Eli was swiftly putting together is rifle, and his pother gear as Cassandra, the second in command when Alex wasn't present, rallied a search party. He had to bite the inside of his lips to keep himself from smiling. This was too simple. He placed the rifle on his back, and took the machete that was handed to him by one of the other soldiers in this little "save humanity" mission. It was a suicide mission, but they hadn't realized it yet.

"Alright, I want everyone to split into two groups. One will go East, and the other West. She couldn't have gotten very far on foot. Be safe." Cassandra ordered, and then cocked her gun. There were several civilians surrounding the team as they set out to save their "fearless" leader. Eli noticed the look of fear and anguish that was shared between Peter and Cassandra. Hmm interesting… He thought to himself. He had always been taught that bonds with other people were a useless liability, and should have no value. Look out for you and only you. He followed the group out into the frigid winds. Winter was dragging her long finger through town, as a sign that she was soon going to be visiting for more than a few days. Eli was in the group that was going west. He walked in the middle; trying to fight the urge to lead the group, because he knew where she was, he could smell the herd of the undead following her. Eli smiled, thankful for the dark. The rising excitement grew restless within him, by the night's end; he was going to be the leader of this pathetic mission.

I felt my heart beat against my rib cage, feeling like it was about to burst. I had managed to out run the herd that was following me, but I knew they were close. I was hiding in one of the abandoned houses, a few blocks away from the safety of the school. I scanned quickly, making note of the subtle outlines of furnishings in the dark. I snuck around to the kitchen, and I glanced out the back door. There were a few undead, but nothing too extreme. I moved as cautiously as a mouse, out the door, and onto the porch, quickly silencing the moans of the walking dead. I calmly walked into the middle of the yard, aimed my flare gun, and cringed at the loud explosion of noise that it created. The sky lit up in a bright, neon green, and then faded slowly. I looked around quickly, bracing myself for the onslaught of undead that were sure to be arriving, due to the loud noise. I held my crossbow at the ready, and I, for the first time in my life, prayed to God that I was going to be alright.

Eli's face turned southwest when a bright green flare was lit. She was over there. Eli started at a slow run; they were only a few blocks away from her location. He smiled, she was a clever girl to bring a flare gun, but her stupidity will get the best of her. The noise brings about the undead, but at least we could find her. The other members of his 'team" had noticed the light, and were radioing Cassandra as they ran; another flare lit up the sky, and they were close. They could hear the loud bang of the gun. Eli was gnawing on his lip once more to keep from smiling. She was indeed a clever girl.

I sent my final flare into the sky, and hoped and prayed that someone found me soon. I was almost out of ammunition, and I could hear the groans of the undead making their way to devour me. I looked around frantically, and I quickly counted the remainder of my bullets. I had seven bullets, and four arrows. I looked around and felt helpless. I shouldn't have left the compound, especially not when it was dark. I aimed my handgun at a few undead and pulled the trigger, empting six out of seven bullets into their brainstems. I placed the last round in the chamber, and backed against the house. If I was going to die, I wanted to die alive. I took a deep breath, and whispered a short string of apologies and sincere thanks to my whole team, before placing the gun next to my temple. I closed my eyes.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you. You'd wreck your pretty face." Eli's voice echoed in the black abyss of my skull. I cracked my eyes open, and noticed that there was a team of at least seven men here to save me. I felt my face heat in embarrassment.

"Pffft, I'm not pretty" I retorted, speaking the truth. I noticed that Carlos was in my rescue group, and he gave me a haughty stare.

"Major, when we return, we're going to have a long discussion about protocol, and why it's there. Understand?" He ordered his gravelly voice eerily low. I nodded and kept my eyes from meeting his. Damn, I'm in trouble. I thought, as I was handed a freshly loaded gun, and we walked together to a jeep that was waiting to plow through the undead and get us home. I kept my eyes downcast as I beat myself up mentally for my stupidity. There were going to be consequences. I could feel it.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME? Especially since I JUST lost my little brother; how could you be so insensitive?" Cassandra yelled at me. I kept my eyes on her and everyone else's feet. I was the fearless leader, and I did the stupidest thing possible.

"I'm sorry… I wasn't thinking…" I whispered, feeling like I was a child being scolded by her over protective mother. Cassandra scowled, but didn't say anything. Alex stood up, and went to leave.

"Alex, I know I have no authority here, but I want you grounded for a while. So you can think about your actions." Cassandra told me in her low voice, signalling that she was close to tears. I nodded, it was the least I could do for her.

I walked shamefully back to my quarters, thankful that I managed to find a room to myself. I flopped down on my stiff cot and buried my head in my pillow. What possessed me to do such a stupid thing? How could I risk myself and everyone else that I had grown to care for? What was this dark hold that was gripping me tighter and tighter? I scrunched my eyes shut, and was trying to influence sleep to overcome me, but I was unsuccessful. Sighing with irritation, I pushed myself up on the mattress and looked at the dark outline of my quarters. I needed to apologize to Cassandra and everyone else. It wasn't right for me to do what I did. I slipped on my boots, and I left my long hair loose, as I walked through the dim hallway to the room that Cassandra shared with Peter. I took a deep breath and gently rapped on the door.

"Cassandra, could I speak with you for a moment?" I called. I heard a small shuffle of moment, and the door cracked open a small ways. I saw Cassandra's hazel eyes peek out from the crack. I looked at her, and I beckoned her into the hall. She still looked agitated at me, and she had every right to.

"What do you want?" She asked, her voice cooler than a freezer. I swallowed thickly, hoping that the right words would come musically to me, and I would be able to say them with ease; but I had no such luck.

"Cassandra, I'm sorry… I wish I could tell you that I knew what I was doing, and that it won't happen again. I can only tell you that half of that is true. I don't know what possessed me to go out, in the dark, and fight all of those walkers. I can tell you that it will never happen again…. I've…. I've learned my lesson." I whispered the last sentence, as I felt the full weight of my words. I heard Cassandra heave a huge sigh. I knew that she was thinking of a way to speak what was on her mind. I could tell that she was still mad at me, but hopefully she'll find it somewhere in her heart to forgive me.

"Look, I'm still upset with you, and that won't just go away with a few words of apology." She said, her voice screaming the plain truth. I nodded, and opened my mouth to counter her words. She raised one finger, signalling that she wanted me to remain silent until she was finished speaking. I closed my mouth in submission. Cassandra cleared her throat, and turned her hurt eyes towards me.

"After I lose my brother, my best friend goes out and almost gets herself killed. How could you? I knew you had guts, but you were supposed to have brains too, Alexandra." Her voice broke as she used my full name. I cringed in response. I never knew that she felt so strongly about the stupidity of my actions. She was my best friend and I felt like I hardly knew her at all.

"Cassandra… I'm… I'm sorry." I whispered, my earlier defence obliterated; she nodded slowly.

"I'm still upset." She whispered, and then went back into her room, the door closing with a soft click. I walked back to my room, and grabbed my jacket. I was in the mood for a cigarette, although I had never smoked once in my life. I snuck into the supply closet, and grabbed a package of cigarettes and a lighter. The items felt odd in my hands. I stood in the darkness of the closet carefully weighing the objects in my hands. I placed them back in their packages, and I went outside, just to the tennis courts, and I climbed up the newly built observation tower. I was hoping to be alone, but Eli was sitting up there, and he was whistling. I climbed up, and stood silently beside him. He stiffened instantly and spun around and I felt his eyes on me. I shifted uncomfortably, and turned my gaze to the desolate town beneath us.

"Well, hello Alex." He said, his voice oddly cheerful for someone who had to pull graveyard night shift. I looked at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"Hello Eli. What's with the cheerful demeanor?" I asked, curious and not really in the mood to play games. He shrugged.

"Can't someone be happy and not have a reason?" He asked. I nodded; it was a valid point but I was still suspicious. I glanced down at the school that was looking like it was falling apart. Eli and I stood in silence; him watching the ground for any stray undead, and I was looking at the school that we called home. I made a mental note that maybe we should start moving families into cleaned, empty houses.

"Alex, we have a problem." Eli's voice sounded worried and hurried. That wasn't a good sign. I followed the direction of his gaze and my mouth fell slack when I saw it. We were going to be overrun.