At End's Gate

FENCES

The two observed the screen for a while. Paige's eye would twitch at the site of the fights but she didn't whimper.

"This is really bad. It's not right for you to watch this. It'll scar you for life," Conner said with a tone full of concern.

"I'm fine," she said smiling.

It was getting dark. The girls were asleep. James and Blake were having a brotherly discussion. They would chuckle whispering. Paige would smile looking at them. She felt happy that her siblings were going to be okay. Conner noticed." You're a really good sister. You take care of them to the best of your abilities."

"Yeah."

"They are extremely lucky to have a sister like you. I think your shift is over. You can go to sleep," he suggested.

"No. I'm okay. The very least I can do is help you with your shift for a while."

"Thanks," he said with a smile.

"It's okay," she smiled back.

They continued looking at the screen. "We barely know each other. Since we're friends now I feel obligated to know who I'm befriending. My mom said don't just be friends with anyone because you might befriend serial killers," he laughed.

Paige laughed." What do you want to know."

"Let's start with basics. What's your favourite colour?"

"Blue. Yours?"

"Red. Why blue?"

"Why red?"

"I asked you first," the boy said.

"I love the sky. It keeps me calm thus my admiration for the colour."

"Okay. Have you ever watched a show by the name Power rangers. It was from the nineties. I don't think you know it with us being in the 2050's and all."

Paige smiled." Don't tell me you like red because of the red ranger?"

"You know it?" Conner smiled." I used to imagine myself as him." He laughed." You're probably the first girl I've met who watched it."

"I'm a fan of the classics. The stuff they have nowadays is okay but the old stuff is priceless."

"I know right. Favourite movie?"

"Hmmm. There are many but I loved the Hunger games. You?"

"I enjoyed Harry Potter."

"I loved that too," Paige commented.

"Thank God I'm normal. Most girls I went out with thought I was weird because of that," he laughed," at least I'm not the only freak."

Paige laughed." You're the only freak. My boyfriend accepted me the way I am."

"Oh yes. Mr Erin. He didn't even like me," he chuckled.

"No he didn't dislike you. He just thought you were....." she paused.

"You can tell me. I can take it," he laughed to make her feel comfortable.

"He just thought you were stuck up that's all. You were too quiet. He thought the quiet boy image was just a facade. "

"What did you think?"

"I thought you were a focused person who minded his own business."

Conner smiled." That's nice of you to think of me in a positive light. It's nice to know you cared," he laughed.

Paige was stunned. She looked at him with shock and embarrassment." You're crazy," she choked.

He laughed." I'm fun. I get that from my dad. Charming isn't it?"

"No. Not even," she said with a mad but cheerful tone.

They continued looking on the screen. At one point Paige's gaze was fixed on the screen that viewed outside their house. Her face became tense." What are these people doing?" Conner looked at the screen. There were three men jumping over the fence walking toward the house."What are they doing here?" Paige asked.

Conner was now serious. He stood up called the boys to wake up the girls." Everyone I need you to be as quiet as possible," he whispered as the men entered the house.

"Conner what's going on?" Alexis asked.

"There are people in the house."

Alexis started to hyperventilate.

"Lexi everything is gonna be fine," Blake said as he cupped her face with his hand." You have to calm down."

She nodded. She calmed down.

"Stay quiet," Conner warned.

They heard voices in the house. Everyone was quiet. They heard footsteps in the upper room." These people were loaded. Look for any supplies," a raspy voice was heard.

"I guess since the complete demolition of the city hasn't happened it means the people who got to the gate are few."

"Yeah," another one was heard.

Finally after a while the men were viewed on the screen living. They had bags of supplies. Paige finally got her breath back." Phew. That was scary."

"Oh my God. They could have found us," Lisa said panting.

"Lisa get a grip of yourself," Paige said with a serious tone.

James held her hand to calm her nerves. She looked at Paige again." We could have been caught and then what?" she asked.

Paige looked at her illuminating a lot of bravery." Then we would have fought."

Conner gave a small grin thinking that Paige who was beside her wouldn't notice. She did." We have to learn how to fight. If people keep coming and steal things from us we won't have resources to sustain us or even worse they'll find us. We have to defend ourselves. Also we have to leave here eventually so we'll train tomorrow using the weapons we were given."

"Won't that be noisy and divert attention to us?" Blake asked

"We'll not be using them. I'll just be showing you how to use them," Conner said.

Paige offered a grateful smile." It's settled. Tomorrow morning we train."

I'll be honest. The chapter title was inspired by the title of the incredible movie Fences. I hope you liked it.