Chapter 31: Only Love Can Break Your Heart

"It's just well, you know, I'm not entirely sure why she's here," Sam murmurs.

"I'm not sure why I'm here either," I say.

Jody rolls her eyes. "I invited her along, Sam. Better company on the road. It's not a problem, is it?"

"Of course not," Kefilwe replies before Sam can. "You have Runner Five, and Sam has me. The more the merrier."

"But I'm happier on my own," Sam grumbles.

"Oh, you say that, but you were glad I was here yesterday when Runner Fifteen chocked on that granola bar and I had to talk Runner Two through the Heimlich maneuver."

"I would've remembered how to do it... eventually," He says, earning a giggle from me. "Alright, guys, go left at the red barn, and you might wanna hurry while you're going through that field. I mean, only if you don't want to get ran over by the huge bull at the end of it."

"I think that might be a cow rather than a bull," Kefilwe corrects.

"It's a joke."

"Oh... of course." She laughs, and I cringe at how obviously forced it is. "Silly me, always taking things so seriously. I should take a leaf out of your book. You have so much fun. That's why the runners like you so much, yes?"

"Um... yeah, I guess."

"I'm sure that's the reason why one runner in particular is so fond of you."

"What are you talking about?" He scoffs in confusion.

"So what're we doin' exactly?" I ask quickly, mentally kicking Kefilwe in the shin right now. Jody's doing her best not to laugh at my red face, but a few snickers happen to escape. "Y'all haven't told us much on what we're doin' today."

Sam snorts. "Y'all?"

"Yeah. It's short for 'you all'."

"Well, I know. It's just... you sound so funny when you say it."

I huff. "Thanks."

"T-that's not a bad thing. It's just a-just a... yeah. Sorry. What I meant was-"

"It's cute?" Jody guesses.

"Interesting. In a good way," He corrects. "And to answer your question, basically, right now, you're just killing time."

The blonde beside me frowns. "Great. That really sounds like something worth risking our lives for."

"It's gonna be awhile before we finish combing through the Comansys material Runner Five brought back and uh, checking out those rendezvous points. While that's going on, it's back to zombie killing business as usual. Yay, right?"

I raise my hands up with fake enthusiasm. "Yay!"

"That's the spirit. Anyway, Owen says he's found a nest by the big mansion at Bow Champton Pater. There's a New Canton outpost near there and he was worried they might attract the zoms. That's why he asked for you to come and help clear them out, Jody."

I nod. That makes sense to me, but Four doesn't seem so convinced. Her face slightly scrunches up, and her eyes are dull with annoyance.

"Yeah, right."

"You don't think the zoms might attack the settlement?" Kefilwe asks curiously, and Jody shakes her head.

"I don't think there's any zoms."

"Why would he say there were zombies if there weren't?" I question. "That wouldn't make much sense."

"If you haven't noticed, Five, Owen barely ever makes sense. Come on. Race ya to the pylon."

I grin at the challenge, sprinting off before Jody can comprehend that I'm no longer by her side. As soon as she realizes it though, she's running after me, and bring as fast as she is, it doesn't take her long to catch up.

"I was just kidding about the racing!" She yells, her face beginning to flush from her heart rate picking up so quickly.

"Don't challenge me if you're not prepared to go through with it!" I reply, but still I slow down to a jog. I shake my head and tsk. "Gosh, Four, you should know by now not to challenge a runner to a race."

She shrugs. "Sorry."

With my steps no longer pounding in my skull, I realize that there's music playing in my ears, meaning Sam and Dr. Lobatse have clicked off for now. I scrunch up my nose at lyric-less song I've heard a hundred times. We have other music. Does Sam like driving us crazy or does he just forget to change the CD?

"So, is there a reason you think Owen is lying about the zoms?" I question, and in return I get a sigh.

"You could say that."

"Are you gonna tell me this reason or am I going to have to guess?"

She doesn't answer, and I click my tongue.

"I hope you aren't just saying that because you don't like him, because that's kind of rude."

"I don't... I don't not like him," She says. "I mean, not like before. You remember when we..."

I nod, face neutral. "Yeah, I remember. You two fought on every mission you were on together and I sadly was stuck right in the middle of it."

I don't know why they kept being paired together on missions. Oh, wait, yes I do.

Maxine kept asking for the three of us any time she needed something. I think she was trying to play matchmaker... with all three of us?

No, That wouldn't make much sense...

Maybe she just wanted to see how long I could go without attempting to murder one or both of them. She was a little craphead like that.

"But then we stopped, because of... reasons."

"Is that what you're calling it?" I laugh. "Jody, give the poor guy some slack. It's nothing serious. Plus, I'm sure this has nothing to do with how he feels... oh."

We've reached the driveway that leads up to the house, and I wince at the sight. Jody just sighs in annoyance, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

"Sam, we've reached the driveway of the house," I say, waving my hand over my head cam to get his attention, while also sending a sideways glance to Jody. Her expression is the definition if 'I'm so done with this shit.'

"Oh, alright," He says, clicking back in. "Let me look at the cams-Wait a minute. Is that-I mean, obviously it can't be, but it that-is that road strewn about with rose petals? Like, hundreds and thousands of rose petals?"

Jody sighs again, her eyes on the dried, shriveled up petals. "Yeah, it is."

"And are those-" He stops to laugh. "No, this is ridiculous, really. Are those candles lining the driveway?"

"Yeah. Cinnamon scented. It clashes with the smell of the roses."

"And... Owen knew you'd have to come this way to get to the manor house. It's the only route, right?"

"Yeah, he knew."

"My goodness," Kefilwe gasps. "Is that young man sweet on you?"

The blonde scoffs. "Don't sound so surprised. I am a bit of a catch."

"Of course you are. You're a charming young woman, only... you do rather give the impression that you despise Owen."

"That's what I said!" I exclaim, earning a glare from Four.

"I don't despise him. It's only... he's so keen, you know? And I just don't fancy him. That's allowed, right?"

A soft melody flows through the air, and once I realize what it is, I close my eyes, breathing in sharply.

Oh... my God.

"That's classical music coming up from the house," Sam says. "Jody, I don't want to jump to conclusions or anything, but it is possible Owen thought this was a date?"

"Maybe," She answers, and I grit my teeth as realization hits me like a brick.

"You knew this... and you invited me to come along..."

"Yeah."

Sam snickers. "Awkward."

"It'll be fine. Like Dr. Lobatse said, the more, the merrier."

I send her a look that could kill, my fists clenched as annoyance throbs in my skull. "You're lucky I haven't drop kicked you down this driveway."

She frowns. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I thought this was a mission that mattered! You knew what this was probably going to be, and you brought me along anyway! I could be back at Abel, eating peanut butter right now. I don't have time for your couple drama."

"We are not a couple," She spats, only to receive an eye roll from me.

"Sure, whatever, but next time you want me to be the awkward third wheel, give me a warning, alright? Sheesh."

"There's Owen, waiting in his doorway," Sam giggles like a child. "The doorway someone tied honeysuckle all around."

"It's not funny, Sam," Jody scowls.

Owen's eyes fall on me, and I cringe when his smile drops. Why? Why? Why did Jody ask me to come along? She literally could've asked anybody else. We have like, twenty other runners who could've gone with her, and she invites me. Why?

Runner Six clears his throat when we reach him, his eyes awkwardly landing on me. "Runner Five, wasn't expecting you, mate."

"Hi, Owen," I say awkwardly, shifting my weight from one foot to another.

"Lucky you came along though. I-I think I heard a noise at the other end of the grounds. Could be those zoms I was talkin' about. Could you go check it while me and Jody, um..."

"Yes!" I respond a bit too enthusiastically. "Of course. I'd love to. That's why I'm here. I'll call in if I need help. Bye!"

Then I'm sprinting away as fast as I can, all while thinking on how I'm going to make Jody pay for putting me in such a awkward situation. I mean, why would she ask me along? All that does is make everything weirder than it already is. And it didn't exactly stop the date, so what use was it to invite me here anyway?

I keep running toward the grounds where Owen said he heard a noise. Whether or not he was telling the truth is debatable, but it doesn't really matter to me. The faster they get on with their date, the faster I get to go back home to Abel. I have things I need to do, like read my Bible. I didn't bring it with me while I was at the treetop base, and while I have been back for almost two weeks now, I need to catch up on my reading.

"Mind that hedge, Five. Could be thorny," Sam warns.

"And do watch out for the ha-ha," Kefilwe adds.

He snorts. "The what now?"

"Ha-ha. It's a grassy slope."

"I know. I just wanted to hear you say 'ha-ha' again."

"Oh," She laughs. "You're teasing me."

I grin. Yes! They're finally starting to act like friends now.

"No, I'm not," He replies flatly.

...Never mind.

"I'm really glad you came, Jody," Owen says through the headset, and my eyes go wide as saucer plates.

"You said there were zoms."

"Who says there aren't?" I can hear the sheepish shrug in his voice.

"Should we be eavesdropping?" Kefilwe asks quietly.

"If they didn't want us to overhear, they shouldn't have left their headsets on," Sam replies, and I roll my eyes before reaching down to grab a small flower. It's fake, obviously. I think it's a pin that you'd put on your shirt. It looks vaguely familiar-not this particular flower, of course, but the pin. I've seen it a million times, before the apocalypse started.

It's what the men at my church would have on their suits when they got married. That's what they'd throw out instead of a garter since, well, we're Baptist and don't do such inappropriate things, such as having the groom sticking his head up the bride's dress in front of everyone.

But why would one of these things be here? I pooch out my lip in thought, brows furrowing together and a small hum rumbling in the back of my throat.

"You could've just asked me out."

"But you'd have said no."

Jody groans. "So you thought hanging the whole place with candles and flowers would change my mind?"

"I wanted to make an effort. Anyway, the flowers and candles were already here. I know it sounds stupid, but it's like fate set this up especially for us."

Poor guy. If only it worked that way...

"The flowers are decayin' and there's rotten food on the tables," She says, a scowl in her voice. "Oh, and I can see a coach and horse out of the window. A coach and two dead, maggoty horses."

"Yeah, but it's the thought that counts."

"Not when the thought is 'I'm gonna do everything possible to convince a woman who isn't interested to go out with me.' Owen, really, why me?"

He laughs as if it's obvious. "Come on, Jody. You're-you're gorgeous, you're funny, you knit like a demon. You're-you're great."

"And you're handsome and kind and generous," She replies, but the tone is heavy. "But I'm just not feelin' it. I'm sorry."

"Oh..."

"I've seen the way New Canton Runner Twenty-three looks at you, though."

"She's not really my-"

Click.

"Why'd you do that?" Sam asks in exasperation. "Just when it was getting interesting."

"I thought Runner Five might want to concentrate," She answers cooly.

I look up from the flower pin in my hand, still trying to figure out why one of these would be left here. "What am I supposed to be concentrating on exactly?"

"Well, I could be mistaken, but isn't there movement under those trees? The ones you're heading straight towards?"

I screech to a halt, seeing that Kefilwe is right. I see figures-rotting, dead, moving figures. I was so focused on the pin, I hadn't even noticed. I hope they haven't spotted me yet. I take a small step back, then another, then another.

"Uh, Five," Sam forces out a nervous laugh, "I think Owen might not actually have been lying about the zombie nest."

I shove the pin in my backpack, my hand grabbing at my backpack strap as a loud growl reaches my ears, and a rotting head pokes out from behind a tree.

"Yeah, I think you might be right on that one."

"Run."

I turn around and bolt, my legs pumping as fast as I can make them. I don't bother looking back, not when I already know what's behind me. I reach back to grab my axe, only to find that there's nothing there. Why is nothing there?

Where the hell is my axe?

Then I remember. Jody asked me to come with her only a few minutes before she left. I didn't think to go back to the dorms and grab my axe, meaning all I have on me is a small pocket knife.

God, why am I so damn stupid?

Cold air whips my hair around, my loose ponytail nearly swishing around and smacking me in the face. I haven't had the chance to cut my hair yet, meaning I have to stay ahead of these zombies or else things will get really bad really fast.

Sam's yelling over coms, trying to get ahold of Jody and Owen, but it's no use. They're not answering. Why aren't they answering?

I look to the right, at the house. What are they doing in there?

It doesn't matter. What matters is there's at least-I take a quick peek behind me-twenty-five zombies chasing after me right now and I only have a pocket knife to protect myself with.

Wait a minute. I look back at the zombies chasing me.

Why are they dressed so formal?

They're all wearing nice outfits-fancy dresses, button-up shirts with ties, dress shoes, heels. I can even see makeup on one woman's face, although half of her face is dangling from her chin, so it doesn't really look all that great.

"Why aren't they answering?" Sam growls in frustration. "I think-I think Six made Four take her headset off. I can't believe he'd be so stupid."

"Perhaps he suspected you were eavesdropping," Kefilwe mutters under her breath, just loud enough for the dark haired man to hear. He ignores her.

"I'm sorry, Five, but you're gonna have to go back to the house to warn them."

I nod, redirecting my course towards the mansion. "I'm on it."

"Is it safe?" She asks. "I can see another group of zoms closing in from the left. They're... is it my imagination, it is the woman in front wearing a white dress? And a veil?"

My head snaps over in that direction, and groan. "No. No. Really? I mean, seriously? That's..." I sigh. "Guess that explains the pin I found."

And why the ones chasing me are all dressed so nicely.

The ones behind the zombie bride are all in suites-the groomsmen, I'm guessing. One of them still has a top hat on. They pass the gazebo, and more zombies join them-zombie bridesmaids. They're all wearing light pink dresses. Or at least, they were light pink. They're covered in blood now. Blood and rotting flesh.

How long have they been dead? I mean, they obviously haven't been dead four years. The setting of this place-the fact that the flowers are still decaying and not completely dead prove that. And the zoms' state of decomposition show that they haven't been dead that long. Just long enough to start rotting. Maybe two or three months? Possibly four?

So why the hell did they have this big of a wedding during the zombie apocalypse? I thought all the stupid people died in the beginning, since they were, well, stupid and ended up getting themselves killed.

"Is that-I believe that is the Matron of Honor clutching a rotten bouquet," Kefilwe states. "I do find wedding traditions quite fascinating. In Botswana, it's custom to-"

"Not now!" Sam shouts. "The zombie groom's just met up with the zombie ushers and the zombie post boy-oh, he's still got the ring on the little cushion. A-anyway, they're all heading for there house. If they get there before Five, and Jody and Owen don't know they're coming..."

"Keep running, Five. As fast as you can."

I roll my eyes at her words. I know operators say things like this to help keep us motivated or whatever, but I'm being chased by at least fifty zombies right now-at least. I honestly doubt anyone would slow down in a situation like this, so her words are basically just her wasting her breath.

My lips are beginning to chap from the cold air, and my lungs sting with every ragged breath I take. It's like icy fire, freezing cold yet burning my throat and chest. It's painful, but thankfully not unbearable. Not yet, at least. The mansion should be warmer, although I doubt we'll be in there for long.

We shouldn't be in there for long, not if we want to live.

I burst through the door of the mansion, making Jody and Owen jump from their seats in surprise. I slam the door shut and race to a nearby coffee table, pushing it up against the door.

"Runner Five," Owen says, still sounding surprised at my rather boisterous appearance, "what're you doing back, and why are you barricading the door?"

"Five, the headsets are on the table. Can you-yeah," Sam says when I grab the headsets and give them to the two.

They give me a raised brow, but I'm too occupied looking outside at the zombies that are gathering about to notice. They take the headsets and put them on. "Owen, Jody, there are... oh, crap, more of them coming in, it seems. There are at least-oh, crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. There are at least two hundred zombies out there now."

"Oh, God," Jody gasps, her head turning so she can gaze out the window. "Is that-"

"Yep. Zombie wedding party."

"Guess that explains all the flowers and food," Owen mutters. Four turns and glares at him.

"Bloody hell, Owen! What a great place for a date. Really, it's going straight to my top three romantic getaways."

Her sarcastic rant stops when the sound of glass shattering reaches our ears. It's from a nearby room.

"What was that?" I ask.

"I'm afraid they've broken in through the French windows," Kefilwe answers.

"It's okay," Owen says, although neither Jody nor I feel all that assured. "There's a back way out. Follow me."

•

"I never-I never knew you could run so fast in a weddin' dress," Jody pants as we race through the dining room. "How the hell is she doin' it? She looks like... gray meringue."

"Are you sure you know the way out, Owen?" Kefilwe asks. "I don't mean to doubt, but you're about to pass that wedding cake for the third time."

"I can't help it," He replies. "This whole place is like a bloody maze!"

The bride and groom are right behind us. They're so fast. How are they so fast? I look back behind me, eyes going wide at the fact that they're holding hands. How are they managing to hold hands? Their hands are missing at least two fingers! ...Each!

This. Is. So. Weird.

"Why didn't I bring a weapon?" Owen asks, smacking himself in the forehead.

"Yeah, why didn't you bring a weapon?" Sam repeats.

"Why didn't any of us bring a freaking weapon?" I scream. We pass the moldy wedding cake, and I grab the large, extravagant knife that's right beside it. I'm just about to turn around when a rotting hand grabs my hair.

I let out a very undignified shriek. Then I turn and stab the zombie in the head, but even as the corpse falls, its hand doesn't let go of my hair. I have only two seconds to do anything, so I slice a good three inches off my hair before hacking through the bride and groom's hands as they reach for me.

"Nicely done!" Sam exclaims. "But I can see the house on long range cams and there are more zoms closing in. I can't believe how many guests they had at this wedding. It must've cost them a fortune."

"And look at them now," Jody says as I twist around to stab another zombie in the head. "That's why you should never get married."

"Why? Because the entire wedding party will get turned into the shambling undead during the zombie apocalypse? That might be a bit of a one-off."

Owen points up ahead towards an arch made from mistletoe. "I see it. There's the exit."

Is there a wedding cliche that these people didn't like?

"Are you sure?" Dr. Lobatse asks. "There are a awful lot of zoms-"

"It's the only way out," Sam says.

I run ahead, knife in hand as I head towards the zombies that crowd the exit. I lunge forward and stab one in the head, ducking down to avoid being bitten by another one.

"Die! Die! Die! I said die, bitch! Die!" I scream, stabbing one after another like a knife wielding maniac, which I guess I am right now.

But then there's a loud noise that resembles that of an explosion, and all the zombies in front of us drop to the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Owen gasps, and I'm wondering the exact same thing.

"Concussion grenade," An American voice says. Standing right ahead of the face down zombies is a man, tall and blonde with bits of gray starting to slip through it. His blazing green eyes stare right at me, and I have to resist the urge to shrink back. He looks like he could kill all of in three seconds or less. Well, he could kill Jody and Owen in three seconds or less. I'd be a bit harder to kill.

"Uh, thanks for... that," I say, but he gives no reaction.

"Follow me. They won't stay like this for long."

"And who the hell are you?" Jody questions, and again he doesn't answer. He just turns and starts running.

"Hurry!"

Seeing that we don't have too much choice in the matter, we follow. This stranger is right about the zombies; They'll be getting back up soon. And if this man proves to be an enemy, I still have this big ass knife along with my pocket knife to protect us.

But why would he save us only to try to kill us? With that thought in mind, I realize the chances of him being a bad guy are slim, but that doesn't mean it isn't a possibility. We thought Van Ark was good once, when he 'sacrificed' himself so Sarah and I could get away from a horde. Then he turned out to be a lunatic with the hopes of living forever.

You never know with people.

The stranger leads us into the woods, towards the stream. I find I like him considerably less now that he's making us wade into the stream.

Has he forgotten it's October?

Owen grimaces. "I'm only wearing trainers; My feet are getting soaked, plus it's freezing."

I nod, my body going rigid. I can already feel goosebumps erupting on my skin. It's already bad enough that right now I have the worst haircut ever, and now this guy's making us get shin deep into the stream.

"Zoms are scent hunters," He says. "Water'll confuse your trail."

"I don't want to be rude, but would you ask this man who he uh, who he actually is?" Sam asks.

"The name's Travis, Mr. Yao. I'm here in Ministry business."

I sneer at the mention of the Ministry. I still don't trust them. Something about them just... I don't know.

"Oh. You can hear me."

"Headset's tuned to your frequency. I heard about the tight hole your runners had landed in."

"Well, it was terribly kind of you to help out," Kefilwe says, and the man nods.

"And you're right," Sam adds. "The stream did confuse the trail. The zoms are way behind you. I think you're home free."

"Good, then it's time to do this." Travis pulls out a pair of handcuffs, and all three of us runners take a step back.

"Uh, mate, what're are you doing with those?" Owen asks. Travis suddenly reaches forward and grabs Jody's arm, pulling her towards him.

"Get off me!" She shouts, but he pins her arms behind her back and handcuffs her.

"Jody Marsh, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of twenty-three people, including ten children."

Owen and I stare at him in shock. Jody's eyes widen and her jaw drops; She looks absolutely horrified at the accusation.

"You're what?" Sam chokes.

"You have been tried and found guilty of absentia. The sentence is death, to be carried out immediately in your return to Abel."

A/N: Cliffhanger! Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Tell me, do you think Runner Four could possibly have done such a thing? Please be sure to leave a comment and vote. Thank you and have a blessed day!