The trucks were searched, but two were missing keys. In the end they chose a vehicle that had them in the ignition. Roanna took the wheel and Shai made sure that Asumi sat next to her. Fabian nodded to the back seats but Shai shook his head. Despite it being cold, he climbed into the open back. Mav followed without a word. Fabian hesitated before seeming to catch on. He clambered in with the other two, giving Asumi her space. No sooner was he on than Roanna set off.

Now that they were moving, Shai let his full attention turn to the pain in his leg. He examined the area. His hands came back sticky with blood.

"Whoa!" Fabian stared. "What happened?"

Shai probed, wincing. "Glass window."

"Here." He caught the flashlight Mav threw.

Even through the sky was getting brighter, Shai still needed it to see the wound clearly. Wordlessly he switched it on and examined the damage. He saw the large shard of glass lodged in it. A scowl appeared on his face. He knew full well that removing it wasn't a good idea. With a sigh, he switched the flashlight back off.

"There should be a first aid kit at the bunker," Fabian murmured.

Nodding, Shai handed the light back to its owner.

"So..." Mav slipped the light into a pocket. He nodded to the front where the girls were sitting in the warmth. "You escaped the first wave and yet came back...for the boy?"

Shai nodded. He hid his arms under his armpits to warm them. His warm gloves were in the backpack he had left behind.

"I was hoping he would have lived." Fabian let out a sigh. "An infector must have got him." A hand ran through his hair. "You think she'll be alright?"

No reply.

Mav shook his head. "Going back. You're a crazy lot." His eyes turned to the road ahead. "I'm guessing we're headed to a bunker?"

Fabian nodded. "Some of the others are there...we should make it in time for the rescue." He stretched. "Boy am I looking forward to the island. Even if it is a pile of dirt and overcrowded...at least I won't be looking over my shoulder the whole time." He paused before suddenly sticking out his hand. "Fabian, by the way."

Mav took it and gave it a shake.

"Roanna's driving," Fabian continued as the shake ended. "Asumi's the kid's brother. And this here," he jerked a thumb to Shai who had his eyes closed. "That's..."

"Shai," Mav finished.

Fabian blinked and Shai's eyes slowly opened.

"I was watching your shooting. You've gotten better."

Shai regarded him, mind racing as he tried to place the face.

"Four years ago. Shooting range on island four," Mav helped out. "You were just starting out..."

"Ah..." The face clicked in his memory. Shai nodded.

A smile split over Mav's face. He lifted a hand and pulled back a finger. "Breathe out when you pull the trigger."

Fabian looked from one to the other. "Old buds?"

"Acquaintances," Shai replied. His eyes wandered to Mav's lifted hand. The other boy wasn't wearing gloves and he could see the lack of his ring finger. He nodded at it.

Mav chuckled. "Got really infected while I was out. No medical help was around."

Fabian leaned forward to take a closer look. "How'd you lose it then?"

"Cut it off."

Fabian laughed. Yet when the boy looked up it caught in his throat.

Shai didn't react.

"It was either that or have the infection grow out of control....I chose the former."

Fabian scooted back to his place. "Respect, man."

Silence.

The truck rocked back and forth as the road became somewhat more rugged.

"So..." Fabian tried to strike up conversation. He pulled his gun so that it lay across his lap. "You said you got left behind after the first wave...why not take one of these cars and try to leave?"

Mav rested an arm on either side of the truck wall. He leaned back. "Infected were wandering around as well as infectors. I thought it best to let them eat before trying anything." He cocked his head to the side as he regarded the other two boys. "Set off a grenade in one house to draw them that way and was planning to go for a truck right after...that's when your girl in there came blazing around the corner."

"Asumi doesn't usually loose her cool." Fabian let out another sigh. "That was the only time I ever saw it, over her little brother."

Shai was aware that the boy's eyes darted to him and yet he didn't react. His eyes were on the horizon where the sun was now in full view. Its morning greeting stretched out before it in the forms of rays. They sought out every nook a cranny, giving false hope of a better future to the frozen ground below.

Fabian lapsed into silence as he and Mav turned to take in the view. It was different watching the sun rise here than on the islands. Here it was somehow...beautiful. Or perhaps it was the danger around that made it all the more so.

By the time they approached their destination Shai was frozen to the bone. When he saw Fabian go from slumber to sitting straight he realized something was wrong.

"The truck is gone."

Shai turned. His eyes swept the area. Sure enough, the truck that had carried the soldiers was no longer there.

As they pulled up a figure jumped from the rock where he had sat. Lake sprinted over toward them, arms waving wildly as he yelled something.

"That crazy..." Fabian trailed off. "Why is he here?"

"We've got to go!" Lake was upon them. He skidded to a halt next to the driver's door.

Roanna had rolled the window down. "What's going on?"

"Rescue came early," Lake panted.

Mav and Fabian were on their feet.

"They're never early..."

Lake waved Roanna's comment off. "Today they are." He pointed ahead. "Three miles down behind the hill. I told them to wait a little longer. We should make it."

Roanna nodded. "Get in."

Lake didn't need to be told twice. He hopped into the back, joining the other guys. He shot a questioning look toward the newcomer he didn't know.

"Mav," Mav introduced himself as Roanna put her foot on the gas and they roared off.

Fabian grabbed the edge to stop himself from topping over. He didn't seem phased as he turned to Lake. "You waited for us?"

"Didn't think I would see you again." Lake gave him a pained smile. "After convincing the others to get the rescue to wait another hour I decided to stay and see what would happen."

Fabian's eyes narrowed. "So if they hadn't waited...?"

Lake dropped and sat next to Shai. "You find him?"

"Infector got him first," came Shai's reply.

Lake's eyes darted to the seat next to the driver. Through the back a figure could be seen hunched over. "She going to be okay?"

No reply.

The truck roared around a corner and the boys had to reach out and grab something to stop themselves from being flung out. Shai winced as pain shot up his leg. He gritted his teeth, knowing tending to the wound had to wait.

Suddenly the brakes were slammed.

Shai turned his head to see they had come to a hill. Ragged rocks jarred out from its side, making going up with the car impossible. A familiar truck stood a little bit ahead on the road. It was empty.

"This hill?" Roanna yelled from the front.

"Yup." Lake was out the back.

Mav and Fabian followed.

"They should be on the other..." the sound of a helicopter filled the air. Lake's eyes widened. "Come on!" he threw open the passenger side and pulled an unresponsive Asumi out. The girl barely showed any reaction as she was dragged along.

Mav was right behind them while the other two boys followed. Fabian offered his shoulder to the wounded Shai who took it. Weapons and bags were left in the truck, forgotten.

The group was half way up the hill when the first helicopter appeared from behind the hill.

"Hey!" Lake waved his hands.

The helicopter rose further before turning.

"Wait!" Roanna joined in as she dragged Asumi along with one hand and waved with the other.

They weren't seen, and the helicopter disappeared.

They were almost at the top when the second hovered into sight.

"Down here!" Lake yelled.

It ascended higher. The teens had reached the top.

"Hey!" Roanna screamed as she jumped up and down.

Mav pulled out a weapon from where he had it stashed. He let loose a shot. The helicopter had turned, seeming to not notice.

"Flare!" Fabian ducked out from under Shai and sprinted back down the hill.

"Why are they leaving!?" Roanna continued to wave.

Both helicopters were already drawing away at a rapid pace.

Mav had lowered his gun. Shai leaned on his good leg, watching their means of escape become a distant dot in the sky. Lake's hands slowly dropped and Roanna froze with hers in the air. Asumi stared with a blank expression.

A cool breeze slapped the kids in their faces while the sun laughed mockingly from above.

A panting Fabian appeared, releasing the flare as he did so. When he saw the distant dots he lowered his arm. "No way..."

Roanna turned, disbelief on her face. "They left us."

Lake stared at the dots as they blended in with the sky. "They only ever come back once," he murmured, that dooming information already known to the group.