All too soon, he clutched his stomach in pain, doubling over. "Just a-as I told you," Galant uttered, his words venom, "it's been poisoned." Then he locked eyes with Jason, showing his teeth. "Look at me."

Jason ever-so-slowly obeyed. "What?" he asked, searching his face. "Galant?"

"I took your place," he groaned, whimpering to the ground. "You should be me."

"Well, you volunteered." Jason set his jaw, shaken to the core. "I guess this means I die."

"You should be me," Galant repeated, a tone darker, "and now you are." Before the man could react, he snatched the vial, stabbed him in the arm, then emptied its contents. "You always were slower than me. Even in death." After a forced grin, he turned to Kara and the woman beside her. "You're welcome." With that, Galant fell to his back, struggling to breathe.

Bang!

While Forest dropped to the ground, Kara and the woman scurried away and disappeared into the woodlands. It was then that he realized who had the gun. "Jade?" Finding his feet, the boy gave her a hug. "Thank you so much!"

Returning the gesture, she didn't share his joy. "You should thank Galant. He's the one who really saved us," she mumbled, "and now he's dead." The woman politely pulled back, her eyes on who lay ahead. "He's the real hero."

-

Forest sighed, shifting under the covers. This was going to be a long night, and he doubted tomorrow would be any better. Looking out a window, the moon stared back at him, and he shivered. "Autumn? Winter?" the boy tried, then found each to be out cold. He shivered again.

Night Dad, Jett, and Galant. I hope you're all doing well... wherever you are.

How the twins could get to sleep, the boy hadn't the slightest, but he was going to keep trying. It had to already be midnight. With a huff, Forest closed his eyes and waited for it to take him. Only, it never did.

Slowly, the boy sat upright, then peeked at the girls on either side of him. That was when he felt a rush of guilt. While he and the twins got beds of their own, the others didn't have that luxury. Forest set his jaw. Tomorrow he'd sleep downstairs.

On timid feet, the boy stepped over to the ladder, then climbed down after a quick glance. That was when he realized the others were asleep too. Sighing with relief, the boy walked into the kitchen and searched the cabinets. Banana it is. Then, finally, he took a seat at the counter.

Maybe this will help me sleep.

"You're up?"

Forest flinched at the voice. "Yeah..."

Skylar nodded from the lone chair, which faced his direction. The couch was the only thing between them. "I heard you come down."

"Oh, I'm sorry if I woke you."

"I was never asleep." She lowered her gaze, suddenly looking miserable. "Galant didn't deserve that."

"What?" Forest asked, then regretted it. "I'm really sorry, Sky. I wish life was full of happy endings, but it rarely is. Instead, it's mostly disappointment. Things that could have been, but never will be. That's one thing I've learned over the years."

Skylar sniffled. "I've never met someone quite like him. He was... unique, to say the least."

Forest almost chuckled, but held it in. Galant was gone; they shouldn't laugh at him. "I know. He really was."

However, when she broke into laughter, the boy joined in. "Remember what his shirt said?" Skylar asked. "'Oops, sorry about that.'"

"Yeah."

"That's what it said!"

Forest nodded, staring into space. "Skylar?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever wonder how he got that scar on his face? The one on his right cheek?"

The woman was no longer smiling. "I asked him," she said, "in the woods. That's when."

"And what did he say?" the boy gently pressed.

"He got the scar a few years ago. One morning, he woke up and strolled around the prison. He was the first to rise." Skylar paused, closing her eyes. "Before long, he encountered a walker. It was a good friend of his. The moment was so unexpected that it got to his face and left a scar."

Forest only shook his head.

"His friend must have been infected, whether he knew it or not, and turned. A dozen of theirs died that day." Skylar huffed, leaning back. "You know what I want to know, Forest?"

"What?" he asked faintly. "What is it?"

"I want to know when Galant was going to tell us he was bitten." Her words held defeat. Shaking her head, the woman finally waved him off. "Nevermind, actually. It's late. You should sleep, and so should I."

"You know you won't sleep tonight, Skylar. You can't fool me."

She released a breath and crossed her arms. "And I know you won't either."

Forest set his jaw, then finished his banana. "Night, Skylar. I should at least try." He stepped over to the ladder, offering her a weak smile. "See you in the morning." With that, he climbed up to the attic and crawled under the covers.

Night Dad, Jett, and Galant.

-

The next morning, the boy jolted upright, then rubbed at his eyes. The sunlight must have been on them for a long time, he realized. A minute would pass before his vision was restored, and he shook his head.

How did I manage to sleep?

Forest came up empty, looked around the room, and blinked. He was alone. This was his opportunity. Immediately, the boy looked to his leg and examined it, only to chuckle a moment later. It had finally healed.

"At least something's okay," he said, then bit his lip. At least something-

Murmuring. The hushed voices were coming from downstairs. Intrigued, he tip-toed close to the ladder and listened. Then his heart dropped. No longer was he going to be silent. Hopping to the ground below, he searched the nearby faces.

"Forest," Autumn said, tears in her eyes. She was facing him, her twin standing beside her.

"Is it true?"

His sister gave a timid nod before nudging Winter. "It is."

Winter, after a rush of hesitance, held it up: a calendar. "You turned fifteen last week." She paused, composing herself. "And we turned seventeen last month."

Forest's face twisted with hurt. "I-I didn't know you guys had a calendar."

"You never asked," Holly said from the couch. With a soft sigh, the woman came forward and put a hand over his shoulder.

"If it's the 20th of November, that means Mom died eight years ago today." The boy slowly crossed his arms, struggling to gather himself. "It's really today."

"I'm sorry," Holly replied, her tone low and delicate. "You never really get over that stuff."

A couple minutes would go by before the boy finally turned to her. "It's okay, though. Today's just another day, right?" He slipped from over her hand, then gave a forced smile. "Sorry for causing a scene."

"It's okay."

Just another day.

-

"So, what are we going to do?" Winter asked, finally interrupting the quiet. "We know they're coming back."

Forest met her gaze with hard ones. "We'll be prepared. We just need to devise a plan. And it will work," he said in finality. "It has to."

They were each seated against the wall of the attic, opposite to the beds. It had to have been an hour since anyone spoke.

Winter scoffed, tossing a ball lazily from hand-to-hand. "Well, no one's talking."

"We're in shock. That's why you, Autumn, and I aren't talking much. As for the others, they know it will take a long while for them to return."

"Fores-"

"The trip is twelve hours each way. We'll be ready."

His sister continued to toss the ball before inhaling sharply. "Do you not realize how many more people they have than us? They've got over thirty, and we have... six and a couple of puppies. I think our luck's about to run out, brother."

Instead of responding, the boy sighed heavily, sinking into the wall. "Maybe you're right."

"What were you on about about before, though?" Her voice was just above a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

Winter flashed him a glance, then placed a hand over her stomach. "What was all that about God?"

Suddenly, he stiffened, searching for the right words. "He saved you. I prayed and He saved you and Skylar."

"How do you know I wouldn't have been okay either way?" she asked, avoided his calculating face. "How do I know it was... Him?"

"Which is more effective: a shot to the heart or head?" Forest grinned when her mouth dropped open. "Galant asked us this question."

"I... couldn't tell you," she mumbled, finally reaching his gaze. "Why?"

"The heart. You get the walkers in the head, but the living in the heart. And Winter?" The boy waited for her to grow curious. "You were shot in the heart. You should be dead."

His sister swallowed thickly, then leaning back, smiling. "I knew I was dead."

"Winter?"

"You're right, brother. We'll be ready."