Forest followed after the others with adrenaline flowing through his veins, giving him more energy than he'd had for the past hour. With each gasp of air he managed, the sensation stung his lungs, and with every step he ran, a feeling of pain shot through his legs. But he didn't stop. He couldn't. Not when dozens of walkers were lingering just behind.

Avoiding the mocking hazards of rocks and twigs at his feet, he also had to dodge the branches and thorns ready to stab him everywhere else. More than a few times did he overlook an obstacle and blood was drawn, but he couldn't stop. He had to keep going.

Occasionally he'd steal a glance over his shoulder and wouldn't find a walker. But not this time. His adrenaline having worn off minutes ago, the boy's feet were failing him. His look was supposed to be quick, but instead, he stared. Over ten were in sight. And no doubt were others close behind.

"Dad!" he struggled as he collapsed with exhaustion. How long have we been running? Hearing his son drop, Hale turned around. "They're close."

The twins came to a halt as well and turned their attention on the walkers. Shaking, they looked at each other.

"What are we going to do?" Forest asked and set his jaw.

There was a pause. "Alright, don't worry. We'll be fine," the man stated with renewed confidence. The boy furrowed his brows. "The trees! Let's climb them and we should be fine. Come over here, Autumn. I'll help you up." Standing beside the tall-standing structure, he positioned one hand over the other and waited. Hesitant, she still obeyed and used his hands to assist her on a sturdy branch.

"You next, Winter."

"Autumn," she said, "move over. I need to get on that branch." When the girl did so, she stepped upon her father's hands and managed beside her sister.

The walkers had gained ground. Taking a quick breath, he complied and hustled up the tree. The task challenging, he nearly lost his grip but Winter guided him upright. Blood oozed from his arm and soaked into his bandage, but he didn't have time to think about that. Their dad had yet to make it to safety.

"How are you gonna get up?" Autumn asked.

Forest offered a hand. Seeing their father struggle for Forest's branch, the girls immediately gave additional guidance. The boys' eyes turned hard when he realized that a walker was close. Too close. And so, ignoring his aching self, he had no doubt in his mind that his father would make it. He made to. Grunting, he and the twins helped him onto the sturdy branch next to his son. And Forest could finally breathe.

Smiling brightly, the boy laughed as he shrugged the backpack from his shoulders. After positioning it over his lap, however, his grin disappeared. The crowd was populating at an alarming rate; and, glancing upward, he found the others to be in a likewise state of uneasiness. A minute would pass before anyone said a word.

"Dad? How many do you think there are?" Forest asked.

"Maybe thirty, son. And they're still coming." Saying this, the man shook his head. "But don't worry, okay? None of you worry. We'll be okay."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"How do you know?" Autumn asked.

"He doesn't," Winter dead-panned.

"Kids, look at me. I do know, okay? You guys didn't survive all these years just to die here." No response was given. "Look at me. Do I look hesitant to any of you? I'm not. You will live to see tomorrow, kids, so don't give up now."

The groans of the desiring creatures from beneath taunted them as they smacked their bodies against the tree. Capturing the rough bark, they knew falling would be a death sentence. The collective stares were soulless and dead. Attempting to pry his own stare from them, Forest couldn't leave his frozen-state.

"But how?" Autumn asked, her voice unsteady. "We can't wait them out, Dad, because as long as we are here, they won't leave!"

"Give me a moment," the man said, wiping a layer of sweat from his forehead. "Let me think. For now, just don't fall. Never let your guard down, okay? They're going to keep striking this tree."

Nodding, Forest tentatively opened the bag on his lap. And shook his head. Stray crumbs of food littering its interior, empty plastic bags covered with slobber were all to be left. "That dog," he grumbled, setting his jaw. When his eyes drifted over his bandaged arm, the boy sighed heavily and shook his head once more.

"What's wrong?" Glancing upward, he discovered his father to be watching. The man almost looked sorry, he noticed, but shrugged it off.

"Remember when I told you about that dog? The one that bit me? It had eaten the food from my backpack."

Closing his eyes, the man drew an arm over his son's shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. I'll figure something out."

"Yeah."

"Hey. I'm sorry for what I said. I was upset but that's no excuse."

Slowly moving away, Forest looked at him in question. "But you're right. I did shoot you in the leg! I had gone against your order, so it's my fault. I started this. If I hadn't made that mistake - if I hadn't pulled the trigger, this trip wouldn't have been delayed and we would be back with my medicine already! It's my fault. I'm sorry."

"Son, look at me." When the boy's eyes wandered onto his, he gave a forced smile. "You and your sisters will be okay. Don't be sorry, because you're right; I was at fault for both of my hallucinations. I kept my infection a secret and I didn't get enough sleep."

"But-"

"You three will be okay."

"Dad?" Autumn spoke up, her eyes hard. "You keep saying that we'll be fine, but what about you?"

There was a pause. "Dad, say something," Winter demanded. Another string of silence followed. "Dad!"

Avoiding her eyes, the man took a heavy breath. "I made a promise, Winter, and I'm going to keep it. I told your mother that I would watch over you guys until the day I die, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do. I'm going to be honest with you three, okay? We are not all going to make it from these woods alive. There's gotta be forty walkers here now."

"What are you saying?" Winter said, her words shaky. She was scared; it was obvious.

"Snowflake, I need to go now but don't worry. We'll meet again someday. We are will. I love each of you more than you'll ever know. Don't you dare think otherwise. I'm doing this so that you, my children, can live."

"You wouldn't. No, please! Don't sacrifice yourself!" Autumn pleaded, fresh tears falling. "There's another way, please!"

"Then tell me, Bambi. What other way is there?" Watching her daughter, a single tear slithered down his bitter face. And then another. "What another way?"

"No, don't do that. You can't. Stay and we'll think of something!" she insisted. When her twin placed a reassuring arm over her, Autumn nudged her away. "Don't comfort me, Winter. Just talk Dad out of it. He's clearly not in the right mind!"

"Kids, I've been having a picture in my head for a long while. Everyone is safe. I see my three wonderful kids who are all smiling brightly. But I'm not there and now I know why." Biting his lip, the father closed his eyes. "Remember me, okay? Remember the good times we had together; not the bad. Please, when you think of me, don't let this be the first thing you remember. That's all I ask."

Clinging to his father, Forest desperately tried to keep him from falling as he sobbed. After receiving one last hug, the embrace tight, Hale planted a kiss over his son's forehead. "Goodbye."

"Please," the boy tried once more, panicked.

"Goodbye, kids. Take care of each other. Look after one another, okay? When I'm gone, it'll be up to you three," the man said, looking at each of his children. "I know you won't let me down."

And Hale jumped.