"Not another one!" Skyler groaned under her breath, ducking around the corner of another crumbling brick house. "Why won't they give up?"
"You're a wanted fugitive now, babe." A tall, dark haired man strolled leisurely up behind her, tugging on her raven black hair. Skyler hissed and spun around grabbing his wrist and pushing him against the wall.
"David! You idiot! What are you doing here? You said you were leaving!"
"Yeah, but I missed you too much to stay away." He winked, adding to Skyler's frustration. A dozen men dressed in black military uniforms came closer, knocking down what was left of front doors and storming the remains of houses, their flashlights cutting through the dark and throwing beams of light dangerously close to their hiding place. David whistled lowly, "What did you do? Haven't seen a squad this intense around here since the riot in '89."
"That's what I've been trying to figure out."
"You still don't know?"
"No."
"Wow, I'm impressed. You showed your face at the college, said... what was it you said to the prof.?"
" I walked up to introduce myself, told him my name was Skyler Evans. He looked up from his books and stared at me for a bit."
"And then he ran away?"
"Sort of. Hold on, we need to move. Follow me. Not a sound." She pulled the arm she was still gripping after her as she walked silently around to the back of the house. "Over." She whispered, motioning to a rundown chain link fence a couple meters behind the house. David nodded, shook her hand off his arm and hopped it easily. She did the same and they ran through rows of half standing buildings and rubble, leaping over rubble.
"You know, part of the reason they're still after you is probably because you keep running through these restricted areas."
"David."
"Right, sorry."
"Left here." She pulled him down another road lined with identical brick buildings ranging from mostly destroyed to piles of rubble. All the ground in the city was concrete, ripped away in some places revealing sandy-toned rocks and dust.
"Wow. I almost forgot how bad the damage was. If I ever need a reminder I'll just come here! Doesn't look like there's a thing growing for miles!"
"Seriously David? Can you not shut up?"
"I don't have to be here you know."
"That was kind of my point."
"I already told you! I missed you babe!"
Skyler growled in frustration and pulled David down behind what looked like the remains of a desk. A squad of troopers hustled by, heading further into the destroyed city.
"Skye." David whispered.
"Skyler." She corrected.
David shrugged, "They were wearing masks. Gas masks. I feel like that's not a good sign."
"Why do you whisper so loud?"
"Why are you always so hostile? You're never going to get a guy!"
"Apparently the real problem is getting rid of them." She scowled at him, eyes narrowed.
David laughed, and there was some distant talking and a faint shout of, "I hear someone over there!" Skyler growled again and pulled David up, dragging him behind her as she sprinted towards the outskirts of the city.
They could nearly see the desert past the last row of houses in front of them when Skyler looked over her shoulder at the looming buildings behind her and skidded to a stop. They were completely surrounded. David looked at her questioningly. She pushed him so they were back to back and spun around. There was no way out. David sighed and raised his hands above his head in submission.
