Chapter 56: Back In Your Head

"That's them there, see? It's hundreds and hundreds of zoms," Louise says. "They're what-still a couple miles from Abel? But they're closing in fast. Do you think it's that Diana woman?"

"Yeah, probably," Sam says, and I picture him sitting in his battered swivel chair, gnawing at the inside of his cheek nervously. "Why is it always a small army of zombies? Why can't it be-be a barbershop quartet of zombies? Runner Five, you're making good time back from the village. Is that-blimey, is that a cloud of smoke behind you? I can't believe they've burnt the whole place down already."

A drop of sweat drops from my nose, and I close my eyes tight as cold air stings my lungs. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop the town's fate. I tried, but I couldn't change what I saw.

"We certainly won't be getting any help with curing the mind control from them," Janine says in frustration. "Don't worry about that now, Five. Just return to Abel A.S.A.P. We have more immediate problems."

"Yeah, like a whole horde of fast zoms running towards us." I can practically see the eye roll. "I have said that already, Janine."

"That's not the only issue, Mr. Yao. We sent out a party an hour ago to pick up fuel from one of our off-sight caches. It's an old Cold War bunker about a mile outside the township. Because of nuclear paranoia, the bunker's lined in lead, and maintaining a communications link is nearly impossible. I've been trying to raise them on the radio, but I can't get a signal."

I internally groan. You've got to be kidding me.

"So best case scenario, they come above ground to find Abel covered in a layer of ravenous, slathering zombies," He says with a forced laugh, and I grab my backpack strap in worry.

"Unless some of those zombies have weapons," Louise replies. "Then you'd have slathering zombies and the smoking ruins of Abel."

He grimaces. "Do I even want to ask what the worst case scenario is?"

Janine sighs. "Based on the trajectory of that swarm, they'll be on top of the bunker and our team within twenty minutes. We'll be lucky if the entire cache isn't compromised, and we certainly haven't been lucky so far today."

"Okay, then what should we do?" I question breathlessly. "What should I do?"

"Okay. Okay. Okay," Sam mumbles to himself. "Let me think. Uh, Janine, call whichever runners we've had on rest break the longest. Five, keep running. You should be able to intercept the horde before they reach Abel or the bunker."

"Do you want me to just distract them or do you want me to take them down?"

"Kill as many of them as you can without risking yourself too much. You only have your axe with you, right?"

"I have my gun with me, but I don't want to waste bullets. I don't have that many."

"Right. Lou, we'll probably need you back in the field, and bring some extra bullets for Five." He lets out a small huff. "Hey, you don't have to press your face up against the screen like that."

"I can see a woman in the center of the swarm," She says, and I blink.

"A woman? Like, a human-not-zombie woman?"

"Yeah. She's wearing these funny looking robes. I think I know her... Yeah, we both do. From that old sawmill. She helped us escape from the zombie cult."

"What?"

"No, wait," Sam says. "Wait, you mean-move your head. I can't see... No... No, that doesn't make sense."

"What?" Janine asks.

"Well, Lou's right... It's Moonchild."

Moonchild... I remember her. It's hard to forget someone like her, a weird talking hippie that has a stash of drugs on her and helps in saving your life. But even with her whole 'peace and harmony and being one with nature' thing she's got going on, there's no way she can be walking in the middle of a zombie horde without being eaten. The only way she could be doing that is if she's wearing that zombie repellent Veronica created, which she's probably not.

So what is she doing?

I'm breathing heavily, heart pounding in my chest as I gasp in cold, stinging air. Each breath is like a sharp stab to my lungs, the cold numbing my fingers, my nose, my lips. The snow crunches under my feet, but it's barely heard by the marching footsteps of the zombies. What is going on?

I have my pistol on me, but I only have a certain amount of bullets. I can't waste a single one of them. I didn't fire any when I was in Little Sten St. Crispen, so I know I have exactly ten bullets in my gun. I'll only shoot if I suddenly get surrounded or if Janine gives me an order. Other than that, I'm using my axe, which I have on my back for now. Even though I have good aim, I can't risk firing and missing. Each bullet is precious and wasting them is a travesty.

"Runners One and Eleven, report to the gates," Janine commands over the speakers. "I repeat: Runners One and Eleven, to the gates."

"You're catching up to the zom horde, Five," Sam says. "Hold that course while we... while we figure out what to do, to be honest."

Louise hums. "It doesn't look like Moonchild has gone gray. Actually, she looks good."

I roll my eyes at her tone of voice.

"It doesn't make sense. She was so nice."

I hear Janine 'tsk.' "Nice people aren't typically found in the middle of a swarm of fast zombies carrying what appears to be a tone producing box, Mr. Yao. Explain to me how the three of you know this Moonchild person."

I've caught up to the horde, and I run around the outskirts of it, carful not to get too close. I grab my axe and swing, slamming the blade into the skull of a zombie. I turn my head to avoid being sprayed with the gray-ish red splatter. "Moonchild helped me and Louise escape from a zombie worshiping cult a few months back. They thought they could be friends with the zoms if they kept them well fed. Moonchild was someone they tried feeding to them a few days earlier."

"Yeah," Sam agrees. "She was a little... crystals, auras, spirit energy, 'free your mind, man', and I think she was a drug dealer-"

"She was most definitely a drug dealer," I reply. "I know one when I see one."

"How?"

I bite my tongue. "I... just do, alright? You learn a lot in an apocalypse."

Now is not the time to indulge in my family history.

"Anyway, she was kinda weird, but evil? No way. She saved Five's life."

Louise clears her throat loudly.

"And Lou's."

"Doesn't matter now," Janine says. "We need to stop her. Runner Five, follow the outside level of the pack. When you draw level with her, shoot her."

"Cold," Louise says as I axe another zombie, following around the outside of the pack, trying to knock down a few zombies so I'll have a better chance of hitting her.

"But she's-I mean, she's harmless, Janine," He stammers. "She was actually quite nice. A bit dippy, but-but we can't just shoot her."

"We can. She's a threat to Abel, Mr. Yao. We have enough of those already. If we can get rid of one, we will. You should have her in your sight, Five. Fire off as many rounds as needed."

I cut off the head of one more zombie before putting the axe on my back again, and then I pull my pistol from its holster. I aim, close one eye for better accuracy... The bullet will go right through her head.

I fire.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

I miss. But not because I had bad aim...

"Yeah, that's not good," Louise says, while I stare in shock.

"Is that even possible?" I ask.

"Apparently."

"How could she even command zombies to do that that quickly?"

Sam lets out a breath of shock. "I don't know. I mean, those zombies literally jumped out in front of her. She must be doing something to make them act like human shields, or I guess zombie shields is a better word for it."

"Fire again," Janine instructs, and I do. I pull the trigger twice more, but again two zombies block my path. One practically throws itself in front of her. I grit my teeth, muttering a curse word in anger.

"What now? I only have four bullets left."

"She's too well protected. You'll have to get in closer," My operator replies.

"I know, but I can't take them all down using my axe. There's got to be at least 300 of them, and each one I kill is replaced with another. I won't be able to get to her before the zoms get to the bunker, or to Abel." I put my gun back in its holster on my hip and grab my axe again, finding a zom on the outside of the horde. I go after it, and I swing.

Then I swing again, and again, and again. Zombies fall to the ground, but I can't make my way inside. I won't be able to fight them all off.  Even now there are some zombies that are starting to notice me. Their eyes turn to look at me, and their hungry mouths gape open.

I kill them before they can get too close.

"Don't tire yourself out, Runner Five," Janine states. "Your mission is far from over. How much of New Canton's calming serum do we have left?"

"We have enough to get Five into the swarm... but that stuff wears off really quickly, and we know what it does to people," Sam says, nervousness tinged in his voice.

"Which matters not at all if those zombies get to Abel and it turns out they're carrying weapons. Five knows the risks of the job. This is one of them."

"But-"

"Sam, I'll be okay," I interrupt. "Right now we have to stop Moonchild."

He sighs heavily. "Lou, get over to the hospital and get Dr. Lobatse to pull out the last vial of the serum. She's been running tests on it. You can carry the serum out to Five, and maybe bring her some bullets as well. You've met Moonchild before. Maybe if you two go together, you can talk her out of this. Five, hold tight. Help is on the way."

I don't understand what he means by that. 'Hold tight.' I mean, I have to keep running, I have to keep from dying. The only thing I'm doing right now is taking down a few zombies. It's barely even making a dent in the massive horde that's heading for my home. I know every zom I kill is one less the others will have to deal with, but if I could just get to Moonchild... If I could just get a clear shot without worrying about a zombie jumping in front of the bullet...

It's sad. I don't really want to kill Moonchild. I mean, it's not like it was with Van Ark, or how it is with Diana. She's not done anything besides this, and before that she helped us.

But then again, we thought Van Ark was a good guy for a while, and I thought Diana was a decent person when I first met her...

People are never what they seem. I'm not stupid enough to base opinions on a first impression.

Not anymore.

"How're you doing, Lou?" Sam asks.

"Nearly there. I'm just passed the old hollow oak tree," She pants, and raises her hand to wave at me. "I can see you now, Five."

"Runner One, Runner Eleven, are you in position?" Janine questions.

"Locked and loaded." I can hear the smirk in Kytan's voice.

"Good to go," Yang answers, voice steady.

Sam lets out a shaky breath as he tries to gain confidence in this plan. "Alright, once Five and Lou take down Moonchild, I need you to draw the swarm away from our fuel hold. Should be a little covert next to some shrubs."

"Yeah, I see it. Or at least, I see some shrubs next to open metal doors with a golf cart parked next to them. Not a smart idea to leave the doors open. Anything could find its way down there."

"Yes, apparently I need to speak to our team about security protocol again," Janine says in irritation, and I can't help but agree. Those are the kind of mistakes that get people killed.

And there's been enough lives lost today at Little Sten St. Crispen. We don't need anymore unnecessary deaths.

Louise finally makes her way over to me just as I bash another zom's head in. "Hi, Five. Looks like you've kept yourself busy while waiting for me."

"Thought I'd make it easier for us. The less zombies there are, the less we have to squeeze through."

She nods. "Smart. Now, ready to stink worse than the bogs after prison casserole night?"

"Try not to use too much of that stuff," Sam stresses. "We only have one vial left, and we can't make anymore. New Canton cut down all the plants."

"Don't forget that it can cause you to go bonkers," I add.

"And the fact that it's efficiency's somewhat dubious," Janine adds.

"Yeah, That too. You'll only have a few minutes of zombie effect. I'd have told you to take the repellent device from the kids' dorms, but it seems to stop working if you even look at it funny, let alone run around with it. Smidge just a tiny bit from that last vial in your clothes, but not your skin. That should cut down your exposure a bit."

Louise splashed it onto her clothes, but makes sure to keep it from touching her snowy white skin or her equally light colored hair. I do the same, although I don't have to worry about my dark hair as much, since it's so much shorter.

"Into the swarm, quickly," Janine says, her voice cold. "You've not much time left."

Louise nods, a faint grin on her face. "Right. Let's get our murder on then."

I raise a brow at her just as Sam speaks. "Can you not sound so enthusiastic about this?"

"Charge!"

•

"Looking good, guys. Moonchild should be just ahead of you, behind that group of zoms in the rugby gear."

"I see her," Louise says, before looking at me and the gun on my hip. "You said you had what, four bullets left?"

"Not yet," Janine says quickly. "Any shot you fire with zombies between you and her is a waste of ammunition even if you did bring enough to spare. You'll most likely need that extra clip Miss Bailey brought to kill any zombies that get too close."

"If we wait any longer she's gonna see us."

"Then restrain her."

"You want them to shoot her while she's down?" Sam gasps as we maneuver through the zombies. The zombie repellent makes us undetectable for now, but I have my axe strapped to my back, and I'm ready to start swinging and shooting if they start noticing that we're human.

"Obviously I'd rather bring her in for questioning, Mr. Yao. She must be working with Diana. We need to know what their plans are-their rouses." She pauses as Moonchild presses a button on the tone-box, and a series of sounds-organ music mixed with auto tune-come from it. "Is Moonchild attacking now that Maxine has returned to us? If our runners can hold her, we've a chance to find out. But if she runs, we have no choice but to shoot."

"Right," Louise says, letting out a quick breath. "Five, here's the plan. Once I've got her down, you wave that gun around and put some fear in her. I can see an opening through the zoms." She tenses, readying herself. "I'm going for it."

She dashed forward, grabbing Moonchild by the waist and tackling her to the ground. The dark skinned woman lets out a sharp gasp as she hits the cold snow.

But then I hear glass shatter.

"Got her!" Sam cheers. "Nice tackle!"

"Damn it!" She curses. "The vial shattered. Oh, God. That stuff's gone everywhere. I could've done without going mental today... and the stink."

I rush over to the two of them, my gun aimed right at Moonchild's face. She doesn't notice at first. She's actually just glaring at Louise.

"Woah, chill out, lady. What's with all the negative energy?" She looks around, eyes going wide at the sight of all the zombies. "Where am I? What's going on? Oh, man, this is a majorly bad trip."

"Don't move. I will not hesitate to shoot you right between the eyes." My words are cold and jagged, and I see her flinch.

"Why does she seem confused?" Sam asks.

"Wait, I remember you two. I'd know your lovely purple auras anywhere. What are you doing here?" She looks around in confusion and fear. "What are all these zombies doing here?"

I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. The poor woman looks totally lost, as if she has no idea what she's been doing... what she was going to have those zombies do...

"No time for questions, any of you," Janine says. "The zombies are starting to notice you. That last tone may have turned them away from Abel, but it isn't doing you any favors."

Louise stands, roughly pulling Moonchild up with her. "Up you get, Moonshot."

"Moonchild," She corrects.

"Whatever. Zombies are after us. Run."

She's right. The zoms are starting to notice us again. My heart rate quickens. I didn't think it would start wearing off this quickly. I thought we'd have at least seven minutes before it started to wear off.

Apparently not.

I hand my gun to Louise, and she keeps it aimed at Moonchild while she drags her along. I grab my axe and swing at anything that seems too interested in us. We're in the middle of a swarm and that stuff is wearing off fast. So there's actually a lot of things that are showing interest in us.

There's a loud spatter as I shove the axe's blade into a zom's forehead. It drops to the ground, and I yank the blade out, trying to keep at a steady pace while getting out and away from the horde. I swing back and forth, chopping down one zombie after another. Their groans and snarls as I hit them with the death blow are so loud I can't even hear myself think. All I can focus on is how my fingers ache as I keep a tight hold onto my axe.

We get out of the swarm, but that doesn't mean the we've gotten away. The zombies are still chasing us, and their growls are getting louder, angrier, hungrier. I crane my neck to look back over my shoulder. There's a zom staring right at me with it's one eyeball, mouth agape as it groans in attempt to reach me.

"Runner Five, zombie nurse on your six! Duck!" Sam yells.

I lower my head just in time to avoid being smacked in the face. I hadn't even noticed her catching up to me. I swing my axe around, the blade slicing through her rotting skin and weak bones easily.

"Lou, look out for those footballers on your left."

Louise looks to her left before pressing the gun into Moonchild's back, which encourages her to run faster. "If we all smell this bad, how come they're chasing us again?"

"The serum's much weaker than Miss McShell's original solution," Janine replies. "It's wearing off at a much faster rate."

"Five, zombie builder! Dodge! Dodge!"

I jump out of the way when I see the zombie. I try to take a swing at it, but I miss, only nicking the neck area. It still manages to slow the fast zom down for just a moment, which is good enough for me for now.

"I'm getting some really bad vibrations here," Moonchild shudders, and Louise pushes the gun further into her back.

"Shut up. A minute ago you were trying to kill us, in case you forgot."

Moonchild's brown eyes go wide. "What? No! No, I would never! I believe in all creatures living in harmony and-and balance."

"Yeah. Well, I'm willing to harmonize your balance."

"You're gonna what?" Sam asks.

"Don't you start."

"Anyway, you've got a whole team of zoms behind you. Looks like... women's hockey, maybe. A few of them still have their sticks. Watch your feet."

I tighten the grip I have on my axe.

"It must of been some sort of mind control," Moonchild says, blinking. "No wonder my third eye feels all out of alignment."

He gasps. "Yeah, like our people-like Maxine and Caleb. Diana must've gotten to Moonchild too. And that tone box... it might have been controlling her as well as the zoms. Janine, she might be able to help us find a cure. I mean, Diana must've wanted to control her for some reason, right? And presumably not just for help realigning her chakras."

She takes a short moment to reply. "Maybe so. Regardless, we'll need to bring her in for questioning."

Louise rolls her eyes. "Come along, Mother Nature. Got plenty of peace and love for you back at the township. Isn't that right, Five? Just as soon as we get away from these zoms."

I debate taking back my pistol and firing my last four bullets at the zoms, and the reloading using the clip Louise brought me, but I decide against. Since the zombies are now only partially under the control of that last tone that turned them away from Abel, making noise will catch their attention and cause them to come after us with more vigor, which will make it impossible to return to Abel right away and question Moonchild.

We're making good progress, slowly getting ahead of the zoms. I can the noisemakers from the other runners that are to break up the swarm. Of course, not all the zombies have turned to them, but the louder the noise gets, the more of the zoms' attention are grabbed.

Some are actually beginning to wander away from the horde to pursue them, which is a start. If we can break the horde up enough, we can pick off the zoms or outrun them. Easy enough...

But then again, when is anything ever easy enough? I've learned in this apocalypse, especially while in Abel, to never ever expect anything to come easy. If it seems easy, there's always something we're missing-a piece of the puzzle we haven't put into place.

I can hear the noisemakers more clearly now. It's not easy to hear it over the crunching of snow beneath our feet, or our ragged breathing, or the growls and snarls of the forty or so zombies that are close behind us. The rest are either too far behind, or have broken off to chase after Kytan and Yang.

And knowing those two, they've probably killed at least twenty already. Kytan does love to show off his kicks and flips and everything else. He wouldn't pass up a chance to kill a zom and looking awesome doing so.

"Looks like Runners One and Eleven are really breaking up the swarm, and snipers should be able to pick off any zombies that make it as far to the wall," Sam says. "Runner Five, Lou, we're gonna open the gates just a little way. You won't be able to run through, but you should be able to slide in. I just need one last burst of speed from you to get the zoms off your tail."

I nod, panting, sweating even though I'm freezing and my skin is cold as ice. "Got it."

"Yang, Kytan, report," Janine demands.

"All good, Janine," Yang replies. "I've got around eighty on my tail. I'm gonna run them up to the gorge."

"Careful. You've got a few sprinters on your tail."

"Good thing I brought my axe. Later, zombie dudes."

"Runner Eleven, what's your situation?"

"I've already warned the fuel team. They're gonna use the guns they brought with them and the two in the storage cellar to help me pick off the zoms heading this way. Any zom that gets near us will be getting a side of hi-yah! First, I'll jump on the head of this golf cart, then I'll jump right in their faces! Take that! I'll kick-punch you right in the teeth!"

Is kick-punching someone even a thing? I wonder.

"Lou, Five, you're almost home," Sam says.

"I think I'm gonna stay out here," Louise pants. "I haven't had a chance to have fun like this in ages."

"You have a strange definition of fun, you know."

She just grins in reply, before pushing Moonchild over to me. "You can keep good watch her for now. I'll keep your gun to take out some zoms."

"Do you want my axe?" I ask, and she shakes her head.

"Nah, I've got a large enough sized knife and a crowbar in my bag. Should do me good once I run out of bullets. See you around, Five. I've got zombie heads to smash."

Then she turns and runs off, laughing as she does so. I keep a tight grip on Moonchild's arm, sprinting as fast as I can towards the gates. The zombies are still behind us. There are snipers firing to take some of the closer ones out. Bullets fly past my face, and I breathe in heavily.

Just a little bit further. Just a little more.

"Alright, when I give you the signal, you start to slide..." Sam pauses. "Now!"

I roughly shove Moonchild down under the gate, and I slide under the gate as if I'm trying to be Indiana Jones or something. I hit the ground hard, but I don't care. I'm safe. I'm home.

"You're through! You made it!"

I look up and see a hand held out for me, and I take. Janine helps me up while staring at Moonchild's form on the ground.

"Stand up. Now we can get some answers."

She stands, dusting off her oddly bright colored robes and her braided hair. "I don't know what I can actually tell you, man. It's all a blur, and not the good kind of blur. Last thing I remember, I was headed to my stash, and then this woman appeared. I knew right away she was bad news because her aura was bright green. Do you know what that means?"

Janine raised a brow. "I have absolutely no idea. This woman-she was black, rather tall with a crooked nose?"

She nods. "That was her. I got one look at her, then there was this weird like, tone sound, and then I was here."

Janine nods, blue eyes flashing and brow knitted together. "Diana. She must've used you. Comansys was right. She is targeting us, and I'm sure this attack was only the start."

A/N: Here you go, guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please be sure to vote and comment! Thank you and have a blessed day!