"You need to see this," Autumn said with a frown. Her brother hesitantly stepped toward her as he glanced around for witnesses. She handed the notebook to him with shaky hands and watched as a look of confusion overcame him. "Are you seeing this too?"

Locking eyes with her, he gave a nod. "Yeah, I see it," he said and took the notebook from her faint grasp. "But this can't be right, Autumn. Do you see the date? This was five years ago!"

"I know. Winter's been keeping this a secret from us for all these years! How horrid is that! She has no right, Forest. The moment I find her, I'm gonna get answers."

She set her jaw and began forward when she stopped. In the distance, she made out two figures: Winter and her dad. They were watching from afar.

"Winter," Autumn said, confronting her bewildered twin, "I saw your notebook."

"I told you to not lay a finger on-"

"I read it, Winter. Dad's brother - he came back all those years ago. Mom kept it from you and then you found out."

During the short-lived pause, Forest came over with delicate steps and held up the journal. "He told Mom where he lives. And then did Mom tell you? Have you known this whole time where Jett is, Winter?"

Avoiding her twin's scowl, she gave a heavy sigh and crossed her arms. "I had awoken one night to Mother heading for the door of our house and she was carrying a flashlight. When she left, I could have sworn I heard talking. But I fell back asleep before I could investigate. For a while after that, she acted strangely. Every morning she'd scribble in her diary and every night she'd peer through the fence. Finally, I decided that I was going to read her diary, and that's when I found out."

"What are you talking about?" her father demanded, coming into view. "What's that about my brother?"

"You brother Jett - he visited our hut one day and talked to Mom. He told her where he lives, but if he's even alive, I doubt that he is still there. It was long ago, Dad. I'm sorry." Winter gave her father a solemn look and unfolded her arms. "I'm sorry."

As she spoke, Autumn noticed that her lips were trembling; and, when a stray tear slithered down her cheek, she shook her head. "I can't believe this."

"I don't remember the last time Winter cried," Forest said, taking an uneasy breath.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Where is he?" The man's words were critical. His blue eyes fixated on Winter as he awaited an answer from her quivering form. The pause dragged on. "Hey, answer me right now, or you're gonna be sorry."

"...Dad?" Forest spoke up. When Autumn looked at her brother, she found him to be staring off into the distance.

"Not now," his father said.

"No, Dad-"

"I said not now!"

"I think I see something!"

Following his gaze, Autumn let out a gasp when she made out a nearby figure through the darkness. Its tall, decaying form was but a few feet away from their dad. Dry groans escaped its parted lips as it gave a soulless glare. Before she could take out her gun, it was too late. The walker had already dug its teeth into the man's arm.

"Dad!" she cried, hysterical. Her hands flew over her mouth.

Without missing a beat, the man took out his knife and jabbed the sharp blade into its head. The walker fell to the ground with a careless thud, a pool of blood beginning to spill from the fresh wound. The father stepped back and looked over the walker with agitation before he met the eyes of his children.

Realizing that no fear was conveyed, Autumn watched him with wide-eyes when the silence dragged on. "Dad? Are you okay?" He gave a nod and her mouth dropped open. "Weren't you bitten?"

"No, but it was close, Bambi. It nearly got me." The man took an uneasy breath as his eyes drifted back upon his daughter Winter. He set his jaw and crossed his arms. "This is far from over. It's getting dark so we are going to that trench, but in the morning, we are going to get Forest's medicine. That's no question. However, we aren't going home afterward. No. We're gonna look for my brother."

The silence that followed was an uncomfortable one. The seconds went by only for more to come and pass. Hale ignored Autumn's hard stare when he instead locked eyes with her twin. And nodded. Turning around, he began forward and, still, the silence stayed.

Autumn hurried back to grab her backpack, as did her brother and sister when the man didn't wait for them. Head down, she watched for obstacles on the still-muddy ground. Her hands were stretched out in case of any unseen hazards, for the twilight had already set in. All the while, silent tears trailed down her face, but she couldn't care less. No one could see.

"There should be enough room for everyone," Hale told his kids upon reaching the pit. He wiped his forehead with a sleeve. "Alright, you guys lay down first. I'll go in last. You have to leave your possessions out, however, to save space."

"Who is going to keep watch first?" Autumn asked as she tossed her bag beside the hole.

"I will. I'm going to lay down after you three and won't sleep for a few hours. Then I'll wake you, Bambi." The father climbed into the dug-out pit after glancing around the area with squinted eyes.

"No, I remember you saying that you didn't even sleep the night before leaving. I'll stay awake first, Dad," Autumn insisted.

"I couldn't sleep now if I tried."

"But Dad-"

"No. I might as well. And I'm your father, so stop arguing and sleep. When my insomnia wears off, It'll be your turn."

Knowing it would be of no use, Autumn gave no more objections. After closing her eyes, she slipped a hand into her pocket to feel for her knife. When the girl's fingers wrapped around the object, it was only then that she gave in to a restless slumber. But her eyes shot open mere seconds later when her Winter spoke up, her words tiny.

"That notebook is Mom's."