Chapter 24: Battle Scars

My eyes gaze up at the ceiling, my hands resting on my stomach as I listen to the clinking of bottles and vials. The floor is cold on my skin, but I don't move. My hands move to my side so I can drum my fingers on the floor in boredom. I only stop when I hear Veronica sigh from a nearby table.

"I've already given you your medicine and checked on your stitches. You can go to your room now and go to bed," She says, but I shake my head.

"No thanks. I'm used to sharing a room with at least one other person. I'm so used to it that sleeping alone is kind of uncomfortable." I wave my hand around randomly. "Plus, I know sitting up is gonna hurt like a bitch so I'm gonna wait awhile. How long until this is healed?"

"You'll keep the stitches in another two weeks, then I'll take them out. After that, you'll be fine. "

"Will it hurt as bad taking them out as it did when you put them in last week?" I question.

"It's only been five days," Nadia corrects, her eyes not leaving the notes on the desk. "But yeah, it's gonna hurt... a lot."

"Even with the medicine?"

"The medicine is to prevent infection. That's what we really need to watch out for."

"Yeah. Yeah, that's true." My eyes turn over to Veronica, who's busy doing... something. I can't exactly see what she's looking at from where I am on the floor. She's probably studying over notes or looking at some sort of vial. How is she not tired? She's been up since early this morning.

Over the last few days, I've gotten to know Veronica a bit more. We're not friends by any means, but she's not cold to me or Nadia now that we're helping her conduct experiments. Although my way of helping is running around and getting things she needs. She doesn't want me around her lab and I don't want to be around any of that either, since I honestly have no idea what any of that stuff is.

The only reason I'm in here now is because she keeps the medicine in a cabinet in here. And I don't want to leave, not just yet anyway. It's odd, having my own room. I don't know how to feel about it, since the last time I had a place that was mine and mine alone was I was given that dinky tent before Abel built sleeping quarters.

But the quiet is nice, and I don't have to worry about curfew. Although I still miss company. I miss people...

That is something I never thought I'd think. Not after I lost my voice.

Abel really has changed me.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to your room?" Veronica asks as she steps over me to get to the other desk on the far side of the room.

"Nah, I'm good. There's nothing I can do in there anyway, and you might need me for something."

"I highly doubt I'll need you to do anything for me tonight, Runner Five."

"You never know. You might need a snack or some extra paper or someone to annoy you. Oh, wait. That last thing's already here... It's me."

She cracks the smallest of smiles, and I grin. While Veronica is very serious natured and a genius, she's still fourteen. She, of course, doesn't like most things regular fourteen-year-olds like, such as makeup and... cartoons? Is that what regular fourteen-year-olds enjoy? I wouldn't know. When I was fourteen, I was at Mullins learning ALS from Anna and Josh, running missions, and generally hating life.

I don't know exactly know what regular teenagers enjoy, but I know Veronica is different. But that is not a bad thing. She still laughs and jokes around, but not very often. She doesn't like to distract herself too much from her work. Now that she's reviewed some of Chris's audio notes, she's been working doubly hard to learn more about zombies and how the calming plant might help us get into that Comansys base.

The fact that it's locked up means if we can get in there, we might be able to find out where some of their secret hideouts are or what they've been planning. Right now, anything that might lead us to Caleb is something I'll take a risk for. As soon as we find a way to get in, I'm going for it.

I just hope it won't take too long to find a way in. I mean, I've been away from Abel for ten days already. Ten days! I miss it. The only time I was away from home this long was when Van Ark blew up the township and we had to stay at New Canton while it was being rebuilt.

But I guess if it does take awhile to get into that Comansys base-which it probably will since luck is never on our side-I'll just have to live with it. I mean, after everything that's happened, I can't expect it all to suddenly come easily. Nothing ever comes easily. Nothing ever comes quickly-not when we want it to.

I sit up, letting out a small grunt of discomfort. Nadia turns to look at me, her brow raised. "What are you doing?"

"Just standin'," I reply, looking out the window, noticing how dark it is. "What time is it?"

"Ten o'clock exactly," Veronica replies.

"Do you think there's any stars out?"

"No. Why would there be any stars out when it's nighttime?" She asks with an eye roll, and I giggle.

"You have no idea how nice it is to be around people as sarcastic as me. It's nice." I walk towards the door, smile on my face. "I'm gonna go take a look at the stars. Come get me if you need me."

They both nod, and a second later the door is open and I'm outside. After I close the door, I step to the side and sit down, leaning against the treehouse wall. I'm not going to get near the edge. I don't want my fear of heights to scare me back inside. It's obvious I was being no help to Veronica or Nadia, and it was only a matter of time before Veronica asked me to leave, before telling me politely to leave. Might as well just go before that happens.

There's a chill in there air, so I rub my sleeve covered arms in attempt to warm myself up. I know it won't help much, and yet I do it anyway.

Why? Habit, I guess. I suppose if I try it again this time, I might finally warm myself up. Stupid logic, but we all have this mindset about something on our lives. I'm lucky enough to have it on something minuscule like trying to warm myself up.

I look up, watching the stars through the trees. It's so pretty-millions and millions of stars, all scattered around, beautiful and burning. I remember when I wasn't afraid of heights, of falling... when I was younger, I thought astronauts were so cool. They got to see the world in ways most people never would.

I wonder if people are up there. I have no idea if NASA is still functioning. I never bothered to ask while I was in America. I was too focused on staying alive-keeping Katelyn alive.

I don't think NASA is sending anyone to the moon at this time, seeing how much fuel that would be wasting, and because we have too many things to worry about here on earth. But if they weren't overtaken by zombies right away, they might have been able to abort any missions in space. If not... then those out there either died in space, or came back with the undead to welcome them.

"Hello? Runner Five, are you there? Do you have your headset on?"

I straighten, frowning at the voice coming through my headset. "Sam?"

"Hey! You do still have it on. No head cam though. What're you doing?"

"Uh, I'm outside, lookin' at the stars."

"Really? It's pretty cold outside."

"Yeah, I know, but I think Veronica was getting ready to kick me out of the lab, and I don't want to go to bed just yet." I pause. "Why are you calling in? Is something going on at Abel?"

"No. No. I uh, Penelope just wanted me to tell you goodnight for her. She told me if I didn't, she'd steal all my jars of marmite."

I snort. "Did she now?"

"Yeah," He laughs. "She also wanted me to tell you she made a B+ on her maths test."

I grin. "That's good... how are they? Penelope and Milo?"

"They miss you. Penelope shows it a bit more, but they both do. Milo's uh... he's been training with some of the new runners while you've been gone. Don't really know if I should tell you that, but uh..."

I groan. "I should've known. He's stubborn and spiteful."

"Wonder who he gets that from." There's a smile in his voice.

"Stop tryin' to act cute. I'm serious," I say, although there's a soft look on my face. "I don't want him getting in any trouble. Keep an eye out for me?"

"I think you'd kill me if I didn't," He jokes.

"You know I would never hurt you."

"Thanks. I'll watch him for you, but I don't think I can stop him from training. But, there's no need to worry. Janine won't let him go on any missions; He's only thirteen, remember?"

"I do," I say as I stand. "But I know he's very devious, and sneaky."

"Again, I wonder where he gets that from."

I roll my eyes as I push myself off the wall, heading to my room. My arms have goosebumps and I'm starting to shiver-a sure sign that I need to go inside before I get too cold. If I stay out here too long, I know it'll take forever and a day to get drive the cold away.

"Who's the smart alec now?" I question, and receive a quiet giggle in response. As I walk across one of the walkways to get to my room, I end up tripping over my own foot.

It's one of those split second, mini heart attack moments, but I quickly regain my balance, grabbing onto the rope railing. I let out a small gasp of surprise and pain as my side is stretched uncomfortably.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Sam asks, his playful tone gone and replaced with worry.

"Yeah," I reply, face heating up in embarrassment. "I just just tripped over my own feet. Pulled my side a bit, but no ripped stitches, so everything's okay."

"How are you feeling? I mean, with your injury and all?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask me that," I state with a grin, knowing he's asked every time he's radioed in.

"What? I worry about you. You're my runner. It's basically my job to worry about you."

"I'm fine," I reply. "And bad things happen to runners, me especially."

"Yeah, that's why I worry so much," He retorts, and my stomach sinks, and I wrap my arms around myself.

"Well, this isn't the first injury I've ever gotten, and it definitely won't be the last." That last bit comes out in a bitter mumble, and it doesn't go unnoticed.

"What do you mean?"

I shrug as I reach the little treehouse that makes up my room. "Well, you know, I'm a runner. I'm gonna get hurt. I'm gonna get hurt badly sometimes. We both know that."

"Yeah, but you said it all... weird like, like you know you're going to get hurt." I can picture him wearing his 'I'm totally on to you' face. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Why would you ask that?" I ask as I enter my room, kicking off my shoes as practically pouncing on my bed.

"Um, maybe because you are a secretive person and you don't tell me a lot of things," He replies, and I roll my eyes. "Like, a lot of things."

"I'm not keeping anything from you," I lie.

"Oh, really?"

"Well, not anything about me getting hurt."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

There's a small moment of silence as I wrap the covers around my shoulders. It helps, but only a little bit. I'm still cold; I will always be cold.

"I miss Abel," I sigh. "I miss it a lot more than I thought I would."

"Well, hopefully you'll get better and get into that Comansys Base and come back. We miss you too, by the way."

"Yeah, hopefully. But Veronica was speaking as if it might take another week or longer." I run my hand through my hair, unsure if what I'm feeling is genuine frustration, or if the feeling is just from the fact that I've slept maybe twelve hours in the past five days.

With the nightmares that still plague me, I haven't been sleeping well. The dreams themselves are nothing out of the usual, but I don't get them every night-not usually. That's the odd part about it.

"I can't wait to come back though," I say. "The faster we can get into that building, the better."

"Because the faster you find out what's in that base, the faster you can start on your journey home, right?" He guesses in amusement.

"Yeah. I think the reason I'm missing home so much is because there's no peanut butter here. I'm having withdrawals."

He laughs, the bubbly sound causing a smile to spread across my face. "Is that the only thing you're having withdrawals from?"

I blink. "What do you mean?"

"You mean you don't miss your boyfriend?"

"My what now?" My voice cracks.

Sam bursts out in laughter. "I knew that'd be your reaction. You-you see, there's a little rumor that's spread around New Canton, and some people at Abel are hearing about it too."

"Great," I mutter with an eye roll. "I just love rumors. I learn things about me that even I didn't know. So, who's this boyfriend I suddenly have?"

"Well, apparently someone said they overheard you telling Phil you loved him and..." He pauses to snicker, "I guess people started talking. I don't know why someone would say you said that though. I mean, if anything I'd think they'd say you said that to-"

"Oh, no. I told Phil I loved him, but I was joking. Phil knew I was joking. Has he not said any..." My voice trails off, and I deadpan. "He's totally going along with it, isn't he?"

"Probably. I haven't asked him."

I sigh, closing my burning eyes. "Going home has just become much more interesting."

"Are you saying you're going to go along with it?"

"Eh. Why not? I mean, it's not exactly subtracting anything from my life. The only thing I'd have to worry about is if Phil says I'm his, quote on quote, 'girlfriend' on his radio show and some crazed fan decides she's going to kill me."

"That'd be unpleasant."

"Very."

"I think he's already said something about you on the show. He was saying how he became your favorite person on the radio." He chuckles softly. "It actually hurt a little bit knowing I'd been replaced."

"You could never be replaced," I yawn. "I'm really tired, and I know Veronica will probably be up at the crack of dawn because she can somehow survive on three hours of sleep each night without coffee or red bull. I'm beginning to question whether or not she's human."

"She's a genius. People like her could probably be considered a different species. But I'll let you get some rest. Besides, if Janine finds out I'm in here talking to you past curfew, you know I'll get the longest lecture ever."

I laugh, but if quickly turns into a yawn again. "Very true... Goodnight, Sam."

"Goodnight, Fi-"

"I miss you," I say quickly, nervously. "I mean, I know I still talk to you... over coms, but I miss talking face to face. Just... just thought you should know."

It takes him a minute to respond. "I miss you too, Five. Everyone does. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

•

My eyes snap open.

Something's wrong.

My heart is pounding. My head is fuzzy. I stand up, nearly collapsing. Why does my head hurt so bad? Why do I feel so out of breath?

"No. No, please!"

"What?" I mutter, eyeing the door that leads outside. I know this voice.

"Kill me! Kill me! Please! Just not her! Please, she's just a kid! Kill me, please!"

I know this voice, because it's mine.

There's an echo of a gunshot, and a scream-my scream. It's agonizing, pained, broken.

I jump up in an instant, dashing for the door. I swing it open, ignoring the chill that hits my skin.

"Hello?" I yell, not sure what I'm expecting to hear back.

"I know not all of it was good, but he had some very interesting ideas."

I twirl around. "Veronica?"

That was her voice, but I don't see her anywhere. And it all seems echo-y, or like she's far away or underwater.

What's going on here?

"Oh, Five. It's so good to see you. We're going to get you out of this. Don't worry. I'm on it."

That's Sam. But I can't see anyone anywhere, and I took my headset off before I fell asleep. Is this another vision? If so, why does it sound like they're here and not just in my head?

There's a zombie growl, and I gasp. I can hear it. It's so close. I step back. It's here. Something's here. It has to be. It has to be here! I can hear it! It's right here!

"Five, dodge left! No, right! Right! You'll have to climb that fence."

I grasp at my head. It's pounding like a drum. God, it hurts. My hands grab at my hair. Every noise sends a wave of pain through my head.

There's more growls, more groans, and laughter-sick, twisted laughter.

"If Five becomes a zom, can I keep her? Can I?"

I don't recognize the new voice. It's demented, and annoying-high pitched and whiny. But when he speaks, a surge of anger, hatred flows through my veins.

What will this man do to me?

There's more growls, more roars. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest. I can hear my labored breathing.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" I scream, squeezing my eyes shut.

Then there's pain, excruciating pain. It's in my right calf. Warm blood running down onto my feet. I open my eyes, looking down. My heart stops in my chest.

No! No! No!

It's a bite mark.

"Five? Five, keep moving! Oh, please! Please, you have to keep moving!"

"Sam, stop it! Stop it!" I scream, pulling at my hair tighter. I keep stepping back, a cough leaves my lips.

"Please! Please don't stop! I can't watch this happen, Five!"

He's crying; I'm crying. I'm coughing. It hurts. It hurts so bad. I can feel it.

I'm dying.

I take another step back, pulling at my hair. I have to snap out of this! I can't take much more of this! I can't! I can't! I can't!

"Runner Five!"

"Oh," Veronica sighs. "That's a shame. I really thought I was closer this time."

"Veronica, what have you done?" Nadia screeches.

"Runner Five, stop!"

I hear a roar-a terrible, evil roar. It burns inside my brain, scorching my heart and embedding itself into my flesh and bones. I know who it came from.

It came from me.

I feel my body tipping back, my foot suddenly finding nothing there-no more platform, no more solid ground. I scream.

A hand grabs my wrist, pulling me forward. Two more hands grab my arms, and I struggle against them. I fight against them, tears streaming down my face.

"Five, open your eyes! Open your eyes!"

I obey, seeing Nadia and Veronica in front of me, struggling to keep hold of me-struggling to keep from falling off the platform.

I take in a shaky breath, my struggling ceasing ever so slowly.. The voices are gone; The pain in my calf is gone. I'm okay. I'm okay... for now.

"What the hell were you doing?" Nadia screams at me. Her eyes are wide with panic. "Were you trying to get yourself killed? You survived one fall, but I doubt you'd be lucky to survive another one."

"I... I-I don't know," I mumble, my mind still spinning. I know I can't say what I just went through. Veronica's a scientist. She'd never believe me anyway. "I... think I was sleepwalking."

"Yeah, well you were sleep talking too. More like sleep screaming."

"Have you been known to do this type of thing before?" Veronica questions curiously.

"I... used to sleepwalk when I was little, but I stopped doing that years ago."

"Whatever dream you had must've been too scary for you to stay still," Nadia says, pulling me farther away from the platform's edge. "What were you dreaming about?"

"I... I died. I dreamed that I died. I didn't think it would feel like that. I didn't..." I feel something sticky on my lips. My tongue swipes it away, and I grimace at the metallic taste. My hand reaches up to Cupid's bow, and when I pull away, there's a warm liquid on my fingers; It's blood.

"Five, you're-"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I-I'm... fine," I say, not sounding convincing at all.

"No, you're not. You're a lot of things, but right now, fine isn't one of them.

Come on. We're all about to go to bed. You're going to sleep in my room tonight with me, so I can make sure you don't end up swan diving off a platform."

I shake my head. "N-no. I'm okay, I think. Or at least, I'll be okay. Don't waste your thoughts worrying about me."

Nadia breathes in deeply, probably debating on whether or not to hit me for being so stubborn.

I guess Sam was right when he said Milo gets it from me.

"Are you sure? And I mean, are you really sure?"

I nod enthusiastically, wiping away at my bloody nose. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'll be fine. Dreams don't come back when you've woken up. If you want, you can lock me inside me room... But I promise, I'll fall asleep and be just fine."

That's a lie. I don't fall asleep. I'm not just fine. I stay awake until the sun rises, too haunted by what happened to get any rest.

A/B: Ha! Did you think I would end this on a fluffy ending? I got you all, didn't I? Hehehe. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please be sure to vote and comment. Thank you and have a blessed day!