, who already has a blanket in his hand. He sits down beside me and hands it to me, and I practically snatch it from his hands to wrap it around my shoulders. He laughs quietly.

"I thought so," He says, but then his grin fades. "I heard about the whole thing with New Canton changing their plans. Do you think they might actually have a chance of getting through? I know Janine's plans are usually bulletproof but... do you?"

I shrug, not wanting to give away just how afraid I really am. 'It just depends on how many runners they send, and if they have guns with them.'

That's another reason I'm scared of this failing. Not just if they get inside Abel, but if they see me and figure out who I actually am... If they see the headset... I gulp. Of course, I know I'm replaceable. I know I'm expendable but that doesn't mean I actually want to die. And if this mission fails I just might.

"I think everyone is at least a little bit scared. They just don't want to show it," He mutters, and his eyes shift to me knowingly, but I ignore it. His words are true, but I won't let him know that. In all truth I'm scared to death, but I just have to pray and hope for the best. Speaking of which...

'Caleb, I need to ask you a favor,' I sign, keeping my hands shielded from anyone else's wandering eyes. Caleb gives me an odd look, but nods. 'If this plan does somehow fail and they manage to get in and raid Abel Township, there's something I want you to protect for me. It's just one thing but I need you to keep it safe.'

"I-" He starts but pauses and looks down at his hands. 'What is it?'

I send him a grateful smile and pull the book out of my sleeping bag, and I wipe my thumb across the title.

HOLY BIBLE.

I hold it in my hands before passing it to him, and look at him pleadingly. 'Please. It means everything to me.'

He nods, setting the book in his lap to sign 'I promise.'

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome,' He answers, before placing his hands down. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"

I don't know whether I should smile or cringe.

"Even secretly spy on your boyfriend while he's trying to secretly spy on us during our little conversation," He says with a smirk. I give him a small glare for referring Sam to my boyfriend, but still slide my gaze over to where he's sitting on his mat. He appears to be reading something, but I can't see the cover since the book itself is placed on the floor.

"He's been on that same page for about five minutes," The redhead whispers, and I roll my eyes.

'He might just be a slow reader.'

"A slow reader who likes to glance up at you every ten seconds," He snickers, and as I turn to look again Caleb grabs my shoulder and forces me to keep facing him. "Well he won't do it when you're looking."

'You are just being dramatic.'

"All I'm saying is I'm seventy... nine percent sure the feeling is mutual so now you're free to ask him out a date like stroll through the Township or... something. I'm not exactly sure how you actually have a romantic date during the zombie apocalypse. I'm sure you could think of something, but you might to ask after you stop the New Canton raid." He stops when he sees the scowl I'm wearing. "What?"

'There is no mutual feelings except friendship. Stop trying to say there is otherwise,' I argue, causing him to scoff.

"Yeah, okay. I'm going to pretend to believe you."

My scowl deepens.

"Oh, come on, Five. I'm your best friend here. I know you like him, and so do you. Why don't you just admit it to yourself?"

Oh, I already have. I just won't admit it to you. And since I won't do that, at least not for a while, I simply reply, 'Why won't you stop pestering me about this.'

"Because you're being stubborn."

'And you're not?' I nearly laugh at that.

"Not as stubborn as you."

'Okay, Mr. I-will-not-tell-my-so-called-best-friend-what's-wrong-with-me.'

That shuts him up, but for only about a minute, and then he opens his mouth to speak again. I cut him off before he gets the chance.

'Can we please not talk about this?' I ask, feeling drained from today's run and all the planning and now this. 'At least, not now.'

Caleb's eyes soften, and he sighs. "Yeah, alright, but we will finish this conversation eventually."

You keep on thinking that. 'Okay.'

He grabs my Bible but I grab ahold of it before he can stand. He raises a brow in slight confusion. "I thought you wanted me to-"

'Tomorrow,' I say. 'I still have to read it tonight. I'll give it to you tomorrow.'

He nods, although a bit reluctantly, before standing and heading toward his bed across the room. I sigh and hug the Bible close to my chest, silently praying that everything will be alright. I pray that this mission will be successful, and that I won't be the cause of it failing or meeting a new obstacle.

I pray that I won't be the one to jinx it. But after all, I am only one of the runners in this mission. There are five us heading out, and the others all seem very good at what they're doing, so if something goes a bit wrong it could easily be fixed.

You just keep thinking that...

I sigh and stare up at the ceiling, watching as the lights go dim, signaling everyone to go to bed. As I close my eyes, I try not to recoil at how terrible my wish for tonight really is.

I wish to have dreams, terrible memory dreams or the weird Prophetess dreams, just so the night will seem longer and it will take more time for morning to come.

A/N: Short chapter this time. Sorry guys. Either way I hope you enjoyed it and there's only 3 more chapters left! Isn't that awesome? Please be sure to vote and comment! Thank you and have a blessed day!