Things had been quiet.

This area of the country was abandoned.

Lauren and Andy drove on in silence.

They had no need of talking these days.

They could look at each other and know what the other wanted.

A car appeared up front. Not Sophie and Esme, they were behind at the moment. This was a black car, muddy and slightly battered. As they got closer to it, it vanished.

Andy looked at Lauren.

Lauren looked at Andy.

He reached for the radio, playing with the dial. They spent long hours listening to the mutant broadcasts, but sometimes the quiet was nice. At the moment it was a man speaking about the weather on the west coast. Nothing useful.

They had to wait until they passed a small copse of trees, exactly the kind of place they would have chosen to hide, and pulled out.

Sophie and Esme pulled in behind them and the four got out.

The black car shimmered back into sight. Shatter climbed out. "You made it!"