"Look, this is where we are." Alex pointed to a spot on his map. It highlighted the rural highway they were a few hundred yards away from. "Ryseden is right over here." His finger trailed along the road before veering off and traveling a bit.

"We can stop in this town here and stock up what we can before making the home stretch," Sun thought out loud, pushing gently into Alex's shoulder with her's.

"How far away do you suppose that town is?" he asked, pushing her back lightly. She giggled quietly before biting her lip and calculating.

"Maybe around twenty miles. To Ryseden, about forty. If we book it, we'll have enough time to explore the town and get supplies and sleep for the night there instead of searching in the morning," she planned, sending Alex a look of determination. Alex groaned, rolling up the map and sliding it back into his bag.

"Why do I get the feeling this means a lot of jogging and running?" he complained. Sun sent him an insincere smile.

"Don't think you're in shape enough to keep up with me?" she challenged. Alex gasped in mock horror, raising an offended hand to his heart.

"Excuse me? I can out run you any day," he answered arrogantly, crossing his arms. Sun lifted an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Wanna make that a bet?" she asked in a testing tone. She stuck her hand out in order for him to seal the deal. A dangerous smile worked its way onto his lips. He leaned forward leaving centimeters between the two.

"Oh, yeah," he answered, gripping her hand. He gave it a firm shake.

"If I win, you have to do whatever I want you to for a day," she laid out her punishment, a victorious grin on her face. Alex's smile grew darker and he leaned forward to whisper into her ear.

"If I win, I get to have you in any position I want for a night." Sun froze, a deep blush blooming across her cheeks.

"Alex!" she exclaimed in embarrassment. He chuckled, pulling away and winking at her.

"That is my condition." He stood up, giving Sun a hand to help her up. She took it, pulling herself up next to him.

"Ready."

"Set."

"Go!"

The two of them took off, sprinting onto the side of the highway. Slowly, both of them slowed to a jog. This went on for a ways until Sun started to tire. She didn't give up, continuing to push herself when she thought her lungs were about to burst. Alex glanced over to her, noticing her state. He gave a slight smile of pride. He slowed down considerably, forcing his breaths into more labored actions. He stopped completely, bringing his hands to his knees as he bent over. Sun stopped after him, mimicking his pose.

"I win," she rasped, her breathy laughs escaping painfully.

"Yeah, you did. Oh great runner of the plains, I submit to you," he fibbed, continuing his harsher breathing for a bit before evening it out. He stood straight up, put his hands on his hips as he breathed in a deep breath. Sun followed after him, a big smile on her face. Alex couldn't hide his smile, happiness swelling in him knowing he caused her's.

"All right, let's get a move on then!" Sun said, turning towards the direction of the town. He shook his head, reaching out and grabbing her into a tight hug. His nose nuzzled into her hair as he held her.

"Alex? Are you okay? What are you doing?" Sun asked, worry lacing into her voice. She turned in his hold, looking up into his face.

"I just want to hold you, okay? Just for a little bit." She stiffened in his grip before relaxing and returning his embrace.

"Alex," she started softly. "We can do this at Ryseden." She chuckled softly as she turned her head, resting her cheek against his chest. She listened as his heart gave one solid thump after another. They stayed like that for a bit before she broke the silence.

"We are being stupid doing this in the open," she reminded him. He only hummed in response, holding her tighter. She felt something cold hit her cheek, and she looked up. The sky was quickly filling with slow and large flakes. She reached her hand out, allowing the snow to touch and melt against her skin. She broke apart from him; a small smile teasing her lips. She jogged ahead a few yards for looking back at him.

"Well, come on, slow poke!" she exclaimed, adjusting the straps on her bag. He laughed jogging to catch up next to her.

"So, when does the day start that I'm your slave?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at Sun. Sun brought a finger up, tapping her chin in contemplation.

"I don't know... You'll find out when the time comes!" she said, sending him a cheeky grin. Alex rolled his eyes, giving Sun a mock groan.

They continued on, bantering back and forth. Then they heard rustling. The two of them slowed down, going silent as they grabbed for their weapons. They scanned the forest, Alex stepping ahead of Sun to scout a bit closer.

Then the shot rang out.

"I won't leave you. Ever. I'll be here to protect you forever."

"How can you be so sure? What if you die?"

"Because I have you I need to care for. But, if for some reason I break my promise, I want you to run, okay? Don't worry about me, just run."

The conversation flitted through Sun's head as she watch in slow motion a bullet hit Alex in the chest. He collapsed backwards, his head bouncing harshly off the ground with a loud smack. Sun barely registered her own screams as she dove for Alex. She lifted her gun, firing a few blind shots into the woods.

"Alex! Alex!" she called to him, grabbing his cheeks. Her heart constricted painfully as she took in his paling skin. No, no, not again. I don't need this again. Please, Alex! Panic seized her throat.

"Sun... Run..." he muttered out weakly. Sun shook her head. Her hands shook uncontrollably as she tried to pressurize his wound. Warm blood surged out from around her hands, staining her hands with his life force.

"No, no! We are going to get you out of here. We'll get to Ryseden, and you'll be okay!" Another shot went off, and pain bloomed in Sun's left arm. She sibilated, lifting her gun again, and firing rapidly into the cover of the woods. A weak push shoved Sun on her thigh, and she looked down to see Alex smiling meekly at her.

"Go, Sun. I'll be okay." His eyes dimmed a bit before sliding close. His chest spasmed a bit before stilling. The tears she didn't realize were brimming flowed over.

"How dare you break your promise," she whispered at him brokenly. She stood up, firing a few more rounds into the woods. She took off, once again leaving the man she loved behind.

She bit back her sobs as she traversed through the woods. She held her arm tightly, hissing at the pain that was radiating out.

Once she felt she was far enough away, she collapsed behind a tree. She shrugged off her backpack and jacket, doing her best to ignore the cold temperatures. She glanced at the wound, wincing at the amount of blood that oozed.

She rifled through her bag, grabbing the rope that she now was glad she put in her bag when she reorganized their loads. She tied it tightly above the bullet hole. She snatched up the pocket knife, readying herself for what she was about to do. She bit down tightly on the rope she had in her mouth. She took her knife and sliced into the side of the bullet wound. She gritted her teeth, agonized tears and muffled screams releasing themselves.

She dropped the bloody knife, and with shaky fingers, she reached her middle and pointer finger into the widened wound and dug around until she extracted the bullet. She dropped the bullet. Grabbing some cloth, she wrapped it around the wound before tying it tightly into a knot. This isn't going to end up well for me... She gathered her bearings a bit before the thought hit her. I need to get back to Alex!

She rocketed up from her seat, taking the rope off her arm and shoving things quickly into her bag. With her good arm, she shrugged on her jacket. She swung it over her shoulder and started off at a fast pace back to Alex. She ignored many of the branches in her way, letting the branches whip against her exposed skin.

She slowed down to a creep lifting her gun, wincing at the pain in her bicep. Sun scanned around for their assailants, but didn't find anything. She quieted, listening for any talking or footsteps. Nothing. She broke out onto the highway, rushing towards where Alex had been shot. The only problem was that he wasn't there. A smear of blood was left where he laid, but it disappeared, leaving no trace as to where he was taken. Sun dropped to her knees, releasing sob after wracking sob until she felt like she didn't have anymore tears to shed.

When she had fallen into a quiet stillness, did she stand up. She turned in the direction her and Alex were heading in, putting one foot in front of the other as the determination to finish their journey intensified.