Running From Your Shadows

Chapter 6

Sam never thought in his life would he be going on an actual date such as this. He's had hookups set up by Felix, but never an actual date. What he didn't expect either was how Yuang's wife, Chi, would make and pack a dinner for them to eat. The food didn't matter though, not as much as the woman he was with, laughing away at a joke he snuck into the conversation. He never believed her to be 33, thinking she was much younger.

"You look incredible for 35, Sam. Makes me jealous." Sam couldn't help but hide his blush behind a laugh.

Once they were finished, Sam slung the bag across his back, and Marina guided him to the pond the UNSC built. They listened to the sounds of the water against the wind. He looked at her complexion against the sunset, and was awestruck by how she glowed. Her brown hair and fair skin were accentuated like a painting. Sam sighed in his head, and allowed himself to really smile. Marina seemed to notice this.

"You have a beautiful smile, Sam. It suits you." Sam tried to shrug it off, but Marina was playfully having none of it.

"Not as beautiful as your smile, Marina." She slugged him in the shoulder, invoking a mock offense from Sam. Who knew she was this playful? Soon, he saw the first star peak into the sky.

"Sam, what brought you here to Challenger in the first place? You probably haven't been here for two weeks if I haven't met you yet, I'm guessing?" Sam shook his head.

"It hasn't been two weeks yet. I came here looking for a new life. I led a... different life, a toxic one, for nearly a decade. I wanted to live a calm and quiet life." "If I can ever learn what that is." Sam responded, leaving out the rest of his thought. With what he's built up, he's not sure if exposing himself would ruin this chance at something incredible for him. Marina just simply nodded, like she understood. What he expected was the curiosity from her eyes, but more in the realm of concern.

"What were you up to for the last ten years, Sam, that made you want to change yourself?" Sam stopped, hesitating. He carefully thought through his response as his name was well known in the criminal underworld. He let loose a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"In a former life, I went by the name Locus, and the man I partnered with went by Felix, and he took advantage of me in my vulnerable state. He made me believe I needed him." Marina looked horrified, but it was soon replaced by a prideful look, something his dad would give to his older brother.

"You are strong, Sam. I have no doubt you've been through a lot. Good for you for escaping a toxic relationship and lifestyle." Sam wasn't sure how but her words of affirmation reassured his heart that he is okay, and he will be okay.

"Thank you, Marina," They continued walking along the banks of the pond. "What about you? It sounds like you're one of the first settlers here on Challenger." She kept looking forward, and Sam recognized the empty look on her face.

"Just like you, I wanted to start over. Since I was forced from my home during the Great War, I could never establish a home on Earth the same way. Earth would never be like Reach." Sam froze at the mention of the planet, and Marina was still walking before she noticed he wasn't by her side. She walked back to him, standing in front. Marina wasn't sure how, but it looked like he was staring at a ghost. She knew PTSD when she saw it.

"Sam? Were you on Reach...?"

Sam was looking out into a valley, the moon shining brighter tonight than normal. To the North of their camp was a small Covenant FOB, and he could see they're gearing up for an attack. To the South of him was a small town known as Nova's Ridge. Fear struck his heart when the realization hit that the town would be next in the siege of slaughter. Before he thinks to get up, his Captain comes over.