“Slow, down Tayt! It's nighttime. You can't see!,” I yell.

“No. I'm driving us away! Stop it, Nahia!”

Tayt looks at me angrily. We were about to be separated by the Lam Lathi soldiers, but the flying killer saved us. That was earlier in the day. It wasn't normal to see a Caparan woman as a bodyguard. I didn't think she was Caparan. I caught a glimpse of her eyes. They were like Tayt's eyes, only not as angry with me.

Our dune buggy spins in the mud. Our supplies were shaking and I was worried a few would fall off. The dirt path we were on wasn't as crowded as I thought. Tayt and I were late fleeing Cepertine. We spent too much time gathering supplies before we left.

“Slow down, Tayt!,” I yell again.

Tayt looks over at me upset. “Stupid sunglasses.”

He tries to grab my sunglasses and toss them aside onto the beach. I bat his hand away. We were driving around the bay and heading inward to the continental mainland. Our destination was Capara. It was west of us by land. That's where most of the refugees were fleeing.

I look back across the nighttime bay. I could see the glow of new Cepertine. All the creations the pilot made were filled with light. The lights seemed be getting brighter. I remember my home. It was now redrawn.

“The dew-lit Neandeleria. Like sweat off of flowers and hair soaked in carelessness. The jungles were the skin and Cepertine was our beating heart. Now it's dead. I miss it already.”

The outer jungles whoosh by our vehicle and the tires come to a grinding halt. Soon the jungles would vanish too. Tayt ducks under the metal bars and gets out of the vehicle. He was still angry that I slept with Ned when I lived at my uncle's house. My uncle promised to give me the house if I let Ned do it to me. He even signed the papers over. My uncle had his own perverted reasons for it. I'm not going there.

My uncle never died when I lived with him. I had to kill him for the insurance policy to happen. I wanted to and initially thought I would shoot him or whatever. I felt like a coward when I couldn't pull the trigger. I just wanted a sanctuary for me and Tayt. He could run there when the ground dwellers chased him. I could be safe and happy. Ned lived next door, but we could always stay inside.

I help Tayt place the tarp on the sand and we pull out a cheap tent. We set up the metal beams and stretch the material so it fits. Tayt pulls out a lighter and starts a small fire.

“I'm going to collect some dry wood to burn. Stay here and keep the fire alive.”

“Ok.”

I rest my chin on my knees and play with a stick in the sand. I could hear the bay water and I didn't want to get too close. There were venomous fish in the water and the jungle noises were frightening. It wasn't like the postcards. The jungle wasn't tropical it was hellish. I look back as the bushes rustle. I felt a little worried about Tayt.

After adding a few sticks to the fire, I go back to the dune buggy. I grab an old postcard James gave me. I was sad when the Caparan killed him. Everything happened so quickly, I never had time to reflect on all that was happening. I hold out the antique postcard with jungle animals on it. Some tears fill my eyes and I brush them away. I get sand in my eyes and cup a little water wash them out. My heart beat jumps a little, as walk back from the water's edge.

Tayt comes back with some wood and piles it near our beach fire. I look at the dark forests across from us and let out a sigh. I didn't even know if I would get to sleep well tonight. I felt a little better that we picked up some guns from the fallen bodies. There were plenty to choose from. I even had a leg holster for mine. Tayt had two handguns on his side.

“I'm not going sleep here easily....”

We start to cook some pre-made food, heating it over the fire. The night remained quiet and I nervously lock my jaw. I didn't want to bring up Ned. I just wanted it to go away.

“So was it fun sleeping with, Ned?,” stares Tayt.

“No,” I interrupt.

Tayt was bitter and being critical. I could sense that. The fire snaps and I poke at it some more with my stick. I try to smile again. I poke at Tayt's stick in the fire and we have a small battle. Finally, he throws his in and lets it burn. Tayt breaks the silence.

“Your meal is done. The cover has changed colors.”

I smack my tray away with my stick and let it cool in the sand. We both were hungry. Suddenly, a small bird, like a hummingbird, flies near us. I see its tiny tongue pant in fear, not knowing the new environment the pilot drew over his home. He was searching for food and didn't understand. The small bird looks at the colors of my tray and flies away. I distract myself with it and Tayt shrugs.

“Look Tayt. It's the weak bird. It's just like you.”

“Whatever, Nahlia. Why do you always say stupid things?”

A short time later we both finish our meals. We head to our tent. We stay up a while and listen to the jungle noises outside. I take off my sunglasses and put them next to our cheap lantern. It was going to need new batteries soon.

“Stop hogging the pillows.”

Tayt pulls one of my pillows away from me and I lock eyes with him. He pulls another one, tucked between my legs, and I sigh. It was muggy and cool and I wasn't going to let it bother me too much. The night passes slowly and I look up at the tent ceiling. It had a FauX logo and it was funny to me. I look over at Tayt and make a sarcastic and ridiculous voice.

“Stop hogging the pillows,” I mock.

Tayt looks at me and then turns back around. Tomorrow would be less stressful. That was my hope. I wasn't even sure we had enough supplies to make it Capara. The pilot was probably planning his next move. Who knew where his psychotic plans would lead him.