Miles, Charlie, Nora, and Aaron walks through an abandoned town. Charlie looks around and sees store windows shattered and posters ripped apart. Charlie feels a soft object under her feet. She backs up and looks. It was burned teddy bear. She looks at Miles who was keeping something.
"What happened here?" Charlie asked. Nora squats down and looks at the pile of junk. She touches one.
"Bombs." Nora said, standing up. Miles stops and turns to face the whole town. He looks down. Charlie walks towards him.
"Miles?" she said, quietly, touching his shoulder.
"The Militia attacked this town a few years ago." Miles said, looking at the three, "Killed men, women, and children. And those bombs...No one was left alive." Aaron pulls his hair back in shock and exhales. Charlie looks at the town and Nora sighs.
"My, my. If it isn't Miles Matheson." a voice said. Miles froze and the three looks behind him. A small female approaches them. She stops and smiles, "Lucky day to spot the ex Commanding General."
"Rylie..." Miles quietly muttered to himself.
"How long has it been, Miles? Hmm? Since you left?" The female examines Charlie. She sighs, "C'mon, old pal. Is this how you treat your friends nowadays?" Miles closes his eyes and sighs. He turns around. The female smiles, "Is it fun, your head being a target?"
"Quite splendid. Thanks for asking. Still by his side, Ry?" Miles asked, watching her closely.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Rylie smiles, "That stunt you pulled. Gotta give you thumbs up for that. Bass was deeply hurt. He was never the same after you left." Rylie said, taking a few steps forward.
"I've been told." Miles said.
"So, who are they?" Rylie points to the three behind him. Miles looks and turns back to face Rylie.
"None of your business."
"Who is she, Miles?" Charlie asked quietly, walking next to Miles. He takes her arm.
"Back up, Charlie." Miles whispered. Charlie looks at Rylie, who waved at her.
"Oh, well. I guess I'll start the introduction. I'm Rylie James." she began, taking another two steps, "2nd Commanding General of the Militia." Charlie feels Miles move a step back.
"You alone, Rylie?' Miles asked, looking around.
"Hmm, you know me. I like being alone." Rylie answered.
"When I say run, you all run like hell. Am I clear?" Miles said, looking back at the three.
"Miles, she's only one person." Charlie pointed out.
"Charlie, just trust me. You don't want to be near her." Miles whispered. Charlie looks at Rylie. She couldn't understand why Miles was afraid of one small female. By the looks of the people around her, they could take her down.
"But, Miles, she's small." Aaron points out also.
"Don't underestimate her, Charlie." Nora said.
"Y'know, I have ears. I can hear you." Rylie said, taking larger steps towards them.
"RUN!" Miles yelled. The four runs and Rylie frowns. She touches her temple.
Charlie runs through the forest and tries to avoid the branches from hitting her face. Aaron jumps over a log and trips. The branch beside him breaks in half and he gasped.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed. He looks at the shattered branch, "What the hell was that?!" Miles ran next to him and picks up Aaron. The four hides behind the tree.
"Its a whip." Miles said.
"What? Like, Indiana Jones type of whip?" Aaron asked. Miles nods.
"And she's very good at it." Miles replied. He looks straight ahead, "If we go nine miles that way, we'll get to the next city. C'mon!" Miles ran and the three follows him. A sword flings and M ducks. The others stopped. Rylie descends from behind the tree, sword in her hand and whip on the other.
"She's fast." Aaron said, looking at Rylie.
"We never got to our rematch." Rylie said, spinning her sword, "Shall we?" Miles puts his stuff down and pulls out his sword.
"Miles..." Nora tries to stop him but he puts his hand up. Nora backs up. Rylie and Miles looks at each other, swords ready. Rylie made the first move and Miles blocks it. The two fights. Charlie watches and flinches every time Rylie's sword nearly touches Miles. Rylie swings her sword on Miles' and his sword flew out of his hand and fell onto the ground. Rylie points her sword at him and he puts up his hand.
"I fight fair." Rylie said, putting her sword down and stabbing it into the dirt. She punches Miles and he wipes his mouth. They hand-combat. Rylie swings her right arm towards his rib and Miles grabs it. He twist it and Rylie turns around, her arm far back. She groans. Miles kicks the back of her knee and she loses balance, causing her to kneel to the ground.
"You're getting good." Miles said, amazed. Rylie chuckles.
"Learned from the best." She admitted, head busting Miles in the face. He lets her go and he takes a step back. Rylie spins and kicks Miles on the chest. He falls back.
"Miles!" Charlie yelled, going towards him.
"Charlie!" Aaron grabs Charlie. Rylie cracks her neck and turns to face Charlie. She swings her finger at Charlie's face. Charlie looks at the groaning Miles.
"I see it now. You're Rachel's daughter, aren't you?" Rylie walks towards Charlie. Nora and Aaron goes in front of Charlie, defending her. She looks at Rylie.
"You knew my mom?" Charlie asked.
"Hmm...you look just like her." Rylie scoffs, nodding to herself. Charlie looks behind Rylie and she turns. Miles punches Rylie and she falls onto the ground. Her head spinning and clouding.
"Not good enough." Miles exhaled. He reaches his hand out, "Cuffs? Rope?" Nora hands him the rope. He takes the rope and picks up Rylie.
Miles ties Rylie up on the tree and she was laughing. Aaron looks at her.
"Why is she laughing?" Aaron asked, creeped out.
"Nothing," Miles said, ignoring the question. He tightens the rope and gets up, "Let's go." He turns and grabs his bag. They start to walk away until Rylie said a word.
"You'll come back, Miles. You'll be running back to our side." Rylie yelled out, "You'll return to Bass."
"Oh, yes. To kill him." Miles said, still walking.
"No, not to kill. To save him." Miles stops and turns.
"What?" Miles asked, looking straight at Rylie.
"Face it, Miles. You won't kill him. You can't."
"What makes you think I can't?"
"You had the chance to kill him, you didn't. You have the chance to kill me now, but I know you won't." Rylie shows a light smile. Miles takes out his sword and rushes towards Rylie. He squats down and points his sword at her neck.
"I'll kill you, right now." Miles pushes the tip closer to her neck.
"Go ahead, Miles. Do it." Rylie pushed. Miles stares at Rylie and he was hesitating. He inhales and sees his hand shaking.
"Miles." Charlie said, breaking his focus. He exhales and puts down his sword. Rylie smiled.
"Like I said, you can't." Rylie whispered, "We're part of you. And that's your weakness. You care for those who are close to you." Rylie looks at Charlie, "Just like how you're close to her." Miles punches Rylie and she goes unconscious.
"Miles!" Nora gasped out.
"What did you do that for?!" Aaron questioned. Charlie looks at Miles, who walks on ahead. The look on Miles Matheson's face was something Charlie has never seen. Not on him, anyway.