The sirens blazed through the night and she couldn't help but step on to her balcony out of curiosity. It was constant now, it seemed. At least, it had been for the past two weeks. Another sighting. Another criminal caught. The Authority keeping them all safe as usual. The Guardians were doing their jobs. She could see the lights in the distant, the Custodian drones swooping in and out of the crowd.

"Citizens, please return to your living quarters. Repeat, please return to your living quarters. All citizens outside of living quarters past 2300 hours shall be arrested. Repeated

please.." as she turned and walked inside, the voice faded and the door slipped shut behind her.

"Thank you, Nicola," said the woman on the television. She sat in front of it and waited for instructions. She wanted to sleep but the Authority would surely make another announcement before allowing the first shift to resume sleep. She glanced around her sparse flat. The walls were pale grey and the furniture simple. The flat was small and every piece of furniture fit perfectly. There were no books, no photos, no paintings. Mostly because she didn't need that. Some homes had it, but those homes had families. She didn't.

"Greetings Citizens," came the familiar voice. Representative Parson was on the screen. He was the usually nightly prayer leader, so it was no surprise. But his face held an expression that surprised her. His usually plastic black hair was suddenly out of place and the corners of his mouth were flipped downward. "Tonight we can report that the following criminals that THREATEN our very existence were captured." A list of names flashed at the both of the screen

with small photos next to each one. "It PAINS me, however, that the one criminal whom we feel could unravel our very existence with his terrorist ways has alluded us after escaping two nights ago. Yes, friends, we didn't mention this one then as we did not want to create a disturbance. But we NEED YOU. We need your eyes and your love of your land and your love of your freedom to help us apprehend this man. I trust that you will."

The mug shot of the man came on the screen, replacing Representative Parson. The man staring at her had grey eyes... It was the first thing she noticed. How rare was that these

days? Grey eyes, not blue, not brown, not green, not hazel, but grey. His skin was pale, slightly off-pigmented it seemed (more than likely the picture) and his expression was wild. His short, dark brown hair was jumbled. He looked at the screen and screamed silently. "ERIC RADWIN: WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE."

"Friends, if you see this man, contact the nearest Authority representative immediately. And now, let us pray together before first shift and second shift end their days. Let us pray now." The words of the nightly prayer flashed on the screen now. Everyone knew it. Everyone said it. "Our heavenly father, thank you for this blessed day and thank you for your blessed

Authority to keep us safe and guide us forever into your arms. Heavenly father, protect all of us and our freedoms. Protect us from those who try to break us. Protect us from those who try to divide us. And protect us from those who try to defy your chosen leaders. Amen."

"Amen," she muttered, slightly later than usual. She shook her head quickly and back at the screen.

"Good night friends." Parsons disappeared and this time was replaced by the current time.

"Alarm set," said the voice in the television. "Goodnight, Nicola."

"Goodnight..." She slowly stood and walked into the small bedroom that was on the opposite side of the television. She closed her door and shut the blinds. Nicola sat on the edge of her bed and thought, or at least tried to. What had happened there for a moment? Some different feeling overcame her and she couldn't explain it. "You have to get some sleep," she

muttered. "Sleep will make everything clearer."

The alarm echoed throughout her room. "6:30 rise and shine. Breakfast at the  Commissary today includes imitation bacon, eggs, toast, oatmeal, and juice. Coffee not available today due to rationing."

"No coffee?" she muttered. "Now that's blasphemy." She laughed slightly and then rolled out of bed. "Best not let anyone know you said that." She bounced out of bed and pulled

out a uniform for today. Grey jacket, grey skirt, white blouse. She stared at it for a moment, her eyes drifting back to the grey in the man's eyes. "I must really like grey." She dressed

quickly and slipped on her broad rimmed black hat. It was supposed to rain today. Her hat was

her best protection as she couldn't afford an umbrella yet. Soon though. But it wasn't that it rained much. The Authority had complete control over the weather. Today was just the

scheduled rain day.

Sure enough, when she stepped outside her flat after the first bell that signaled 7:30, the time the third shift was getting off work and the first shift was going in, she heard a

voice state, "Drought-free for seven years. Rain commencing in 3...2....1....." A clap of thunder rang through the air and drops of rain made their way down from the sky. She walked quickly

past a few shops and into a back alley, which was the best short cut she had found to her office. She wasn't found of crowds, really. This way was always quiet.

Something was different today though. There was a commotion in the alley and as she approached she found a man beating an old woman with a cane. "What's going on?" she asked

the nearest person.

"Women shouldn't ask questions," the man replied. He gave her a nasty look, one that indicated that he planned to do the same to her if she didn't leave.

But Nicola pushed through the crowd, ready to save this woman. She was stopped by a set of strong arms that grasped her waist and a voice said, "She's mine... I'll handle her." her heart raced. She wasn't anyone's.

Oh god, what had she done?

She felt herself be picked up and then carried through another alley. The cries of the woman grew faint and she felt the man set her down. She frowned and tried to go back. He

stopped her and said, "I know you want to help but not right now."

"Who are you?" she said angrily.

"The man who just saved your life." The shadows of the alleyway concealed him slightly. He was tall, his voice smooth, but that was about all that she could tell.

"Well then, man-who-saved-my-life, I must go to work. You're welcome to walk with me and explain what happened back there."

"I can't. I... have somewhere i need to be."

"So that's it then? Well, i guess it's bad enough that I’m standing here talking to you since I’m unmarried and all. Good day, sir."

"It's not safe."

She turned and shook her head. "Not safe?" Look, Mr. Saved-my-life, I’m not really sure what to think and-" He stepped into the light. Her head grew dizzy and she collapsed.

Nicola bolted awake and sat upright. She was on an old, musty bed in a dark room. A glimmer of light shone through the cracks that covered the window. She could see a figure of a man standing there, peering out. She got up and walked towards him. "Who,"

"shhhh. Quiet," he said in a whisper.

"The hell do you think you are?" she finished softly. She made sure to furrow her brow more to express her anger. "I should just call out and alert the Authority that i found you."

"You won't."

"And why not? Am i your captive?"

He laughed and shook his head. "No. But you're missing work and that's frowned upon."

"And it's your fault that I'll be punished for it."

"Perhaps."

"So why are you just standing here? I mean, shouldn't you be having your way with me or something?"

"Like that man from earlier? No. I'm not that type. I don't believe that women are inferior. I respect and admire you."

"You don't even know me. We just met. You're Mr. saved-my-life but wanted by everyone else. I am grateful, by the way." She sat on the edge of the bed and tapped her foot. She looked around at the room as best as she could. It was once a house, she was sure of that. One side of the wall was bricked up with what looked like the building beside it, which was unintentionally adjoined. The ceiling was falling in places but where they were it seemed safe enough. "Where are we?"

"Underground, in a way. This house is only partially above ground."

"I take it that's where we are."

"Actually no. We really are underground."

"Then what are you looking at? Where is that light coming from?"

He motioned for her to join him and she did. She quietly walked towards the window and looked through the cracks.  A mirror was propped against a fallen wall. Its cracks and faded edges indicated it had been there for some time. It caught the light and reflected it into the room. She could also barely see moving figures, people walking on the streets above.

"We need to wait until a few more people show up, then we can leave," he said.

"How did you know about this place?"

He smirked slightly and walked over to the bed. As he sat she watched a cloud of dust drift upwards quickly. "It's a very long story."

"I have a feeling we have a while."

"Another time."

She nodded and glanced through the cracks again. She turned to him and said, "So, why are you wanted? I mean, they made such a fuss about you last night. What did you do?"

"What do they say I did?"

"Defied the State."

"Then that is what i did."

"There has to be more to it than that."

"Later. I'll tell you all about it when we get to where we're going."

"We?"

He nodded. "We."

"I don't think you consulted me on this."

"Don't worry. You're safe."

She glanced back at the window and through the crack. She heard something and glimmer of metal caught her eye. Instinctively she dropped to floor and out of sight. She watched as he did the same. His eyes met hers and he mouthed, "Custodian?" She nodded. He slowly moved closer to her and in a moment he was beside her. His arm slipped around her and she wanted to recoil but maybe there was a reason. The drone's whir grew louder and then faint. It had passed by them. They both let out a deep sigh. "We need to go," she muttered.

"Yeah."

"You think it's looking for you?"

"Probably. Probably just doing a routine sweep. Come on. I know a back way to get where we're going."

"Why am i starting to feel like you planned this?"

He ignored her and stood. "Our journey is going to take us through a few alleyways unlike the one i found you in."

"Scarier?"

"Perhaps. But i know they’re not patrolled mostly because no one knows about them."

"No one but you."

"Well, there is one other person. In time though."

She stood hesitantly and brushed the dust off her grey skirt. She paused as she looked at it and then at him. "We haven't formally introduced ourselves."

"We both know who the other is, Nicola Greiner."

"Eric...Radwin." She nodded. "You know... i could just run... turn you in."

"You won't"

"What makes you so sure?"

He smiled and again ignored her question. "Come on. We need to start as the darkest sections are first. We need a little daylight."

"Can I again ask where we are going?"

"Somewhere safe."