"Lapis and Lazuli: An Android Backstory"

Chapter 1: The Great Escape, Part 2

Lazuli turns and they both take off running across the yard. Lapis was right, there's no more fences or much of anything in their way butthere's still plenty of houses and buildings to block them from being easily seen from the road. But there was one thing that Lapis didn'trealize. The lot that the abandoned factory sits on has a large open area between the last building and the factory itself. An open area,that although over-grown with grass and weeds and sparsely sprinkled with random junk, would leave anyone over a few feet tall completely visible from the near by road that passes in front of the factory.

Lazuli: "I thought you said it was a clear shot to the factory?"

Lapis: " It is. It's just more clear than I realized."

Lazuli gives him a look like "really".

The truck rumbles in the near distance.

Lapis: "Quick, get down."

The twins drop down to their knees, squatting barely above the ground.

Lazuli: "I she just circling the block? Now what do we do now?"

Lapis: "I guess it's up to our senses and good timing."

Lazuli: surprised and a bit confused:"What?!"

Lapis: "You see that barrel over there?" He points to an old barrel in the middle of the empty space.

Lazuli: "Yeah."

Lapis: "It looks like it's pretty close to about the half way point to the factory. As long as we each time things right, there should be enough time to run and hide behind that barrel before Father drives by again. We just have to time it right with the sound of the truck."

Lazuli: "Good thing he never got the exhaust fixed."

Lapis: nods:"I'll go first. That way, if I get caught, you can get away."

Lazuli: "What?! That's mad."

Lapis: "Why do you say that?"

Lazuli: "You know why! He'll kill either of us if he catches either of us."

Lapis: "Exactly why I'm going first."

Lazuli: "You know you don't have to protect me, right?"

Lapis: "I know. But what kind of brother would I be if I didn't try to protect my sister? If that was the case, I would have left you behind at the  house and left earlier like I wanted to."

Lazuli: "Jerk."

She pauses and smiles at him. He smiles back. And then his face quickly turns back to being serious.

Lapis: "Okay, the truck has passed, so we've got a bit before it comes back. I'm gonna go now." He stands up a bit and starts forward, preparing to run.

Lazuli: "Okay. Good luck."

Lapis turns his head back towards his sister.

Lapis: "Thanks."

He then takes off and ducks behind the barrel. He stays there, pressed as closely to the barrel as he can while he waits for the truck to pass by again. When the noise is lower, he rushes across the rest of the open area of the lot and makes it safely to the factory, with both bags still on his person. He lets out a sigh of relief and then motions for his sister to go. Lazuli takes off running across the lot and also makes it to the barrel just in time. But just when she is about to take off to join her brother at the factory, the noise of the truck doesn't change. This time, their father has stopped right in front of the open area of the lot, making it impossible for Lazuli to run anywhere without being seen.

Lapis:"Crap! I didn't account for this!"

Lazuli stays hidden behind the barrel, breathing even harder now, but not because she's worn out from all of the running, but because she's scared. She reassures herself, thinking "as long as he doesn't get out of the vehicle, we'll be okay". Thankfully, after a few minutes, the truck changes gears and rumbles down the street again. As soon as it's quiet enough, Lazuli takes off running faster than ever towards her brother, who still awaits her at the edge of the old, abandoned factory. She makes it but is running so fast that Lapis reaches out to stop her.

Lapis: Grabbing his sister by her shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Lazuli: "Will you stop asking that? I'm fine." She looks to the side for a minute. "But I'll admit, that was a bit of a scary situation."

Lapis: "I know. I was afraid too."

Lazuli looks back at her brother in surprise. But he looks as serious as ever.

Lapis: "Come on, we need to get inside before Father comes back."