Asumi sat bolt upright and Shai saw the hope flash across her eyes.

The commander nodded to a girl nearby. She responded by undoing the bolt. The door swung open.

As the night sky was revealed and several soldiers stumbled in. The door was shut behind them and firmly bolted.

"Bites?" Commanded Paul demanded.

A woman turned her emotionless eyes on him. Her face was splattered with black liquid. Blood. "Taken care of."

He nodded. "Any other survivors?"

The woman shook her head. "I doubt it."

Asumi had gotten to her feet, eyes scanning the newcomers. Shai had the same reaction. Not there, he realized right away.

"Eighteen hours remaining. Grab something." Paul motioned toward the crate with drinks.

The woman nodded and the group filed toward the back.

As they passed by, Asumi's hand shot out to grab one of the men's. "Did you see a boy back there?"

The man slowly turned, eyes emotionless.

"About this high," Asumi motioned with her hand. "Black hair. He's only thirteen..."

Eyes watched from all around as the man shook off her hand. "Other than the helicopter, there was no one else besides us that made it out."

Asumi's hand dropped to her side.

Lake stood. He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder before murmuring something. Shai caught it. "He's gone."

The girl lifted her head to stare at him. Then she brushed his hand off and marched to her bunk. Wordlessly she picked up her gun.

"What are you doing?" Lake watched.

Asumi didn't reply. She went to the back and grabbed a backpack. Two water bottles were stuffed in. Next, she grabbed some protein bars.

"Asumi!" Lake grabbed her arm.

The girl whirled, eyes blazing. "I'm going back."

Silence settled over the room.

Shai had seen this coming.

Commander Paul stood from where he had sat down.

Lake's mouth opened and closed before the words came. "Are you crazy!"

No reply. Asumi turned her attention to where the weapons were stored. She strode toward it, threw the door open, and began to run her hands over the choices.

Lake stormed after her while the rest of the room watched the unfolding drama in silence.

"Twenty four hours. Twenty four hours after no response they send one rescue mission to the pickup location. One!" Lake was talking to her back. "You miss that and you're screwed."

Asumi picked out a shot gun. She slung it over her back before grabbing an ammunition belt and throwing it over her shoulder. Several more shells were dumped into her backpack.

"They don't come a second time," Lake continued. "Speaking of which, if you go you won't even make it back..."

I made a promise... Not letting himself think of the consequences, Shai silently got to his feet. Fabian's eyes followed him.

"There's a hoard and infectors there," Lake continued.

"The infectors will have moved on." Several grenades were grabbed.

Lake let out a harsh laugh. "Moved on? Moved on?" He pointed a finger at the exit. "They don't move on while there's meat in the area. Not if they haven't had their fill!"

Asumi's hand froze over a knife.

Lake's voice softened. "He's dead, Asumi. Either that or..." he trailed off with a sigh. "Just accept it and move on."

Asumi whirled, knife in hand. She pointed it at Lake who took a rapid step back.

"Did you see him dead?" she demanded.

No reply.

She turned to the watching crowd and waved the knife. "Did any of you see him dead?"

Silence.

The commander walked over. "No one is going outside."

Lake stepped aside to let him pass. Relief crossed his face, no doubt at having someone take his side.

The man gave Asumi a stern stare. "No one goes out until rescue comes."

"You want me to leave my brother back there?" Asumi asked.

"No one goes back." The tone was full of authority, one that demanded the recipient listen. He turned to face the watching crowd. "Everyone here has faced loss at one point or another. Some even today." He turned back to Asumi. "What matters is that you're alive right now. I'm not going to let you throw that away.

Asumi didn't bat an eyelash. She twirled the knife in her hand and then crouched. Slowly she dropped the weapon into her boot, her eyes never leaving the commanders. "I'm going back." She stood.

The commander didn't move. "No one leaves without my permission."

Silence as everyone watched.

Shai chose this moment to move. He walked over, brushed past the commander, and came to a stand next to Asumi. His eyes dropped to meet hers.

"Two hours," she repeated his words.

"I know." He headed for the shelf with weapons.

Lake's eyes widened in realization. "What are you doing?"

Shai didn't reply as he straight for the sniper rifles. He grabbed one, looked it over, and put it back down.

"Shai, don't tell me..."

"I promised her." Shai chose a Rifle. He grabbed a box of amo for it and then slung the strap of the gun over a shoulder. A pistol was grabbed next followed by several grenades. "She might also be back there...I want to know."

A presence appeared behind him. He turned to have a backpack shoved into his arms. Fabian shot him a crocked grin. Shai took the bag and placed the grenades inside. Two flares were added.

The commander watched, eyes narrowed. "You kids have got to be joking."

Fabian joined in gathering equipment.

"That ammunition is not something to be wasted on a..." the commander began.

He was cut off as someone shoved past him.

"Care if I join?"

Shai turned his eyes to the girl who had driven them to safety was standing there.

Fabian raised his eyebrows as he and Shai exchanged a glance.

"It sounds interesting." The girl whirled to face Commander Noah. "Eighteen hours, right?"

His eyes turned to her.

"We'll go in, check, and be back in time for the pickup." She made it sound like a stroll in the park.

The commander was speechless. Several murmurs broke out.

Asumi had turned to the other girl, eyes scanning her as she seemed to try and read her.

The girl turned to face her. "No matter the outcome, as long as we try you'll be satisfied, right?"

No reply.

The girl grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."

Lake shook his head. "There's no way you'll..."

"We can be there in two and a half hours." Shai zipped the backpack closed and swung it over a shoulder. His eyes scanned the shelves. "It'll give us thirteen hours to search and some leeway to come back."

The new girl nodded in agreement.

"Sounds like a plan." Fabian picked up a machete. He looked it over before giving a curt nod. It was added to his pile. He picked up an assault rifle and then walked to Lake. He held the weapon out.

Lake stared at it blankly.

"What? You going to defend yourself with your bare hands?" Fabian joked.

Lake didn't move.

Fabian faltered. "Lake?"

The boy turned his head, avoiding all eye contact.

"Seriously?" Fabian lowered the weapon.

"I'm not suicidal," Lake muttered.

Hurt flashed through Asumi's eyes.

"You're kidding." Fabian's face gave away his shock.

Asumi picked up the backpack and the shotgun. She walked to the door, brushing by Lake with not so much as a second glance.

Fabian didn't move. "What happened to through thick and thin, man?"

Lake didn't reply.

"You're honestly chickening out?"

The other boy's hands clenched into fists. "You're asking me to go and die!"

"And if I am?" Fabian shot back.

Silence.

Fabian lifted a hand to his chest. He thumped a fist against it. "Brothers till the end." He pointed a finger toward Asumi. "A friend needs help. You're going to ignore that."

"It's certain death!" Lake shook his head, the frustration clear on his face. "Let's wait for the rescue. They can send someone back."

Fabian snorted. "You know they won't do that. The closest they'll get to going back there is to bomb the snot out of the area to kill anything that moves!"

Shai placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and Fabian instantly calmed down. He lifted his eyes. Lake refused to meet them. There was another moment of silence. "It's his choice," Shai spoke. He turned and headed for the door. Fabian stared at Lake for a moment longer.

"Coward," he muttered before following the others.

Lake's head dropped.

"See you all later!" the girl with short hair announced as she followed.

No one stopped them. Asumi undid the bolt.

"The car stays here..." The commander's voice stopped her in her tracks.

The girl with short hair whirled. "Seriously?"

"It stays."

"We won't make it back!"

"And it something goes wrong here we're sitting ducks." Paul wasn't about to budge on the decision.

Fabian's eyes darted to Asumi.

Shai wasn't put off in the least. "Five hours to walk there. Five hours back." Adjusting his backpack he took the door handle from Asumi and pulled the door fully open. "That leaves eight." The chilly winter air flooded the room. The boy turned to Asumi. "Let's go get Yuji."

Asumi nodded and the two walked outside. The girl with short hair followed without hesitation. It was Fabian who paused. He turned, eyes meeting Lake's. The other boy looked away. Shaking his head, Fabian pulled the door shut behind him.

Shai increased his steps to catch up to Asumi who was already at a brisk walk. She headed past the truck, not even sending it a second glance as she passed. Her path was the road that lead back to the city. Back to the horror they had left behind.

"I say we take it anyway," the girl with short hair suggested as she eyed the vehicle.

"And take away their escape route if rescue doesn't come?" Fabian asked.

"They can live in the bunker a few days till we get back."

Fabian shot her a glance.

"No?" The girl slowed.

Shaking his head, Fabian increased his pace.

The girl bounded after the group. "The name's Roanna, by the way."

No reply.

"No thank yous?"

"For what?" Fabian muttered.

"Saving your lives and then agreeing to come with you on a suicide mission?"

"It's your choice." A glance back let Shai see Fabian tick his hands in his pockets.

"Wow, I can feel the gratefulness just oozing out."

Shai had caught up to Asumi. He fell into step beside her.

"So...what are your names?" Roanna asked after not even a minute of silence.

Fabian let out an exasperated sigh.

"What? I gave you mine, isn't it fair I know yours?"

Another sigh.

"What if I need to yell a warning or call you for help or something...?"

"Asumi, Shai, Fabian." Shai shot another glance back to see Fabian point as he said each one.

"Cool." One second of silence. "So where are you all–?"

"It's a long road." Fabian cut her off. "I'd prefer not to waste my breath."

"Ah..."

"Not to mention all the infected and infectors you'll attract."

Roanna shrugged and yet she lapsed into silence.

The wind picked up and the clouds rolled to the side to momentarily reveal the moon and stars beyond. They shone with a gentle light, illuminating the four teenagers below. Shai tipped back his head and caught a glimpse. The cold wind tussled his hair as the stars reflected from his eyes. Then the clouds returned and the light was gone.

Turning his attention back to the path, Shai once more pull up his neck gaiter to cover his mouth. He reached a hand into his pocket and unrolled a winter hat. It was pulled over his head in an attempt to help against the biting cold.

And just like that, the four teenagers melted into the night.