"General?"

Webb jolted awake suddenly into fight or flight at the gentle touch of his shoulder. It spooked Lilja backwards when he did so. Quickly coming to and letting his guard down he croaked, "What is it, Orlov?"

They were still camped under the fallen bridge. The skies were an indigo behind Lilja's head. The first whispers of dawn. It was strange to wake up to no morning birds singing. Everyone in their party was fighting for warmth in their sleep except for the two.

"There is one coming in this direction. Not soon, but will be here within the hour. We need to move on."

Webb rubbed his palm down his face and nodded. A gruff sigh of exhaustion. He too wrangling with the misery of constantly running and hiding. The immense danger always a breath away. However, his resilience was greater than most. He stood up promptly and slapped the shoulder of a guard next to him.

"Time to get up. Everyone! It's time to get up." Slowly but surely, refugees and soldiers started to stir. "Let's go! Let's go! We need to be out of here in ten. Everyone needs to be up, or you'll be left behind."

Shiva shifted awake to see she had fallen asleep on Riley's chest. They were talking before she did, sharing minds on things like they used to. However, she never intended to sleep on him. Even so, it was the best wink of rest she had in nights since the peril began. She wouldn't dare say it out loud, and she wasn't ready to indulge it. She nudged Riley who shot up like a fish on land.

"Get up. We gotta go," she said steely. He only forced a few blinks and nodded.

"Right." He glanced around. "Where's Robbie?"

He wasn't where he was before Riley drifted asleep, but Lilja knew. He was on the other side of the pillar out of their view but still close. Staring out to the river and hillside before he eventually drifted off, as well. Lilja made sure that he stayed there.

She ambled to his spot and could hear his even and shallow breath. His head slouched over his shoulder in deep rest. Lilja gently nudged it and he awoke wearily. He glanced to Lilja and had a vacant stare.

"We're leaving now," she said, her brows still leaning sadly remembering last night. She didn't know how to console or understand what he was going through, but she'd be as gentle as she could in their interactions.

Much like her, he was a gentle kind. "Okay." He murmured, starting to crawl his legs up the stone that left him in aches. He even managed a small smile before she departed with flutters rippling in her chest. The previous night had left an impression she couldn't shake from. An instinctive and almost compulsory fondness for him. The thoughts she saw without intention were his personality. Behind all the complex emotion, even some she didn't understand, there was so much love for his family. Loyalty. He was unusually benign and caring. Even if he didn't come off quite that way, it was obvious last night. Even the anger that she felt in some moments were fuelled by idealism. He cared for others in a way she wasn't used to seeing. She wanted to take some of that into herself. That admiration was growing something she had never felt before. For Lilja, it was exciting.

Shiva helped Scarlet with getting Jack up and ready. Lilja even gave him a container of gummy worms to at least give him something fun and sweet to start his morning with. Something far from their reality, and it was time to dive back into it.

They resumed their journey again through thick woodlands only animals had trekked until now. Just another reminder of how dehumanized they were. How desperate they needed to cling to that humanity to stay sane, even with the disagreeing odds compiled against them. In an effort to preserve it, Riley shared his stride with Shiva beside him.

"You slept on me last night." He stated in an almost amused way.

Shive scoffed under her breath, stomping through brittle underbrush angrily in hearing it. "You're a creep, you know that?"

"What?"

"I know you pulled me in after I dozed off." She chuckled to herself before taking a glance to his aghast stare. "You know that's almost statutory."

"I did not!" Riley battled, "I went to sleep next to you, didn't touch you, didn't nothing. I woke up in the middle of the night and felt you there. I just left it."

"Of course you did."

"I wasn't going to move you, you were comfortable. I was comfortable. I dare say it was nice to wake up to it. You were snoring too, that weird snore that sounds like a diesel truck. Obviously, you needed it."

Shiva grumbled, "Won't be happening again so not like it matters."

"Sure," he said teasingly. "Whatever you say."

"I mean it, Ken."

Riley knew they weren't arguing, they had done this many times before. Even when their relationship was something else, they still did. It was playful and easy banter. Something that became the only way they'd converse with each other. It was glaringly clear for him that she was enjoying it, too. She hid her smile well, but it was fighting in the tension of her mouth.

Riley glanced to footsteps in a steady pace behind them soon to pass. It was Robbie, almost fighting his way and maneuvering through the thick vegetation. Riley was amused to see it. "Don't go too far ahead, Tarzan."

"Nah, he's more like Mowlgi." Shiva joined in, giving Riley a chuckle. They were hoping for some kind of reaction from the teen, but he was fixed on getting ahead. As he came up to Lilja, he started to slow.

Shiva raised an excited grin, "No way. He's not…"

"Huh?"

"Look!" She beamed, "Look who he's catching up to."

Riley was oblivious. "I don't know." He knew it was Lilja but had no idea why Shiva was so excited by that. He was solely remembering his conversation with him last night.

"Maybe he's gonna take my advice."

Shiva wasn't following. "Advice? What advice?"

Riley filled her in as they watched him finally catch up. Reasonably Lilja was startled to Robbie coming up to her left. He huffed a little out of breath, "Hey."

She gawked up to him and her shoulders tensed up, quickly flicking her eyes back to the ground. She shyly muttered, "Hi."

"Um. I know I said it last night, but I wanted to thank you again. It was really cool and…" He stammered in thought for a while. Lilja kept a slow pace with him, but she wanted to run and hide. "I don't care how you did it, I'm just happy you did. I feel a lot better knowing they're okay. So… thank you."

Multiple people crunching through leaves and brush, as well as scattered chatter was the only noise between them. After some gruelling silence, Lilja replied quietly, "You're welcome."

It was clear she was shy, but Robbie wasn't. "Is that why you're with the military? You can do stuff?"

"Yes." Lilja's reply was quicker than the last. "I help fight them."

Robbie had so many questions. But he didn't want to overwhelm. "So… what happened in the field with that thing… that was actually you?"

Lilja sunk into herself to hear it. She didn't want to reply truthfully. But she wouldn't lie. "Yes."

Robbie went quiet to her side. She was certain he was now just as afraid of her as everyone else. That he would walk away and never interact with her again. She was used to it – preparing for it. Even though she tried to prepare, it was hurting.

Then he said in a hushed and astonished tone, "That's so badass…"

"What?" Lilja flicked her gaze to him. She didn't even know what he meant by that. "Badass?"

"Yeah. Really badass. You don't know what…"

Lilja shook her head and Robbie explained, "Like really cool. Like… impressive. Especially with everything that's happened. Until then we all thought they were invincible. So… you can read minds, make things move… what else can you do?"

"Um." Lilja could hear the excitement in his voice. Like a little boy with a new comic book. Strangely enough, it was extending to herself, as well. She looked up to him and said, "That's about it, actually."

"How old are you? I know you're close to my age but…"

Lilja muttered, "Fifteen," she meekly asked, "… and you?

Robbie smiled down to her, "Sixteen." Lilja nearly returned it. "Does it hurt when you do it?"

"Oh, yes." Lilja shook her head in eager agreement. "A lot sometimes. But… since I've been out of the lab it's been getting a little easier."

Robbie animated to that. "Lab? You're from a lab? Are you like an experiment?"

Lilja dwindled to that, she knew it was true, but she always loathed it was. However, it didn't take long for Robbie to immediately hear his words come back at him like a punch. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that… I'm just… I'm kind of in shock, I guess. I didn't think it was possible. Like you see it all the time in comic books and movies but… You're not just an experiment. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's okay," said Lilja calmly. "You're right, I am. I've been in a lab my whole life. Was born in one. It's why I am what I am."

"Did they shave your head?"

"Yes. So they can use a hat that reads my brain, I think. Hair just gets in the way. I know I look strange."

"No." Robbie shook his head and smiled, looking ahead. "Not at all. I mean, with or without you're still really pretty."

Lilja almost tripped over her feet to hear it. She paced her big, terrified eyes to Robbie with a skipping heart. As soon she caught his green eyes, she flicked them away.

Once again, the words threw back at Robbie with a wallop. He started to patter before words spilled out his mouth like vomit. "I mean… you don't look strange, at all. Like you look decent. Normal! You look normal." She glanced back up to him with dejected, sad eyes, and he panicked. "Not that you're not pretty. You are. You're…"

"Orlov!"

General Webb called ahead of the crowd. A relief for Lilja, but not for Robbie. She glanced back to him, "Bye."

She quickened her pace to meet with Webb, leaving Robbie to sink into the stammered conversation and drown in embarrassment. Lilja wasn't usually so red in the face, she was usually pale. The warmth under her eyes was alien, as well as the sweat filming her palms.

Shiva and Riley had overheard some of the conversation. Shiva was gushing like she was watching a soap, ranting on how disappointing the end result was. Riley was mostly confused, "What the hell is going on with those two, exactly?"

"They're twitterpated." Shiva replied like it was obvious.

Riley couldn't have raised his brow higher. "You wanna say that again?"

"Bambi? It's literally Lilja's favourite thing. I've read that book to her more times than I can count. You don't remember that part?"

Riley just shook his head. "Is that another word for sexually frustrated teens?"

"No! Means they're starting to feel sick with the lovey dovies. It's cute, right?"

"You encourage this?"

Shiva was almost insulted he had to ask. "Of course! Look around. This is the nicest thing I've seen in a whole week. Two teens just being teens. They're twitterpated."

Riley replied drolly, "Yeah, just a weird word for sexually frustrated teens. Gotcha."

Webb waited for Lilja to meet enough distance he wouldn't have to be too loud. He was diligently wary of anything. Even the chance the tripods could overhear them shuffling in the woods. "We're coming up to another town. You got an update on any close?"

Lilja focused in, and the air went cold as she had. She confirmed, "There are many in the west. They're not moving, though. It's like they are in the one spot… doing something."

"Doing what?"

"I don't know… they are working. Building something." Lilja had a hunch, but her abilities were never a guarantee. She could see their movement, see their intention, but not the goal.

Webb asked in a growl of worry, "The vines you mentioned. Could it be that?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure. If it is… means over half the population is gone."

"Population of what? United States?"

Lilja said it shallowly, "The world." If Webb was ever to show an ounce of fear that others could detect, it was then. She added, "I don't know if they are. But if they are, means they're going to continue their plans to the next stage. Finding humans can wait."

"You mean to say they're done quelling and moving on to terraforming?"

"No. It's a guess. I said I don't know."

Webb said it rather coldly, "On the bright side, means their exploits will be localized. Which probably explains why we haven't been running into too many out here."

Lilja was curdled in the thought that they may have moved on to the second stage. She knew too well they would only do so if they had the majority of humans to start the process of the vines. They would want to start the process shortly after the quelling for plentiful food supply. If that was so, it meant the death toll of Earth was catastrophic.

They came into Chester close to dusk, but Webb was eager to push on through the night. However, they did stop at an indoor sports building for rest and provisions. Even though it was preferable for the soldiers and Webb to push on through famine and fatigue, they had to keep the refugees in mind. Especially considering one of them being a toddler.

Jack woke up from Scarlet's shoulder in whimpers. He barely spoke, barely ate, barely stayed awake. It was as if each time he did, even he remembered the cruelty of his new world. If he was awake, he was crying or catatonic. The only relief he had was with Scarlet, and her only. Shiva tried to encourage him with a few toys she found in a play centre in the building, but even toys were stale enjoyment. It was unbearable to see a child that should be fill of such zest to not even find interest in toys. To see their spirit broken before her very eyes. It was enough to truly feel the weight of defeat. Not even Shiva could offer herself consolation then as she swept herself to a lonesome corner before the skatepark area. Riley steadily joined her.

"Scarlet can handle it. You don't need to blame yourself."

"It's not that," hissed Shiva in exasperation. "It's the constant rumble of danger over our heads at every minute. It's knowing that we're stalling time, and eventually we're all gonna meet our maker. Sure, Lilja and I are a force to be reckoned with when we're together, but it's the whole world, Ken. Even if we cleared the continent, these are probably just the first. They'll keep coming until the world is utterly and completely theirs. Until our world isn't even habitable to us, anymore. Makes you almost wonder what the point is in surviving."

Riley blew a bout of heavy air from his mouth and stated, "Never thought I'd hear the doom and gloom from you. The others, sure, but you've always been the one to see the upside of things."

"There is no upside of things," growled Shiva, "This is it. The world is over. We lost. Just because we're alive doesn't make us lucky or fortunate. Just means we have a little more time before they find us, too."

"You need something to remember what it's like to be alive, I think." Riley observed as he watched Lilja curiously inspect the skatepark bowl. "Like Lilja. She's so fascinated by everything, not once have I seen her fall into despair."

"Because she goes with the flow. She's not exactly the deep contemplation type. Even so, I'm sure she understands this is it. We all do. There's no way of stopping it."

Riley wanted to battle her words and perhaps tell her to suck it up or look on the bright side, but she was right. There was no bright side. Their circumstances were impossible, and even if Boston had refuge, it would be all for nought when the tripods come. As they've proved in their nature, there is no escaping them. Instead of letting himself fall into the rut alongside her, he said something else.

"I still have hope," shrugged Riley. "You never know what will happen. If tripods find us, so be it. We'll fight tooth and nail to survive, because it's all we can do. Just like Webb said."

"And if we can't fight?"

"Then we lose. Last I checked, we have the best weapons with us. There's no doubt in my mind we can fight. You are one of the best fighters we have. Just remember, everyone here has hope in you and Lil. Would be an awful shame if they knew you had none to spare."

In the skatepark, Lilja had found a skateboard under a ramp. She remembered it from the magazine. Boards with wheels. As a teenager, she figured she'd have some kind of appreciation for the object, but she couldn't see the appeal. However, she did lull at the colourful pictures and designs on the wheel-side. She didn't understand any of it, but they were interesting to look at as she traced them with her fingers.

"That's a nice one." A voice said in an echo behind her. Lilja flinched and almost dropped it to see Robbie basically materialize behind her. She was so lost in the artwork she didn't even hear him walking up.

"Sorry," he almost chuckled. "Uh. The skateboard." He pointed to it, "It's nice."

Lilja stared wide like a dazed fawn and asked, "You know of them?"

"Oh, yeah." He smiled and walked up to take a closer look. Lilja handed it to him gently. His hold of it was full of confidence. Full of excitement and sentiment. She didn't have to look into his mind to see there was fond history.

Lilja mumbled, "Skate – board."

"Yeah. Skateboards. I'm guessing you've never seen one."

"Not up close," she said it in almost a justifying way. "I have seen one, though. We like them."

"We?"

"Teenagers." Lilja cooed, "And women with tiny dogs kept in purses."

Robbie tried not to raise a brow. He just smiled and inflated, "Uh. Yeah? I mean, most of my friends did. I used to skate all the time." His smile started to fade and wilt as thoughts of friends and memories came back. Faces that were surely gone.

Lilja distracted that melancholy with her own curiosity. "Do you know how?"

"Yeah. Wanna see?"

Lilja nodded excitedly and stepped back from the bowl. He sprinted up the edge, pulling himself the rest of the way with the board. It was spritely executed; he was clearly in his element. When he got up the bowl, he tucked the skateboard under his foot, silently begrudging his boots that were definitely not keen for skateboarding. But with her watching, he was gonna try anyway.

The board tipped with his weight, and he planted both feet, hunched his back, kept his arms out for balance. All steps coming together like muscle memory. He dived down the slope at speed, shooting to the other side of the bowl and flying into the air before the board met the solid bowl again. He glided from each side of the bowl to the other swift, doing quick tricks at each end. In his mind, they were basic tricks in skateboarding, he did them all the time. He was certain he could do better with a healed leg and better shoes. For Lilja, it was captivating. The most imperative and graceful skill. Each move he made noticed and thoroughly appreciated in her eyes. She could have nearly lost breath to see his arcs against air. Fully coming to appreciate the art of it.

Then Webb's growly voice came stomping over to chastise. "Hey! Kid! Enough!"

Robbie fumbled off the skateboard as he came down from a slope, letting the board drive on its own till it slowed. He shot his surprised gawk to the bullish decorated General. "You insane? You're making a racket through the whole damn building."

Lilja snipped back, "If there were any close, I would know it. They're all still where I saw them last."

Then Shiva said in amusement, "Yeah, chill out, dude." As if she was trying to relate to the teenage, rebellious spirit.

Webb made a gruff scoff before shaking his head and going back to the others. He ordered to Riley, "Keep the ducklings in line, won't you."

"Sorry, General."

Robbie wasn't too thwarted by Webb. He plucked the skateboard back into his grip and made a smile up to Lilja. "What'd you think?"

She was going to say the unseasoned 'great' or 'good' as she'd usually say, but she wanted to convey it in a way he understood. In a way a teenager like her would take as the greatest compliment. She wanted to flatter. She remembered the magazine. The lady with the rat-like dog in her bright, pink purse. Her famous quote. Paris Hilton? That's hot? Oh, yes. That's it.

Lilja said it very sincerely with a light nod of her head. "That's hot."

Unbeknownst to Lilja, that meant something entirely different to Robbie. It made Shiva clench her teeth, and Robbie go wide-eyed. He asked again, certain he heard it wrong, "That's what?"

"That's hot." She said it more confident than she did the first time. Riley rubbed the bridge of his nose painfully.

Robbie was surprised, but ultimately, his cheeks burned with a smile he couldn't control. A nervous chuckle fluttered out, "Uh. Thanks." He was confident she was talking about him. He barely paid mind to Paris Hilton.

His smile entranced Lilja, it was warmer than any she'd seen before. Without even thinking about it, she beamed one right back. She rarely smiled, and this was her first time smiling with teeth. Instead of shying from it, she let it grow into something that felt good to do. For Robbie, her smile and the glow of her blue eyes from the light of the windows was his own captivation.

Shiva whispered into Riley's ear, "This is so cute, I'm going to die."

He hushed back, "There's some hope-fodder for ya."

Then Robbie asked her, "Wanna try?"

"Uh," she instantly went inward and meek. "I am not… sure."

Robbie laid the skateboard flat on its wheels. "I can show you." He stepped back from the board as if he was waiting for her to get on it. "Trust me. It's fun."

Lilja breathed out, "Fun?"

"Yeah, come on. Don't be scared, I'll guide you."

She ambled to the board. Robbie just before it with his fingerless gloved hand out for her to reach. She wasn't sure what was rattling her more. She slipped her hand into his, and the nerves made her knees stiff. She stepped on the board cautiously, already feeling the balance that would have to be practiced.

Robbie slowly started to go with her and the board in circles. She nearly lost her balance and snatched the fabric of his sage coat. Her eyes coinciding with her shaky frame. He simply took that hand in the other, holding her in balance as he coasted with her. Feeling the board taking her without the need to use her feet was freeing. A glide waking her smile more and more. When she shined it at Robbie, he returned it with a giggle. Words of soft encouragement from his mouth. She was quiet, too petrified and exhilarated to speak. All she could do was smile and focus her balance. Trying so diligently not to stare into his eyes for too long. The orange dusk through windows warmed their faces and brought their eyes to life. Only to be a spectacle as each were close enough to admire them. The warmth carried through Lilja. The acceptance of another was only a fraction of the giddiness. In a moment, the 'boy and girl' fixation in those magazines was starting to make sense. The world's plight faded into nonexistence. For the first time in a long time, Lilja was happy. Unwaveringly, undeniably happy. The feelings cemented, knowing Robbie was the harbour of it all.

Shiva and Riley were both in silence. Simply watching a moment that was core for Lilja, but also the moment they needed. Especially Shiva. Even if these moments were sparse and short-lived, they were worth the time scrounging to survive. As she felt Riley's hand slip into her own, she didn't break from it. She rested into it, even letting her head comfort on his shoulder. Whatever moments were left in a stolen world; they'd make the best of what they had. Even if it was just each other.

"Oh, wow. It's still charged." Robbie awed as he inspected an abandoned MP3 player left in the gym area. Ear buds still attached. Lilja sat by a locker with his company, as well. Curiously invested in questions now knowing Robbie had an answer for each one. Such as the equipment, the need for the equipment, the lockers – anything and everything was being observed. Robbie just happened to be her walking and talking encyclopaedia. He didn't say it out loud, but he was discreetly enjoying it.

It was past sunset. Most were either sleeping or preparing to sleep. Robbie and Lilja were one of the few still up and active. Taking a breath of sweet and peaceful relief to forget about their plight. Focusing on being teenagers for a while longer before they had to sleep and resume their toil as refugees tomorrow.

He came over with the device and plopped down beside her, feeding more of her curiosity.

"This is cool, you'll love this," he said as he switched through the artists and song titles.

She asked, "What is that?" It was a flat rectangle that fit in his hand. White in colour and had a small glowing screen.

"MP3 player," he said flatly, before realizing she probably had no idea what that was. He looked up to her and chimed, "It plays music. These are headphones. You put them in your ear so you can listen to it without anyone else listening. Sounds a lot better, too."

Lilja knew music, but not the titles that were widely listened to. Dr. Orlov found she reacted well with classical music, but not much else. Robbie scoffed as he went through the device. "This guy loved his Cash and Presley. Some old dude definitely owned this. There's not really anything good on here."

"Cash and Presley?"

"Yeah. Johnny Cash, Elvis? You don't know them?"

Lilja only shook her head. Robbie gave her an ear bud and asked, "Wanna listen?"

She took it and mirrored him as he put one in his left ear, she put the other in her right. He played the first song that he saw, hoping it wasn't boring. It was Elvis Presley's 'Can't Help Falling In Love". Immediately the piano struck Lilja into a trance. When his rich vocals began, Lilja fell into the melody. It rose into her chest like a dreamy spectacle. Yet another enchanting discovery of a world she never got to experience. As well as the boy beside her.

Robbie grumbled, "Yeah… it's kinda lame." When he glanced to Lilja, her gaze was lost into the floor. The music had long swept her away since it started. He could see small glimmers of tears in her eyelids. It was emotion in song, making those emotions that she never indulged come to the surface. Robbie asked her softly then, "Do you like it?"

Lilja took a while to respond, taking a moment to utter anything as the music enveloped her. She cooed, "Yes… It's pretty."

Robbie was so tempted to say it again and this time make sure it got across. Instead, he gradually moved his hand off his knee and on the floor. He had nothing left to be afraid of. No more battles with his nerves. He had faced far worse. They were on bargained time. He placed his bets one that moment. He moved his hand to Lilja's. His cold fingers struck her attention like a frigid wind. As she let his hand fold into her own, her whole body began to shiver. She folded her fingers back and the wind shifted to warmth. She let the music play in her ear when she glanced up to him. He was already fixated on her, as if he was waiting for her to notice his eyes. Surely enough, she got lost in them faster than the music. He moved closer, and she wasn't certain what he was planning to do. Then she remembered the magazine once more.

A… a kiss?

The closer he came, her curiosity drove her closer, as well. The truest meaning of being human just before her very eyes.

He is… he's going to kiss me!

Robbie got the green light as soon as she leaned in closer. He was certain of it. As he closed his eyes, her face pulled to the side a little. Before disappointment festered, he took a look at her face. In doing so, he backed away and fell into concern.

"Li… Lilja? Is everything okay?"

Her face was vacant, almost spaced. Her eyes had reformed to the black and red veined gloss he remembered from the night prior. Her skin visibly sunken pale and vascular. She was concentrated in something else far more shuddering. The grip of Robbie's hand tightened.

Her voice quaked in a chilling whisper, "They know we're here."

Then the floor shook with the tripod trumpet like an earthquake. Throwing Lilja and Robbie to their feet, as well as everyone else in the indoor park like a thrust of adrenaline. It was so loud it may as well been inside with them. Just outside on the street. As three gigantic and harrowing headlights peered into the windows, the party of survivors wailed in the knowledge their moments of peace had finally run dry.