YAY here is the next chapter! I hope that you guys like this chapter and I want to say a HUGE, HUGE, thank you to Dark Alana for all the help! I think that I know the direction I want this story to go in and I'm very excited! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I hope that the next chapter will be out sometime next week! So, let me know what you guys think, please and thank you!

~!DDM!~

All regular disclaimers apply!

I felt like someone had stolen my ability to breathe. The once beautiful city of Los Angeles was in complete and utter ruin, it looked like it had been abandoned a long time ago. Windowless buildings were literally falling apart, most looked ready to give way any second. Derelict cars lined the streets in various states of disrepair, some were missing tires or windows, and others were without doors or engines. Plants and weeds grew wild from numerous cracks in the pavement. What could have happened to this city? Where were all the people?

"What the hell happened here?" Marcus said quietly. We began to slowly walk down the hill toward the dilapidated city. Rubble fell from the closest building when we reached city limits. "Stay close."

We walked down several streets in total silence. It was like a ghost town. So much for getting some answers once we found a city. All I have now are more questions.

"Marcus, what year do you think it is?" I asked as the thought occurred to me.

"What?" he came to a halt.

"When I died, every store was selling gossip magazines, full of rubbish on movie stars and celebrities. We are in LA, it's notorious for being home to tons of people like that. From the looks of things, no one has been here in years."

"You're right. There isn't anyone here. We should keep going."

We had reached what I assumed was close to the middle of the city when I saw it. Another person! I pointed them out to Marcus and he instantly tried to get their attention. It worked. When the sound of gunfire reached my ears I wished it hadn't, and I had kept my mouth shut for once. Dirt flew in a straight line as large bullets made their way toward us. I was frozen in confused shock, Marcus seemed to be too. Why would someone shoot at us? We were both jarred out of our astonishment when we were tackled out of the line of fire. Before either of us could speak we were given the signal to stay quiet as we all waited behind some kind of metal barrier. The man who saved us hit a lever, activating some kind of trap that snared what appeared to be a metal man by the ankle. He then turned to us, removing the bandana and goggles from his face.

"Come with me if you want to live." He said quietly before taking off. Marcus and I shared a glance before taking off after our rescuer. We were shot at from behind, ruble flying every which way as we bolted into the nearest building. We ran up several flights of stairs and were at on the top level when the young man made a series of hand signals. An adorable little girl put down her shot gun to set off another trap, crushing the metal, weapon wielding man with heavy machinery several stories below.

Marcus turned to the little girl and demanded to know what was going on. The young man informed us that she didn't talk before pointing his shot gun at us and telling us we should start. Marcus moved me behind him with one arm. The young man was angry about what we were wearing. His anger was spurred on when he asked where we had gotten our jackets and Marcus told him that the other guys didn't need them anymore as he slowly advanced. I stayed close to him. The boy pointed out the red stained tape that I had noticed earlier on the arms of our jackets.

"It's the symbol of The Resistance. You're obviously not Resistance Fighters, so take it off." He said angrily. If he thought I was going to strip out of the only piece of clothing covering me, he had another thing coming. I held onto the back of Marcus' coat as he moved toward the boy some more.

"Take it of!" he was shouting now, pointing the shot gun at Marcus' head. I jumped when he snatched the gun out of the boy's hands, reversing the situation.

"You point that gun at someone, you better be ready to pull the trigger." He told the stunned, nervous boy. Marcus held the position for a moment before he gave the boy back his gun.

"What was that thing?" I repeated Marcus' earlier, unanswered question, peaking around his shoulder.

"Terminator, T600." That didn't really clear up any of the confusion.

"What day is it? What year?" Marcus asked looking around the desolate landscape.

"Twenty eighteen."

"What happened here?"

"Judgment Day happened."

"You're kidding. Please tell me you are kidding. Judgment Day, you mean like an apocalypse?" I asked incredulously.

"Have you been living under a rock?" he asked like I was slow.

"Something like that." Marcus muttered. Suddenly the boy's words registered in my mind.

"Wait, what year did you say it is?" I needed conformation.

"Its 2018." He said firmly.

"Two thousand…eighteen…" my knees gave out but Marcus caught me before I ended up on the floor. I held tightly to his sleeve burying my head in the crook of his arm. I couldn't believe so much time had passed.

"What is the last year you remember?" my companion asked softy.

"It…it was 04'." I whispered, looking up at him and trying to regain my composer.

"I went in 03'." He murmured. Both kids were watching us curiously.

"Fourteen, fifteen years have gone by. How could we have missed that much time? How is that possible?" he shook his head, just as at a loss as I was.

"We have to get out of here, head north." Marcus said loud enough for the others to hear now, as he steadied me on my feet again.

"You can't go on foot. The machines will cut you down. You need speed. Besides, Skynet controls everything north of Sacramento, you can't go that way." The boy said knowingly.

"We need a car." I interjected.

"There are some by Griffith Observatory. They don't run though." The boy shrugged.

"Take us." Marcus demanded. The boy didn't answer though, he was looking past us. I turned to see the little girl standing, seemingly frozen to the spot.

"Get down!" the boy yelled grabbing the girls hand and dropping to the ground. Marcus and I dove down behind a wall next to them. I had a hand on the little girl's arm, feeling better knowing that she was in one piece. Marcus similarly had one splayed across my middle. A huge machine rumbled passed out position. The vibration of its passing toppled a building across the street, bathing us all in dust. We were all coughing uncontrollably as we sat up.

"That was a Hunter Killer." The boy said turning to us. "Thanks to you, they know we are here." I instantly felt guilty. Marcus however didn't seem at all phased.

"What is your name kid?" he asked.

"Kyle Reese. That is Star." He nodded toward the little girl. "Come on." He stood up, taking her by the hand and walking off. I got up and quickly followed after them. Checking Star for injuries as we walked. I looked expectantly over my shoulder at Marcus who was dusting himself off. He rolled his eyes at me but jogged to catch up. It was dark by the time we reached what appeared to be a fort or base of some kind.

"Where are the cars?" Marcus asked when Kyle sat down. He advised against going out in the dark.

"They have infrared." He told us. "They hunt better at night. We'll all go tomorrow morning." Kyle picked up a plate with something that might have been meat sitting on it. Or at least had been meat, once upon a time. Marcus seemed to agree with me.

"What is that?" he asked, making a face.

"Two day old coyote." Kyle sniffed the plate and put it down. "Better than three day old coyote."