The lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the rural canyon road that Max ran along, the dirt beneath his feet turning to mud from the rain. His mom led the way, fleeing through the darkness, wanting so badly to rest, but not daring to look back.

“Come on, just a little further!” She yelled

Max pushed ahead, they were about Two miles outside the city, on the top level, and Max knew that it wasn’t too much farther.

CRACK!!

Another lightning flash illuminated the sky, and Max picked up his pace, he couldn’t believe this was happening

Finally, they crossed under the overpass and came to the lone building, it was an older building, and built into the canyon wall, like all the others.

His mom and he ducked inside, hoping the soldiers hadn’t seen them

“You first!” She begged “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you”

Max jumped up to the holograph hidden, hole in the ceiling, and grabbed its edge, pulling himself up and inside the crawl space.

CRACK!!

Another lightning flash,

Max got himself fully inside, heart pounding as his mom jumped up and grabbed the edge of the hole.

“Come on, come on, come on, come on” He panicked under his breath, they were going to be here any minute

Suddenly, as if on cue, they heard the footsteps outside. His mom’s face showed a look of terror, she was too late, they were coming.

Thoughts ran through her head, she was only halfway through the hole, but she couldn’t let them find this exit, she had to protect her son

She looked at Max with a tearful smile

“I love you”

And then, to Max’s horror, she dropped down to the floor, just as the soldiers came through the door.

They grabbed her forcefully and held her still as the Man behind it all walked through the door

“Mary!” He said in a scarily happy tone like she was an old friend that he’s been dying to see “It’s so good to see you!” Then he looked around the small space “Where’s Max?”

Max felt his heart rate spike as he watched from his hidden space, unable to do anything

Mary said nothing as her hateful stare said all it needed to

“No matter, we’ll find him eventually” The man shrugged pulling off his gloves

“How could you do this Tony?” Mary spat 

The Man once again shrugged “You take things too personally, It’s just business”

“You don’t deserve to rule!” She snapped, “He was one hundred times the man you are!”

He smiled “And that’s why he’s dead”

He pulled out his gun and then

BANG!!

Max opened his eyes, the serene sounds of the dark canyon filling the air

“Max?” Chase said for the hundredth time, “You good?”

Max looked over to Chase and nodded “Let’s go”