Category : Stories

Sub Category : Romance

They were a dynamic duo. Consequently, a toxic duo as well. There had always been a romantic tension between the two of them, regardless of their high stress lifestyle they lived, they lived it together. 

They lived in a little cottage in the mountains just beyond a city, where they wreaked havoc and chaos across with their consistently wretched crimes. The small building made close contact inevitable. They slept in the same bed, ate together, sat together, they were companions. 

Sam had been a criminal for years before he had met Ellie, he was into a lot of theft and gang related crimes. Once he met her the gangs became less important, his unspoken love for her took over.

It was in the wee hours of the night when they planned their future plans for crimes. Ellie ran her pale fingers through Sam's hair as he scribbled down some notes, watching his hand move. The whole evening had been a bit dull, therefore Ellie wanted to make it more interesting. 

         "Wanna go on a quick run to town? Steal a body of wine so we can have a more entertaining night?", She asked, ceasing her circular finger movements in his orangish-red hair. 

           "No...too high risk", Sam replied, not looking up from his paper. 

Ellie wasn't taking no for an answer. She ran her fingers up and down his defined jawline, "please...", she whispered in his ear. 

Goosebumps covered Sam's sensitive, pale skin. Within moments he was up and grabbing the gear for store burglary. Ellie was giggling to herself as she packed a small gun in her waistband, she always got what she wanted from Sam. She looked at Sam fondly, who was looking on the map for a fairly easy place. Ellie wasn't really bored, she just needed something, and she had a huge craving for Hershey's chocolate and oddly enough, frozen pizza. She had been having these cravings for a month now.

Sam was pouting, he didn't really want to leave the house. He was exhausted from their last run, where he had been grazed by a bullet on his hip. He had been healing for a few months now, with help from the comfort of Ellie.

           "Why do you wanna hit up a gas station anyways?", Sam grumbled, looking at Ellie, who was checking herself out in the mirror.

She had put on a blonde wig over her caramel colored hair to disguise herself, along with blue eye contacts over her deep brown eyes. Ellie was also wearing an unusual amount of makeup, which was too light for her skin, it was pale while her skin was a light caramel color. She had covered up her freckles and made her eye makeup dark enough to make her angular eyes hard to distinguish. For once in her life she was not totally captivating. 

          "I told you, I'm bored.", Ellie replied simply.

Sam chuckled and tickled Ellie's hips flirtatiously, earning a squeal from her and a pain in his hand from it being slapped.

They left shortly afterwards, walking along a line of trees not far from the road. It takes roughly three hours to get to the city from where they lived. Hover-cars and drones zoomed along the road so fast that their pilots wouldn't be able to decipher their movements or faces. That's how all of life moved ever since the world had practically ended. Ellie and Sam moved away from the newly established cities to live a slower, steady life. They couldn't stand how fast life went in the cities.

Soon they were close to the gate and would have to climb, at this time of the night no guards were patrolling along the border. Which was odd, because Ellie and Sam were consistent offenders. Although their faces were plastered along every billboard, they were not scared to walk the streets.

Ellie went first, getting a boost up from Sam and pulling him up once she was on the top. Once they were on the top they jumped down to the ground with a gentle thud. Sam huffed in pain and held his hip for a second, coughing and wheezing.

            Ellie looked at him, "Sammy?", She asked in concern. Sam waved his hand as to say he was fine. She began to feel bad she had made him come on this run.

The place they were hitting up wasn't too far, so they made it there in only ten minutes. The place was closed, which made breaking in a lot less complicated. Sam smashed open a window, the sound echoed across the city. Ellie knew to make it fast. She quickly stuffed her duffel bag with medicine, water, food, and a few other random items. She paused at a pack of pregnancy tests, grabbing them and stuffing them into the bag.

Soon alarms wailed and Sam was rushing her out of the gas station. They ran side by side, police drones right behind them. Sam shoved Ellie over the wall quickly, as he jumped up his hip pierced with excruciating pain, causing him to fall a bit and give an officer the opportunity to grab his shin. Sam fought with the officer for a moment before he was able to kick him and regain his footing. Ignoring the shooting pain in his side he hopped over the fence and joined Ellie in their long sprint home. Sam had to limp as fast as he could, if he was caught he would be killed.

He and Ellie took a confusing path home to disorient the authorities, although it worked they were not out of trouble yet. Sam was wheezing in pain and had to sit down to regain his energy, sipping water Ellie had given him. Afterwards they proceeded onward, taking an hour to get home because of Sam's hip.

Immediately when they entered their home Sam curled up in bed while Ellie sorted out their gatherings. She took three pregnancy tests that night and ate two extra large Hershey's bars. She hid the pregnancy tests and laid down with Sam for the night.

Ellie ran her fingers through his soft, ginger hair and gazed into his light green eyes.

            "How ya' feelin' Sammy?", She asked, smiling at him softly.

            He rolled his eyes a bit and laughed, "Just peachy.", He replied with a sigh.

They laid there for what seemed like forever before Ellie got up and ate another candy bar, Sam keeping his eye on her. Sam had always been overprotective, especially over Ellie. She was one person he couldn't lose. They had been companions, allies, for so long, a world without her would be so weird to him. There was no doubt in his mind that he was falling for her, slowly but surely he would drown in his affection for her.

                "What are you looking at?", Ellie asked, giggling and glaring at Sam, "Huh, Sammy?", He hated that nickname.

He rolled over in bed and grumbled playfully in response, chuckling silently into the pillow. Laughing made his hip ache, which was okay if it made Ellie happy. Sam made an exaggerated sigh, when Ellie ignored it, he did it again. Finally he caught her attention.

            "What? Ya' big baby", She muttered, putting away the rest of their gatherings.

Sam didn't reply, just chuckled to himself.

          "Brat...", She murmured.

Chapter 2]

It was a few weeks after the gas station break in when Ellie found out the news. She was keeping it from Sam, and she would for as long as she possibly could. It was dangerous, what the secret caused. Ellie had realized that the hope of always living this lifestyle was quashed by this careless mistake. Their big heist was in only a few months, she was nervous to say the least.

It was early in the morning when she awoke to her usual nausea. Ellie carefully exited her bed and migrated to the kitchen, where she put on some tea to calm her stomach. All things considered, she was happy. Happy about her little secret, but nervous about how many things could possibly go wrong. She sat on the couch with her herbal tea, sipping it. Her hands were shaking as she drank it. Her tongue went numb from drinking the scalding hot tea so quickly, and her throat burned a little. Ellie set down the mug and got up, as she turned around she was met by her groggy companion. 

          "You're up early...", Sam said as he yawned, returning to the kitchen to pour himself some tea. 

Ellie only nodded and pulled a blanket over herself as she returned her attention back to the mug. Sam chuckled and sat beside her, pulling the blanket over himself. 

           "Are you sick?", He asked, raising a brow as he took a cautious sip of his tea.

Ellie swallowed, this was one of the things she had been dreading. She needed to make up a story, a lie, and it had to be consistent.

              "No, I was just a bit dizzy this morning", Shr replied calmly, stirring some sugar into her tea. 

Sam sighed and gazed into the pale brown liquid in his mug, obviously deep in thought.

               "What? Don't worry...", Ellie grumbled, drinking the rest of her tea in a gulp as she got up and walked into the kitchen ridgidly. He followed her quickly, wrapping his arms around her from behind. 

              "You don't have to pretend you're well, I can go on another supply run and pilfer some meds for you", He offered.

To her own surprise, this didn't strike her as a bad idea. Ellie thought for a moment.

                "I need multi-vitamins....and pain meds. Maybe some sleep aids", Ellie said slowly, thinking it through, "It wouldn't hurt to grab some....protection..", she added.

This made him smirk, resting his head on her shoulder and kissing her cheek lightly. 

            "Right, wouldn't want me to slip up and get you pregnant.", Sam laughed, "even though we've been fine before."

Ellie swallowed and bit her lip, feeling pangs of anxiety go through her body in slow, painful waves. Sam pulled away slowly and began to write some of the things Ellie had listed onto the paper, along with a few other random items they needed.

                  "Also", Ellie said, then paused.

                  "Hm?", Sam asked, cocking his head at her questioningly.

                  "Get a first aid kit...like needles and lots of gauze...along with a bunch of pain medicine", She said, trying not to be too obvious about what was really going on.

Sam nodded slowly, which made Ellie even more nervous about the whole thing. One thing that made her feel better is that Sam would never suspect it, though she knew she'd soon have to tell him. This was so dangerous, Ellie knew that it would be a lot of work and careful planning to keep everything in order. 

Sam put a duffel bag over his shoulder and walked over to Ellie, pulling her into a kiss. He felt nervous about this trip, considering his leg was not healed completely and he was going on his own. Over the years he had grown dependant on the support of Ellie, all things considered, they still are not an official couple. They were more like friends with benefits, but they both yearned for a fully romantic relationship with each other, it was just too risky.

He pulled away and smiled at her, walking out the door to proceed to the city, where he would carry out the supply run.

Chapter 3]

It took Sam about three hours to reach his destination on foot. He was panting once he reached the gates, leaning against a tree and panting heavily. His eyes scanned the city beyond the walls bitterly, dreading going through the barrier. Sam sighed and began scaling the wall, carefully placing his feet in between the bars to keep himself from falling backwards, which would probably kill him. His leg throbbed with pain as he put his weight on it. This was taking far too long to do this simple task. It was a mistake to do this, especially right after their last pilfering journey. But he sensed that whatever Ellie needed was important, she wouldn't ask him to risk his life for nothing. 

Finally, he was over the gate. Now he just had to get down. He looked down at the hard, concrete ground and grumbled. After society had fallen apart, they replaced all the grass with pavement, leaving few spaces for trees to provide cleaner air. Sam never understood why. That was one of the many reasons he left the city and hid away in the unestablished parts of the world that were filled with lush vegetation and natural resources.

He felt his foot slip, he howled in pain as his ankle twisted. Tears filled his eyes and his body became weak. The sensation of falling registered in his brain and he gasped in fear, grasping on to the fence quickly. Consequently the jolt that ran through the fence from him grabbing it so roughly set of the alarm.

A loud siren blared throughout the city and he could hear vehicles. He began climbing back over the gate. He carelessly threw himself over the wire fence and fell to the ground, hissing as his bad leg hit the ground. He began to sprint to the best of his ability. Sam gasped in pain, clutching his leg as he sprinted home. It took him 3 hours to get half way there. It was beginning to grow dark and he knew he'd have to stop and rest or he would go unconscious. Sam was certain he had broken his leg now.

At home, Ellie was going crazy worrying about him. She paced the front of their property, keeping her eyes on the woods. She did this for hours until she finally went in, only to get some tea to calm herself down. There were a million things that could have happened to him. Ellie knew she couldn't do this alone. She would die without Sam to help her with the baby and with supplies. She would die without his companionship. Ellie needed him just as much as he needed her. 

It was pitch black outside besides the twinkling of the tiny stars strewn all over the sky. Ellie was still waiting for him to get home, wrapped in a buckskin blanket with a mug of tea. She was growing naseous from worry and from her secret. She knew she would have to tell him soon. She just didn't want to, she was scared of how he would react. 

It was two in the morning when Sam returned, tired and limping. Ellie sprang to her feet, sobbing as she helped him inside. 

Sam was right, his leg was definitely broken. Ellie was sniffling as she bandaged up his wound, her hands still shaking from fear and shock. Sam petted her hair, comforting her to the best of his abilities. He knew not much could make up for all the worry he had caused her.

            "Im sorry El...", Sam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in shame.

           "Shut up, Sammy, you did fine.", she said between quiet sniffles. Her tears still rolling down her cheeks.

He half frowned and put a hand on her cheek.

           "Then why are you crying?", Sam asked.

She laughed lightly and leanes into his touch, sniffling some more. She had been so worried, it was a relief to be able to touch him. In those hours he was gone, she missed the smell of him in the house.

           "I was worried half to death", Ellie sighed, managing a smile as she hugged him. She inhaled the warm smell of his clothing. He had a particular smell to him that she couldn't name, but it made her feel safe.

He sighed a bit, looking at her with a softened expression. She was the only one he would be vulnerable to. 

Later that evening Ellie's nausea returned. She paced the bathroom, her hand on her stomach. Every now and then she would cough and gag as if she were going to vomit, but then she would quickly recover. Sam had passes out on the couch, his leg wrapped in ice. 

Ellie sat down on the edge of the bathtub with her hand over her mouth, sputtering panicked sobs into it. She would have to tell him soon, they were out of pills for her stomach pain and this was becoming intolerable. She finally threw up into the sink, holding her stomach as she gagged and sobbed. This was going to be hellish.

She curled up by Sam on the couch, snugglimg into his warmth. Sam welcomed her with light kisses on her face and neck before he began to slip back into his deep slumber. He snored silently into the curve of her neck, stirring every now and then from the pain in his leg. Again, that safe smell flooded her thoughts and made her drowsy. He planted more kisses along her cheek, half asleep. Ellie chuckled a bit and sighed in relief. He was safe in her arms, there was no need to worry about anything. Then, with a wave of nausea going through her she remembered there was much to worry about. Anxiety filled her chest, she sighed as she tried to push the thoughts away. She was constantly battling herself, no matter what. Soon she fell asleep, but her slumber was very fitful. She was bound to have a nightmare before her rest was over with, the arms of her lover could not protect her from her own mind.

Chapter 4]

A few months had passed and Ellie still hadn't told Sam her secret. It was becoming too large to hide at this point, she had to lie and say she was gaining weight. Ellie knew it wasn't believable, but Sam wouldn't guess that she was pregnant right away. She tried to stay out of his sight most of the time, just to hide it as long as possible. After calculating the time she had realized she was already in her second trimester, her guess was that she was around five months. It was hard to hide, so difficult she began to where baggy shirts and stay covered at all times. Ellie was afraid, very afraid.

Sam's leg began to heal at a rapid rate, he began walking a month or two after he was injured. He had become impatient with boredom as he was restricted to laying down or bathing. This meant he could soon go on a run again, which scared Ellie even more than him being around all the time. Sam wouldn't want to go alone, not after what happened, but Ellie really didn't have the stamina to do that kind of running or sneaking anymore. She can barely lift up the red tub they fill with water for their garden anymore. It made her feel useless, absolutely useless. She knew that the chores had to be done or it would become chaotic. But what she didn't know is how she would make it work.

It was late in the evening when Sam was out cleaning the garden, weeding and trimming dead plants. Ellie watched from the window, debating on telling him then and there. Anxiety welled up in her chest as she walked outside, before she could open her mouth the was a loud gunshot and Sam came skittering back to the door. Sam grabbed Ellie's arm and led her back into the house, frantically grabbing weapons and food. The sound of bullets firing rapidly could be heard against the house, windows were shattering and wood was toppling over. It was the government's dogs, the bounty hunters. They had come to kill anyone and everyone in the house, and to make sure Ellie and Sam were dead. They knew it would happen eventually, but neither of them had anticipated it happening this early. Ellie was praying it would never happen, not only because of the baby but because this tiny shack in the woods had become her home over the many years she had spent there.

Ellie was crying as she filled up duffel bags full of food, watching Sam carefully. He had two guns, one on his hip and the other in his hand. He looked very calm, that's how Ellie could tell he was scared. Ellie ducked as the bounty hunters began to shoot through the kitchen window, she had to continue. She grabbed cans from the lower shelves and cupboards, along with some blankets she had been hiding for the baby. Sam was in the storage room. The cold, grey room was filled with so much precious food, a large majority of it would be left behind and rot. After they got all the necessities they began to plan how to get out without being shot on sight. Sam peeked out the door way, dodging a bullet as he slammed the door shut quickly, grunting angrily.

        "We're surrounded...", He mumbled.

        "What about the cellar?", Ellie suggested hopefully, looking up at Sam.

She was terrified and desperate, so Sam nodded and pulled out his gun. He boldly shot at the hunters, periodically shutting the door and making sure Ellie was okay. She was dropping the bags of food by the basement door, trying to cram more food into the bags while Sam was busy.

Sam jumped up, "We have to go, now! They're coming inside.", He said in panic

Ellie ran to the basement entrance and unlatched the door, turning on the light. She glanced back at Sam before she walked down the stairs. Sam followed her, taking the lead because he is overly protective. Ellie managed a half smile as they got out through the tunnel that led into the fence. It was dark and there were vermin everywhere, along with the stench of feces and urine. Sam opened the shed door, it creaking loudly and causing Ellie to flinch a bit. To their relief, nobody was out their. Sam and Ellie bolted to the woods, panting and sprinting for their lives. Behind them, they could still here gunfire in the distance. It took them about 3 hours to run about 10 miles, with breaks. They took camp in a cluster of perennials behind some trees. Sam did not dare make a fire, he was afraid the thick smoke from using plants as fuel would lead the government bounty hunters right to them. 

Ellie rested her head against Sam's shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. Things had really taken a turn for the worst. She knew there was nothing stopping it now. Ellie's heart was beating rapidly when the thought came into her head. She had to tell him, she had to. There was no 'if' now. All these things considered, she was still reluctant to tell him about it. What if he got angry? Would he leave, could he? All she knew is that she couldn't be alone, not without shelter or food. Ellie needed Sam, and he needed her, but a baby would  complicate things.

She rubbed her baby bump gently as she thought, feeling the roundness of it. It was only a matter of time before she would become larger, and then she would have to give birth. Ellie hoped that she would be in a safer place to have her child, somewhere with shelter at least. After giving herself a mental pep talk, she knew that she was ready to tell him. After taking deep breaths for a little while she decided to just say it. 

        "I'm pregnant.", Ellie said, her voice was shaky and only loud enough for Sam to hear.

Chapter 5]

It took a moment for Sam to process it, so long that Ellie thought he may not have heard her. She repeated herself.

          "I'm pregnant.", she said again, louder.

          Sam nodded, "I heard you.", he said. 

Ellie looked down at her feet, which were still sore from rubbing through the dense brush and thorns. There were many bushes of roses and other thorny plants that punctured her bare feet as she sprinted. There was an uncomfortable silence amongst the two of them, causing Ellie to shift a bit in amidst the tension. Sam was quiet, the gears in his brain shifting like a well oiled machine as he conjured up something, anything, to say to her. He took a deep breath, and looked at her. When she looked up at him he felt an overwhelming sense of guilt come over him.

Her eyes were wide and alert, like a hunted animal, but they were also red and irritated from crying. Her cheeks were puffy and red, there was also dirt and blood smeared on her face. Her full lips quivered from the cold weather and the anxiety coursing through her, they were also cracked and chapped to the point where they bled. You could tell she had been biting them. She also had many scabs and scratches all over her pretty face, some that were still open and bleeding. He had never seen Ellie look so terrified. A single year rolled down her cheek, which her wiped away as she placed a gentle hand on her face. 

            It's okay.", he said simply.

With that, she began to cry. Sam held Ellie against his chest, resting his chin against the top of her head as he rocked back and forth slightly. He rubbed her back, trying to calm her down to the best of his abilities.

Later in the evening, when Ellie calmed down, Sam and her began to make a temporary home out of a small basin in the ground. They stripped plants of their leaves and built a bed out of it, which they situated themselves in comfortably. They cuddled each other, yearning for the warmth of their old home.

Ellie wished for her comfortable bed and her warm house, nuzzling into Sam's chest and sighing. Sam could sense her longing for warmth and pulled her closer. To his surprise, she fell asleep very quickly in the cold of that evening. She snuggled into his chest, snoring quietly, was amongst the many small sounds he heard before he finally fell asleep. He heard bugs chirping and the wind rustling the trees, every slight sound made him flinch a little. He was not at ease at all, he was on edge. Sam found it incredibly hard to relax in a circumstance like this, but he reminded himself that tomorrow would be full of more endless running, and that he should try to get some rest so he didn't pass out. He planted soft kisses on Ellie's cheek before he snuggled closer to her and closed his tired eyes. He found relief when he slowly drifted off into sleep, a very fitful, restless sleep. 

Suddenly he was back in the city, the clean, all too perfect city. No trees, no wild life, no grass, only air filters and loud cars filled in their absence. He felt a wave of fear go through him, he was in his old room in the city. He got up and looked in the mirror, he looked clean. His face was shaven and his hair was cut, along with his skin being exfoliated and his hair being brushed. He blinked a few times and turned to the closed door of his room. Sam punched himself, nothing happened, so he opened the door. It led out into a hallway that was all too familiar to him, he had lived in the home it belonged in for his whole life. He walked down the stairs and froze when he saw Ellie on the sofa, humming to herself. She had a bundle of pale pink blankets in her arms, a wiggly bundle. He stared long enough and realized that the bundle was, in fact, a baby girl. His daughter. He swallowed his fear and gained enough courage to speak.

             "Ellie?", Sam asked, walking a few steps forward.

Ellie looked up at him and smiled, gesturing to the baby girl in her arms and looking back up at him again. He took a deep breath and approached the baby cautiously. The bundle was wiggling and the sound of the infant's giggling could be heard. Ellie handed the bundle to Sam, giving him a very generic, plastic looking smile. Sam looked down at the baby, who was now sobbing. He gasped in shock as he saw the baby's nose was bleeding and so were it's eyes. It's pained cries became defeaning. He looked up at Ellie who had began to scream, her eyes and mouth bleeding as well. Bullet holes could be seen in her chest, blood being absorbed by her clothing as it escaped the wound. 

         "SAM! SAM! SAM!", She wailed, beginning to thrash around in agony. 

Sam began to hyperventilate, then screamed out of pure fear.

Sam was awoken by Ellie, who had been shaking him for nearly ten minutes while he had been having his hyper-realistic nightmare. He was shaking and sweating, his chest going up and down quickly as he looked around, scared half to death. Sam swallowed and took deep breaths, realizing it had all only been a dream. It was so real that his hands trembled and his brain was confused with what was and wasn't real. 

Ellie had pulled him into a gentle embrace, rubbing his back as he panted and whimpered. His fitfullness had woke her and she then tried to wake him up, seeing as he was having a pretty bad nightmare. She hated seeing him hurt, because she knew how strong he was as a person and how he generally never showed anyone what he really felt. All things considered, it took a lot to make him break like that. 

In the afternoon they began to walk again, they went slow to make up for the rest they had lost that night and the day before. Sam couldn't stop thinking about that dream. The sounds of the baby wailing and of Ellie's squeals haunted him to no end. He just looked at the path ahead of him blindly as his brain was so clouded with thought that he could barely pay attention to where he was going. Ellie held his hand to guide him a bit, but decided it would be best if they took camp earlier because of the shock Sam was in. 

            "How many months?", Sam asked, managing conversation the best he could through quivering lips.

            "Four or five, I think...", Ellie replied, squeezing his hand gently to reassure him.

Sam just nodded, a bit amazed by how oblivious he was. He honestly had no idea that she was pregnant, the thought had never even crossed his mind. He thought that she may have been catching a cold or that she had some sort of medical problem that couldn't be fixed with just a medication. He managed a smile at the thought of his own stupidity.

           "What do you want to name it? It feels like a girl...", Ellie asked, looking up at Sam.

He had never really thought about it, but he felt a bit nervous when she mentioned that she thought it was a girl. Sam reminded himself that his dream was only what it was, a dream. He thought for a moment, his eyes wandering to a nearby bush. It was a rose bush.

           "Rosy.", He said simply, half smiling as he turned his head to look at Emily.

           She smiled at him and repeated it, "Rosy."

The two snuggled up in a small cave and fell asleep, this time it was a less fitful sleep. It was peaceful for the first time in almost two days. Ellie felt safe in the arms of her lover as she fell asleep. The talk bad definitely made them both feel a lot better.

But there was only a matter of time before they would have to keep running, as the pregnancy progresses, the harder it will be for both of them. But If the government catches up to them, they're as good as dead.

Chapter 6]

The next 3 weeks after that night had been awful. Ellie could feel her stomach weighing her down more and more all the time and her hormones skyrocketing. Her feet ached and had become swollen, not to mention cracked and scabbed from the endless movement. Their sprinting quickly became walking as the pregnancy progressed, which made Ellie worry about staying ahead of the government. She had heard stories of runaways like them, but they all ended up dead or had an unknown fate. Ellie wanted to feel safe for once, she was tired of being in danger and constantly running from something. She wanted to have control over what happened, like she did before the government attacked.

Sam had a completely different opinion concerning this. He was convinced they would find a place of safety for Ellie to spend the remainder of her pregnancy in, and then they would move on to find somewhere else where the government wouldn't think to look. He never understood Ellie's pessimistic views on life, but nevertheless he fell in love with her more and more every day he spent by her side. This whole thing had brought them closer together as partners and lovers, as well as soon to be parents. Unlike Ellie, he didn't regret that night they had spent together, so passionately, the reason for her pregnancy. He didn't regret one moment of it. Not because of the lust or of the relief of finally releasing, it was because he had always felt a connection with her, which he never spoke of because he felt it was a bit inappropriate at the time. It gave him great relief that she was undeniably his.

That evening was spent in silent horror as pain struck through Ellie's body, she felt the pain of labor and the panic when she realized it was too early for the child to be born. Worst of all, she was alone. Sam had walked onward to try and find food for them. She began to sob into her hand as she used the other to make a suitable, comfortable place to have her child. She panted and clutched the roots of a nearby tree, trying to be as quiet as possible. Sam came back after ten minutes, jogging because he could hear her pained gasps from where he had been picking berries. He crouched by her side, still panting in exhaustion as he began to couch Ellie.

        "Just breath babe....just breath, relax.", He said, trying to soothe her anxiety and fear.

She slowly began to take deep breaths, holding her swollen stomach. Tears dripped down her cheeks, she was calm, but still in pain. Horror filled the couple as three shots rang out, all aimed towards them. Ellie limped by the side of her lover, who urged her to try to be quicker. Ellie was panting and crying, the searing pain within her not withdrawing. The ear-splitting cracks of bullets was loud in their ears, giving them incentive to keep running as far and as swiftly as they could manage. 

To their surprise, the bullets ceased and all was quiet. They continued to run only until Sam was sure they were not in danger. Ellie was not only relieved by being in a place they could rest in, but the fact that her labor pains had stopped entirely, the only pain that remained was the dull sting in her sore feet. 

        "Are you okay?", Sam asked, his voice lightly coated with fear.

        Ellie nodded, "Yeah... the pain is gone entirely."

Sam found this suspicious, he knew that labor pains didn't just go away. He had become convinced that something had happened to the children.

        "Are you bleeding?", He asked, raising his eyebrow at her. He was concerned and anxious, shaking all over.

        "No, I'm fine...It must have been a false alarm.", Ellie replied, grabbing one of his quivering hands and steadying it.

Sam wasn't convinced, but he nodded and sighed. He didn't want to interrogate her about it, he knew all too well that it would only make matters worse. Ellie hated confrontations, especially from Sam. They made her nervous and sad, which were emotions Sam didn't like to induce. He continued to silently worry about her and the baby when he felt her hand grip his shoulder gently.

        "I'm okay, really. Please stop worrying about me and the baby.", She said, looking at him sadly.

Sam looked back at her and managed a small smile, he nodded and snuggled her. She giggled as he nibbled her ear and cheek, the giggle turning into a lightly pleasured sigh as his teeth began to graze her neck. Tugging gently at her skin with his teeth and sucking, he sent her into bliss. She buried her fingers in his hair and whimpered. Eventually their lips crashed together and didn't separate for the next few hours.

Sam had fallen asleep after their lustful evening, snuggled into Ellie's arms. She played with his now greasy, dirty orange hair. His hair looked almost brown from the caked dirt, he hadn't bathed since they had to abandon their home. That thought sent a wave of sadness through her, remembering the comfort of her home. Sam stirred a bit in his sleep, causing Ellie to flinch a bit. She kissed him gently.

        "It's okay baby, I'm here..", Ellie whispered to him.

 Sam seemed to become a bit more peaceful, snoring quietly against her caramel colored skin as he dozed. She began to wonder what their baby would look like. She wanted ginger babies, with her skin color, and her eyes, she thought that it would make for a beautiful person. She had always envied Sam because of his beautiful, coppery, orange hair. It was always so soft as well. Ellie absentmindedly rubbed her baby bump in thought, chuckling as she realized what she had been doing. She turned back over and cuddled Sam, falling asleep in his arms once she felt safe in his embrace.

The next morning when Ellie awoke, Sam was cooking on a fire, which shocked her. She watched him for a few minutes, puzzled, finally she cleared her throat. Sam looked at her,  looking irritated.

        "We have to head back, then take a right.", Sam said simply, his eyebrows furrowed as he attempted to make the food he had been preparing edible. 

        Ellie felt confusion cloud her brain, "Why?", She asked, raising an eyebrow at her lover.

        Sam sighed a bit, setting his cooking pan down. He looked irritated. "Well," He started, sounding annoyed, "They're leading us into a trap...", He stated, looking at Ellie. Sam looked tired and stressed.

Ellie didn't ask questions, she just continued cooking for him. He had nearly burnt the last eggs they had, which they found in a nest. They were fertilized, but it would keep them alive and full. They ate in silence, Sam grimacing as he chewed the tough egg with a handful of berries. Ellie hoped Sam was right about this turning back idea.

After they ate they turned back and walked in the direction of their old home. Getting back home would take two months at least, maybe three because of how Ellie's pregnancy had escalated. She guessed that now she had to be around seven months, but she couldn't be sure. She was scared, scared of having a baby out in the wilderness. It also made her sad to think that she had no idea what the date was, or the time, and she wouldn't when the baby came. She wouldn't know when her baby's birthday was. Sam sensed her dismay and wrapped his arm around her as they continued onward. 

They stopped a few hours later when Ellie's back ached so badly she couldn't go on. The way her pregnancy handicapped her frustrated her to no end. No matter how simple the task, she couldn't do it. Like bending over, or being able to squat to use the bathroom. Simple tasks had become so exhausting.

Sam decided that they would make camp here and continue onward at nightfall.

Chapter 7]

Ellie spent a large majority of the next night limping, she felt so pitiful as she hobbled behind Sam for miles and miles. She was too big, too swollen, to be travelling. She was conscious of how it would worry Sam if she admitted how hard the endless walking was on her, so she kept quiet and controlled her urge to sob. Sam was oblivious to her struggles to keep up with him, merely focused on getting as far away from the government as their feet could carry them. Anxiety and hope fueled both of them through bitter days like these, dragging them through the rough terrain of the forest that they despised. 

Since that day, it had been a week, Ellie had become completely immobile. Her pregnancy was a significant handicap to her. They had been camping in a small cluster of wild brush and thorny bushes, Sam scraping only enough food together to keep Ellie alive and well during her pregnancy. He knew well that this wouldn't last, he would grow to weak from malnutrition to continue onward. The sharp pangs of hunger even resonated within him now, making every movement achy and daily tasks more difficult to achieve. He sometimes found himself in tears from the horrid pain he was in. But Sam knew the negative affects hunger would have on Ellie could be much more fatal, so he pushed onward. But in that evening he had hatched a plan that sounded ingenious to him. He planned that he would head back to their old log home and get supplies, then bring it back. After eating and resting, Ellie would be able to walk and should be able to make it home to have the baby. It sounded brilliant to him.

What he didn't know is how he would convince Ellie to let him go on without her. Being alone, especially now that she was so vulnerable, terrified her. Sam knew it would take a lot of talking to convince Ellie that it was a good idea, but he knew he wasn't going to starve to death here. 

That evening, Sam sat down beside Ellie and wrapped an arm gently around her. He snuggled her, trying to love her up before he did something that would definitely upset her. She nestled into his arms, sighing softly as she seemed to melt into his embrace. He felt bad that he was about to ruin all of this, but he couldn't risk getting too weak. He sighed, he had to do it.

        "Ellie, I have an idea.", Sam said, looking down at her.

She sat up a bit, studying his facial expression for a moment before she responded.

        "What is it?", She asked, raising an eyebrow at him. She was groggy, and a bit irritated because of the pain she was in.

        Sam cleared his throat, "Well...I could go on ahead and get supplies, so you can eat and get a bit healthier. You'll be able to walk.", He said, swallowing.

To his surprise, she burst into tears suddenly. Sam pulled her closer, trying to calm her down the best he could. Ellie was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably, her body shuddering. It was a bad idea.

        "I have to...or we'll die out here.", Sam said carefully, rubbing her back as he explained.

        She sniffled, "I don't wanna be alone out here....I'm too scared..", Ellie whimpered, pressing her face to Sam's chest.

        Sam began to grow irritated, "I haven't eaten in three days...", He replied, looking at Ellie a bit more seriously than before.

Ellie became angry as well, pushing Sam away, getting up, and walking away. She couldn't walk fast, so it was easy for Sam to keep up with her as she hobbled along.

        "Go away!", She snapped at him, shoving him away. Sam wrapped his arms around her, forcing her into a hug. She didn't struggle, she just began to cry again.

In the end, they made the decision that Sam would go on a supply run that night.

He headed out just before nightfall, jogging all throughout the evening until he finally reached the half way mark to their old home. Sam rested for the night, he decided that he would rest for the remainder of the evening so he was well rested for the rest of the trip. He was panting and gulping water from his small water bottle. He began to worry about Ellie, immediately regretting his decision to leave her behind. Sam began to consider going back for her, growing concerned for her. He felt really stupid, he hadn't thought this through as thoroughly as he had imagined. He never anticipated feeling so guilty and scared.

Sam took a deep breath, forcing himself onto his feet. He walked at a slow pace, trying to calm himself down. He made it to the log house, devastated to find that it was burned to the ground. His heart began to beat rapidly as he backed up into the woods, crouching down and  watching the mangled building for what felt like forever. Sure enough, a bounty hunter emerged from the basement, carrying bags of stolen food. This made Sam's blood boil, that was the food he needed. In his irritation and his mindless staring, he began to tip over and fell, rustling a bush. He held still, hoping they hadn't noticed the noise, or worse, spotted him. He understood that he was wrong when a bounty hunter grabbed him by his torn shirt and cuffed him. Sam struggled and kicked, trying to get away, in a desperate hope he began to yell.

        "Ellie!!!", He called into the forest, "RUN!!!"

The hunter gave him a rough smack to the head, knocking him out almost instantly. The proud hunter, dragging Sam with him, made his way back to the remainders of the burnt home. The rest of the hunters cheered and patted him on the back. They would now be able to return back to the city where the higher-ups would do what they wished with the criminal. Others would stay behind and attempt to find Ellie, who was said to be more dangerous than Sam in the records. Many of the hunters searched the forest, using scanners to calculate where the two runaways had walked, but the signals were jumbled. All things considered, they are not allowed to dismiss the mission.

A younger hunter, who goes by the name of Zane, watched as a few of the guards drove out of camp with the fugitive in tow. Zane was small, even for his age, he was 17. His hair was black, his skin a caramel brown, and his eyes dark brown. His big eyes studied the vehicle, wishing he was going back to the city. He missed his home, even though he was born out in the wild. His mother was a runaway, while his father was a government scientist. His mother tried to get away, but was killed. Zane was only spared because of his father's status, and he knew it too, it didn't make him as sad as it did  when he was young though. He did miss his mother terribly, he remembered the way she smelled and the sound of her melodic voice. He wished he could remember what she looked like, supposedly they looked very similar, but that was only according to his nanny. She had never met Zane's mother in person.

Zane's deep thought was interrupted by their mission leader, a grumpy old man who should have retired eons ago. He reprimanded Zane harshly before sending him back to his morning duties, Zane was in charge of patrolling the forest's edge with several other young hunters who were also in training. He never understood why they didn't just let runaways go free, they would either die of disease or starvation anyways. But he had also never heard of runaways lasting as long as Sam or Ellie had. He paced the forest's edge back and forth, yawning in his boredom. He was mildly agitated by the fact he was one of the people who had to basically manage all the boring jobs that no one wants to do.

Zane leaned against a tree, sighing as he watched the other hunters laugh and gossip. He had never been a part of a crowd, he kept to himself a large majority of the time unless it was simple chatter to pass the endless time he had here at the base. He felt that this whole thing was a huge waste of time and that they should let the other runaway die out in the wilderness. He didn't understand why they needed them alive, other than to torture them in some secret facility. The last thought made him shiver, imagining the kinds of things the government did to runaways. It was inhumane, morbid, and disgusting. Zane discarded the thought and picked up on a conversation a group of older men were having, a bit interested in what they where discussing.

        "....and I heard the girl killed him..", A tall, deep-voiced male said.

        Zane chimed in, "Killed who?", he asked.

The conversation halted for a moment and all of them stared at him.

        "What's it to you, pip-squeak?", A gruff voiced man asked, looking at him.

Zane shrunk down a bit, looking down at the bright green grass beneath his work shoes. Anxiety overwhelmed him, feeling dumb for even asking the question. The older hunters always pushed him around and bullied him.

        "Lay off, he can ask questions," ,A tall female officer said, "She killed the old leader." 

Zane's eyes widened a bit in disbelief. Part of him now had a decent understanding as to why they were such a huge priority, but the other part of him hoped that they would tell him the story. The woman chuckled and looked at the other hunters before clearing her throat.

        "Well...", She began, "It was six years ago"

The story was long, but unbelievable. Ellie was only sixteen when she single-handedly slaughtered the leader of the entire colony and ran off with his son, Sam. Sam was his only heir, making his replacement difficult. The whole nation was shocked and angered by the death of their leader, and she had been wanted for murder.

Zane was completely shocked, horrified even. She really was dangerous.

[To be continued..]