The others had no time to react. They watched Roanna land at the edge of the clearing, right by a steep drop.

"You alive?" Asumi called as she and the two guys tightened the circle.

A cough sounded from the fallen girl. It was followed by a gasp. "I think I cracked a rib." She lifted her head. "Still alive though." Her eyes widened as the snow shifted.

"Don't move!" Asumi yelled as she saw it too.

"Where did it go?" Mav muttered as he scanned the area.

The snow around Roanna shifted again. The girl's eyes widened further as there was a crack. She let out a yell as the snow gave way and she slid backward, right toward the edge. Her hands clawed for anything to hold. There was nothing.

"Cover me!" Asumi was off.

Shai automatically swiveled the gun to follow her path. He watched his friend tuck her gun away as she sprinted toward the edge. While she ran the blur headed right for her. Without breaking her stride, Asumi tossed the dropped flair she had picked up on the way.

Working with her, Shai shot it clean in the air. Light exploded and there was a hiss as the blur changed course and disappeared. Asumi pulled out a knife.

Roanna's feet were over the edge when the other girl dived, legs first. She threw out a hand, reaching for the falling Roanna. With the other, she stabbed the knife deep into the snow, searching for a hold.

Shai watched helpless as both girls slid over the edge. However, at the last moment he saw the knife find a hold. There was a jerk and only Asumi's arm remained visible. Without losing a moment, Shai dashed toward the two. He passed the burning flare.

"Mav, it's still around here," he called back in warning.

"I know." The other boy was swiveling, searching as he grabbed inched closer to the flare.

Shai dropped to his knees near the edge. He released the rifle and crawled forward. "Are you here?" he called. A moment later he was looking over the edge. To his relief, both girls were dangling there.

"Can't hold on much longer," Asumi hissed through gritted teeth. The girl was supporting the weight of two with one arm.

"I've got you." Shai reached for the hand holding the knife.

"No!" Asumi warned. "Take her first."

Shai's eyes darted to Roanna. The girl was staring down at the long drop below.

"You sure?" Shai asked.

"Too slippery to risk pulling both of us at once...hurry!" Asumi warned.

Shai nodded.

"Roanna." Asumi's voice made the girl turn to look up. "I'll swing you. Grab Shai's hand."

"You sure he won't drop me is a sudden spell of nausea hits?" Roanna sounded doubtful.

"I could always just let go," came Asumi's reply.

The other girl didn't respond to that.

Shai lay on the edge, getting a firm grip in the snow with his toes before extending his arm.

"One!" Asumi gritted her teeth as she swung the other girl back. "Two!"

Shai stretched even further.

"Three!"

The third swing did it.

Shai's hand firmly grabbed Roanna's. The sudden weight threatened to pull him forward. He fought back, tugging hard.

"Got you." He pulled. A few moments later, Roanna was up in the snow beside him. Shai didn't pay any attention as she collapsed on her back. Instead, he immediately turned to Asumi.

The girl grabbed his hand and he pulled her up too. She crawled up beside him, breathing hard.

"That was way too close." Roanna groaned. She lay on her back, hand on her ribcage. "Man that thing is strong."

Asumi didn't reply as she pulled her knife free from the ledge and slipped it back to its place in her clothes. She turned to eye the dying flare.

"Not many people can say they faced an infetor and lived." Roanna turned, eyes on Asumi. "How did you know that the knife would stick there?" she asked.

"I didn't," Asumi replied. She got to her feet.

Roanna's eyes widened. "Wait...seriously?"

"It'll be back." Asumi turned to gaze in the direction where Lake was still sitting. She began to trudge toward him. Mav only spared a second to watch. He still had his gun up, tense as he waited for another attack.

Roanna turned to Shai. "She really didn't know?"

"Asumi is like that." Shai got to his feet. He picked up his rifle and joined Mav.

"You still have a lot of energy for someone who was infected," the other boy commented.

"It'll hit hard soon. Trust me," was Shai's calm reply. He nodded over to where the duffle bag containing their last weapons lay. "Two flares and a grenade. How are we on ammo?"

Mav shook his head. "Just about to run dry." He lowered his gun somewhat. "I hate to say it, but I don't think flares will do much next time. How can I put it? It feels like it's still lingering."

Shai could only agree. He felt it too. That feeling of darkness and death. It was still hovering in the air.

"We need to move." Mav made his way to the duffle bag.

Asumi crouched by Lake. She murmured something to the boy who seemed to only now be coming out of a stupor.

"What's up with him?" Roanna asked as she limped to stand beside Shai. She still clutched her side.

Shai shot her a glance. "He's always been the feebler one in the group. He probably needs some sleep and a warm bed."

"Don't we all?" Roanna chuckled only to wince.

Shai eyed her side. "You going to be ok?"

Roanna waved him off. "You're in no condition to worry." She shot him a smile. "A cracked rib is nothing compared to slowly morphing into an infected..." she trailed off as the smile fell. "Sorry."

"We should get moving," Shai replied as he turned to the rest of the group. Asumi was pulling Lake to his feet and Mav grabbed the duffle bag.

No on disagreed and they began to move down the hill as one.

"Stick close together," Mav warned.

They had their weapons out as they walked. All the teens were tense. They could feel a presence following them and yet none could pinpoint it. The fact that it wasn't attacking was both a relief and yet made them dread the moment it decided to.

Roanna dropped back slightly to walk beside Asumi. She cleared her throat. "Um...you know before...what you did," she struggled to find the words. "I just wanted to say..." she trailed off again. "Thanks. You really saved me."

"You would have done the same," Asumi replied calmly.

Roanna gave a curt nod. Her eyes turned to Lake who walked right before the two girls. "What I want to know is why that thing never even made a move for him when he only sat there..." Roanna muttered. "Why me?"

From right behind the two, Shai listened in.

Asumi didn't reply right away. "Guess it saw you had a weapon and he didn't?" she suggested.

Roanna shook her head. She then shrugged only to pick up her pace and fall back into step beside Mav.

"Huh." Shai commented as he slid up alongside Asumi. "You got thanked."

Asumi didn't reply.

"Good job." Shai nudged her shoulder with his.

In response Asumi gave him a brief smile.

"I would prefer you don't run into danger though," Shai added.

"Coming from you that doesn't say anything, hypocrite," Asumi replied softly.

Shai shrugged.

"It'll be back shortly," Asumi warned.

"I know."

"We're not all going to make it."

That made Shai stop in his tracks. "What are you planning?" He knew his friend too well to doubt anything else was going on.

Asumi turned to face him. Behind her, the others continued on their path, unaware of the situation.

"It's going to attack any moment. That thing is intelligent. It won't let us get to the outpost," Asumi revealed what Shai already had guessed.

Still, he argued. "You don't know that."

"No." Asumi shook her head. "It's been playing with us all along. It enjoys giving you hope. Can't you see? First the car, running out of ammo and supplies. Sending the infected to herd us like cattle. It's waiting till the last moment to take us out." She motioned up the hill behind Shai. "Even now. It's here. It could take us out but it's just waiting. So far whenever it attacked it hasn't been serious."

Shai didn't want to admit it, but Asumi had a point.

"We need someone to take it out or it's over for all of us." Asumi met his eyes, her own unwavering. "You know this. I've known it. It's the only way anyone will make it."

Shai saw the determination in his friend's eyes. "Fine. We'll do this together."

Asumi shook her head. "You've got to get Lake home, remember?"

"We do this together." Shai wasn't about to be put off.

"I need to do this, Shai. For Yuji," Asumi whispered the last part. "For myself."

"Hey! You two!" Mav's voice interrupted.

The others had finally noticed the two weren't with them anymore. They had stopped some distance away.

"Are you planning to let that thing come get you or what?" Mav continued.

Neither Shai nor Asumi moved and so the others began to backtrack.

"Let's try take it down. One last time." Asumi was still holding Shai's gaze.

"What?" Roanna heard them. "Are you crazy?"

Shai saw there was no arguing. Worry gnawed at him yet he shoved it aside. "One last time," he agreed. "Together."

"Seriously?" Roanna came to stand by them while Mav and Lake stood some distance away. "Is anyone hearing this?" She turned to the other two boys. "Can someone tell them they're crazy?"

Lake looked to be out of it. His eyes were slightly glazed over as he swayed back and forth. Mav, on the other hand, didn't say a word.

"Hello?" Roanna turned back to Shai and Asumi. "Remember what happened last time?"

"There's no infected it can gather here." Shai pulled the rifle from his back. "Not in this short notice. Not when it's following us." He turned to Roanna. "Asumi's right. That thing isn't planning to let us live. It won't let us make it." With that, he nodded to the duffle bag. "Two flares and a grenade. We should be able to figure something out."

"You can't be serious!" Roanna protested.

"Whatever we do..." Mav jerked a thumb toward Lake. "I don't think he'll be much help."

Shai nodded. "That's why you should go on ahead. Asumi and I will finish this."

Mav raised an eyebrow.

Roanna's jaw dropped.

"You sure that thing won't follow us instead?" Mav asked.

"Positive," came Shai's reply.

Mav sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "You certain?"

"Leave it to us," Asumi replied.

Shai walked over to Lake. The boy's eyes were unfocused and yet flickered somewhat when his friend approached him. Putting his hand one either shoulder Shai leaned in so that he was staring right into Lake's eyes. "You're going to be alright, understand?"

Lake gave a nod.

"No." Roanna shook her head. "We're not splitting up here." She pressed her hand tighter against her side as she let out a hiss of pain. "We're stronger together!"

"We'll be fine," Asumi replied calmly. She dropped to explore the contents of the duffle bag.

Shai nodded. He turned from Lake to Roanna. "Besides...I'm bit, remember?" He tapped a hand against the scarf covering his neck. "Won't be much of a loss if things go wrong."

Roanna opened her mouth to argue. The words never made it out when Mav's hand descended on her shoulder.

"Let them do as they like," he murmured. He turned to Shai and gave him a nod. Shai responded with his own. "Come on." Turning, Mav gave Lake a little shove. The boy turned and listlessly began to trudge in the direction they had been going before. Mav went with him, not looking back.

Roanna stayed.

Shai thought he saw Asumi slip something into her pocket but Roanna's voice called his attention. "You're crazy," the girls whispered.

Shai cracked a smile at that.

"Here." Asumi stood and tossed the other girl the duffle bag. She herself held the two flares. "You better get going before they leave you behind." She nodded at the retreating backs of the boys.

Roanna bit her lip as she hesitated.

"You'll only be in the way with that injury," Asumi told her.

The other girl's hand tightened on her side. "You better catch up as soon as you're done here," she muttered.

"Oh, don't doubt it," Asumi responded with a smile.

Nodding, Roanna turned and followed the others.

For a moment, Shai and Asumi stood, watching them go.

"You ready to get even?" Asumi's voice brought Shai's attention back to the task at hand.

The boy lifted his rifle. "You have a plan?"

"Don't I always?" Asumi tossed him a flare. "We have one shot."

"Just like old times," Shai told her with a grin.

Asumi nodded. "Just like old times," she agreed. She turned to look up hill. Shai turned with her. "For Yuji and Fabian."

Shai made sure the rifle was armed. "Three shots left. Let's make them count."

A cold wind blew across the hill as the two figures stood together. Behind them, three disappeared down the hill, headed towards the warmth and safety of the outpost. The two who remained bravely faced the slope, ready to put an end to the constant fear stalking them.