A question sneaked its way into Kel's mind as the ATV approached the post.
"So, um…what are we supposed to say to them anyway? 'Uh yeah, we just built these weapons, and uh, now we're gonna join the army'." he said sarcastically.
"Don't worry, I know exactly what we're gonna say to them…"
"Who's worrying?"
"You, apparently."
As they pulled up to the crossing, a rather chubby guard stepped out, accompanied by what appeared to be a rookie.
"All right, let me guess…you boys wanna join the army!" The man and his partner both died laughing.
That wasn't even that funny… Connor thought, a little embarrassed.
"Actually, that's exactly what we're doing" he piped up in protest, succeeding only producing greater laughter.
"Great comeback, tell it again." Kel murmured sarcastically.
"Shut up." His friend hissed.
"Oh stop it; you guys are killing us…" The guard and the rookie exchanged split-second glances, following up with even more obnoxious guffaws.
"But…but seriously, you two wouldn't last ten seconds over that border line." the rookie mocked.
Connor narrowed his eyes, "You wanna bet?"
He pressed on the gas, starting past the border. A few moments later, they were stopped by a tall man standing tall with an imposing crowbar in a hand.
"Outta the quad, boys." he said in a low commanding voice.
Reluctantly, the two young men hoped from the vehicle, watching helplessly as the hijacker hoped on and rode off.
"How many seconds was that?" Kel asked earnestly, turning back to the guards.
"Twelve."
Not two seconds after the reply, the two friends pointed and in one voice cried out, "In your face!"
Their near-hysteric laughter echoed off the distant mountains side as they mirrored the guards' response from earlier. The rookie and his boss looked back at one another, unable to think of how to respond as the two kids taunted them.
"Oh man you guys just got owned!" Connor cackled.
"You guys really poked the cactus with that one!" Kel shot between laughs.
"You thought it was funny before, but look who's laughing now, coppers!" they laughed past the point of breath.
Finally, the two started down the long, not-so-promising road ahead of them, too busy laughing to care that they had just lost their only means of transportation.
"That whole situation felt oddly familiar, don't you think?" said Kel, catching his breath.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Connor replied, walking off.
…
The sky sat tainted with an orange hue, gradually bleeding into purple as it slowly darkened. Light drained from the path as the two friends sluggishly made their way down the open desert road. The mountains, tall and broad, eventually started to fade into the background as they were consumed by the approaching night. It had been nearly four hours since the border crossing, yet the sweltering torridness refused to let up. It didn't bother Connor as much as it did Kel, whose heat tolerance was unnaturally low.
"Ugh, this God-forsaken heat is killing me..." he complained, sweat pouring from his brow.
"Well, you are wearing black pants and a dark grey V-neck…"
"Hey, how was I supposed to know our vehicle was gonna get jacked?"
"...Fair enough." Connor sighed.
"So, I know you're gonna hate me for asking, but…do you have any more of those freezer packs?"
"No, no my last one melted a few hours ago, remember that?" Connor shot his friend a mean look.
"Hey, my hair was gonna light on fire!"
"Kelly, I already told you like twelve times that it's not even hot enough for that to happen."
"Well it sure felt like it…"
Connor suddenly stopped, pointing to something off in the distance. "Hey, what's that?"
"Wait, what? What?"
"Look where I'm pointing."
Kel could just barely make out what looked like an old motel off in the distance.
"Oh yeah, I see it. So what?"
"It's getting too dark out to walk much further; we'll have to spend the night there."
"Are you sure? It looks, kinda...you know...busted up."
"Would you rather sleep outside?" Connor asked almost condescendingly.
"Where the killer cats and the vultures can get me? Hell no."
"Well then, come on lets go."
…
The door to the first room of the motel opened with a slight creak, wailing against the wall as the wind caught it. As the two friends stumbled into the dark, the draft slipped inside; startling them both half to death as the door slammed shut.
"So, what now?" Kel grumbled through the black, "I can't see a thing in here…"
"I don't know, flip the light switch."
"Is there even a light switch in this room?"
"I don't know."
"Is there even lights?"
"Kel, shut up of course there is."
The two began blindly feeling along the walls of the room, careful not to trip in the darkness. Finally, Connor felt his hand run over something
"Hey genius, I found the switch."
"Well, turn it on already. I prefer being able to see."
Connor flipped the switch, and immediately wished he hadn't. There on the floor sat a bloody knife, an elite plasma rifle, and what appeared to be a shield of some kind, possibly space pirate in origin. The most frightening part of the scene was splayed on the wall before them. Painted in blood, was a compass rose, across it reading a simple message:
All hope is gone. Run.
"That's...really creepy." Said Connor, a slight shake in his tone.
Kel remained silent, staring wide-eyed at the grotesquely macabre scene before him. The two then turned and left the room without a another word.