DAY/DANIEL POV

I breathe in the crisp summer air and look around at all I've been missing these past 10 years. The streets are as crowded as they've ever been, and the people still walk with a purpose, not caring if they push and shove through the swarm of bodies. The city still hums with all types of noises and radiates energy. But, its changed.

The shops are new, and it looks nicer. MUCH nicer. More of a place of a thriving country and less of a post-apocalypse scene. Like a place where you could live, not just survive.

Oh man has it been a long time since I have stepped on the very land where I was born, where my parents and brother took their very first breath and very last, and where I... Where I lost my train of thought. Still, coming back makes me not want to leave. There's something telling me I'm not done with this place, there is something else I need to do. I'm just not sure what just yet.

'Eden, are we already lost?' I ask running a hand through my short, bright blond hair and glancing back at Eden.

When out of the corner of my eye and among the sea of people, one person stands out. A woman with long, brown hair swept up in a high pony tail takes long strides and eats up the street with her long legs, like a soldier.

I don't know how long I've been staring her, but she must sense my gaze because she looks up. She stumbles when she meets my eyes, clearly taken aback, and eyes wide full of surprise. I look into her dark, almost familiar eyes for I don't know how long. I lose my sense of time first and soon after I swear I lose my mind looking into her beautiful eyes. Reality catches up to us when the crowd sweeps her away, she quickly averts her eyes keeps moving, faster now.

'Hey, wait up!' I shout.

I jog to catch up to her and she slows her pace and slowly, ever so slowly, turns to face me.

Almost breathless from being this close I ask 'Do I know you from somewhere? I swear I recognize you.'

For a second, I could swear I caught her off-guard. If only for a moment she looked like a deer caught in headlights, but then a mask of indifference slips over her face.

'I don't believe so,' she responds playing the part of a sincerely confused woman. But I think it's just for show.

'Then I should introduce myself. Hello, I'm Daniel,' I say with a grin and hold out my hand.

'I'm June', she responds hesitantly clasping her hand in mine with a small, pained smile.

June, June, June. Where do I know that name from? I stare at her quizzically and she squirms under my gaze. Nothing comes to mind until she straightens out some invisible wrinkles on her coat a memory claws its way to the surface.

Flashback:

I feel as if I was hit by a freight train and my head pounds and pounds. So basically, I feel like shit. Opening my eyes feels like trying to defy gravity, but I try anyway. And every so slowly I peel my eyes open to an angel.

Her dark eyes are splattered with specks of gold that gleam in the sunlight and her dark hair is disheveled in an attractive way. I blink a few times and my eyes adjust to the harsh light. I scan my surroundings to see an IV bag and a supply of medical supplies in the corner of the room along with a few chairs. I lay in a hospital bed with flowers of all sorts at the foot of the bed and a small hand clings to my own. Hard.

I pull my hand away and drag my eyes up to the angelic girl who sits on the side of my bed wearing a button down, plaid shirt and leggings and question 'Do I know you?'

A hundred of emotions flash across her face: regret, relief, angst, resignation, but mostly sadness. But just as quickly as they came, they went.

She stands up, brushes her invisible wrinkles on her shirt, and lets out an anguished smile and responds with a heavy pang of sadness 'No, just checking up on you for the nurse.'

And with that she leaves and nurses file in.

End Flashback

June tilts her head slightly and looks at me strangely.

'Are you okay?' She asks.

I respond, 'Better than okay.'

I give her a lopsided grin that seems to have her...sad?

Hmm... I dismiss it and decide to come back to it later.

'It was really nice meeting you, but I must go I have prior commitments with my friend, Tess.'

'Does she happen to live in the Ruby Sector? As it so happens we are looking for our old friend, Tess, as well!' I say trying not to sound too excited.

'Yep, that's her!' she says shaking her head.

'We're a little lost, could we follow you?' I exclaimed.

'Of course,' she says with a smile, a true smile this time.

I make sweeping gesture to where Eden's standing and smiling like a kid who has received the biggest of presents on a white Christmas morning.

I narrow my eyes and think, does he like her? He can't! She's mi-wait what! Bad Daniel!

I open my mouth to start introductions and Eden interrupts, 'June, it's been long enough!' he grinned.

June smiles a smile that seems to light up her whole face and I feel a sharp pang at my heart. 'Nice to see you too, Eden.' she says cheerfully.

I look between them and inquire 'Now how do you two know each other?'

I feel the answer deep in my bones, but my thoughts are jumbled and unclear, as always. They share a glance.

An awkward silence wraps around us like a blanket until June breaks it by saying 'We better get to Tess's, you know how cranky she gets when your late!'

She weaves through the crowd like a snake her long dark ponytail swinging behind her, and as the crowd swallows her up whole, Eden and I barely on her tail, I hear something that stalks my nightmares to this day, the sound that caused me to go into a coma. The sound that killed my mom, dad, friends, and brother. It was a gunshot.

A/N This is an 3rd edit of Chapter 1! I do realize its not the exact same at the beginning as it was in Champion, but I'm improvising. Thank you for all the love and advice keep it coming, it is much appreciated!

Fly On,

Queen takes all