The Grid Runner

Epilogue

"Where's the Grid Runner?" Wes asked.

Zan came into the room, holding a heavy bag over his shoulder. "I told you I don't like that name."

"But why? It's what the whole city knows you as. Our saviour, the Grid Runner."

Zan flushed. He dropped onto the sofa beside Priya, who was searching through a large sack, checking she had everything.

Zan squeezed Priya's hand and she smiled at him. He had never seen her so put together and cleaned up, and so healthy looking.

Marcin came into the room. "Everyone ready? Everyone excited?"

"Yes and yes," Wes said.

Dallos and San came in after Marcin, each with several sacks and bags.

"We're really doing this, aren't we?" Dallos said.

San lay a hand on his shoulder. "Too late to change your mind. About anything." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, and then went through to the next room, shuffling past all the boxes and furniture around the room.

It had been over six weeks since the machines turned back on and the failsafe initiated. The current powers of the city, a committee of public representatives, had deemed the outside world safe to explore on this day. It was estimated that over seventy percent of the population would be leaving over the next few days. Zan and his friends were given a special pass for the first day, after the initial explorers went out.

"Where's the old man?" Edrund asked.

"I'm not even twice your age," Ryker said, entering the room. He looked over them all. "Gosaline, Keithan, and Edrund are waiting outside. We're all ready, looks like. Time to go?"

Zan nodded to him. He barely recognised the man he saw these days. Ryker's hair was cut short, gone was his heavy stubble, and his casual clothing almost looked out of place on him. But it was a look that Zan had grown to like, and even admire.

"Let's go, let's go," Wes said, rushing out the room as fast as his heavy bag allowed him.

Ryker gave Zan a small, hesitant smile. He cast one last look over his family home – the home they all had for the past few weeks – and left the room.

Priya stretched out and lay her head in Zan's lap, looking up at him.

"It's almost a shame to leave," Zan said, stroking her hair. "Just when I finally felt like I was at home again."

She gave him one of her most sincere, heart melting looks. "Home is where we all are, together."

He leaned down and kissed her, suddenly eager to leave the city.

There was a whole new world out there for them all, and the first reports back had been... exciting.

(455 words)

(Total words: 19,980)