To Be A Hero

Chapter 46: Ready As I'll Ever Be

"So, you've got everything?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, Sam. I've got everything. I've got Christmas gifts for Penelope, Milo, Jody, Owen, Janine, and I even managed to grab something for you when you weren't looking."

"Wh-how?"

I grin. "I'm sneaky like that."

"Yeah, you are," He chuckles, but goes silently quickly after. "Hey, can I ask you something... about what you said yesterday?"

"You know we're not supposed to talk about anything that went on that mission."

"I-I know, but what you said... what they did to you-that really happened?"

I blink. "Yes. I wouldn't make that up."

"I-I know. I just-your thirteenth birthday and they..." He sighs heavily, unable to find the words. He finally says my name softly after a minute or so. "I'm so sorry."

A pained smile makes its way onto my face.

"It's okay. I'm thankfully miles away from that place. The memories of it still haunt me, but I've grown very used to it. What was done to me and what I did to others... there's a reason I don't want people knowing my name." I grab onto my backpack strap. "Um, we can talk about this more when I get back to Abel, okay? Less chance of people listening in."

"Why would someone listen in?"

"Because they're nosy, sort of like how you were when you were listening in on a spare headset when we were getting stuff for the baby shower."

He laughs. "You've got a point there. And, yeah. We can talk more when you get back home. You should be getting out of town shortly. Just uh, oh. Don't go down that street to your right. It's got zombies just swarming to one of the houses. You'll have to take the long way around, I suppose."

I stop just as I reach said street, and I tilt my head to the side when I see about thirty zombies all crowding around one house. They're beating on the doors, banging on the windows, which are very strong since they haven't broke. Maybe it's bulletproof glass or something. I'm not sure, but why are they all just swarming at this one house? I ask Sam that exact question.

"I don't know, but from what I can tell from the streetlight cams and your headcam, there's a lot of them and you shouldn't go anywhere near it," He says. "Just come on home."

I don't move. Something about this is just pulling at me, but I'm not sure why.

"But what if someone's in there?"

"If someone was in there, they probably would have radioed for help. Maybe an animal or something died in there and the zombies are smelling the blood. I-I don't really know, but I have a really bad feeling about this, Five."

"Yeah, so do I, but I don't think I should just leave. I feel like someone might be-Jesus, God have mercy!" I flinch when I see a bloody hand slap against the second story window of that house. There's a glimpse of a face-a woman. I can't exactly see her detailed features from this far away, but I know it's a woman, and she-I think she has a washcloth stuffed in her mouth. She's biting down on it. She disappears, only leaving a bloody handprint on the window. It's obvious she needs help.

"Okay, you were right. Uh, um, okay. There's no way you're gonna be able to help that woman by yourself. I'm gonna get ahold of Runner Seventeen, and she's gonna come help you get that woman out of there."

"I don't think we have time," I say. "Send Summer. She can come lure the zombies away after I've gotten inside and have helped that woman."

"Five, no. You-you can't. It's too dangerous."