Noah Hunter is a loner. He was never apart of any the pockets of shield-protected cities, preferring to survive on his own in the endless wasteland of No Man's Land. But after an injury leaves him in the care of New Baltimore, he doesn't have much of a choice. But when an attack destroys the shields protecting the city, Noah offers to go along with another man named Jack to find the right materials to restore it. Jack is mysterious, often in his own world, but Noah can't help but be drawn to him, anyway. But there's also a darker part of himself unable to truly run away from the thing hunting him. There's dangers, much more than Noah's used to, ahead. But, he has a city to save. [#ONC2026] [LGBTQ+/SCIENCE FICTION/ROMANCE/NEW ADULT] [CURRENT WORD COUNT: 28,327 WORDS]

I tried to look unimpressed as possible as Ruby glanced over at me and Ally still standing on the sidewalk, her victorious smile growing even wider. Ally pulled away from me when she noticed her strolling over, looking confused. "Well?" Ruby said once she reached me. "Congratulations?" What else did she want me to say? Ruby smiled and laughed. "Thanks. Y'know, if you want a ride..." She stepped closer. "Just let me know." ********** Amara Fields is a struggling artist working two part-time jobs to make ends meet while hoping to save up enough money for art school. In walks her next door neighbor Ruby Cortez who doesn't know the first thing about 'reasonable noise levels', probably smells burning rubber for fun and street races as a hobby. Amara should hate her - but she makes her heart race. One likes art, the other lives for cars. Opposites attract, don't they? [ROMANCE/NEW ADULT/LGBTQ+]