Kelso jostled around in her pack for her spare flare gun, the night had closed in on her and Ben who had made a fire on this side of the river sparks dancing into the night like lost stars.

She found the flare gun deep in her pack, pulled it out and examined it in the gentle glow of the fire. Turning it over in her hands, Kelso noticed something across the river, something or some tall dressed head to toe in forest camouflage, she saw a breath come out from under the hood.

Ben slowly got up, "that's him", Kelso turned to Ben and motioned him to sit back down, "pack your stuff, light so we can make it out the state".

"But..", he started.

"No buts, this is what you wanted, the state of New York is a war zone and i was tasked with getting you out".

The flare gun that was in her hand had been replaced with a Beretta M9, pulled a magazine out of her thigh holster and loaded it.

"Lets go"

The night was still only for the sound of the roaring river, the figure still standing on the other side, who checked a watch then looked at the heavens.

Kelso and Ben made it across, the figure helping them up, Ben was the son of a senator and used to high stakes, assassination attempts as well as kidnapping and extortion. He thought he lost his father had died when New York fell and he was to be taken out of state to coordinate a way to try and take back the city. This included activating Strategic Homeland Division (SHD) agents embedded in the city.

The figure pulled his hood down, held Ben's hand and their eyes met.

"Hello son, we have work to do"

Kelso had already made her way back across the river was at the original camp site where she aimed her flare gun at the darkened heavens and fired.

...

i love you baby 🖤