[quote]"We shouldn't be here." The Guardian continued his lone patrol, ignoring the Ghost's caution. He scanned the area, looking for his target. Nothing. Moving on. "You know we shouldn't be here." Stumbling around in remains of a forgotten and long abandoned post-Collapse settlement in China, the Guardian continued his search. Another decaying building. Still no signs. "They were brave. But we can't stay." It was worried. This land was beyond unreclaimed. No Guardian has walked this part of the world for many years. Except him. Distant and alone, he nonetheless felt at peace here. He always did. The Ghost was another story. "Even if we find..look, there's nothing you can do. Let's go." He stopped and looked at it. The Ghost could feel the stare behind the veil. He was about to say something, but the sound of crinkling grass behind drew his attention -- and fire. A cry rang out as bullets pierced Fallen flesh. Many other cries echoed in return in the not too distant landscape. "If you won't leave, run. NOW." The first advice he heeded all day, the Guardian ran out the back of the building. Nearby was an almost completely hidden structure. His old hiding spot. The Ghost may take him for a fool, he thought, but he knew well enough to have a backup plan. ".." The Fallen were close now. Hours they spent, looking for their prize. They knew this Guardian was alone, and often patrolled this region. But the Guardian was patient. He had nowhere else he wanted to be, and had all the time in the world. Half a day passed before they finally moved on. Even their scouts finally wandered off, assuming their prey must have broke orbit and escaped to his ship. The search began anew. "You won't believe this. I found what you're looking for. 4 O'Clock. In the house." The Guardian turned immediately and ran into the structure. He didn't see it at first, but the Ghost turned on its light and there it was; a half-destroyed cellar door, somewhat reinforced and scorched with signs of battle. Without hesitation, he jumped inside. The Ghost, pausing for one moment, flew in after to light the way. It didn't take that much longer. "After all this time, you found them. You found her." Inside the cellar there were nearly one hundred bodies. Dead for many lifetimes, there was nothing left on the bones except tattered clothes, accessories, and weapons. Many weapons. "This was a last stand. They didn't stand a chance." "Help me find her." "How -" "You were there. Remember her necklace? Find it. She wouldn't have left it." .. They found her eventually, in the corner. She was clutching the necklace in one hand, gun in the other. A defiant end. "She was always worried I'd die when you came to us and claimed me." "I told her death was the last thing you'd need to worry about." "..Yeah." ".. You never would tell me what you'd do when you found her." The Guardian couldn't keep talking. He kneeled in front of her body, and clasped her hand with his own. After several minutes, he opened her hand and took the necklace. Attached was a locket, and inside was a question he wrote her an age ago: "Our sacrifice; will you forgive me?" Inside was a hastily written answer, tinted with blood. He gripped it tightly, then put it back in the locket. He took it and found an empty compartment to store the necklace into. "Of course she would wait till the last moment." "What does it say?" "It doesn't matter. Let's leave." "Ok. If you say so." The Guardian and his Ghost left China. The land was retaken by humanity much later, but the Guardian was not amongst their number.[/quote] That was great!

I see China is still a land of Mystery, nice job man!

Thanks. Honestly I think what I wrote and the style in which I wrote it was terrible, though perhaps passable for someone who just woke up.

I sometimes feel that way too!, As I really struggle with Grammer. But I didn't have any trouble reading your story, and it was pretty interesting.

Well, thank you. I think I could have made the ending and the transitioning between scenes a bit more smooth, but I suppose adding more would have gone against the "short story" requirement for this.