“If you hadn’t of fired that gun, Cassandra wouldn’t have gotten shot!”

“I saved their hides, Dani! Feral’s were sneaking up on those assholes, and none of you saw them! What did you expect me to do, huh?! Just watch them get eaten?!”

“Warning them would have been preferable! You could have gotten her killed!”

“So because I saved those people, you’re taking my gun? Is that it?”

“I’m taking your gun until you can learn to use your goddamn head before you pull the trigger!”

The arguing voices of Matt and Dani carry over to my ears as I stir awake. Am I laying on a bed? Where am I? What happened out there?

The sound of boots on a hardwood floor get steadily louder, and the creaking of a door catches my attention as it’s slowly pulled shut again. I open my eyes and find myself staring at a ceiling fan spinning lazily above me. I turn my head towards the sound of the footsteps, spotting Dani, looking so relieved she might collapse.

“Thank God you’re awake,” she breathes, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“What happened out there?” I croak, my throat dry.

“Matt shot a Feral that was sneaking up behind Hank and his people, and Connor thought he was opening fire on them. Connor shot you,” Dani sighs, grabbing one of my hands and giving it a squeeze.

“Where are we? Is everyone else okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. Once Hank saw that it was a Feral attack, he brought us here so their doctor could help.”

“We’re at their place?”

Dani nods. “It’s… not looking good, Cass. John said there’s some internal bleeding, and there’s still shrapnel buried inside he couldn’t get out right away. He doesn’t have the proper equipment right now.” Her face is pale and there’s dark lines under her eyes.

“How long was I out for?”

She glances out a window, where the sun is setting outside. “About two days now. We’ve been trying to keep your iron levels up, but no one knew your blood-type. Until we can get some transfusions in you and stop the bleeding, you’re going to feel pretty tired and light headed.”

“It’s AB positive…” I mumble, too weak to ask much more, and my vision starts to tunnel again.

“Cass?” Dani’s voice sounds distant and worried, and I black-out again.

***

My lungs burn and my body feels like lead, but I push onwards through the snow. I have to get away from them, I have to find Felix and Octavia. My bow is in my hands as I sprint through the streets, covering my face with my scarf as the snow beats against my body and the wind bites away at my face. I don’t even know where these people came from, they just materialized out the snow, and no amount of arrows would deter them from chasing me.

Who are they? They’re dressed in camouflage built for the snowy season, and their armor prevents my arrows from piercing them. Their faces are hidden by armored helmets and black visors, and they carry heavy weapons. The street-pole I pass by is hit with something crackling with electricity, and I know they’re out to capture me. I spin, knocking an arrow, and firing it, but it bounces harmlessly off their chest-plate as I spin back around to continue running.

Why are they chasing me? What do they want? Are these the people Uncle Tommy warned me about?

I have to get away. I can’t let them get me. I can’t let them get the locket. I take cover behind a large black armored truck to catch my breath, but I can hear them coming closer.

Think, Cassy. You have to get this medicine back to Felix. He could be getting worse. I spot an office building just ahead of me as the sound of crunching snow gets closer.

It might not be clear of Feral’s. But if I stay here, I’ll be captured for sure, and taken off to who knows where. I’ll take my chances with the infected.

***

My eyes open up once again, and sunlight filters into the room. Dani is seated in a chair next to the bed, hunched over with her arms crossed, dead to the world. A small tube is stuck through her arm, winding it’s way over the sheets of the bed, and stuck into my arm, pumping blood into me.

I’m too tired to think of the consequences of getting blood from Dani of all people, but considering I’m not trying to rip her apart, I’d say it’s safe enough. My eyelids feel like they weight a ton, and I’m freezing cold, even laying under a thick quilt and comforter. I take a glance around the room I’m in, noting some medical equipment lying on the night stand next to the bed. It’s obviously not a hospital, the wooden floors and décor of the room is a dead giveaway. Are we on another farm? It’s not the same one we were at months ago, that much I’m sure of.

This bedroom is much more quaint, and a little older than the one we were at, and it looks well-lived in. Through the window, I can see a small barn beyond the porch, and a few cattle grazing in the pasture.

The door to the bedroom creeks open, and an older man, older than Hank, steps inside. He’s tall and looks stern, with a trimmed up dark beard that has flecks of grey. His hair long, pulled back in a ponytail, and he wears a neat button-up with suspenders, jeans, and cowboy boots.

When he notices I’m awake, he offers a smile in greeting. “How are you feeling?” He asks me, his voice stirring Dani from her sleep.

“Cold,” I mumble, shivering. “And really tired.”

He nods gravely as Dani sits up, letting him remove the transfusion tube from her arm, and he does the same to me. “I was afraid of that,” he sighs. “You’ve got some internal bleeding going on, along with some shrapnel of the bullet still lodged in your abdomen. The seizures have only made the bleeding worse.”

“Seizures?” I ask slowly.

The man nods again. “Your brain isn’t getting enough blood-flow because of the bleeding, but your friend here has offered to give you transfusions for the time being.”

Dani nods, offering an exhausted smile, but I don’t feel reassured.

“So, how do we fix it? You can take the pieces out, right?” I ask.

That’s when the man’s expression changes. “Taking out the pieces that are buried in you is something I am capable of, with the proper equipment. But as of right now, if we tried doing that sort of operation…” he trails off, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t have a good chance to survive it.”

A stone forms in the pit of my stomach. I won’t survive?

“You mentioned a place that might have what you need,” Dani speaks up. “Where is it?”

The man sighs again, glancing out the window. “There used to be a quarantine zone a few miles north of us. The military took root in a high school nearby and set up operations. But that place is overrun by now.”

“I’ll go then,” Dani stands, wobbling on her feet, and the man steadies her.

“You just gave quite a bit of blood to your friend here, Dani,” the man warns. “You’re in no condition to go scavenging, let alone for a walk.”

“But I have to do something!” Dani exclaims.

There’s a light knock on the door, and Josh pokes his head in, followed by Sparrow and Quentin.

“Excuse me, but you didn’t happen to forget that we’re here, too, right?” Josh’s voice is light as he grins.

“Yeah,” Sparrow says, putting his hands on his hips. “You stay here, Dani, and watch over Cassy. We got this!”

“Where’s this quarantine zone, John?” Josh asks.

John rubs his beard, thoughtful. “It’s at the high school in Grassville. It’s tucked away and a little hard to find if you’re not local. Owen can take you there easily enough,” he offers.

Josh crosses his arms. “I mean no offense to you, but I don’t really trust Owen to watch our backs.”

“Who’s Owen?” I ask.

Dani glances down at me, looking a little pissed. “The guy that shot you.”

John nods in understanding. “I know what my grandson did, but he and Gwen both went to that high school before the world turned upside-down. Hank and Gwen are out lookin’ for Stacey, and Tess is still sick. I’d take you myself if I could, but these old knees of mine ain’t what they used to be,” John says. “And we can’t wait until Hank and Gwen get back to send them out again. Your friend here needs this as soon as possible.”

Josh grumbles something under his breath and Sparrow sighs, but eventually they nod. “Alright. We’ll head out as soon as we find him,” Josh agrees, and walks over to me, patting my arm. “Don’t worry, Cass. We’ll get you on your feet in no time.”

Dani walks over to Josh and rests her hand on his shoulder. “Be careful out there, alright? Come back in one piece.”

Josh scoffs playfully. “Please, when am I never careful?”

“Do you really want an answer to that question?” Dani quips.

“I plead the fifth,” Josh smirks, turning to John. “Where can we find Owen?”

“Out back tending to the cattle. Tell him that I’m making him go, or he’s not going to have any supper tonight,” John says with a grin.

Josh and Sparrow nod, leaving through the door with Quentin trailing behind them.

“While they’re away, I’d like for you to help me set up the preparations for the operation,” John say, turning to face Dani. “You seem to know your way around medical equipment.”

“Sure thing,” Dani says, nodding as John makes his way out of the room. Once he’s gone, Dani sits at the edge of my bed and gingerly takes my hand. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you survive this, Cass,” she promises, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “I won’t let you die.”

I squeeze her hand back, offering a weak smile. “I know, Dani. Between you and John, I trust that I’m in good hands.”

She kisses my knuckles before standing, letting me rest my hand on the bed. “Go ahead and get some rest, okay? I’ll be back to check on you later.” Her eyes linger on me for a moment, the dedication clear on her face, and she leaves, carefully closing the door behind her.

Before I know it, my mind has slipped into another dreamlike memory.

***

The desk I’ve taken cover behind is in ruin, and has obviously seen better days. The sound of heavy footsteps echoes throughout the office, orders behind mumbled back and forth between the soldiers searching for me. I can hear one of them getting close, looking under and behind each desk of the cube-farm. The instant I see the boots in front of me, I leap, grabbing the soldier by the mask and plunging the dagger in his unarmored neck. He gargles something as I ease him down, and thankfully for the temporary walls of the office space, none of the other soldiers seemed to have seen me.

I take a moment to examine the uniform, noticing a familiar logo on the chest and arm; a stylized image of a man holding up the globe – Atlas.

A company specializing in medicine is trying to capture me? For what? Are they trying to experiment on me? Do they know about the locket? How would they know I have it? How would they even know I’m here?

I shake my head, going through his pouches. Most of what he carries is ammo, some stunning rounds, grenades of some sort, and a folded up piece of paper. I unfold it, and silently sigh. It’s a family photo of a smiling young man and twin boys, taken in front of the CDC. I fold it back up and put it back in his pouch, taking the grenades and ammo for myself.

Three sets of footsteps near me, and I get ready, grabbing the discarded mouse on the desk, ready to throw it and raise Hell.

***

My body feels heavy and weightless, burning and freezing, numb and overloaded, all at the same time. I can’t tell if I’m sweating or not, unable to trust my own senses, and my vision is blurry. I see a dark headed figure standing over me, but I can’t make out their features.

“How are you feeling?” The voice sounds familiar, but it feels like I’m hearing them under the water.

“Mom?” My voice cracks as I try to speak. “Mom, what are you doing here?” I try to reach out to her as her face morphs between a blur and a barely recognizable image.

“John, I don’t think she’s doing very well,” Mom calls over her shoulder, and I try to sit up, but my entire body burns like a white-hot poker when I move. “No, hey, don’t try to move,” Mom soothes, running her fingers through my hair.

“Mom, it hurts,” I groan, pleading. “It hurts so bad, please.”

“John, we have to do something!” Mom calls again, grabbing my hands to steady me.

“I’m so sorry,” I croak, my throat tight. “I couldn’t keep everyone together, I’m sorry.”

“John!” Her voice is more distant, and my vision swirls, darkening, and everything falls away.

I’m sorry, Mom. Felix is dead. Uncle Tommy might be too, and Octavia hates me.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

Please don’t hate me.

I failed you. I let everyone down.