What does it mean? For the past few hours, that question circled through the boy's mind. Hugging his knees, he was positioned against the grime-coated wall, facing the bars. What does it mean?

On the side opposite of him was Autumn, who was impatiently awaiting Matthew, or anyone, to come and give answers. Kneeling in front of the iron bars, she gripped them, shivering.

It had been too long. What were they doing out there?

Forest continued to rock back and forth. This strained silence had started when that girl grinned at them. The one with the blue eyes and crooked smile. The boy shuttered again. What does it mean?

"Guys?" came a voice to the right of them. "How is everyone doing?"

A chill ran down his spine; it was just so sudden. "Jade, right?"

"Yeah, it's me."

Forest shared a look with Autumn. "I imagine I'm about as well as... everyone else," he said, then paused. "How are you and Skylar?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Do I really have to answer that?" It was Skylar, her tone agitated. "This wasn't supposed to happen. No, we should still be at that farmhouse. These people were supposed to be dead!"

"You know they could be listening, right?" Jade whispered.

"Then let them!" Skylar cried, frustrated. "They said they'd give us jobs. How hard can it be? I bet it's been hours!"

"Then be quiet for my sake," Jade pleaded. "I don't want any consequences because of you."

The woman huffed. "Why don't they just kill us already?"

"Be careful what you ask for."

She didn't bother to reply.

Forest and Autumn eyed each other, distressed. When it was clear that no footsteps were coming, they finally eased down.

"You know," Holly began, "I'm wondering about those puppies." Her words were heavy with sorrow. "I hope they didn't... kill them." With that, she sighed softly. "I'll ask when they come back."

"Like they'll tell us," Winter scoffed. "I don't know about you, but these people aren't exactly trustworthy."

"It wouldn't hurt to ask." The woman exhaled deeply. "Well, I might as well sleep. You should too, Winter."

"That's all I've been doing."

-

Dazed, Forest glanced around the cell, wondering what had roused him awake. And then he heard them: footsteps. "Autumn," he whispered, "get up. Someone's coming!"

His sister groaned, then positioned herself upright. "What?"

"Listen."

She soon gave a knowing look. "Oh."

Slow and confident, the steps drew close, until a man came into view. "Did you miss me?" It was Matthew, a smirk over his face.

"Not even a little," Winter hissed back.

"A sour one, I see," he said, and crossed his arms, "but don't lie."

"I'm not."

"No, you are. I've been listening in, and you're all bored in these little cells." At that, he rubbed his hands together. "Well, not anymore; you've been assigned jobs."

Forest studied him, mulling over his words. "Jobs?" he stammered. "What are they?"

"Looks like someone's impatient." Matthew searched his eyes, amused. "Your jobs have been decided on hours ago."

"Why did you wait so long?" Winter snapped, pounding against the wall. "You're right, Matthew, we were getting more than a little-" When the man narrowed his eyes, she lost her voice.

"Have you already forgotten what I said, little girl? Hmm?" Matthew's face twisted, enraged. "Get out, now. You need to be punished." Searching his pockets, he drew out a chain of keys, then held them up. "You're gonna be sorry, Blondie. Real sorry."

Forest watched the man unlock her and Holly's cell, before stepping inside. "Wait, what are you going to do?" he demanded. "Don't touch her!"

To the left, there was a long silence, but it was broken by Winter's cry. "Get up," Matthew said, "come on." Moments later, the pair emerged out, the girl in cuffs. "This could have been different."

Scrambling to his feet, the boy gripped the icy bars, shouting threats. All the while, he tried to catch her eyes. He never did. "Winter!?"

-

On the verge of tears, Forest sat in the corner of the cell, staring into space. She had to have been taken away an hour ago. Since then, possibilities circled through his mind, none of which good. The silence was too much; he needed answers.

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Pacing before him was Autumn, an air of panic coming with her. It was clear that she was taking it the worst.

Only after another half hour did Forest gather some courage. "Autumn?"

His sister spared him not a glance.

"Hey, Autumn?" he tried again, rising to her level. "I think you should sit down."

Exasperated, the girl came to a halt and faced him. "How can I sit down when my twin's out there? They could be doing anything with her!"

At the tone, Forest shivered. "I know, I know, but let's think positive. That's what you told me, right? All those days ago?" When she only stared, the boy shook his head. "God will get us through this. If not sooner, than He will later. Okay?"

"You sound like me."

"I told you I would mature, didn't I? And it doesn't have to start when we get out of this place."

Closing her eyes, Autumn eased down a little. "You're right," she said, nodding. "You're right."

"About what?"

"God will help us."

Forcing a smile, the boy nodded back. "I just have a feeling we'll make it from this prison, Autumn. I really think He has a greater purpose for us."

"Yeah." With this, she exhaled and sank against the wall. "I just hope Winter will be a part of that."

For a moment, Forest was content. But then he saw a pair of eyes to the left of him. In a panic, he lost his balance, falling to the ground. "Wait, a-are you Holly?"

Chuckling softly, the woman gave a small wave. "Yeah, it's me," she whispered, "and I agree with you. I believe God will help us through this."

-

"Food!"

Rubbing his eyes, the boy then pushed himself upright, and searched for the voice. "It's you," he mumbled.

There, standing before the three cells, was Matthew, a metal tray in his hands. "I realize you can't work if you're dead." Laughing to himself, he showed off the items on the platter: five sandwiches. "They've got peanut butter. Unfortunately, we ran out of jelly."

"I-" Skylar began.

"Well, even if we had some, you lot wouldn't get any."

There was a steady silence.

"Where's Winter?" Forest asked, all too timid. "She's okay, right?"

"Always full of questions," the man said, rolling his eyes. "Always poking your nose where it doesn't belong." One-by-one, he handed each a sandwich, his movements calculated. "Come to think of it, you people could be of use dead."

"Just answer the boy," Skylar said, drained of emotion.

For a heated pause, Matthew studied her, his face cold. "If you must know, she'll be back shortly. It's clear that little brat has finally learned her lesson."

Forest and Autumn shared a look, each disturbed.

"How soon is that?" Holly spoke up, stepping forward. "Sometime today?"

"You think it's the day?" Matthew scoffed, inching closer to her cell. "Well, I assure you it's the dead of night." At that, he cackled, an even silence following. "You'll know... in due time." When none said a word, the man backed away, slowly eyeing them all.

"Will we start working tomorrow?" Skylar said, finally voicing her thoughts.

"No, I'm just gonna keep you in these cells forever," he huffed.

"Really?"

"No, of course not!" Matthew cried, slamming the metal plate against the floor. "Of course you lot are starting tomorrow!" As quick as it came, the man mostly recovered. "I'm gonna get you people some water. You sure ask stupid questions when you're thirsty."

At a stand-still, Forest stood in the center of the cell, staring down at the sandwich. Though he was starving, the boy wouldn't take a bite. Not after that.

Moments later, the man returned, tiny cups of water on the tray. "I'd be careful. This is all you're going to get tonight." Just as before, he gave each an item, then stepped back. "You people act like this is complicated. I can tell by your faces, but it's really not!"

"But it is," Forest deadpanned, setting his water down in the back. "Can we please ask questions, and can you please answer them?"

"You survived this long, yet these simple dots have yet to be connected?" he said, shaking his head. "This is our revenge. You'll be working for us. That's that. Nice talking to you." Walking away, tray in hands, he stopped when someone spoke up.

"Where are the puppies?"

"The... puppies?" Matthew questioned, spinning around. "You want to know about those little, stupid puppies?"

"Yes," Holly confirmed evenly. "I want to know that they're okay."

The man chuckled dryly. "Just as Winter, you'll know in due time."

-

"What do you think they've done to her?" Jade asked, struggling for composure.

"That's all I've been wondering," Forest replied, huddling close to his sister. "She better be okay."

"Do you think she's been tortured or something?"

"Better not have been."

"Yeah, I hope not," the woman agreed, then sighed. "I also hope they gave her some food and water."

"Yeah." He wiped at his face.

"And-"

"Stop talking," Autumn pleaded. "You two aren't helping." But after noticing her brother's look, she shook her head. "It's just that she's my twin, Forest. She's my other half! I can't go on living without her. Or without you. It's just different with siblings." She paused. "Do you understand?"

"I'm sorry. My... questions were insensitive," Jade returned from the cell over. "I wasn't thinking."

Meeting her gaze, the boy nodded. "Yeah, I understand."

"Good."

"You know," Forest started, "when you were missing, Winter went crazy. One night, I climbed up to the attic, and there she was all packed. Winter told me that we were leaving right then. She was determined to find you."

"Really?" Deep in thought, Autumn finally released a breath. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah, it's just different with twins. Your relationship is something I will never have."

"No, that's not true!" she insisted, giving him a nudge. "I love you just as much as I do her."

"I love you too."

Content, his sister averted her eyes. "And I always will."

"I have a question."

After a moment, she looked over, studying him once more. "Yeah?"

"When Dad died, you never acted this way. You were the one who pulled me away from that mob, remember?" He swallowed hard. "I was taking my anger out on that walker, but you took my hand and lead me elsewhere. Don't you remember that?"

"Siblings are different, Forest. I've always known we would likely live past him. That's how it often is." Frowning, Autumn sighed softly. "Winter's just too young, brother. We're only seventeen! That's why it hurts so much more."

"Yeah."

"There's something you don't know, though, brother." Earning his attention, she avoided his eyes. "Dad's death was traumatic for me also. I just did what I could to hide it. When no one was looking, I'd cry, Forest. I'd cry a lot. The death of a loved one is never easy."

"Really? I always thought of you as a superhero or something. You never cried; never showed any pain. I would strive to become that impossible person. The one people can look up to."

"I guess after everything, I've become more and more drained. The pain's eating away at me, and Winter being taken was the last straw."

"Things will get better. That's what I've always been told, and it's true." When she smiled, he did so back. "Can I be honest?"

"Sure."

"I'm not taking this as hard as with Dad because I know she isn't dead. Either way, though, I've never liked Winter much. We've had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, she's just really mean to me. I guess I've been holding a grudge-"

"Forest-"

"Let me finish." Catching her eyes, he paused for a long moment. "When you went missing, things got a little better. Just a little. As I've told you better, I'll mature, Autumn, I will. I'm going to forgive her for the pain of before. From now on, there's only the present; no more past. I'm going to let go, sister. I'm finally going to let go."

"That's good, brother, that's good." Beaming, her smile was the brightest she had all month. "And I'll be here for you the whole way."

"Winter too. She'll be here too."

As if on cue, two faint pairs of footsteps came, shuffling closer. All the while, there was a dull clink of handcuffs.

Winter. She was here.